OH MY GOD, ITS BEEN NEARLY 2 MONTHS!
Guys, I owe you all a quick apology. I got suuuper lazy after I got back home from my little military trip and waited way to long to start back working on this Chapter. Its almost a tragedy that it took this long to get back on the ball.
But you'll be happy to know that I did get my ass back too it and I've finished the newest chapter of the story.
But first I should address a few...
Comments that caught my eye.
Guest- Can you hurry up and kill petrus already? You just letting this bullshit run isn't making this story any better. It's just telling us you're at a writers block. Why does Anna's even care if he dies or not, why the he'll is everyone literally npc dumb. While I love your story there was a reason why is stopped reading for awhile. You keep dragging shit too long, and soon you're going to end up either discontinuing or going on a hiatus like the rest of them. Please don't be like those other turds who add random plot twists/drama/and dragging it on because they don't know what else to do.
My Response- Worry not, my dear reader. I'm most definitely not just keeping Petrus alive for no reason or because I have writers block. I just feel that Its just way to easy and predictable to just "Kill off the bad guy no one likes.". Its just was to plain, boring and a "Been there done that" kinda thing. In fact, I feel that Petrus was almost criminally underplayed in the game. He was so easy to kill and so forgettable, but he's a goddamn fanatic for the way of white and the church. Coupling that with the undead curse, I feel like people like him and Lautrec, as the sort of heartless characters and more realistic veiwing, should be more motivated than anyone to survive and keep going.
As for Anastacia, it was les of wanting him to live and more of not wanting to see the Prophet in that kind of light, as a killer just like most people in Lordran. I believe it would easier to just think of it as her moral compass is much higher than most.
Also, there is no need to worry about me giving up on the story, though I no I get lazy on the chapter output sometimes, I am most definitely NOT going to go on hiatus or abandon the story. I just prefer to take things slow and have fun with the story when I write it. No reason to make this feel like work when it should feel like a fun little experience for each chapter.
slydino- Wonderful story. I really love how you're working through all the nooks and crannies of Lordran and still adding your own original spin to things. I'm really hoping for the harem route at this point and I need some Priscilla action soon. Anyway great job and keep up the good work. Can't wait for the next chapter.
My Response- Thanks, bro. Always nice to hear that you guys are enjoying the story so far. And trust me, I'd love nothing more than to skip ahead to the painted world, but there are pieces that I gotta line up in the story so that it makes sense first. ;-;
SCYPHER16- Awesome story bro. Got a question. Will be going Kaylee backstory from before he came into dark souls?
My Response- I'm actually still thinking on Kaylen's real backstory and a way to implement it in the story without it seeming too forced or seeming to predictable like "He lost his sister" or "his family was killed in an alleyway by a mugger and he felt the need to protect ever since." I can't find it in the reviews, But I'm actually interested in a suggestion someone sent me about keeping it simple and having the Prophet not have some traumatic event happen in his past and just make it that he's just a naturally caring person who wants to do the right thing.
But still, I'm thinking on it and keeping my options open.
Alright. bro's. That's all I got for now. Hope you guys enjoy this new chapter of mine to the fullest.
Warning: Please do not use the Dried Finger invasion item while reading this story. Failure to heed this warning will result in an invasion of multiple Red Phantoms, Blue Phantoms, Dragon Spirits, Orcs, Nazgul, Death Eaters, Voldemort, Sauron and Fire Nation Troops. You have been warned.
CLINK. CLINK. CLINK. CLINK.
Deep beneath the shadows of the Catacombs, a steady rhythm of metal striking metal sounded through the dark.
Hammering away with prideful determination, Vamos made sure that every strike served to shape the heated metal into a perfect form. As he placed the final touches on the small novelty, he could not help but feel a strong sense of hubris. Though the items visage was such a simple one, it was far above the level of ordinary metals. In fact, as the material was strong and extremely resistant to any form of change, Vamos frequently found himself somewhat frustrated and angry as he hammered it into the form the boy desired.
But as he dipped it into a pool of water at his side and allowed a heavy steam to rise forth from it, he could only feel that all the effort was indeed worth the result. As if he had just conquered a stubborn foe after a lengthy skirmish.
Now that it was finally finished, he'd be damned if it wasn't the most beautiful and masterfully crafted item he'd ever made. So much so, that he almost wanted to keep it to himself so that it may never be blemished or suffer any imperfection. But he knew that the item was not created to be some ornament to be framed, it was an item of power. And it would be nothing short of a tragedy if instead of letting that power be used, he let it gather dust in his armory
"BOY!" the skeletal blacksmith called out, earning a quick response of hurried steps not far behind him. Turning around, he was greeted with the excited smiling face of the rugged child who blew a hole behind his forge. "My finest work. Treat it well."
Not one for long speeches, Vamos then handed the newly crafted mask to the young undead, who took it with a look of admiration and astonishment in his eye's.
"Wow. This is perfect...better than I imagined even." The Prophet said with a smile as he ran his fingers across the mask face. Made just as he described to Vamos before, the mask was of a somewhat plain design with its front smoothly flat with no discernable features other than the holes made for the eye's and the fact that the chin came to a point instead of curving into a circle. "Well...almost perfect anyways. Just needs one more small addition."
With that said, and much to the blacksmiths dismay, the Prophet proceeded to approach the forge and kneel to the floor, gathering a bit of the black ash that surrounded the ground into his fingers. With the ash in hand, the Prophet smeared the surface of the right eye and traced a thin black line downward, giving the mask the appearance of weeping.
"Would you care to explain why you just marred my work?" Vamos said with clear irritation.
"Remembrance. To get this mask I had to butcher an entire family and rip the power from them." the Prophet explain solemnly, his gaze never leaving the mask. "I regret that things between us had to end in bloodshed, but they deserved to be remembered. I don't ever want their names to fade from my memory. So I put this mark here to forever remind me of them."
His eye's boring into the masks, the Prophet was surprisingly hesitant to look deeper further to learn more about it. But, inevitably, his curiosity got the better of him.
Legacy of the Family
This first of what will come to be known as the Legacy Armaments.
A combination of the death mask worn by Pinwheel the Necromancer, who stole the power of a Gravelord. Will grant the wearer the strength of the Valiant Father, the limitless energy and stamina of the Naïve Child and the Vitality of the Caring Mother.
Pinwheel spent years in a never ending pursuit to undo his greatest mistake. But in the end, he amounted to nothing more than a brief stepping stone. The story would never be told of how close he was to success.
Pausing only a moment to take this all in, specifically the passage regarding "Legacy" items, the Prophet gave a tired sigh before speaking to the blacksmith once again. He did not want to spend time contemplating whatever that could mean at the moment. He got what he came for and now only wished to leave.
"Thanks, Vamos. You've done me a huge favor with this." the Prophet said gathering up the rest of his items and placing them inside his satchel..
"If that will be all, then be gone with you, boy." Vamos said, as he promptly turned around and pulled another piece of metal free, placing it on the anvil in front of his large body. "You'll spoil my-"
"Yeah, yeah, spoil your focus, I get it." The Prophet interrupted nonchalantly, as he turned around, mask in hand, and began walking towards the hole he'd made. "See ya around, Vam."
Walking free of the shadows, Reah and Vince stood in the opening of the tomb with a questioning look in their eye's at the silver mask in the Prophets hands.
"Alright, I got what I needed. Lets head out." the Prophet said without stopping, purposefully ignoring the looks they both gave him.
Walking forward until he was a little further in the middle of the chasm of bones, the Prophet gazed at the mask for a moment more before placing it upon his face for the first time.
The moment its silver steel touched his flesh, Kaylen found himself taking in a sharp breath as his muscles suddenly tensed and stiffened, and his vision blurred. Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the feeling had ceased and was immediately replaced with a sudden welling of immense power.
It was both mesmerizing and exhilarating. Not at all what he thought it would feel like. It wasn't as if he suddenly just felt as if he could lift a big rock or something of that nature. It was so much more than that. His breathing suddenly felt smoother, came easier to his lungs. His muscles, though still tensed slightly, just felt...ready. Eager even. Making him feel like he wanted nothing more than a fight right now.
Then, without warning, another feeling began to grow directly from the Prophets head and he recognized immediately that it was something dangerous. It was a somewhat dull, yet persistent feeling digging into his thoughts.
"What is this..urge? the Prophet thought to himself as his eye's took on their demonic yellow hue. "Its like something savage is melting into me."
But soon enough, the feeling seemed to devolve from an unquenchable desire to something akin to a sort of whisper of encouragement in the back of his mind. But he could still feel the urge lurking beneath his thoughts, almost as if was waiting until the time was right to break free and push the Prophets mind towards its more ferocious side.
"Prophet?" a female voice said behind him, ripping him free from his thoughts. "Are you alright? What is that mask?"
Whether he meant to think it or not, the first thought that shot through the Prophets mind was the amount of humanity lying inside of the Priestess just waiting for him. But the feeling of the thought echoing through his mind felt strangely natural to him. It wasn't as if it was another voice shouting in his head, nor some sort of dark energy, evil intent or some kind of corrupting influence. Rather it felt more like an innate need to act, to follow his baser instincts and impulses.
Luckily, for both Reah and Vince, the Prophet was not one to easily give in to these thoughts. Instead, choosing to turn to look at the Priestess with his eye's and his demeanor returning to their normal state.
"Uh..Yeah, sorry about that. This is an enchanted mask created from the three you guys saw on Pinwheel before. Its filled with magic properties that are supposed to increase my physical attributes." the Prophet explained. "The kick it gives was more than what I was expecting, is all. Nothing to worry about though. I've got it under control."
Looking upon the visage of the weeping mask, both Reah and Vince could not hold back the creeping feeling of trepidation that they felt. The mask hide the Prophets natural demeanor, boyish face and nonchalant personality that made him easier to trust and be around, replacing it with something dark and intimidating in both appearance and atmosphere.
To them, it was as if the mask was giving off a sort of pressure that weighed upon them. Like they were in the presence of something dangerous.
"Um, Prophet..." Reah said, trying to hold back her nervousness and hold her head high. "..must you..truly wear that? Much of the enemy here has been defeated when we traveled through here, so..."
It didn't take much thought for the Prophet to see that they would both put off by his new look. And since he really didn't need to wear the mask to get through the catacombs, he didn't see the harm in making them a bit more comfortable and taking it off for now.
Besides, there would be plenty of time to test its capabilities later.
"Yeah, I guess your right about that." the Prophet said scratching the back of his head in his usual care free manner, before reaching towards his face with one hand and pulling the mask free. Immediately feeling the power and pull from his instincts leave him. Not that he minded too much of that. The desire for power was never something he sought and he was grateful to be able to a clear head once again. "There. Now that I've taken off this item of incredible power, we can continue through the very dark and dangerous tunnels of the Catacombs. Lets move."
Without another word, the Prophet turned back around and began the uneventful trip of backtracking to safety.
Firelink Shrine
Spending her time in the small sanctuary, Velka found that she hit the mark on the head in believing that the Firekeeper was similar in likeness to the Prophet, in that she found her personality to be extremely perplexing.
She attempted to have small conversations with her about minor, if downright meaningless, topics. Things from how she liked the way her hair was tied into a bun, thanking her for her politeness or something else just as meaningless. She just wanted to keep her talking.
From these small interactions, she gleamed that Anastacia was a very timid and shy woman. Never saying very much aside from a nervous "Thank you" or "I suppose so.", and even when she did speak it was always in small stutters or mumbled in a low tone, clearly trying her best not to offend her in any way what so ever. However, this quite persona took a back seat when Velka decided to try a different approach and began saying comments regarding the Prophet.
"My, he definitely enjoys taking him time, doesn't he." Velka said, noticing the sudden sharp look the Keeper gave her.
"I'm sure he's moving a swiftly as he is able." Anastacia said in a feisty tone. "He would not tarry if it is within his power."
There it was. One moment the Keeper was meek and tepid, then the moment the Prophet was brought up she was rebellious and full of passion. What had the Prophet and this woman been through together that brought on such spirits even in the face of a god? If she was not mistaken, they have not known each other for any extreme amount of time.
Before she could go further into this conversation, the feeling that she sought in the first place was arriving not far from her current position. Causing her to look towards the nearby ruins and smile.
"Speak of the devil."
Walking free of the cave entrance with Reah and Vince following close behind, the Prophet found himself suddenly feeling very exhausted, both mentally and physically. So much so, that he actually felt like pulling a Siegmeyer and taking a nice long rest right where he was standing.
Moving through the Graveyard, which was now cleared of those annoying skeletons, and going through the ruined building filled with water along the floor, the Prophet was met with the smiling face of Velka, a look of surprise on the face of Anastacia and a look of curiosity and newfound interest from the merchant and the Crestfallen Knight respectively.
What he didn't see however was the shocked look on Reah and Vince's face the moments they rounded through the building and their eye's fell upon the winged woman ahead.
"Ugh, are you kidding me? She's here already? ." the Prophet thought to himself with a heavy sigh and the look of aggravation. "Maybe its not to late to make a run for it."
"Heh, heh, well, you can certainly try, but trust me when I say you won't make it very far." Velka said telepathically in an ominous tone.
"Prophet!" Anastacia exclaimed joyously as she stood up from her position and rushed to hug him.
Velka watched this with a small piece of displeasure as the Prophet happily returned the hold with a smile. Getting up from her seat she walked towards him with a much calmer demeanor, fully noticing the looks of shock that remained on the two individuals standing behind him.
"Who is-" Reah started.
"Okay, lets skip the whole awe and wonder part of this." the Prophet said. "Reah, Vince, this is Velka. Velka, this is Reah and Vince."
"Velka? As in...the goddess of sin?" Reah said in further shock. "Y-Your acquainted with the gods?!"
"By Gwyn, it never ends with this man." Vince said in apprehension.
"I know, right? Its like I'm always finding myself in either the most unfair situation or the most hilarious one. And a lot of the time, its never really clear which category some fall under." the Prophet joke. "Like dating a blind girl and having her tell you she wants to see other people. There's just no way to know if its incredibly unfair or just really hilarious."
While Vince and Reah, both still unused to the Prophets rambling, stared at him with maddening confusion., both Anastacia and Velka could only smile warmly.
"Unfair or hilarious, eh?" Velka said with a smile and placing her hands on her hips. "And which of those categories do I fall under?"
"Your a special case, Velka." the Prophet said without missing a beat. "I consider you to simply be hilariously unfair. Your just too insane a circumstance to fall under just one, so you get a category all your own."
The goddess smiled, finding Kaylen's humor very endearing.
"Heh, heh, oh really? Well-" Velka started.
"What about me, Prophet? Which one am I?" Anastacia asked with an cheerful, innocent smile on her face as she held onto the Prophets arm with both of her own, enthusiastically awaiting his reply.
"Anastacia, you obviously fall under the category of being unfair. Your just to darn adorable for your own good. I mean, what's a guys supposed to even do against that?" the Prophet said, causing Anastacia to smile brightly. She was very much enjoying receiving praise from him, though Velka was obviously somewhat less pleased to hear him call another woman adorable while she was reduced to "Hilariously unfair." and she was especially not enjoying the sight of her holding onto him in such an informal fashion.
Turning away from Anastacia, the Prophet immediately sweat dropped at the miffed look in Velka's eye's, though Anastacia was far to busy repeating the Prophets praise in her head to notice.
"Well, you two certainly seem close." Velka said plainly, crossing her arms over her chest.
Giving a cheeky, if not somewhat nervous, smile, the Prophet spoke to the Goddess.
"Well, yeah. Anastacia's a close friend of mine." the Prophet said simply. "She's pretty kind, if a bit shy sometimes. I would think you two would get along with each other pretty well."
"You presume to know the will of a god, Prophet." Reah scolded as if the Prophet were a small child. "How do you even know her?"
"That's a long story, Reah. Lets just say that me and Vel are pretty close with one another, and we've made a few plans together." the Prophet said scratching the back of his head in a casual manner and earning two small, almost unnoticeable, beats from Velka's wings. It seemed that, though she tried to hide it from her face, she liked hearing the Prophet say they were close. "Speaking of plans, I know you told me to hurry, but I wasn't gone for very long. I'm actually a little surprised that your here so soon."
Hearing this, Velka's mind snapped back to the matter at hand. The reason why she was sent back here in the first place.
Her eye's shifting downward for a moment, the Goddess tried her best to speak her next words in a happy and jovial tone.
"Ah, yes. That's right." Velka said brushing back a lock of hair from her face. "Um..Rejoice, Prophet. I come bearing good news. My lord Gwyndolin has requested your presence in the city of Anor Londo and I have come to take you too him."
This comment caused the Prophet to lose his cheerful demeanor immediately and left him frozen in place with a look of wide eyed shock.
"Gwyndolin...wants to see me? He...knows about me?" the Prophet said deafly, his words lingering in the air between the small group, the conversation gaining even the merchant and the Crestfallen Knights attention.
No one said anything as the news sunk into the Prophets mind and his eye's shifting downward in thought.
Then, without saying a word, the Prophet slowly walked forward, freeing himself from Anastacia's hold, moving past Velka and began to walk towards the stairs that he knew would lead him to an old elevator that would take him to New Londo Ruins.
"Prophet?" Velka said with concern and confusion as he walked passed her, placing a hand on his shoulder to stop him. "Where are you going?"
With his back to her, Velka could only see that the Prophets shoulder slump somewhat and heard that he gave off a tired sigh.
"I think...I want to rest for a bit." the Prophet said, confusing the Goddess.
"Rest? Prophet, your undead. If you are fatigued, then simply use the bonfire to restore your-"
"Velka, I just traveled through an underground crypt filled with necromancers, skeletons and poisonous traps. I killed an entire family to save two people I barely know and now I'm being told that the Dark Sun Gwyndolin himself wants to talk to me. I think I'd prefer it if I was able to take an actual nap right now and rest myself mentally as well as physically." the Prophet said in a somewhat hollow tone. "Did Gwyndolin say there was a sort time that had to be met to bring me to him?"
"No, he did not specify that, but-"
"Then I think it'll be fine if I rest for an hour or two, right?" the Prophet questioned. "I'm not going anywhere far. Just gonna take an elevator down those stairs to a place where its quiet and not so damn bright."
After a moment of pause, the Prophet decided to take Velka's removal of her arm from his shoulder as a way of saying that she would allow this and decided to continue on his way with one parting comment.
"Please don't follow me." He said to everyone within earshot. "I wanna be alone right now."
Moving down the stairs and towards the elevator, the Prophet never once thought of looking back, and thus missed the mixture of looks that everyone gave him. Anastacia had a look of concern written all over her face, for the Prophet never spoke to her in such a tone before. Velka gave a look of sad understanding. Vince and Reah could only give looks of surprise, not know him for very long, but never guessing that he had this side to him and that he would dare make request of the Goddess of sin. The Merchant and the Crestfallen Knight, though they would never admit it, were more than slightly curious and astonished at what was happening with that boy, that he was being summoned by a god and yet he wanted time to for something like sleep of all things.
New Londo Ruins
Stepping onto the elevator button and feeling his weight begin moving downward, the Prophet was practically beside himself with apprehension and dread.
His thoughts racing on the reasons that Gwyndolin could possibly want to meet with him quickly came to a the more than likely answer being that Velka had informed him about himself and his abilities. Which was horrible!
He had planned to ring both bells of awakening, gather the necessary items to help him grow strong and retrieve the items and proof necessary to prove to the god that change could be made to the world. Because he knew that Gwyndolin was one of the few being he dreaded turning into an enemy. He had no idea of the limitations of his illusions, his depth of magic or of his knowledge regard the Lord souls and the Abyss, which could prove invaluable. There were just so many goddamn unknowns. Which is why he planned to go to Gwyndolin only when he was completely ready. Not only when he was ready to prove his point to him, but also when he had gathered enough power and skills to face him should he become an enemy. The power of remaining anonymous and bidding his time was his two greatest weapons.
But now that weapon was lost and he was completely unprepared for the encounter.
As the elevator came to a stop, the Prophet deafly began walking as his thoughts continued to race on possible outcomes and what his next move should be.
Walking towards the edge of the cliff that lead to darkened waters, he unconsciously took a seat.
Possible events rushed throughout the Prophets mind. Many of them ending with himself being dead, imprisoned, hollow or, more horrifyingly, with those he cared about being targeted. And It all stemmed from the fact that he had no cards to play and Gwyndolin held every other advantage over him.
And with that deep feeling of helplessness came something that someone like the Prophet should fear with all his might.
That helplessness brought upon him the dreaded felling of doubt.
Firelink Shrine
No one dared speak a word as the Goddess of Sin paced back and forth in the middle of the shrine, deep in her own thoughts.
What's the Prophet thinking? How long will he be gone? Will he come with me willfully? or will I be forced to use my power to make him?
He asked her to leave him be for a time, but Velka burned with the desire to speak with him about this. Her mind was a maelstrom of questions and what-if's?
She was so deep in worried thought that she didn't notice in the slightest as Anastacia, with a look of pure distress across her face, began to walk down the stairs and take the same path that the Prophet took not long before.
New Londo Ruins
Over and over again, the Prophet played things out inside his mind, simulating how things could play out with the information, power and items he had at his disposal. But no matter how much he ran the scenario of meeting Gwyndolin now in his head, it seemed like there was nothing he had that could turn the god into any ally, other than his word, and he had no way to counter his illusions. There's no way in hell that the god doesn't know about him being a Prophet, which means he likely knows that he has knowledge of the Lordvessel, the bells and may at least suspect that he knows about the first flame. That makes him a priority threat to them, someone that must either fall in line like the rest or get put down.
With nothing to prove the existence that his plan could work, he was nobody. Just an idiot who knew too much. He saw Velka's memory's, Gwyndolin was not some minor obstacle. He was a key player that was impossible for the Prophet to stand up too with the strength he has now.
It was then that he heard footsteps approach him from behind. Turning around, he was surprised that he was not met with two jet black wings and piercing yellow split eye's, but instead there stood Anastacia with her deep blue eye's filled with worry and concern.
For a moment, he was stunned. Though she did not realize it, Anna stood as a shining example of what he had to lose should things go wrong. The thought of her dying because of him brought on a new layer of fear into his heart.
"Prophet...?" Anastacia said lowly.
Not wanting her to see his distress, the Prophet silently turned back towards the open lake and pulled his hood lower over his head, not even looking up as the Keeper came over and took a seat next to him over the side of the cliff.
"Prophet...are you alright?" The keeper asked.
The Prophet said nothing as the doubt and anxiety spread through his thoughts.
He did not face her, but he could feel her eye's boring into him for a response. But his mind could not form the words to say he was fine. All he could think of was that she was innocent in all of this. She had no idea the actual dangers he had to face or the enemy's he might make. No idea just how much she was truly valued by him, how much she actually kept him going. No idea how often he felt as if he was just as trapped and afraid as she was when she was caged. Because in truth, no matter how much he preached of being free of fate, the Prophet knew deep down that he was more chained to it than anyone.
With his knowledge, he held the literal fate of the world in his hands, but the curse of it all was that he felt as if he was bound to the role he plays. He had no option of walking away or forgetting all of this and building a life somewhere. He doesn't have a choice but to push forward and risk being butchered, carved, eaten, burned and mauled by beast of his worst nightmare because if he doesn't everyone suffers.
And that thought, that weight, that reality...frightened him more than anything. Even more so now that things were spiraling out of his control and he didn't know how he should proceed next.
"What..am I supposed to do? There's nothing I can do against Gwyndolin." He thought to himself weakly. "Warrior. Prophet. Hero. These words won't mean a damn against him. I'm too weak to push forward and without me, they don't have a future. She doesn't have a future."
This thought made a tight pain form in the Prophets chest. He didn't want to lose anyone. He didn't want everyone to suffer because of his weakness and his inability.
It was then that he felt a tender palm cupping the side of his face, snapping him out of his contemplation. His vision was filled with the distressing sight of Anastacia's worrying face, her lips pursed tightly. It wasn't his intention to remain silent for so long and sadden her, but now he had show her his more fearful side and knew he had to say something to ease her thoughts.
"Oh..sorry, Anna. Heh, guess I drifted off for a bit there." the Prophet said, actually managing one of his cheerful smiles.
Her then thumb grazed his cheek, drawing a neat line downwards.
"Eh?"
What was wrong? Her face hadn't gotten any better even after he said he was fine, still framed with worry for him. Why did she do a gesture this intimate?
Suddenly feeling something out of the ordinary, the Prophet brought his fingers to touch the same part she did earlier.
They're wet.
"I..was crying?" the Prophet questioned incredulously.
It was a lone tear rolling down his cheek which drew Anastacia's concern and his own. He hadn't even realized that it had happened. All sorts of thought rushed through his head of what to say next, but for some reason it was difficult to formulate a clear answer.
"Prophet..."
His mind came to a halt a Anna's gentle voice washed into his ears. But before she could get a word out, he instinctively smiled and waved a hand around in a joking manner.
"Its nothing, Anna. My eye was just a little irritated is all."
It was a pathetic excuse for a lie.
And It seemed Anastacia agreed with him on this as the look of apprehension never left her eye's as she reached a hand up once more and cupped the Prophets cheek, looking him directly in his eye's.
"Please, Prophet...you need not lie to me." she said softly. "If its something personal that you do not wish to reveal, then I will not pry too much, but please...If you are suffering, it's fine to let others know. Just...just tell me if thou wants to..."
His eye's peered into Anastacia's own deep blue orbs, and he could tell that she really wished for him to share his pain with her. He couldn't help but think that sometimes she was just to kind for her own good and though he appreciated the thought, he knew that he could never bear to put that burden upon her.
So wordlessly, he softly placed his hand on her palm and gently removed it from his face, returning his gaze back towards the lake in front of him. The suns golden rays snaking through the holes at the roof of the underground cavern and lightly bathing across its eerily still waters, painting both a beautiful and unsettling image for them both.
Still looking ahead, the Prophet smiled bitterly as he spoke his next words.
"You don't have to worry, Anna. I'm as fine as I've ever been. Just need to recharge my batteries alone for a bit and I'll be back to usually awesome self."
Hearing this and taking it as a form of saying he wanted her to leave, Anastacia's eye's fell downward as she spoke her next words.
"Why do you continue this façade?" the Keeper said with a note of displeasure in her voice. "Prophet, you have been a beacon of hope for everyone around you, especially myself! You don't have to lie to me and pretend that everything is perfect when its tearing you apart inside." Anastacia paused her voice increasingly getting higher and higher before continuing more sedately. "We all hold fear in our hearts, but you do not need to bottle it up and face everything yourself! Let me help you, even if its only for a moment... "
With her heart pouring out to him, she turned her eye's away from the ground and back towards him.
"I say this, Prophet...because you are far to good at hiding it all behind a smile."
At this, the Prophets eye's softened at this. He knew that every word she just spoke about him was true, but also knew that things weren't so easy as to just tell the truth.
"Anastacia, I bear this silence and suffering alone because I care about you guys far more than I do myself. Its for your own protection and happiness that I keep it all bottled up." the Prophet said softly without looking at his friend, to ashamed to show his face. "And its for your safety and future...that I'm telling you to forget about me."
These words shot through Anastacia's mind like a racing bullet.
"W..what?" she said softly in confusion.
The words tasted bitter on his lips, but the Prophet continued further.
"Soon enough, I'm going to meet with Dark Sun Gwyndolin, son of Gwyn and leader of the Darkmoon Blades, and I don't know if I can do anything to convince him to help me. In all likelihood, I may end up becoming an enemy of Anor Londo and be hunted to the ends of the earth by the Darkmoon Blades. That's the reality that I have to deal with. And I when I go with Velka to Anor Londo, and I indeed must go with her, I didn't want you to worry about whether or not I was fine or if I was being tortured into hollofication. But truthfully, that outcome doesn't bother as much as the alternative, not even close. Hell, maybe it would nice to just forget everything I know about the world. What bothers me is the possibility of them coming after people associated or close to me. Because without you guys, there's nothing connecting me to this world. No family, no loved one's...you handful of people I've only know for so long, keep me whole."
"Prophet..."
"And so I choose your happiness over mine. I won't put you in harms way just so I can have company. I won't let you die because of me." the Prophet said, hating himself for each word spoken, knowing full well how much it must hurt her to hear them. "I want you live your life happily, Anna. Find someone who cares for you more than I ever could. The worlds a big place, I know they're out there. Forgot you ever met me, and live."
"How could you-? What do you mean, forget about you and live? " the keeper said, hurting at the possibility that she was being discarded. "My happiness comes from being with you, Prophet. You saved me from hopelessness. I do not wish to leave your side."
"Anna...its for you own good." the Prophet choked out, still looking forward. "Just leave."
Hearing this, Anastacia actually began to tear up.
"You..don't mean it. You can't mean that. You told me that you cared about me. You said that I wouldn't have to be alone anymore if I trusted you." Anastacia pleaded, gaining no reaction from the Prophet other than his continued silence, which only served to hurt her more. "T..Then look me in the eye's and say it. Say you wish for me to leave. If you can do that, then I will leave you be and...return to being alone. But I won't believe it unless you can look me in the eye's and say it."
Hearing this, the Prophet crumbled on the inside. Even more so when he felt her place her hand on top of his, as if she meant to physically stop him from saying those words.
"Come on, you goddamn coward. It'll hurt her now, but she'll live through it. She'll have a life. Even if she hates you to the core, she'll forget you in time." the Prophet tried desperately to convince himself. "A bit of sadness to make up for a lifetime of happiness. You need to speak the words."
Feeling his hands shaking, the Prophet turned his gaze on her and the look of absolute sadness and despair on her face broke his resolve and It only got worse as his gazed lingered and she grew wide eyed.
"I-It's not true..." she whimpered. Kaylen almost slipped at this. How could he do this to her? She came here to comfort him and make sure he was alright and he does this? "Prophet..this isn't like you...Please..don't do this. We can find another way, I know it...Please...I can't-"
Before she could get another word out, the Prophet pulled her close and held her.
"Stop." was the only word he could muster. He couldn't bear the pain and sorrow he was causing her anymore. Even if he knew that he would be placing her in danger by doing this, his heart just couldn't handling crushing her like this. "Anastacia, I'm trying to save you. Staying with me could mean your death and I...I don't want to see you die, understand?"
"I care not! If I am to die, then I'd rather spend what time I have with you." Anastacia cried out, causing the Prophet heart to break even further for what he's done. "If I can be with the man who gave me this warmth, who makes me smile and makes me happy, then I would have it no other way."
Hearing this, the Prophet could not help but hold Anastacia closer as she continued to weep softly.
"I'm sorry, Anna...Sorry for doing this to you and for saying those things...I won't do that again...I'm sorry.."
He couldn't say it enough to her. There no amount of words that could express to her the regret that he was holding onto. But he meant it. He would never make her feel this way again.
For a few minutes, the cavern was filled with nothing but the sound of soft weeping and a man continuously apologized. Until finally, the Keeper had calmed down and fallen into slumber in the Prophets embrace. Feeling need to not let her go and to make himself comfortable, the Prophet laid his back on the ground and allowed Anastacia to fall gently with him, the sudden shift in movement causing her to curl up and snuggle towards the Prophet closely..
"You know, you've said many idiotic things in the past, but that had to have been the most foolish." a familiar female voice said suddenly from the Prophets mind.
Knowing full well who it was, Kaylen didn't even feel the need to raise himself to look at her as he spoke.
"How much did you hear?" he thought clearly.
"Enough to know that you were about to make a terrible mistake."
Saying not a word more to clarify, Velka walked forward and layer opposite side that Anna lay with the Prophet, proceeding to lay next to him and make herself comfortable, getting just as close to him as Anastacia did.
"Never again, do you understand? You do not safeguard someone by turning them away. If you wish to protect something important to you, do it with your own hands and conviction. As you always have." Velka said. "And please...do not attempt to bear the burden of the world on your shoulders alone. I am here for you if you need me. Do not forget that."
With that said, Velka's gaze lowered slightly as she recalled the Prophets words of the chance that he may become an enemy of Anor Londo and she prayed that it would never come to such an outcome.
But the Prophet was of a different mindset.
Right now, he was tired of Lordran. Tired of the fate he was dealt, tired of worrying about the future... he was just sick of it all.
"Vel...just for a bit..I don't want to care what happens to the world. I just want to lay here and sleep."
Hearing this and feeling the emotions that went through his conscious, Velka could only give one last comment as the Prophets eye's slowly closed and he lulled himself to rest.
"Then may flights of angels sing thee to thy slumber, Prophet."
ALRIGHT, BRO'S. THATS ALL I GOT FOR YA THIS TIME!
In case you didn't notice, I really wanted to give Anastacia and the Prophet their time to shine together in this chapter as I fell I really haven't developed things between them as far as I want just yet.
Regarding the new mask, Yes, I know It didn't get much of a reveal, but its definitely going to be used and presented as an item of tremendous and rare power. So please hold on for that. Not gonna let that bad boy stay tucked away in the Prophets satchel for no goddamn reason.
Also, I really enjoyed writing the Prophet in this sort of "This is how he truly feels about things" kinda way. I like to think that there's always more to him that he chooses to hide form everyone around himself as an attempt to protect them.
As a final joking note, I actually managed to end this with the Prophet situated between two beautiful women. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THIS WILL NOT BE MENTIONED NEXT CHAPTER! :)
So that pretty much all I have to mention about this chapter, bro's.
As always, please review and tell me what you guys thought of this chapter of the story. Honest opinions are always appreciated as I'm always looking to improve my style of writing to make the story more interesting for you guys, so don't be shy in telling me your thoughts about how things are going so far. Outside opinions will have a huge effect on how this story will play out.
This is Supreme Gamer, Signing out.
P.S. Not sure if I should do a bit of interaction with Reah and Velka while she's at the shrine or if I should just move along with the story and forget about it. Not sure how, but I kinda feel an interaction with an actual god would cement a place in this story for our our little Priestess somehow. Not to mention how Velka would react to Vince running away.