Steps In Between
(Limgrave, Western Beaches) (The Next Day)
Rukido grimaced upon feeling a shiver throughout his body. Sunlight glared down over him, forcing him to raise his hand to block it as he slowly rose up. His body felt restless, annoying him greatly as he tried getting his bearings straight. Remember the events from the other day, he bolted himself up. Ready to face whatever dangers may be around them.
Instead he was greeted with the sight of Envy, Corvus, and Galva sitting around a small campfire while eating fried octopus.
"...Hungry?" Galva asked, holding up a stick. Both Envy and Corvus were too deep in their meals to even acknowledge the Tarnished, who's stomach could only grumble at the sight.
"...Yes..." Relaxing, he joined them by the campfire. He picked up a stick of octopus and bit into it, satisfied. 'When was the last time I sat down and actually ate something?' Tarnished didn't technically need to eat, at some point stopping altogether for himself. Still he enjoyed this, how could he not? "How are you?"
"Alive. Not that it matters too much when you remember what we are." Galva said, his head turning slightly. He followed his gaze, spotting the ever familiar grace in the sand. "Though our thanks are all the same with your quick thinking. I don't think I've ever seen someone be able to cast Golden Vow without a catalyst or seal. Remarkable."
"It's nothing too difficult once you've used it enough times and allow yourself to get used to it. However I prefer having a seal to focus on such things better." Millions of loops had made him more than a master at this point when it came to sorcery or incantation
He instantly felt annoyed remembering his predicament as well. He had lost all of his items, including a catalyst that could channel both Incantations and Sorceries. He missed it already.
"I see. It would be nice to learn, if you would not mind?" Galva asked, curiosity clear upon his face. "As a man who enjoys Magic, I am rather interested in your technique to say the least. That is, if you wouldn't mind showing me?"
"I will have to take it into consideration. Despite us being Tarnished, we all clearly have different histories from one another." Rukido said, earning their attention. "We may have fought together, but that was out of necessity. There is little known between us as well."
"…You do have a point. Though I can only hope I will not disappoint you with my knowledge." Envy admitted, though it looked downcast now.
"I see no reason not to. It would do well if we remain together." Galva agreed easily.
"…" Corvus remained silent. The look in his eyes said he was debating what to say. A sigh came not long after, followed up with acceptance. "I…I was a Crucible Knight, who had followed Lord Godfrey upon his banishment."
"I see. I had a feeling about how you fought." Galva said while nodding.
"What is a Crucible Knight? And Godfrey?" Envy asked, clearly confused on why it was serious.
"We were Knights who had served the first Elden Lord of the Golden Order, Lord Godfrey. He had served a long campaign in destroying the enemies of the Golden Order, all for the Erdtree itself. Once all enemies within the Lands Between had been slain, Queen Marika had commanded us to wage war in a land afar, where we would live and die." Corvus said, a sigh escaping his mouth. "We Crucible Knights had existed long before the Erdtree itself was named as such until Lord Godfrey had brought us together during his campaign."
"Before the Erdtree itself...It must have been an interesting time." Galva admitted.
"Not so much my case, I was young by the time the Erdtree came to be and Lord Godfrey had ascended into Godhood upon having Queen Marika as his Consort. There were a grand many threats back then, ushering a time of war between a grand many with the Golden Order. However as our lands became more civilized, more and more people felt offended by our existence." Corvus admitted with a snort. Despite being the reason they even had their Civilized lands, they would treat them lower than dirt. "When I had heard about Lord Godfrey's departure, I had followed him with hopes that one day when we did return, it would be with open arms upon our victory over the land. Not to simply accept death upon the lands we were sent to, as if war was all we Tarnished had lived for...I eventually lost my path with the tribe and froze to death until I was recalled by Grace to these lands."
"How horrible..." Galva said, shaking his head in annoyance. "You should know that during the Shattering that the Crucible Knights had risen up to defend the Capital upon the war starting off. They lost a grand number of their forces during that time, with some being completely unknown of their fate."
"I knew one way or another they would fight. What's surprising to hear was that anyone would go up against the Golden Order itself due to their numbers." Corvus said thoughtfully.
"With the Shattering done by Queen Marikia, many of the Demi-Gods had claimed pieces of the Elden Ring. With the power of these Great Runes, not to mention the forces made of their regions, they managed to make their own marks across the lands." Galva said only to sigh. "Unfortunately, I had passed during the war itself. I was with Battlemages, trying to mend the damages down to the local villages and towns that were trying to stay out of the war itself."
"...It didn't work in your favor, did it?" Rukido asked, making him shake his head.
"No, it did not. We were one of the many who had been caught up in the many battlefields that had raged over the land." Galva admitted, looking down in disappointment. "So much blood spilled over which of the Demigods would take the throne of Elden Lord. We of the Academy had believed that it was best to try and cease as much warfare as we could. Unfortunately, we had grossly underestimated the determination of those who followed the Demi-Gods. Our lack of numbers did not help either in the long run and even with our presence meant to be of peaceful intentions, they did not care. Only wanting to please their lords."
"...Do not look glum mage. It does not suit your nature." Scolded Corvus with a stare. "You fought and lived with your values intact. Not many have that honor."
"You make a fair point my Crucible friend." Replied Galva, a smile coming on his face while Corvus had scoffed.
"My armor has been lost to me and my Aspects of the Crucible have been lost to me for quite some time. I cannot call myself a Crucible Knight as of this moment...not when that title carries more bloodshed than it was meant to." Corvus admitted honestly. Yet resolve came across his face as he spoke. "Despite this, I want to learn what happened to the other Crucible Knights upon the Shattering. I was once one of them and it's my duty to learn their fates. Even if we cross paths as enemies...I will do what I must."
"I can understand that. I myself need to return to Liurnia to see the state of the Academy. I fear how it has been holding itself together after the war with the likes of Godrick's people roaming around." Galva shivered at the thought of what had happened to his home. "I do not doubt that the Academy will keep themselves safe and neutral, but I would like to see with my eyes that it remains u harmed.
"That I can understand." Rukido commented. It was then he realized that they were looking at him and sighed for a moment. "My turn then...I hailed from the Land of Reeds, during the beginning of our conflict."
"The Lands of Reeds? I've heard it was caught within a war and that many had spilled blood regardless of them being man, woman, or even children." Galva shared. Surprisingly, he wasn't afraid of him because of the news. None of them were, though Envy was reasonable showing how disturbed she was. "No one even knows how it started..."
"I cannot answer that myself. I had actually met up with some messengers of the Golden Order, who had wanted to add the Lands to their cause. However, as I was learning from them, we were assaulted by my fellow Samurai. Their numbers had easily overwhelmed us." Rukido lied through his teeth. In reality, he had never even heard of the Golden Order until being called to the Lands Between. He however needed a cover with how he had known certain things, such as Golden Vow among other incantations.
When it came to the Land of Reeds, his home was still torn apart, but he fought to his last breath all the same. Yet he learned that the ones who did take his life were involved in bloodflame incantation, something that Mogh used. He never got his answers involving them with Mogh refusing to answer. Even speaking to some of the more calmer members of his Dynasty had only left him angry and disappointed.
However, the Land of Reeds was no longer home or in mind. The Lands Between was...regardless of the grand many flaws it held, his home now. Now matter how much mending he had to do.
"Must have been a grand amount of them to take someone like you out." Corvus commented, not forgetting his power.
"Believe me, those who wield Bloodflame Incantation should not be underestimated. I made that mistake and it cost me my life." Too many times against Mogh. Nihil was something he learned to despise with a passion. Mogh beat that. "I will be sure to not allow myself to be inflicted with anything of the sort while traveling."
"Well, I say that answers most of us then." Galva said, his gaze turning to the lone woman of the group. "And what of you, Miss Envy?"
"You sounded like you don't have much of a story." Corvus added on, ignoring the hit Galva sent his way. Envy looked at them for a moment, not in anger, but like she was gathering up her words. Not only that, her own memories.
"I...cannot recall much outside my own name unfortunately." Envy admitted, knowing how it sounded. "I can only recall being in a place of...an eternal storm of Lightning and roars...Forgive me, I know it isn't much help."
"You have the abilities of a Dragon, something that for Tarnished can be achieved only when consuming the hearts of their kind." Galva explained while Envy looked green at the thought. "However, your eyes aren't as consumed by bloodlust like other's I've heard of. I've heard those one undergo a full breakdown upon their mind as they fully transform into a Dragon."
"I have no intention of eating hearts of any kind." Envy said, shivering in disgust at thought.
"Regardless, you're much younger than other Tarnished. You must have been born some time after the Shattering." Corvus commented. "Your parents must have been Tarnished themselves."
"But why do I lack any memory of them? Of anything...I cannot even recall these Lands at all, nor anything beyond it. Just that terrible storm." Envy addressed, showing her distress.
"In that case the only thing we can do is help restore your memory." Rukido offered, knowing it was all they could do.
"I would appreciate that very much." Envy agreed, though admittedly downcast at the same time. "Until then, I do my part while we are together as a group."
"Speaking of...we should decide our next move." Corvus brought up. "While I have no problems working together as is, we don't exactly have much of a plan."
"I doubt Godefroy fell after that attack. Not to mention, we'll likely be hunted after what we did to him." Galva added on, a grim look on his face. "Not to mention what the likes of Godrick will do. As one of the Demi-Gods, even a disgraced one, he shouldn't be underestimated."
"Then we should stick together. To avoid him completely." Envy said, clenching her fist with sweat dripping down her face.
"This is nice and all, but first things first." Rukido said, standing up and earning their attention. "Getting gear for ourselves because we have basically nothing to work with if we're going to be traveling these lands."
It was at that moment where the rest of his shirt had flown off into the wind.
"He's right. Being like this won't do us any good at all if we get into a real fight." Corvus said, easily pulling off a piece of armor.
"In that case, we should just find the nearest group of Godrick's Soldiers and rob them of their belongings!" Galva brought up rather cheerfully. "It sounds like the perfect way to blend in and we'll be able to get into other places around Limgrave rather easily!"
"That sounds perfect!" Envy agreed, sparkles going off in her eyes.
"What are you, a pack rat?" Corvus questioned while resting his arm on Envy's head. She whined in protest while he continued. "Besides, there's no way they'd fall for a trick like that, not to mention I refuse to wear the armor and clothing of dead men. More importantly don't influence this one with your crazy ideas."
"I prefer unique, thank you very much." Galva defended himself with a smile.
"Can we get going?" Rukido asked, walking over to Grace before them. "Make sure your wounds are settled. If we are forced into a fight then we have to make sure your all healed up and ready to go."
The other three followed his gaze, joining him briefly as they looked upon the grace...that seemed to be fading from their vision.
(Limgrave, Loux Town) (Later)
'Things are...unsettlingly different here.' Rukido thought upon sitting outside the Town of Loux. No longer the Ruins of Gatefront, but the Town. 'Back then the lands were populated mostly with creatures and soldiers that couldn't be bothered with the ideal of speaking. Now however...there's actually people. Normal, speaking, breathing people.'
They were civilians. Civilians who were forced to live under the rule of Godrick, who was just as much of a monster as monster in the original runs. Only with the addition of not only Loux Town, but also several other towns within Limgrave. All of them were heavily taxed and those that didn't or broke his law, were dragged by Godrick's Soldiers to his castle.
It didn't take much to figure out what happened to them...how he despised Grafting.
Runes were a problem at the moment. Rukido himself had lost all of his runes, which could have lasted millions upon billions of lifetimes. He may not have needed them back then, but he would've felt more comfortable with the large sum of currency to work with. Fortunately they did have Runes to work with thanks to the Grafted they had faced before. Putting it towards food, clothing and some minor camping supplies, they could only get this much.
There were only a small number of shops within Loux Town and not one of them sold weapons or armor. This was because it was illegal for anyone within the land to own such things, to prevent an uprising of any kind. The only ones allowed to such things were the Soldiers of Godrick, having their own smiths and armory right past the gates that led to Stromveil Castle. The people themselves were rightfully scared and were sadly stuck under the Demi-God's Rule.
"What an unjust ruler." Galva said, looking down at the freshly made map before them. "First this repulsive Grafting, then he fully cut himself from the other lands! Though, not without reason...Caelid..."
"Gone...claimed by Rot." Corvus said, growing upon the news. Same as the original world, Radahn and Malenia had fought. Radahn had won their battle, but Malenia had won their war. She had bloomed and it had cost the lives of an entry land. "To think this was the result of Marika's Choice. Demigods fighting over leadership, not knowing they had led their own people to their demise..."
"...These Lands are not under good men, are they?" Envy asked, getting somber nods in return.
"No, most are not. The Lake of Liurnia would have been our best place to head to if it wasn't for Godrick blowing the bridge. Fearful fellow, that one is." Galva said. Another piece of news that was surprising was that Liurnia was much more livable, being a haven to many after the war had ended. "Not that Godrick could do anything to the Mages there to begin with. We're a righteous bunch, that much is certain."
"Ease that ego up. I doubt they've been left alone for all this time." Corvus brought up, ignoring the look sent his way. "Besides, we have more pending issues. Such as being stuck in Limgrave."
"He's right. Limgrave, while peaceful, won't be for long. Not for us anyway." Rukido added on. They had pretty much declared war on Godefroy alone with how they handled him. "At this rate, we'll be better off heading straight for Stormveil and facing Godrick himself."
"I do hope you jest, because I doubt my heart could take such a joke!" Galva claimed, his hand over his chest. "And be sure to keep your voice down. Least we have is our own lives to take into account."
"I don't know about that. We'll be wanted men at some point." Corvus said, slapping the man's back. "Still, what can we even do? Look around and hope for the best?"
"That is all we can do." Rukido said, glancing down at the map. "Even Godrick can't have everything held together without a few loose ends. We should be able to plan out enough to see where we can gather up our own weapons and gear."
"I highly suggest the Graveyards and Crypts within the area. There's bound to be a few items left behind by warriors of old that would prefer them used rather than rusting away." Galva said before a thoughtful expression came on his face. "Though they should be heavily guarded. A Grand chance to earn our right those items within them is what I say!"
"Keep your voice down!" Corvus snapped while Rukido chuckled. He then stopped upon feeling an oh so familiar presence as well.
'She's finally coming.' Rukido thought before speaking. "We should also gather as many Runes as we can. Be it from our foes or within dangerous areas."
"Runes can only go so far. No one can sell anything useful to us." Galva sighed before continuing. "Even then...we have no means to actually get more powerful through them."
"More Powerful?" Envy asked, her interest peaked.
"Rune can be turned into Power, but only a Finger Maiden is capable of such a feat." Galva informed them.
"...The Finger what?" Corvus questioned, a look of disbelief on his face.
"The Finger Maidens. Long ago, it was promised that the guidance of grace would ensure that Tarnished and Maiden would one day meet. However, even brought back from Grace, many had lost their ability to see it as well. Some never even see it upon their return...You all however can see it quite clearly." All of them fell silent upon the woman's voice. She appeared from seemingly nowhere, a cloak over her form. Corvus instinctively stepped forward, pushing a confused Envy behind while Galva prepared his sling ring. Rukido however remained calm, doing all he could to hide how happy he was. Still he had to play out he didn't know her. "Greetings, Traveler. It appears that you've been left in quite a bind."
"And who might you be?" Rukido asked as the Woman stopped and knelt before Grace. She pulled off her hood, revealing herself.
She was as beautiful as he remembered her. Having reddish-brown hair reaching to her neck and curling upward, a fair complexion with no signs of harm down to her. Her lone golden right eye was as full of life as ever while her left remained closed with a tattoo trailing down her face. Her attire was a brown long tunic with dark brown leggings leading down to her boots.
"My name is Melina. And I offer you an Accord."
(Chapter End)
A/N: And done. Sorry if it was a little late, sleeping has been a bit rough, but I'm fine. That and I did another story as well. Among others. Anyway, this is more of an info dump for most of the characters overall, so there really isn't too much to go over this time. However, for next time, I have a lot to cover due to what's coming up next.
And with that, I hope you enjoyed, that you review and of course come back for more. Until next we meet!
Review
casualrat:awesome start. I love where this is going. Keep up the good work, wordsmith!
Answer: Thank you. I don't think I've ever been called Wordsmith before...I like it. Thanks again.