The Lost and the Damned
Contrary to his own words, Parvus did not have a good night. Although he had been made comfortable with the furnishings provided to him by the Impaler, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that permeated the Shadow Keep. For all of his good graces provided by keeping the Twin-Moon Knight alive, he still knew that was balanced on a razor's edge, easily capable of being taken away should he step out of line. At any moment, either she or one of his servants could walk into his room and slit his throat. He was a light sleeper, but he still wished he could go a day without wondering if he would survive the next morning, or at least not be interrupted by any number of things that stalked the night.
That's typically why he always had his sword nearby, easily accessible should someone try disrupting his rest.
Right now that sword was placed against the small nightstand next to the bed, accessible with little more than a flick of the wrist.
But even that provided little comfort compared to the gaping maw that was the entire Keep and its inhabitants.
The bed he was provided was quite luxurious, both in its size and the quality of the bedding and sheets. It was big for a man of his size, almost twice as long as him, as were many things in the Lands Between. The mattress itself was rather cozy, and he felt he could almost sink into it as if it were water. Objects of this size came with the territory, he knew, considering the presence of demigods, monsters, and people imbued with power and magic.
Despite the comfort of the material, sleep continued to elude him. He tossed and turned, the sheets rustling against his skin. The discomfort of knowing that there were no nearby friends to help, to provide him safety and security, did not help his case. Even though he had spared Rellana's life during their duel, he was all too aware that she was just as likely to come and finish him off herself as anyone else. An honorable knight she may been, but she would also do as Messmer commanded, most likely without question.
After what felt like countless hours of attempted, and failed, sleep, he opened his eyes to stare at the unremarkable stone ceiling. It's lightless texture did nothing but remind him of the cavernous expanse that was this new area. In fact, the stone looked almost like onyx, black but with a shiny gloss that gave it a strange sheen. It wasn't boring stone in the way the other castles in the Lands Between were, but it also wasn't homely in any distinct way either.
Sighing in frustration, he threw the covers off of his body. Swinging his legs to the side, he pushed himself off of the bed, his bare feet meeting the cold stone floor, though this was thankfully a smooth grey instead of the same blackness as the walls and ceiling. He grabbed a match on the nightstand, striking it before lighting the lantern next to him. The room filled with a pale yellow light.
He went over to a nearby full-body mirror, one that had been tucked in the corner of the room. It was ovular, allowing him to see himself in full.
What stared back at him was remarkably unimpressive.
A lone, white man, stood in the mirror, one with a handful of scars across his body, toned muscles but nowhere near as close in sculpt and mass as someone like Godfrey. His skin was a light, healthy tan, shaded enough that one could easily tell he spent his days in the sun, either traveling or fighting on the field of battle. A number of faded scars were etched across his body, the most notables one on the left side of his chest below the armpit and across his right shoulder, both from his recent duel with Rellana. Each scar held a story of their own, each representing a difficult fight or roadblock before his advance to become Elden Lord.
His face was rather plain as well, with a slightly prominent jaw, cheekbones that were in the realm of healthy if slightly gaunt, and broader forehead. His dark brown hair grew out only two or three inches, longer at the bangs and with a light fade around the edge of his hairline. It was thick, coarse, almost scruffy-looking, and it split easily. That's often why he kept it on the shorter end if he could help it. Less maintenance to worry about. Boc was tremendously helpful in that department, as good as he was at sewing.
He wondered how the little guy was doing, the demihuman he called friend. Was he worried about Parvus's wellbeing, just as he always seemed to be whenever he left on another quest or adventure? How was he occupying his time?
The Tarnished hoped Boc was keeping himself occupied, if nothing else, waiting at Leyndel or Stormveil. As much as he would rather have him by his side, Parvus had had a hunch that the Shadow Lands would somehow be even more unforgiving than the Lands Between. He didn't want to put the little guy through that.
A faint glow appeared out of the corner of his eye, one that didn't come from the lamp. Golden rays shined to the side of the mirror, partially lighting the room.
He turned his head to see a Site of Grace appear in the corner of the room, next to the door, enough distance away from it that he wouldn't walk into it if he stepped through the portal.
Parvus's head cocked in confusion. Why had a Grace of Marika appeared in this room?
He stepped up to the Grace, reaching his hand out to touch the wick of gold. Power and flickers of unidentifiable energy could be felt, the sign of godly power Queen Marika still possessed, even in her comatose state. His fingertips brushed against the top of it and a surge of light came out of it. He felt himself revitalize once more, his muscles relaxing and his mind calming just as it had every other time.
Once the feeling had passed, he began to think. Why had a Grace chosen to appear here, of all places? Why hadn't it shown up earlier, when he had first entered the room? And would any more choose to appear the way this one had?
He didn't know too much about what Marika's Graces actually were beyond the fact that they invigorated him whenever he came into contact with them. That and the fact that he could teleport to them whenever he chose. They were almost like safe zones in a way, an indicator that it was okay to rest and recuperate at them.
Did that mean this room was safe, that he didn't have to worry about getting stabbed in his sleep? Or worry about any other interruptions?
Better yet, could he trust Rellana and others in this Keep?
A thought came to him. He had stumbled across another Grace before the arena where he had fought the Twin-Moon Knight. There were no fog gates anymore, a sign that she was either beaten or had become an ally. And there was still a Miquella's Cross just outside of it as well. He remembered what that they should follow them, to follow in the footsteps of Kindly Miquella himself, just as apostles should.
Now, Parvus wasn't religious, not as one traditionally would be. If anything, the things he had seen from the Greater Will and Marika's children had left a rather unsavory taste in his mouth. The cycles of decay, the selfishness, the rot and madness, all of it made him disillusioned in his ability to pledge himself to any god. Just about the only entity that didn't seem to be overtly malicious in some way was the moon itself, hence his allegiance to Ranni. If there was one force out of the entire pantheon of gods that seemed rather passive or uninterested in meddling in the affairs of mortals, it was the Moon and Stars.
However, the idea of making a world kinder, or people getting along, was also rather enticing. Death and war were constant states of life, and both were rather tiring. Perhaps there was room for Miquella in Ranni's vision of the future, just as there was a place for Messmer and his followers. Perhaps if he were to observe and interact with his Crosses he could find a way to get him to join her.
A hopeful look came over him at the thought of making yet more allies and seeing a world united under Ranni's rule. He went to don his armor and weapons, slipping on his tunic and trousers before fastening the protective plate and strapping his shield to his arm. He sheathed his sword, attaching it to the hip where it normally was.
Once all was done, he pulled out his map, one that had markings of ever Site of Grace on every part of the map he could find. Several parts were etched to each other, pieces put together from the scraps he had found at major intersections. One of them had been at a four-way crossroad just before the Shadow Keep.
An icon of the Grace, a golden circle with etches on the inside was planted at the northern side of Castle Ensis, just as he remembered it. He brought his hand up and pressed a finger against the circle.
Golden light emanated from the map, spilling out around him and obscuring everything, from the bed and window to the floor and ceiling.
In but a moment, the light dissipated, revealing the dining hall he had seen before, just as he remembered it. The room was dark, only the glow of blue flame and the spill of moonlight from outside highlighting the area.
Parvus stood up, his boots clacking against the stone floor. He was capable of moving silently in them, but he felt he didn't need to at the moment.
Turning, he saw the stairs that went down to the front of the castle, as well as the assorted men-at-arms and Carian Knights he had slain to get here. He wondered if the positions had been replaced. It would probably be a good idea if they planned of keeping control of Ensis.
He went to the other set of stairs, the one that led to Rellana's arena. Just like before, he turned right, crossing into the vast, open room. It was only then that he noticed the moon's reflection shining down from the water.
Looking up, he saw the grand celestial body floating high in the sky, it's bluish-white rays shining down into what was actually closer to a courtyard than a sparring arena. Now her placement made a bit more sense. Here she could bask in moonlight, nothing to obstruct her while still being in the back of the castle as a means to defend it.
He crossed the pool of water, his feet making ripples across its surface, distorting the reflection. Warps of light bounced around the arena, waves swishing across stone walls and the flames of blue torches.
Just like before, he emerged from the back of the castle, this time without Rellana to guide him. Still, even though he had passed by it once, he already knew where he was going.
On a hill just to the right of the trail was the Cross, glimmering gold as it stood in stark contrast with the rest of the darkened plain that was Scadu Altus. It proved to be a strange beacon of warmth among the alien visage that was the surrounding land.
It was only when he had crested the hill that he could see that it was not vacant, and that he was not alone. Near it was another Site of Grace, twinkling with power just all of the others had before he touched them and 'activated' them, for lack of a better word.
It was also here that he saw the enigmatic Needle Knight Leda in all of her glory, onyx and gold armor covering her from head to toe, with a bright white cloak and surcoat etched in gold fastened over her shoulders and across her chest.
The Needle Knight turned her head as he approached, no doubt aware that he was coming. "Ah, hello again," she greeted. "It is good to see you have made it here after all."
Parvus nodded in greeting. "Same goes for you," he acknowledged. "I was a bit worried you had gotten lost. I know I sure as hell did."
Leda chuckled at the remark. "Yes, well, no one told you to go face the Dancing Lion in the Settlement."
"No one tried to stop me either," he commented dryly.
"That's on you, my friend," she chided in a nonserious manner. "Miquella only tells us what to do, not how to do it."
Parvus shrugged. "Fair enough, I guess."
A silence passed over them as they reveled in their friendly bouts. Seeing the enigmatic Needle Knight had been a curiosity when had first met her. Seeing her positioned before the withered arm of Miquella at the Mohgwyn Palace, telling him to touch it and reach this place, it was strange, as had many individuals he had met across the Lands Between. But, true to his hunches before, nothing bad had happened to him. No death, no surprise, just a transportation to the Gravesite Plain. Still, she seemed amicable enough at the time.
"I see you have somehow managed to placate the Twin-Moon Knight," Leda continued, breaking the silence between them. "Quite an extraordinary feat, if I do say so myself."
"Yeah, I was a bit surprised as well," the male Tarnished agreed. "I had never been able to get one of my dueling opponents, let alone a demigod, to yield to me. It's kind of refreshing in a way."
Leda nodded. "Indeed."
She looked across the plain, staring up at the Keep as well as the assorted camps that lined the front. The Furnace Golem glowed in the dark, its flames lighting the camp and entrance just before the front gate. "Did you feel it?" she asked, her voice becoming solemn. "Miquella's enchantment appears to have broken."
Parvus nodded, remembering the shattered glitter he saw when he had ascended the Keep's entrance. "I did."
She sighed. "My devotion to Miquella remains unchanged, even despite this… unforeseen circumstance. Yet I know that many of our congregation do not share these same feelings."
Leda turned to him, hand resting comfortably on her sword. "Do you have second thoughts?"
He eyed her warily through his helmet, allowing it to mask his face and prevent her from potentially reading his emotions as they came across his face. He knew that look, even though her split-visor close helmet covered her face as well. It said, I dare you to answer wrong.
It was in this moment that he realized she wasn't just a charmed follower, an unwitting pawn in Miquella's schemes, as had been made apparent when he had talked to the other Tarnished that were following on a similar path as the both of them. No, this woman was devoted to him, as a believer would.
Or perhaps even a zealot.
"No," he answered firmly, lying through his teeth.
He saw her relax the grip on her sword at his one-word answer. "Good," she replied, seeming to relax as she took his answer in.
She stared off at the Keep once more, her hand leaving her sword. That was a good sign. It meant he wouldn't have to fight her. But would it continue to be that way?
"Several of the others have gone off on their own," she told him.
Parvus raised an eyebrow curiously. "Who?"
"Redman Freyja and Sir Ansbach along with the Hornsent," Leda answered. "For what purpose, I cannot say. However, I can make a guess for at least one of them."
Before he could ask, she continued, "Hornsent's thirst for vengeance will eventually lead him to the path of Messmer, where he will try to strike down the Impaler for slaughtering his people."
Parvus's eyes widened. He aimed to kill Messmer, right as he is taking the chance to convince him to join Ranni's cause? That will disrupt everything he had worked for. Either he would kill Messmer and rob his mistress of a valuable ally or he would die and enrage the Firstborn son of Marika, therefor robbing him of his chance to prevent more bloodshed and needless violence.
"He must be stopped," he said, his words leaving his mouth as they came to him.
Leda nodded. "I agree."
He blinked in surprise. Did he just hear her right? She agreed with him?
"You do?" he asked, almost wondering if he had misheard her.
She nodded again. "Aye," she confirmed. "He is a wildcard, his head filled with vengeance. On the one hand, he trusts Miquella the Kind to bring salvation to his people. With the enchantment lifted, his vengeful passions may once again ignite, but surely he'd be mindful of Kindly Miquella's promise… On the other hand, the Hornsent does present his own dangers. Your concerns are well-founded."
She stood straight, staring deeply into the massive block that was the Shadow Keep. "He must be eliminated. If he were to point his blade at Sir Messmer or Queen Marika, perhaps it would not matter. But vengeance changes a man. And one day, his blade may turn towards Miquella the Kind. Kindly Miquella is, after all, the true golden child. Even if he discards every last drop of his being, his lineage will always remain.
"I believe the Hornsent suspects what I have in mind. He never placed his full trust in me, even under the effect of Kindly Miquella's spell. He must've recognized something. The scent of the killer that slept within me. The stench of crusted blood.
"I will follow the Hornsent. To have his revenge on Sir Messsmer, there is only one place he will go. The Black Keep."
Parvus couldn't help but agree with her assessment, even if his reasoning was entirely different. Unlike her, he had no affiliation with Miquella or his grand plan for the future of the Lands Between. His allegiance was to Ranni and she had directed him to deal with the last of Marika's children in whatever way was necessary. In most cases, that had been through elimination in direct combat. However, she never specified that everyone needed to fall to his blade. She tended to leave the solution open-ended, trusting that he would make the right choice for her and the new order.
"Very good," he agreed. "I will do my best to keep you up to date on his whereabouts."
As he turned to leave, she called out to him one last time. "Loyal companion," she said. "Do be careful around the sister of Rennala. A beacon in the dark she may be, but the moon is no substitute to the sun itself."
"I have faith she won't backstab me," he answered, looking over his shoulder at her.
"It is not that I am concerned about," she told him. "But of what her master thinks. He will be subservient to Kindly Miquella, one way or another. I simply do not wish for you to get caught in the crossfire should he think otherwise."
With that, he left the Needle Knight behind, pondering her words. He had a bad feeling that Miquella meant to subvert Ranni's rule, that he thought his way better than hers. But surely he would be open to working with her, of being part of the Age of Stars instead of whatever whims he thought were better.
After all, wasn't peace what they both wanted for the world?
The golden mist dissipated around him once more as he appeared in the Black Keep's Guest Chamber. As his vision returned to normal, he couldn't help but worry that he would have to come to blows with former or potential allies in the future, either Hornsent, Messmer, or Miquella. Oh how the world loved pitting him against friends and future acquaintances.
And what would this mean for Rellana and the other members of the Legion? What would they do if their leader fell or ordered them to kill him? Would they oppose Ranni's Age as well?
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He snapped his head up at the sound. Who was interrupting him at this time of night?
"Tarnished," he heard the softer feminine tone of Rellana call to him through the wooden frame, "are you decent?"
Parvus raised an eyebrow in confusion. What was she doing up in the middle of the night?
"Yes, milady," he answered back. Stepping up to the door, he grasped the handle and twisted it. The tumblers clicked, allowing it to swing open.
The Twin-Moon Knight stood tall on the other side, decked out in her full set of armor. Her breastplate shined in immaculate silver, the dents from their previous fight smoothed out and corrected. Her sash ran over her shoulder and across her chest before wrapping around her waist. Her twin swords were fastened to her left hip where they were easy to draw. Her head was covered in the familiar armet helmet, fancifully embossed like the rest of her armor, twin crescents on either side of the head. He could see the long, dark ponytail sticking out of the back.
"What can I do for you, Princess?" he asked politely, yet neutrally.
"Please," she placated to him, "I am not a princess anymore. Call me Rellana."
"Very well," he acknowledged, respecting her wishes. "What can I do for you, Rellana?"
"A servant will be coming by shortly with this morning's breakfast. Another will follow to provide you a basin and cloth to clean yourself," she told him. "Once you are finished, I will introduce you to the others in Messmer's service. From here, you are free to explore however you see fit. I will be with you for all of this."
"Is it not the middle of the night?" Parvus questioned, doing his best to absorb the information provided to him.
"Dawn breaks pretty quickly around here," she clarified. "The sun will be up in a few minutes. You can tell by the faint gold hue on the horizon." The knight motioned her head towards the window.
He turned to look. Indeed, she was correct. A faint hue of dull gold color was highlighting the edge of the horizon, giving it an strangely hazy effect. Normally, that edge was lacking in the early morning hours in the Lands Between, the brightness of the Erdtree making it hard to guess the time until the sun was already peaking over the horizon.
"I see," he conceded.
With that, she left, closing the door and allowing him time to be alone with his thoughts.
True to her word, a knock came to the door a few minutes later. A thinly man in a simple grey tunic appeared, holding a tray with food on it. On one plate was a poached egg with two thin slices of boar meat, lightly simmered. On another was an assortment of berries, freshly picked. Next to that was a simple wafer, thin and easy to swallow. A cup of fruit juice stood on the corner.
It wasn't a lot of food, but did look fresh. He took the tray graciously, thanking the servant before closing the door.
When he dug into his meal, he couldn't help but feel a warm bliss fill his chest. This food was fresh, far fresher than anything he had eaten in days, even weeks. He'd lived in the Lands Between off of wild berries and dried jerky, fresh streams of water, inelegant turtle neck meat, crab eggs, and boiled prawn. These by themselves had sustained him for quite a bit, but none of them really felt warm, like a traditional cooked meal was. The last one of those he had was at Stormveil, where Gostoc had actually surprised everyone with his immaculate cooking, a show of goodwill to Nepheli Loux, the new ruler.
His interactions with the Gatekeeper along with Boc, Alexander, and Hewg had given him hope that not everyone in this world was cruel, even among their own kind. They were their own people, and not all of them were violent or bloodthirsty. It was through them that he tried to talk to those he came into contact with first. And it was because of them that he was trying to ally with Rellana, Messmer, and Miquella. Perhaps there was hope for peace after all.
Once he was done with his meal, another sharp knock came from the door. He went to it, opening it and once again coming face to face with a menial, this time holding a tray with a basin of water and a washcloth neatly folded next to it.
He took the tray from the slight man's hands, again thanking him for his service before swinging the door closed.
Parvus brought the basin to the nightstand next to the bed, balancing the tray against the smaller top, before removing his armor once more. He stripped his protective gear from his body, taking off his tunic as well, before reaching for the cloth and unwrapping it.
The Tarnished looked into the basin, seeing his reflection staring back at him, noticing splotches of dirt and grime at random intervals across his face. If his face was like this, it was safe to assume the rest of his body was also in some state of dirtiness. It was apparent that he hadn't washed himself in days. Of course, he never expected to remain clean given his tasks and duties, so the look was par for the course.
He brought the cloth to his face, dabbing it and scraping at the every surface he could reach. From his chest to his armpits, his inner elbows and knees, to even his feet and between his legs, around his balls and dick, he got wherever he could. The water felt cool against his skin, and he shivered a little, but the cleaning continued.
Once he was satisfied with himself, having believed he got every nook and cranny he could find, he placed the rag back on the tray, now a discolored grey and brown. It surprised him, but he did notice that he felt different, now that the sweat and grime had been wiped away. His skin felt lighter in a way, like it was able to breathe for the first time in ages. And he felt even more refreshed than before, like a new man.
He redonned his undergarments and armor, the clothing now contrasting against his skin. He slipped his helmet over his head, obscuring his features once more. Taking both trays, he opened the door, the hallway empty save for the lone blue flame that continued to flicker next to Rellana's room.
No sooner had he placed the trays down next to his door that the knight herself opened her own door, the wooden seal swinging wide to allow her room to walk through the portal to him. He looked up at her, her pointed helm staring down at him emotionlessly.
"Ready?" she asked.
Parvus nodded. "Lead the way, my lady."
Doing as instructed, she began moving down the hall, her pace slow enough for him to keep up. He followed along, closing the door behind him as he did so.
The pair moved into the Keep, passing a number of individuals ranging from Shadows and Militiamen to Messmer's Soldiers and Fire Knights. Several greeted them, mostly addressing her, but the majority simply moved out of the way, bowing or saluting before continuing about their business.
They continued further into the bowels of the Keep, once again snaking back and forth between a labyrinth of hallways, storehouses, barracks, and libraries. He was sure they had passed the same pair of fire knights at least once or twice with how much everything seemed to blend together.
"Where are we going?" he asked his guide, unsure of what to make of their destination. It was easy to get turned around here and with the amount of turns they had made, he had no idea if they were even going anywhere or if she was just yanking him by the chain as some sort of strange torment.
"You will meet the other subordinate commander to Lord Messmer soon," she informed him before returning to stoic silence.
That only partially answers my question, Parvus thought to himself, leaving her cryptic answer as it was. He was confident that she had a reason for telling him the 'who' instead of the 'where'.
The pair continued forth, their boots scrapping and pounding against the stone floor. In some places they made echoes in the halls and rooms, but others were strangely devoid of the bouncing, overlapping footfalls.
They eventually went down an elevator, allowing him to see that they were facing the Scadutree. A section of it was cut off from the rest of the complex. Instead of being made of blackened stone, it looked like an open field. But why?
The answer came soon enough when the elevator came down to what appeared to be ground level, some sort of stone antechamber. There were two doorways, one on the opposite side of the room and the other on the right. The one opposite was large, big enough for five men to march through abreast. Light shined through it, making it hard to see what was beyond due to the angle of the sun. The one to the right had a statue of Marika, one of only two he had seen throughout the entire Land of Shadow. The other was in Messmer's chamber.
They crossed the room, the light brightening before dissipating as they crossed the threshold to the other side.
What he saw perplexed him.
Instead of a courtyard or some sort of training ground, they were indeed in an open field, one with the same dull gold grass that covered the rest of Scadu Altus. But it wasn't empty like the Altus. No, scattered haphazardly were the remnants of scores of suits of armor. Swords and spears were among them, some laying near vambraces but most impaled into the ground, like twisted warning signs.
He looked further out, seeing that the piles went up to a small grove of trees, which went to another wall and an open gate. The place looked like a battlefield, a ghost of a war. Or great slaughter.
No sooner had he come to that conclusion that, without warning, a large silhouette bounded out of said gate. It galloped on four legs towards them, a grey-and-brown mass of muscle.
As it closed the distance, he could see that it appeared to be a massive boar, one larger than any he'd ever seen in the Lands Between. It was bigger than a horse, thunderous, it's hooves pounding against the open ground as it rapidly closed the distance to them. Hell, it looked about the same size as the giant crustaceans that roamed the lakes and coasts of Liurnia and the Weeping Peninsula.
It bounded towards them, its brown hide obscuring its detail. It was only as it was only fifty or so feet away that he realized that the massive bovine was armored, a helmet adorned across its face and snout. It's tusks were split apart into spikes, designed for puncturing multiple points on a breastplate. Red cloth trailed down the side. What was most striking, however, was the presence of a saddle upon its back.
And the fact that there was someone riding on it.
On the back of the hairy pig was a man fully decked in segmented armor. His head was covered in what looked almost like a flower in bloom, such was the way the segments split around his head. He held some sort of lance in his hands, though it also looked like it had edges on it like a sword
When it was within twenty five feet, the man pulled back on the reins. The boar skidded to a halt, its hooves digging the ground and kicking up dirt. It stopped a mere ten feet before them.
Parvus took a step back cautiously as he grew dangerously close. His guide, however, remained at her position next to him, unmoving.
"Rellana!" he heard from the rider cry out in greet, its voice masculine but boisterous. "It is so good to see you again!"
The Carian royal snorted. "It's only been a few days, Gaius," she replied nonchalantly.
"More than enough time for many things to happen, if your guest is anything to go by," the rider pointed out. He stared down at the Tarnished, his helmet betraying nothing. However, his tone of voice and straight-backed posture indicated that he was rather jovial, a stark contrast to the colder, more aloof nature that Rellana had presented.
"Indeed," she replied neutrally.
The boar rider turned his head to the unknown man. "And who are you?" he questioned. "Your armor is unfamiliar, though I recognize the helmet as belonging to the Night's Cavalry."
The Tarnished cleared his throat, standing up straight as presented himself. "My name is Parvus," he introduced himself, "Consort of Lunar Princess Ranni. I am also a Tarnished of no renown, simply here to extend her will across the Lands Between and its people."
"You make it sound like she is the new authority, superseding Queen Marika," he observed.
"She has been taking a more… active role… in the Lands Between ever since the shattering of the Elden Ring," Parvus acknowledged. "There hasn't been a higher authority because of it and the land has fallen into ruin and chaos."
"Hm," the rider grunted. "That does sound like grim tidings indeed."
He sighed, "In any case, I assume you are here under the goodwill of Lord Messmer since his esteemed hand is with you unharmed."
"That is correct," Parvus answered. "My mistress has decided to 'tie up loose ends', as it were. How she wants it done is unspecified, but if she wanted me to kill you all, she would've explicitly said so. Given this, I have decided on a more diplomatic approach, one far more agreeable than wanton bloodshed. Your lord has allowed me to survey his army and subordinates as I await his decision."
The rider nodded in agreement. "A strange choice considering your kind's reputation, but one I wholeheartedly endorse."
Parvus smiled beneath his helmet. It seemed he wasn't the only one willing to talk about discrepancies and disagreements around here after all. It gave him hope for the new age and those who wanted to participate in it.
The man before him came to a realization, one that needed to be addressed. "Oh, where are my manners?" he questioned to himself. "I have forgotten to introduce myself."
His boar made a single step forward. "My name is Commander Gaius, Field Marshall of Messmer's Legion and His Spear. With me is Razorback, my other half." He bowed atop his steed, not showing any sign of dismounting. Instead, the massive boar did followed its master's example, lowering its head in an equivalent gesture.
Parvus bowed in recognition, as was appropriate to customs and courtesy. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw another shape come out of the gate, the same one Gaius had exited. This form was significantly smaller than his boar, yet it was easy to see that it was another mount.
He straightened his back as the figure approached behind him, a blob of grey becoming more clear as it took a similar path as the Commander. It was a giant wolf, one similar to many he had seen around Liurnia of the Lakes and the Consecrated Snowfields. And, like the ones in the snowy landscape, there was someone riding on top of it.
When the wolf was nearly upon them, he could clearly make out the chainmail-shrouded form of an Albinauric woman. It reminded him of his friend Latenna in many ways.
Gaius turned to see who the Tarnished had been staring at. "Ah," he asked, "what are you doing out here, Liana?"
"You forgot your greaves," the wolf rider told him, ignoring the two guests on foot. "Didn't want you to look indecent."
"I already have my rider's harness," Gauis informed her. "Besides, I told you I can't wear them. The things mock me by their mere existence."
"So you'd dump them to me like you would trash?" the woman asked in offense, as if she was of little worth.
"Not at all, my dear," Parvus saw him placate. "I simply wanted you to hold on to them until I can figure out a better use for them."
As the pair bickered about the nature of Gaius's greaves, he couldn't help but notice that the Commanders' legs were folded rather tightly against the boar's saddle. He wore pants, but they were unarmored, only protected by the armored plating on the mount's flanks.
"I didn't realize an Albinauric could get to such a highly-esteemed position," Parvus commented.
"Lord Messmer is not especially picky when it comes to who fills his ranks," Rellana told him evenly.
"As it should be," he nodded in agreement. "That is one of the marks of a good leader. I'm sure Ranni would agree."
Rellana made no comment, continuing to stare as the bickering pair of riders. Their steeds looked almost bored, like they had heard conversations like this before.
Meanwhile, Parvus thought it was amusing seeing them interacting with each other, almost like a married couple, which was astoundingly rare to find in the Lands Between. However, as the conversation dragged on, he felt he was getting sidelined. They seemed to almost forget that he and Rellana were even there.
He cleared his throat.
Gaius looked back at the Tarnished. It suddenly hit him that they had been ignoring their guest. "My apologies," he said, "my wife here likes to nag me to no end."
"Oh I can tell," Parvus chuckled. "But I'm not annoyed by it. If anything, you amuse me."
"How gracious of a complement, sir," Gaius chortled. "Most of my men have a hard time even being so much as in the same room as her, never mind having a conversation with her."
Parvus smirked. He had no doubt the Albinauric man was being honest. His tone of voice and boisterous attitude gave away his more friendly nature easily.
"I am curious, however," Gaius continued, "that you managed to come into the service of my companion's niece." He gestured to Rellana, who continued to remain neutral, cool and aloof. "The girl has quite a reputation for being high and mighty, as well as quite dismissive of those not close to her or part of her family."
Parvus shrugged. "I couldn't tell you why she had an interest in me in the first place. I had only been in the Lands Between for a single day when she found me, giving me a Spirit Calling Bell and telling me of the opinions of my trusted companion and steed, Torrent."
"Quite a strange gift indeed to be giving someone she'd never before," the Albinauric man noted.
He thought back to the sentence the Tarnished had spoken. "You said you have a steed of your own," he commented. "Where is he?"
"Ah," Parvus said, "he is here." Reaching down to his belt, he pulled out a strange-looking whistle. Placing it up to his lips, the Tarnished blew into it.
The whistle let out a sharp tweet, like a bird's call but higher. Within a second, a mass appeared in front of them. Instinctively, Parvus jumped, allowing himself to slide seamlessly onto his ride's back.
When the apparition had fully materialized, the others could see that he was on top of what could almost resemble a grey horse, shaggy with long hair, and sporting a pair of horns like a bull or steer. It also automatically came with a saddle, which the Tarnished easily slipped into.
"Everyone," he announced, "this is my friend, Torrent. Say hello, buddy."
The horse neighed, craning his head as he looked between the three.
Parvus observed the reactions of the others. Rellana took a step back reflexively, one of her hands hovering over her swords. Liana cocked her head in confusion. Gaius, however, looked the least perturbed of all of them, laughing jovially instead.
"A Spirit Steed, how marvelous!" he bellowed. "You must be something special if you've gotten the attention of the likes of him!"
Parvus raised an eyebrow. "I still don't exactly know what that is, even to this day."
Gaius continued to laugh. "Well, I hope we can find out while you're with us! Perhaps a test of skill is in order."
Smiling widely, the Commander looked down at the Tarnished. "I challenge you to a duel! First one to be knocked off their mount loses!"
The Tarnished was taken aback. "You're about to be sorely disappointed in what you see," he cautioned him.
Gaius remained undeterred by the warning. "Nonsense!" he dismissed. "Don't be so quick to put yourself down! I'm sure your horseback skills aren't that bad."
Parvus sighed in resignation. He really was being dragged into this, wasn't he?
"Alright then," he conceded, "I guess we'll have it your way."
The men moved off to opposite sides of the field, with Gaius hefting his trusty Sword Lance. Parvus, lacking anything with that amount of reach, was given a simple spear, one without any decoration or flair.
Rellana watched as the men took their positions, arms crossed over her chest as she stared at them. This wasn't exactly what he had in mind when she brought the Tarnished down to him, but she wasn't going to complain about their bout. Gaius was a strong cavalryman, one of the best she'd ever seen, and she was eager to see him beat Parvus to the ground. Whether this was out of a desire for a renewed sense of hope that someone in their Legion could best him where she failed or because of her wounded pride and simple desire to see him lose was something she was still grappling with herself.
Liana stood next to her, her direwolf companion panting as he also stared intensely at the dueling warriors before them. "You've got this, love," she prayed under her breath.
Rellana glanced at her. Seems like she wasn't the only one who wanted to watch the Tarnished lose.
The men stared each other down, weapons slacked in their hands, but ready to go at a moment's notice. A silence fell over the field as they eyed each other, nothing but the blowing wind and the rustle of grass and leaves to fill the empty space.
Heartbeats slowed as they stared, studying each other for any sign of strain or weakness. It was becoming obvious that neither had any intention of losing, even though Parvus himself had stated that he would most likely lose.
Seconds passed as they bore into each other's sights, legs tensed, their mounts following their masters' example.
Without warning, Commander Gaius charged forth, Razorback's effort going from zero to one hundred in almost no time. The hog's feet kicked the ground, dirt flying out the back with the amount of force his legs mustered.
Parvus did the same only a second later, with Torrent dashing forth, galloping at full speed.
The men crossed the distance in only a handful of seconds, neither showing any signs of slowing down. Their weapons were raised, pointed at their opponent's center of mass. Time sped up as the distance shrank, adrenaline coursing through their veins.
Just a mere two seconds before they collided, Torrent did something unexpected. Instead of letting his rider take a shot to the chest, he double-jumped into their air, leaping up once before doing so again. They sailed over Gaius, the Albinauric's weapon not even coming close. Parvus's, however, did. The time of his weapon flew at his armored head, aiming to strike true.
But Gaius had been prepared for it. He ducked his head left, angling his body to clear the spear tip as much as possible.
For the most part, it worked too. The Tarnished only barely grazed Gaius's right shoulder, not even digging past the outer layer.
Torrent flew past and landed behind the Spear of Messmer, his legs tensing and skidding as he made to absorb the impact of the fall.
Parvus looked behind him to see that he had barely even touched his opponent, let alone been able to knock him off. Knowing that the joust was far from over, he let Torrent keep going, aiming to get some distance from him before they'd go for another pass.
Gaius wouldn't let him. Turning at a pace that seemed almost unnatural given its size, Razorback skidded on the ground before kicking off his hind legs, aiming to catch up to the Spirit Steed as fast as physically possible.
Realizing the speed in which they would engage again, Parvus directed his steed to face them, gripping his spear tightly in his right hand.
Once more he charged again, his weapon aiming to strike the Commander in the chest.
Torrent jumped once more, allowing his master to gain some height before striking down.
Gaius was more prepared his time, however, bringing his Sword Lance up to meet him. Their weapons clashed, bouncing against each other as neither could find purchase in one another.
Once again they sailed past each other, Torrent landing on the ground and galloping away. Once again Gaius pivoted Razorback to chase, eager to fight once more.
Parvus and Torrent came around again, their confidence growing as they saw that the Tarnished hadn't been knocked off.
That would change this time.
As Torrent made to jump again, Parvus noticed strange purple energy emanating from the Albinauric's hybrid weapon. If he didn't know better, he'd have thought it was gravity magic.
His suspicion turned true, unfortunately a bit too late.
By the time Torrent was beginning to fly in the air, Razorback suddenly swung his head up, both aiming to hammer it into the side of the aerial mount and give his master extra reach. The snout barely touched it, but it was enough for the boar to push is weight into the Spirit Steed's flank. Torrent began to lose control, the weight from the side knocking him off of his initial projection.
At the same time, a bolt of purple energy shot out of the lance tip, aimed directly at Parvus's chest. Given how close it already was, there was no conceivable way for him to avoid the strike.
The projectile landed, sending the Tarnished tumbling over the side…
… and off of Torrent.
He landed with a harsh thud in the dirt, his spear falling out of his hand as he tried to stop his momentum. He cried out as his body unexpected met the ground. Torrent neighed frightfully, equally as surprised as him.
His body stilled, weapon nowhere near him. The dirt settled, dust vacating as he laid in painful rest. He groaned as his muscles screamed at the harsh landing, even if the blow was far from fatal.
He turned himself onto his back, gasping for air from the blow. He had a strong feeling he would lose, but he wasn't expecting it to be this way.
A series of heavy footfalls were heard, the sound of hooves beating against the ground towards him.
Parvus lifted his head to see a massive snout only a few inches from his face. Spiked tusks covered either side of his head, a looming shadow over his tiny mortal frame.
The proximity of the head chilled him to the bone, the looming mass overwhelming everything else around him.
What was it doing? Would it seek to kill him? Beat him down?
It's mouth opened showing rows of incisors and molars. Each tooth was the size of a dagger, easily able to crush whatever would get caught in the pig's gaping maw.
A tongue shot out, pink and wet, as it came in contact with Parvus's face. It licked him gently, friendlily, its mouth wafting warm stink.
"He likes you!" he heard Gaius say joyously. "I knew you weren't as bad as you made yourself out to be!"
The boar licked him one more time, covering the front of his armor in slob. Parvus cringed at the sheer spit. At the same time, though, he couldn't entirely be mad at the animal. It was showing warmth right after a duel, proving that it held no grudge against him for fighting his master.
The boar lifted its head to the side, craning it looked over to the right. Parvus followed his gaze to see Torrent limping towards them, clearly a bit battered.
Razorback took a few steps toward the steed, its snout coming to meet the flank of the other. It brushed its jaw against the side comfortingly, nuzzling him in the area he had hit earlier.
Strangely, this also brought a sense of warmth to Parvus's heart. There were no hard feelings from the duel, and it was easy to see that the boar was gentler than he appeared.
If this was what awaited him in the future, then perhaps there was hope after all.
That hope ended up becoming a bit more stale as the day continued out. Once the introduction and joust had been completed, Rellana had dragged him away from the Albinauric couple rather forcefully, muttering something about meeting the rest of the troops before the day was out. He was rather puzzled by the sudden haste. Was it really so important to see the rest of the Legion on such short notice?
Much as he wanted to, he didn't ask why she had been so hasty in getting him away from Gaius, instead trusting that she had a good reason to. But that didn't stop him from thinking. She seemed rather bothered by the whole interaction. Even with her armor on, she looked tense, slightly agitated. Did she not enjoy the bond of brotherhood he was creating with the Commander? Or was it something else?
They made their way through the Keep once more, passing by a wide assortment of rooms and halls, including an infirmary for both Messmer's soldiers and what he recognized as living jars. That was curious. He didn't think they had any reason to be treated other than reforging their outer shells.
They went through a kitchen as well, the staff parting before them. One of them came to offer them an on-to-go meal of sorts, which Parvus took gratefully. Rellana abstained.
He was able to fully down the provisions granted to him, some jerky and a loaf of bread, when they had finally made their way out the front gate. The sun was now shining fully in the sky, even though the looming presence of the Scadutree made the sky look duller, darker.
They passed the camp in front of the Shadow Keep once more, turning left at the four-way intersection. Apparently there was one more large encampment that they needed to visit, a proper showing of the foot soldiers that made claim to the Land of Shadow. There were other patrols and smaller encampments, but those tended to be more temporary, mobile, not worthy of concern for them.
All the while, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had done something to offend her, even if he couldn't figure out what. Was it the way he fought Gaius? The way he seemed to almost become buddy-buddy with him? Was it because Razorback was rather amicable to him and Torrent, or Liana even seeming to become playful despite Gaius's clear victory over him?
Was it because of yesterday, where he defeated her, possibly in a humiliating way? And where he had somehow snaked his way through the Keep and met with Messmer without a fight? Or was it something to do with the fact that he was Ranni's consort and that it somehow made Ranni seem lesser because of it?
He really wanted to ask her, but he didn't know if now was an appropriate time, in front of these men, these soldiers.
They came across a pair of Black Knights, both mounted on horses equally scaled to them. The animals even wore armor like them as well. They greeted her, nodding in approval before moving on. One of them glanced at him, but decided not to comment.
"How much further?" he asked, breaking what had been a long stretch of silence between them.
"Just a bit down the road," she informed him. "We will be coming up to the Third Cohort soon. I suggest you remain on alert, though."
Parvus cocked his head curiously. "For what?"
"For any sign of trouble," she told him. "The wooded areas around here are filled with Grave Birds, Red Bears, and Bloodfiends. Plus there are still Hornsent desiring to seek revenge for their fallen kin."
"What happened to them anyway, the Hornsent?" he questioned the Knight. "I can piece together tidbits of their culture here and there, but I can't figure out much beyond that."
Rellana snorted. "Isn't it obvious?" she smirked beneath her helmet. "We killed them."
"I got that," Parvus told her. "But why?"
"I don't bother to ask why, only knowing it is Queen Marika's will that they are to be destroyed. Messmer gladly took on the task, and I followed in his wake."
"I see…" he trailed off. Her response didn't really answer any questions, only knowing that Marika had ordered it for some reason. He still had a hard time grasping what type of woman the Goddess was. She held quite a dominion over the Lands Between, being the vessel of the Elden Ring. She had been married at least twice, and bore children from both husbands. But, given how she had led him to kill her offspring, it was hard to say that she had any love for them. Were they just tools, a means to an end? Were they meant to devolve into bitter infighting like they did, and take shards of the Elden Ring? Or was this just some sort of twisted test, for all of them, a gauntlet to see who would become worthy to bring forth the next Age?
A roar interrupted his thoughts, the bellow of a wild animal disrupting the land around them. Out in the distance, further down the road from them, a nearby tree exploded, sending woodchips and debris flying hundreds of feet away. He flinched reflexively, even if none of the splinters came their way.
Whatever had caused it was not good.
The men near them, a small encampment of soldiers, agreed. Standing up from their positions, they grabbed their weapons and equipment before rushing down the road. Rellana immediately made to follow, dashing forth as she moved with the troops.
Before he knew it, Parvus broke into a run, aiming to keep up with them. He saw the tall woman break into long strides, apparently moving more urgently than he had ever seen from her before.
Another tree exploded, this time into fire, as he got closer to the source of the roars, this time bursting into black flame. The ground rumbled, the sounds of heavy footfalls reverberating through the tree line.
The group crested the hill where the roar was coming from, the sounds of battle filling the air. A large cluster of trees had been knocked down alongside several tents. Fire pits spilled out, catching the fabric of one of them on fire. Bodies were scattered across the ground, many holding weapons, but some without, as if they had been caught unprepared by something.
And that's when he saw it. Slightly further up the hill, among a pile of destroyed camping equipment and tents, was a Ghostflame Dragon. Its hide pulled dead and taunt against bones, with most of its muscles decayed. Its scaly skin pulled back, falling off in some places, making it look more like rags than actual epidermis.
Around it was an assortment of soldiers, both regular Messmer's Soldier and Black Knights, as they scrambled to form a coherent line to counter what must've been a newly-arrived threat. Several tried to form a shield wall while two Knights had great bows drawn, taking potshots at the snarling beast. The large arrows seemed to do little, sticking in its hide where the decayed skin was loose or otherwise bouncing off exposed bone.
"All units, battle positions, now!" Rellana ordered, calling out to all who could hear her. "Loose formations! Don't clump up! Archers, aim for joints and sockets!"
He saw the Twin-Moon Knight draw her blades, fire and magic igniting from the edges. Like Castle Ensis, she bathed herself in red-and-blue light, her sash fluttering in the wind. The knight rushed down the hill, charging into the fray as she made to clash with the undead beast.
Parvus drew his own sword from his sheath, rushing to keep up with her. Unlike the other men-at-arms and knights around, he didn't have a place he could fit, no way to coordinate with either of them. So, instead, he would take from his own experience of fighting dragons on his own.
The decayed dragon snarled as the soldiers around it backed off, coalescing into loose formations that could easily break apart and reform. Archers shot out arrows at it, many continuing to stick into the hide of the creature. Despite this, it remained unbothered by the display of power set before it. Indeed, Parvus was well aware that dragons were capable of turning entire villages to ash.
Rellana waved her glintstone sword before her, summoning Phalanx blades around her body. They formed an arch above her head, pointed in the direction of her target. After a second or two, the magic blades shot forth, hammering into the side of the massive beast. Unfortunately, just like the archers, it seemed to do very little against the monster.
It turned to face her, roaring in defiance as it made to begin attacking the swordswoman. It lumbered forth, reaching her in two great strides, clawed wings and legs digging into the ground and crushing debris beneath its bulk.
When it reached her, it reared its head back, lifting one of its winged arms at the same time. She showed no fear before its might, even as it prepared to strike her down.
The arm came down, its arc ensuring it would hit her at a horizontal angle. As the talon reached her, she juked back, the wing not able to reach her. She took the missed swing to hit it in its leathery hide, fiery sword slashing at the rotted flesh and skin that clung to its wing. It hissed, burning the flesh bits at a time.
The dragon roared in pain, sweeping its head back in an attempt to catch her with its snout. She stepped back once again, light on her feet like a dancer. Waving her fire sword, she left lingering flame in the empty space. It exploded a fraction of a second later, singeing the tattered skin on its face.
Several men moved around the flanks, swords and spears in hand as they took advantage of the distraction the Carian royal was providing. Two of them hammered into its left side, spearheads piercing flesh and chipping bone. A Black Knight came in from the side, fashioning a Black Steel Twinblade that spun in its hand and began slicing at the underbelly of the dragon's right side.
Knowing that it was surrounded, the undead creature stepped back, swiping its wing and tail in a circle. It caught all three of its attackers in the attempt, knocking the Knight off of his feet and outright killing the soldiers.
It finished its rotation, facing Rellana once more. She stood up to it defiantly as it bore down on her once more, aiming its head to swipe at her.
A pillar or bright blue light shot out from the side, smacking the dragon in the side of the head and ruining its concentration. Surprised, Rellana turned to see Parvus charging forth, now on top of Torrent, Sword of Night and Flame in hand, raised and pointed at where the glintstone beam had struck.
At the top of his lungs, Parvus let out a roar, one that could match the might dragon itself. "Come at me and die, beast!" he bellowed with unrivaled ferocity.
The dragon roared back, annoyed at having to fight yet another being smaller than it.
Redirecting its attention to the Tarnished, the great creature raised a wing at him, looking to swipe at him like it had done Rellana. Unlike her, however, Parvus was charging even closer, not showing any sign of moving out of its reach. Torrent galloped, hooves clomping rapidly as he did as Parvus instructed.
The wing slashed out at him, claw at the end reaching out to hammer into him and his mount. Yet it did not deter him.
Instead, as the wing swiped at him, Torrent jumped, gliding over the blade as it passed through the empty space the Spirit Steed had previously occupied. He jumped a second time, gaining even more height, allowing him and his rider to sail directly over the head of the dragon.
Seeing that his target was exposed, Parvus swung down at the creature below. The blade connected with the back of the neck, slicing through weakened joints and nerves. The dragon howled once more, unable to counterattack as the pair landed on its other side, riding away before it could retaliate.
Rellana saw what Parvus had done, impressed by the immediacy of his actions where her soldiers couldn't reach. "Shoot the eyes!" she commanded the archers in the back. They did as instructed, redirecting their attacks at its head.
However, the dragon had another trick up its sleeve, one that made it unique among other dragons. As other soldiers closed in to surround it, the dragon stretched its body. Clouds of white and black flame could be seen swirling around its gut, gathering en mass as it filled its belly in unnatural fire.
"Stay back!" Rellana ordered her troops, knowing that whatever this was would be no good. Most of them did as instructed, a small handful too close to be able to heed her warning.
Her hunch proved correct when the creature roared again. Out of its belly came a cloud of ghostflame, spreading out in all directions as it made to consume all in its path. Those who failed to heed her warning were quickly caught up in the supernatural fire. They screamed as simultaneous burning fire and freezing chill seeped through their protective gear, engulfing them entirely.
As the flames dissipated, it stared down at Rellana and her forces, its gaze boring into them with sinister intent.
The dragon charged at them once again, renewed by the release of fire and fury that had made up its being. Her soldiers continued to do as instructed, spreading out so as to not all get hit at once. The archers retreated further into the woodline, using the trees to offer what little protection they could.
Rellana stepped forth, waving her glintstone sword forth. A wave of pure sorcery shot out, slashing across its face. The energy dissipated, doing next to nothing as it shrugged off the projectile.
It reached her, its jaw opening wide as it motioned to bite her. Its jaw would crush her, the sheer force of the blow enough to render her armor completely useless as protection. It would crack her open like a tin can and savor the taste of Carian blood in its gullet, invigorating it to continue ravaging the forces that were occupying its rightful territory.
Suddenly, a flash of grey came out from its left, dashing between the both of them. It had little time to see what was happening before its target disappeared, once more escaping its reach.
Rellana herself had little time to process what had happened, feeling the strong grip of an armored gauntlet grab her by the belt before hauling her off of her feet. She felt her body float into the air before it landed against something strong, muscly, like a body. She looked down to see Parvus nestled in front of her between her legs, and Torrent beneath her.
It was then her eyes shot wide in surprise. Parvus had lifted her to safety, depositing her on to Torrent's back with him, and out of the dragon's reach.
Only just realizing what had just happened, she quickly sheathed her fire greatsword, her free hand reaching out to wrap around his waist. She wavered as she felt Torrent move beneath her, unsure if he could hold both of their body weights. Yet when she looked down at him, he seemed mostly unbothered by the additional weight of the Carian princess.
"I know what we need to do," the Tarnished informed her. "Its only weak spot looks like the back of the neck. I can strike there, but it'll be easier if I have your help."
Rellana wanted to protest against the idea. She was better off on foot, able to keep the attention of the monster away from him and the rest of her men. Plus she was more comfortable on the ground, capable of controling her own movements of her own free will. She could handle this herself.
Yet, at the same time, he was right. Most of the attacks against the dragon had been largely ineffective, more annoyances than damaging blows. He had dealt the only damage that seemed to physically harm it.
"Fine then," she begrudgingly acknowledged, agreeing with his assessment.
Seeing that they were on the same page, Parvus pulled at the reins, pivoting his steed around to face the dragon once more. In the moments they had been away from the fight, the dragon let out another gust of ghostflame, this time aiming it at the backline of archers. The men scattered, running as the flames rushed to catch them. Two of the men were caught in the blaze, screaming in pain as the fire extinguished their existence.
The dragon swerved to face them once more, its soulless sockets staring at them with malevolence. For all of its undead attributes and its seeming inability to show emotion, its being almost seemed to seethe with hatred, its existence dedicated to their destruction specifically.
They stared each other down, the pair of warriors on a single mount standing heroically before the beast. Their swords were draw, angled at the side, resting but ready to spring into action. Parvus's Night's Cavalry helmet gave off a menacing stare, his fur cloak flapping in the wind. Rellana held onto him, her left arm grasping his waist for support. Her helmet glared at the monster, sunlight reflecting off of the shining silver surface. Her blue sash flowed against her body, the ends flowing in the wind with his cloak.
With but a single snap of the reins, Torrent charged forth, his rider and passenger moving with him as they angled downward. They rushed toward it, dirt kicked up as the Spirit Steed pushed against the ground with its legs, propelling into the mass of the sentient corpse.
The dragon moved to meet them, pounding towards the horse in a fit of vengeance. It swiped two Black Knights to the side effortlessly, sending them flying.
The distance between the opposing forces closed rapidly, the looming threat of the dragon making it look indominable in the face of such a meager foe. It crunched and armor and rubble, creating imprints in the ground from its bulk.
Before long, it drew one of its wings back, roaring as it made to crush them.
The monster swung and, just like before, Torrent hopped into the air, sailing above the talon and ripped leather-like wings. He jumped again, allowing himself to gain more height. The dragon tried to turn, its snout desperately trying to catch up with the sailing mount.
But its efforts would all be for naught. As Torrent's body came over the back of the creature, Parvus and Rellana drew their swords up. As one, they sliced down, aiming for the same spot on the neck: an incision that Parvus had made earlier. His sword glowed red with fire, drawing power to the other aspect of his primary armament. Rellana, meanwhile, poured energy into her glintstone greatsword.
Their swords rammed into the wound just behind the dragon's head, edges slicing through flesh and bone. The dragon screeched in pain as moon and fire poured into the wound, breaching the anti-magic defenses of its outer hide. Mixed energy coursed through its body, the concoction of opposing energies syncing together to form a cohesive whole.
The pair flew past, with Torrent once again landing on his feet. He skipped against the ground, doing his best to disperse the momentum of the jump.
The dragon glowed as ghostflame was quickly replaced by the orange-red glow of natural fire. Mixed in was the blue glow of glinstone sorcery, its energy matching the warm hue of the fire.
Torrent came around, slowing down to a trot as it circled back to the dragon. Parvus tugged at the reins as he made the horse to stop, observing the creature instead.
What he found didn't disappoint. It writhed and screamed, the power that had brought it back to life being extinguished by the natural energy of fire and magic. Unnatural power could not withstand that which was natural, that which was normal.
Seconds passed by as it was engulfed. Soon, the necromantic power that had brought it to life was snuffed out. With its source of power gone, so too did its artificial life disappear. It keeled forward, its last breath leaving its body. Its body landed with an almighty crash, bones searing and flesh rolling off the body as molecular structures broke apart.
Eventually the fire within it burned out, the azure sorcery going with it. All that was left was a skeleton.
Silence fell over the battlefield as the flames went out. The sounds of natural wildlife returned slowly but surely, returning to fill the space the dragon had taken in the air. Breaths that were held were released, tension leaving the bodies of dozens of still-living soldiers.
Parvus let out a breath as he felt his muscles relax, the adrenaline dying down as peace returned to the land around them. He heard Rellana do the same, exhaling through her helmet. He felt her grip on his body loosen, her own tension wearing off.
"That," he breathed out, steadying himself, "was quite something, wasn't it?"
Rellana nodded. "It certainly was," she agreed with him. "Haven't fought a dragon in a while."
"Not bad, though, if I do say so myself," he chuckled.
His ears perked up when he heard her giggle. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."
They shared in the chuckle, though it only remained for a few seconds. The elation died as they surveyed the aftermath of the battle. A number of men were dead, crushed or burnt to a crisp, their armor and weapons in ruins. The camps were desecrated, all parts mixed and torn beyond repair. A solemn atmosphere came over them.
Slowly, the surviving troops began to move, going to collect their dead or scavenge whatever they could.
She sighed. "I think that's enough introductions for today," she told him.
He nodded. "I agree. Let's head back."
She gripped the saddle, prepared to dismount from Torrent when she felt a gauntlet tighten around her free hand, the one around his waist. She looked up in surprise, seeing that he was looking over his shoulder, staring through her visor and into her blue eyes. At this distance, he could see that they were tired.
"It's alright, Rellana," he told her comfortingly. "You can ride with me on the way back."
She opened her mouth to protest once more, claiming she was fine, that she didn't need his help, but a wave of exhaustion came over her. It landed on her like an sack of potatoes. Her arms suddenly felt tired, her armor a great weight. Even her helmet felt aching. She hadn't felt this exhausted in a while, which was weird considering her position as a knight. The battle hadn't lasted that long, had it?
"Fine then," she muttered reluctantly.
If he noticed the reservation in her voice, he didn't say it. Instead, he let her be as she was.
Without another word, he tugged at the reins, directing Torrent forward, back towards the Black Keep. Her body sagged slightly, exhaustion threatening to overcome her. She leaned forward, resting her chest against Parvus's back. Her helmet rested against the back of his neck, careful to not push any of the sharper edges of the helmet to his skin.
Beneath his helmet, he smiled. Finally, it looked like he was getting through to her, though he doubted it would stay this way. She seemed like the solemn, distant type compared to many individuals he had encountered in his travels. But this fight, this cooperation, was a start. Sometimes it just took a bit of effort to make friendship, a bit of hardship here and there.
But if that's what it took, then he had no complaints. All of the best friendships he had were forged in fire. Blaidd, Alexander, Millicent, even Diallos. They had all been worth it in the end, even unto their deaths. Perhaps there was hope for her as well.
He just hoped she wouldn't have to die like them.