Chapter 3 Merchant Kalé

He looked toward the source of the voice and spotted a figure seated in front of a small campfire, cloaked in a red, hooded robe with white trim, faintly resembling a rustic Santa Claus.

The figure looked up, his face shadowed under his hood. "You're a Tarnished, aren't you? I can smell it. And I can also see… that you're not after my throat,".

"Then why not purchase a little something? I am Kale, purveyor of fine goods."

glancing at the modest array of wares spread out on a cloth beside Kale. He wanted to buy something—anything that might help him survive in this place—but his pockets were empty. He didn't have any runes.

And if he truly was a Tarnished, as Kale claimed, then he was supposed to have a maiden as well, wasn't he? So... where was she?

Kale chuckled, a low, throaty sound that echoed in the quiet night. "Ah, no maiden, I take it? Unfortunate. Maidenless Tarnished don't usually last very long." His eyes glinted with a mix of pity and amusement. "You'll need guidance if you plan to survive here. And, well, coin for my goods. No runes, no purchases."

Kale nodded approvingly. "Good spirit, at least. There's a camp of soldiers not far from here. You might find something of use—and some runes, if you're lucky. Just be careful; they aren't friendly to Tarnished."

"Look, Kale… I don't have any runes right now. But if I'm going to survive out there, I need something. A dagger—anything. I swear, I'll pay you back a hundred times over."

Kale raised an eyebrow, an amused grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "A hundred times, you say? That's a mighty high promise from a maidenless Tarnished with empty pockets."

"I'm serious," he replied. "I just need a start. Once I get going, I'll find runes, and you'll get far more than that dagger's worth."

Kale rubbed his chin thoughtfully, glancing from him to the shadows beyond the campfire. "Alright," he said, picking up a small, worn dagger from his stash. Its edge was dull but still serviceable. He held it out, his grip firm as he leaned in. "But remember this: if you fail to repay me, I'll find you—even in death."

"You have my word."

Kale released the dagger into his hand, and he felt the solid weight of it settle into his grip. 

"Now, don't go dying too soon," Kale added with a chuckle. "I'll be expecting my hundredfold payment."

"There's a camp of soldiers not far from here. You might find something of use—and some runes, if you're lucky. Just be careful; they aren't friendly to Tarnished."

He nooded as he slowly jumped out from church wall.

Dagger in hand, he sneaked toward the camp Kale had mentioned, staying low and sticking to the shadows.

The camp was dimly lit by scattered fires, and a lone soldier patrolled the outer edge, holding a torch that cast flickering shadows.

gripping the dagger tightly. He planned his move: approach quietly, strike quickly. But just as he lunged, his foot slipped on a loose stone, making a faint noise. The soldier turned, his eyes narrowing as he raised his torch.

Before he could react, the soldier shoved him back, throwing him off balance. In a quick motion, the soldier's blade swung down, and he felt a sharp pain tear through him.

Everything went dark.

In the next moment, he found himself standing in front of Kale once again, dagger in hand, as if nothing had happened. His breath caught—Return by Death... He was back to the moment right after Kale had handed him the dagger.

Kale glanced at him with a knowing look. "Now, don't go dying too soon," he repeated, a slight chuckle in his voice.

Taking a deep breath, he set off toward the camp again. This time, he moved more carefully, placing each step deliberately, mindful of any loose stones or twigs that might give him away.

The torchlight from the patrolling soldier flickered in the distance, casting long shadows that he used to his advantage.

He crouched low as he neared the edge of the camp, watching the soldier's routine as he moved back and forth along his path. When the soldier turned his back, he sneaked forward, his heartbeat steady.

Timing his approach, he waited until the soldier's footsteps began to fade. In a swift motion, he closed the distance and rose behind him, raising the dagger. With a quick thrust, he plunged the blade into the soldier's Back of the neck, muffling any sound as he held his hand over the soldier's mouth. The soldier struggled briefly, then went still.

After the soldier went limp, he quickly set to work, knowing time was against him. He carefully stripped the armor off the fallen soldier,

it was a full Godrick Soldier Set.

Beside the soldier lay a weapon, the Lordsworn's Straight Sword. He picked it up, feeling its solid balance and well-worn hilt. Compared to the dagger, it was a considerable upgrade, with the reach and power to face a real fight. It wasn't sharp, but it was strong, and that was enough.

In the soldier's pouch, he found a handful of runes—somewhere between 40 and 70. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

He quickly Ran Away He dosent want to be notcied by the other soldier it would be very..

At a safe distance, he leaned back against a tree, catching his breath. The weight of the Godrick Soldier Set was heavier than he expected. The Lordsworn's Straight Sword lay across his lap.

As the first hints of dawn broke over the horizon, he stood and moved into a clearing. Gripping the sword with both hands, he practiced simple strikes and swings.

He started with basic cuts, testing the weight of each swing, then worked his way into more fluid motions. It wasn't graceful yet, but he could feel himself improving with each attempt.

His body began to understand the balance, the flow from one motion to the next.

The armor restricted his movements, but it was better to learn its limits now. He focused on his footwork, shifting his stance and pivoting on his feet to turn quickly without losing balance.

The trees around him became targets as he imagined each swing meeting resistance.

One thing he needed now was a horse—and he knew where he might find one.

The Kaiden Sellswords were a group of heavily armored mercenaries often seen mounted on horses and wielding massive curved greatswords designed to dismount riders.

If he could manage to take down one of them, he'd not only gain a horse but also a way to move quickly, escape dangerous encounters, and scout new areas with ease.

there should be a Kaiden camp not far from the godrick soldiers' camp.

But it wasn't the right time for that; he had a better plan in mind to become strong quickly. There was Sorceress Sallen under the waypoint ruins, but the problem was the Pumpkin Head that guarded her. Would he be able to kill it?

If he could defeat the creature, it wouldn't be hard for him to become her apprentice.

From what he could remember, she is a very beautiful woman, and the thought of learning from someone so striking.

Hehee...

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