Chapter 2: the cave of knowledge.

Confusion was the first thing clouding Octavia mind right now, first, she was killed by is uncle and send to a strange cathedral, slash arena, to being beaten by who know what was that thing she encounter, to then being wash away by the wave of the ocean on a strange land with a giant golden tree, while being soaked to the bone and almost dying by hypothermia…If thing consider, maybe meeting someone proposing a deal and who's 'bodyguard' scared the hell out of you, wasn't the baddest thing tha have happen on this long and exhausting journey, but still, she weren't a fool, and context needed to be explain now.

Octavia: "Excuse me miss…huh~" trailing of for a moment, she closed her eyes thoughtfully in order to recall the name of the lady in front of-

Melina: "Melina" she replied instantaneously.

Octavia: "Yes, Melina…I was about to say, why the fuck would I accept your 'offer' if I don't even know what you're offering me-" pausing on her word, she pointed with her finger another argument, "No, you know what, why would I ever accept your offer, if I don't even know where I am?!".

Sensing her companion grip his sword tensely, Melina gave a stop sign with her hand before coming closer to the Goetia.

Melina: "I understand your confusion traveler, and I understand that you have many questions lingering your mind" taking a deep breath, she seated on her knee in preparation, "And that is why I will answer them until your curiosity and spirit are fully freed from it".

Squinting her eyes between the woman and the knight suspiciously, she allowed to relax her body after sensing that no ill intention would be committed…for now at least.

Octavia: "First of all, what is this place?"

Melina: "It is a church dedicated to the queen Mari-"

Octavia: "No! I mean, where are we? What is this…world?!" she exclaimed while showing the landscape around her with her arm extended.

Melina: "If you are referring to the region we are situated, then it is called the Limgrave" she responded with a calm tone.

Octavia: "Okay, good start, but what is the name of this country?"

Melina: "…I do not fully understand what a country is, perhaps you are asking for the name of this kingdom if I'm correct?"

Octavia: "Yeah, whatever, just answer my damn question" huffing in frustration, she crossed her arm impatiently.

Melina: "The kingdom who you asking for his name, used to be called the land between, island located beyond the fog" she stated simply.

Octavia: "The fog? What is the fog" raising an eyebrow, she closely leaned on one of her legs to support her head and listen attentively.

Melina: "That is a question where I could not find an answer for you, since the shattering of the Elden ring and the golden order, most knowledge concerning certain matter have been lost or destroyed" with the same calm and cold tone, she answered her question.

Tilting her head curiously, Octavia, even if she didn't know anything about the world where she has been transported into, it was sure that this Elden ring or golden order where some sort of very important people who must rule this kingdom, "They must be in with some sort of monarchy system, just like in hell" putting this matter aside, she preferred to focus on a certain event that Melina have mention.

Octavia: "What's the shattering? Some sort of ritual?...Or festivity maybe?" trying to guess in advance, her look flattened at the negative and sad head motion that Melina did to answer.

Has she saw the girl slightly feel uncomfortable, the knight who moved to her side, put a hand on her shoulder in reassurance.

Melina: "It is fine…" patting his hand before moving it aside, she refocused her attention on the humanoid owl, "You were wrong on both of your assumption, the shattering…is what transformed this kingdom in the state he is now" answered the girl, while showing the ruin around them.

Has she putted a thoughtful hand under her chin, Octavia couldn't stop here and has to ask about this event who have been so catastrophic for this kingdom, that it completely destroyed it.

Octavia: "Tell me everything about it" she sligthly ordered, making the knight tight is sword again.

Melina: "If it is your wish…"

What followed later on was an short history lesson on one of the major events of this land.

The shattering, who have begun with the dead of Godwin the golden, was then followed with the treason of queen Marika, who by an unknow act, have decided to broke the Elden ring which subsequently leaded on an eternal civil war between the different children of the queen, who's objective was to pretend their right to the throne by taking over the major runes of the other demi God.

But has this war continued on for many moons and suns, the grace, who's Octavia didn't fully grasp on his concept, started to leave those demi-gods and reoriented itself to a class of warrior called the tarnished, reanimated person who basically can't die (Literally) and have the right to pretend of the throne without any problem…apparently this was the shorter version that Melina was able to do.

Melina: "And that is all the information I know…" finishing to recount with an neutral expression, she patiently waited for the teenager question with preposition.

Has Octavia assimilated those information like a sponge gorging the water around it, she let out a small sigh escape her mouth/beak.

Octavia: "That is…a lot" she said while massaging her temple, "At least I know that I'm on a different world…did I just get myself Isekai?" leaving out her pondering thought for another time, she refocused her attention to Melina, "And you said that it was just one major events?"

Melina: "Indeed" she said bluntly.

Octavia: "Do I want to know the rest?" she asked with an raised eyebrow.

Melina: "If you wish to know about the other events or faction who were in charge of this kingdom, then many hours will have to be spend to retold and explain each one of them" she explained.

Octavia: "Hours that we don't have I suppose" she stated bluntly with a int of sarcasm.

Melina: "…Yes…"

Humming thoughtfully, another question suddenly came to Octavia.

Octavia: "What about you two, why are you here?" she asked while scratching her cheek, "I mean, I'm sure you didn't come here by pure hazard".

Turning their head to look at each other in a silence questioning, the knight who was inspecting the sharpness of his blade, just shrugged indifferently before going back to his task.

Melina: "Our main quest was to actually travel in the direction of the royal capital Leyndell, but in doing so we need to at first past to the old fort of lord Godrick the grafted, Stormveil castle" she explained to Octavia.

Octavia: "I can sense a 'but' here…" she muttered

Melina: "You are right, 'but' In doing so, me and the tarnished have sense a strange energy" pointing a finger at the teenager, she squinted her eyes in a serious matter, "Energy that leaded to you" putting her finger down, she softened her expression, "I wasn't actually sure about this, but now that we are here, I'm quite curious about the thing that make you so special that it specifically calls for us…".

Curiously humming by this, she wiped away a few drops of water running along her strand of hair before looking at the mark craved in her abdomen.

Octavia: "Maybe it's because of this" showing to Melina the mark, who's glow has disappeared for an unknow reason, this quickly took the attention of the young girl.

Melina: "Interesting…May I?" she asked the permission to Octavia, who in return nodded in affirmation. Taking a step to knell in front of her and gently touch the sign in order to inspected it, Octavia would have sworn that she saw a light trace of shock traversing the emotionless face of the girl before it quickly faded away, "That is…extremely interesting" she expressed after retracting back to her place.

Octavia: "What do you mean?"

Melina: "You are blessed with a major rune" she explained.

The tarnished, who didn't pay any attention on the both of them since the short history lesson, have totally stopped what he was doing, and looked at Octavia with a dumfounded face…or at least, that's what his body language was showing, since his face was covered by a helmet.

Octavia: "…And, is that a good thing?" asking unsurely a question, she made sure that they didn't stay in a tense awkward silence for too long.

Melina: "Maybe…to be honest, I do not know the answer" replying to her question, the young owl just looked at her in a deadpanned motion, "Your rune seem to be the same has one of the demi god, yet it doesn't possess the same power nor the same bond that connected you to the rest of the grace".

Octavia: "…Ok…I'm not in the mood for another lessons about this entire grace bullshit…so, going back on the main subject, why do you two need to go in this capital Leyndell? What is your deal? And what do you want from me?" she asked all the question while counting each of them with her finger.

Melina: "To respond to your first question, the tarnished have for objective too pretend on the throne, and for me, to find my true purpose" She retold.

Octavia: "Your true purpose?"

Melina: "I cannot properly explain it, but…something just tells me that if I go there, those question that I desperately seek for some responses will be answered" the girl explained, "For why do I need you…Lets' just say that I have my own proper reason…"

Octavia: "If you are trying to make sure that I thrust you, I can politely tell, that you're doing a pretty shitty job on this part" sarcastically replied Octavia.

Melina: "I do not care that you thrust me or not" came the harsh come back of Melina, earning an exasperated sigh from Octavia, "Has for my offer, I demand that you accompany me and the tarnish to our respective goal, in exchange I will offer you the power to convert your rune into strength"

Octavia: "…Do I need to know, what some rune is…" while waiting for a response who will maybe give to her another headache, she finally dried her hair and not feel anymore drop of water flow down her face.

Melina: "No, it is not an information of great importance" she rapidly told before following on, "Of course, you are free to not accept it, but you will only linger those land without any goal and will probably die without a span of a few hours…or minute, if chance isn't on your side".

While Octavia wasn't that naïve and foolish has her appearance may suggest it, she could clearly see the forced message hide between her word, but also the difficult truth that she was brutally showing, "Sly bitch, she his right on both side" deepen into her thought, Octavia imagined multiple other scenario who could be beneficial to her, but founded none after a few minutes and just relucted with a heavy sigh, "Choice my ass, I don't have any god damn choice".

Octavia: "Don't make me regret this" Extending her hand, she felt the cold touch of the girl grasping her finger for a second, before gently releasing it and leave at the end a strange, yet pleasant hot tingling sensation course through her body and heart.

Melina: "Excellent" looking at her companion, she nodded her head in a silence understanding.

Standing up before sheeting his sword back into his scabbard, the men took out from one of his belt pockets a strange ring before sharply blow into it and let out a high-pitched whistle, who's slightly hurt the young owl beside him, "Ouch" she mentally complained while rubbing her hear to sooth the pai-.

*Tap*…*Tap*…*Tap*

Taken by surprise by the noise of heavy slow trotting step coming to her left, the owl teenager slightly gasped out in fear right after losing her balance and fall in a mud puddle, "Ho for fuck's sake!" shaking her arm around to take out most of the mud, she raised her head to see a gray horse with…horn, while being accompanied with an silvered mane and a saddle containing multiple straps of different kind of equipment attach to it.

Has the Goetia was still trying to withdraw most of the mud on her, Melina, who walked beside the beast to caress it along the neck, was also watching her companion bestride the horse while checking any flaw around the saddle.

Melina: "His name his Torrent" caressing it without turning her sight, she placed her head on the horse while silently muttering something to him, before walking away, "He will both accompany you during this journey…"

Quickly standing on her feet, Octavia rapidly marched toward her to ask where she was going.

Octavia: "Hold on! Where are you-" reaching out a hand, Melina suddenly disappeared in a small cloud of blue glimmer, "…Going…" staring in disbelief at what just happen, she somewhat relented and just told herself that strange thing like that wouldn't be the first or last occurence that will happen in her long incoming journey.

Noticing that the storm has finally passed away, she let out a tired sigh before marching to the knight, who was patiently waiting for before tapping the side of his saddle in a 'hop on' message.

Octavia: "Do…Do you want me to sit beside you?" Seeing him nod, Octavia didn't really have the desire nor the energy to climb and follow this man to god know where, "Look, I don't want to be rude, but I'm going to be rude, can it wait tomorrow, cause I'm not really in the shape to-WOAH!"

Suddenly feeling herself being easily lift up before gently place behind the back of the saddle, the tarnish who didn't gave any room for argument or complained, immediately whistled and tap on Torrent side, to gallop away in the middle of the night with the screaming and whining sound of a young teenager desperately holding onto him as if her life depends on it.


Has the sun slowly rose from the horizon to reflect a brand-new day in the land between, and let is yellow pink sunbeam pierce amongst the loopholes of the multiple tree leaf and colored plant, it also reflected on the iron plate of the tarnish, who now was tranquilly leaving his mount march while also making sure that their other companion, who have unconsciously felled asleep after an hour of desperate pleading for slowing down, didn't fell to the side.

Continuing to trot for a few more minute before pulling on the rein at the view of their destination, the knight slightly taped on the head of Octavia to wake her up, but sighted tiredly after seeing that it wasn't working and just decided to elbow her in the stomach.

Octavia: "Ow! You mother-" grasping while grabbing her now aching stomach, she failed to keep her balance and just felled face first to the side…in a puddle of mud…again.

Groaning on the ground while leaving out a few muddy bubble from the puddle, she pulled herself up to spit out a lump of saliva and look with an frowned angering expression at the man, "Couldn't you just fucking wake me up like any normal person…" looking him descend the horse, who disappeared right after that, Octavia felt one of her eyes twitch after seeing him shrug indifferently while making a gesture that said 'Follow me and stop complaining' to her, "I don't know what unnerve me the most, is silence, his attitude, or the fact that I'm always cover in mud" groaning tiredly, she decided to obey at his demand and march beside him.

Following the trail of an old dirt road leading to a strange structure on top of a hill, the knight, who immediately crouched behind a bush, quickly grabbed Octavia by the arm to pull her with him without any warning.

Octavia: "What the hell! Don't touch me you weird-MMHF!"

Putting a hand on her beak to shush her, she was ready to throw hand but immediately stopped mid-way after seeing a giant golden knight mounted on a heavy armored horse, pass beside their hiding spot, widening in shock and fear, the tarnish discretely grabbed a nearby rock to throw it in the opposite direction and get the attention of this monster, has the horse neigh and stood on his two hoof in preparation, his rider who followed the example brandished his impressive golden and graved halberd in the air before charging directly at the direction of the noise.

Seeing the giant slowly disappear away, the man at last put aside his hand from Octavia beak, and continued his way while making sure that she was following him, which thankfully was the case, despite the fact that he could see now a hint of nervousness and wrecking sense coming on full alert like a rabbit being taken in chase.

Has the both of them jogged to finally join the structure on the top of the hill, Octavia, who posed her hand on her knee to rest and catch her breath, instantly looked behind her to make sure that this…thing hasn't see them and just decided to splash them into nothingness, "I'm may be a Goetia, but I I'm not testing myself to that" wiping a few tray of sweat on her forehead and take a deep breath before retaking her composure and follow his companion, she was for once pleasantly surprise to see him wait for her on a circular platform, and not ditching her at the first minute.

Octavia: "So, what now?" she asked, not fully understanding why she was here on this platform or this building at all.

Sidestepping to push a floor button mechanism situated on the middle of the circle, she momentarily loosed her footing after feeling the floor under her move down and

slowly descend in a more darkened area.

Stopping after having reached down the last level and reveal some sort of dungeon lighted with multiple white and gray flame torch, the Goetia who was momentarily sceptic to continue, pushed her fear aside and just continued to stay beside the knight who made the both of them walk, turn, and descend even more into this strange place, before finally reached some sort of caved system littered with small source of water, sarcophagus, different kind of weapon stuck on the ground, and a beautiful yet strange glowing three at the side of the stair.

Mesmerized by the golden shrub who have taken her attention for a moment, she accidentally bumps at the back of his companion who have suddenly stop. Massaging her beak to sooth the pain caused by the shock, she saw at the corner of her eyes, the tarnish picks up a random sword on the ground before exanimating the sharpness, weight, and condition of the blade before tossing the weapon to Octavia, who clumsily catch it.

Raising her head to look at him with a dumfounded expression, she was about to ask a thousand question, but just stopped after seeing the man look at her with a 'serious stare' while pointing in a direction, walking in the designated point and stop at the edge of a cliff, she carefully looks below and see why is he wanted her here.

Although the bottom wasn't that deep and still visible, she slightly felt an uncomfortable feeling at the view of the multiple bones lingering around the pit, has she continued to stare while at the same time unintentionally grip the handle of her sword tightly, a cold stray of wind forced her to broke her trance and look to the s-.

?: "…Unknow from any of us, yet brave enough to seek knowledge…"

Gasping in fear at the sudden appearance of a…ghost, Octavia almost felled from the edge by accident, but surely found enough balance to reweight her body in the opposite direction and safely walk away from the void "Satan, that was close".

?: "Take the plunge of learning and embrace the recall of war from whom a thousand have learn".

Fading away to let his listener ponder on his word and make a choice, the teenager who reflected on his question for a minute while taking multiple looks between the cliff and the ghost once stood, suddenly widens with a lifeless stare at what the spirit was making allusion too.

Octavia: "No" she firmly stated, "No, no, no, no and no, I'm not gonna-"

Suddenly pushed off the edge while feeling her world momentarily move in slow-motion and found enough time to give one last look at the responsible, she immediately frowned in anger and disbelief at the emotionless knight helmet.

Octavia: "YOU SON OF A BBBBIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-!"

While her last word faded before being follow with a loud echoing splash, the tarnish who slightly smirked under his helmet, decided to sited down on a nearby rock and wait patiently for her to return…if she eventually returned.

Octavia: "I'm gonna fucking kill you!" echoed the voice of Octavia below.

If 'he' wanted her to return.


Octavia: "HHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"

*Splash*

Echoed the sound of scream and splashing water around, has Octavia crashed back first on the moisty, muddy and rocky floor of the cave below, she desperately gasped for air while also trying to no be overwhelmed by the immense pain going through her neck and spine, if she have to rethought of all the thing that have happened to her in the day…or night, she wasn't sure anymore, she could probably certify that this is the worst case that have happen so long.

Octavia: "*Gasp*…*Gasp*Gasp*…*Gasp*Gasp* Grrrrrrrraaaaaahhhh!" forcibly getting up while letting out an enraged and painful roar escape her weaken lung, she wobbly stood on her two-trembling leg before taking the sword she was given to use it has a cane, and start marching in hope to find another exist, "I'm gonna fucking kill you!" screaming in an weak yet powerful tone of voice before moving on, she left her imagination drift into the multiple way of torture and punishment possible for later on, it was also a good way to make her mind focus on something else, other than the pain that was coursing in her body now.

While she limped her way through a nearby source of light not far from her, a strange yet familiar warming feeling suddenly coursed through her like the stony campfire that this asshole of tarnish have summoned during their first encounter, "Ho~, when I'm out of this cave, I'm gonna-Grrr" stopping dead in her track at the view of another strange bonfire, she felt herself being mesmerized by those filament ray of golden light circling around like a swarm of bees lured by the odor of sweetness coming from a new pollinized flower in the biggening of the spring.

Carefully taking each step while naturally and slowly extending her hand has if it was calling for her touch, she momentarily hesitated until she resigned herself to firmly put a palm on the small stack of stone and leave her mind and body being engulfed in a strange golden aura who then suddenly disappeared after.

Octavia: "Woah…WOAH! I feel great!" stretching her body around to stiff out her sore muscle and leave out a few crackling sounds of joint here and there, she momentarily stops in order to pat her back and see if the pain was still there "Nothing?" taken aback by this sudden turn of event, she looked around her body to check on the multiple bruised and cut she has suffered during her small time here, only to be again, taken aback to found that none of them were no longer here, "So that's what you do, huh?" she asked to the bonfire, knowing full well that her question will never be answered, "Well thank you, strange glowing stack of rock, with little sparkle of gold around…Now I can fully beat mister tin can up there because of you" having given her thanks to this new 'companion' before cracking her finger menacingly, she continued her road to the exist.

Turning to a corner and see a strange individual dress in some old yellow dirty shirt while griping in one of his hand a golden sword, she quickly backed into cover to discretely analyzed the situation and see if this person was potentially dangerous or not.

Despite the constant complain and atrocious life lesson that her mother constantly nagged about, she has to give some credit at one particular quote that she has learn from, is that in hell the line between life and death always depended on the people and environment surrounding you, her uncle being a very good proof to that.

Not moving an inch for a moment, she carefully lifted her sword after having choose to initiate an approach and try some bargain.

Octavia: "Hum…hello" greeting with her sword pointed in preparation, she was not really surprise to see that the 'man' who's turned around to reveal itself, wasn't really human anymore, "Of course this place has some damn zombie" Octavia muttered with an blank look before easily dodging the clumsy strike from the dead opponent in front of her.

Moan of agony and disappointment leaved the undead mouth before lifting his weapon again to give another strike, but was denied to do so, due to Octavia who didn't leave another wasted second by striking first with an direct thrust in his heart. Momentarily smiling victoriously at this relatively easy fight, she gawked in incomprehension after dropping her cocky smirk at the very much 'alive' opponent, who just give an sloppy punch directly in the owlet face, while the attack wasn't extremely strong, it was still painfully enough to make the Goetia back a bit, and fall on one knee in a daze.

Has she shaken off the dizziness clouding her eyes and slowly retake full control of her mind, she failed to ear a second undead approaching from behind and stab his sword directly in the back of her skull and come out on the other side by one of her eye's sockets.

Glimmering at the last light of life to barely gives enough information for Octavia brain to register what had happen, she felt her body convulse in uncontrolled spam of nerve before fading into a cloud of dust.


Octavia: "HHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" swinging her sword widely around while screaming in fright to only suddenly stops after feeling her foot hit a rock and accidently loose her balance and fall, she swooped her heads up to make sure that she could properly breath, "Wha- what the fuck! What the fuck! What the fuck! What the FUCK!" shouting at last before panting heavily from her own exhaustion, she carefully scrambles on her feet to touch her face and see if all of this was just a mess up nightmare.

Slowly caressing her cheek before going up to where her eyes have been pierced, she at last sighed in relief to found out that nothing out of the ordinary was there, "I…Maybe it was a dream…" Picking back her sword and look around to found that she was back at where she touched this rocky bonfire, and momentarily paused with an confused expression before shrugging off and continue her way to turn at a corn-.

Octavia: "Wait…" crouching down to take a quick peek around and saw a humanoid figures in a yellow shirt and standing still, she remarked that he was also holding a strange golden swo-, "This…This wasn't a dream" cold sweat flowed down behind the back of her neck, to let at the same time the pace of her breath and heart rapidly accelerated, as this harsh and undeniable realization hit her like a train going full speed on a armed reinforced concrete wall, "I-I-I-I…Die"

She spoke with shudder before feeling the last image of her death resurface violently and force her to cover her mouth/beak has an nauseous feeling below her stomach, gaged down her throat.

With all the emotion that coursed through her mind, the pain, the fear, the sentiment of weakness when this rod of iron pierced her cranium, only one reaction could have been done to express her sentiment.

Octavia: "*Hughr*…*Blurgh*" was the only plausible being to happen has her last wall of mental strength passed away, just like the flowing bile content coming out of her stomach.

Vigorously spatting the last remain of acidic puke from her beak/mouth, before sitting on the ground and curl up into a ball with her hand gripping on the fabric of her beanie while uncountably shivering, she broken down at the edge of insanity, and just choked on the looping point of her painful death again and again "I don't want to stay here, I want to go home, Mum…Dad…I don't want to die…I hurt, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't to die,idon'twanttodieidon'twanttodieidon'twanttodieidon'twanttodieidon'twanttodie-" has she slowly closed her eyes and let herself drown in her own madness, she desperately called out for someone to reassure her and maybe pull her out of this horrible worl-, "GET UP AND FIGHT!" gasping at the sudden ragging voice in her mind, she stared lifelessly into the water reflecting her face before frowning in anger and immediately get back up. Carefully and slowly breathing through her nose and exhaled through her mouth to calm the fearful nerve of her spirit and recompose herself from this momentarily panicking moment, she took a last breath before snatching her sword on the way and angrily marched with a new resolved expression and determinate mind in her head, "How dare I decided to break now" she thought with venom before coming out of her cover and face again her opponent, "I am a Goetia" taking a stance and whistling to attract the zombie attention, who immediately started the hostility, she countered an incoming thrust by deviating the blade on the right and reattack with a precisive slash on the throat who made her enemy fall immediately dead this time, "I am Octavia" remembering the second opponent sneaking his way behind her, she turned at the last second to dodge an attack directed once again behind the back of her head, and let her attacker strike going in the air aimlessly, she grabbed this precious moment to reorient her body and give a wild swing in the torso section of his attacker, and let the undead man softly moaned in pain before falling on his knee while weakly clutching at his wound in a desperate maneuver to attenuate the bleeding.

Octavia: "And I will never give up" staring hatefully at the lifeless eyes of the creature in front of her, she gave a quick scoff before shortening is suffering with an thrust in his eyes socket, "Good riddance asshole" pulling her sword with sickening sound of broken bone and squishy bloody flesh, she nodded with an pleased hummed before continuing to walk more deeper into the cave, "Since when did I know how to fight with a sword" she thought before quickly dodging an arrow coming from above, "Later".


She didn't know how many times she has been there, or how many times she has to counter, swing, stab and kill, but if she was sure of one thing, is that death, does not remain any less painful than life.

Pulling another crossbow bolt out of her shoulder and tossing it aside while heavily breathing, Octavia, who's eyes watered in pain and body littered in blood, scratch, cut and crossbow bolts, finally reached what appear to be the end of this cave, if the strange gold fog covering the exit was an indication to be told.

Wiping a tray of blue blacken blood drooling into one of her eyes, she didn't give any care to understand what the meaning of this strange fog was, since that she quickly understand that asking question for certain thing in this world would only bring her more question and an headache in same way, pulling the last bolt crossbow out of her trapeze with a small yelp, she quickly took a deep breath before traversing it and found herself in a vast caved room littered with bones, broken tombs, wrecked weapon and a single undead soldier kneeling in the middle of it.

Equipped in an old yellowish gold light armor, chainmail helmet, with an green and orange tabard clad with symbol that Octavia couldn't clearly describe it, she also saw a tall sword sheathed in an leathered scabbard on his back, "Ho for fuck sake", finally taking notice of the intruder who have entered his domain, the soldier immediately and quickly reacted with impressive speed by unsheathing his sword and charge tip first at Octavia, who dodged at the last second by diving to the side and roll to pull on her own her weapon.

Octavia: "Jeez! I didn't saw that comi-" Unable to finish her sentence due to another strike coming down on her, she rolled between her attacker leg and stab one of his knees, between the joint of the armor.

Feeling the stab like a sharp needle, the undead just grunted before shrugging off the pain and slap her with the back of his hand, making the Goetia fly away and crash on a nearby pile of bone.

Pushing on her arm while massaging her now swollen cheek, she rapidly scrambles on her four to pick up a nearby rusted dagger to charge again, only for the her to feel the blade of the soldier pierce her stomach and slice her up in two.


Octavia: "GAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH" Screaming in pain while covering her face in panic, she suddenly stops and see that she has reappeared at the entry of the arena, "Huh…At least I don't have to do all the trip again" noticing that the sword she was given have magically reappeared in her hand, she puffed in determination before going back again, "let's do this".

Reentering the combat arena with her sword at the ready, she immediately lunged forward to make sure that her challenger didn't have any minute of preparation to strike first, like earlier.

Has the sharpness of her sword whistled the air to lunge itself in the dead soldier torso, she was brutally taken by surprise when the still kneeling zombie grabbed her wrist before lifting her in the air and toss it aside like a vulgar stick being used by a dog.

Grunting, yelping, and scratching the floor before finally coming to an end, she weakly tried to stood up, but didn't get the chance to do, due to a blade decapitating her on the ground.


Octavia: "…Okay that was pathetic" she muttered right after going back inside and try another approach.

Grabbing her sword in two hands before waiting for the zombie to stand up and attack, she squinted her eyes warily before carefully marching in circle around him. Taking a look at what the young owl was doing, the soldier, who slowly took out his sword before standing up and mimic the same movement that his opponent was doing, slightly crouched down with an lifeless analyzing gaze.

Echoes of splashing noise and flowing water resonated around the room has each step the both fighters took, none of the two dared to attack first or do an approach, just waiting, patiently, with careful gaze, looking for any weakness…or solution.

Has the air around them grew heavy and the silence felt deadly enough for Octavia too ear her own heartbeat, a single droplet of water crashing down on the metallic helmet of the humanoid warrior, was enough to give a sort of signal for the two to make them charges with their sword pointed forward.

STIM-demon:

Letting her opponent strike slide on the side of her sword, letting it produce a few spark on the way, she reattacked with a waist slash before jumping away to avoid an uppercut who barely touched her chin by a mere inch, and was only able to took out from her a few feathers of her hair.

There's demon on my mind, I can't erase it.

A curse that brings me strength, I wouldn't change it.

A pact or a purge, I'll find a way out.

There's demon on my mind, I don't mind.

Tightening the grip on her sword before charging back again, she spins on the right to avoid an horizontal blow and let her undead foe sword plant itself on the ground, and attack at his knee before backing away again, "It and run, just like Loona said" rethinking at one of her escapades with her friend during their times together in the pride ring, she would have to thank the hellhound for the few self-defenses lesson she has taught to her.

Has the undead spat out in hate before recomposing his mind and properly regrip his sword, he decided to go on a more defensive approach, and just place the flat of is sword in front of him like a shield, and tranquilly march toward Octavia.

Follow the tracks, yeah.

Head of the packs, yeah.

Seal up the cracks, liquid iron in my body babe.

Pushing on her leg to do the same tactics than earlier, she was taken by surprise when she felt her sword being cast away by the knight who have suddenly grabbed his sword by the blade and use it to rotate it and lock Octavia shaft with the cross guard of his sword in order to force her to kneel and be vulnerable at the head butt he just gave to her.

I was a vessel, fill with the devil~.

So, I steel my soul for the reckoning.

Feeling his metallic helmet crash down on her face and break the two holes on her beak, who purpose was the same has a nose, she felt her mind clouded in pain and vision darkening on the edge, but relucted in resilience by forcing her back to stop mid-way on her fall, and go back in full force to return the blow with the same degree of power, if not more.

Wool on my eyes yeah.

Can't see the price, yeah.

I got the curse, you got it worse, watching me die , yeah.

Piece of metal and droplet of blood flied around before the soldier fell on his knee to soothe the devastating counter attack he receives, but while is time was wasted on his own pain, Octavia took this occasion to push on the offensive a little bit more, while on the same way damage his armor at his maximum.

I cut my tongue to taste the chackle on me.

They really hate the stat, faith through strength I min to max.

Savagely hitting and roaring in rage while at the same time bleeding profusely from the nose and forehead, she rolled away when she saw the soldier try to cut her head in the corner of her sight.

Breathing heavily and wiping the blood going into her eyes, she saw that while he was now more injured, and his armor more broken, it didn't show any sign of fatigue and weakness, so she just decided to grunt and take a stance again.

There's demon on my mind, I can't erase it.

A curse that brings me strength, I wouldn't change it.

A pact of a purge, I'll find a way out.

There demon on my mind, I don't mind.

Deciding to let her opponent go first, she avoided again and give another thrust to plant it in the soldier throat, who for a reason was still alive and perfectly continued to move.

Octavia: "JUST FUCKING DIE!" shouting at his face while losing all her nerve on this annoying challenger and her blood flowing down even more, she once again rolled behind to avoid a punch while in one movement pull out her sword and recompose a new defensive guard.

There's demon on my mind, I can't erase it.

A curse that brings me strength, I wouldn't change it.

A pact of a purge, I'll find a way out.

There's demon on my mind, I don't mind.

Spark, blood, and sweat moved around at each parry or deflect that Octavia countered with difficulties, while in the exterior the soldier didn't seems to run low or be weaken at the least, she momentarily remarked that is attack have become much slower and sloppy than usual, maybe it was an opportunity to take, or maybe it was one of his awful trap like that she has been so easily caught multiple time in, she didn't know, and that is why she forced herself to not exploit it so quickly, if she want to win, she will have to wait for a perfect occasion to show, even if it mean to prolonged and endure this insufferable fight.

Curse in my body like Itadori.

Rock on my wrist like an mini quarry.

Say that I changed it's a different story.

Put the pen to the page like an allegory, yeah~.

Parrying another blow before crouching down and stab at one of his knees once more, she again backed away to make sure that she wasn't attacked by surprise, but was actually taken aback when she saw the knight finally fall on his knee while roaring in pain at the effective injuries that Octavia have made upon him.

Say that I'm changing to rapidly, I do it happily.

Cause deep down inside me a cavity, fill with capacity.

Smiling deviously at this, she sprinted with full force before jumping in the air and lurch herself with an war cry (Not a badass one if you ask).

With demon on my mind, think they can enslave it.

A curse that brings corruption right adjacent.

And I don't need a bank to make a statement.

But power never comes, without a payment.

Has the soldier looked up to saw a shadowy figure lunge toward him and pierced is heart, the last thing he saw before being slayed, were those two pinky purple eyes glaring hatefully at him.

There's demon on my mind, I can't erase it.

A curse that brings me strength, I wouldn't change it.

A pact of a purge, I'll find a way out.

There's demon on my mind, I don't mind.

Twisting her sword in prevention and self-amusement at the same time, she violently pulled out before grabbing it with her two hand and give a devastating swing who cleanly decapitated her enemy in one go.

Has the undead finally defeated, and his body slowly falling on the ground before exploding in a cloud of dust and fog, Octavia who covered her face from the wind force, felt a strange golden light pass inside her eyes and made her pupils glow before letting her conscious fall into some sort of trance and fall down asleep.


There she stood, in a place completely different from where she was in the beginning, gone was the moisty and dark cave, now replaced of what appear to be some sort of life house…or whorehouse if the multiple women of pleasure dressed exotically where any evidence to be take upon.

Looking in confusion while earing, smelling, and feeling the environment around, she was about to ask a random stranger where she was, but suddenly felt someone behind traverse her has if she was a ghost.

Gasping in fright at this, she curiously touched her body and be sure that everything was there, before suddenly earing some strange whisper, who for some reason echoed much more than the environmental sound around.

Taken by curiosity and deciding to investigate the reason of such strange sound, she walked around the house for a moment before finally come to an corridor leading directly in a single room, who apparently was occupied by the person responsible for this strange whisper, traversing the nearby people and enter the room, she was momentarily surprised to see the soldier she has defeated, perfectly alive and human, while also talking to another person, who's face and body where hided under a dark cloak.

Soldier: "My lord, what you are asking…It is…It is…I don't know…" spoked the terrified soldier while massaging his temple to soothe the fear slowly building up in his mind.

?: "I know that it is an hard task…but I will promise you that at the end of it, we will be all free from their shackle, especially you first, I know that your master can be a little…"

Soldier: "Cowardly, insulting, infuriating, disgusting…" listed the soldier with a bland look on his face.

?: "Those kind of thing"

Plunging the room in an uncomfortable silence that even Octavia couldn't support, she heard the soldier sigh in resignation before giving his response.

Soldier: "I hope that I won't regret this, very well my lord, I will do it"

?: "Excellent captain, and yes…you won't regret this".

Suddenly being push backward by an invisible force, Octavia abruptly disappeared into nothingness before seeing a light blind her vison.


Opening her eyes while gasping in shock and cough in the same time, she grunted in fatigue at the bloody headache caused by, not just the headbutt she just gave and receive, but also due to the soreness in her poor over used muscle.

Octavia: "Gaaaah, the hell was that?!" she yielded before flinching in pain at her broken 'nose' and forehead, "Never mind…Ouch".

Standing up and leaving the cave at a hurtful limping walk, she finally came to the exit and smiled in exhaustion before accelerating her pace and jump a small cliff and stand a few meters from the knight, who stared at her with is arm crossed and his ever-emotionless face.

Octavia: "You…" she growled menacingly before sprinting toward him and give her most powerful punch, who wasn't actually that strong and just leaved behind a small trace of blood at the side of his helmet, "HAAAAAA! STUPID HELMET!" she screamed while shaking her hand and give a nasty look at the tarnish, "You will pay one day".

Shrugging off her threat and move to the exit, she let herself sigh tiredly before following him into the elevator and go back to the surface with the growing certitude that her adventure to find a way home will be more painful and hard than she has anticipated.


Bang another chapter, and my god, this one was complicated for a reason.

Anyway, no important new or any interesting thing to say, so have a good day/nigth and don't forget to leave a critics but don't flame up (Also if you have any question about this storie, just ask, but don't think that i would neceserally answer them all, especially if it's about the future of this tale).