Chapter 25

Despite the night's activities draining her of her energy, Vestia just couldn't get a wink of sleep.

There was nothing wrong with her surroundings, the crickets might have been loud, sure, but there was little else happening. Tossing and turning on the small mat Dave had laid out for her, she eventually stopped, craning her head skyward. Deeply inhaling, she calmed her nerves, listening to the sounds around her as she drifted a hand to her side, where her beloved rested.

Only to find the space empty. Patting it up and down, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, her lips squirming together as a soft whimper left her lips. A tinge of guilt managing to worm its way into her heart, however small it might have been. In a situation such as this, her feelings were magnified severalfold. The beat of her heart booming in her ears.

Snapping her head from side to side, it did very little in the way of helping her. In times like these, Vestia really wished she retained her vision in the process of becoming a firekeeper. Dismissing the thought from her mind, she leapt from their make-shift bed, and tried calling out for his name, catching herself in the middle of her words at the thought of something jumping out of the shadows to maul her. Chills running down her spine.

Vestia had to be smarter than that. However, in her blindness, there wasn't much she could do. She could only hope that Dave was simply nearby, possibly relieving himself on a tree. A click echoed from her mouth followed by a shuddering exhale, her mind utterly clueless to what she should be doing next.

Though, the opportunity would swiftly present itself. As the faint smell of burning grass hit her nostrils, along with a hint of burnt flesh, a smell she had detested above all else. Wrinkles appeared on her nose, but Vestia begrudgingly followed the scent like a wild animal, stumbling upon the scene of a battle.

Metal clanged against metal, like a masterful band of musicians, each playing their piece at just the right time. The beat of the fight then rose, ramping up the stakes as three strikes clashed in rapid succession, her left hand gliding towards her talisman, the range of her "sight" expanding to a cart and wagon's length, lightning arcing in the air.

Drawing figures in her mind, Vestia mapped out the space before her just as she always had, the people still out of reach. Though, she could easily tell that one of them was her beloved. If it wasn't already obvious based on the smell, then what he had to say certainly confirmed it. "What will you do now, shit-for-brains? Block my magic? My attacks? Dodge them entirely? Of course not, you're too stupid to do anything else!"

The song reached its crescendo, a series of four bangs ringing throughout the grass filled landscape, a deafening thud accompanying it shortly afterwards. He heaved, taking very deep breaths as a liquid dripped, the pitters and patters of what Vestia assumed to be blood clearly distinguished among the cacophony of noises.

If she had to guess, based on the smell in the air, and the clear taunts that Dave had made, they returned to where they started. And she could say for certain that her beloved had just slew the mounted giant that had tossed him around a week prior. A testament to how far he's gotten as a warrior.

Letting out a noise of surprise, a chorus of steps rung in Vestia's ears, the soft crunching of the foliage growing louder and louder. "I didn't expect you to be up so late, I apologize for not staying with you the entire night. You see, I just had to le-"He made excuses, but none of that mattered to her. Leaping into his arms, the blonde completely disregarded the state of her partner, taking solace in his immense warmth instead.

Closing her eyes, she stayed in this position just a moment longer, breathing in deeply as the strong scent of metal entered her nose. Feeling something pat her head, she turned to look at what it was, tilting her head upwards to face Dave. "Relax, I'm not going anywhere." He gently cooed, moving to her back as her pulled her closer in. "Besides, we still have tomorrow -or just later today- to worry about. One last day before we head straight for Stormveil Castle and take down our first Demi-God."

The weight of their decision finally dawned on her. After travelling for a short while, her view of the world and the strength of the many people that inhabited it broadened. For them to have had even a little bit of trouble here meant that things were bound to become substantially more difficult. Even with the advent of Melina, and the constant flow of runes they were receiving, there was a difference between one particularly strong opponent, and one of the few in these lands to hold a greater shard of the Elden Ring.

Perhaps the most coveted item across these lands, for the tarnished or otherwise. So for the status quo to not change in a great long while, they'd need to work their hardest to accomplish whatever task was laid out for them next. "Thou art more than ready, I assume?" She questioned, tilting her head to the side. "Thine tone seemst so sure, that I couldn't help but ask."

A chuckle was all she received in turn, her companion moving back towards where they came from as his hand glided towards her rear. "We will be once we finish collecting what's left in the Weeping Peninsula. After that? I have no clue, but we'll know once we get there." Feeling a shift in weight, it seemed like he dismissed his weapons back into their shared pocket space, now using his other arm to pick her up off the ground, even though it was painful for him to do so.

"Come on, we can do all of this talk in the morning. We still have a pretty long day ahead of us, don't you agree?" To his quarry, I could only nod my head merrily, snuggling in his chest, falling deeper and deeper into his arms. Until, everything vanished, her eyes shutting, and body falling limp.

He was right, this could wait. For now, rest was more important, especially after what had transpired earlier.

…

Two Days Later

Things progressed better than I had thought they would have.

Staring at the pile of crystal tears and sacred tears Vestia and I had collected over our short journey, I'd say it was a job well done. Though, with zero obstructions or distractions blocking our way, I guess it would only be right. Had the opposite been true, then it would be a shame, for an opposing force to have been strong enough to pose a challenge to us. A quick session with Melina made sure of that.

Clenching my fist, I stared at the broken gate that stood in my path. After a week and a half, it was finally time to return, and slay the first Demi-God. "Dave? Is there something bothering thee?" Leaning above my seated figure, Vestia returned into view, the sound of her voice bringing a smile to my face.

"No, everything's fine." Standing up, I readied my sword in one hand and Buckler Shield in the other, my hold over them tightening as my nerves fired off in excitement. "The task just seems daunting, is all. Seldom have a seen a castle this big. It practically dwarfs Morne. Though, pales in comparison to Lothric."

A fair few giggles left her lips, amusement dripping in her tone, her shoulders touching mine. "If only I had the capability to see. Alas, mine eyes have been cursed to only see the never-ending abyss born of the age of dark." Trying to make light of her rather unfortunate position, I took in her plights, along with her plump body.

I was shameless, there was no sugar coating that fact. But, if things decidedly turned south, a little bit on the side wouldn't hurt, right? Shaking my head of those indecent thoughts, we passed through the first gate and were swiftly met with a second one, far larger than the first.

Unlike where Margot(?) blocked me a week prior, this was, for the most part, fully intact, with its door hanging down. And by the look of things beyond the gate, it didn't seem much better. Soldiers stood watch just a few meters away, with spears at the ready, and bowmen at their rear. It would be risky to take this route, all things considered.

Hell, it was a literal up-hill battle all the way through.

"Pst! Pssst! You lot are tarnished, aren't you?" A voice to the left called for our attention, a lanky figure casting a shadow on the ground nearby him. "I would advise against taking the more straight forward path into the castle. It's tightly guarded by old hands, you'll have trouble even stepping a toe inside the grounds without having your entrails leaking out."

"Exhilarating. Reassuring, even." I cheered in faux excitement, my expression deadpan. "Though, it does beg the question. How many people have died for you to have started saying this before they entered?"

Upon saying this, a chorus of laughter exploded from right out of his lips, the man exiting the dark and showing himself to the light. Just as I had thought, he was a lanky fellow, but to what extent his affliction had affected him thoroughly surprised me. Not only that, but the color of his skin and hair were both bone-white, likely cause by some sort of albinism. On his person looked to be cheap clothes, similar to the garbs that commoners or peasants would wear.

"Why, you seem to be staring awfully hard at me. Is there perhaps something wrong with how I look?" He jested, entering yet another bout of laughter. Slouching his shoulders, he proceeded to take what looked to be a neutral stance, an arm calmly resting over his chest. "No matter, those questions need not be entertained. We have more pressing matters to attend. There is an opening just a minute's walk away right here. Follow me, and I'll take you straight to it."

Turning towards Vestia, she shot me a confused look, shrugging her shoulders as she followed the man without another word. A hand tightly gripping her talisman. A little caution never hurt. And with the context at hand, it was certainly needed. Leading us further into his den, we turned into a dimly lit corner as he stopped in his tracks, the loud creeks of a heavy wooden door playing in my head.

Sketchy as he was, the man was true to his word. Or at least, I hope he was. He wasn't the best character per say, his appearance felt foreboding at best. And if I learned anything from my encounter with Patches, it was that my gut was right more often times than not. At the same time, I could say the same about the situation I found myself in.

Snapping my left hand, a flickering flame flared from between my thumb and index fingers, providing some much-needed light to our surroundings, the pale man's physique illuminating as though he were a campfire monster. "Enter through here. The path is less enforced compared to the front and the guards barely know about it. You'll breach the castle undetected." He merrily proclaimed, a thin grin on his face.

Again, I chanted in my mind, a continuous stream of reassurances. However, no matter how hard I tried, my mind couldn't get rid of the thought. For all we knew, this could be a trap, sprung on starry eyed Tarnished with barely any runes to their name. Inhaling a deep breath, my hand squeezed Vestia's, shakily exhaling.

Looking towards me, she offered a smile, nudging me forward. "Many thanks. Without thy guidance, we would have had a tough time traversing the building's interior. And if I may, wouldst thee care to giveth thine name?"

Craning my head back, I keenly watched as his expression shifted in a variety of ways. A tad shaken, his cheeks spread, his mouth opening to show a crooked set of teeth. "I don't mind at all, miss. Very well, this meager one is Gostoc, a mere humble shopkeep, and guide to any Tarnished who dare challenge Lord Godrick in his own home. Frankly, I'm quite miffed at your appearance, but you take what you can get, right?"

Perhaps it wasn't so bad after all. A pleased hum rung from my throat as Vestia returned to my side, thanking the supposed shopkeeper for his help. Though the path had little soldiers blocking our progress, that didn't mean it was a safe trek to our destination. Along the way, we had encountered a murder of killer birds, a most terrifying foe, especially when we came to understand that we were hanging over a chasm.

One wrong step, and we were done for.

The steps grew more narrow as we headed up the side of the cliff, the passing breeze picking up speed as we ascended. Conditions didn't improve once we reached a sort of platform tucked to the side. Managing to escalate in difficulty as a horde of light infantry men ambushed us from the front. And with them, were those winged beasts, now with blades attached to their talons as if they weren't hard enough to deal with already.

A loud click left my lips, the bucket of options in my hand shrinking by the second as the stalked towards us. Vestia and I stood at the very edge which made an already bad decision worse. My pyromancy was also out of the equation due to the amazingly flammable qualities of wood, which we just so happen to be standing on. The growing series of coincidences put a hamper on what I could do. And of course, the best answer stood out as the simplest.

Getting a meter's distance between me, the first opponent didn't seem all too aware of how much he messed up, the rim of my shield meeting his very delicate face, the resulting crater spurting out a stream of blood as my Onyx Blade met with his abdomen. A liquid trailing down my blade as I pushed his body off the cliff, a shout of desperation crying out as he fell. One down, a ton more to go.

To my left and right, arrows sailed through the air, narrowly missing my head as they found their targets in my enemies, piercing through some of the birds, leaving only two remaining. This was our chance, and leaving it to be squandered would be a waste. Rushing in without a care, I swapped my off-hand in lieu of a heater shield. But, they did very little in blocking the pikes hurling for my body.

Holding my shield forward I pressed on, colliding with the weapons as they broke through my defenses with no issue. However, it was all according to plan, my head bobbing back, a trail of pebbles lacing my spit. My cheeks bulged, jaw unhinging to a painful degree as I passed a stone through my maw, crushing whoever was in front of me with a boulder.

Rolling into the next attack, I thrusted my sword into the air as it found its next target, my sight drawing to the third combatant who was unluck enough to be next to m- "You bloody bastard!" I cursed, wildly swinging my great sword around as a bird pecked at my back, the sensation of my muscles tearing as clear as day.

Flying through the air, several arrows of electricity flew through the air, probably Vestia's attempt to help me. More than a few winces broke through in rapid succession as she tried(and failed) to find her target. Occasionally striking me in the back when the arrows strayed too far off course.

My breath slowed, lungs taking in as much air as it could before crying out into the heavens. Eyes squinting, and finding the nearest person to me, using them as outlet. Stabbing into another poor soul, I swapped my empty hand for a short dagger, repeatedly stabbing into the next soldier as, once again, my dear companion missed, hitting the only other bird who had nothing to do with anything!

Frustration pulled on as my nose flared, my eyes drawn to the only person whom I had yet to kill. A stout man who seemed to have wet himself at the sight of me slaughtering his brothers in arms. My eyes sharpened at him with caution, nostrils flaring as I heaved, left hand drifting over my blade, a mass of dark flare pouring forth and coating its edge.

Grabbing the bird from my back by the wing, I tore it off me, a series of loud squawks leaving its little bird throat as I threw it to the ground. Sparing the animal a single glance, I poised the tip of my blade over its chest, my foot pressing down on its legs. And with a flick of my wrists, cleaved through its body, the remains lighting ablaze. My focus shifted from the burning corpse and back to the lone survivor, who had yet to utter even a single word.

"Well, this is quite awkward." I sighed, his body shivering harder than before. Blinking for a moment, my eyebrows furrowed at the display, his lack of initiative becoming unnerving as Vestia returned to my side, the bow in her hand crackling with yellow light. "Whatever shall I do with you, I wonder… Seeing as you're the first to not immediately attack me in a long while, I'll give you two options."

His head nodded rapidly, sniffles and whimpers muffling as he tried to compose himself. "You can either leave this career behind and take up a different line of work. Or, you can lead the two of us to your leader, Godrick. Don't worry, we'll pay you after the whole thing is over, a magic weapon or two would suffice, right?"

"Y-Y-Yes sir." He whispered, to the point where I could barely hear his voice.

"I'm sorry, but it appears as though I've suddenly gone up in age. Care to repeat that for me?" Flicking and pointing to my ears, his eyes widened through his helmet, a soft pitter patter reaching my ears, along with the pungent smell of urine. "That's just gross. I get that this situation isn't exactly the most favorable, but did you really have to make it worse? Besides, I'm pretty sure you've shat in your trousers as well."

He shook his head, shifting only once, keeping his distance. "I-I apologize, my lord." He stuttered once again, his back straightening as he pointed his spear towards the sky. "But, I'm afraid my duty comes first and foremost. If it is discovered that I desert-"

Without another word, I split his head in half. Trying to convince him otherwise would have taken too much time. And there were still the chances of him stabbing us in the back. An eyebrow rose on my face, a feeling of emptiness weighing on my gut. However, it was not due to the man's words, but my action. My eagerness to kill was becoming unnerving. To act so quick and without hesitation. Perhaps Asimi was doing more work than I gave her credit for,

Pushing those thoughts aside, my eyes drifted off from the corpse and onto the entrance they emerged from. It led to what seemed to be a secret passageway. Its walls were made out of some sort of stone, with chandeliers swinging above us due to our disturbance. Though, for what reason they would even have a secret room, I had no idea. Supposedly, more than a handful of people could fit here with little issue. But it wouldn't make any sense.

Have these people been stuck here for years? Were they possibly afflicted by the undead curse? I had not a single clue to what it could mean. Scratching my head, I was genuinely confuddled. Only for my mind to wake back up to reality. "Dave, I believe we have reached our first road block. Dost thou want to do the honor and teach him his manners?" Vestia alerted me. My knees ducking under the attack, the space where I had previously been in now populated by a flaming arrow.

It didn't take a genius to figure out what they had done. There was a slight elevation on each step, a flight of stairs standing in our path. Naturally, they would take advantage of the high ground they possessed. Shooting another volley at us, my left hand moved to block Vestia, a great shield manifesting on my forearm.

Blocking the attack, a staff manifested in my right hand in place of my greatsword. My understanding of the soul and the knowledge of how to wield it flowed into my mind, blue whisps of light weaving around the large barrier I was holding, taking physical shape as they hardened to crystal.

Reinforced with my spell, I dismissed my staff and moved the shield to my right hand, a seedling of chaos whirling to life. Nudging Vestia back, my sights returned to my foes on high, the constant barrage of ranged-fire clinking against my shield. Fortunately, they were barely able to make a dent on my defenses. No, the problem laid in the fact there were a stack of explosives just sitting at the top.

Red barrels littered the floor, the distance between both my brows expanding. A most unusual tactic to say the least. Though, for them to have deployed it, it surely must've been useful. Bracing for impact, my ears tuned out the noise of everything around me, lava dripping at my feet as spools of chaos swirled.

A wonderful crimson corona of light flashed in my palm. The visage of a miniature sun manifesting itself into this world, growing by the second until it reached its apex, no more than the size of a dagger's blade, red whisps of smoke emanating off it. 'Chaos Bed Vestiges.'

Wordlessly uttering its name, I threw it at the center of the room, where most of the gunpowder just so happened to reside. In the process of doing this, a good number of arrows manage to strike me as well. One on the shoulder, another in my abdomen, and the last on my back.

It wasn't too bad, all things considered. My plans had been achieved at minimal cost. Reaching for my inventory space, my hands immediately grasping at the ever-useful Estus Flask. Taking immense satisfaction at the sensation of the golden liquid flowing down my throat.

Magnificent as it might have been, there was still much to do, unfortunately. Not everyone was hit by the explosion, there were still those on the higher floors taking aim at us. Sucking in a deep breath, my eyes shut themselves for a moment, the Onyx Blade comfortably sliding betwixt my fingers.

It would take quite some time for me to reach them on foot. And if the height they were perched at was anything to go by, then I certainly had one hell of a trek to ascend.

Clenching my fist, I swapped the great shield for my staff, planting it on the floor while the tip of my blade touched the wall to my side. Gradually letting go of a sigh, black flame slid from the edge of my sword, pouring out into a trail moving upward. Slowly but surely, it made its way vertically, swiftly reaching its first victim.

With a flick of a switch, it exploded much like the barrels from earlier. And in another moment, connected with the fourth and last archer. Combining both pyromancy and sorcery was a bit tough. Of course, nobody said it would be easy, and nobody would help me. Turning to Vestia, I showed her a cheery smile. My hand moving just above my waist, bowing low as I held my other hand out.

"After you, my lady."

Staring at me for a second, her jaw hung briefly. Peeking from my position, my eyes were just able to see her facepalm. But, she took my right hand nevertheless. "Thou art too much sometimes, dear. However, I can't say thy efforts aren't effective at what they do. Still, thou could askest of mine help."

The edges of my lips curled, walking behind the blond with both hands wrapped around her back. "Come on, it isn't that bad. I'll even let you take on the next challenge if you really want to." Vestia paused for a moment, her head tilting upward as her hand cusped her chin.

"If thou'rt so confident in thy decision, then I don't see why not. However, I also wouldn't want to worry thee." Adopting a look of contemplation, she muttered a few words under her breath before continuing. "Very well, do as thou wilt. At the end of the day, thou shalt come to save me if ever I seem to be in trouble, right?"

Caressing her soft and curvy body, I waved my hand over her belly, placing my chin on the top of her head. "I would be a terrible partner otherwise. Besides, I'll have to take care of the both of you the best I can. Or else I'd be one worthless father and lover."

Canon Omake: Bald Man Strikes Again (p1)

A day prior to current events

The breeze was calm, the air brushing and whistling against my ears. Casually strolling on Torrent's back, Vestia sat in the front, a carefree expression on her face. Climbing up over a mountain, we quickly discovered that we had mistakenly taken the wrong path. A fault that laid in the map's lack of verticality but it was no matter.

Shrugging my shoulders, my hands tugged on the horse's reins, veering his head to the right… only to spot a glimmer in the distance. My eyes squinting as my brows furrowed, a budding curiosity taking hold of my mind. Halting the steed's movements, we continued on the path, entering the dark under grove of an overarching mountain.

Vestia, for her part, was confused by the sudden turn of events, her head twisting to look at me with a questioning gaze, her lips shifting over to one side. "Is there something wrong, Dave?" She asked, her fingers grasping at my forearm. "Thou seemst to be hesitating… Did the path suddenly change without our knowing? Did I chart a course incorrectly?"

Shaking my head, I pat her head, receiving a pout in turn, while the rays of the sun ceased to touch our skin. "Nothing in particular, I don't think. It appears that I have misjudged the terrain of this place. Don't worry, it is merely a simple mistake that can easily be fixed. The line of my lips thinned, a tinge of uneasiness plaguing my thoughts.

"Though it might be worth while to check it out, just in case there's something that could be of use." Posing this thought, I urged Torrent to slow down, each of his steps echoing in the cavern's high walls. "Or it could house a beast. But, that wouldn't be too bad, we could use the runes afterall."

Her teeth nibbled at her lower lip, a moment of silence passing between us as she eventually acquiesced. Easing back into my chest, her hand finding itself wrapped around her talisman. Soon, we reached the area's center, with no opposition waiting to stop us from progressing any further.

It was odd, but not totally unreasonable. Perhaps if there was something guarding this place, then it must've gone out on its own. The possibilities were endless, though it barely mattered when my eyes spotted one particular object in the room.

A chest laid in a fairly shaded corner, tucked away as though it was an embarrassment to show it. Intrigue piqued in my mind, a grin forming on my face. What treasures awaited me this time? A useless weapon? A useful consumable? Or maybe even one of those crystal seeds… I couldn't hold myself any longer, I needed to know what was inside.

Getting off the horse, I strolled up to it, my fingers casually drifting over its metal hinges, gliding towards its locks. However, common sense and paranoia still lingered in my head. And I couldn't in good conscience open the chest without at least checking if it were a mimic or not. The Onyx Blade materialized in my hand, falling into my grip as I held it skyward, both hands grasping at its hilt.

Sharply exhaling, I left not a breath in my lungs as I brought the weapon down on the chest, splitting its top open with little to no effect. Revealing its contents… to not be blood. Huh, guess I was lucky this tim-

"What in the blazes are you doing!?" A voice demanded, my eyes widening at the sound. He…He was here too? "Thought you could help yourself to a man's belongings, eh? Even broke my chest while you were at it." Turning to look at who it was, I couldn't help but smile as he jumped down from a particularly high up nest, a spear and great shield in either hand.

"Patches? But… But…" I sputtered, my shoulders rising as I spread my arms out, the sight bringing a smile to my face. "Here I thought I wouldn't have to see your ugly mug ever again. Well, it seems that I was severely mistaken." Expecting the same reaction out of the man who had forgotten himself, I was sorely disappointed to find him weary of my presence, bringing his shield closer to his body.

"I don't know who you are. But if you think that you can get away and steal what isn't yours to begin with, then you have another thing coming, you bastard!" Rushing at me, he thrusted his weapon a multitude of times, each attempting to pierce my heart. Sidestepping every single one of his attacks, his nostrils flared. Frustration building up within him like a keg as he brough the tip of his weapon down from the sky. However, this was a feint, one that I fell for hard. Reversing his grip, he moved forward with immense speed, using his momentum to slam the but of his spear into my solar plexus, expelling the wind out of my lungs.

Admittedly, it was stupid of me to merely move back and forth, and there was nothing I could say to defend what I did. "Hehe, already at your wits end, are we? Blah! If I knew it was going to be this easy, I would've brought me nana to fight in my stead." Shooting the taunt, the weight of his body shifted over to one side, likely preparing a heavier thrust. Something that could cover a lot of distance, but leave him open for a counter attack. Meeting him head on, my feet tapped backward, dashing as a trail of dust tumbled.

Fortunately, the sand and dirt from the ground managed to enter his eye. And to my surprise, it was enough to trip him off, irritation building up as tears welled in the corner of his eyelid. Taking this as my chance, my hand swiftly gravitated towards the buckler shield, and using Patches' own momentum against him, punching him square in the cheek. His body flying back due to combined the force.

Huh, perhaps I over did it? Just a quick thought and observation, nothing more than that. "Dave? Is everything alright?" Vestia urgently asked, sparks of lightning shooting off the floor. "It may be rude of me to interrupt a meeting between two friends, but it seemst as though the conversation was more one sided if anything."

My shoulders sag, and I let out a sigh, eyes scanning over the unconscious body of the person whom I considered a friend. "People change over time, I get that. But for him to have forgotten me even after helping him recover his memories…" My head shook from side to side, a weight swinging in my chest. "It just hurts so much more."