To see a Darkened Sun
chapter 5
An abyss, not the abyss, but an abyss. An endless blackness to which he was anchored by a swirling vortex. Looking closely it seemed to speak, it showed things, whispered things, screamed things, made things, destroyed things. It spoke of foreign concepts, showed strange twisted sights, screams of pain followed by triumphant rejoicing.
Quickly the motion of the vortex grew sickeningly fast, the words, visuals and screams passing by faster in favor of something else. Soon everything was too fast, too sickening, he couldn't handle it, nothing could. It was blurring into itself, merging, dissipating. If it didn't grow larger it grew smaller, if it didn't grow smaller it grew larger. Soon there was no distinction.
Suddenly, everything stopped, almost to a complete halt. The vortex had grown far smaller, telling and showing things that seemed familiar and comforting. It was barely moving anymore, if one didn't pay close attention they'd think it'd halted entirely. He could see clearly what it had to show him, a city of a golden sun, a goddess, a battle, a smaller god. A sun shaped crown that slightly glowed.
The vortex spoke a name. "Gwyndolin" it was familiar and comforting. He looked out into the abyss around him. It was dark, so dark. But there was a sliver of light, focusing on it, the sliver expanded, growing large and golden.
Arias lurched forward, panting. a bright, heavenly golden glow filled his vision. He blinked a few times before his eyes adjusted, he was laying on a couch in a familiar room. It seemed the curtains had been opened, giving the room a warm and welcoming feeling.
He slowly sat up and gazed at his hands, gloved and armored on his left, like always. Slowly everything that happened the day prior came back to him. He quickly realized something was off. His mind was calm and collected, he wasn't hollowed and could think clearly again.
Though something else was also out of place, he couldn't remember anything from before the previous day, in fact there quite a few simple concepts missing from his mind too. It seemed he was mere minutes away from totally hollowing when something saved him.
His breathing slowed as he looked up from his hands to the room he was in. It was now lit in a calming golden light like the rest of Anor Londo. He saw Gwyndolin sitting on one of the wooden chairs at the table to his right. He seemed to not have noticed him, instead staring out the window, out into the city of the lords.
Arias turned on the couch, planting his feet on the ground. He looked over to Gwyndolin, not really knowing what to say he just awkwardly sat there. Some time passed before he stopped gazing outside and realized Arias was awake.
"Ah, thou'rt awake!" He said, mix of surprise and relief in his voice.
"Mmhm..." Arias hummed.
"And I'm still me, much to my surprise." He noted, looking back down to his hands.
"Yes indeed... I too was perplexed when I sensed thy presence cease fading." Gwyndolin nodded, clearing the air and confirming that he had nothing to do with it. Not that Arias was aware of at least.
"'Tis good. Twas a fate most undeserved of a knight such as thyself." Gwyndolin also noted, hoping his words would somewhat comfort him.
Arias wasn't exactly sure how to respond to this, he just lightly bowed and said thank you. Gwyndolin nodded back, a small smile across his face.
"Oh, I almost forgot to mention. I had a maid prepare thee some breakfast." He gestured to a plate on the other side of the round table, something Arias hadn't noticed until now.
"Breakfast..?" He asked, confusion clouding his voice.
"What's that?"
Gwyndolin was shocked for a moment, mouth agape in surprise, but he quickly regained his composure. "Well, it is food eaten after waking. Traditionally eaten in the morning, though, it is always noon in our fair city." Gwyndolin remarked, almost wistfully upon mentioning the city always being noon.
"Oh, right. It seems my hollowing must have been more severe than I'd realised." Arias noted grimly. They both fell silent afterwards, an air of unease plaguing the room.
"Looks like, I'll be needing to learn everything from you then." Arias chuckled, attempting at a joke. I didn't really land but Gwyndolin giggled at it anyway. Responding with a smile and "Very well."
Arias sat down at the table and Gwyndolin informed him on table manners and how to eat properly and such. Even after being told everything Arias was far from the most polite eater, occasionally forgetting to eat with his mouth closed, the kind of stuff you grew out of at a young age but here he was, a fully grown adult eating like a child.
In a time long past, a saner version of himself would've been incredibly embarrassed but right now he had a hard time seeing just what was wrong about him eating like this. Gwyndolin would scold him like a mother\older sibling whenever he ate this way, though he did find it somewhat funny how oblivious the man was.
After an awkward interaction, Arias wiped his mouth with the serviette that was laying next to his plate, after being told to by Gwyndolin of course. Afterward Arias sat there contemplating just what he would do now. He knew he'd have to go back to the Bed of chaos, he remembered how he'd talked about it the day prior, how he spoke of it with great importance. The problem was, now he didn't even know what it looked like let alone how to get there.
And if he could not defeat such a foe after so many attempts, did he even have a chance now?
"Is something the matter?" Gwyndolin asked, pulling Arias out of his train of thought.
"Ah, well. You see... I don't exactly know where, the bed of chaos is..." Arias trailed off for a moment. Gwyndolin opened his mouth to speak but then Arias continued.
"And... Well if I could not defeat such a thing before, how could I hope to now?" He sighed. Gwyndolin nodded to show that he was paying attention.
"Yes, I can see how that could pose thee a problem." He finished. He seemed to be thinking of a solution. After a brief moment he reached a conclusion. "I shall have some of mine blades of the dark moon give thee a map and mark it's location, and, here. Take this, use it as thou'rt approaching the bed." He handed him a small white soapstone, subtly glowing a dull blue.
"When thou finds thyself in need, do not hesitate to call upon me, I shalt assist thee." Arias was amazed. His mouth agape, he didn't know what to say. To be granted assistance from a god, and one as grand as Gwyndolin himself. Even in his amnesiac state, the significance of this exchange was not lost on him.
"M-Many thanks... My lord." Was all he could say when his words returned to him. Gwyndolin nodded, happy that he could help his knight, but mostly happy that he was helping secure the future of his city.
"Well, I should take my leave now." Arias said, getting up from the seat and pulling down his visor again.
"Yes, it is probably for the best thou leaves now." Gwyndolin said, slowly getting up from his seat. Arias bowed farewell and walked towards the door to leave.
"Ah, there will be no need for that!" Gwyndolin called out, making him turn around in confusion.
"I shalt use a spell of mine to transport thee quickly to the cathedral of Anor Londo." he said, pulling out his catalyst and quickly casting a spell.
"Best of luck!" He called out as Arias was taken away by the circle of light. Gwyndolin sighed when he as finally out of the room. He slithered over to his bed and sat down, resting his catalyst upon his thighs.
He did so despise relying on others, quite ironic when taking into account his nature as a manipulator. Still, he would continue to pull as many strings as he had to for the fire to be linked again, otherwise his father's sacrifice would've been in vain.
And no matter what, he would not let that come to pass.
Indeed, this was far to close to being the end of the age, it seemed that sadly he would have to step in and take some direct action from time to time if he wanted things to go well.
His thoughts wandered to Arias himself, a bumbling fool to be sure, though there certainly was something about him which he could not put his finger on. He shrugged it off as him being essential for the age to continue and nothing more, and quickly moved on to other thoughts, though Arias did continue to pop up in his head a lot which annoyed him to no end.
All he wanted was for the age of fire to continue, nothing more.