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"…She is Malenia's fucking WHAT?!"
Melina blinked at him in surprise; although she could only hear his side of their conversation, that alone was enough to shock her immensely. "Truly? Are you certain?"
"Quite." He confirmed simply, turning to face the still crumpled crimson haired, young woman on the ground. He left his 2 companions speechless for the moment and gave his attention to the girl he came to the ends of Hell itself to save.
Her body seemed to twitch and writhe with pain as she slowly opened her eyes and turned up to try to face the two of them. "What..? Who's there…?"
"Well… It matters not. If you are wise, you will leave immediately…" The young woman shifted her body to the side sloppily, barely moving enough to look at them. "My flesh writhes with scarlet rot. It is a curse. Not to be meddled with by man."
"Yeah, I know." Tarnished replied with a smirk, reaching into the void of his inventory to retrieve the Unalloyed Gold Needle. "We're here to help put an end to that."
He pulled his hand out of the void and held out the Unalloyed Gold Needle towards the young woman. "Here, take this and stab yourself with it. It will suppress the Scarlet Rot and quell your pain. Trust me."
She seemed to twitch at the promise of salvation, her tired features shifting to a wholly unfamiliar tone to her. "You claim the Needle will quell the Rot? But… How?"
"I… Nevermind." She muttered, her hand sluggishly reached upwards and grabbed hold of his own. "I've decided. I would rather trust you than simply continue to spoil from within."
Tarnished gave her a wide, cheerful grin. "That's the spirit!"
The red haired young woman gave a slightly shaky exhale as she took the Unalloyed Gold Needle from his hand and brought it close to her chest. She turned up to him slightly, her golden, almost shimmering eyes staring deep into his soul.
"Thank you. Now… Would you mind averting your eyes for a moment? You needn't witness what comes next."
He gave her a small amused chuckle but stood and turned away anyways, respecting her wishes. "I think I could handle it, but whatever you say."
Tarnished walked towards the statue of his Patron Goddess, taking in the weathered design with a small sly smirk. 'Nice statue.'
"Aye, it is well made. Much like the countless others carved in mine likeness. What of it?" Marika said as she crossed her arms under her ample bosom, though she still kept an eye on her supposed Granddaughter.
She still had far too many questions and far too few answers.
His smirk widened slightly as he side eyed her, his glance slightly lingering near her chest. 'It really doesn't do you justice, they nerfed your assets something fierce.'
"Pffft…" Marika nearly burst out laughing but held it down to a small, haughty giggle. "Indeed, they did try, mine champion. To capture divine grace in mere stone… A fool's errand, mayhaps. Yet I would not chide them for such failure, it is no simple task to mold divinity."
The smirk on her face faded slightly as she grew more serious, turning to face the young woman to his side. "Now then… if thou wouldst be so kind, I would have thee explain. Thou claim'st this young woman is mine granddaughter, daughter to my Malenia, but hast yet to speak of how, or when, or why she lies thus… Crippled, and abandoned upon the edge of nothingness."
Tarnished chuckled slightly as he knelt next to the statue and picked up a small goblet from the ground, within the goblet laid a strange ethereal liquid that seemed to radiate holiness.
And that was for a reason as this was a Sacred Tear, a crystallized vessel of Marika's divine grace, often left behind in places where faith once flourished. These relics could be used to empower sacred flasks, much like the Crimson and Cerulean Tear Flasks.
Despite the ruin around them, the sacred tears seemed to remain potent and unsullied, much like a lingering memory of the Erdtree's waning mercy.
'I'll get to it in a sec, now isn't the time is all.' He replied before standing up and storing the Sacred Tear into his inventory for later.
He then heard a soft moan of pain come from behind him, followed by a small sigh of relief. He turned around and saw the daughter of Malenia lean back against the wall of the ruined church once more, the Unalloyed Gold Needle embedded in her chest.
"Well… That was… Easier than expected…" She mumbled tiredly, her eyelids growing heavier by the second. "But… Why do I feel so…"
She lost consciousness a moment later, her head slowly dipping downwards as she began slipping down the wall onto the ground.
Tarnished lunged forward and grabbed onto her before she could. He held her in his arms softly, a small smile strewn across his face. "This is Millicent, one of the Demigod Malenia's daughters. Although, given the circumstance of her birth, I suppose it would be more accurate to call her an 'echo' of Malenia."
"That explains far less than you think it does…" Melina spoke with a still tone as she gave him a deadpan stare, and although she wouldn't bring it up, something about the way her companion held the young woman irritated her to no end.
'That urge to kill is back…'
Veins on the fair maiden's forehead seemed to bulge slightly.
"Mine daughter speaketh true. Go on. I would hear all that thou knowest, in full." Marika demanded, her right arm shifting to lay on her hip. "I've been patient for long enough."
"It's a long story, I'll explain later." Tarnished muttered as he hooked his arms around Millicent's neck and under her legs, before hoisting her up from the ground and into his arms in a princess hold. "For now, let's get her somewhere safe."
A small smirk came to his face as he stole a closer look at the crimson haired woman's peaceful visage. "Heh.. Brings a whole new meaning to picking up chicks..."
"You're taking her along?" Melina questioned with an exasperated tone, that odd feeling of inexplicable irritation at the back of her mind only seemed to grow.
He shrugged the best he could while holding Millicent tightly. "Well you saw how those filthy bugs crowded around her, I doubt it's a good idea to leave her here while she's unconscious. Gowry asked us to keep her safe, I plan to make good on that promise."
"I.. Suppose that makes sense…" She muttered dejectedly in response with a small pout. "Where to next then?"
"Where else? We're done here. Let's head back to the Roundtable, I believe we've both had more than enough of Caelid to last us a lifetime." Tarnished replied cheerfully, drawing a small relieved sigh from her.
"You needn't tell me twice, let us leave this accursed land already."
With that, Melina placed a hand on his shoulder before the golden light of Marika's Grace enveloped the three of them, whisking them away in a radiant shimmer.
…
The golden light of Grace shimmered around them once more, and in an instant, the three reappeared within the Roundtable Hold. The familiar warmth of the central flame bathed the main chamber in radiant hues, casting long shadows across the stone floor. The muffled sounds of activity echoed off the walls, clashing steel, murmured conversations, and footsteps against stone.
"Huh… a lot more people here than I remember…" Tarnished muttered, shifting the unconscious Millicent in his arms as he glanced around the increasingly crowded chamber.
He quickly noticed that the stares they received were far from subtle. The sight of a bloodied, dirt-covered, one-armed young woman being carried like a wounded princess by a man in the recognisable Night's Cavalry armour was more than enough to attract curious eyes.
"Mayhaps it isn't the best idea to carry her around while we are here." Melina whispered, casting a glance at the others watching them with equal parts concern and suspicion.
"Ya think?" he whispered back through gritted teeth, forcing an awkward wave toward some of the Hold's members. "Let's just get her to our room and let her rest. Then we hit the dining hall. I'm starving."
"Sounds good to me," Melina replied quickly, her eyes flicking between the watching gazes as they picked up their pace.
As they hurried down the hallway, a familiar figure began to approach from the opposite direction. Fia, the Deathbed Companion, walked toward them with her serene, soft smile in place. She raised a delicate hand to wave.
Tarnished did his best to maintain a calm expression and returned the wave with a casual smile, even as a bead of sweat slid down his temple.
Melina glanced sideways. "Who was that?"
"She's, uh… a friend," he replied, slightly adjusting Millicent's weight in his arms.
"A friend?" she asked again, her tone suddenly laced with suspicion as her brows drew down.
"Yup." He nodded quickly, offering a strained, innocent smile.
They turned a corner, and Tarnished risked a glance over his shoulder. Fia had stopped and turned back as well, her dark eyes finding his. She mouthed, "My promise still stands, brave champion," and followed it up by blowing him a kiss before vanishing behind a pillar.
Breathing became ever so slightly harder for a moment for Marika's chosen champion.
"…I do not know whether or not to be surprised or impressed that thou didst allow a mere flutter of lips to set thy draconic heart aflame." Marika's voice rang in his head, flat with judgment but not without a touch of amusement.
Tarnished sighed internally. 'Ugh… I can't help it, okay? Beautiful, flirtatious women are my kryptonite. Blondes especially. Well… Blondes and Redheads…'
"I gathered that much." Her voice was dry as dust. "Truly, if not for mine constant presence and watch, I fear an assassin could slay thee with nothing more than a well-written love letter."
He couldn't help but snort quietly at that, just as they reached their room. Melina opened the door for him and stepped aside.
'Pick any grown woman from your bloodline and I'd probably have a match.' He said, smirking as he walked past her.
"I suppose thou would." Marika replied, giggling softly to herself.
Inside, he gently laid Millicent onto the bed, brushing stray strands of red hair from her forehead and covering her with a thick blanket. The girl stirred slightly but did not wake.
"She's covered in filth." Melina noted, wrinkling her nose. "We must clean her up once she awakens."
"Yeah, not exactly her fault though, doubt those damn insects offered baths." Tarnished replied, dusting his hands. He rested his hands on his hips and turned to her. "We'll just have to wait. Unless you want us to bathe her ourselves while she's unconscious."
Melina froze, her expression unreadable. Then, with a small huff, she turned her face away and crossed her arms. "...Very well. Let us just wait for her to awaken.."
He chuckled under his breath and began peeling off his armor, changing into the soft, plain shirt and trousers Melina had bought him previously.
The shirt, however, fit tighter than before, his increased muscle mass from his Draconic Evolution having pushed him past its intended size. The fabric clung to his chest and arms, outlining his sculpted form. Although, the shirt could not hide his draconic heart's pulsing beat as its magma-like glow shone straight through it and his skin for all to see.
'Guess it's hard to hide that unless I wear thick armour…' He thought to himself, wondering
Melina caught the sight and turned away quickly, folding her arms as her face reddened further.
Noticing her reaction, Tarnished smirked and leaned in slightly to tease her. "What's the matter~? Enjoying the view~?"
She turned on her heel and all but sprinted out without a word.
He burst into laughter and quickly followed after her, pulling his shirt down as he jogged to catch up.
"I swear… Mine daughter hath fallen for a fool, and is too blind to see it." Marika sighed in mock despair.
But she couldn't hide the small, amused smirk curling at the edges of her lips.
…
Melina and Tarnished stepped into the Roundtable Hold's dining hall, only for their eyes to widen slightly at the sheer volume of life packed within. Dozens, no, nearly a hundred people filled the long rows of wooden tables.
The hall echoed with the clatter of plates, the clink of mugs, and the low thrum of conversation. Soldiers in mixed armor drank alongside merchants, smiths shared meals with scribes, and the smell of roast meat and baked bread filled the air like incense.
"Sheesh… A lot more people than I had expected…" Tarnished muttered as they walked toward what looked to be the kitchen's long stone counter. "Guess I should've figured… all the people we saw out there had to end up somewhere."
Melina nodded, her reddish brown hair swaying slightly. "Over the years, the Roundtable changed. It became less a sanctum for only the greatest warriors, and more a stronghold for any who pledged to the guidance of the Two Fingers."
She gestured discreetly at the disparate groups in the hall. "So long as you can offer something, be it strength, skill, or service, you are welcome within these walls. It is shelter from persecution, and safety from the world's collapse."
"I guess that makes sense," Tarnished muttered as they reached the counter.
Behind it stood a hulking figure. He was an aged, broad-shouldered man with a jagged scar across his right eye. His sleeveless tunic revealed arms like tree trunks and a gut like a mountain barrel. He leaned forward with a grin that bared more teeth than comfort.
"Name's Reinhardt. I'm head chef 'round here. Got four meals ready fer tonight. Pick your poison."
He jabbed a finger toward a chalkboard menu behind him:
Traveler's Stew & Black Bread (100 runes): A hearty bowl of root vegetables, aged bone broth, and dense bread with a mug of ale. Simple, but filling.
Flamed Elk Roast with Pickled Roots (500 runes): Slow-roasted venison, charred with fire grease and served with tangy root vegetables.
Spiced Crab & Golden-Honey Glaze (1,000 runes): Exotic shellfish from Liurnia's depths, spiced with dragonpepper and basted in rare honey.
Royal Capital Feast Platter (2,000 runes): A replica of old Leyndell's noble dinner: duck confit, Erdtree fruits, and white wine aged in crystal flasks.
"What'll it be for you and the ol' lass?" Reinhardt asked with a grunt, nodding toward Melina.
Tarnished was about to answer when Marika's voice rang softly in his mind, reflective and distant.
"As much as I despise the Two Fingers… I must admit, this is a method of preservation. A means to keep a portion of mine people fed and living. Still… we saw so few of them in your travels. It worries me."
'In fairness,' Tarnished replied inwardly, 'most of my journey's been through Caelid's corpse-fields and Limgrave's ruins. Not much left to find there except monsters and mold.'
"True… but it vexes me nonetheless."
Tarnished shook his head to refocus, then looked at Reinhardt. "Cheapest one sounds good to me."
Melina folded her arms. "I'll have the same."
Reinhardt squinted. "Good enough, huh? Watch it, young blood. My cookin' ain't something to be dismissed."
Tarnished smirked. "Then prove it, old man."
Reinhardt bellowed a short laugh and turned to prepare their food. Within minutes, he returned with two wooden trays: steaming bowls of stew, crusty black bread, and frothing mugs of ale. Tarnished handed over the runes, and the two began scanning the hall for a place to sit.
"There." Melina pointed at a mostly empty table along the far wall.
But as they made their way over, a group of armored knights slid into the seats before they could claim them. Tarnished exhaled sharply. "Of course…"
Before they could look for another, a familiar voice rang out over the crowd.
"Sir Tarnished! This way!"
His head turned sharply, there, waving at him from across the room, was Roderika, smiling brightly at a modest table surrounded by a… curious crew.
Seated beside her was a tall, bearded man clad in sunlit robes and a strange cone-shaped headpiece, clearly a priest or holy man. Across from him, a wiry, contemplative scholar in a dark robe adjusted the runes carved into his cane-sword, his face shadowed but thoughtful.
'Huh… Roderika's sharing a table with Corhyn and Rogier? That's a trio I didn't see coming.' Tarnished mused as he waved back, gesturing for Melina to follow.
But as they approached, his eyes caught on another figure.
A bald man with a conniving smile, a large nose, and a distinctive leather vest.
Tarnished stopped dead in his tracks.
"…Is that… fucking Patches?!" His voice cracked. "What the hell is his bitch-ass doing here?!"
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Author's Note:
Okay, the next chapter is gonna have them talk with Millicent and hash that all out. I got a lil bit distracted.
At any rate, we passed 207k words in the stockpile. And the first kiss happened like last chapter, well not last chapter for you guys but last chapter for the patrons.
See y'all sooner, rather than later. BUT BEFORE YOU GO!
Drop me some stones, will ya? Thanks.
…
Next Chapter Title: The Child of Rot.
…
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