The first thing Eraqus and Eygon spotted was a large, silent set of ruins, which appeared to be the remains of buildings or altars with parts of their walls still intact and covered in vegetation.
With cautious steps crushing the grass beneath their feet, they surveyed their surroundings, searching for their adversary.
It wasn't long before he appeared; a floating figure sprouted from the ground, tall and thin, with parched gray skin and dark garments that flowed in the wind, making him seem larger than he was.
However, his large hat, rapier, and gleaming orb were his most notable features. He positioned himself on a ruin ahead and, without uttering a word, conjured a large purple magical projectile in their direction.
The spell ripped through the air, leaving a trail of powdered crystal in its path. However, the knight and the Keyblade Master moved faster, heading in opposite directions before closing the distance to the sorcerer.
The sound of bones breaking echoed through the ruins after Eygon swung his great hammer as if it were weightless.
His poor target flew away, screaming in pain, something that only worsened upon hitting a ruin, cracking the ancient stone. Eraqus didn't let the opportunity pass, hurling a fireball towards the fallen enemy.
The flaming explosion released a wave of heat and ignited his dark clothes, but before the next attack could come, he disappeared into the ground, leaving his attackers behind.
Both turned immediately in search of the fleeing enemy, witnessing several piles of blue crystals sprouting from the ground.
The search didn't take long; hearing whispers and glimpsing a magical glow behind a partially collapsed pillar, they found the sorcerer in the middle of conjuring yet another of his attacks.
Raising the orb, a sphere of magical power soared high into the sky, exploding in a blinding light and creating a rain of soul arrows in its wake.
They fell like shooting stars. Eygon raised his shield above his head for protection, while Eraqus, possessing the lighter equipment, was forced to dodge the luminous blasts with precision, delivering a series of blows to the conjurer's chest.
Blood stained the ground with each cut, but before the next blow could reach him, the sorcerer vanished again, creating another wave of crystals on the ground.
There was a moment of confusion when both found three sorcerers preparing attacks simultaneously. However, their doubts vanished when the spells were cast, as only one retained its original color while the others glowed blue.
The copies positioned themselves protectively in front of the original as Eraqus and Eygon began to move. The first attempted a rapier strike, only to vanish upon receiving a hammer blow to the side of the head.
The second created five luminous masses above its body, but they never fired, as Eraqus conjured a combination of ice and lightning in its direction.
The original finally cast its spell; a magical ray shot from its orb, melting a line on the ground from which several crystals erupted. Again, it wasn't a difficult attack to dodge, with both going in opposite directions before unleashing their final attacks.
A sword strike from Eraqus severed the sorcerer's arm, the orb shattering upon impact. Their screams soon ceased as Eygon raised his weapon above his head with both hands and brought it down with all his might.
The ground cracked, followed by a small tremor and a cloud of dust. When it was all over, the broken mess that the sorcerer once was vanished into souls that were soon absorbed by Eraqus, Warmth spread through him, unpleasant and familiar.
The two combatants faced each other without emotion and without exchanging gestures or words, Eygon disappeared, as did the fog gates blocking the exits from the ruins.
Eraqus exhaled slowly.
"I'll never get used to that man."
Sighing, Eraqus headed towards the bonfire that had appeared, collapsing into it to soothe his weariness before continuing on.
Passing through an uphill section, he made a slight detour to kill the two nearby titanite lizards, saving the luminous ore they dropped before continuing.
Further on, near a regular campfire, another of the fat beings, carrying a large book and an hammer, rested, but this one was accompanied by two tall, thin creatures wearing red hoods, and carrying cages filled with corpses on their backs and saws made for felling trees in their hands.
He wasted no time in hand-to-hand combat, bombarding them all with spells. Fire, lightning, ice, and soul rained down upon the creatures, reducing them to souls that were soon absorbed.
The Master drank from his flask to restore his magic and, approaching the campfire, found a corpse wearing a striking set of armor. It was made of dark leather, with a white cape and silver helmet and breastplate.
Looking around, he murmured a prayer and an apology before taking the armor for himself, donning the complete set afterward. It wasn't heavy and offered enough protection, something that didn't hinder his fighting style.
Continuing forward, he found another bonfire, this time the one he was used to, lighting it, but before climbing a stone staircase ahead, he saw something shining in the corner of his vision.
Entering a narrow passage, he found a hooded man dressed in black, wielding a large sword and displaying aggression as he approached. Like the previous enemies, he didn't have a chance to get close before a barrage of spells killed him.
At the end of the passage was a corpse with a pile of ashes that glowed with power. Eraqus didn't know its use, but he made sure to keep it in case it was needed.
With that done, he climbed the staircase, this time being challenged by an individual wearing leather armor, a red axe and shield with the image of a spider.
He suffered the same fate as his previous adversary, and his shield was added to Eraqus's growing collection after his defeat.
However, the combat was not over, as several crossbowmen hollows and rabid dogs awaited him on the other side of the stone gate at the top of the staircase.
He used the rocks present for cover, listening to the darts shattering and the frustrated grumbles of the hollows. The dogs proved more challenging, moving quickly as they tried to surround him.
The first received a sword in the center of its mouth as it opened it. The second received a kick to the face before being burned with fire. The third came closest to injuring the master, if not for the shield in its path, which quickly split its head open as it pushed it against a rock.
The crossbowmen were easily eliminated, and with the path now clear, Eraqus continued his ascent along a narrow trail filled with gray grass, twisted trees, and dusty tombstones.
Eventually, he spotted a large cathedral ahead, so vast that it was impossible to see its entirety.
On a nearby stone obelisk, several Hollows prayed, but they soon met their end at Eraqus's hands, allowing him to obtain the nearby Estus shard.
Without further delay, Eraqus opened the large double doors in front of him, entering the cathedral and surveying his surroundings with a ready combat stance.
The environment was dark, as was the ornate stone used to construct it.
Several lit red candlesticks and candelabras illuminated the dark space with a dim light, and following the red carpet and passing through another pair of double doors, he found himself in a kind of chapel, with several benches lined up before an altar, with a bonfire between them.
However, there was a person prostrating himself before the sacred image, a thin old man in silver armor and a red hood.
"Ah, merciful goddess, mother of the Forlorn, who have no place to call their own… Please witness our resolution… Fire for Ariandel… Fire for Ariandel… And the ashes to kindle the flame…"
The first thing Eraqus did was touch the bonfire and secure his place of return before speaking to the man, as it was unknown if he posed a threat.
"Hello, sir, do you need help?"
Immediately, the old man turned towards him, speaking with fanatical reverence.
"Wait, you… You smell just like that woman… Then you must be an Ashen One. You must be! You don't know how long I've searched!"
The old man tried to approach quickly, but Eraqus retreated, pointing a sword at him, making him stop.
"Don't move! Tell me your name and what you want! Has something happened to you?!"
Despite the danger, the old man reacted lightly, as if he had made a simple mistake rather than acting like a madman.
"Oh, oh… don't worry about me, I didn't mean to fall apart. Now, Ashen One, I have a favor to ask of you. My lady lives in the cold land of Ariandel. I need you to show her the flame, a true flame, that will burn away the rot. If you truly are Ash, then it must be the fire you seek?"
"Flame? You mean the First Flame?"
The old man rejoiced at his words, removing a piece of paper from his worn armor.
"Ah, thank you, the Ashen One never fail. …Just a moment, then… The painting of Ariandel. Well, a rotten piece of it, actually. Go ahead, take it, touch it…"
The Master observed that piece of painting with suspicion. The old man spoke things that made no sense, but he didn't seem to want to hurt him, so with a hesitant hand, he prepared to accept the object.
There was a blinding light, and when Eraqus opened his eyes, he wasn't in the cathedral.
-XXXXXX-
Cold was the first thing he felt, and surprise was the second upon seeing a creature similar to the ravens he had faced earlier resting in the cave where they both stood.
Surprisingly, the being spoke.
"Oh, you just arrived? How unusual, much time has passed! Rejoice, my new friend, for this place is a haven for the helpless, the cold and gentle painted world of Ariandel."
He paid attention only to half of the being's words, still confused by what had happened. His head spun, and the contents of his stomach threatened to spill due to the sudden transport.
Leaving the creature aside, Eraqus walked towards the cave's exit, spotting a light as he climbed the path.
A shiver ran through his body as the icy wind touched his skin, and as soon as his eyes adjusted to the light, he regretted having heeded the knight's request, for ice was all he saw.
A landscape hidden by a constant blizzard, with trees rising like towers and animals making noise in the distance.
There was a bonfire nearby, and he wasted no time in using it to leave this place. He had already chosen the cathedral as his destination; there was no reason to deviate further. This painted world would be for later exploration.
-XXXXXX-
The old man was no longer in the cathedral when he returned, but the piece of the painting now rested on the altar. The Master preferred to leave it there and continued his exploration.
The church doors, one on the right and another ahead, were locked, so he was forced to leave the place in search of another way, but not before retrieving a notched whip from a nearby corpse.
The only remaining path was near the monument where the hollows prayed, splitting in two, with an uphill path to the left and a narrow path to the right.
Following the path to the right, Eraqus reached a small drop that led to a narrow stream. As soon as his boots touched the water, his face contorted in disgust at the sight of a new monstrosity in his path.
It was a mass of fused leeches, forming a torso with long, thin arms, a round head, and a long tail that stretched far out.
The creature squealed as soon as it saw him, swinging its arms in an arc. The blow missed, but parts of its body flew towards Eraqus, trying to crawl through the openings in his armor and suck his blood.
Fire proved to be the best option; with the pyromancies of this land and the magic he came with to this world, he reduced all the monsters he encountered along the way to ashes.
Eventually, the path split in two, going straight ahead and to the right. Advancing in a straight line and killing more of the bloodsucking monsters, he found a tree branch that served as a chime, and circled around the back of the cathedral, crossing a cemetery and killing a titanite lizard.
Preferring to ignore the giant lizard covered in crystals similar to the one in the cemetery where he awoke, Eraqus found a chamber in his exploration, acquiring a gray ring with a purple gem.
He didn't feel anything different when he put it on, but kept it in case it was useful. This exploration revealed itself to be a large circle, with him returning to where he started, leaving only the unexplored path.
Returning to the monument, walking uphill and through a rusty gate, he reached an elevated area overlooking a labyrinth of tombstones surrounding him.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, several hands sprouted from the soil and the desiccated corpses of the dead rose up.
They proved weak, but numerous. Preferring to avoid being surrounded, Eraqus eliminated those who stood in his way while ignoring those who posed no threat.
During his exploration, he found a straight sword and a greatsword, both near corpses that rose as soon as the weapons were acquired.
His advance eventually led him to the side of the cathedral, where he climbed a massive, ruined staircase, partly collapsed and partly fused with the cathedral's roof.
A slight smile spread across his face as he made progress. More corpses and hollows stood in his way, some with the bloodsucking monster oozing from their stomachs.
Unfortunately, his advance slowed as he encountered more powerful adversaries in the upper sections of the great structure.
Some wore sacred robes and wielded halberds, while others wore black rags and carried twin swords, both types fighting with great strength, speed, and skill.
Occasionally, withered dwarves wearing hoods and wielding daggers and axes attempted to ambush him, but his senses prevented him from falling into traps.
During his exploration, he found some noteworthy artifacts, such as bone shards and a large circular black shield, and in the same tower where the shield was found, Eraqus cleared a shortcut to the ground floor via a ladder.
Passing through a pair of massive double doors, he found himself inside the cathedral. Despite the somber atmosphere, he couldn't help but marvel at the architecture and decoration, wondering how this place had been like in its glory days.
Leaning on one of the railings, he observed the area in solemn silence. The lower levels almost disappeared into the distance, with the various wandering enemies resembling ants.
It was possible to hear their murmurs, groans, and growls amidst the creaking of the ancient chandeliers, and their footsteps reverberating through the decaying corridors, a sign of what he would find on the way.
After this brief moment of rest, Eraqus walked a side passage, descended a staircase, and crossed a dining room.
Finding an elevator shaft nearby, he pulled a lever, hearing the platform approach amidst the creaking of the chains. The elevator ride took him to a balcony on the lower levels, and after opening a pair of double doors, he found himself back in the chapel.
The shortcut was welcome, and after a few moments of consideration, Eraqus chose to return to the shrine before he lost all his souls again.
-XXXXXX-
The Fire Keeper was the first to grace him with her presence, offering a polite bow.
"Greetings, Eraqus. I see you had a safe return."
The Master returned the gesture, shuddering as he remembered his experience in the forest; he still felt the phantom pain of his wounds, but he swallowed it for the sake of appearances.
"You could say so. I'm progressing on my journey and would like to strengthen and prepare myself before continuing."
"Very well, offer me your hand and allow me to grant you the power of souls."
Eraqus nodded, crushing the various souls he encountered along the way, including those of Vordt and the sorcerer, adding them to those absorbed by his body before touching the Keeper's hands.
This time he didn't hold back; most of the souls were used to make him stronger, faster, and more resilient. They were scattered throughout all his attributes, for he will not allow the previous experience to repeat itself.
"I hope this small gesture can help you in your arduous undertaking."
"You have no idea how much this will help, but before I leave, I found two artifacts whose usefulness escapes me."
Searching his bag, Eraqus removed the ashes of the corpse and the bone shards, describing them to the Keeper, who, after a few seconds of deep thought, replied.
"The bone fragments can be burned in the shrine's bonfire, strengthening the effects of your flasks, as for the ashes… You can give them to the Handmaid; perhaps she can use them to expand her wares."
He did as he was told, the bones burned with a violent flame and his flasks glowed like never before, ceasing moments later. Power now emanated from them, and after thanking the Keeper, Eraqus met with the Handmaid, handing her the ashes.
"Oh, poor paladin, see where your faith has led you. What a tragic end."
She could see something he couldn't, and after crushing the ashes in her hand, a glow illuminated the dark corridors, revealing new artifacts filling the various boxes and barrels present.
"So, are you going to buy something?"
Her mischievous smile revealed that he would have to bargain or lose all the souls he had left. In the end, he bought Loyd's Ring of Protection for an acceptable price, and after bidding farewell to her, Andre became his next stop.
"Look, you're still alive, a reason to celebrate."
The old blacksmith didn't stray from his work, but still offered a friendly smile to the Master, which he returned.
"I admit I've come close to my end more than once, but complete death will not claim me yet. Leaving those dark matters aside, I need your services."
"Very well, tell me what you need."
The enhancement of the flasks was the first request, with the two found fragments being delivered.
This time Eraqus kept his distance from the two flaming waves that came with each hammer blow, but when it was over, the power of the potions had increased.
The enhancement of his weapons was his second request, with his uchigatana and ice sword being the focus, the first using normal titanite and the second the twinkling one.
Paying the necessary souls, he bid farewell to Andre and headed towards Irina, encountering a face in the shrine.
"Orbeck."
"Eraqus."
The Master and the Sorcerer exchanged a nod, and although he possessed no tomes, at least he had souls to pay for his teacher's teachings.
Farron's Flashsword and Heavy Soul Arrow were his choices. There wasn't much discussion from then on; they didn't hate each other, they just didn't have much to talk about outside of magic, and he didn't feel Orbeck wanted to share his past with a stranger.
Irina was his last stop for now. The young woman raised her head and smiled broadly upon hearing his voice.
"You can't imagine how happy I am for your return. What brings you here?"
He preferred to leave his meeting with Eygon aside and focused on the braille book he had found, handing it to the woman.
"I found this book during my exploration; I would like to know if you could teach me its contents."
For a moment she showed no expression, but an immense joy appeared on her face as she accepted the book.
"Thank you so much, now I can tell stories of new miracles. Stories of greater miracles can be true epics… How fun that will be!"
He couldn't agree more, glad to see the normally somber woman in a more upbeat mood. Sitting next to Irina, he listened as she recited tales of the Gods of this world and taught him new miracles.
Perhaps he could stay in the sanctuary a little longer. Rest in this world was never too much, after all.
END OF CHAPTER