The monstrous knight closed the distance quickly, his thundering footsteps shaking the chamber as his crazed growls reverberated off the walls. Eraqus stood his ground, allowing his opponent to approach, his heart pounding in anticipation. The knight's next move came swiftly, the great icy mace thrust toward Eraqus with bone-crushing intent.
At the last possible second, Eraqus stepped aside, the weapon and its carrier barreling past him. He countered with a horizontal cut aimed at the knight's right side. But to his shock, the scimitar bounced off the knight's armor with a deafening metallic clang, a shower of sparks lighting up the dark chamber. The unexpected resistance threw him off balance.
The knight, seizing the opportunity with a primal instinct, swung his mace in a deadly arc while pivoting his body. Eraqus saw the great weapon blur towards him, carving a path of destruction on the stone floor and sending fragments and dust flying. He barely had time to raise his shield in a desperate attempt to block the blow.
Pain exploded through his body as the mace connected, the impact rattling his shield and shattering his bones. His scream echoed through the chamber, a raw cry of agony. His flesh felt as though it were being torn apart, every nerve aflame. The force of the blow lifted him off his feet, sending him crashing to the ground several meters away.
Struggling to stand, Eraqus found his legs shaky and his breath labored. Blood dripped from his nose, forehead, and mouth, staining the ground. His vision doubled, the blue blur of the knight looming larger with every heartbeat. The arm holding his shield hung uselessly at his side, a dead weight of pain.
Clicking his tongue in frustration, he sheathed his scimitar with great difficulty, his fingers trembling. He fumbled through his pockets for an Estus flask, but the tremors of the approaching knight forced him to abandon his search. The ground seemed to quake with every step of the monstrous figure.
Eraqus threw himself to the left, rolling painfully across the stone floor. He cursed the agony that revealed more broken bones than just his arm. Every movement was a new wave of torment, but he had no choice. Survival demanded it. The relentless knight would not stop, and Eraqus had to keep moving.
Judging by the bang that assaulted his ears, Eraqus assumed that the massive blur had hit the wall near his previous location. So the Master returned to his efforts to find the Estus flask, succeeding this time, and drinking its contents.
The flavor of the potion surprised Eraqus. Having the substance of syrup but an indescribable taste, better than any beverage he had tried before. Instantly, an orange aura surrounded Eraqus, healing his wounds, mending bones, tending his bruises, and stopping the bleeding.
The Master sighed relieved, feeling the pain disappear and vision returning to normal, in time to see the knight violently removing his colossal form from a hole in the wall.
Eraqus analyzed his situation and chances of victory, frowning at how low they were.
Eraqus quickly assessed his situation, realizing his chances of victory were grim. His earlier attempts had shown that brute strength alone wouldn't pierce the knight's formidable armor. He needed something more—something he didn't have on hand. Magic was his only remaining option.
The chill in the chamber and the icy mist surrounding the knight indicated that ice was his natural element. Fire and lightning, then, would be the most effective countermeasures. Determined, Eraqus focused, feeling the magic course through his veins as he prepared a spell. Meanwhile, the knight roared, slamming his mace into the ground before charging again.
"Fire!"
With a snap of his fingers, Eraqus sent a fireball hurtling toward the knight. It exploded on impact, engulfing the knight in flames. A pained grunt echoed from the armored figure, who shook his head violently, dissipating some of the fire but continuing his relentless advance.
Eraqus wasted no time. He leaped away, dodging a crushing blow, and conjured another fireball. It struck the knight's side, eliciting another roar of pain. The knight then spun, his mace swinging in a deadly arc. But Eraqus was ready. He jumped back, narrowly avoiding the blow, and quickly cast a different spell.
"Thunder!"
A bolt of lightning shot from his fingertips, crackling through the air toward the knight. The electricity struck with a blinding flash, causing the knight to stagger. Eraqus seized the moment, his heart pounding as he prepared for the next attack.
"Fire! Thunder!"
Fire and lightning rained down on the knight, reducing the icy mist that surrounded him and covering his armor with scorched marks. However, the knight showed that his strength and colossal form were no mere display and withstood the attacks.
Eraqus found himself pressured by a flurry of deadly blows, dodging as fast as he could and conjuring spells through the gaps, while the knight swung his mace wildly.
The chamber shook, with holes and cracks filling its floor with each blow, sweat dripped down Eraqus' face as his stamina disappeared, and spells ripped through the air in a display of magical power.
Eventually, Eraqus found himself with his back to the large gate on the other side of the chamber thanks to the knight's incessant blows, and soon there would be no more room to dodge.
Therefore, Eraqus readied himself and drew back both hands, throwing them forward and conjuring two spells simultaneously. The great fireball and lightning struck the knight's head and neck just as he raised his mace to strike another blow.
The knight roared, writhing violently before falling to the ground, his form sprawling as his mace rolled out of his grip.
Eraqus backed away with slow, cautious steps, watching his enemy intently as magic flowed through his fingers. The knight remained motionless, but the Master did not receive any souls after the fight.
Eraqus prepared to cast another spell, to make sure his opponent died.
Suddenly, the knight's right hand moved at blinding speed, grabbing Eraqus by the torso and lifting him into the air in a crushing grip. The Master gritted his teeth in pain and effort, trying to free himself while his legs swung harmlessly.
The knight stood up, life returning to his body, but something else happened. The knight recovered his mace with his remaining hand, and simultaneously, the icy mist surrounding him intensified, freezing his surroundings.
Eraqus stiffened for a moment, feeling the cold hit his body; unfortunately, this was only a fraction of what the knight could do. The knight took a deep breath and blew a freezing blue mist towards the man trapped in his grip.
The Master shivered, his body temperature dropping rapidly as his teeth clacked and he lost feeling in his extremities. Ice crystals formed on Eraqus' skin as the color faded from his flesh, but soon the Master found himself flying away again with a throw from the knight.
Eraqus landed in the center of the chamber but suffered a less painful fall than before, probably due to the cold clouding his senses. The Master stood up with difficulty, his body seeming to weigh a ton as the ice slowed his movements.
Eventually, Eraqus managed to stand up, only to come face to face with the knight charging at him like a furious bull. Eraqus could not tell what had happened, as he soon found himself in the air and saw the chamber upside down, with the ground coming closer and closer.
The impact proved more painful than the previous one, Eraqus felt some bones breaking and blood dripping from his mouth and nose, but he did not have time to reorient himself, as the knight was already turning around and preparing to hit the Master again.
The thundering footsteps and tremors came closer. Eraqus tried to move away, but his body would not obey him properly, and he soon found himself overwhelmed by absurd pain.
Eraqus' vision darkened shortly as the ground disappeared beneath his feet, but the Master soon found himself on his back on the ground with an audible thud.
Eraqus discovered that he could not move. All sensation in his body disappeared, except for the sharp pain in his chest. The Master raised his head with difficulty, trying to focus on the blur in front of him, although the incessant banging already revealed what awaited him.
The Master refused to accept defeat and tried to get up. Cast a spell, draw his weapon, anything, but there was nothing he could do. Just scream in denial in his mind.
The knight closing the distance and the mace approaching his face was the last thing the master saw before everything went dark.
"GASP!"
Eraqus awoke begging for air, breathing heavily with his chest burning as his widened eyes scanned his surroundings. The Master stood up quickly, assuming a fighting stance with scimitar and shield raised.
Confusion washed over his face as he realized he no longer stood in a dark chamber with a monstrous knight trying to crush him, but next to the last bonfire, he had rested by.
The Master took a deep breath, sheathing his weapon, trying to calm down and process the situation. He had perished again, he was sure of it, but he had awoken in a familiar location instead of a stone coffin.
However, Eraquss eyes widened again as he looked down at his hands, for he saw two dark, slender, and withered limbs. Holding his shield in front of his face, Eraqus saw a decrepit creature staring back at him, similar to the beings he had faced before.
This was too much, Eraqus felt his mind becoming lighter and the world spinning around him, so the Master touched the bonfire in his surroundings, transporting himself far away in search of answers before his consciousness disappeared.
"Ashen one, please wake up." A soft, gentle voice spoke. "There is still so much to do."
"Hump! Has he already become hollow? Nothing new then." A second voice spoke with disdain.
"You have no right to speak such words. Why don't you leave the sanctuary and try to do better?" A third voice spoke sarcastically, rebuking the second.
As Eraqus regained his senses, the world slowly came into focus. He found himself surrounded by several of the shrine's inhabitants, all gazing at him with varying degrees of concern and curiosity. Ludleth remained on his throne, observing the scene with mild interest.
"Ashen one, how do you feel?" the Firekeeper asked politely, crouching down next to Eraqus. Her blindfolded eyes seemed to see right through him, filled with genuine concern.
"I feel like a train has hit me." Eraqus replied groggily, holding his forehead with a pained face and standing up with difficulty.
"I don't know of such a creature, but this 'train' must be a formidable enemy to compare with the one that left you in such a state." The Firekeeper commented, causing Eraqus to stop and laugh for a second, much to the Keeper's confusion.
"Well, well, well, you're back early. Tell me, how was your first expedition to the High-Wall?" Ludleth asked curiously, his voice tinged with genuine interest.
"It was terrible, like everything since I arrived in these lands," Eraqus replied, brushing the dust and ashes off his clothes with a weary sigh. "Hollows of all kinds attacked me, there was a massive dragon that was ready to make me its latest meal, and I faced a monstrous knight who acted like a crazed beast. That's why I had to return."
"Hm... I see you've found Vordt of the Boreal Valley," Ludleth mused, nodding slowly. "That creature is far from a knight, being more like a rabid beast. It's one of the main obstacles you'll have to face to continue on your journey."
"Hump! So it looks like it'll be a while before I reach my goal," Eraqus grumbled, frustration evident in his tone. "My fight against Vordt was less than exemplary as you can no doubt guess."
"You headed for the first fog gate you came across, didn't you?" Ludleth's eyes twinkled with knowing amusement. "You made the most common mistake that all newcomers make—focusing only on what is in front of you instead of searching for resources and easing your journey. Tell me, why don't you explore the land? Expand your arsenal, collect souls to strengthen yourself, and make allies. After all, nobody said you had to fight alone."
Eraqus remained silent, contemplating Ludleth's words. He mentally scolded himself for his rashness, realizing that he had approached his situation as if he were still a student under his Master, rather than the seasoned Keyblade wielder he had become.
"You... You're right..." Eraqus sighed in defeat, acknowledging the wisdom in Ludleth's advice.
"I'm glad that you are willing to learn from your mistakes," Ludleth said with a reassuring smile. "That willingness is your greatest weapon against the challenges that come your way. But with that matter settled, I suggest you reverse your condition before the curse consumes you further."
Eraqus looked down at himself, noticing the creeping signs of the curse on his skin. The telltale signs of hollowing were beginning to take hold, a grim reminder of the fate that awaited him if he did not act quickly.
"That's something I'd like to discuss. Is this the effect of the curse?" Eraqus asked, approaching with open arms, his voice tinged with clear concern.
"Correct," Ludleth responded, his tone turning grave. "You have entered the first stage of hollowing. Your appearance will deteriorate further with each death, and soon after, your mind will follow. Eventually, you will become just another lunatic wandering the realm, attacking everything in your path."
Eraqus frowned, the weight of Ludleth's words sinking in. The thought of losing himself completely, of becoming one of the very creatures he fought against, was a nightmarish prospect.
"But there is a way to reverse this state," Ludleth continued, his voice steady and clear. "You can use Purge Stones to cleanse yourself of the hollowing. If you can find one, of course."
"Where would I find such a stone?" Eraqus asked, his determination rekindled by the possibility of a cure.
"They are rare and often guarded by formidable foes or hidden in treacherous locations," Ludleth explained. "You will need to be prepared to face great challenges to obtain one. However, the Firekeeper may also have the means to assist you in maintaining your humanity. Speak with her about it, and she may offer guidance or aid in your quest."
"Anything you need in that regard, I will do my best to support you." The Firekeeper confirmed, clasping both of her hands in front of her.
Eraqus nodded in gratitude, absorbing the information.
"I... thank you for the information," Eraqus replied, a hint of embarrassment coloring his tone. "However, there is something I would like to ask. Is there a place where I can store the items I find during my journey? My pockets are full."
"Hm... You could try the Handmaid. She must have a Bottomless Box for sale," the Firekeeper suggested lightly.
"Bottomless Box? What is that?" Eraqus asked, curiosity piqued, fully turning to the pale blonde.
"It is a magical artifact with unlimited storage, but with the appearance of a small jewelry box," the Firekeeper explained.
"Thank you both for the wealth of knowledge," Eraqus replied, bowing politely. "I need some time to reorganize my thoughts, but I'll return to the High Wall soon."
"There's nothing to thank me for. After all, I'm here to serve you," the blind folded woman responded, returning the bow, easily showing far more grace.
Ludleth, in his familiar disinterested tone, added, "Don't waste time thanking me. You still have a lot to do, but don't pass away too soon. I can't remember the last time I talked to someone so much."
With a final farewell, Eraqus walked towards the Handmaid, only to make an unfortunate discovery.
"Oh, it seems you don't have any souls to pay me!" The Servant teased the Keyblade Master.
"How is that possible? I'm sure I acquired more souls during my expedition on the High-Wall!" Eraqus exclaimed, making the Handmaid laugh at his frustration.
"But you perished, didn't you? Your appearance says it all. Cursed undead lose all their unused souls when they die, but don't despair, they're waiting for you at your place of death." She explained with an amused smirk.
Eraqus adopted an impassive expression, the weight of the information settling heavily upon him. He remained silent as he recalled the formidable knight awaiting him in the chamber where his souls remained.
"I won't get my souls back any time soon. I'll return when I have the amount needed to pay you," Eraqus sighed wearily.
"Hehe! Do as you wish, and come back often. I don't have many customers around here," the Handmaid replied, her laughter following him as he walked away.
Eraqus ignored the Handmaid's more mocking comments and headed towards Andre, finding the old blacksmith polishing a shield. The sound of metal against metal filled the air, a stark contrast to the Handmaid's mocking laughter. Andre turned around, a smile spreading across his face upon seeing Eraqus' reflection in the polished surface.
"You're back early, and not of your own volition," Andre commented, frowning as he took in Eraqus' new appearance.
Eraqus nodded, the weight of his recent failure heavy on his shoulders. "It seems I've much to learn about these lands. The High Wall has proven to be a truly treacherous place."
Andre's expression softened, his experienced eyes full of understanding. "Well, I won't force you to talk, becoming hollow is a sensitive subject. But I believe you want my services since you're here." The blacksmith said, walking over to his anvil.
"Not exactly," Eraqus replied, the embarrassment from before creeping up again. "I…lost all the souls I possessed, so I can't pay you for your work. However, I found some strange stones during my exploration and was hoping for some information about them." He removed the stones with divine energy and the golden shard from his pockets, placing them on the nearby table.
Andre picked up the stones, examining them with a keen eye. "You can consider yourself lucky with your finds. The dark stones are called titanite, also known as the metal of the gods. I can use them to upgrade weapons, shields, and armor. But for advanced upgrades, you'll need better stones. As for the shiny fragment, that's an Estus shard. Hand me your flask, and I'll improve it for you," Andre replied, holding out his hand.
Eraqus did as the blacksmith asked, watching as Andre placed the Estus flask on the anvil. Holding the shard in one hand and his blacksmith's hammer in the other, Andre positioned the fragment on top of the flask and prepared to hammer away.
The Master was about to shout for Andre to stop before he destroyed the flask, but the blacksmith acted faster, hitting the shard with a powerful hammer blow.
Eraqus expected to hear glass shattering, however, a strong golden light consumed the forge and an orange liquid flowed from the shard towards the flask below after Andre's blow.
"All done." Andre replied, handing the flask back to the dumbfounded Master as he threw away the fragment that had lost its luster and crumbled into dust.
"I... I don't know what to say." Eraqus murmured, holding the vial in front of his face and feeling the magic emanating from it.
"A thank you is enough, and your startled face was adequate payment. It's been a long time since I surprised someone like that." Andre laughed, giving Eraqus a friendly slap on the back, causing him to stumble slightly.
Eraqus laughed back and thanked the blacksmith, leaving the forge and preparing to do as Ludleth suggested. Explore, maybe he should start at the shrine?
Eraqus regretted his decisions, for not five minutes had passed since he left the inner shrine to find himself in a fight. Specifically against a hollow wearing rags and carrying a katana-like weapon.
The Master preferred not to waste time and take risks with an unnecessary fight and cast a spell repeatedly, finishing off his opponent straight away.
"Fire!"
Fireballs bombarded the hollow, reducing its form to ashes and sending its souls toward Eraqus.
The Master mentally celebrated getting more souls, enough to pay for the bottomless box but frowned as he realized how easy it was to steal the soul of another living being.
It should not be so easy; he would never do it if he had the option. Unfortunately, the curse forced him to commit such an atrocity.
Dispelling these thoughts before they got out of hand, Eraqus collected the katana left by the hollow and returned to the shrine, buying the bottomless box for half the souls recently acquired, hanging it on his belt, and storing away the scimitar, preferring to keep the katana.
Andre's forge was the next stop, where the blacksmith revealed that the Master's new weapon was called Uchigatana, and enhanced the blade with titanite in exchange for a few souls.
With that done, Eraqus walked towards the bonfire and returned to the High-Wall.
The master stepped out of the bonfire at the top of the tower and surveyed his surroundings thoughtfully.
"Let's see if I can find anything useful among all the ruins." Eraqus commented to himself, descending the tower stairs and taking a different route from the previous one, where he found another hollow, this time wielding a halberd and blocking a door.
Eraqus defeated his enemy easily, stepping aside at just the right moment to dodge the halberd's blade, and unleashing a series of swift slashes across his opponent's chest.
Passing through the door, Eraqus entered a room with some hollows, quickly dispatching them, and descending another staircase, arriving in another room, with someone locked in a cell.
"Ahh, you're not a jailer, are you? No, no, you are from far away. In addition, judging by the bell... you must be one of those unkindled ones. Would you mind freeing me?" The short, thin hooded man in the cell spoke upon noticing Eraqus' arrival.
The Master approached the cell, keeping a safe distance, and examined its resident. Eraqus hesitated at the man's request, as there was always a good reason for someone to stay in a cell, most of the time.
However, the prisoner was the first rational person Eraqus had met within the High-Wall, which filled him with relief and piqued his curiosity.
"Tell me, why should I release you?" Eraqus asked, stepping back as the prisoner stood up and approached the bars, showing something resting in the palm of his hand.
"Below the Wall is a musty little town. It is not home to any lords, just an old undead settlement. An old woman, Loretta, lives there. I need to give her this ring, but if you don't wish to free me, then could you at least do me the favor?" The prisoner asked, revealing a ring adorned with a clear blue stone.
"What guarantee can you give me that you're not trying to trick me just to attack me when I have my back turned?" Eraqus asked again, only for the prisoner's desperate tone to surprise him.
"Please give her that ring. I am not asking for charity. If you do this for me... I will repay you in the same way. I may be a petty thief, but I have more intelligence than most members of royalty do. What do you think, then?" The prisoner begged, reaching through the bars with the ring.
Eraqus remained silent, wondering whether this man deserved to remain imprisoned or not. On one hand, his words could be nothing but lies and this prisoner was a monster in human skin playing innocent.
On the other hand, his desperation was genuine, whoever Loretta was, this woman seemed to be important to him, and besides, the wall was full of creatures, leaving this man here to perish would become a burden on his conscience.
Sighing, Eraqus looked at the lock and remembered the key he had found earlier. Seeing no harm in trying, Eraqus removed the key from his box and placed it in the lock, nodding in approval when it turned without resistance.
The prisoner stumbled forward slightly with the sudden opening of the cell door but regained his balance as soon as Eraqus held him by the shoulder.
"I'll give the ring to Loretta; just don't give me a reason to regret my choice." Eraqus replied, holding out his hand and accepting the ring, much to the prisoner's surprise.
"Very well. I humbly place my faith in you. I am Greirat, of the Undead Settlement, and I promise to help you. Give this ring to old Loretta at the base of the Wall... You do your part, and I'll do mine." Greirat muttered in disbelief.
"My name is Eraqus, and it's a pleasure to meet you Greirat. I'll do my best to deliver the ring to Loretta; I just hope I can count on your help in the future." Eraqus replied with a slight smile before turning away and returning to his exploration of the High-Wall, hearing Greirat's thanks echoing off the walls.
Eraqus leapt down to the lower area of the building, beyond the section of the wall guarded by the flame-spitting dragon. He landed with a thud in what appeared to be an abandoned kitchen or canteen, its darkened corners filled with the remnants of a forgotten past.
Dust swirled around him as he straightened up, his eyes quickly scanning the room. Amidst the debris and broken furniture, a large wooden chest caught his attention.
The Master approached the chest cautiously, his heart pounding in his chest. He grasped the lid with both hands, anticipation and wariness intertwining as he lifted it open—Only to be met with a horrific sight.
A long, slimy tongue shot out, followed by rows of jagged, razor-sharp teeth. The chest was no ordinary container; it was a mimic, a monstrous creature lying in wait for the unwary.
Before Eraqus could react, two long, skeletal arms burst forth from the chest, their bony fingers wrapping around his sides with a vice-like grip. The mimic pulled him closer, its grotesque mouth gaping wide, ready to consume him whole.
A scream of sheer agony tore from Eraqus's throat as the mimic's teeth sank into his flesh, ripping and tearing with every bite. Pain surged through him, each gnawing bite sending shockwaves of torment through his body. Blood splattered the floor, and his vision blurred, the edges darkening as the mimic continued its relentless feast.
The agony seemed endless, an excruciating eternity of suffering. Eraqus's screams echoed off the walls, but there was no one to hear his cries. The mimic's jaws closed in a particularly vicious bite to his head, and with a final, searing burst of pain, his world plunged into darkness once again.
"GASP!"
Eraqus leaped to his feet with a gasp, searching his body quickly for wounds, but stopped when he realized he stood near the bonfire on the tower again.
The Master took a deep breath, shaking vigorously with anger burning in his chest. He closed both fists with the nails sinking into his flesh, then raised both hands and lowered them slowly, reciting a mantra in his mind.
"Let's try again." Eraqus muttered, returning to the room where he had found the creature.
"You damned beast, do I look like food to you?!?" Eraqus exclaimed in fury, landing in front of the chest and conjuring a fireball towards it.
The creature squealed in pain, taking on a humanoid form with a torso and legs similar to its arms extending from the sides of its chest head. However, Eraqus' bombardment of spells prevented the creature from getting any closer, with ice and lightning joining the flames that enveloped its body.
Soon the creature perished, leaving behind an ax shrouded in a strange dark aura. Eraqus frowned as he held the weapon, feeling the dense, heavy darkness that enveloped it. Something so dangerous could not be left alone.
The Master put the weapon away in its box, planning to get rid of it in the future. If the weight he felt on the weapon was only a fraction of the darkness this world could generate, then he feared what the Age of Dark would bring.
Before long, Eraqus pressed on with his exploration, navigating through the labyrinthine corridors and treacherous pathways of the High Wall. He discovered a shortcut that ascended swiftly via a creaking lift, and then proceeded down a staircase opposite to where Vordt had reigned.
Along the way, he dispatched the hollow knights that barred his path, their twisted forms falling beneath his blade until he reached a vast chamber.
The room exuded an air of faded grandeur, despite its dark and dusty corners. Adorned with tattered flags, moth-eaten curtains, ancient statues, and chandeliers barely holding onto their crystals, it whispered tales of a bygone opulence.
At the far end, seated in a high-backed chair beside flickering candles, sat a figure shrouded in dark red robes adorned with faded gold.
"Ahh, the wait has been long, Unkindled One," spoke the figure, her voice carrying an air of weary authority. "I am Emma, High Priestess of Lothric Castle." Her voice beckoned Eraqus forward, a gesture of invitation amidst the solemn stillness of the chamber.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Emma. My name is Eraqus, the unfortunate new Unkindled on this journey for the Lords of Cinder," Eraqus responded, a faint chuckle attempting to dispel the somber atmosphere of destruction and ruin that surrounded him.
"Allow me to speak frankly: you will not find the Lords here. They have departed for their thrones, which converge at the base of this castle," Emma replied, her demeanor betraying a keen interest.
"I was informed of the same by the inhabitants of the shrine. I attempted to leave the castle, only to be blocked by the monstrous knight," Eraqus replied, his gaze instinctively shifting towards the entrance as if expecting the knight to storm in at any moment.
"Ah, so you've encountered the vile guard dog of the Boreal Valley. To reach the Lords, you must first defeat him. Even then, leaving the castle will not be possible without this," Emma spoke, presenting Eraqus with a small, weathered white flag adorned with a black circle at its center.
Accepting the flag with a nod of gratitude, Eraqus listened attentively as Emma continued her explanation, his fingers tracing the contours of the object in his grasp.
"These banners were carried by messengers from Lothric. Raise it outside the castle's main gate, and you shall be escorted to the Undead Settlement."
"Thank you for the guidance and information, Emma. However, I do not intend to leave the castle just yet. I am not prepared to face Vordt again," Eraqus replied sincerely, stowing the flag away carefully in his belongings.
"Take all the time you need. But before you depart, I have a parting gift for you. It is the insignia of an ancient alliance. Should you fear invaders—dark spirits drawn to the embers—inscribe this in your heart. The ancient covenant will summon the noble Blue Sentinels to purge these foul spirits," Emma explained, presenting Eraqus with a piece of fabric adorned with a blue moon motif.
"Invaders? What manner of beings are these?" Eraqus inquired, running his fingers over the embroidered design and feeling a faint surge of magic within the cloth.
"They are beings from another realm, thirsting for embers, easily identified by their vivid red hue. Do not hesitate to seek aid if they prove too formidable," Emma cautioned.
With a nod of understanding and a final farewell, Eraqus carefully stowed the artifact alongside the flag before departing the chamber. With his immediate tasks fulfilled, the Master resigned himself to spending the remainder of the day vanquishing hollows and creatures alike, gathering souls to fortify himself for the trials ahead.
With one final strike, Eraqus felled the hollow knight before him, its form crumpling near the fountain surrounded by fallen bodies. Wiping the sweat from his brow, the Master surveyed the array of hollows scattered around, each bearing various sizes and armaments.
His efforts reaped rewards: amidst the souls gathered, Eraqus collected new weapons, shards of titanite, and pieces of armor salvaged from defeated knights—gauntlets, leggings, and other useful items like firebombs, bones, and throwing knives.
With no immediate threats in sight, Eraqus made a decision to return to the shrine, intending to mend his equipment and further fortify himself. As he moved towards the lift, however, his steps halted abruptly upon noticing a new figure near the stairs leading to Vordt's domain.
It was one of the enigmatic hooded beings adorned with a chained shell on its back, yet unlike the others, this one stood alive, fixing its gaze upon him while leaning on a staff.
"Greetings, shining one. I am Yoel from Londor. Might we speak for a moment?"
END OF CHAPTER