[The fire has faded, yet the throne remains empty, and the ashen ones without flame will gather]
In the northern part of the Kingdom of Loen, in Winter County.
Another full moon.
A Gothic black spired church stood tall on the snow-capped mountain peak, with the blood-red moonlight casting an eerie glow over the cold stone coffins in the cemetery behind the church.
The stone coffins lay exposed to the air, with no soil covering them.
At the center of the cemetery was a bonfire made of bones.
The blood-red full moon illuminated everything on the ground, including a half-covered stone coffin in the cemetery.
Suddenly, the lid of the stone coffin shifted slightly.
"Crack!"
A gloved hand broke through the coffin lid.
The glove, scorched by the First Flame over a long period, was already worn and deformed, with faint red sparks trickling from it.
The ashen undead, having spent countless years in darkness, finally awakened from the slumber within the stone coffin.
He gazed around in confusion, his eyes filled with fatigue and bewilderment.
"Is it the season for kindling fire again?"
"But…"
He looked up at the sky, finding the blood-red moon overhead strangely unsettling, and muttered, "Why is it a red moon? A new storyline? Dark Souls 4? Or Yharnam?"
"Never mind, these things aren't important."
Shaking his head, he slowly set his gaze on the bonfire made of bones ahead.
First, he needed to light the bonfire.
"Crack!"
The ashen one stepped out of his millennia-old coffin, leaving clear footprints in the snow-covered ground.
Finally, he reached the bonfire without any interference.
No gravekeeper, no ravenous dogs, no crystal lizards.
Everything went so smoothly that the ashen one felt a bit doubtful, his eyes filled with confusion.
Nevertheless, he pulled out his coiled sword—
It was a large spiral sword with visible traces of smelting stars, retaining heat despite the ice and snow.
Then,
He thrust it into the bonfire.
"Whoosh!"
A weak flame rose from the bones, making a faint crackling sound.
"Is it lit?"
The ashen one murmured to himself, "So it really is a bonfire. Is this a bonfire shrine? Right in the cemetery? Where's my Fire Keeper?"
As he pondered, he prepared to look around for the Fire Keeper.
Raising his head, he noticed a figure standing before him, unnoticed until now.
The figure wore a simple linen robe with visible patches, and a belt made of twisted tree bark.
Long, jet-black hair cascaded down, and bare feet, covered in dust and scars, protruded from the robe.
Clearly, this was a woman.
"Are you my Fire Keeper?"
The ashen one walked forward and calmly asked.
He waited for the Fire Keeper to guide him, to explain the background.
Only then could he know where to find the kindling.
"No."
The woman seemed prepared for his question, and softly replied, "My name is Arianna, a servant of concealment."
"Then where is my Fire Keeper?"
The ashen one frowned and asked the NPC in front of him.
She wasn't a Fire Keeper but didn't seem puzzled by the term, indicating she knew something.
She was likely the equivalent of Crestfallen... Sister?
"I don't know."
Arianna gently shook her head, speaking slowly, "I am only here to provide some guidance, Ashen One."
"You know about the Ashen One, but not where the Fire Keeper is?"
The ashen one felt confused. What kind of setting was this? Dark Souls 4's new setup?
"What guidance?"
The ashen one quickly composed himself and asked.
"Backlund."
Arianna crossed her chest with four clockwise taps, speaking reverently, "There you will find the first Lord of Cinders you seek."
"Got it."
The ashen one nodded, understanding that knowing the location of the Lord of Cinders was crucial.
"So, where is Backlund?"
"The capital of the Kingdom of Loen."
"Kingdom of Loen?"
The ashen one murmured this unfamiliar name, puzzled, "Is this Lordran? Where is Anor Londo?"
"I've never heard of such a place."
Arianna thought for a moment and gently shook her head.
"Never heard of it?"
The ashen one frowned, "Then where is this?"
"The northern part of the Kingdom of Loen, in Winter County."
Arianna slightly lowered her gaze.
"How do I get to Backlund?"
The ashen one nodded, then asked again.
Just as he finished asking, he saw the woman before him extend her hand.
"Thud!"
The ashen one instinctively raised his left hand to deflect her hand, and his right hand instantly held a blue Irithyll straight sword.
Seeing she didn't seem to react, he didn't make another move, instead preparing to parry her attack—
Until further blows could stagger her completely.
"I mean no harm."
Arianna, whose hand was deflected, made no further moves but once again crossed her chest with four clockwise taps, softly explaining, "This is a form of transportation."
"Transportation?"
A hint of realization flashed in the ashen one's confused eyes.
The bonfire held the power of the First Flame, and although a bonfire was a crude imitation, it bore traces of the First Flame.
Thus, he could use the First Flame's power to quickly move between bonfires—
Provided the bonfire was lit with the First Flame's power.
With only one initial bonfire, teleportation was clearly impossible.
If he could be transported quickly to Backlund, it would undoubtedly save a lot of time.
This Crestfallen Sister, being communicative and showing no signs of being hollowed, should be trustworthy... right?
"Sorry."
The ashen one sincerely apologized to Crestfallen Sister and extended his hand, indicating for her to continue.
Regardless of her intentions, it didn't matter much—death was merely a minor setback.
However,
He was undead.
Arianna hesitated for a moment but then grabbed the ashen one's arm.
Their figures seemed to be erased from existence, disappearing into the shadows.
Simultaneously,
In the prayer hall of St. Samuel's Church in Backlund, the shadow quickly sketched a male figure in full, battered knight armor.
"Arianna?"
The ashen one, looking at the unfamiliar environment and the vanished woman, hesitantly called out.
"Ashen One."
An elderly voice spoke beside him, and as the ashen one turned, he saw an old man with a clean-shaven face, deep eyes, and dressed in a black robe with red trimming, smiling at him.
"Ashen One? Me?"
The ashen one looked around and, seeing no one else, pointed at himself in confusion.
"Yes, Ashen One."
The old man's eyes showed a hint of respectful humility, "Lady Arianna has departed. My name is Anthony Stevenson, the Archbishop of St. Samuel's Church. I am to provide guidance for you, Ashen One."
"Why do you call me Ashen One?"
The ashen one frowned slightly, seemingly displeased with the term.
The old man didn't respond immediately but glanced at the ashen one's left hand.
Instinctively, the ashen one lowered his head and raised his left arm, opening his palm.
In his palm lay a badge, translucent and resembling a black gemstone, both deep and brilliant.
When the ashen one looked at it, it was undeniably there.
But when he looked away, it seemed to vanish.
In his vision, the ashen one saw more details.
[Night Badge
A badge bestowed by the Goddess of the Night upon her chosen one.
The bearer is granted the protection of the hidden.
It is said that when the bearer shows the badge, the followers of the Night will regard them as the Goddess's chosen one.]
"..."
The ashen one remained silent for a long time, his eyes reflecting a mix of memories and hesitation, "Backlund, Kingdom of Loen, Goddess of the Night, Arianna, St. Samuel's Church, Pathways, Anthony Stevenson…"
"Lord of the Mysteries?"
The ashen one seemed to realize something, but his expression grew even more bewildered, "Wasn't I here to kindle the flame?"
P.S.: The restriction on speaking with one fan point is to prevent spam. There are too many spammers, and it's hard to ban them all. If any genuine readers want to comment, you can tip two cents for two fan points to be able to comment. Apologies for the inconvenience.
(End of Chapter)