There is a discord for this fic. It has Live Updates about chapter progress and when they are completed, among other things. I'm also very active there and am likely to respond to any message sent there. Join at discord.gg/aWZ9qX9mAW
Glory to my Proofreader: Solare. For he is one who points out mistakes and acts as my favourite wall to bounce ideas off of.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tarnished stepped out of the Bestial Sanctum, the heavy stone door groaning shut behind him. The Black Blade Kindred stood at the side of the steps, nodding solemnly in parting as Tarnished passed. Ahead, Melina waited with her hands folded neatly in front of her, eyes scanning the horizon.
"So then, where to next?" She asked, her tone calm but laced with expectation.
Tarnished exhaled through his nose, shaking out his shoulders to loosen up his muscles after some time working them to learn some of Maliketh's bestial magics. Or was it more accurate to say it was Gurranq's magics?
He wasn't sure.
"We've wasted more than enough time in this shithole of a realm." He muttered, looking up towards the sky and watching the sun begin to set. "Looks like we only got a few more hours of daylight anyways. Let's just go grab the fixed Unalloyed Gold Needle and save Millicent, then get the hell out of here."
Melina furrowed her brows slightly. "I've been meaning to ask when we met that old sorcerer, Gowry. Who is Millicent, exactly?"
From within, Marika echoed the question with amused curiosity, "Indeed, mine curiosity is piqued. Who is she?"
"I'd rather not spoil it just yet." Tarnished replied, smirking as he turned to face his patron Goddess and wagged a finger at her. "No peeking inside my head either, you'll ruin the reveal."
Marika raised a golden brow, a faint smirk playing across her lips. "Very well. I shall play thy game… for now. But this had better be worth the suspense."
Tarnished chuckled darkly. "Oh, trust me… The payoff is huge."
Melina groaned under her breath. "That laugh is never a good sign…"
"Come on~! Give me a little credit, will ya?" he said as he offered her his hand.
She placed hers into his.
"No." She said flatly.
Before he could quip back, the golden light of Marika's Grace enveloped them both, whisking them away in a radiant shimmer.
They reappeared at the Heart of Aeonia, the air immediately thick with rot and the stench of death.
Melina recoiled and covered her nose. "Did we really have to teleport here, of all places?"
"I don't like it much either," Tarnished muttered, pulling his collar up. "But it's the closest place to Gowry's. Let's just get it over with."
As they walked toward the decrepit shack, Tarnished pulled up his stat menu, scanning his status absentmindedly.
[STATS PAGE – Rune Level 34 | Radagon's Soreseal Equipped]
Name: John Elden Ring
Class: Samurai
Race: Progenitor of the Dracúl Aeternum
Talisman: Radagon's Soreseal - __
Burden: Medium
Spells: Flame, Grant Me Strength - Bestial Vitality - Stone of Gurranq - __
Level: 34
Vigor: 46 "Oh? Look at thee, finally built like someone who doesn't explode on impact. A true walking fortress, or a very well-dressed boulder."
Mind: 29 "Impressive. Thou might even cast two whole spells without crying for mana. A miracle worthy of documentation."
Endurance: 44 "At last! Stamina worth more than a common mule. Perhaps now thou shalt stop wheezing like a nobleman after mild exertion."
Strength: 41 "So brutish now. Doth thou intend to lift entire buildings next? Or just punch the world into compliance?"
Dexterity: 44 "Elegant and deadly. Yet somehow, I suspect thou still manages to get stuck on furniture. Consistency is thy true stat."
Intelligence: 9 "...Still tragically untouched. A number so low, it echoes when one knocks on thy skull."
Faith: 36 "Thy growing piety is almost respectable. Almost. Try not to set thyself alight by accident."
Arcane: 26 "Curious, aren't we? Just be sure thou doth not pry too deep. Some secrets do bite back."
"Huh…" He muttered under his breath, something odd catching his eye.
"What is it?" Marika asked.
"I've got another open slot for a talisman. But I never picked up another talisman pouch."
Marika chuckled and reclined slightly on a conjured cloud of Grace. "And what thinkest thou the pouches do, mine champion? They merely act as conduits, arcane buffers, if you will. Most souls are too frail to carry such power unaided."
She leaned forward, golden eyes gleaming with something akin to pride. "But thou art no mere soul. Thy essence, thy very self, hath grown strong. Stronger than most mortals could ever dream. Whether from mine blessings or thy draconic heritage, thou needest no pouch to handle the burden of a single talisman. Thy soul hath transcended the need."
Tarnished glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers in awe. After all, if what she was saying was true. Then it meant he could grow strong enough to use as many talismans as he wished, provided he devoured enough Dragon Hearts to facilitate such gains.
And who knew just how far he could push the limits of his new body with such freedom?
"Yet again, I find myself nigh stupefied." Marika mused. "Perhaps thou wert right to embrace Dragon Communion. Its fruits are… undeniable."
He grinned, glad that he had won his side of the argument without even meaning to. Melina glanced at him.
"What did she say?" She asked.
He relayed the revelation. Her eyes widened slightly.
"Perhaps my… mother… is right." She admitted, bringing her hands together as she once again tested how the word felt in her mouth. It still felt off, like her heart wasn't completely in it yet. "The benefits of your communion have, so far, outmatched the risks."
She paused suddenly, her voice softening. "However…"
He turned to look at her, sensing the shift.
"Thou must not grow complacent. There may yet be hidden side effects to this… evolution. Ones we cannot predict."
She stepped in front of him, gently taking his hand into hers, her gaze locked to his with rare vulnerability.
"Promise me you will remain cautious. Please."
He blinked, surprised by her intensity, then nodded while squeezing her hand firmly.
"I will. I promise."
Relief flooded her features. A soft blush dusted her cheeks as she whispered, "Thank you."
"Hehe~... of course~!" he replied with a lopsided grin.
She looked away, the blush deepening as she pulled her hands back. "Let go of my hands."
"What, embarrassed?" He teased with a crooked smile. "Do you like me or somethi-?"
She cut him off with a sharp punch to the gut. Air rushed from his lungs in a surprised wheeze as he staggered back, laughing between gasps.
"Okay, okay! Deserved that one! Hah… you're getting stronger with those right hooks…"
Melina folded her arms and rolled her eyes. "Someone must teach you a lesson…"
"If you say so, Tsundere…" He muttered under his breath too softly for her to hear, rubbing his chestplate's abdomen to try to ease the phantom pain.
Tarnished sighed as he swiped a hand through the air, bringing up his system interface and flipping quickly to the Talismans tab. Without a second thought, he slotted in the Green Turtle Talisman. Instantly, he felt a rush of energy flood his veins. The phantom ache from Melina's earlier punch vanished in a heartbeat, replaced with the invigorating strength of enhanced stamina recovery.
He smirked contentedly at the sensation and began walking faster, leaving Melina to sigh and follow after him with practiced patience.
After a minute of walking, they reached Gowry's shack. The old sorcerer was hunched over a worn desk inside, his thin back turned as he worked on something with focused intent.
Tarnished called out, "Hey, you done yet?"
Gowry flinched slightly at the sudden voice but turned around quickly. His face brightened at the sight of them.
"Yes, yes! I'm very nearly finished! Just a moment longer to complete the final touches!"
Melina smiled gently. "Take thy time, good sorcerer."
Gowry nodded appreciatively and returned to his work with renewed focus.
Tarnished stepped back and took a moment to glance around the cramped hut. His eyes landed on the monstrous, grotesque dog sitting obediently in the corner, still as a statue.
"Mine champion… what art thou pondering?" Marika's amused voice echoed in his mind. "Surely thou dost not wish to touch that filthy, mangy mutt?"
"…No." Tarnished replied a little too quickly, eyes still locked on the beast.
"If thou sayest so, mine champion~" Marika teased, her tone light with mirth.
A few moments passed in relative quiet until Gowry gave a small sigh of relief. He turned and gestured them over.
"It is nearly finished." He said with a chuckle.
As Tarnished and Melina stepped forward, they heard him laugh again softly under his breath.
Tarnished raised an eyebrow. "What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing." Gowry said with a quiet chuckle. "It's just… do you not find it peculiar, I wonder? That I would show such concern for the girl?"
Tarnished smirked. "Well, I assume she's someone important to you. Your daughter, maybe?"
Gowry laughed lightly as he reached for a delicate tool on the desk. "You are correct indeed, brave knight. She is one of my dear daughters. I found her as but a mere babe, in the swamp of Aeonia…"
"But…" His voice softened, the final words barely audible. "...The rotting sickness erodes one's memory. I doubt she remembers the first thing about me."
A quiet fell over the room. The statement was tragic, but Gowry carried no bitterness in his tone.
"And despite that…" Melina said softly, her voice touched with disbelief, "...thou wouldst still go this far? Even though she remembers thee not and wouldn't know what thou hast done for her?"
Gowry smiled. "What father would need a reason to help and protect his children?"
That line struck all of them, especially Marika. Her usual poised expression faltered, her golden gaze dimmed.
"Yes… I suppose you wouldn't." She whispered, and though she said it softly, Tarnished could hear the guilt buried in her voice.
'Marika…' Tarnished spoke mentally.
"…Yes, mine champion?"
'Listen, I'm not gonna lie to you or sugarcoat it by saying it wasn't your fault entirely. You weren't the best mother. That much is obvious.'
She sighed, leaning forward and resting her head upon her delicate hand. "Stating the obvious, are we?"
'But that doesn't mean you can't try to do better.'
There was a pause before she responded. "I… I know not where to even begin…"
Tarnished turned slightly toward her and subtly gestured toward Melina, who stood a few feet away, her hands folded in front of her, her gaze distant and thoughtful. 'Start with her. The one child you seem to have screwed up the least, mainly because you weren't around to mess her up in the first place.'
"...Ouch."
'Sorry, but being blunt's kind of my thing. You have to face what you've done if you ever want to fix it.'
Marika gave a dry, self-deprecating laugh. "Mayhaps thou speakest more wisely than I'd like to admit…"
She looked over at Melina, quietly taking in her daughter's expression, perhaps searching for a path forward.
"Ah! It is finally done!" Gowry cried out suddenly, drawing their attention.
He turned, holding the needle out with reverence. The Unalloyed Gold Needle, now restored, pulsed with faint divine energy, etched runes glowing faintly along its small frame.
"The needle is repaired. Now it will forestall the rotting sickness, I am sure of it." The old sorcerer explained with a small smile. "Will you please give it to the girl, Millicent? I will be forever grateful… and reward you in kind."
Tarnished nodded, smiling softly. "Of course. It'd be my pleasure."
"My thanks! A thousand thanks!" Gowry exclaimed, beaming as Tarnished took the needle into his hands.
He sat down in his chair again and looked at them thoughtfully.
"I would ask your reasons behind helping me with so little in return." He said, rubbing his beard. "But in my old age, I've learned not to question the will of providence."
He gave a dry chuckle. "If it is your fate to guide my darling flower to her bloom, then so be it. Who am I to stand in the way of fate?"
Gowry gestured up the slope behind his shack. "She rests at the church atop the cliff, beyond Sellia. Cared for, if one can call it that, by the witless pests who worship her rot as divine. A cruel, twisted fate. She never asked for any of this."
Tarnished nodded firmly, slipping the needle into his inventory for safekeeping. "We'll get it to her. We'll save her. I promise."
"Hah… Thank you, brave knight." Gowry exhaled, his voice full of quiet, aging hope.
Before they could take even a step away from the shack, Gowry called out to them once more, raising a hand.
"Ah, one last thing before you go. If you wish to bypass the magical seals within Sellia… you'll need to light three braziers atop three towers scattered through the town," he said, his voice low and conspiratorial. "Only then shall the wards be broken."
Melina offered a respectful nod. "Our thanks for the guidance."
Tarnished raised a hand with a casual wave, nodding as well. "Appreciate it," he said, pretending to take the advice to heart, despite already knowing this little trick from experience.
Together, the two of them turned from Gowry's shack and began their steady march toward Sellia, Town of Sorcery, each step taking them closer to its crumbling archways and forgotten magics.
As they approached the weather-worn gate, the town came into view. Eerie blue light danced across its ruined streets, projections of Carian mages drifting between shattered buildings like ghosts of the past. The faint shimmer of warded seals glowed in the distance, flickering ominously.
Tarnished sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "Gods, I forgot how annoying this was gonna be…"
Melina took a moment to scan the skyline, eyes tracking the towers hidden amongst the ruins.
"This place resembles a fortress," she murmured. "Where shall we begin? I doubt it shall be easy to reach any one of those towers unchallenged."
He hummed thoughtfully, bringing a hand to his chin. "Give me a sec to think."
Beside him, Marika shimmered into view in a flicker of golden light, arms crossed as her piercing gaze swept over the decaying town.
"This place… this town of sorcery… it descendeth from Nokron and Nokstella, doth it not?"
Tarnished glanced at her with a raised brow. 'Now that you mention it… I do faintly remember Gowry talking about that. How'd you know?'
"Their particular brand of sorcery leaves a trail," she replied, placing a hand upon her chest. "A scent, of sorts. Subtle to most, but not to one as attuned to magic as I. After so long immersed in its depths, sensing entrenched arcane fields becometh instinct."
He grunted in amusement. "That makes sense. But judging from your tone… you don't seem to hate them. Didn't you and your Order, y'know, wipe them off the face of the Lands Between?"
Marika chuckled softly.
"Aye, a necessary evil. I bore them no personal hatred. But the Greater Will, or rather the Elden Beast… did not look kindly upon their ambition to birth a 'God of Night.' They had succeeded in ways unknown even to mineself, as their machinations stretched even before my rise to power. Eventually, I was… instructed to 'deal' with them."
She exhaled, voice growing sharp with sarcasm.
"The war was swift. Once we laid down the spatial anchors, the Elden Beast exacted its 'divine judgment'..."
Tarnished tilted his head. "Which was?"
"It struck them down, literally." Her eyes gleamed faintly. "The cities of Nokron and Nokstella were buried beneath the earth, entombed far from the Erdtree's light. Crude… but effective."
"Huh… So basically, if the Elden Beast can't see a problem, it doesn't exist." Tarnished muttered, a bead of sweat trailing down the side of his head.
"Aye. Control-obsessed, yet woefully simplistic in execution." Her smile faltered, thoughts clearly drifting. "Like casting one into a golden tree for eternity… Miserable. But simple."
"You can say that again…" He muttered, his eyebrow twitching with bewilderment.
Tarnished paused, looking up at the cursed town ahead. Then, with a sharp clap of his hands, he broke the silence.
"Alright! I've got a route planned. Let's get through this place, light the damn braziers, break the seals. Oh, and rob them blind while we're at it!" He explained cheerfully.
Melina blinked and let out a long-suffering sigh. "Must we indulge in the last part?"
"Absolutely! It's half the fun!" He exclaimed with a wide grin.
Marika chuckled. "This ought to be… Entertaining."
Tarnished glanced around, then abruptly spoke into the air. "Hmm… Actually, nah. I doubt the readers wanna sit through half a chapter of us running around lighting torches and collecting loot they've already seen before."
Melina blinked slowly. "…Who and the what?"
Marika tilted her head. "Pardon… Whom art thou speaking to?"
He just smirked and waved a hand dismissively. "Nobody important. Let's just skip to the good part."
…
10 Minutes Later…
Tarnished and Melina stepped through the now-opened gate, watching as the glowing remnants of the magical seal flickered and scattered into the wind like dying embers. The cursed lock that had once barred their path had been undone, Sellia's defenses, at least the arcane ones, were broken.
Tarnished glanced down and swiped at the air, pulling up his system notifications with a satisfied hum.
[Item Acquired: Stonesword Key ×1]
[Item Acquired: Imbued Sword Key ×1]
[Item Acquired: Ash of War – Double Slash]
[Item Acquired: Night Comet Sorcery Scroll]
[Item Acquired: Spelldrake Talisman +1]
[Item Acquired: Staff of Loss]
[Item Acquired: Golden Seed ×1]
He smirked in satisfaction before swiping to dismiss the notifications.
"Hrm. Doth thou plan to use those night sorceries?" Marika asked, her voice echoing in his mind with curiosity, though laced with faint disapproval.
"I harbor no particular disdain for them, but… sorceries in general are a poor investment of thy focus. Raise thy Faith, and I shall teach thee incantations far beyond the paltry spells thou hast learned thus far."
Tarnished chuckled. "I'll dabble in sorcery… eventually. But first, I wanna beef myself up. Get the physical stats locked down before I start branching out."
"Hm. A solid foundation is a wise approach. I approve." Marika said, nodding proudly as she reclined back on her conjured cloud of grace.
Melina abruptly held out her arm in front of them, eyes narrowing.
"…Something's happening."
A glowing magic sigil appeared high up the hill, pulsing violently, then exploded with arcane force, summoning a massive wrecking ball that hurtled toward them with unnatural speed.
All three of them just stared at it for a second.
Tarnished and Melina casually stepped to the side, letting the wrecking ball rush past them and slam into the cliff behind them and erupt in a plume of glittering dust.
"...Fuckin' Looney Tunes ass defenses." Tarnished muttered, with a deadpan stare. "Why, Miyazaki. Why."
They continued their ascent up the mountain path, and the ruined church that Gowry mentioned finally came into view, perched precariously on the cliff's edge. But guarding the route, crawling along the rotten slope like overgrown parasites, were Kindreds of Rot.
Each was a nightmarish insectoid, flesh stretched over a chitinous carapace, their elongated limbs bent at unnatural angles. Sickly wings twitched behind their backs, slick with mucus and rot. Their bulbous heads split open to reveal twitching mandibles and gnashing teeth, dripping golden pus like honeyed poison.
"Ugh…" Marika recoiled at the sight of them, her hand rushing to cover her nose. "Ghastly, repugnant things. I already despise them."
"Yeah… not a fan either." Tarnished said with a grimace. "They somehow look worse in person."
Even Melina winced in disgust. "Can we get this over with? I've spent more time in Caelid than any person should ever be forced to endure."
"No." Marika said coldly. "Slay them. Leave none alive."
Tarnished grinned as he reached into his inventory and pulled out his Greatsword. "With pleasure."
He turned to Melina and passed along the message with a nod. "We're burning them. They're weak to fire, same as the rot they worship."
Melina gave a rare, fierce smile as she reached towards his Greatsword, flames licking at the tip of her fingers. "Perfect."
…
Tarnished pulled his greatsword free from the crushed remains of the last Kindred of Rot, the creature's bile and decay smearing the stone beneath it. The blessed flames Melina had granted him still danced faintly across the blade's edge, purifying rot and gore before it could cling. With a tired grunt, he flicked the sword clean and dismissed it into his inventory with a flourish.
"Ugh… Remind me to take a long, hot bath after this," he muttered as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Way ahead of you…" Melina replied dryly, brushing grime from her sleeves and sighing with similar exhaustion.
From her perch just above the two of them, Marika floated gently on her golden cloud of Grace, her lips curving into a delicate smile as she tucked a hand near her chin.
"I suppose the two of you deserve a respite after today. It hath indeed been… a most unpleasant journey."
"Tell me about it," Tarnished grunted, leading them into the crumbling, vine-choked ruins of the church atop the hill. What little remained standing was wrapped in the miasma of rot, save for the cracked and weather-worn statue of Marika at the end of the hall, its marble arms outstretched as if still clinging to divinity.
The stillness inside was broken only by a faint, pained moaning.
Tarnished paused.
"There," Melina whispered, pointing toward a slumped figure near the far wall. A young woman lay curled against the stone, her body trembling slightly as she tried to suppress the pain clawing through her veins.
She was thin, far too thin. Her skin was pale with a sickly hue, but her long, crimson hair fell like a curtain across her shoulders. Her right arm was little more than a warped, misshapen husk of bone and sinew, evidence of the Scarlet Rot's relentless advance.
Yet even in this broken state, there was a grace to her posture, a strength in her presence. Had she not been covered head to toe in dirt and debris, there was no doubt that she would have held a beauty and grace far that could take the heart of any mortal man.
"Nggh... Who's there…?" The girl rasped, her voice hoarse with pain.
Marika floated in closer, her expression shifting from bemusement to puzzlement as she observed the girl.
"This girl… she seems familiar…" She murmured, leaning forward to study her features more closely.
Tarnished tried and failed to suppress a grin.
"Well," he said lightly, "I'd hope she does."
Marika's golden eyes narrowed. "Explain."
"She's your granddaughter."
"...What."
He could practically hear the mental gears grinding to a halt inside her head. Melina glanced at him in alarm, unsure whether he was serious or just being his usual impossible self.
Tarnished folded his arms and let his grin stretch wide. "Yup. This girl right here, Millicent, is Malenia's daughter. One of five, from what I know."
The silence that followed was long, strained, and deeply awkward.
Marika stared at the girl. Then at him. Then back at the girl.
"…She is Malenia's fucking WHAT?!" Marika finally choked out, voice cracking with disbelief.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Note:
This next convo is gonna be quite fun :3
And before you ask, yes, he knows that Gowry is actually a bastard. He wants Marika to glean a lesson from his words and revealing that he's actually evil would rather take the wind out of his sails, no?
Anywho~ Stones, please.
…
Next Chapter Title: Leaving Hell, For Now.
…
If you want access to all my stockpiled chapters (16 chapters ahead) as well as special privileges on Discord among other things, you can go do so on my Patreon!
Join at patreon.com/Helios539