Chapter Text

Chapter 7
Unforgivable Sins!
“What a wondrous feeling that must be!”

Belfry Luna

A shimmering silver moon hung low over the Bastille's hallowed church, where prisoners who still held onto their faith once gathered in hopes of achieving fleeting salvation. Built in the honor of a long-forgotten Prince known as Alken, a covenant of crazed zealots had now taken up residence in the Belfry, having lost their minds to the point they no longer knew what their purpose had been in the first place. No longer a place of worship, the ghostly guardians still defended the bell from unwary intruders as though nothing had ever changed...

It was only thanks to the inquisitive nature of our heroes that this Belfry saw them as its first visitor in a long while. Hidden behind an illusory wall that only made itself known when Ilia decided to place one of those peculiar keystones in a conspicuous cavity resembling a face, not unlike what LoveGame had encountered back in the Wharf. Riding the highs of his victory against the Ruin Sentinels, the wayward knight opted to sidetrack himself just long enough to clean the old church out for all it was worth.

Whether it was worth it or not, however... well, both of our heroes may have had more than a few second thoughts.

A violent quake was felt all throughout the Belfry Luna, the heavy crash of metal against solid stone echoing all through the church! Amid the thick dust that hung in the air, the Bearer of the Curse pushed piles of loose bricks aside and struggled his way out of a vaguely LoveGame-shaped hole, his frustration beginning to peak. “Boy, lemme tell ya... this is not the type of shit I came here to get done!” he roared, bursting out of the crater as he slammed his greatshield into a ghostly gray warrior, returning the favor and sending the spirit sailing back. He tumbled to his side, his phantom partner not too far behind. “All the two of ya are doing is wearin' my patience down twice as fast! And I'm runnin' real low!”

Ilia hardly reacted to the fracas unfolding before her, leaned up against the adjacent wall with her arms crossed. “It was your big idea to take this lovely little detour, LoveGame. You made your bed... and I've gotta say that one quite suits you, guy!” she quipped, taking a bit of catharsis at the man's expense. “That's what you get, getting sidetracked like this when we were so close! LoveGame, you've got the attention span of a cat!”

“Hey, can't a guy waste time how he wants?!” he shouted over to her, running the first bell phantom clean through with his sparking blade! He'd toss the limp phantom aside and watch it fade away before charging down the second! “Seems like these guys like to brawl for fun around here... but just lookin' at 'em offends me to the core! Takin' me on two-to-one is the furthest thing from honorable...!” bellowed the enraged swordsman, tackling the aethereal foe onto his back, stomping on his chest, and skewering him with his sword, giving an extra twist! “...and I think I got my point across!”

I've never seen anyone improve this fast. It's more than just his undead enhancements at play here... and I'm sticking around to document whatever his secret is, no matter how long it takes. Thought Ilia to herself, watching her cohort dispatch the pair with relative ease. “Let's move up the stairs! Quick, before more of 'em show up...”

The duo doubled back up the worn, creaky staircase where they had previously arrived before falling into a shadowed hole in the floor during their scuffle. The handful of diminutive dwarven phantoms were able to bypass shields with their otherworldly hatchets, but they were trivial compared to the zealous invaders that so fiercely guarded the bell. All it took was a short climb up the ladder to reach a bell tower, which LoveGame yanked the lever for without hesitation. Sure enough, the Belfry Luna was filled with a sonorous ringing, felt all through the moonlit Bastille. “A lovely sound, no doubt... but what'd that even do?” he asked, quickly sliding down the metal ladder to meet back up with Ilia.

“Did you open that gate just now?” asked the blonde swordstress as her ally returned, pointing at the iron grating as it raised itself up with a metallic shriek. In its place, a familiar wall of shining mist blanketed the entryway. “...nevermind.” she said, drawing a long breath and exhaling it as a sigh, knowing they were about to have another fight on their hands.

LoveGame echoed the sentiment, taking a swig of Estus and looking over his equipment. “Oh, joy. Look at me, uncovering a wealth of fascinating finds left and right!” he said with lamenting sarcasm. “Here I was thinkin' I just made a cool sound.”

“Standard procedure, then?” Ilia asked, stretching as she approached the mist wall.

Following close behind, LoveGame gripped the hilt of his sword at his side. “Sure looks that way. Let's rock it.” he'd say, cracking his neck. The pair held their palms out to disperse the mist away and drew their weapons, emerging on the Belfry's slanted stone rooftop, with the church spire towering before them. Save for the light, chilling wind, the staging area was suspiciously quiet. As the pair scanned over their moonlit surroundings, the true nature of the Belfry became glaringly obvious. “I see what they did here. C'mon, even I haven't gone that hollow yet. Six stone beasties...”

Ilia nodded, taking her guard. “...gargoyles. We were tasked with eliminating 'em all the time back home. They're so heavy they fly like chickens... so this is right in your wheelhouse, farm boy!” she quipped, darting her eyes around the edges of the rooftop. Grotesque creatures of black stone, shimmering like obsidian glass under the frozen moonlight, with the wings of an angle and the body of a demon. Their artisan craftsmanship was eerily realistic. Three on each side, arranged in perfect symmetry and hunched over as if watching the empty streets below. Each one clutched a great spear forged in verdant metal with long, forked tips.

“...and all we gotta do is find out which ones are the real deal.” said the knight, pointing his sword out at each one. “They're probably hoping we'll let our guard down...” he continued, waving the blade two and fro, “...so they'll have that perfect moment...” his imaginary roulette found its mark, the second one from the left! “...to strike!!!”

The brash knight kicked off hard enough to send a few shards of the roof tile flying, landing a clean cut across the chest of the winged beast... which sure enough gave off a mighty roar as it sprung to life, recoiling from the attack and locking weapons with LoveGame! Only just then, another roar was heard over their clash... and another... and only when the horrific chorus of beastly snarls began to overlap, did the knight realize he was only technically right. An unshakable sense of dread overtook LoveGame as he turned his head, still locked in battle with the initial gargoyle, seeing that all five of them had awakened to defend their brethren!

All six of the gargoyles had descended on LoveGame, who now found himself not only woefully outnumbered, but backed to the edge of the roof, inches from a precarious drop to his doom! Coating her red scimitar in golden pine resin that granted her offense a kick of lightning, she wasted no time rushing to her comrade's aid! The gargoyles had encircled LoveGame in such a way that she couldn't even discern where he was, but managed to land several slashes on their wings and backs while their attention was on the knight! Three of them turned their aggression to Ilia – she'd managed to split the flock in half!

Ilia drew the other three as far away from LoveGame as she could, backing herself up to the far end of the rooftop while ensuring she kept solid footing, reaching the wall that lead up to the raised section of the roof. She'd nearly backed herself against the wall, but at least she wouldn't fear plummeting to her death over one missed step. “We'll each take three! Try and desync their attacks like we did with the sentinels!” she shouted over the commotion, hoping her besieged friend could hear.

“Worth a try!” he yelled back, keeping his greatshield at the ready. He'd dig his heels in, committing to playing the defensive game while he felt out their attack patterns and looked for an opening, however fleeting. Despite their bestial nature, the gargoyles were far more strategic than they let on. They'd wear down the pair's defenses with staggered stabs and wide sweeps of their bidents. The moment one left itself open after an attack, it would leap back and allow another to take its place! When they failed to breach the stalwart shields, they'd mix up their attacks by calling forth great bolts of lightning, bypassing the conductive metal! A few even took to the skies and rained down a scorching breath of flame on the heroes!

Worse still, the duo's bladed armaments failed to effectively pierce the solid stone monstrosities, relying on the blessing of lightning to deal any damage at all! It's no good! My Dragon scimitar is more or less indestructible, but LoveGame's gonna break his sword before we take even one of these down! Normally I'd just stun 'em and hit 'em with my rock hammer, but I didn't bring it with me... and it's a long way back. C'mon, I've got to think of something and quick! Thought Ilia desperately as she endured the trio of attacks. “LoveGame, you still holding up?!” she yelled past her foes.

A gargoyle bellowed its orange embers that lit up the night as they engulfed the knight's tower shield! He felt his body practically cooking beneath his armor as the raw heat intensified, dispersing over his mighty shield! “I can't believe I'm sayin' it, but I'm startin' to run out of ideas here! Don't these beasts know it's dishonorable to gang up on one guy?! There's no honor in fighting like this, you overgrown rocks!”

“Truer words have never been spoken! There most certainly... is NOT!!!”

The voice that suddenly called out from atop the wall just behind Ilia was decidedly gruff and thickly accented, commanding the attention of even the ruthless gargoyles! Cutting out the formalities, its source made himself known with a spectacular leap from the raised rooftop! His ordinary knight armor shone and shimmered a heroic argent under the light of the moon as his yellow scarf flowed behind him! The silver savior brandished spiked morning stars in each hand, aiming to bring them down on the nearest gargoyle! “Since you lot are so adamant as to deny these two honest warriors a fair duel... hraaahhh!!!” he cried out, smashing through the wings of the unluckiest gargoyle on his harrowing descent! He'd spin around and bring the other morning star into its rocky abdomen, shattering it to rubble! “...then upon my name as Sir Trout, I shall reduce each and every one of you all to dust under this most hallowed moonlit night!”

A wave of intense relief washed over LoveGame and Ilia as a mysterious, flamboyant stranger had apparently come to their rescue! “Thank the nine! My friend here nearly got us killed with his little detour! He's a little too curious for his own good!” Ilia addressed the hero.

“Hah! If that is the case, then I commend the man thoroughly! What is curiosity if not the spice of life, I say!” he'd jovially spout, turning on his heel and demolishing another gargoyle with a one-two strike!

LoveGame, still holding out against the trio on the far end, yelled back, “'Least someone sees it my way! Where the hell didja come from anyway, mister Trout?”

“That I am afraid I cannot disclose! I can say that I had been lying here in wait on this fated night, to assist those in need like yourselves!” Sir Trout answered, leaving the last of the initial group to Ilia and now sprinting over to assist LoveGame. “I had witnessed many a stalwart adventurer beset by these grotesque abominations! The belfry gargoyles shall terrorize you no more, fellow knights!” he'd say, laying waste to the first of the second trio while its back was turned! Its crumbling remains rolled off of the incline of the roof, into the abyss below! Another gargoyle took to the skies, but Sir Trout leapt right after it, landing on its back and caving its head in with his morning star, kicking off of its body and sending it crashing right back into the roof, chunks of stone scattering every which way!

Just like that, the odds had been evened! “Now, brave warriors! Repay my act in kind by smiting these foes in an honorable duel!” Trout commanded, holstering his spiked maces on each hip.

LoveGame and Ilia each shot the stranger a sharp nod, engaging the remaining winged beasts with a second wind of newfound confidence! The wayward knight sheathed his sword and shifted all of his weight into his left shoulder, pushing forth with his shield held out and delivering a mighty shoulder tackle to knock the creature on its back! Using his body weight to pin it down, he'd bring the bottom edge of his shield down and behead the stone menace, before bringing the wall of metal overhead and obliterating its torso! Ilia's scarlet scimitar began to glow a bright red as she prepared her special attack, spinning three-sixty as she slashed the final foe clean in two!

As the pair took a moment to regain their bearings, LoveGame felt another mighty surge of souls absorb into his being. Kicking a stray gargoyle claw out of the way, he'd approach Trout to give him his due thanks. He offered the unknown warrior a chance to join them in their quest, but he politely declined claiming he had his own duties to fulfill elsewhere. He bid the pair farewell, seemingly vanishing the moment they turned their backs. After collecting some spare souls and other supplies scattered around the Belfry and taking a brief rest at its resident bonfire in the adjacent tower, the two finally set their sights on Sinner's Rise.

Sinner's Rise

The trek back through the remainder of the Lost Bastille was unusually quiet. Not a single foe assailed as they made their way through the last few cell blocks toward the rear of the compound. Neither of them knew what this could've meant, but they were certainly not the type to complain about a moment to breathe after their last two bouts. The detour had not been for naught; the strength he'd gained from the reclaimed souls of the gargoyles blessed him with just enough strength to don the sturdy captain's armor he'd pilfered back in the forest, with its faded gold and bronze design complete with a plateskirt and a stark red cape hanging from its back. Knowing the opposition would only get tougher ahead, both understood the boon this provided.

They'd eventually reach a great bridge high above the prison compound that lead straight into the old Saltfort. After finding the lever that called the lift back up, they'd make their final descent down to that old, derelict waterlogged passage, the air thick with fog as they trudged through the water that increased in depth the further they pressed on. They were completely alone save for the bloated corpses of hollows that occasionally drifted about in the shallows. The open gate on the far end lead out onto a long, narrow bridge with shimmering black water on either side, which itself lead to a colossal, cylindrical prison tower that seemed to reach beyond their scope of vision straight into the side of the natural rock formation. Were it not for the unfathomable power coursing through the air, the beautiful moonlight glistening off of the darkened waters against the white cliffs would actually be quite picturesque.

Sure enough, this imposing tower's darkened face was set aglow by the radiating white light of a mist wall over its twin gates.

Our heroes felt their bodies pulsate and strain the closer they approached! “So this is the power of a Great Soul? Incredible! I've never felt anything like it!” Ilia exclaimed, feeling raw energy resonate deeply with her own soul.

“It's really somethin', ain't it?! My soul feels like it's burning red! I was a little half-and-half about facing down one of these big guys, but now I'm... I'm kinda itchin' for a fight! Maybe it's just because we've come this far in the first place, but I'm not scared at all anymore!” LoveGame said, holding his fist out in front of him.

“So you're really serious about this, then! Standing tall against one of the Great Souls at that... I think I like your vibe already, pal!”

The unseen voice came from a stark figure clad in white who stepped out from behind the twin staircases on each side of the tower, tossing a bright red stone up and down in his palm. His voice was roughly as deep as LoveGame's, yet carried a lighter inflection and the occasional crack. Every aspect of the man from his long, slicked back hair, his ornate platemail, and even his eyes were a striking pure white that seemed to almost glow against the darkened backdrop he stood in front of. Most interestingly of all, his face appeared unusually young for his stature. “Hail, travelers! Forgive me for butting in, but... it sounds to me like we seek the same thrill... a showdown with the sinner! Mind joining the side of righteousness with Asmundr the Tactician?” he'd offer, extending his white gauntlet. “I am pretty good... they say I'm the kind of guy you can talk to for hours about nothing!”

Though slightly taken aback by his sudden appearance, the pair of heroes dropped their guard at the man's unusually friendly demeanor. “Pleased to meetcha, Asmundr! I'm Knight LoveGame, and this here's Ilia! She's quite the astute one, you see. Meaning if she trusts you, then you're cool in my book... but, yes! I was sent by the lovely Emerald Herald to claim all four of the Great Souls... this is my first one, so I might need a bit of assistance.” he explained.

He's strong all right. I can pick up on his energy completely separate from the Great Soul... We lose here and both our quests are over. I'll trust him for the time being, but I hope for both our sake that I don't regret it... thought Ilia as she assessed the gleaming stranger. She'd size him up a bit, taking note of his unusual armor. The white metal featured deep engravings and pauldrons in the shape of angelic wings, which looked even larger affixed to the comparatively form-fitting platebody. Bright red cloth could be seen underneath its few gaps. Most intriguingly, he carried a grand total of four longswords, two sheathed on each hip. All four were identically unremarkable in their shape, but each of them glowed a different hue. One flickered in orange and red, one sparkled a golden yellow, one glowed an aethereal bright blue, and the last was shrouded in a dark purple haze.

“Well met.” Ilia said in kind with a light bow. “...Yeah, you two seem to have hit it off from the jump. Point of early advice, Asmundr. Don't let too much of my companion's reckless stupidity rub off on you. One of him is enough.” she said with a light smirk.

“There's that biting wit!” LoveGame said with a friendly point of his finger. “Ever the acerbic one, she is. Anyway, like I was saying,” he'd continue regaling Asmundr with the tales of his adventures up to this point, “turns out she was a lady that whole time! Not only was she quite the juicy looker... she completely flattened me, rolled me up, and tossed me aside! Next time though, it's gonna be different! I get my hands on this bad boy... who knows what kind of power will come with it.”

Asmundr laughed heartily, putting his hands on his hips. “Hah! And look at you, already back on your feet and blazing a trail, conquering the Bastille in a one night! I heard that bell from all the way over here!” he'd congratulate the pair. “I was beginning to worry even I wouldn't stand a chance, but standing side-by-side with legends in the making... I think we've got this!”

LoveGame smacked his armored fist into his palm and nodded. “Damn right we do! So what are we waiting for, my grand prize is right on the other side of the mist!” he'd announce, already checking over his gear and placing a few items on his belt for ease of access, Ilia doing the same.

“Oh, you guys really know what you're doing then.” said Asmundr, giving a stretch. “Then it's only fair I warn you... well, there's the matter of the Ascetics.”

Both warriors looked at him quizzically, Ilia raising an eyebrow. “...is there some kind of catch to this...?”

“Well, no... yeah... I mean, it was a complete accident on my part!” the white-haired swordsman explained. “I found a few of these artifacts during my travels in the kingdom. The ol' merchant hag told me they intensified the strength of any bonfire you fed it to, and well...” he'd continue with an air of nervousness, scratching the back of his head, “...I might've... sorta misinterpreted what she meant. I fed two of them to the bonfire back in the Saltfort, and well... heh.”

“...what are you getting at?” Ilia asked, dreading the answer just a little.

Asmundr drew a deep breath. “...it actually kind of... well, to put it in simple terms, it strengthened the souls of everything that lives here... aaand I mean everything.” he'd say, tapping his fingers together sheepishly.

“So you're sayin' whoever's carrying that Great Soul just got themselves a power boost?!” LoveGame asked. “I hear that right?”

“Heh... yeah... I burnt two of 'em before I realized what I'd done, so I'd wager the Sinner's at about double its original fighting strength. I swear, I didn't mean to!” he insisted, smiling nervously and holding out his hands. “It's the old hag's fault for speaking so cryptically!”

LoveGame stared off into the cloudy, moonlit skies. After a drawn out breath, he'd look Asmundr right in the eyes through the slit of his helm and ball his right hand into a tight fist. “...all that means to me... is that we'll get twice as strong when we kick this sinner's ass back to the slammer! What you've done, my shiny new friend... is made us an investment! Risky, sure... but we're about to get the payout!” he said, surging with unbreakable confidence and turning to his cohort, “You ready, Ilia?!”

Sighing and drawing her crimson scimitar, she'd nod back. “What's done can't be undone, I suppose. Not like I could stop you either way... and not that I'd ever want to! No chronicler worth her salt would miss the chance to witness history firsthand. I'm ready, boys. Just try to keep up.”

That confirmation was all the three needed to step forth with their weapons drawn, using their combined auras to dismiss the wall of mist, reforming just as quickly behind them in a much darker gray the moment they crossed the threshold.

Weak flames of burnt orange flickered eerily throughout the wide, circular cell, giving the three heroes a dim look at the macabre chamber. Countless rusted chains hung from the black abyss of the ceiling, still swaying ever so lightly with iron cuffs attached. Dried blood painted the cold granite floor in several spots, and the wavering flames illuminated what appeared to be endless scrawlings lining every inch of the walls, scratched in a tongue none of them recognized. The trio all felt their hearts pounding in their chests the closer they approached the shadowed figure stood in wait on the far end.

Though imposingly tall, they were most certainly something vaguely human. Covered only in horribly tattered cloth and corroded chains, they seemed to stare off into space, hardly acknowledging the three guests. Just then, the sinner began to writhe about, briefly bringing their face into the torchlight... or rather, the black iron mask that hid their appearance away, and their dark, overgrown, matted hair. They'd only just spy a small black insect crawling up the mask with its many legs, retreating into one of its eye holes the moment it had been seen! This sent the sinner into a fit of anguish, their pained scream echoing through the cell as they drew a greatsword nearly as long as their own body. Even the sturdy steel cuffs that bound their hands together didn't seem to impede them, gripping the blade in both hands and rearing back for a wide swing at seemingly nothing...

...and then there was nothing. As LoveGame, Ilia, and Asmundr stood close in the pitch black, the haunting realization washed over them – the sinner's mighty swing had created enough of a gust to extinguish the two flames behind them, robbing the warriors of their precious light. Now at the mercy of the sinner that stalked the shadows, all three stood with their backs to one another and took their guard. “This is bad...” LoveGame lamented, fruitlessly searching for their foe in the inky darkness. “That move was no accident... stay on guard. I don't even hear her moving... she's completely in her element.” LoveGame said in an uncharacteristically serious tone.

Trying to keep morale high, Asmundr piped up as he focused his energy. “I'm impressed, how'd you know the Sinner was a woman?” he asked.

“...I was a just a farmer back home. Had a lot of spare time to hit the books. Just wish I knew somethin' more useful than that.” answered LoveGame.

“Move, now!!” Ilia shouted, the dead silence giving way to a gale force of something moving through the air! There was just enough moonlight filtering through the barred windows for them to see a few inches in front of their face, and the sudden sight of the sinner plunging her blade down where they were stood just seconds before! The sparks she kicked up with her harrowing slice lit up her expressionless mask as she stared into their souls with black voids in place of her eyes!

Again and again, she'd descend on the heroes with frightening precision, and each time they'd avoid destruction by mere inches, disappearing back into the darkness before any of them could land a single strike! “Trying to look for her is useless. She's hiding her approach with those jump attacks... listen, don't bother relying on your sight. Focus, and feel her movements out through the air!”

“Heh.” LoveGame laughed to himself, overtaken by a sudden stroke of genius. “Not a bad idea, but I've got a better one...” he'd grip his silver blade, an overwhelming surge of sparks dancing down its length and giving it a golden glow. “...like, way better! Can't believe I didn't think of this one sooner! She psyched me out!” he said, marveling at the light he'd created. The electric aura was more than enough for them to see the next attack coming, and the wayward knight rushed the sinner the moment she landed, striking her in the side with his sword!

“Not like it's hard to psyche you out, but still... good going!” Ilia said, trying herself to boost the morale with a quip. She'd reach for a bundle of golden pine resin from her belt, her scimitar now set aglow with lightning as well! She spun on her heel just as the masked sinner made her next descent, not only deflecting the attack but landing a perfect counter, forcing her back into the shadows!

Seeing the pair showcase their incredible adaptability set a wide grin across the Tactician's face. “We've only just met, and the first thing you do is completely one up me...” he'd say, drawing two of his swords from either hip, the orange one and the golden one, “...I knew you had it in you!!!” he shouted before his twin longswords ignited to life, a mighty flame in his left and an electric spark of his own in the right! “...so I guess that means...” he followed in the pair's footsteps, crossing the two imbued blades to block the sinner's greatsword just as it came down on him, then giving them an extra surge of power to force her back! “...that now I'm the one who's in his element! Hah!” he delivered twin strikes of his own right down her chest as she recoiled and retreated!

No longer impeded by the darkness, the three heroes now knew well the sinner's cunning approach. Rather than walking, she'd move entirely through superhuman leaps, jumping so high that she disappeared into the void of the ceiling and coming down on their position with minimal noise. The next moment she landed, all three engaged her at once! Even outnumbered as she was, the sinner channeled all the white-hot strength of a Great Soul and tangled with the trio! She'd use the incredible length of her greatsword to block several attacks at once, delivering powerful roundhouse kicks with her long legs without losing focus for a second!

Even a Great Soul could be worn down by a strong enough resolve, and the sinner was no exception! She'd find herself forced on the defensive, and more and more strikes snuck past her defense until she was overwhelmed by the flurry of slashes that surrounded her! Weakened, she stumbled back and a faint glow of red lit up inside her chest, rapidly expanding into a fiery explosion that knocked the trio off of their feet, sending them flying back into the walls! They'd push themselves back up just in time to see the great torches ignite back to life behind her! Oil and embers pooled below each one, and a sickly red mist slowly manifested into a pair of aethereal crimson phantoms cloaked in heavy robes and brandishing a roaring flame in each hand!

“Good... it's like I said before... I never saw much honor in overwhelming my enemy like that.” LoveGame said with a pained labor in his voice, crushing a lifegem as he prepared for another round. “All we've got now is an even fight!”

Asmundr sheathed his orange blade and drew the blue one in its place, setting his sights on one of the spirits just as it lobbed a great orb of fire his way! “LoveGame, it's your fight! Clean up with the sinner and we'll put the fire out for you! Ilia, take the one on the right!” commanded the tactician, rushing toward the leftmost one with a longsword at each side! Ilia nodded firmly and darted toward the other mage with her scarlet shield held out, granting her nigh-immunity to the flame it swallowed in its draconic visage!

With a mighty roar of his blade's sparks, Knight LoveGame challenged the Sinner head-on. Even in her battered state, she'd prove more than capable of clashing evenly with the young knight, swinging her heavy blade as though it were no more than a common dagger! They matched blow for blow until LoveGame saw just the tiniest vestige of an opening, slamming the entire weight of his greatshield into her shoulder! Now knocked off balance, the sinner was swept off of her feet by a low heel kick! LoveGame rushed her down, reeling back for what he hoped and prayed to the full moon was his finishing move!

Though they commanded the might of the Great Swamp in their burning palms, the pair of pyromancers were easily eviscerated by Asmundr and Ilia's blinding blades the moment they closed the distance, ripping their ghostly robes to shreds and returning to ashes! Victorious, they'd both turn to witness the awe-inspiring sight of Knight LoveGame as he launched the Sinner high into the air with a devastating uppercut with his tower shield! “Since you seem to like it so much up there, allow me to assist ya!” he roared, making a great leap of his own to chase the masked warrior! “...here goes... this one's a LoveGame original! I'll call it... the Grand Prize!!! Hmmh!”

Just as he reached her height, he'd slash viciously at her careening, helpless body! Right at the peak of his jump, he'd spin around to his left and send the imprisoned Sinner careening back to the ground like a meteorite! The violent impact shook the entire cell chamber and smashed a modestly sized crater into the solid granite! With this final show of strength, the Lost Sinner, bearer of the First Great Soul had finally known defeat! Just like the many that had fallen before her, the masked foe faded into fleeting ash in the wind, leaving not a trace of her form behind.

Against all odds, the wayward knight and his sworn protector, along with their newfound ally, had finally taken their first step toward a fated audience with King Vendrick!

LoveGame tumbled to the ground, failing miserably to stick his landing and collapsed in a heap. Ilia and Asmundr were quick to rush to his side, both to celebrate their hard-earned victory and ensure he was still able to stand. The wayward knight silently reassured them he was fine, chugging down the remainder of Estus until streams of the golden liquid ran down his helmet. “Now that's what I came here to see! I don't think you realize what you've just accomplished, LoveGame... and another thing I forgot to mention about myself is... that I'm not easy to impress!” Asmundr beamed, giving his new friend a pat on the back.

“There it is, LoveGame.” Ilia said, pointing to the great mass of raw soul energy that glowed a brilliant yellow and orange as it levitated in the center of the cell. “Yours for the taking... the grand prize, heh.”

Dropping his shield on the floor and sheathing his silver sword, the knight approached the radiating mass of pure power and reached his gauntlet out. “Don't mind if I do- ...whuh?” he'd cut himself off, as the moment he extended his arm to hold it, his hand merely passed through, and it began to float toward him of its own accord. The Great Soul absorbed itself into the confused man's chest, as if merging with his own soul in that moment! He'd feel a lingering warmth build up inside of him, slowly building toward an unbelievably intense heat, prompting him to brace for an immeasurable pain...

...and settle out into a comforting warmth just as quickly. The cursed knight felt his muscles tighten! “Haah! Enduring this soul is nothing!” he boasted with incredible bravado, striking a series of exaggerated action poses. “Hah! Hyah! Was that the best you had?! Whatever those white knights do to me was way more intense! I feel motivated! Confident! Resilient...!”

“...and still a bit mentally stunted.” Ilia cut him off, holding her palm up. “...but no less of a winner, I suppose. You're handling that soul surprisingly well.”

“I'll say.” Asmundr chimed in. “His body woulda been ripped apart otherwise. There's a reason they refer to these things as 'a power beyond human imagination'...” he'd trail off, his face growing serious for a brief moment as he felt out the Great Soul's aura. “...ahem! I knew you were tough enough to eat that soul, LoveGame. I can already tell there aren't many like you.”

“For better or worse.” Ilia added, sheathing her weapon and crushing a lifegem.

“Come to think of it...” LoveGame piped up, a burning question simmering in his mind, “...what were you here for in the first place, Asmundr? You weren't after the Great Soul too? I mean, you didn't exactly try to stop me, and, uhh... well, aren't these things kinda one of a kind?”

“Oh, nah. I'm just in this for the thrill of a good fight.” the tactician responded in a completely casual tone. “I'm... heh, I'm sort of a really high-ranking member of the Brotherhood of Blood. We're a bunch of guys and gals who fight just for the fun of it!”

“Much respect to ya, guy.” LoveGame commended. “Keeps your mind and your skills sharp... and times like these, not many know the concept of fun anymore. Don't you dare go hollow on me, pal.”

Asmundr shook his head. “Wouldn't think of it, friend. Actually, I was wondering if I could accompany the two of you back to Majula. I've been needing to get back to our little base of operations in the Purgatory... but when I went to head that way, the whole path was like... well, it wasn't blocked off per se. It just... wasn't there. Weird, I know, but remember where we are. The Iron Keep's through that way as well, and you probably already know King's still holding onto a Great Soul, so we've both got to find a way through either way, you know? What's say we help each other out?”

“You made our lives a lot easier tonight.” Ilia said, giving a light bow. “I'd say it's only fair. I'm honestly still in awe that I got to see one of these up close.”

LoveGame grabbed his palm for a firm, if a little overenthusiastic handshake. “You kiddin'? We're practically bros now, I can't just let you walk off into the night! I can't think of a better way to get to know someone than to bust some heads alongside 'em. How do you think I hit it off so quick with Ilia here?” he'd say, meriting an eye-roll from the lithe blonde.

The defeat of the Lost Sinner had unlocked another large set of doors just across from the entryway, leading to an isolated antechamber. After pilfering a wealth of unusual treasures from a chest tucked away to the side, they entered to find nothing but a lone bonfire in the center, with its coiled sword snapped in two. Now imbued with the power of a Great Soul, Knight LoveGame lit the bonfire in a roaring blaze... and the world turned to a white void for the trio. The moment they next blinked, they found themselves suddenly and safely in the comfort of Majula.

Majula

It was the first time our heroes were truly able to take in the beauty of the ruined settlement on a clear night. The stars above twinkled on the undulating sea below the cliff, serving both as a marvel of nature and the perfect sounds of waves crashing in the distance to lull a weary adventurer to sleep. Indeed, when the trio returned, Vivi was already curled up beside the comfort of the bonfire, dead asleep. LoveGame, Ilia, and Asmundr stayed awake to trade stories for a bit, but all three of them eventually bid each other a good night and joined the spellcaster for some well-earned rest.

As morning arrived in Majula, the birth of its sunrise just as breathtaking as ever, Knight LoveGame awoke several hours ahead of his allies, determined to satiate his curiosity regarding the soul he'd obtained from the Dragonrider. He had little but his own speculative instinct to go off of, he'd set his sights on the very last cell block he'd passed through that lead out to the Sinner's Rise. Among the rare treasures he'd plundered from the Sinner's chamber was a long, sturdy tree branch that overwhelmed his nostrils with the scent of verdure and exotic spices. He'd pay the old merchant hag a visit after she'd found her way back home, noting she was carrying one of the pungent plants among her stock. She'd explain that they were rumored to have the power to bring a stone statue to life, and that was all the confirmation he needed. He'd use the network of lost souls that burned within each bonfire to warp himself from his new home back to the Lost Bastille. Now cleared out in its entirety, the eerie prison grounds made for quite the atmospheric walk back from the old guards' quarters to that last row of cells. There it was, blocking off the only open cell of the bunch. A grey stone statue of a wizened wizard frozen in time. He'd hold the tree branch up to its nostrils and feel the hard wood crumble to dust in his hands as the statue coughed to life! After freeing his throat of thousands of years' worth of dust, he'd introduce himself as Straid, a confidant of King Vendrick hailing from the old kingdom of Olaphis. Though he derided and mocked LoveGame, condescending toward him for his lack of intelligence and magical sharpness, he'd more than make up for his superiority complex by offering his unique ability to transpose mighty souls into legendary armaments. LoveGame didn't have to think twice about his choice, offering the Dragonrider's soul along with a modest soul fee and receiving its greatshield in return. It was far stronger and sturdier than his tower shield, wrought of a thick steel alloy and decorated with a pattern featuring Vendrick's royal crest engraved in a repeating pattern of dark gold all along its unique teardrop shape. For LoveGame's discerning eye, it may as well have been love at first sight. He lit the bonfire in old Straid's cell and warped back home as though he had never left.

After going about their morning routine, they'd split up to get a few things done before attacking the day. Ilia shopped around for extra utilities with Sweet Shalquoir, while Asmundr traded with the Merchant Hag for her seemingly endless supply of lifegems. Vivi had, quite characteristically of himself, already disappeared off somewhere. LoveGame started things off visiting the undead blacksmith, using the titanite he'd acquired throughout the first leg of his journey to reinforce his weapon further. After learning his new shield would need a special material to strengthen, he'd return to the bonfire to take a seat and decide what to do with all the wondrous souls he'd claimed thus far. “Let's see... there was the Last Giant...” he held the swirling mass of light aloft, crushing it in his palm and absorbing the wealth of souls it provided, “...There's that weird one I found back in the ship... the three sentinels... those damn gargoyles too...” he listed off, crushing them one by one. “...and last but not least, the Lost Sinner... I'd better-”

“I see you have acquired the soul of an Old One. That is more than many can say.” came the familiar voice of a woman just a foot away.

LoveGame jumped, nearly dropping the mass of life as he absorbed it back into his being. “Whoah! Emerald lady! Where'd you come from? I'm kinda still waking up over here.” he'd say, turning to see her in unusually close proximity.

“I shall always be by your side, until hope withers away, Bearer of the Curse.” answered the cloaked young woman plainly, sat on a rock and lightly swinging her legs. “You have amassed a fair number of souls, I see. I have nothing but faith that you will gain audience with King Vendrick.”

LoveGame tilted his head. “Huh, is that right? I've had much worse company, to be honest. You're a one-of-a-kind soul, Emerald Lady. 'Knight LoveGame' is fine, by the way. I'd go hollow if I had to hear that title over and over... hang on a sec, maybe you could help me and my new pal out. Got a minute?” he'd ask, turning to meet the redhead face-to-face.”

“It would be favorable to remaining idle here all day.” she answered. “What ails your mind, knight?”

LoveGame relayed Asmundr's earlier explanation to the Emerald Herald, figuring she might know something considering she had information on the other Great Soul bearers and seemed to be fairly reliable in pointing him in the right direction. Recalling that she'd mentioned the Iron King when they first met, he'd ask her about the monarch's whereabouts.

“So your memories remain strong against the influence of the curse. How reassuring.” she'd say, divulging what she could, “The timing you have asked me such a thing is... actually quite appropriate. As I had mentioned previously, the Iron Keep still stands defiantly to the east. Even I do not fully understand how one would gain access to such a place. The last known pathway would have been where you and your companion ventured out to the Tower of Flame. Though, as luck would have it... I was in the company of a woman who claimed to know her way through. We spoke for quite some time... she was, well... she was certainly the eccentric type, to say the least. She appeared modest, and yet one could not help but notice her...” the Herald began to recall, her voice wavering a bit as even she struggled to find the right words, “...well... that is to say her... large presence, in a sense. I must admit, I found myself puzzlingly... envious of the, ehem, bountiful assets she possessed.” she'd divulge with a light blush of insecurity.

“First off, ain't no reason you should feel like that! Channel that feeling into your own motivation and use it to get way stronger! Whoever she is, I bet she can't turn souls into strength like you can!” the knight jovially reassured her. “Remember what I said when we first met? I wasn't just hyping you up for fun, you know? I was a little jealous of my new pal over here, the guy's got like four swords and his technique is somethin' else! Between you and me, I think he totally outclasses me right now, but I ain't letting that slow me down one bit! Quite the opposite actually! Life's all about finding new thresholds to surpass, so go out there and... well, you get the point. Plus, you just gave me a huge step in the right direction! I think I've got everything need, Emerald Lady. Just lemme spend these souls on ya, and I'll be on my way.” he assured her, taking a knee as the cloaked redhead said her chant and the knight channeled his souls into a permanent reinforcement of his strength. Feeling incredibly reinvigorated, the wayward knight double-checked his inventory once more before regrouping with Ilia and Asmundr to prepare to attack the day!

As they gathered by Shalquoir's shop, which LoveGame still refused to enter, Asmundr asked him, “So was the Emerald Herald any help? I can never get a bead on that lady.”

“Just what I was hoping you'd ask, my fellow knight! Say... I've got a question for you! This headquarters of yours... did it happen to be.... through there???” LoveGame bellowed, pointing to the entrance that lead into the rotunda room that he and Ilia passed through on their way to the Tower of Flame.

The white-haired man gave a surprised look, before laughing to himself a bit. “I was just about to tell you, but yeah! Look at you, guy! Always one step ahead!”

“LoveGame, you didn't exactly need our fair lady to tell us that!” Ilia chimed in, peering over to the stone passage. “Don't you remember a damn thing about us going through there? That path behind the bars, and that strange mechanism in the center? If we could find a way to operate that thing, we'd get Asmundr back home and be right on track toward the next Great Soul!” she reminded him. “Its design was some ancient craftsmanship that could've predated the kingdom of Drangleic itself... even I'm stumped on how to get it moving.” she'd admit with a sigh.

“Well, it ain't much,“ LoveGame began, recalling the Herald's words, “but the Emerald Lady did say she met some gal that knew her way through. If movin' that switch has anything to do with it, then she might have just what we're lookin' for. 'Course, she was cryptic as ever...” the knight said with a finger on his armored chin. “Somethin' about an eccentric gal with a lot of assets. Maybe she's like, really rich and got herself a sweet new kinda lock?”

Asmundr's eyes briefly shrunk to pin tips, shaking his head as he snapped back to his confident self. “Ehem, you could be right! I mean, yeah. It doesn't make sense that one road would just appear outta nowhere like that. I always figured that little bit of machinery in the middle there was just some kind of decoration... like a religious sigil or something. The Lindeldt sect wears the same thing on their robes. Suppose it wouldn't hurt to give the room another look-over.”

Motioning over to the entrance with her head, Ilia added, “The light around it is a lot brighter than before. It's completely out of line with the way the sun's facing. Now I'm really curious...”

With little other choice, the three heroes made their way over to the inconspicuous entryway, descending the stairs just as they'd done yesterday morning.

...and when they reached the bottom... lit with the warm glow of torches on the rounded walls, they'd all meet the sight of a woman, assumingly the very same the Emerald Herald had spoke of just this morning.

She was a mesmerizing sight to behold even at first glance. Though she was shrouded from head-to-toe in sandy earth-toned robes, modest and elegant yet ripped and tattered on the edges of her long, saintly dress, her garments did little to hide her shockingly pear-shaped physique. Her tied belt caused her dress to bunch around her plush love handles that cascaded into staggeringly wide hips, and actually managed to further accentuate her massive, round, perky rear as it cast an equally big shadow against the torchlit room. Heavy black boots could be seen just below her dress, and the only her face remained uncovered. Though her features were decidedly more western, her skin had a smooth, dark caramel tone accented by what could be seen off her dark brown hair that framed her attractive, full face in a silky, voluminous side part, accentuated by a fold in the trim of her hood. Her hands were clasped together as though in prayer, covered by long brown leather gloves. In turn, her head was ever so lightly bowed, the most subtle of smirks adorning her somewhat thin, glossed pink lips and the light of the nearby flame bringing out the dark mascara that framed her dusky hazel eyes.

Before the mysterious woman could get so much as a word out upon sighting the trio, Ilia began to cough and gag in an unusually violent manner, clutching at her throat as if she was purposefully exaggerating. “Ugh! Ohh, what... what in Oblivion?” she'd exclaim through choked coughs as her eyes began to run in pained rivers of water. “It's like the undead curse itself had a... ahh, I think I've hit my limit...!”

As though completely brushing away the blonde swordstress' reaction, the full-figured woman spoke up in an incredibly refined English accent that complimented her relatively low, comforting voice. “Ah, are you lot from these parts? Where is it that you seek? Oh, pardon my manners, my name is Licia.”

LoveGame honored her with a small bow before accepting her greeting. “Can't tell you how pleased I am to meet ya, Ms. Licia! As it so happens, one of my best pals in the world told me about you! Not many can get her approval so easily, you know? Clearly you're quite something!”

Licia gave a light blush, just ever so visible on her caramel toned cheeks, and held a gloved palm over her mouth for a moment. “Well.~ Mmhm, my reputation does quite proceed me.” she'd say with a smile. “If I'm to guess... you're travelers like myself, seeking greater power in this accursed land. Then we're of the same mind, young knight. You see, I journeyed all the way to Drangleic from the safety of my home in the theocracy of Lindeldt. I relinquished my very origins, a sacrifice I was more than willing to make to spread my, er, their teachings. I seek only to assist others in gaining favour with the gods, and attuning their faith to gain greater enlightenment.”

“To tell you the truth, Liss, I was never much of a religious fella growing up... mainly 'cuz my old kingdom never did get around to building that church, but still.” LoveGame said, gesticulating a bit with his right hand. “Coming here gave me a bit of, shall we say, newfound appreciation for a higher power. The dreams that lead me here, the things I've faced and lived to tell the tale... and how about the fact that I can come back if I die? Whoever they are, something's definitely watching over me. I'm pretty good, but even I wouldn't make it this far without some divine intervention.”

Ilia was nearly collapsing at this moment as she continued to choke. “LoveGame, seriously?! You don't... ah, I can barely even talk!” she coughed out, the knight's confused head tilt causing a realization to set in. “...oh, of course you don't notice that unholy scent, you have a helmet on! Gods-damned, lady! The marsh I live in is more refreshing than... this! Did you deep-fry one of those undead pigs or something?!”

Licia gave an adoring scoff at the man's tenuous understanding of faith, still not giving Ilia so much as a passing glance. “You're exactly right, kind warrior! Which is why I came here to begin with. Of course, my first destination was the Cathedral of Blue... I expected it would be bustling with souls come to repent and accept a new faith... but instead I found the place bereft of life. How unfortunate; it would've been the perfect spot for me to gull the gullible- EHEM! Ohh!” the enrobed lady cut herself off with a rough cough, as though to mock Ilia's asphyxiating plight. “That is to say, help those who lacked understanding on the true nature of faith. That is my only wish Truly, what cause could be more selfless? Granted, I do not offer my miracles to just any passers-by. No, I can sense that you've gathered quite the massive bounty of souls already! What a wondrous feeling that must be... eeh-heeheehee!~”

“You must be pretty strong yourself if you can sense me with that kinda accuracy.” LoveGame said, “I'm the proud owner of a Great Soul as of last night! The Sinner's totally toast!”

“Is that right?” she'd ask sweetly. “Certainly an... aptly titled woman, to be sure. One does not simply go and... attempt to recreate the divine power of the First Flame without suffering divine unpunished!”

The suffering Lord Protector grabbed at the red cloth hood she normally kept around her shoulders and bunched it around her nose and mouth, tying the back in a desperate attempt for reprieve against the cursed miasma that permeated the room. “...and just what do you know about the First Flame, bitch?”

“To defeat the bearer of a Great Soul... I can tell you are more that suited enough to bear witness to my wealth of... Miracles.” Licia lingered on that word, pressing her thumb to her lip and still treating Ilia like an unseen spirit.

“I could use a miracle or two right about now, come to think of it.” LoveGame said. “Coulda used one when I got here, but better late than never.”

Licia's smile grew wider at his answer. “They're simply far too divine to pass up, you see? Allow me to retrieve my collection for the discerning eye...” she'd say, reaching deep into her long, flowy dress despite that it seemed to lack any noticeable pockets. “...with these scrolls, the possibilities are limitless! One could heal their most grievous wounds with the simple call of a sacred chime! Why not smite your foes with the divine punishment of a mighty... oh, goodness!” she'd say, dropping the pile of glowing parchment rolls and bending downward to gather them up in an almost deliberate manner. “...thunderclap! The most astute schools of sorcery only dream of sending their enemy to the afterlife with a massive shockwave! These are no ordinary incantations, you lovely thing. You won't easily find such rarities anywhere else... and it's quite the ways back to Lindeldt.”

LoveGame blushed a little, holding both his palms out in polite refusal. “That collection of yours is huge! Those must've been the blessed assets the Emerald Lady was tellin' me about. Thing is, none of us can really use anything like that! We're kinda the up close and personal type, you feel me?” he'd say, tapping the hilt of his sword on his hip. He'd suddenly feel his comrade tugging desperately on his shoulder.

Ilia didn't believe a word the woman was saying, but decided to stow her thoughts for now after remembering what they'd pilfered last night. “LoveGame, quick! You still got that fragrant branch we found when we beat the Sinner? I could... really use it right now!” she pleaded, reaching through his bag.

He'd wag his finger and give an apologetic shrug. “Sorry, I got rid of that thing this morning. Not for nothing though; how do you think I got my hands on this new shield? I used it to revive this wizard that got turned to stone, you see. He turned the Dragonrider's soul into a perfect copy of its greatshield! Sounds crazy, I know, but it's pretty impressive, huh? But yeah... the entire thing turned to dust.” he explained, much to her increasing dismay as she took the next best option of stuffing a twilight herb into her makeshift shroud.

“No need for miracles? Careful, it is said that the gods tends to... frown upon such a... ehem, well.” Licia trailed off.

“What'd really be a miracle is if you could help us with this weird room we're standing in!” LoveGame said, pointing over to the barred window. “You think one Great Soul is impressive? Lemme get through there, and I'll bring back another.”

“Ah, you wish to journey to the Iron Keep?” she'd ask with a tilt of her head. “Then I'm sure you're undoubtedly aware by now... of the nature of the rotunda. That's right, this room has two pathways leading out, not simply one... and only this...” she'd continue, tapping the square stone mechanism affixed to the central pillar, “...lovely thing can reveal the other path... and this... hmm, you lovely thing.~ It many only awaken when I, Licia of Lindeldt, perform a most wondrous miracle!”

LoveGame pumped his fist in anticipation. “I knew we'd get somewhere! I like your vibes, lady! Let's see it then, all eyes on you!”

She'd strike out her wide hips to the left, placing her index finger on her chin. “Hmm... hmmmm... yes, that's a feat well within my power! I'd be honored to assist you in furthering your fated journey, only... Well.~ A miracle this divine requires a modest number of souls, you see! If you could simply spare... let's say, two-thousand, it would grant me just enough power to reveal your path. That is, if you're comfortable parting with them, of course.” she'd offer, swaying her hips to the other side. “Consider it a small charity to the gods.”

“Well, I just so happen to have a few extra from my little detour last night. You ever visit the Belfry Luna? It's full of folks who could... use a little divine guidance.” LoveGame said, approaching the robed cleric and handing her a glowing white orb of amassed souls. She'd lean in very close to take them in hand, snatching an additional five-thousand without him taking notice.

“Mmm, that's more than enough. My thanks, kind knight.” she'd say with a devilish smirk, stashing the precious souls in the unseen depths of her dress. “Now, now.~”

“LoveGame, hold on! You can't just- did she-?!” Ilia stuttered out through her muffled visage.

The wayward knight reassured her with a pat on the shoulder. “It's fine! Those were just the extras we got from my little detour earlier. I knew they'd come in handy. Now, let's see this miracle!” he said excitedly, turning his attention back to Licia.

“Very well. Bow your heads and prepare to bear witness to something truly heavenly.” she said calmly, clasping her hands together in prayer.

Heh, this is great! She doesn't even realize I can totally see her through my helmet! I'm gettin' a full view of this whether she likes it or not! What's a few extra souls if it means a little fun here and there? Thought the knight to himself, his smile widening under his royal helm. Ilia refused to humor Licia's request, but she seemed not to mind in the slightest.

“Now... Sioucspirimicia!” she called out, ringing her black bell chime and... in an impossibly fluid motion, slowly sway her sizeable hips away from the rotunda pillar, elegantly whipping her lower body in the opposite direction and smacking the side of her massive, round butt into the side of the pillar where the mechanism was embedded with a reverberating slap...

...and just as Licia's saintly hip check made its perfect mark, she'd quickly tap the side of the white stone with her palm before snapping perfectly back into position. The entire chamber began to quake violently as the walls turned and grinded against themselves in a slow, clockwise motion. Before their very eyes, one path shut itself away and another made itself known. Licia gave a sultry smirk. “Will that miracle suffice? I did very well give it my all.~”

Underneath his helm, LoveGame's jaw had dropped in sheer amazement at the spectacle he'd just bore witness to. He could hardly gather the words to honor the full-figured cleric's feat. “I, uhh... that was kinda the most amazing thing I've seen so far... and that's sayin' something! You're really powerful, miss Licia!” he'd compliment her, once again somehow blushing through his helm. “Hey, Az! You see that? She just-” he'd ask before looking over his shoulders, his new friend nowhere to be found. “...Asmundr? Where'd you go? Coulda sworn he was just right here... whuh?”

He'd finally spot the tactician on the far wall, curled tightly into a ball and somehow looking even more ghostly pale, no longer emanating the white glow he had before. “N-never again... LoveGame... Ilia... please get me away from her... I can't...”

Before the knight could even begin to console his pal, another voice made him flinch. “LoveGame, you can't be serious right now....” Ilia said, her face buried in her open palm. “All she did was use the... lady, you didn't do EITHER ONE of those things just then! What kinda cheap excuse for a miracle is that?! You've been lying out of your fat ass since we started talking. Gimme back- ehem, give my friend his souls back right now!”

LoveGame felt the tension building in the air, quickly turning his attention to the newly-revealed exit. “Ilia we should probably head that way... you know, we're tight on time and all that...!”

“My, my! It would seem your friend here is rather lacking in faith! She doesn't believe at all, does she?~” Licia asked, gesturing her hand over her mouth. “Quite unbecoming, fair lady.”

Ilia gnashed her pearly teeth at the pear-bodied woman. “Oh, NOW I exist?! Name's Ilia, by the way! Kinda the reason this guy got this far in the first place, so I'd say I've got plenty of faith! I've probably met more gods than you've prayed to, healslut! I bet all that extra meat you're packing back there is fake anyway.” she said in an insulting tone as she turned to leave through the exit the woman provided.

“Oh? Is that so?” Licia said plainly, swaying her large hips, biting her lower lip and placing a finger on her chin. “I assure you the fruits of my labour are quite genuine, but if you remain unconvinced, well...~” she'd say, bending down to lift the tattered hem of her dress, only to be very quickly refused.

“NO! No, please, f-fuck no! I believe you, okay?! By the Nine, what's wrong with- ...let's just get the hell out of here...” Ilia resigned, lacking the patience to deal with these theatrics. “Nasty bitch...” she growled as she began to walk away.

“It does not surprise me that you would react with such adamant skepticism, ma'am.” said Licia just as Ilia was leaving. “There is this ancient Lindeldtian proverb... how did it go again? Ahem... so sayeth the most exalted diviners of the heralds... 'faith is stored in the arse'. Such a crude way of phrasing it, but it seems to ring ever true...” she'd look over her shoulder at the swordstress' comparatively lithe frame, “...seeing as to how you appear to possess none at all.~” she'd say, her silver tongue dripping with sultry venom.

“Ohh, that's IT!!!” Ilia roared, pivoting on her heel and tightening a fist as she bore her teeth angrily. “I'm gonna give you something to remember! Bring it, fatass! I'll show you a miracle so divine you'll get to meet the gods up close in the afterlife!!!” she roared as her fair face turned red, her primal anger reaching a fever pitch! “I'll-!”

Ilia suddenly felt an incredible force pulling back on her as LoveGame subdued the fiery woman in a full nelson. “Simmer down there, sis! No sense dragging this out when we've got another Great Soul to snatch up! Let's just g- whoah!!!” he unsuccessfully tried to reason with her before his grip was rendered useless by a sharp elbow to the head!

“Fine! Since you seem so content with her wonderful help, then you CLEARLY don't need mine!” she'd say, freeing herself with little effort and dusting herself off. “How about this for the next test of your awesome power, LoveGame?! I'm gonna let you get the next Great Soul all on your own! You ARE up to it, right? You'll have our new friend Asmundr right there with you to back you up... once he recovers from that woman's vile aura, that is.”

“Ilia, w-w-wait!!!” the knight pleaded, reaching his palm out in protest as his protector stormed back up the staircase.

“Didn't quite catch that, LoveGame! You got this!” she'd say as her metal greaves echoed, ascending the stairs and departing the rotunda, leaving the two men to their own devices.

Licia gave an airy laugh. “My apologies. I thought it more becoming to hold my tongue for a spell... and I assumed I had made a fair assessment. Your ally could do with a greater understanding of faith... and perhaps a sense of humour. No need to be so dreary and serious when the curse already casts its shadow long. Goodness...” she'd say breathily.

“See, that's my kinda thinking. Ilia's not so bad once you get to know her, really! The lady's gotten me out of more than one bind, and I've barely known her a couple of days.” the wayward knight assured Licia. “This... is just kinda how she is... for better or worse. She's more fiery than she looks, you know? No sense in goin' after her while she's still burnin' red, so I'd say give 'er a little time to cool off. If there's one thing I know about Ilia, it's that she wouldn't do somethin' like this if she didn't know for damn sure that I could handle whatever's past that path you just opened for me. You think I've got this too, don't ya?”

A warm smile melted across Licia's face. “I have nothing but the utmost faith in you, Knight LoveGame. I expect to hear great things upon your safe return.” she said eloquently with a light bow.

“Thanks a bundle, Liss. I'll be sure to tell you alllll about it when I get back. Then it'll be you who gets to witness a miracle.” LoveGame answered confidently, turning to take the path the curvy cleric had created and bidding her farewell. “Come on, Az. We'll get ya nice and freshened up before ya know it! Right this way, now! It's like ya said... betcha can't wait to get back home!” he'd say, using his undead strength to drag his paralyzed pal along with him. “Now, how do ya unfold a knight...?”

Heavens, the man's so thick in the head that it loops right back round to being downright endearing. Licia thought to herself as LoveGame left with his petrified partner in tow. Dare I say cute, even. Surely he and that feisty polearm aren't some sort of item together... Well, that is to say... not that I'd consider him in that sense anyhow.

The path Licia provided was a completely natural cavern, completely distinct from the underground sewerway they'd traversed to reach Heide's Tower. There was little of note aside from a few scattered supplies left behind by less fortunate adventurers, which LoveGame didn't hesitate to take for himself. Just before reaching the mouth of the cave, they'd spy an old wooden chair curiously facing a blank stone wall. Seated completely still was an older fellow draped in oversized, dark cloth mage robes, muttering something to himself about the dark. He refused to speak to LoveGame, who decided not to pry further and dragged Asmundr out of the cave with him, emerging on a scenic cliff overlook. It was a gorgeous view no doubt, but most puzzlingly, it appeared that night had already fallen even though the knight could've sworn it was only around noon when they'd left...

His mood lifted ever so slightly when he'd spy an abandoned campsite set up just on the edge of the cliff, complete with an old cloth tent, a handful of long-emptied supply crates, and most fortunately of all, the familiar sight of a toasty bonfire. “Now we're talkin'. Okay, Big Az... just a little further and... there!” he'd say, dragging his friend close to the comforting embers. “Nothing one of these can't cure shy of the undead curse itself. This'll getcha right together!”

As though thawing out next to the flames, Asmundr at last began to stir a bit, uncurling into a more relaxed state and leaning on the tent pole for support. “Mmh... I-is... is she gone?” the tactician said, his strength rapidly returning to him as he rubbed his forehead. “LoveGame... I'm your friend, aren't I?” he'd ask seemingly out of nowhere.

“You don't even have to ask, Asmundr! Not for nothin', but a friend seems like a rare commodity in this kingdom. I know we just met and all, but I've got a great feeling about ya!” he'd say with utmost confidence, flashing a thumbs-up.

The white-haired swordsman gave a light chuckle. “...then please, on your honor as a knight and a true friend... promise me one thing, LoveGame.”

He'd give several sharp nods in a row, not having to think twice about his response. “Anything ya want, pal! So long as you ain't tellin' me to give up, cuz you'll have to make me!”

Asmundr pushed himself to his feet and stretched his legs. “Nothin' like that, but... about what just happened back there... the whole miracle thing and, uhh... her? Promise me we won't ever talk about that again. Please?”

LoveGame put his hand on the back of his armored head. “Whuh- ohh! You mean with Liss-! Mmph!” he'd say, only for Asmundr to place his finger over the front of his helm where his mouth would be. “...oh, right! Gotcha, never again! My solemn promise!” he'd assure him with a laugh, quickly turning his attention elsewhere. “...and wouldja look at that, out of one cave and into another! Onward, my radiant friend!”

Indeed, just a few paces past the old campsite was another cavern obscured in darkness. They'd ready a few supplies on their belts and head straight inside... only for LoveGame's heart to nearly jump out of his chest when he heard a distorted, broken laugh just beyond the black void! Drawing his blade and swinging it in a panic, he'd eventually strike down the source – an emaciated hollow stripped down to a shredded loincloth. As the bisected corpse flashed with residual sparks, LoveGame caught his breath just enough to utter out, “Th-that wasn't funny at all...”

“Easy there, LoveGame.” Asmundr assured his thoroughly spooked comrade, “My home turf is kind of crawling with hollows. Lucky for us, most of 'em don't even have the will to fight anymore.” he explained. “I'd be more worried about the enemy above us. Look.” he'd warn, guiding the knight's view up to the cavern's ceiling.

The knight failed to notice anything at first, his helm doing him no favors as he squinted upward and tried to let his eyes adjust to the light... until something unusually bright orange came into view... a pair of wings! “Whuh? I don't... oh! Man, you weren't kidding when you said the darkness hones your senses. Damn, you're good!” he'd say in amazement of the man's incredibly sharp vision. “Remind me never to sneak up on you at night! Say, what am I looking at?”

“Some call 'em butterflies, but they're more like moths to me.” he'd explain to the knight. “No one knows a thing about where they came from, but we should be more worried about getting poisoned. They'll see us coming one way or another, and neither of us has anything to hit 'em when they're perched up that high unless you've got some wings of your own.”

LoveGame nodded along, finally making out the more detailed shape of winged insects clinging to the cavern high above. “'Least they look good doing it. Well, you know this place better than me, what's the plan then?” he'd ask, surveying the path ahead through the cave.

“Oh, that's the easy part. We make a run for it.” he'd answer with an air of confidence. “Just a few of those annoying little guys can fill the whole cavern with their poisonous powder, and it sticks around for a good while. When I give the go-ahead, just sprint for your life and don't think about it. If memory serves, this cave isn't too big and it's a straight shot through to the other side. What say you, LoveGame?”

“Sounds like a plan, Az!” the knight answered with a hearty thumbs-up, already stretching his legs and leaning forward into a sprinting position. “On your mark...”

“GO!” Asmundr shouted suddenly, rocketing forth in a bolt of white lightning! LoveGame shot quickly after him, surging his undead strength to offset his weighty equipment! He'd hear a sickly ringing from above and moments later a vile green powder sparkled as it sprinkled down, dispersing every which way! Though it was a bit of an uphill climb, the knight didn't let the slope slow him down for a second as he narrowly evaded the deadly blanketing! The cavern's floors were unnaturally and mercifully smooth, lacking any obstacles for him to be tripped up on as he barreled forth as fast as his armored boots would carry him! Before he knew it, he'd reached salvation on the other side, now staring out at the dusky skies once more with Asmundr close by his side...

Huntsman's Copse

Named for a seldom-used word that described a dense thicket of trees, each acre of this darkened expanse of woods was more eerie and foreboding than the last. Anyone who lost their way under the umbral green skies would find themselves easy prey for the myriad of terrors that stalked the hunting grounds. Unsavory rogues cloaked themselves in the long shadows of the towering treeline, lying in wait to ambush anyone caught alone. Black-armored torturers brandished whips fashioned after vines of thorns, fiercely guarding the old purgatory colosseum where undead fought endlessly for some twisted sense of glory. Burly undead of artificial creation patrolled the woods, their origins shrouded in mystery. Though it had not been witnessed in quite some time, most frightening of all were rumours of a great undead chariot that rampaged throughout the woods. It was said to only pursue those it deemed sinners, but anyone that drew its ire would be hunted for the rest of their waking days.

A great wooded expanse lay before them, spreading out in all directions with gnarled trees that persisted on the verge of death casting shadows that further obscured their path ahead. All manner of awful things could be faintly heard shuffling through the foliage out in the distance, echoes of guttural growls sending chills down even their spines. The elevated walkway they emerged onto separated them from the forest with a wide chasm, but they'd find a condemned building to their immediate right. Making their way through the darkened abode, the swordsmen would smash away the boards shoddily nailed to the windows to allow in some much-needed light. This inadvertently gave them a bit of an advantage as they fought their way through, as the hooded hollows had their ambushes exposed by the meager light that filtered in. The center of the unknown building housed a seemingly bottomless hole, the purpose of which neither of them desired to figure out. They'd eventually reach the other side of the chasm, with LoveGame filling the gap in with a makeshift bridge by delivering a mighty roundhouse to one of the rotten trees. Both men surveyed the area carefully.

“Say, Asmundr? You know a hell of a lot about this place, so I was wondering... clearly you noticed it's the dead of night here, right? It was barely high noon when we headed out, what gives?” LoveGame asked.

The tactician sighed. “Don't quote me on this one, but there's an old saying about these lands... I hate sayin' it because it sounds so corny, but... they say... 'time is convoluted'. Anytime anything weird happens with the temporal flow, that's how they explain it. Between you and me, I think there's more to it, but I don't have time to research that kind of stuff these days. Might wanna relay that to Ilia once you guys are on speaking terms, heh.”

“Anything to get her mind off of earlier.” said the knight with a nod, taking point as they headed out further into the copse. After a few rogues nearly got the jump on the heroes, they'd easily dispatch the cloaked foes and come across a set of stone bridges across the smaller chasms. As they trekked through the copse, LoveGame would feel the sudden urge to speak his mind. “You know, ever since I got my hands on that Dragonrider's soul, it had me thinking I could do more than just crush it. The weapons these mighty souls wield aren't just any – they're the regalia of legends. This shield feels like it was made for me. I can't quite explain it, but I feel like my soul resonates with it.”

“That right?” said Asmundr inquisitively. “It looks impressive, that's for sure. I can't believe it doesn't slow you down at least a little, but you've got an eye for fashion if nothing else... hey, LoveGame. Dead ahead.” he'd quickly change the subject, taking note of a burly, rotund figure toting a pair of great sickles in the shape of crescent moons with its back completely turned.

“I see 'im.” he'd nod confidently, approaching the pale monstrosity with a light step. “Y'know, when I first left on this journey, I didn't even have a shield. Our king was too tight on his budget to issue one. Ever since, I've made it a little side goal of mine to search this kingdom for the perfect shield...” he'd begin, raising the golden bronze armament high just as he got into striking distance, “...and now I've found it! Hyahh!” he brought the pointed end down onto the unsuspecting undead, pinning it to the ground under it's oppressive weight! “See, this thing's got a crazy shape to it! I can use it for all sorts of... unique application! Now, Asmundr! What's say you take this free kill for me?!”

The silver-haired tactician darted forward, bringing out two of his longswords to cut the bloated hollow down in a single strike! “I'm starting to see what you mean! Still, you know the old saying... the man makes the gear? If you feel that strongly about it, then you've got to master every facet of its use!” he'd advise the man, looking over the path ahead. “Let me take point from here if you don't mind. I don't get out as much as I used to, but this place is still my home. I kinda remember my way around at least.”

Having no objections, Knight LoveGame followed close behind Asmundr as the duo carefully treaded forward through the foreboding forest. They'd find opposition just few and far between enough to keep them on their toes, scanning every treetop for more of those poisonous moths that dusted the foliage with their toxic spores. They'd pick off the wandering undead one by one, never going longer than a few moments without a cautious look over their shoulders. Coming up on a second, smaller stone bridge, Asmundr piped up once more. “This way leads back to my spot, but if you're headed for the Iron Keep, we've got a little more ways to go. Follow me!”

“I can't do you like that, Az! If you need to head back, then by all means! I can figure out the rest myself, really!” LoveGame kindly protested, only to be silenced by Asmundr.

“No, don't worry about it.” the tactician reassured. “There's a couple of guys hanging around over there that I've got a serious bone to pick with... no pun intended. They call them the Skeleton Lords, and they just posted up in the Copse not long ago acting like they own the place. These grounds are kinda sacred to the Brotherhood of Blood, so I'm not about to take it lightly.” he explained.

“I understand now. I won't let anyone stomp around on my pal's turf like that, so I'm right here with ya... no bones about it.” he'd say with a smile under his helm. “I've got a few jokes too, you know?”

With a mutual understanding of their goals, the two men carried on through the shadowy thickets. The wooded pathways seemed to blend together, with LoveGame quite impressed that Asmundr could seemingly traverse them with such relative ease. The dense forest lead out to yet another wide chasm, with a great bridge of black iron connecting each end... only, it was raised high in the air, rendering it woefully inaccessible to the two. LoveGame looked over to Asmundr, who appeared completely confounded. “What the... I've crossed this bridge like a hundred times... I didn't even know it could be raised like this... who could've...” he wondered, getting closer to the metal struts, running his palm over them to look for some sort of mechanism. “Is there some kinda- Ahh!” he'd suddenly feel a hefty force tackle him from behind, shoving him into the verdant brush as he was crushed by an insurmountable weight of well-meaning intent.

“Hit the ground, Az!” LoveGame shouted, revealing himself to be the source of the force. “Some poorly mistaken fool thought he had a bead on us!” he'd warn, lifting himself off of his friend as he turned around with his greatshield raised. Indeed, the first thing Asmundr saw when he brought his head back up was a steel-tipped arrow embedded in the dirt mere inches from his face. LoveGame glared directly up at its source, one of those hooded rogues perched atop a dome-shaped structure, brandishing a longbow. Taking cover behind his greatshield, the knight zeroed in on the shrouded sniper and tossed a black firebomb up at his position! “Go on somewhere! Fight me with honor, or the next one won't...!” he shouted up before being jolted by the ground beneath him quaking suddenly.

Slowly but surely, the great iron bridge began to grind with a series of metallic clanks, lowering to allow passage and making a light cloud of dust as it settled its end into the loose dirt. “...miss...” LoveGame finished, beyond puzzled as to how the mechanism seemed to have activated entirely on its own. “...the hell? I mean, not that I'm complaining. Hmm... maybe the bridge recognized our incredible strength and bowed in our presence! Heh!” he'd say in an attempt to light up their morale in the face of the thwarted ambush.

“What else could it be?” Asmundr asked, equally dumbfounded at the turn of events. “That was pretty good, man. You actually saw something I didn't... my vision must be going.” he'd remark, dusting himself off.

LoveGame pointed a finger back at the white-armored warrior. “What can I say? I learned from the best, you know?” he'd return the compliment in kind before the pair crossed the newly-lowered bridge, no longer impeded.

It lead to another small encampment just as abandoned as the last, dotted with even more of those strange domes containing little of interest. The sound of rushing water could be heard below, a narrow river barely visible in the void. They'd continue up the grass path and gather anything useful along the way until they came upon a sheer cliff side. Seeing no other way forward, they'd sidle along the path, taking great care to keep their balance as it grew more narrow with each step. Another pack of hooded thieves launched a surprise attack around the halfway point, taking advantage of their knowledge of the turf to leap from above and pincer the pair in from both sides. Fortunately, LoveGame and Asmundr were still on high alert, cutting down the hollowed rogues and sending them tumbling into the tempest below. Unknown to the heroes, a handful of undead necromancers watched them from across the river chasm in their ragged robes of the occult.

The narrow cliff path eventually terminated at a roaring white waterfall, cascading right over an old mausoleum built into the cliff face as it fed the dark river below. Asmundr motioned over to the entrance bordered in black stone, raising his voice over the waterfall. “Here's where those self-important skeletons shacked up. They got their hands on a wondrous soul and think they own the place all of a sudden.”

“It... was gonna be my first guess. Look!” LoveGame answered, pointing out the barrier of white mist that obscured the entrance.

“This is about as far as I can take you for now, man. You up for one more fight, side-by-side with your new pal? It'd be a shame to waste this opportunity.” the tactician said confidently, stretching his legs and warming up a bit as he looked over his quartet of longswords.

LoveGame took a deep breath and crossed his arms. “You know, I read back home that finding a waterfall was good luck... some of 'em even hid all sorts of treasure, but this one's got a battle waiting for us. Hmm... the way the mist is hittin' me here reminds me of that morning I sailed my way to Drangleic.” he reminisced, cracking his neck. “I'd love nothin' more! If we've gotta go our separate ways for now, then we'll make this a memorable one. Let's crack some skulls, Az.”

Shooting each other smiles, the two swordsmen strode forth with the roaring waters at their backs, dissipating the mist as they entered the mausoleum together with their weapons drawn.

The deathly chamber was so inundated with mounds upon piles of bone that whatever the floor was could no longer be seen underneath. Bones of every creature imaginable and some unidentifiable littered every inch, crunching to dusty shards below the heroes' armored boots with every step. In the center of the room, atop the highest mountains of collected corpses sat the three skeleton lords, their monstrously gaunt forms adorned in long, pitch-black ceremonial robes decorated with all manner of beads and bone jewelry of a long-lost culture. They levitated eerily from their makeshift thrones crafted from limbs of varying lengths, making a hauntingly graceful descent as they called forth their weapons to challenge the pair.

Wasting no time with the formalities, LoveGame and Asmundr split off, rushing toward the undead trio with blinding speed as the discarded bones ground to fine dust beneath them! Asmundr set his sights on the ring leader that brandished a great scythe! He'd deftly evade the wide sweeping attack as he closed the distance and delivered a cross cut with his red blade, its flames singing away the feeble cloth and making a deep cut! Not about to give his foe any breathing room, he followed up with a harrowing side slash with the blue sword, its magical imbuement allowing it to rip through the skeleton's hardened ribcage like rotted wood! The great skeleton stumbled forth as its integrity began to collapse in on itself, crumbling in defeat before the white-haired tactician!

Feeling a sudden heat growing behind him, Asmundr pivoted on his heel and kicked off toward the next Lord, who wove a barrage of fireballs his way with a sickly staff of bone and viscera! He'd effortlessly dodge each one, feeling the mausoleum rock as they landed behind him in spectacular explosions! The mage attempted to float backwards in an evasive maneuver, but his sluggish movements were no match for the tactician's raw speed and power as he sliced the second Lord down, now a mere addition to the growing pile underneath! “After all that bluster they put on when they came here... I'm almost disappointed! Figures they'd be all show! This is the home of the finest warriors in Drangleic, the Brotherhood of Blood! If you can't fight, then there's no place for you here!”

LoveGame, meanwhile, tangled with the third Lord, who swung down on the knight with a great halberd of bone! The might of his Dragonrider's greatshield was more than sufficient to repel even the superior reach of the undead armament! He'd easily get within striking range and deliver a hefty bash with the center of his shield, outright shattering an entire section of the skeleton's ribcage and bringing his white blade down on the stunned foe to dish out a crushing defeat! “Heh! Guess those nice threads were just for show after all! Ilia's not missin' out on much!” boasted the knight, kicking stray bones out of his path. “You're tellin' me these chumps thought they could take the place over?”

“Undead aren't exactly known for thinking ahead, LoveGame...” Asmundr said back, keeping his guard up as though he sensed it wasn't quite time to celebrate. A crescendo of low aethereal hums broke the silence as several barrages of ghostly black flames erupted from beneath the piles of bone, arcing upwards and bursting on their descent! “...see, what they lack in a strategic mindset...” he continued as the dark embers fizzled away and permeated the deepest layers of the dead! Hardly a moment later, they'd both feel the bones beneath them shift and stir! The sickly grinding giving birth to a horde of skeleton warriors, sprouting one by one as they brandished curved, rusted swords! “...they try and make up for it in their sheer numbers! Look alive, LoveGame!”

The knight felt not fear, but a growing excitement within him as he took his guard and dug his heels into the bone dust! “I'm more alive than ever! You ready for the cleanup round, Az?” he'd say with pride, already starting to lay into the skeletal horde as Asmundr gave a nod and rushed the other side! Each one crumbled and split with a single strike, LoveGame crushing several at once with a weighty slam of his greatshield! Their own round shields proved no match for the tactician's blessed longswords, even their attempts to parry his blows were thwarted when he shifted to each side and slipped past their defenses! This small army of undead proved light work for the determined duo compared to the horrors they'd faced the night before, rapidly thinning their numbers as the clash drew closer to its close!

As the heroes met atop the hill where the thrones of bone sat empty, all that remained among the undead ranks were four strange skeletons with their bodies seemingly affixed to a wooden wheel with steel spikes running down their sides! Asmundr would recognize these fiendish nuisances anywhere. “Ah, wonderful! Bonewheels! I was beginning to wonder where they'd show up! Careful, LoveGame! Those things land one hit on me and I'm shredded!” he'd say, focusing his attention on the wheeled menaces as they spun up to speed!

“Not happening! I won't let 'em lay a bone on ya! Hmmh!” LoveGame growled, rushing in front of his comrade and slamming the edge of his shield down below, wedged firmly into the ground bone! He bashed the edge of his blade against the face of his greatshield as though to taunt the spinning undead. “Ain't no way you're getting through this, but you're welcome to give it a go! Roll me over if you think you got it in ya!” he bellowed with his blade held out!

The four bonewheels blazed a trail toward the stalwart knight, bits of bone kicking and scattering every which way as they spun forth! The mausoleum rang out with a chorus of rapid dinging of steel against steel, echoing as the undead attempted to tear down the man's defenses! “Now, Az! Get behind em!” he commanded, feeling his arm begin to buckle under the bombardment!

“Already on it, man!” he called back, sprinting from behind the safety of his ally and circling around to face the four foes! They'd sense the swordsman coming, but it was far too late! The sheer amount of momentum they'd built up forced them to commit to their rolling assault, and the moment they showed even a small sign of slowing down, Asmundr rushed forth with his blades set aglow, decimating the defenseless bonewheels and bringing the battle to a spectacular end! “Hyah! Don't even think about rolling up on my humble home ever again! That's how it's done!”

After LoveGame collected the soul they left behind, he and Asmundr took a well-deserved moment to celebrate, linking arms and quite literally dancing on the graves of their fallen foes as they toasted their Estus and swigged them with glee until the orange liquid ran down their faces! “Ha-haaaah! Yeah! No stopping us now! Nowhere left to go from here but up! I'm bringin' home all the Great Souls, Ilia! Just you wait!” he cheered with a hearty laugh, basking in his victory just a bit longer.

After the brief festivities, he'd check his gear over and note his shield had only sustained a few scratches. They'd spy a narrow opening on the far end of the mausoleum, squeezing through and emerging out at a wide vista, connected by a raised metal bridge identical to the one they'd crossed back in the copse. “...so is this one' gonna just...!” LoveGame thought aloud before the bridge lowered itself autonomously yet again. “...duly noted.”

“Well, Knight LoveGame...” Asmundr began, putting a hand on the knight's shoulder. “...it's been real. I haven't had this much fun in a whole minute. Thanks for that. I've gotta meet up with my guys at the Purgatory, so this is as far as I can take you. Harvest Valley's dead ahead, and it'll give you a straight shot into the Iron Keep. Can't miss it.” he said, pointing over the bridge. “Go out there and take that Great Soul for yourself, and don't even dare think of failing and going hollow on me, or I'll put you down myself! Heh.” he'd say, pointing his thumb to his chest. He'd produce a white bone from his bag and kneel down to bury it, warping back home as LoveGame bid farewell.

“Hey, you can count on it... I'm way to hardheaded to fail anyways...” he'd say as he watched his friend fade into the aethereal winds and transport safely home. As he stared at the path laid out before him, he'd replay the tactician's words in his mind. “...wait a sec... did he say Harvest Valley?! Man oh man, this day just got a lot better!”

With those words, the wayward knight rocketed across the bridge faster than he ever had before, the world around him whipping by so quickly that he couldn't slow down soon enough to see a short drop ahead, falling straight past the ladder and landing square on his chest! Feeling nary a slight pain from the sudden impact, he sprung right back to his heels and gazed out at the hallowed grounds on which he'd just emerged. “So everything up to now... it was all worth it for this. That's to say if I'm right... and I know I'm right...”

“Harvest Valley, here I come!!!”

Salutations, my most honored reader. Licia of Lindeldt, charmed to make your acquaintance. If you're reading this, it would appear as though you have made it through this rather long and arduous entry into the book of fate. Goodness, you must have quite the unending endurance, you lovely thing.~ I do hope you thoroughly enjoyed my miraculous debut. Regrettably, I will not make an appearance in the following chapter, but I am sure we will cross paths sooner or later, should fate smile upon us. In the meantime, I will provide the outro! Now entirely on his own, Knight LoveGame must claim the next Great Soul that burns brightly in the heart of the Iron Keep! All that stands in his way is the Harvest Valley, now overrun with a toxic miasma... I cannot begin to fathom how awful that must be on one's senses! Granted, the man hardly seems to mind, given the prize he's after. Quite a discerning taste he must have. Of course, I must keep the most wondrous part a secret. If you wish to know more, I'll require a modest payment... and I'll only accept souls. Coin has no value in a world on the brink, you see.

Next time: A Red Hot Demon's Soul! Now, about that deal we had...!