Chapter 3: An Accord
Beatrix awoke in a daze, her head throbbing painfully.
With a groan, the young woman shifted her body and flipped herself over onto her back.
'I have to stop waking up like this.' she groused internally as she lay with her limbs splayed out.
She stared up at the sky and saw that it had begun to gain an orange hue, signifying that it was approaching dusk.
'What am I doing here?' she thought with sigh as she watched the clouds float by through the branches of the Erdtree.
Beatrix wasn't sure if that question was pointed towards her current predicament or towards her existence as a whole. She had a goal to work towards at the moment, to reach Liurnia, but as to what she would do after that, she had no real plan.
She could feel it in her bones that she was in the Lands Between for a reason. But for the life of her, she simply couldn't remember what that was.
To add to the growing pile of problems, she could still hardly remember a thing about her past aside from her name!
She felt so lost!
The silver-scaled girl let out another sigh as she lamented her current situation.
On a whim, she turned her head to her left and saw a small wisp of golden light. By sheer chance, she had landed next to a Site of Grace!
And it just so happened to be within arms reach from where she lay.
'Oh sweet mercy!' she thought with relief as she lifted her left arm and stretched it out towards the wisp of grace.
The sliver of golden light burst into life, causing a wave of warmth to flow through her body.
The young woman sighed in relief as any remaining pain and soreness were purged from her body.
She then sat up and began to stretch her muscles while seated on the ground.
"I hope this doesn't become a recurring thing." Beatrix said to herself as she crossed her legs and shifted into a more comfortable seated position.
She leaned back and supported herself on her right hand as she used her left to roll her neck.
Her nose then caught a smell in the air. The savory scent of cooked meat lingered on the subtle breeze, causing her mouth to water.
'Food!'
The girl turned her head to follow the smell and saw that it had originated from a nearby campfire.
She saw that a simple pot hung open over the flame, a bubbling broth within.
Beatrix started to drool as her stomach made an audible rumble. She hadn't realized just how hungry she actually was.
Without even a thought as to why a pot of stew would be sitting but feet away, she quickly scrambled towards the campfire on her hands and knees.
She stopped next to the pot and took a deep inhale. The meaty aroma of the broth caused her to lick her lips and shudder in anticipation.
It looked to be a simple meat and potato stew bubbling within the pot.
The silver-scaled girl reached out with a hand to pluck a piece of meat out of the stew. But before she could grab anything, a voice spoke up.
"If you wish to have some of my dinner, then you'll have to pay for it." a man said from where he was seated next to the campfire.
Beatrix froze in place and stiffly turned her head to the source of the voice.
It was a man with blond hair and striking red eyes garbed in what looked like strange traveling attire. Half of his face was hidden by a scarf.
He stared at her expectantly, seemingly waiting for an answer.
The pale-eyed girl remained frozen in her position, her face flushed with a noticeably violet hue. That hue then seemed to spread down her neck to envelope the rest of her torso. Even the silvery scales that covered the rest of her body had taken on a reddened hue.
She pulled her arm away and shifted herself away to sit on her knees. She then wrapped her arms around her chest and cast her gaze down to her lap, fidgeting nervously.
"I'm sorry." came the mumbled response.
The man watched her for close to a minute before he decided to speak.
"You are one of the Tarnished, I can see it. And I can also see… That you're not after my throat." he eyed her for a moment. "Then why not purchase a little something? I am Kalé, purveyor of fine goods." he said as he gestured to the nearby mule that was encumbered by numerous satchels.
Beatrix did not lift her head due to her embarrassment. Instead, she elected to look at the merchant through her lashes.
"I would… but as you can see," her blush somehow grew brighter as she referred to her nudity. "I clearly don't have any sort of coin on me."
Kalé chuckled. "We merchants have no need for jewels or coins. No, now we barter with runes."
The girl gained a perplexed expression. "Runes?"
"Runes are the manifestation of the life given to all creatures within The Lands Between. When something dies within these lands, their life force is turned into runes, which can be used for a myriad of purposes. Such as bartering for goods, for example." explained the man.
"I see…" the girl said thoughtfully. "I'm not sure if I have any -" she stopped herself short when she felt a number pop up in her head. "Actually, I think I might have…" she then tilted her head to the right. "Seven hundred runes, give or take?"
The merchant hummed. "That might be enough for you to buy a few of my wares."
Silence fell between them.
Beatrix glanced at Kalé and saw that he had turned to stare at the pot of stew.
She glanced away and bit her lip for a moment. "Why are you out here?" she asked softly.
The merchant looked back at her and regarded her query.
"I am a member of a nomadic people. Selling wares as I travel." he then looked back to the campfire. "The land has been tainted by madness since the shattering of the Elden Ring. It's only thanks to Tarnished, much like yourself, who keeps things from drying up entirely." he then looked back at her. "Let's say you're a very welcome customer."
"Ah." she said with a nod. She then lifted her hands and began to press both of her index fingers together with a bashful expression on her face. "Is that offer you made about your diner still on the table?" she asked softly.
The man looked at her for a moment before he chuckled. "I suppose we can work out a deal."
Beatrix sighed as she sat by the site of grace within the Church of Elleh. She had managed to work out a deal with Kalé, although whether that deal was a fair one was up for debate.
In exchange for a free meal, she had to purchase some of his stock. Something that ultimately cost her every single rune she had on her.
The merchant had convinced her to purchase what he called a crafting kit. An item that allowed travelers to create simple items and goods from natural materials when out in the wildd, provided one had the recipes to make them. Aside from that, she had used her remaining runes to purchase a small collection of throwing knives.
The man looked at her for a moment before he chuckled. "I suppose we can work out a deal."
Beatrix sighed as she sat by the site of grace within the Church of Elleh. She had managed to work out a deal with Kalé, although whether that deal was a fair one was up for debate.
Although she no longer had a rune to her name, she had at least a few things that could be of great use to her in the future.
The girl hummed a soft tune without any real melody as she used one of her new throwing knives to cut bits of fabric to shape.
She put the knife down and held the strip of fabric out to get a good look at it.
Once it met her standards, she nodded in approval and brought the fabric to her chest.
She had the fabric cup the underside of her breasts and brought the ends up over her shoulders, and began to tie them together behind her neck. Once tied, she made numerous smaller adjustments to the garment until she was satisfied.
With how Beatrix had cut the strip, it was not enough to cover more than the underside of her breasts. But coverage was not its purpose. Rather, it was to provide the necessary support she needed for her bust.
She then picked up another strip of fabric and folded along the length until it was thickened to her liking. She then pressed it against the front of her breasts and pulled the ends of the strip behind her back. After a little maneuvering, she was able to pass both ends of the strip into the opposing hands and pulled them until she felt an adequate amount of compression.
She then pulled the fabric away and picked the throwing knife back up.
The silver-scaled proceeded to slowly cut the fabric to shape.
Some time later, Beatrix made some final adjustments as she pulled her new clothing into place.
Well, clothing was her being generous. In truth, she had made herself what could barely be considered underwear. But for what they lacked in aesthetic appeal, they made up for in practicality.
She was no seamstress by any stretch, but she felt pride bloom beneath her now covered breasts at her accomplishment, as meager as it was.
The young woman let out a soft sigh as she sat back and looked up at the sky above.
The light of day had fully faded into the night, revealing a sea of stars that peeked through the boughs of the golden Erdtree.
'That knight from before told me to wait here until nightfall before attempting to sneak through the forest ahead. Hopefully, that patrol he mentioned is asleep.'
Beatrix sat by the grace for a while longer, content to rest and enjoy the moment of peace. But she knew that she would have to leave soon, so she chose to prepare herself as best she could.
The girl focused for a moment and called the flask full of crimson liquid into her hand. She examined the object for a moment before she placed it within her new satchel, followed by her throwing knives.
She then looked at the crafting kit and the remaining bundle of fabric.
'These are a bit too large to fit into my new bag. Maybe…'
She focused for a moment, and both the crafting kit and the bundle of fabric vanished into little motes of gold.
'There! That should make things lighter for me.' she thought to herself with a nod of satisfaction.
She looped the satchel around her waist, taking care that the pouch sat on her right side.
Once she was certain that she was ready, Beatrix rose from her seat by the site of grace and began her journey.
As the girl stepped past the collapsed church wall, she glanced back towards Kalé.
The merchant still sat by his fire, playing a soft mournful tune on his instrument.
The man had been a good help to her thus far, so she hoped to meet him again someday.
The young woman looked away and took a calming breath.
There was no turning back now.
She took one step forward.
Then another.
Then another.
Before she realized it, the silver-scaled girl was walking towards the forest in the distance.
Insects chirped as Beatrix trudged along the old dirt road that led to the forest.
All had been calm thus far, nary a danger in sight.
Most would have taken it as a sign that all was well. But thanks to the ample warning she had been given, the girl knew not to let her guard down completely.
Such precautions proved beneficial, for not long into her walk, did her keen eyes spy a light in the distance.
It was a man garbed in the same suit of armor that the Soldier of Godrick had worn when she had encountered him in the cave earlier.
The soldier walked down the narrow road in the opposing direction to her with a torch in hand.
No doubt he was a scout for the patrol she had been warned about.
The young woman stopped and surveyed the area ahead.
The road was flanked on either side by large shrubbery. Perhaps if she kept low and silent, then she could use the bushes as natural cover and slip by unnoticed.
With her plan set, she stepped off the road and crouched down behind the bushes.
She crawled along the ground on her hands and knees, taking great care not to disturb the foliage more than what could be excused away as a stray breeze or animal.
When the scout drew close, Beatrix stopped behind a particularly thick bush and waited for him to pass her by.
The soldier suddenly stopped next to where she hid and began to scan the area around him.
The silver-scaled girl suppressed a gasp and lowered herself until she lay flat against the grass.
For a brief moment, she feared that she had been found out. That the scout had somehow spotted her and was trying to surmise her position.
The anticipation of a confrontation caused her to subconsciously summon her club into her hand.
She tightened her fingers around the handle as she waited for what the soldier was going to do.
After several tense moments passed, the scout let out a sneeze and shook his head. He seemed to grumble something under his breath and continued off down the road.
After several moments, Beatrix felt the tension leave her body, and she released a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding.
She slowly rose to her feet and leaned over the bush to spy the scout, continuing down the path.
She then turned her gaze towards the forest to see if anyone else was present at its edge.
There were none.
With that, she quietly stepped onto the road and briskly continued on her trek.
The forest was cast in darkness.
The canopy above was so thick that it blocked out almost all of the light from both the golden tree and the moon above.
But Beatrix found that the darkness did not hinder her. Her pale irises were seemingly well suited to seeing in the dark.
She had left the old dirt road shortly after wandering into the woods, an action that would make it less likely for anyone to catch sight of her.
The young woman used the trees for cover while the underbrush masked her near silent footfalls.
She had spotted a few soldiers throughout the forest, some with torches, others without.
They wandered about, seemingly in search of something.
Whatever it was didn't particularly matter to her at the moment. But she was more than happy to take advantage of their distraction.
It took some time, but the silver-scaled girl was able to reach the other side of the forest unnoticed.
Beatrix glanced over her shoulder back into the woods behind her where she could faintly catch the sight of the various torches glowing faintly within the darkness.
The girl turned her gaze back to the area in front of her and caught sight of the settlement near Stormhill Gate.
Although settlement was being generous.
There, across a small field, was the ruins of what might have once been a quaint village. But now, only the crumbling stone walls of its buildings remained. Only a weathered stone wall that surrounded the ruins remained in good condition.
She could spy a few tents within the ruins, and there were soldiers posted at nearly every entrance.
Maybe it would be best to avoid the settlement entirely.
From what she could see from her position, there was an old road that cut through the ruins and led to a large stone archway that sat to the west. The road continued on to the east, leading out to the countryside.
'If I recall correctly, that knight told me that the safest path to Liurnia is to travel east from those ruins, and then find a road that will take me north.'
Beatrix then scanned the area again as she tried to devise a way to progress unnoticed.
'I may be able to circle around the ruins by cutting through the field, but…' She extended her right arm out in front of her. The silvery scales immediately began to reflect the pale late. 'I might end up getting spotted if I'm out in the open.' Her eyes returned to the ruins. 'Perhaps if I brave the ruins and stick to the shadows, I might be able to avoid the guards… hopefully.'
The silver-scaled girl debated the idea with herself for several moments longer before she finally came to a decision.
'Looks like I have no other choice.'
With a sigh, she moved from the shadow of the forest and made her way towards the ruins, taking great care not to move too quickly.
Beatrix pressed her back against the crumbling stone wall that surrounded the village with her palm pressed against her chest.
She breathed heavily as she glanced to either side of her to make certain that there was no one who could catch sight of her.
'That was close! Thank goodness those clouds rolled in and covered the moon. It made everything just dark enough for me to get to the wall!'
The girl sighed as she wiped her brow with her left hand and rested her head against the stones.
'Alright. I just need to wait until no one is paying attention so I can get to the road and be on my way.'
So she sat there, waiting and listening for the bustle and chatter of the soldiers to quiet to the point that it would be safe to move.
It took nearly half an hour before the noise subsided.
Only the occasional sound of armor clanking as a few guards milled about could be heard by her sensitive ears.
'It's mostly silent now. That must mean that most of them have gone to sleep.'
She turned around and peeked over the top of the wall to confirm that there were very few soldiers still up and about.
The silver-scaled girl sat back down and considered her next move.
'Alright. I'm not very far from the road that leads out to the countryside. I could skirt along the wall until I reach the road, but there's a chance that a guard is watching it.'
The young woman curled her right hand closed and brought it up to her face. Her lips brushed the knuckles as she thought over every possibility.
'I'm likely to get spotted if I'm not careful.' Pale eyes scanned the area around her. 'Odd. I don't see anyone nearby. The road looks very important, so there should at least be one person to keep watch.'
The silver-scaled girl frowned slightly at the thought. But as she thought more about it, she realized that the gap in their defenses could be to her benefit.
'If I keep to the wall, then I should be able to avoid anyone from within the ruins.'
With her path set, Beatrix nodded her head and pushed herself away from the wall.
She kept herself low as she crawled along the ground next to the wall.
After a few moments, she ducked behind some shrubbery that grew next to the wall near the side of the main road.
The girl waited for a moment before she slowly rose to peek up over the wall.
There were at least two soldiers by the road near the entrance. One was garbed in the same helmet and red-and-green surcoat as the others she had seen thus far. The other, however, was clad in a full suit of armor, his tall plumed helmet, partisan, and shield added to the intimidating silhouette he had.
'I'm certainly going to avoid that one in the armor. Lucky me, no one is watching the road at the moment. That gives me ample opportunity to sneak away without notice.'
The silver-scaled girl allowed a smirk to appear on her face as she ducked down again.
She crawled out from behind the shrubs and began to move away from the ruins.
She jogged away from the ruins at a brisk pace, careful to keep off the road so that she could avoid any potential patrols.
After a few moments, she noticed a familiar glimmer of golden light in the distance.
'It's a site of grace!'
Excitement surged through her as she quickened her pace.
There, tucked behind some large bushes off the side of the road, sat the beckoning golden light of the site of grace.
She reached towards the grace, and it surged to life.
As the warmth of the little light flowed through her, she let out a sigh and sat down and let her body relax somewhat.
'Everything's gone well thus far. Hopefully, I won't experience any sort of setbacks on my journey.'
Beatrix then felt something small and wet hit the top of her head.
"Huh?" she glanced up to the sky that was dark with thick clouds.
With a flash of lightning and a crack of thunder, she was suddenly pelted by a curtain of heavy rain, causing her hair and the meager rags she wore to cling to her body.
'I somehow feel like I invoked this…'
The silver-scaled girl looked back down with a flat expression on her face towards the grace, which continued to flicker peacefully, as though it was completely unaffected by the downpour.
She moved closer to the golden light and brought her limbs against her body in an attempt to conserve the warmth it gave her.
Beatrix sat out in the rain for several hours, quietly watching the grace flickering in front of her with the hope that the weather would change soon.
After what felt like an eternity, the rain eventually lightened to the point where it was little more than a light drizzle and mist.
'Finally!' she thought with relief as she moved her wet hair away from her eyes.
The girl sighed as she unfurled her limbs and looked up to the clouds above.
While they had lightened considerably from the dark coloration they had before, the sky was still overcast with a chance that more rain could fall soon.
Beatrix then heard something that pulled her from her observation.
She turned her head to the right and watched as a hooded figure appeared next to her in a shower of blue sparkles.
The stranger then knelt down next to the site of grace and removed her hood, revealing a pretty young woman with pale red hair streaked with blonde dusting her shoulders. She wore a green cloak over what looked like a simple traveling garb. Curiously, her right eye was a mesmerizing golden color, whilst her left eye was held shut with a marking of what looked to be talons of a bird inked over it.
"Greetings. Traveler from beyond the fog." she uttered softly as their eyes met. "I am Melina. I offer you an accord."
"Ah?"
Melina stared at the tarnished that she had watched from a distance thus far.
The creature was certainly a curiosity. She was clearly able to hold her own but also seemed reluctant to enter combat.
Under normal circumstances, such a behavior would likely result in a quick death. Yet she was able to avoid a confrontation with Tree Sentinel.
It was by no means a small feat as Tree Sentinels were known for their zealotry towards the Golden Order.
For one to show mercy towards an enemy was unbelievable, for one to render aid to an enemy was thought impossible.
And yet, this strange girl had accomplished that. There was more than simply luck on her side.
This was a golden opportunity, one that Melina had no intention of wasting.
"Tell me," the strange redhead tilted her head slightly. "Have you heard of the Finger Maidens?"
Beatrix was somewhat caught off guard by the question. She thought about her response for a moment before she shook her head negatively.
The one-eyed woman let out a soft hum, likely as she thought over her own response. "They serve the Two Fingers, offering guidance and aid to the Tarnished."
The silver-scaled girl let out her own hum at that. While that was an interesting little fun fact, it did little to serve her current objective.
Melina then spoke up again.
"But you, I am afraid, are maidenless." she said bluntly, unknowingly repeating the words Varré had spoken earlier.
The young woman suddenly felt her blood pressure spike as she gritted her teeth with a soft growl.
The traveler saw that she had likely struck a nerve with that statement, so she thought it best to hurry along and state her business.
"It needn't be such, however. I can play the role of a maiden and turn your runes into strength. All to aid you in your search for the Elden Ring. You need only take me with you, to the foot of the Erdtree."
Beatrix eyed the woman for a moment before she let out a soft hum and nodded her head in understanding.
"Why do you assume I'm searching for this so-called Elden Ring?" Her head tilted to the side as a display of her curiosity.
The question surprised the redhead. She hadn't expected the girl to be so talkative.
Even so, she answered.
"It is the reason all Tarnished journey beyond the fog, to the Lands Between. The Elden Ring is a relic of divine power that can shape the very nature of reality. But it was shattered long ago, and its shards were scattered across the lands."
Beatrix nodded and motioned for her to continue.
"Many have waged war so that they could acquire the shards and restore the Elden Ring, all so that they can become Elden Lord."
"Elden Lord?"
The traveler nodded. "The Elden Lord is the consort of Queen Marika, the Eternal, who rules the Lands Between."
The silver-scaled girl crossed her arms over her chest and let out a contemplative hum.
"I think I understand. But again, why do you assume I'm searching for this Elden Ring?" she asked with a small frown.
Melina was again surprised by the question.
"For what other reason would you travel to The Lands Between?" she asked curiously.
Beatrix opened her mouth to respond but found herself unable to reply. Her lips closed into a small frown as she turned her head to look at the flickering grace between them.
"I don't know, to be honest. I just sort of woke up here a day ago at most without any memory of my past." She brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "It took a great deal of effort for me to even remember my own name!"
The silver-scaled girl shifted her gaze back to the redhead.
"But I'm certain that for whatever reason I came here, it was very important to me."
Melina watched as the Tarnished let out a sigh and returned to gazing into the grace.
"I see. We are more alike than I initially believed."
That caught the girl's attention.
"I have little recollection of my past, only that the answers I seek can be found at the foot of the Erdtree. Perhaps if we travel together, then we may both find the purpose we seek."
Beatrix brought her gaze back to the grace and bit the knuckle of her index finger in thought.
After several moments, she released her finger and looked back towards Melina.
"I think it's a good idea for us to travel together."
The traveler's lips shifted into the ghost of a smile as she nodded. "Then it is settled. Summon me by grace to turn runes into strength."
The silver-scaled girl nodded in understanding.
Silence descended onto them for several moments before the redhead spoke up again.
"Ah, another matter." She reached into a small bag at her side and pulled something out of it. "I bequeath to you this ring. Use it to traverse great distances." she gently murmured as she took hold of the girl's hand and placed a small ring onto her palm.
Beatrix pulled her hand back and inspected the item. It was a delicate goldwork ring covered in numerous tiny holes.
Melina spoke up again to answer the unasked question. "It will summon a spectral steed named Torrent."
The Tarnished tilted her head to the side with a look of confusion. "Torrent?"
The redhead simply nodded. "Yes. Torrent has chosen you. Treat him with respect."
The girl looked back down to the ring. She ran her thumb over the item.
After several moments, she took the ring with her left hand and slipped it onto her right index finger. It was a perfect fit.
She held her hand out and watched as the ring caught the light of the grace.
The traveler watched her new companion admire the ring for a short while before she decided to speak up.
"Shall I turn your runes to strength?" she asked as she extended a hand outward.
Beatrix was pulled from her distracted state and looked at the one-eyed woman.
"Oh, I'm sorry but…" she shrugged as a flustered look appeared on her face. "I spent what few runes I had on the supplies I have now." Her face flushed a subtle shade of purple as she dipped her head down.
"Ah. That is fine. You need merely defeat your enemies to acquire more runes. You will find no shortage of either throughout your journey." Melina said with a slight shrug as she pulled her hand back.
The girl felt her face grow warm from her embarrassment as she fidgeted in place.
'I hope she's not already disappointed in me.'
Silence fell between them for a time.
Before long, Melina decided to offer some form of guidance to her new companion.
"This tiny golden aura is the grace of the Erdtree." she spoke softly, causing the silver-scaled girl to look at her through her lashes. "This light once shone in the eyes of your tarnished brethren. But now, it is all that guides you. Or so I hear."
Beatrix looked to the small wisp of golden light and watched as it flickered lightly, like a candle in the wind.
"You can see them, can't you?" the single-eyed woman asked softly. "The rays of grace that guide you through your burden."
The Tarnished followed the trail of light that rose from the grace with her eyes until it tapered off in the direction of the large stone gateway.
Beatrix let out a groan as she hopped off of her new mount, Torrent.
The spectral steed let out a gentle snort before he vanished into blue sparkles. Much like how Melina had earlier, she noted.
They had stopped next to a new site of grace that sat before an old dilapidated shack atop a windy hill.
The girl whimpered and put a hand to the left side of her abdomen, where an arrow had pierced her.
The wooden projectile stuck out from her side, causing pain to lance through her body with every movement.
The arrow had come from a particularly lucky shot from one of the soldiers standing guard at a garrison stationed on the road.
She hadn't expected to meet such stiff resistance on the path, but she was able to get through with only an arrow in her side to show for it.
The Tarnished looked herself over and saw the bite marks she had received from a pack of wolves that had attacked her after she got past the blockade.
Beatrix had made the mistake of discounting Torrent to investigate a golden sapling similar to the one she saw in the graveyard the day before.
Suffice to say, she had come into a small number of runes, as well as another of those strange golden seeds.
The silver-scaled girl limped over to the inactive shard of grace with a hiss and reached out to it.
The sliver of golden light surged to life, and she sat down next to it. The surge of warmth chased away the pain, and she saw that all of her injuries had vanished, even the arrow.
She rubbed at the spot where the arrow had hit her and felt not even a twinge of discomfort.
If there was any doubt that these sites of grace could heal her, then they were gone now.
The Tarnished heard the sound of steps and looked to the side to see Melina appear beside her.
"I trust you are well?" the woman asked softly.
Beatrix nodded in confirmation. "Yes, thanks to this grace here." A pout then formed on her face. "At least you could have told me that there were defenses along the road!"
The redhead shrugged half-heartedly. "I believed that it was already apparent to you."
The silver-scaled girl hummed in annoyance. While she couldn't exactly blame her new companion for the assumption, it would have been nice to receive a little warning in advance.
After a few moments, she let out a sigh and looked back towards the traveler.
"Why exactly do you want to reach the Erdtree anyway?" she asked curiously as she leaned back onto her arms.
"Me?" Melina tilted her head slightly before she chose to answer. "I'm searching. For my purpose given to me by my mother inside the Erdtree, long ago." She lifted a hand and looked down at the scars that covered it. "For the reason that I yet live, burned and bodiless."
Beatrix was left perplexed by the statement. "Does that imply that you're some sort of spirit, like Torrent?"
The redhead considered the question for a moment.
"I suppose that there is some similarity between Torrent and I. But whereas he has purpose in choosing you to be his master, I merely wander aimlessly. I work to complete a goal that I can no longer remember."
The Tarnished felt pity well beneath her breast, and she reached out to take hold of her companion's hand.
The action seemed to shock the woman, her singular golden eye turned towards the girl.
Beatrix had a look of reassurance on her face as she gently squeezed Melina's hand.
The spectral woman soon pulled her hand away and betrayed no further vulnerability.
"There is something for which I must apologize." Her head dipped slightly. "I've acted the Finger Maiden, yet can offer no guidance. I am no maiden. My purpose… was long ago lost."
The silver-scaled girl wished to say something that could lift the spirits of her companion.
She opened her mouth to speak but stopped herself when something caught her ear.
"Do you hear that?" she asked as she tried to focus on the sound.
A small frown appeared on Melina's face. "I hear not but the wind."
The Tarnished frowned in turn. "I'm certain that I hear something." she said as her pointed ears seemed to flex on their own. "It almost sounds like someone's crying."
She was eventually able to pinpoint the source of the sound and turned herself around towards the old shack nearby.
"It's coming from there." she said as she hot up and made her way to the shack.
Melina watched her silently for a moment before she too stood up and de-materialized herself.
Beatrix entered the rundown building with caution, her pale eyes searching for any potential threats.
There was nothing within the singular room save for a young woman curled up in the back.
She was huddled up next to an old barrel with a bright red hood drawn over her head.
The silver-scaled girl slowly approached the hooded girl so as not to startle her.
When she was nearly halfway through the room, she accidentally stepped onto a loose floorboard, causing the aged wood to creak audibly.
The sound caused the hooded girl to let out a gasp and snap her head up.
The moment she caught sight of her, the young woman let out an alarmed cry and attempted to scurry back, only for the wall to impede her progress.
Beatrix felt a surge of panic take hold of her. She immediately put her hands up in a non-confrontational manner and attempted to calm the stranger.
"Easy! I'm not going to hurt you!" she said as gently as she could whilst she took a few steps closer and kneeled down.
Her words seemed to calm the hooded girl slightly, her bright blue eyes staring with apprehension.
The Tarnished felt a beat of awkward silence pass by as she tried to think of what to say to the clearly on edge girl.
After a moment, she seemed to have found her tongue.
"I'm sorry if I startled you." A small apologetic smile appeared on her face. "I had stopped just outside this shack to rest for a little while when I thought I heard someone crying and found you here.
The silver-scaled girl waited for a response, but the stranger remained silent.
Undeterred, Beatrix continued her attempt to evoke a response.
"Is everything alright? Are you hurt? Why are you out here all alone?" she asked as she tilted her head in concern.
The hooded girl's expression changed from apprehensive to forlorn.
"Everyone's… been grafted. Everyone who came with me." she took a shaky breath. "They crossed the sea for me. They fought," she stifled a sob. "For me."
Tears slipped from the young woman's eyes as she recalled her trauma. Despite that, she had a weak smile on her face as she let out a poor excuse for a laugh.
"Heh… Only to have their arms taken. Their legs, taken. Even their heads… taken." she shook her head and shuddered. "Taken and stuck to the spider."
The hooded girl began to laugh through her tears.
"Did you know? If you're grafted by the spider, you become a chrysalid. It's quite the lark when you think about it." she said as her laughter soon gave way to sobs.
Beatrix wished to speak but found such an action impossible.
'What… what do I even say to that?!'
She was quickly pulled from her thoughts when the hooded girl spoke up.
"You're all on your own, are you? And heading to Stormveil Castle? Enticed by the one in the white mask, I suppose…"
Beatrix let out a soft gasp, her mind immediately going back to the man she had encountered earlier that day.
"I met someone in a white mask earlier. He told me to go towards the castle, but…" she trailed off, unsure as to why she went towards the castle when her goal lay elsewhere.
The hooded girl looked up at the Tarnished.
"Oh, you've come to be one with the spider?
Well, that makes us two peas in a pod. But I don't have your courage." she shook her head. "It's scary, you know. Having your arms cut off. Or legs. Or your head. I want to be like everyone else, but I'm just too scared. I'm nothing but a craven."
The silver-scaled shook her head, her pale eyes soft with sympathy.
"The only thing cowards do is abandon people who were relying on them. Did you do that?" she asked softly.
After a moment, the blue-eyed girl shook her head.
Beatrix smiled. "Wanting to live doesn't make you a craven. I'm certain that the men that traveled with you hold no resentment over what happened, nor do I believe they blame you for it."
The hooded girl bit her lip. "I don't believe you. But… it's a pretty lie, nonetheless."
"But I wasn't… I…" the silver-scaled girl spluttered for a moment before her shoulders slumped, and she let out a sigh in defeat. "Alright… is there anything I can do for you?"
The crestfallen stranger bore a pensive expression for a few moments before she spoke.
"Oh, I know. Can you take this little one along with you?" she asked as she pulled a small box out from her bag. "The poor thing deserves someone braver than myself…" she looked down at the little box in her hands before she looked back up at the Tarnished. "And the spirits look rather fondly upon you. It'll be glad of your company, I think, the little'un." she said as she held the item out towards her.
Beatrix reached out and took the little box into her hands.
It was a simple thing, the box. Made from lacquered wood with the image of what looked like a jellyfish engraved onto it.
Beneath the image was what looked like a small but legible inscription.
Aurelia…
A floating spirit that illuminates its surroundings. Prone to tears, the jellyfish girl searches for her distant home. Will bravely spew poison at foes on her summoner's behalf.
"It was a pleasure to see you."
The silver-scaled girl lifted her gaze back to the hooded girl, who wore a somber smile on her face.
"Oh, can you pass on a message for me if you see the little chrysalids in Stormveil Castle? Tell them I love them. And that despite my craven heart, I'm sure I'll be joining their club soon enough." A hollow chuckle passed her lips. "I'm finally getting the hang of this whole "pain" thing, you know. Heh heh…"
Beatrix bit her lip for a moment before she acquiesced with a nod.
She rose to her feet and walked out of the shack, the little box clutched to her chest.
The girl sat down next to the flickering light of grace and looked at the little box in her hands.
Melina then appeared and kneeled down next to her.
The woman regarded her companion for a moment before she spoke.
"It seems that you have acquired spirit ashes. Souls that yet cling to their ashen remains. It may be of aid to you during your journey."
The Tarnished hummed in response, but otherwise, did not appear to be paying attention.
"Do you think she'll be alright?" she asked softly.
"Do you mean the girl?" the mono-eyed woman asked with a slight tilt of her head.
The silver-scaled girl nodded with a soft grunt.
"I'm afraid that is something I can not answer. Her will has been broken, as had many others in the wake of The Shattering. Whether she lives or not is entirely her decision."
Beatrix frowned at the reply. She had hoped that her companion would be a tad more uplifting in her response.
The girl sighed and shook her head.
'I want to help that girl, but she seems inconsolable. It might be best to come back later and check to see if she's still safe.'
She then looked over towards Melina, who looked back with a patient expression. "Do you know how to use this?" the girl asked as she showed the small box in her hands to the woman.
The redhead regarded the small item for a moment before she responded. "At the moment, you will be unable to make use of the spirit that yet slumbers within. For that, you will need to procure a spirit calling bell."
"How do I find one of these bells?"
"I'm afraid I don't know. They are exceedingly rare. Only those who are attuned with spirits have them in their possession." Melina sighed with a shake of her head.
Beatrix groaned softly as her gaze returned to the small box.
"However, I'm certain that fortune will favor you once again."
The Tarnished considered her words for a moment before she nodded.
She then held the spirit ashes to her chest, where it vanished into tiny motes of golden light.
With that done, the girl relaxed her posture and cast her gaze to the glimmering grace before her.
"The light from the grace seems to be pointing to the castle over there. Do you think that's where I need to go?" she asked as she eyed the castle a distance away.
Somehow, it seemed even more imposing than it did before.
Melina turned her head towards the stone wall and nodded. "Upon the cliff, in Castle Stormveil, is a shardbearer. A demigod who inherited a fragment of the shattered Elden Ring." she then looked back to her companion, her expression firm. "If the rays of grace signal the castle, then the Elden Ring beckons you. As an ally by pact, ...I pray that you are fit… To face the challenge presented by the Ring."
The silver-scaled girl considered the warning for a short while. She soon let out a sigh and nodded. "I won't lie, I'm hesitant about all of this… but if my only path forward is through that castle, then I'll do my best to get through it." she said with no small amount of trepidation.
After a small amount of time, Beatrix rose to her feet and called Torrent. With a soft nudge with her heel, the spectral steed galloped off down the road.
Melina watched her ride away for several moments before she too rose to her feet and vanished from sight.
A soldier groaned as he collapsed to the ground at Beatrix's feet.
Said Tarnished breathed heavily from exertion as she held her club firmly in both of her hands.
Her pale eyes then scanned the area around her for any lingering threats. All she saw were the bodies of the soldiers that had been guarding a small side entrance that led to the bridge into Stormveil Castle.
The silver-scaled girl relaxed her posture and entered a tunnel that led to the bridge.
As she neared the end of the tunnel, she spotted the familiar light trails of a site of grace beckoning her.
Beatrix hurried her pace until she reached the golden light.
She sat down next to it and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Those soldiers gave me more trouble than I thought they would." she murmured to herself as she rubbed her shoulders and rolled her neck. She then reached into her satchel and pulled out her flask of crimson tears.
It was full again.
"I guess this flask refills itself whenever I rest at a site of grace." she said as she swirled the crimson liquid within.
She placed the flask back into her satchel and took a deep breath.
"Do you think I could get through this, Melina? So far, everyone I've run into has talked at length about how dangerous the place is. I hope I'm as capable as you think I am."
The girl looked up and looked to her side towards where her companion usually appeared, only to see empty space.
"Melina?" she called out with mild concern.
There was no response.
It was here that Beatrix realized that she was on her own. That served to fill her stomach with dread and leave her anxious over what was to come next.
She squirmed in her spot as she grappled with the lack of support. She was soon able to muster the courage to rise from the grace and continue her trek.
Beatrix slowly exited the tunnel and stepped onto the bridge that led to the castle.
She looked about for any potential threats but found nothing in sight.
The silver-scaled girl let out a sigh of relief as her shoulders slumped.
"Foul Tarnished, in search of the Elden Ring."
The girl let out a squeak in shock and snapped her head from side to side in search of the source of the voice.
"Emboldened by the flame of ambition."
There was a sudden change in the wind, and she felt compelled to look up towards the ramparts above.
A massive figure manifested atop a tower in a swirl of golden light.
It was a man. At least, she thought it was.
He was utterly massive in stature, more than twice her height from the tips of her horns to the tip of her tail. His skin was a rough, stony gray color with long, unkempt white hair. A large number of tangled horns grew out from the right side of his head, while the left side was lined with sawed-off stumps.
Golden eyes glowered at her from over a bulbous nose covered in bumps and warts.
He wore nothing other than a ragged cloak. Only a thick patch of fur over his crotch kept some semblance of modesty.
Behind him was a long club-like tail tipped with twisted horns.
Held in his grasp was a long stone cane.
The monstrous man growled softly as he looked at her. Yet another Tarnished had come to claim Godrick's great rune.
However, this one was odd.
There were many aspects of her that were clearly human. And yet, there were many more aspects of her that were not.
Scales that glimmered under the light of the moon. Horns that curled elegantly over her head. Claws that were filed into fine points. A long, thick tail that did not hinder her gait.
He knew at a glance that she had been touched by the primordial crucible. She was among the many accursed creatures that were denied the Erdtree's favor. Yet grace had chosen her to seek the Elden Ring.
That shall not stand!
"Someone must extinguish thy meager flame." he spat with contempt.
The horned man leaped from his perch and crashed onto the surface of the bridge.
Beatrix stumbled back and got into a defensive stance.
The man rose to his full height and lifted his cane.
"Let it be Margit, the Fell."
AN: That's where we'll end it, for now. It's a bit of a slow chapter overall, but things will start picking up after this. So expect time skips so that chapters aren't bogged down by minute to minute details.
Now, I know it's been… a while since the last chapter. I'm not gonna excuse it, really. Motivation comes and goes like the tide. With the release of the DLC, that only added to the amount of time it took to complete this chapter.
With that said, I'm a little disappointed by the minimal attention this story has gotten so far. While I hope that the surge of new interest from the DLC will change that, I'm starting to consider putting this story into stasis and look into writing a different story.
But that's all up to you, dear readers. Your thoughts matter, so please tell me what you think. Should this story remain a thing? Because silence will only hurt it in the long run.
Anyway, that's enough from me. I'll leave you with the teasers and be on my way.
"I can't in good conscience let you go into Castle Stormveil all alone now, can I?" the Vagabond said as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Come on now, don't tell me you're still miffed about that whole misunderstanding." Patches said with a nervous smile as he held his hands up defensively.
"You left me with three Rune Bears. THREE!" the female Bandit shouted as she had her Great Knife pressed against the bald man's throat.
"Ah, you must be the new Tarnished.
You'd do well to steer clear of Agheel Lake, fledgling." the man under the metal hat said with a nod.
Beatrix looked out over the nearby lake.
"A dragon roosts there... And it's as fearsome as it is majestic." warned the old man.
Beatrix lightly bit the second knuckle of her left index finger in thought.
She couldn't just leave this poor girl out alone in the cold rain!
The silver-scaled girl did not know of any place safe enough to bring the girl, especially on short notice.
That only left her with one option. She just hoped it didn't go poorly.
Beatrix shrieked as the gigantic Rune Bear desperately attempted to dig into ruins she had sheltered herself in.
The beast roared fiercely as though it could smell her terror.
The bear continued to claw at the aged stone for what felt like hours before it suddenly stopped.
There was then the sounds of a struggle. The bear let out a deafening roar.
There was a heavy thud before it all fell silent.
After several moments, the girl hesitantly crawled up the stairs and peaked her head out to see what had happened.
Margit regarded the strange hybrid girl before him.
"Hmph, thou art of passing skill." he admitted with the smallest inkling of begrudged respect.
However, that respect will not be enough to spare her.
In his free hand, the golden construct of a Giant Crusher manifested. He felt mild enjoyment at the look of shock, then horror that appeared on her face.
"Warrior blood must truly run through thy veins, Tarnished." he said with scathing sarcasm as he poised to strike.
Margit jumped up, and then the hammer came down.
Thanks for reading!