Elden Lord Of Orario

by Nasir1512

Bell Cranel awakens In the lands between with no knowledge of who he is or how he got here. Still his heroic motivations remains with him and his fight from a simple desire for survival in a land of crazed monsters and demigods turns into an adventure to help mend this fractured world and return peace and order unlike what came before.

4. Chapter 4

Surprise! I'm not dead and I haven't abandoned this story

This chapter is longer because I wanted to see if you guys would prefer it since it covers a bunch more stuff but at the cost of chapters taking longer to dish out given how, sadly, I do have a life to deal with when not doing this

This chapter I wanted to try and portray what I have been promising, Laying down the groundwork for future relationships and also I wanted to try and gove Bell more depth

Bell at the start of the series was eager but in my opinion at least also insecure about himself so I wanted to try and portray that while also making his eventual relationship with Melina more natural. I don't want to make the romance so one note where I dumb down or strip a character of their personality just make them head over heels for another y'know?

Sellen is here as well if you couldn't tell from the title but I'm having trouble depicting her personality but I'll work on it. Boc, your 2nd biggest hype man after Alexander (he's next chapter don't worry) is here as well and so is dear old Yura.

Please leave comments and stuff because I like seeing what you lot have to say (so long as its respectfully said)

ALSO SHADOW OF THE ERD TREE! Bro that was so fun but also screw that final boss to high hell, it took me way longer then I will ever admit. The story behind the DLC is also going to be fun to depict (If I make it that far) I'm waiting on the Vaati videos to drop to help me understand the more obscure stuff.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Danmachi or Elden ring if I did I wouldn't be here

Normal

"Speaking"

'Thinking'

"ROAR"

[Item/ability]

A semester, a sorceress and a dragon

Church of Ellah

Bell's POV

"Aghh" I feel like crap, you know that feeling when you sleep later than you should have and wake up earlier than you would have liked? That's about what I'm feeling at the moment but also add a migraine on top of that. Maybe I shouldn't have rode laps around the Weeping peninsula looking for monsters to kill for two days straight. Maybe. I couldn't really complain with the results though I feel so much stronger than before so much faster. I almost feel invincible, almost, the memories of the past two times I have died spring to mind vividly, sometimes I swear I have phantom pains of the blows that killed me but they disappear as quickly as they appeared. As annoying as they are, it is also somewhat humbling in a disturbing way.

Melina had advised me to take today off, to relax and recuperate after my two days of unrelenting hunting. For the sake of my mind was one of her main reasons. Now I know it's not what she meant but I can't help but feel like she thinks I'm weak and sadly I can't exactly say she's wrong, I've been so afraid to fight actual people and I still don't want to but It will stunt my growth and after everything wit Irina I've been somewhat self destructive as seen with my current migraine Honestly though? I feel guilty, she's probably the only reason I'm doing alright but I can't even hold up my end of our accord so far. But begrudgingly I decided to heed her on this but I wasn't going to stay cooped up in this ruined church for the day. With that in mind I summon Torrent, I stroke his mane as I climb onto the saddle.

"Hey boy, how about me and you see about getting some of those berries you like so much?"

As soon as I finished that sentence Torrent sprinted and jumped over what was left of one of the church walls and ran so fast I almost fell off the saddle. Honestly I should have expected this Torrent seems very addicted to those things.

We rode around the area of the church always making sure to avoid the patrols of soldiers and demi-human parties. We gathered a good sum of berries for Torrent but I decided there would be no harm in taking a nice ride around the area, Torrent was way faster than anything that could kill us so it would be fine.

So far the ride was nice, it was a nice day to go out on one with the sky nice and clear and the soldier patrols seemed to not be as on guard at the moment. I've been thinking about maybe hunting some more just to keep the food supply up when out of the blue I hear something.

"Oi! You there! Could you help me out!" someone shouted at me with a heavy accent. I looked around, with my guard up and a hand on the hilt of my sword but weirdly enough nobody was there. I looked for the soldiers but none of them were close enough to talk to me and none of them were even facing my direction.

"You, yeah, you there! Stop pretending you can't see me!" the voice yelled again. This was getting really weird but I rode to the direction of the voice, trying to pin down the source. I was on Torrent next to a shrub when I heard the voice again talking about how nobody looks him in the eyes and questioning if he's just that ugly, with that I managed to find the source of the voice and…it's coming from the shrub?

'Either I've lost it or the shrub is actually talking' I say internally

In hopes that I haven't lost what's left of my sanity I hop off Torrent, approach the shrub and smack it with a random stick I found off the floor. The shrub turned to smoke and in its place was a hunched over demi-human wearing a faded green hat.

"Ow! What'd you go and do that for?" the demi-human yelled out indignant as he rubbed his head where I had presumably hit him.

"Why are you getting angry at me? You're the one that wanted help" I argued but in truth I was still distracted with the fact a demi-human was actually speaking with me. Could they all speak, even the ones I killed? Considering all they ever did was scream and attack me when I encountered them I didn't think they were sentient I thought they were monsters. I had to shake myself out of thinking anymore on this at least for now.

"Oh yes I had forgotten, forgive my outburst. Thank you, the name's Boc" he said as he took off his hat and bowed in greeting me. He certainly is a strange Demi-human but in a welcome way, it is becoming exceedingly harder to find people that just want to talk instead of shove a blade in me.

"Nice to meet you Boc, my name's Bell. What are you doing out here alone? From what I've seen your people travel in troops" I was looking around but didn't see a sign of them, I certainly would have heard them coming they were that obnoxiously loud. Upon hearing my question Boc turned with a crestfallen look, I think it's hard to tell because of the mouth but his eyes certainly looked dejected.

"I was pushed out of the cave. Told not to come back, not ever. Then I ended up as a tree. Lucky you came along, really" he recounted sounding absolutely miserable as he hid his face in his hands.

"Why would they push you out?" Nothing seemed wrong with Boc, he looked like the rest with the exception of clothing choice.

"Unfortunately they hated how weak I am. I can scarcely use my knife much less a club and shield" Boc replied dejected at the topic of his banishment. I feel really bad now, he looks like a kicked puppy. If the puppy was also a monkey.

Boc perked up though and shook my hand and gave me whatI can only assume was his equivalent to a smile given he doesn't have lips "But thank you sir so much for your aid" he reached to his pouch on his waist and searched it before looking dejected again. "Oh, what a shame. When they threw me out of the cave, they took everything I owned, and so this is all I have to express my thanks." and he handed me mushrooms, which I accepted because it was food and I wasn't really expecting a reward from him anyways. I expressed this to him but he still did not seem at all pleased that mushrooms were all he could give but suddenly he perked up.

"If you can afford to wait for a while, I could sneak back into the cave, and bring back something of actual value to properly thank you" he tried to sound confident but he was really bad at hiding his hesitancy and fear.

"Boc I don't think that's at all a good idea. You said they banished you, I don't think they would take it well if you came back. And the fact you're trying to slip by them makes me think they could make it worse" I was concerned for Boc, he seemed like an alright guy so I didn't want him risking his safety just to compensate me for something so trivial. "I should go with you, just in case"

He didn't want to listen "No, no I cannot allow you to do that master, you have already done enough for me. Please just let me do this" Boc seemed almost desperate to do this alone, this is a bad idea I know it but I don't want to stop him if it means this much to him.

I relented "Fine but if you're not back in half an hour I will go down there myself, understand?" I'm not confident in this but I don't want to argue about it.

Boc simply nodded excitedly before running off towards the direction of the coastal cave but I could hear him muttering about staying brave which is not exactly comforting to me.

Half an hour passed but Boc did not come back. Seriously, what was I thinking letting him go alone like that? I can handle Demi-humans pretty easily now so there would have been no issue. I could have at least accompanied him but noooo I had to let him go alone like an idiot. It's just that damned look in his eyes when he said he wanted to go alone, there was such insecurity there that reminded me of something, myself I think. That look was one of someone who wanted to prove something, it was so familiar. For a second I thought that's how I felt when I first awoke in the lands between. No, that's not it from before waking up here, from somewhere else. Something about that look reminded me of the past, I think I see a farm and an old man but again before I can put it all together a migraine hits me.

I shake my head, Boc probably needs my help so I choose to put these thoughts on the backburner for a while. I just rode Torrent down to the western coast by the church. I slowly move about the coast, looking for the cave entrance. It didn't take long for me to notice three demi-humans standing guard at the cave entrance and they noticed me, they screamed and lunged at me but I rolled under them.

One of them tried to jump again to bring its club down on me but I shifted to the right, pulled out my sword and cut its head off in one clean motion. The other two decided to attack me on both sides in a coordinated attack with one lunging at my legs and the other going for my head. Thinking quickly I flip over the one that going for my legs the second it lowered itself to strike, then I grabbed it by the foot and swung it at the other who was already airborne and slammed it with his friend causing them to fall onto the ground on top of one another and before they could get their bearings I stabbed through them both while they were down, killing them.

I walked into the cave with my guard up and heard a faint but familiar groaning. I travelled down deeper into the cave where I came upon the source of the noise and my eyes widened in horror. It was Boc, bloody and beaten laying on the cave floor with hitched breath.

I ran towards him "Boc!" I shake him slightly trying to get him to wake up "Come on please Boc, please for the love of god wake up!" Flashes of Irina took hold of my mind anytime I blinked. I would see her body bloodied on the floor before it returned to being Bocs as quickly as it happened. This can't be happening, not again please god's not again.

His body started to shift slightly "…agh", Boc's eye opened, his other eye swollen from the beating, he tried to speak but coughed up blood and held his chest, upon closer inspection it looked like there was a slight dent in his ribs, they must have punctured his lungs given the blood. I think fast and pull out one of my healing flasks and hold it to his mouth for him to drink. He struggles but as soon as the flask took effect I could hear his bones mend in a gross crunch. He spoke but sounded exhausted and defeated.

"Master Bell? What are you doing here you must leave immediately, they'll rush in and beat you to a pulp like me" he uttered with his frantic but tired voice. I looked down deeper into the cave and heard the sounds of demi-humans, the ones that did this to Boc.

They were his people and they did this to him.

Boc almost died, like her, like Irina

I can't stomach the thought of them going unpunished

I look at my hands and see blood on them from Bocs Injury

"Master? Master! you mustn't, they'll kill you!" he pleaded

I just stood up and walked further down the cave ignoring Bocs pleas for me. I walk into the opening of the interior of the cave after cutting down 4 demi-human guarding the entrance. There were more normal demi-human but I saw two massive ones wielding daggers. They all immediately took notice at my intrusion, the smaller ones all charging at me in an attempt to overwhelm me.

I had to give myself space from them before my back hit the cave wall, I quickly jumped on the wall and propelled myself off it and using my enhanced strength and speed I spun around rapidly mid air and cut 4 of the six down. The other two leapt back towards the big ones, the chiefs by the looks of them, they were the strongest looking so they would be the leaders.

Quickly the duo pounced at me, one grabbing my leg and throwing me to the other side of the cave, luckily for me my chainmail protected me from most of the damage. I quickly got back up and charged the one that threw me, I ran to an angle I could keep the other one in sight so it wouldn't get the drop on me.

I jumped and managed to cut out one of its eyes but I got carless it managed to stab its dagger into my side before I could apply distance again. I should have known better. Luckily it doesn't seem like it will kill me but I didn't have a chance to drink a flask because they both lunged at me at the same time.

I managed to jump up high enough that when they met the ground I landed on the back of the one who's eye I cut out, this time I tried to stab it through the back of its neck but I couldn't balance properly on its back so I missed and instead stabbed it through its chest before getting shaken off its back as it howled out in pain. The other one tried grabbing me again as I jumped off the others back but I was quick enough to swing my sword to cut off the arm that was reaching for me.

I was about to follow up the attack with a stab to its head but was quickly kicked away by the one missing its eye and it threw one of its knives into my left shoulder.

"Aagh!" I screamed, my left arm felt limp, the knife must have severed something to prevent its movement and the wound was gushing blood.

It hurts. I can feel the bone that was split from the knife. This pain…wasn't as bad? No, I think I'm growing more accustomed to it. I need to push past this, it's just a stab wound and that is nothing compared to dying. I refuse to let myself die again to something as minor as this.

"Gah!" I pulled the knife out my shoulder and threw it into the foot of the one eyed demi-human to pin it in place. I run to its right, into the blindspot where it can't see and manage to swing my sword hard enough to take its head clean off as its body slumps in place.

The final one begins an assault, swinging its knife and moving forward to me constantly as I try to move back away from it. It's relentless but I managed to parry one of its attacks away from me. I spin myself closer to its body and stab into its chest. Quickly I stab its leg to drop it down to my level before I swing down into its skull splitting it.

I lean onto the wall and pull out a flask to heal myself, I can feel my bones fuse perfectly back together and my flesh mends. I lay there catching my breath for a minute until I got back to my feet. I was about to leave when I stepped on something. An old brown bag, I picked it up to inspect its constants.

"A Sewing needle?"It was odd to me, sure the demi-humans wear clothes but that's mostly animal hide so having a fine sewing needle is weird to me. But then again Boc wears clothes you would find a human wearing,so I figure maybe it belongs to him.I take the bag with me as I return to Boc, who is now standing where I left him but truly rattled, I could hear him hyping himself up from a distance, I think he was planning on coming to aid me. He was holding a knife but as soon as he saw me he slumped down and dropped his knife.

"Master y-your alive, thank Marika!" Boc exclaimed joyfully

"I'm fine Boc. Feeling better?" I asked gently as he nodded happily in confirmation. I grab the pouch with the sewing needle in it and toss it to Boc "Here, I don't have much need for it given I don't know how to sew" when Boc catches the ouch his eyes lit up in recognition and starts to shake happily "My sewing needle! This is my sewing needle, you got it back! They took it from me when they first kicked me out"

He cradled the pouch as if it was some precious item and as it turns out it was.

"My mum was a seamstress...and that sewing kit was all I had to remember her by.

I always wanted to be just like sweet old Mum." I smiled at this, I could feel the warmth radiating off Boc's words, the nostalgia and fondness. Honestly I feel jealous, did I have a mother? What was she like? Again memories come up blank and I hate it but Boc's smile and his gratitude…that made me feel infinitely better. This place was harsh and cruel but this moment, something about it made my deaths and past pain feel…less somehow, not better but less.

"Sounds like your mother was a lovely person. So do her a great big favour and try to live for her, make her proud and be a seamster, hell next time i see you I'll be your client how bout that?" Boc somehow brightened up more at my words and that also made me feel just a bit warmer inside. He walked up to me and shook my hand with both of his hands. "I would love that Master, I would be proud to be your semester!"

"Good" I begin to move to the exit "I'll be off now alright? You find somewhere safe to rest your head and stay off the roads. When we meet again I would love to see what you have to offer." Boc waved me farewell as I left the cave. The day was eventful but I might as well go for a ride with Torrent to calm down.

Third person POV

Bell was riding Torrent down the road, everything was calm and Bell was laying on Torrent's back while riding. They had mostly been foraging for food, fruit mainly, he was just trying to have a quiet day like he intended before the whole event with Boc but soon Bell caught sight of some ruins by a cliff overlooking the Mistwoods.

'I really shouldn't' Bell reasoned with himself knowing his luck something was going to try and kill him in there.

'But what if there is something good in there…maybe just a peek.' Bell submitted to his curiosity and rode towards the ruins. It was run down and decrepit but for some reason there was a pleasant smell blowing down from it as Bell got off Torrent.

Bell walked around the ruins looking for any chests or weapons or anything of worth he could use or trade. He walked around a corner and found the source of the pleasant smell. There were a bunch of abnormally large pink flowers, one of them was colossally large. Bell thought they were quite pretty until all the flowers turned in his direction and started to either shoot poison or rays of magic beams at him.

'Honestly I should have known better' Bell lamented as he quickly ran to avoid the magic attacks, he quickly vaulted over a collapsed wall. The attacks stop, probably because he was out of sight of the flowers, although it brought up a disturbing image when Bell tried to imagine how they see. On the bright side Bell managed to find some stairs that descended under the ruins. Now most smart people would likely think deeply about going down there in consideration of all the possible threats that could be down there.

Bell was in fact, not one of those people.

He walked down the stairs and as he reached the bottom he found a wide empty room. With the exception of the massive humanoid with some weird golden helmet and wielding a spiked flail.

The creature attacked him immediately swinging its spiked flail and Bell ducked it before pulling out his sword. It didn't let up in its assault on him instead it began to follow him and slam its head down towards him multiple times as Bell is forced to just dodge but unfortunately he forgot to take into account how small the underground chamber was as his back hit the wall when he leaped away from another attack. This gave the monster the chance to hit Bell with its flail to his side with three of its spikes breaking through his chainmail and piercing him, the force of the hit knocking Bell to the other side of the room.

Bell picked himself up but was coughing up blood, his lung must have been pierced. Thinking quickly he rolls under its legs and manages to drink a it turned around with a wide swing of its flail with Bell weaving under the strike and took the opportunity to stab it in its stomach and instead of retracting his blade he used it as a step to jump up onto its shoulder and pulled out his knife to stab at its throat. The pumpkin head roared with pain as Bell kicked off and flipped backwards as he pulled out his sword.

It swung its flail down at Bell who assumed a crouched position and then rushed right under its legs just as the flail hit the ground leaving a crater. Bell, as soon as he got behind, spun around and in one clean swing cut both of its achilles tendons making it collapse. As soon as its body hit the ground Bell jumped onto its back and ran his sword right through its heart. As soon as it died a grace appeared which Bell happily rested at.

Bell looked at the door in front of him, now Bell had raided a few ruins before and most of the time there was a chest with something of value. "Hopefully something useful is behind that or I nearly got a concussion for nothing" He walked up to the door and lifted it up.

Now Bell was expecting a chest that had a weapon, items maybe armour…Instead there was a woman in robes with a stone mask. She was surrounded by glowing crystals and books with a workbench behind her.

They looked at each other for a solid minute before Bell simply let out a sound of confusion. "Eh?" Bell looked around for a second in clear befuddlement with one hand on his head.

'Why the hell is there just some random woman here?' Bell pondered 'Shit! Was that thing her bodyguard?!'

The woman seemed tired of waiting for Bell to start the conversation so she took the initiative "A Tarnished huh? And what is one of you doing here?" She questioned with a slightly tilted head but all Bell could think of is how unsettling the mask is.

"Uh hi, sorry about this I thought there might be something valuable here. Sorry for the intrusion and sorry about-" Bell looked back at the dead pumpkin head "That guy. Was he your bodyguard or something?" Bell asked very hesitantly, really hoping that he didn't just kill an innocent.

The robed woman perked up and looked at the dead pumpkin head as if she hadn't taken notice of it before now and shook her head "No,no I lured that thing here to act as deterrent for any would-be robbers. An attempt that to me it seems, failed"

Bell paled at that statement "No wait I wasn't here to steal! I just assumed that this place was abandoned and that It would be fine to take whatever was left." Bell bowed in apology "I'm sorry for the intrusion. My name is Bell Cranel" She simply tilted her head again at his words before chuckling slightly, but Bell couldn't help but notice she had a pretty voice.

"I am Sellen, a sorcerer, quite plainly" She spoke very firmly but Bell's eyes lit up as soon as she mentioned being a sorcerer. To him it certainly made sense given all the books and glowing crystals. He couldn't contain his excitement, it was certainly a long shot but he figured that this may be his only shot. "Could you teach me? I know it's sudden but I want to learn"

"Ahh, a yen for glintstone sorceries?"Sellen said nothing further, instead she held her hand to her chin in contemplation as she inspected him, she moved around him, her head leading as she tilted her head in examination. "Well, your aptitude does appear...passable. But one must choose one's masters wisely. I was exiled from the Academy of Raya Lucaria, as a reviled, apostate witch. Do you still wish to learn from me?"

Bell thought about it for a second. But most of what she said didn't mean much to him in the least given the fact he had never even heard about the academy. But still she got banished so something must have occurred, maybe something bad on her end. But Bell believed he may not be able to get another chance at this and besides she didn't seem hostile, at least not to him so he figured that it would be worth it.

"Yes I want to learn from you" Bell firmly said with determination in his voice. Sellen was silent for a moment before a light chuckle echoed in her stone mask "Very well. You are now my protégé in glintstone sorcery. But I refuse to coddle. Or cast kind words so expect grievances young apprentice"

Soon Bell was sitting next to her at her desk as she was holding a single scroll that she pulled off her shelf. Initially Sellen was concerned because Bell lacked a staff to use sorcery but luckily Bell managed to get a staff from a demi-human queen in the Weeping Peninsula. With that matter sorted she began her lecture.

"Young apprentice, first things first. You are a tadpole when it comes to magic. Infantile. Without the legs to walk. So, to become a sorcerer, first, you must face your ignorance. Now, shall we start learning?"

"Yes!" Bell said a bit too loudly, clearly excited to learn magic, Bell turned a bit red from embarrassment at his outburst but Sellen didn't seem to mind, at least that's what Bell thought, her stone mask made her hard to read.

"Tell me apprentice how much do you know about glintstone sorcery?" Sellen inquired while dusting off the scroll in her hands. When she looked at Bell he had a completely clueless expression and appeared somewhat embarrassed at his lack of information. All Bell knew about magic was that it was blue stuff that came from a staff, that was all he picked up from his fight with the demi-human queen.

"A blank slate it seems, perhaps that is for the best, better you not know what it is then have the incorrect understanding. It will make you more receptive." Sellen commented before she cleared her throat and began to explain the origins of glintstone sorcery. Our powers draw upon the powers embedded in glintstone" She pointed to the glowing blue crystals all around the room "But what is the nature of such power? Bell tilted his head waiting for her to elaborate. "Glintstone is the amber of the cosmos,golden amber contains the remnants of ancient life and houses its vitality,while Glintstone contains residual thus, the vitality of the stars." She explained with a calm yet passionate tone in her voice "It should not be forgotten that glintstone sorcery is the study of the stars and the life therein"

To Bell everything she said was fascinating if not a little difficult to follow but he just wanted to learn the spell already, he couldn't wait anymore. Sellen then put the scroll onto the desk and opened it. "Now this apprentice is merely a simple spell that even the lowest of glintstone sorcerers can learn but it is still quite the useful spell for combat encounters which I assume you often get into"

Bell read the scroll and after going through the motions and Sellen teaching him how to properly use the staff he was ready. Standing in front of Sellens study waved his staff and cast [Glintstone pebble] and watched the spell fly. 'For a spell that was supposed to be basic it had some good range' Bell noted as he watched it hit the wall in front of him leaving a small but deep crater in the wall 'does some good damage as well!' Bell felt absolutely amazing despite how apparently meagre the feat is, the fact he actually performed magic was all that mattered to him.

Bell looked at Sellen with a beaming smile and to Bell's surprise she actually did do some small congratulatory claps. Bell wasn't expecting that, especially after she announced she wouldn't baby him for this.

"It feels good doesn't it, my apprentice? That was my reaction as well when I first cast a spell, the joy and wonder I felt. To say the least it sparked my life's long passion for glintstone sorcery" Sellen said in a melancholic yet nostalgic tone of voice. "But don't get too confident in yourself. Overconfidence will stunt your growth as it has many sorcerers in the academy. We shall learn one more spell and call it a da from there." she grabbed another scroll and placed it on the bench, patting the seat beside her.

This spell was fairly more complex for Bell, he understood the theory behind it but putting it into practice was another story. The spell divided his attention and whenever he got it wrong he got bonked on the head by a book Sellen was holding pointing out whatever mistake Bell made in the spell's casting but also not telling him how to properly perform it she told him he needed to solve it for himself.

Bell was sitting again in the room in front of Sellens study thinking hard on the spell he keeps failing on. But suddenly he comes to a realisation. He stood up again and waved his staff again and this time he succeeded in casting the spell [Glintstone Stars] as three Glintstone pebbles shot out from his staff and attacked exactly the same spot.

"Bell jumped in excitement "Yes!" holding his hands in the air in celebration as he turned to Sellen again who was leaning nonchalantly against the wall before walking towards him"Very good my dear apprentice. Tell me what made you get the spell right this time?"

Bell looked at his staff and then to the crater "I was trying cast all three of the spells three pebbles simultaneously which either led to the spell to be unbalanced, one pebble had more power than the rest, the pebbles were uncoordinated even to the point that the spell collided with itself. I was over complicating the spell, I just needed to make one large pebble then divide it into three." Bell explained

Sellen hummed with satisfaction at his answer "Very good apprentice, I didn't tell you what went wrong or how to properly do the spell because any good sorcerer or in your case warrior, needs to be capable of recognising mistakes and be capable of looking for a new angle for whatever be in front of them."

She patted Bell's shoulder before returning to her study as she absent mindedly said her farewell to Bell who bowed and thanked him, promising to return in time.

It was well into the afternoon as I was riding around the lake. For the past half hour I had been looking for monsters to fight so I could test out my newly learned magic, while it was amazing and made up for my previous lack of range. I really want a better challenge just to see how strong I am now with this magic in hand. I want to prove to myself that I'm not so weak anymore, I can't afford weakness anymore, time and time again my weakness and inexperience has led to myself dying and gods above forbid my weakness lead to the deaths of anyone else like Irina.

I was so lost in thought I almost missed the sight of a campfire in the distance. It was under one of those collapsed stone structures, a merchant maybe? I ride there slowly in case it's just another one of those soldiers and luckily it's not but it's just a lone stranger who was standing by the fire, his face hidden by some strange iron helmet.

He finally noticed me but didn't reach for his weapon so I think he's friendly. I was about to start talking to him but he beat me to it.

"Ah you must be a new tarnished, I am Yura" his voice was tired and grizzled as he waved for me to get closer to the fire.

"Uh yes sir I am but how'd you know?" I was caught off guard that he somehow knew that and I tried hard to see his face but his helmet hid it well.

"It's in the way you carry yourself, if you weren't new then you wouldn't be approaching me so hesitantly, normally they approach with a weapon in hand ready to fight if you so much as twitch your hand slightly towards your weapon. That and your eyes, most Tarnished don't have so much life in their eyes anymore" he said simply.

That last part isn't worrying at all.

I was at a loss for a second but he continued with a warning "Since you're still a fledgling I will give you some advice. Stay clear of the Agheel lake. A dragon roosts there and it is both fearsome and majestic. So unless you're mad or wish to be burned alive it would be best if you steer clear" he tried really hard to stress the importance of the whole situation but I was a bit distracted.

'A dragon! That'll be a good challenge' I was excited, choosing quite deliberately ignoring the whole burning alive bit. All day long I have kept hearing a faint voice in the back of my mind telling me to just give in, that I was weak and nothing would change that. But if I kill a dragon then maybe all of that would go away.

I perked up and looked at Yura "You said the Agheel lake?" I muttered while looking back at the direction of the lake. Now I may not be able to see Yura's face but I could tell he was glaring at me. "Don't be a bloody fool boy" he growled at me in irritation, I could tell he was about to say more but I immediately got on Torrents back and rode off towards the lake.

This was reckless and downright stupid, I know but I needed this.

I was riding on the surprisingly shallow lake but there was no dragon in sight. Maybe it will come later? I rode around the lake some more until something caught my eye. It was a bunch of those zombie-like people Melina had told me about, they were harmless and posed no threat so I often left them alone when I saw them but these ones were odd. They had a massive burning pyre with one a large pole sticking out with one of them tied to it while the rest were kneeling and lifting their arms. 'Is this some sort of sacrifice?' I got closer to investigate but just as I got to the pyre-

'ROAAAAR!"

The pyre and all the things near it were crushed by the dragon I was looking for

The dragon roared at me and attempted to strike me with its left but I was still on Torrents back so we easily avoided it and began to ride around it as I started to shoot off [Glintstone stars] twice towards it. The dragon was massive and wasn't moving too much so my spells hit it on its neck. While it was affected by the attack the dragon quickly shook it off and unexpectedly swung its tail and managed to knock Torrents legs causing him to fall over and dissipate, launching me face first into the shallow water.

I quickly recovered and put my staff into my left hand and pulled out my sword. I shoot off a [Glintstone pebble] towards its head and charge 'Attacking it from the front is suicide, it'll bite my head off.' Just as I say that the dragon lunges its head towards me with its maw wide open, I side step the attack and get a quick swing at its neck, thankfully drawing blood 'I'll go for its legs and stick to its blindspots'

I strike its legs, making deep gushing cuts, it tries to move away but I persist and keep to its legs. The dragon flapped its wings and jumped in the air but it wasn't taking flight, not yet at least, no it flapped its wings so it could leap back far enough to keep me clear of its legs. I ran in pursuit of it while firing off more [Glintstone pebbles] towards it to try and keep the pressure up.

The dragon reared its head back and as it pointed its head back to me I could see the orange glow in its throat just as the fire was released at me. I couldn't dodge. I could only run left and keep up my pursuit as the flames followed behind me as the head of the dragon followed my moves.

The dragon stopped breathing fire but followed up with another tail strike which I barely managed to jump over. I was about to reach its legs again but the dragon swiped at me with its wing, sending me smashing into a rock. For the second time today I have broken ribs and I'm pretty sure my knee is dislocated but I managed to pick myself up and looked for the dragon but It wasn't there.

I pulled out my healing flask but before I could drink it I heard the dragons roar again. I looked up and saw it flying at me, its throat glowing ominously again, I didn't have time to react, my knee gave out and I was scorched. I died.

Bell's mind

I can see it again, that massive tower, the massive city and its great walls.

Where is this place? It certainly doesn't look like any place I can remember

Was this some recurring dream? Or is this a memory from before my arrival to the lands between?

I can feel a distant pull, a desire to be there

Nostalgia? Is that what I'm feeling?

I can hear a distant voice, an old man calling my name. I can't see him, I can't make out anything he's saying other than my name.

I want to know more but then as swiftly as this all occurred I was pulled back by grace

Agheel lake south site of grace

"Gahh!" I gasp for air on my revival. Those dreams, memories? Whatever they are, they are always there and always I feel renewed. But I'm also very thoroughly traumatised. Again. I can remember the feeling of my skin blistering, my hair catching fire, the metal of my chainmail melting and bonding to my skin and flesh.

'Fuck that dragon' is the only thought I had

After five minutes of cursing out the dragon I got back on my horse and rode back to the lake, this time with a new strategy for killing the dragon.

As soon as the dragon landed I cast [Glintstone stars] twice and proceeded to ride around the dragon. It swung its tail but this time Torrent jumped right over it as I kept slowly getting closer to the dragon until I managed to get right under it. I began to strike at its legs again but this time I was slashing the joints of its knees instead of just striking its leg wildly like before.

The dragon leaped back, flapping its wings to more space as it started to rear its head back again and I knew what was coming, I cast quickly [Glintstone pebble] directed right to its mouth and it connected. The spell got right into its throat, the damage made it choke and shut its mouth. This time I rode directly towards the dragon with my sword ready.

The dragon lunged its head towards me but this time I jumped off Torrents back and landed on its head. I ran down its back, carving my sword down its back while I did and made a break towards its left wing. I jumped over the wing and stabbed my sword into the membrane of the wing and slide down the wing while slicing through it, as I landed on the ground I launched two small but quick [Glintstone pebbles] to the wing but I cast them at an angle that would make the spell cut more of the wing membrane as the spell went.

The dragon didn't take to the onslaught of attacks well and like I had hoped and attempted to do the same fly attack that killed me but it didn't work like the dragon would have liked. Because of the cuts in its wing it couldn't keep the air under its wing making it fall midair and because of the attacks I did onto the dragons knee joint, when the dragon landed, its knee gave out and the weight of the dragon mixed with this made its knee burst out the front of its joint.

"Yeah! You didn't like that did you?" I yelled smugly, now I admit I may have been a bit spiteful but to be fair the dragon did give me the most brutal death I've had yet so I think I reserve the right to be spiteful.

With the dragon now grounded and lacking in mobility I summoned Torrent and rode around it to avoid it as it desperately tried to snap me in half with its jaws. As I got behind it it tried multiple times to bash me with its tail but luckily I managed to evade it all and I dismounted, running up the dragons back to its neck before I jumped and lodged my sword deep into the back of its head with my sword coming out its eye. The dragon's body went limp and it slowly turned to ash. I fell into the lake but was mostly fine, just exhausted.

I looked back at where the dragon had used to be and there was only one thing left in its place, its heart. And the gross thing was still beating!

I'm not sure why but I picked up the heart and observed it, maybe Yura would know about it.

I was about to begin returning to Yura when I heard footsteps, fast ones at that. I turned around and saw a hooded man charging at me with two knives.

"Who are you?!" I yelled frantically as I pointed my sword at the charging man. 'Damn! I'm still tired from the dragon'. The man had shown no sign of stopping, I pulled out my staff and sent multiple [Glintstone stars] at him but he dodged every last one I casted until I was out of mana and forced to pull out my sword.

'He's using daggers and I have a sword so I've got the range advantage' I assumed a stance waiting for him to get in range of my sword. But he swung one of his knives twice which sent two small waves of blood that cut into me and burned, the second wave caused my blood to burst out. It was excruciating and I immediately fell to my knees from the attack and my head felt light from the bloodloss.

The hooded man was standing over me and about to cut me down with his dagger, he brought it down but it never connected, instead it clashed with another blade.

"If it isn't Nerijus, The Bloody Finger. The end is nigh. For you, and your cessblood." The grizzled voice uttered.

'wait…I know that voice' I looked up and saw Yura, standing in front of me, blocking my attackers, Nerijus apparently, knives with a long katana. Quickly Yura pushed Nerijus back and attacked him in quick succession.

This gave me time to drink a healing flask and quickly I picked up my sword and charged into the fight. I was acting mainly as support because whenever I tried to get more involved it would lead to Nerijus sending another blood slash at me. Whenever Yura left an opening in his attacks that Nerijus tried to take advantage of, I would step in and block them while also sending an attack or two of my own.

I don't exactly know when but at some point in the fight Yura and I's attacks were synergised, we left no openings for Nerijus to exploit and gave him no opportunity to use his blood slash attack. I swung under an attack from his daggers and assume a knelt position, Nerijus tried to cut my head but Yura blocked it and while their blades were locked together in their clash I launched a fully charged [Glintstone pebble] right into Nerijus leg to knock him down and Yura took advantage of the opportunity to cut his head right off.

"Well fought fledgling, despite your obvious recency to your Tarnished life it is clear you've seen at least some good battles to survive your first encounter with a bloody finger like Nerijus" he complimented, patting my shoulder.

"No,no I only survived because you came in and saved my skin. Thank you for that" I can't help but kick myself because of how I handled the start of that fight. I needed to be saved and all I can feel is shame…

"Just take the compliment boy, you handled yourself well" he insisted, he looked at the dragon heart that was in his satchel still beating "You actually managed to kill the beast as well. Very good, but be truthful, how many tries did it take you?"

"Only 2 tries" I muttered taking the dragon heart into my hands again to show Yura

"Very good. You may like to know that the heart in your hands is used for dragon communion. If you ever feel so strongly for the power of dragons then seek out one of the decrepit churches, there should be one off the west coast and eat the dragon heart there" I don't know what it was but the way Yura looked at the heart, it was as if he was reminiscing maybe it's just me.

The power of dragons though, it sounded amazing, all I need to do is find a way to that Island, maybe look for a boat, I'll think about that later.

Yura seemed to notice my excitement but didn't seem pleased about it "You should be warned though, those who partake in dragon communion will one day shed their humanity, their hunger and yearning for the power of dragons will worsen and worsen the more you do it, dragon communion is ruinous do you understand me?"

"Yeah I do" I looked at the heart, in all honesty I was disappointed, dragon power would have been so cool but I would prefer to remain normal, or whatever is considered normal for a practically undead person.

"Keep the heart if you'd like, as a trophy of your great accomplishment. Not many people in the world can claim such a feat"

I put the heart away again and looked at the now headless body of Nerijus, I probably should have asked this earlier honestly. "Who was this guy? Why'd he attack me like that?" So far nobody has really gone out of their way to pursue me to fight, all my previous enemies have all attacked me because either I sought them out or I was encroaching on them, this attack was completely unwarranted.

Yura cleaned his blade and sheathed it and crossed his arms again. "Nerijus is a bloody finger, he's a Tarnished like us but one held in the thrall of cessblood. They are zealots in service to the one called the Lord of blood. They hunt down their fellow Tarnished to kill them in service of their god"

Even after he explains it I find it difficult to understand. I thought the Tarnished were meant to try and become Elden lord. I'm trying so hard to understand this properly but I just don't and Yura can see it.

"Don't bother trying to understand them. They are simply zealots, they are taken with madness and have no care for their fellow Tarnished. It is quite likely that you will meet more in the future so you must remember that fact. Do not feel for them, they will not feel for you." That last part sounded like he needed to force it out, he didn't like saying that himself.

Yura began to walk off again but not before turning around to ruffle my hair "Stay safe out there fledgling." it was a simple goodbye but then again was in character from what I knew about him. I turned to leave as well but looked at Nerijus.

"...Oh" I killed someone. I killed a man. I may not have dealt the final blow but I helped in doing it. Not a demihuman, not a harpy or a misbegotten I killed a man. Human, like myself but I felt…nothing. Why?

I knelt down to his body. I just realised the river water around me was all red.

I noticed his daggers, they were nasty to be hit by. He didn't need them anymore so I had just decided to grab them, they'll be useful in the future I'm sure.

I need to sit down.

Church of Elleh

Third person POV

Bell made it back to the church just as the sun set completely and just slumped on the pillar near the campfire. Kale paid him no mind, all he did was ask Bell for the meat he had collected from hunting earlier so he could start making dinner.

Bell was currently inspecting his chainmail armour, Nerijus blood slash attack had cut right through it leaving a blatant weak spot. At the moment though he didn't care, he was tired in more ways than one. Torrent, ever the good companion sensed this and rested his head on Bell's lap who unconsciously began to stroke his mane, calming him down slightly.

Blue particles manifested as Melina appeared and took a seat next to Bell. She noticed the magic staff, dragon heart and Nerijus' daggers sitting on a piece of cloth. She frowned slightly, clearly displeased he didn't listen to her order for him to take the day off.

"I know, I know. 'Bell why didn't you listen to me?' was what you were going to say right?" Bell muttered out with slight frustration.

"Yes. For someone with such 'insight' I would have figured you would know better" she snarked back at him. It wasn't like Bell to give her attitude so she was offput and honestly annoyed at it. "You are not invincible. You are still new to this, you need a break" she insisted

"I'm not some weak, fragile little thing Melina I can handle myself"

"Yet here you sit. Slumped over, covered in blood with your armour cut to pieces and your eyes baggy. You are tired. This is why I told you to take a break, you cannot be at your best if you do not give yourself a minute to breathe you will smother yourself under your own insecurity and expectations."

Bell bit his lip. Melina could tell he was hiding something.

"Bell, tell me your thoughts. I am your maiden, it is my job to see that you are both guided to where you need to be and that you are at your best."

He looked down for a moment. His eyes flicked between her and the ground before he sighed and spoke,letting his insecurities out.

"That's the problem. You're my maiden, we made an accord that I would get you to the Erd tree but it's been two weeks and we haven't even left Limgrave! Doesn't that bother you in the slightest? I haven;t been living up to my end even though you've done so much for me with levelling me up and guidance"

She softened and internally smacked herself for not realising this before after she realised what kind of person Bell was. He was a kind person, selfless to a fault which was a rarity nowadays, and to him, he feels like he's using her. She was so used to seeing many selfish Tarnished that the feelings of a selfless one were not something she had considered.

"Bell, there is no rush. You cannot comprehend how much time we have for this. I have waited so long just looking for the right Tarnished for this, longer than you could comprehend. I know you are very capable in fulfilling our accord"

Bell knew that she could very well have been lying to him to spare his feelings but somehow Bell doubted it, and with how she was looking at him he could tell she was genuine. Bell grabbed her hand and bowed his head thanking her. She was taken aback by this but did not pull away.

"There is something else. I killed someone today. Another tarnished" he picked up Nerijus' dagger." I killed him and I felt nothing." He glared at the dagger as he recounted the events of the dragon fight and his run in with Nerijus. Melina knew full well what Bell was thinking.

"I know you have been against killing humans Bell and while that is a noble thing to do it is a belief that cannot continue here" she took Nerjius' dagger in hand and pointed it past the ruined walls of the church where Bell could barely make out the torch light of one of those soldiers. "Those men stand in defence of Godrick, the Demigod in Stormveil castle, they obey and are complicit in his horrific deeds and will defend him to the last. You will need to kill a great many of them if you want to get his great rune. Mending the Elden ring will make the lands a better place and these soldiers stand in the way of that. Would you not kill them to achieve this? And what of the Misbegotten back at Castle Morne? They were as sentient as any human"

Melina confronted Bell with this, she knew Bell had a hard time looking at the bigger picture of things because of how new he is in this life. She believed that giving him perspective on the possible good that his actions could bring may soften the blow of the act of killing. He needed to hear the hard truth of the matter.

"Understand that the Lands Between are a place of conflict, where survival often demands harsh actions. Those who oppose you, who seek to harm or hinder your quest, leave little room for mercy." She puts the knife back in Bell's hands but he hardly notices, he's too entrapped by her and her words "The path you walk is fraught with difficult choices and burdensome actions. Taking a life, even in self-defence or necessity, is never an easy burden to bear."

Torrent nudges himself to rest his head between the two, causing a break in her speech, a welcomed one as the two look at each other for a second before lightly chuckling and stroking Torrent's mane together. She looks at Bell again and continues "Each life taken is a solemn act, one that should not be taken lightly. But you are on a path to restore balance and order to a world in turmoil. Sometimes, this means making hard choices, even when they weigh on your soul. So understand that in the long run of your quest that you will save more lives than you take"

She takes his hand again and slowly caresses it with her thumb "Killing is a hard act on the soul but sometimes an unavoidable thing to do. But it does not make you any less a good person, your concern and sadness at the act is enough indication of that. So long as you keep being the selfless and good person I know that you are, then your humanity will remain intact."

Bell was silent for the next few minutes as they cooked some food by the fire. Kale, to his credit, did and said nothing. He was old enough to know better than to step into stuff like this uninvited. Bell had just finished his plate before taking a deep sigh.

"You're right." he breathed out "It's going to be an adjustment though…" he took Nerjius' daggers and slid them into holsters on his hips, they would act as a side arm or spare weapon should his Bastard Sword be knocked away. Melina patted his shoulder assuredly and softly said "Take your time ok?"

Soon after they cleaned up their dinner Melina levelled Bell up again and from all the runes she got from the day's events he gained significantly more power than usual.

"What are we going to do about that" Bell pointed to the still beating dragon heart "I'm not exactly able to carry it anywhere but I also want to keep it just in case"

Melina looked at him confused for a second and then took notice that leaning on the wall was the [Grafted Greatsword] from Castle Morne and the [Bloodhounds Fang] from his fight against Dariwell. "You are aware you can magically store all of this right?" was all she.

"WHAT?!" Bell yelled

This took waaaaaay longer than I had thought!

Sorry it took so long I have been preoccupied with Uni and stuff so forgive me on that front.

Do you guys like the longer chapters more? It covers more ground and gives you more to read but takes longer. Tell me which you all prefer.

Like always criticism is welcome so long as it's respectful

Not much to add here since all the real important stuff is at the top so thanks for reading