“Well look at these ones. From what far away age hast thou come? Thine scent is very human indeed, but not intolerable.” The giant mushroom tilted its cap towards Griggs and Siegmeyer in greeting. “Welcome, I am Elizabeth, a noble guardian and caretaker.”
“Well, a pleasure it is to make your acquaintance in turn my dear.” The knight replied with a bow. Griggs continued to look weirded out. “I don’t suppose you’d be so kind as to tell us where we are? We seem to have gotten a bit lost.”
Beneath its cap the mushroom puffed up two small areas of its stalk, just under its eyes. This oddly made it look like it was smiling despite lacking a mouth.
“Thou standeth in the midst of my humble sanctuary, a retreat created for the Princess Dusk of Oolacile.” It replied, much to Siegmeyer’s delight.
“So this IS Oolacile then?” He queried.
“Indeed. Around us lies the Royal Wood, and beyond it the township itself. If thou seeks the princess though, I fear she is no longer here.” Elizabeth replied.
“Ah, well a true shame that, but we’re actually here seeking a friend of ours. Young lady, a bit on the hollowed side? Very spunky and courageous though.” The knight replied.
The puffs vanished as Elizabeth bowed her head (or stalk).
“I fear none have passed through this humble domain of mine since Knight Artorias first arrived to stop the spread of the Abyss. A tragedy I fear that will be. Such a hero has nary a murmur of Dark. Without doubt he has now been swallowed by the Abyss, overcome by its utter blackness. Indeed the Abyss is most likely unstoppable.”
Siegmeyer was about to voice a counter to the mushroom’s pessimistic appraisal, but Griggs signaled he had something to ask.
“Well as tragic as that is, I must inquire: how do you know we come from another age?”
The mushroom puffed her cheeks again.
“Thine scent is not of this land, nor of this time. It is reminiscent of one I have sensed on the air, another from a faraway age.” Elizabeth happily replied.
Griggs narrowed his eyes. “Another you say? Can you tell me more about this individual?”
Elizabeth tilted her cap upward, her eyes closing as she absorbed the many scents and stories that the wind carried around her.
“A most welcome visitor. I recognize her as the savior of Princess Dusk in her own age.”
Another look was traded between knight and sorcerer.
“You know this for certain?” Griggs asked cautiously.
“As certain as my own spores. Her aura is exactly as the Princess described. I can only hope she has come to again play the savior.” Elizabeth replied.
“And where exactly IS this Princess Dusk now?” Siegmeyer queried. The mushroom promptly wilted as if saddened.
“Snatched away by that horrifying primeval human she was. For what end I cannot say, only plead that she be safely returned to me.”
Griggs turned and noted the tensing of Siegmeyer’s hands around his sword, his armor clanking as he trembled in delight at the prospect of a new adventure now being offered to him.
“And…from where did you sense the aura of this savior?” He quickly asked.
Elizabeth nodded to an archway on the far end of the sanctuary.
“Across the Royal Wood and through the passages of the Grand Coliseum did I sense her. Now her scent grows faint, I can only presume she has moved on.”
“Right, well thank you very much and we’ll be on our way now!” Griggs replied as he grabbed Siegmeyer and yanked him towards the exit of the sanctuary. “Okay, so Laurentius actually did manage to get us to the correct area, we just landed a little off target.”
“Well considering there’s a nice cozy bonfire here too, that’s understandable. Certainly proved fortunate for us to learn how we might right a few wrongs while we’re here!” Siegmeyer excitedly proclaimed. Griggs gripped his catalyst and very carefully chose his reply.
“Siegmeyer, I know what you’re thinking, but please hear me out. The Abyss has already started to consume Oolacile, indeed as Miss Elizabeth said, Knight Artorias has already come and disappeared as was recorded in history. We can’t stay here for too long lest we risk being swallowed up as well.” The sorcerer argued as the two came to a bridge.
“Oh yes of course, no time to lose and all that! But still, a princess of the realm is in danger! No noble warrior can turn down such an imperative call to action!” The knight replied, his enthusiasm having not been dampened one bit. “Besides, think of all the knowledge to be gained along the way! Oolacile was a prime spot for the development of sorceries back in the day was it not? There could be any number of spells and tools just waiting to be recovered from the void!”
Griggs lagged behind slightly as the pair crossed the bridge and stepped into a dense and lush forest. He had little cause to put his life on the line any more than he already had…however, he had not considered the contributions to his art that had first been created here. Indeed, there could be something here that’d prove useful to the Dragon School of Vinheim…and he couldn’t help but feel somewhat tempted.
“We can’t allow ourselves to be distracted. There’s no telling what dangers could be lurking here, nor whether the Chosen Undead is safe or not.” He replied, though his voice wavered as he kept pondering the knight’s words. As if to snap both undead back to attention (and take Griggs’ statement as their cue) two humanoid monsters fashioned of tree limbs and tattered rags suddenly rose up before the pair. One hefted a rusted pitchfork, the other a plow.
“Well, case in point.” Griggs meeped as he and Siegmeyer jumped in opposite directions to avoid a nasty fate of being impaled on farming equipment. The scarecrows, as their appearance indicated they were meant to be, chose their targets and sought to prevent them from taking another step into the woods. Griggs and Siegmeyer duly proved that they were just as capable of fighting on their own as they were together.
“Hmmm, still, if that’s the worst this place has to offer we should get by just fine.” Siegmeyer smugly replied after cleaning the splinters and tree sap off his blade. Griggs kept his catalyst raised as he heard the sounds of other bodies moving amidst the trees.
“I wouldn’t be so quick to say that. Caution is always justified in strange lands.” The sorcerer replied as the two traversed the woods and came to another bridge.
“Oh come now Griggs, what’s the worst this place could throw at us?” Siegmeyer asked. Again fate sought to give him an immediate answer, and make sure he didn’t like it one bit.
No sooner had both undead set foot on the bridge than they were knocked off their feet by something hitting the spot in front of them with a great impact. Rising from their sprawled position on the ground, Griggs and Siegmeyer were struck dumb with fright upon seeing their way forward was now obstructed by the biggest and blackest dragon imaginable. Rising well over 90 feet in height upon its four legs (and that was not including the great expanse of its wings) the scaled monster turned its sharply angled head to them, revealing a single, glowing red eye that stared at the two like an angry god might stare at two puny insects it sought to smite. The undead thought to grab for their weapons, or to run, or find cover, or do something other than just lie there like a sacrifice of raw meat. Unfortunately their bodies refused to follow any commands issued as the dragon swept its hellish gaze over them both, growled in anger and then launched itself off the bridge again. They duly turned to follow its flight to the horizon, letting the silence hold till both it and its long, dark shadow had finally vanished.
“N-Need you ask for more, Siegmeyer?” Griggs whispered.
“Uh…no…no I think that was a most fitting sign of why we needn’t hang around here. Let’s find the Chosen Undead and take our leave with all haste!” The knight replied.
***
Elsewhere, another dragon was feeling similarly disdainful about what he was seeing: namely his student standing before him, with the weapon of the monster that had nearly killed everyone she cherished, asking him to please help her use it to potentially become another monster of similar terror.
“I trust, Twilight, that thou understands the weight of thine request.” Seath asked. To his relief, and subtle intrigue, Twilight winced and rubbed her foreleg again.
“All too well. Trust me there’s a large part of myself screaming for me to back down, to turn away and leave this course of action unexplored, but….I’m still plagued by this notion that if I don’t do this I’ll be even worse off.”
Seath nodded as he breathed deeply in contemplation.
“And promise did I to thine fellow princess that I would make thee the greatest sorcerer to exist. Naturally to do so would require thine mastery of all disciplines, the practical and the deadly.” The white dragon replied. “Thine grasp of morals is strong, but even the most benevolent of souls can still fall to temptations of the dark….”
Twilight steeled her nerves and nodded. “As I’ve already seen, again and again….but I suppose those same experiences have taught me that sometimes I have to take a chance…trust that I’m not like them, however much I may fear I am.” She looked up at her teacher. “Will you do it, Seath? Will you teach me how I can…use sorcery as a weapon as well as a tool for good?”
Seath’s wings flapped and smacked against the wall, his tentacles squirmed on the ground as he carried on a fierce internal debate.
“I shalt not deny the desire in me. T’was my goal from the beginning to bring out thine full potential. Thine aptitude with the sorceries I have shown thee, plus thine vanquishing of the firesage proves thou is ready.” He said while hugging himself. “However, I shall likewise confess my motives were self-serving, and that while thine talent is sufficient, thine experience is still lacking. There are still a great many dangers in teaching the dark sorceries to one as young as thou.”
Twilight narrowed her eyes. “So is that a no? Or a yes?”
“It is neither…for the moment.” Seath sighed and removed his glasses. “Before I give thee mine answer, I believe there are some…things that must be cleared between us.”
Now Twilight looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Seath held up his hand. “This is not the place to discuss such a matter. Give thineself a chance to rest first, and when dreams come to us both I shall provide thee with mine answer.”
The lavender alicorn snorted in disappointment, but then nodded her acceptance.
“Okay, but I’m holding you to that!” She said while levitating the demon catalyst off the floor. “I’m going to go practice for a bit. See if the other spells we’ve been working on come more easily with this thing.”
Seath looked the book he was writing and grabbed for his quill again.
“I shall remain here if thou needs anything, my student.”
The next few hours passed in a silence that was as comforting as it was awkward. Words flowed as easily as the ink from Seath’s quill, yet despite his concentration remaining sharply focused, the dragon felt restless. His greatest desire, the objective he’d been striving for ever since becoming Twilight’s teacher had just been handed to him on a silver plate, yet now, at the moment of truth, his indecision on whether to act or turn aside was worse than ever.
T'is always the last step that is the most perilous; the point where one must either fall down or else o’erleap, for beyond it there is no return.
Finally deeming he’d written enough, Seath rose and turned to one of the library’s bay windows, staring gloomily at the tapestry of Luna’s star filled night.
The stars show their fire so that light may blind us to our black and deepest desires. Yet no matter how our eyes try to ignore what devilry we craft with our hands, in the end, we merely make it easier to do what our eyes fear to see. Is thou a better soul to deny thine path to a fellow traveler, or will such obstruction only leave her vulnerable to whatever doom approaches? Is the choice even thine, or again is fate merely testing to see thou does as it intends?
Seath yawned and realized the late hour was taking its toll. It had been a wonderful and a horrible night in equal measures, but now that the festivities were over and the damage done, he had little energy to continue.
Spying a pile of pillows stacked neatly next to the fireplace, most likely there for ponies who preferred something warm and comfortable to lie upon while reading, Seath grabbed the lot and bunched them by the hearth. Piling logs up inside, he applied a spell to ignite them then let himself recline as the library was enveloped in the light of a roaring blaze. The fire did little to soothe his mind, a strange paradox but understandable considering it was just a simple mass of fuel being converted into empty energy, unlike the bonfires of Lordran which burned with the power of life itself. The memory of watching the Demon Firesage incinerate everything and everyone around him was also painfully fresh, but Seath still felt the need for a fire regardless. He’d spent enough time living in the dark, trying to pretend like if he couldn’t see the horrors around him then he could pretend like they weren’t there. If he was to serve any purpose now, he needed to step back into the light, to just see and remember what life could offer before it was all snatched away again.
Watching the flames crackle and pop, Seath let his eyes slowly close and drifted off to a troubled sleep. Not too long after, Twilight returned to the library, her body feeling similarly exhausted after a solid session of spell practice.
“Hey Seath, just wanted to say goodnight. Think it’s time I hit the…ermm..”
The alicorn paused as she took in the giant form of her teacher, stretched full length on his back beside the fireplace, breathing gently and face poised in slumber.
“Never mind, looks like you already beat me to the punch.” Twilight sighed as she plucked the dragon’s glasses up and set them on a nearby table. “I swear you’re worse than I am about nodding off in any random spot available.”
Noticing the fire was going out, she levitated a few more logs onto it. A deep, rumbling grumble came as the flames grew in volume again and Twilight thought the light might be bothering Seath. However, a quick check behind revealed the dragon was merely turning in the midst of uneasy dreams.
“Not even sleep can quiet your mind huh?” Twilight sat down next to her teacher, watching as he sunk his fingers into the pillows and his face tightened. She thought to go ask Princess Luna for help but then remembered the moon princess had already ventured into his dreams before, and Seath seemed disturbed by the intrusion.
“Just why do you insist upon holding in what troubles you? What do you fear in opening up to anypony? To me?”
Seath growled sinisterly in response. His head thrashed about as more visions assaulted him. Most ponies would no doubt find standing next to such a massive beast in the grips of such emotional turmoil unsettling, but Twilight just told herself that Seath had slept next to her before and no harm had come. Actually, to be honest the prospect of doing so again didn’t sound so bad, if for no other reason than to try and comfort her teacher.
“Shhhh, Seath, if you can hear me, I’m here. If you need one light in the darkness that consumes your mind, I’m here.” Twilight soothed as she recalled a tidbit Seath had said earlier. “When dreams come upon us both…well, let’s see about that.”
She grabbed a pillow for herself and got comfortable against Seath’s smooth hide. The fire had warmed it considerably so he felt even cozier than before, and even with the strange energy boost Twilight had gotten from her battle, the alicorn was slowly guided to a quiet slumber.
Sensing the two souls she’d been waiting for had entered the dream realm, Luna quietly emerged from her quarters, letting her senses guide her to the library where she beheld both student and teacher curled up together like two peas in a pod. Such a welcoming, adorable sight it made, the princess almost hated herself for having to disrupt it. However, she had a job to do, and the opportunity to get it done would not last long.
“Okay, here goes nothing.” The moon princess sighed as she sat down on the floor. “At the first sign of trouble, please do not hesitate to rouse us from our dreams.”
The Moonlight Butterfly, still sitting pretty on her back, obediently fluttered down between its mistress and her subjects, its head vigilantly swiveling to keep everyone in its line of sight as all times.
Focusing her mind inward, Luna stepped into her old familiar domain, taking both Twilight and Seath’s dreams and merging them together effortlessly. Twilight blinked as she suddenly found herself in a vast cavern, coated from ceiling to floor in a jumble of books and glimmering crystals. Before her, Seath stood gripping a long and thin shard of the aforementioned, staring gloomily at its piercing glow.
“Huh. Pretty.” The alicorn mused as she forded through the dense blanket of fog that hid the cavern’s floor from view. “Never thought you’d share the same preference for interior decorating as the power that gave me my castle.”
Seath tapped the crystal in his hands, his spirits sinking lower as it chimed like a bell in mockery.
“I had my reasons: practicality, aesthetics, peace, fear, madness, obsession, derangement. Crystal remains clean and strong no matter the years of neglect. Neither dust nor time can whither its perfect, impenetrable texture. Not even death can hope to dull its eternal glow.” The dragon replied.
Twilight delicately pulled one of the books out of the wall and flipped it open at random. The pages were smeared with indecipherable, chaotic scrawling, a senseless jumble of words that would only serve to drive one mad if they were to try reassembling them into something comprehensible.
“Do you fear death?” Twilight asked after returning the book. It was a rather perverse question to ask, but she’d noticed Seath spoke of it with a sense of hopelessness as he kept studying his crystal.
“Dost thou?” The dragon queried in return. Twilight contemplated and nodded.
“Sometimes I think becoming a princess has only made me fear it more, ironically not for myself but for others.” She replied. Luna silently strode forward to stand by her fellow alicorn as Twilight elaborated. “Knowing I’m going to live possibly forever makes me dread the thought that I’ll have to watch each member of my family and my friends die, that eventually even Spike will expire before I do. And then…tonight…” The alicorn shivered terribly. “Even if I had no choice, it still was a terrible shock to not only see but cause the end of life for a being.”
Seath nodded as a dark and very grim figure appeared before him: the familiar animated pile of skulls and bones draped in the flowing black robe.
“In Lordran mine own mortality did weigh heavy upon me; heavier than any other. For centuries I sought to correct the error made in my lacking the stone scales of my everlasting brethren. When at last I was met face to face with the Gravelord Nito, when forced was I to stare death straight in its pallid visage, my conscience did fracture for the first of many times.”
Seath set down the crystal for his student to behold.
“Thus, when the Everlasting Dragons lay dead at my hands, did I strive to take from them one of their greatest treasures: the Primordial Crystal. T’was a natural phenomenon seemingly filled with the same essence that infused the scales of dragons, and granted them abstinence from death.”
Twilight leaned forward as the crystal glowed brighter. Its intense light seemed captivating, but in a way that cautioned her against getting too close to it.
“And where it is now?” She asked.
“Gone. Destroyed by mine own deed and mine own rage.” Seath growled in weak anger. “The one who would claim my life, had I not been delivered unto thee, knew of my success in gaining its power, and that she would stand no chance of victory while it still kept me safe from the ravages of mine own physical weaknesses.”
An image of a humanoid warrior in plate armor materialized by Twilight. She gave quiet thanks for having something else to study and thus pull her attention away from that unsettling glow.
“And who is this?” She asked.
“A soul of some unique status, perhaps even as much as my own. My channelers did tell me she was referred to by several as ‘The Chosen Undead’ a human charged to seek out and destroy all who had been instrumental in founding the Age of Fire.” Seath explained. Twilight again looked unsettled.
“Why?” She asked. Seath dismissed the images of Nito and the undead, then for added measure he torched the whole cavern and watched it burn away into a black void.
“One could say she was spoiled for reasons to see us destroyed. Me especially.”
Twilight backed away as she felt a sudden, overwhelming sense of being crushed by the blackness. Fortunately Luna was there to drape a wing over her and assure the alicorn all would be okay.
“Wh-What do you mean?” She asked her teacher. Taking a deep breath, Seath turned to observe his student, letting her see for once how much his eyes burned and sparkled with the embers of his own inner demonic intentions.
“Thou both seek to know what kind of soul am I. If thou will be sated with nothing other than the truth I will tell thee now, and thou will have only thineself to blame for the horrors that will be revealed.” He snarled.
Twilight cowered under Luna’s wing, while the Moon Princess steeled herself and stared defiantly up at the white dragon.
“Be that as it may, we shall not back down. Thou knowest we seek not to judge yet, only to hear thine story from thine own perspective.” Luna replied. Taking strength from the moon princess’ voice, Twilight grit her teeth and forced herself to step away from the comfort of her fellow alicorn.
“Yes, Seath. If nothing else, I want to show you can trust me as much as I trust you. Please, don’t shut us out now.” The lavender alicorn pleaded. Seath folded his arms and turned his gaze away. The sight of those wide, innocent, and so wanting eyes was too painful and too familiar for him to bear. Had they not belonged to his student he’d be forced to gouge them out to spare himself further heartache. He had years of practice to fall back on for that too.
“Thine fellow princess, the monarch of the Crystal Empire, what was thine true reason for arranging our meeting, Luna?” Seath asked suspiciously. Luna snorted at her little scheme being so easily recognized, but then again she hadn’t really been discrete about it in the first place.
“She is the Princess of Love, an expert on the force that joins hearts together, fuels one's loyalty to a cause or a pony, and bridges conflicts across many realms. I asked for thee to meet because…I was beset by an inkling that love may be in some way tied to the insanity of thine soul.” The black alicorn confessed. Seath thought to take offense at such a detrimental opinion, but instead a momentary flicker of intrigue overcame him.
“Thou art more perceptive than I credited thee for.” He replied. Luna let this embolden her spirit.
“So I was right?” She asked.
“Perhaps.” Seath cryptically replied as he snapped his fingers and the darkness around the three was suddenly banished by a warm, golden light. Looking around themselves, Twilight and Luna found they were now standing in a richly decorate chamber of some kind, with a grand lounging couch before them. Reclining atop it was the same giant female human Luna remembered from the last time she entered Seath’s dreams, her regal attire and cheerful smile both beaming as bright as the sun that shone through the windows behind her.
“”Love’ is a foreign concept to dragons. Having no need for family, or emotional attachment, none of the everlasting cared for each other besides a collective need to defend what they saw as theirs. For eons I believed such a strange concept would remain unknown to myself, until one sought to prove me wrong…” Seath muttered, his eyes sealing tight as if it hurt just to look at the figure before him. Instead Twilight looked for him, her curiosity perked at now seeing such a stunning example of human being. As a pony her opinion of beauty was somewhat skewed, but she gathered this woman before them was a pretty fitting example of what humans would deem a paragon of all that was attractive and appealing.
“And…who is this?” She asked after several moments of study.
“Gwynevere, the Princess of Sunlight, Lord Gwyn’s daughter.” Seath replied as he turned his back to the female and slumped against the stairs leading to her couch. Twilight waited for further elaboration, but when none came she took a risk and pressed for it.
“And…erm…who was she to you?” The alicorn asked.
Seath rose to look at the doors of the chamber. He gestured to them and they flew open to reveal a scene from his memories:
***
The sun hung high and bright over Anor Londo, bringing with it equal amounts of warmth and irritation to Seath as he crossed the bridge to Gwyn’s palace. Despite having now enjoyed the disparity of weather and time for several years following the victory of the gods over the dragons he still welcomed the curiosity of feeling heat upon his skin, and the sense of hope and happiness that came with it. He just wished such had not had to be endured while he was in the middle of several rather critical experiments.
Passing the two armored guardians standing watch by the entrance gate, Seath stepped into the magnificent hallway and observed a new figure waiting at the other end. He was dressed in golden armor, reminiscent of a lion, and carried a massive spear that crackled with electricity. Seath wisely kept some distance between him and this figure, pondering just what Gwyn was planning by summoning him here out of the blue.
“Grand Duke Seath, we thank thee for thine hastened arrival. I am Ornstein of his Lord’s knights, charged to escort you to the private chambers.” The warrior knelt in respect to the dragon. A bewildering contrast that was, considering Seath could hazard a guess as to what purpose his weapon served, but it was best not to question such things.
“Thine story quickly, knight. For what purpose does his Lordship require my immediate attention?” Seath asked as Ornstein rose and gestured for the dragon to follow him.
“A most joyous occasion, Grand Duke. His Lordship trusts thine tutelage of his kin fares well?”
Seath arched an eyeridge at the non-sequitur.
“As well as can be hoped. T’would he grant my request that they not be simultaneously schooled in Pyromancy and Miracles as well I hold great confidence that I could hone their skills beyond the excellence they currently stand at.”
Ornstein nodded as the two came to a decorated set of doors at the end of the passage.
“His Lordship appreciates thine enthusiasm, Grand Duke, but he likewise wishes to honor the contributions that thine ally and friends in the church do offer. In compensation, however, he is pleased to announce thou shall yet be adding to thine number of students.”
Seath was about to query what the knight was getting at, but fell silent as the doors were opened, allowing the cry of a newborn baby to be heard. Ornstein took position by the entrance as Seath stepped into the room beyond. Lord Gwyn sat silent and observant as ever upon his throne, his hands resting on the hilt of his sword and his eyes staring in quiet contentment at a gilded cradle, around which numerous handmaidens were fussing about.
Seath paused as the Lord of Sunlight raised a greeting, then gestured for the handmaidens to give the dragon their attention. They duly lifted a tiny, squirming bundle of blankets out of the cradle and held it up for his inspection. Delicately he took it and pulled back the blankets to behold the exquisitely formed face of an infant girl. She cooed and gurgled as the sun fell upon her, her features glowing in its gentle, soothing warmth.
Realizing now why he’d been summoned, Seath brought the baby up to his eye level, letting her cutely reach out and bat at his nose while he peered into the depths of her being, to the fierce inferno of her soul. His wings fluttered in amazement as he beheld she positively brimmed with power, despite being only a few days, perhaps only a few hours old. Handing her back to the maidens, Seath clutched his chest and bowed to Gwyn.
“Thine lineage hath perhaps been proven strongest of all in this one. A fine student of sorcery she shall make and an honor it will be to teach her.” He replied. Gwyn nodded, though still his face remained stoic as ever. Sometimes it seemed nothing could be done to make the Great Lord smile, no matter how wonderful his new kingdom grew under his reign.
“I only ask, when she is entrusted to my care, what name shall I address her by?” The dragon asked. Gwyn looked to the handmaidens who duly cradled his infant daughter and answered with a gentle flourish….
***
“Gwynevere. Huh, that’s kind of cute actually.” Twilight smiled as the memory ended. “Though I don’t see why that would trouble you so…”
She turned back to see Seath was glowering at her, his teeth bared and his tentacles posed to lash out as he rose and stepped through the doors.
“Steel thine heart, my little pony, this tale hath only just begun…” He seethed. The hallway beyond the doors twisted itself like an elaborate tube made out of taffy. It reformed itself into another room where Seath lay in front of a darling two year old with burnt auburn hair. He held aloft a small ball of light in his hand and studied how she reached up to touch it with the typical curiosity of a young soul. One might fear his immense size would scare her, but much like Twilight, she seemed surprisingly at home being so close to the drake.
“As the years passed, Gwynevere proved herself as worthy as her siblings if not more so. She excelled under my tutelage, seeking my knowledge more than that of the others charged with schooling her in the arts of magic.”
The scenery changed and now Seath was with a teenage version of Gwynevere, his face gripped with caution as she tested her skills with a simple catalyst. The caution slowly faded as she managed to craft spell after spell, and by the end Seath was looking rather proud as she finished and turn to politely curtsy to her teacher.
“For much of her life I believed myself to be no more than friend and mentor to her, as I am with thee. She, however, eventually came to believe otherwise.”
The scene changed again. Now the adult form of Gwynevere stood outside on a moonlit night, before a grand and imposing castle.
***
“Grand Duke, your student requests an audience.”
Seath looked up from his test tubes and chemicals to see a channeler standing by the door to his study. He glanced at the darkness outside the window and arched an eyeridge.
“An odd hour to be seeking mine counsel…very well, show them in.” He replied before turning back to his work. Chemicals were mixed and their results carefully studied, until Seath heard the door open again and turned to behold the sun princess stepping inside.
“Dearest Gwynevere. Thine presence surprises greatly.”
The princess shrugged off her cloak and hood, revealing her face was marred by some terrible indecision.
“Forgive my interruption, Grand Duke, but, I come baring a question.” She replied. Seath looked over at his experiment and carefully moved it aside to be resumed later.
“Thou hast come baring many questions before. As always mine archives are open for thine needs.” He responded politely. Gwynevere’s eyes darted around the room, trying to focus on anything and everything besides the dragon in front of her.
“Thine books have helped my studies greatly, however, I fear this matter I wish to query is not among their volumes just yet. I know because thou still has yet been unable to commit any theories on it to parchment.” She replied.
Seath cocked his head, his intrigue rising.
“Such words could be construed as a challenge, great princess. I trust thou dost not seek to prove thine mastery as a sorcerer by beating me to a new discovery.” He replied. Gwynevere laughed, and the room seem to brighten with her cheer. Things always did have a habit of looking nicer in her presence. Seath found it oddly enchanting.
“T’is no challenge, Seath, merely a humble plead for the truth.” Gwynevere idly pulled at the hem of the white and gold trimmed shawl she wore. “Thou hast known me since my birth, of those I deem as friend and family there are almost none who know me as well as thou…in turn I consider no soul more trustworthy than the one thou bears.”
Seath stroked his chin, his curiosity running wild as to where his student was going with this.
“Thou is kind to say such.” He replied, getting another little smile from the princess.
“I ponder if I can be kinder still.” She approached the white dragon, each step carrying a strange hesitance to it, only to be succeeded by the step after it that was driven by some inner desire. “I only wish to first confirm, dost thou see me still as thine student?”
Seath shrugged and chuckled. “Only in the formal sense. While there is always more to be learned, thou has long since proven thine worth of striking out alone. Perhaps even to take students under thine own wing. I teach thee now as friend and confidante more than I do out of thine father’s demand.”
Gwynevere halted her steps, not out of fear but rather excitement.
“And such reasons are why I obey thee still, and why I have taken note of the matter in which thine research has focused recently.”
The eyeridge rose again.
“Of what dost thou speak?” Seath asked. Gwynevere folded her hands behind her back, resuming her steps but now taking herself on a little tour around the dragon’s study.
“Thine fascination with the concepts of birth and life have become more obvious as of late. I have seen the irritation in thine eyes when thou has whiled away the hours seeking to know of things such as love, lust, attraction and companionship. Thine scattered parchments and notes have also been somewhat hard to not notice, nor not read in the interim between our lessons.” She admitted with an adorable blush. Seath looked at the general disarray of his work area and felt a slight tinge of shame. Perhaps his channelers had a point about the archives needing to be cleaned more regularly.
“I assure thee, such is only a personal desire for understanding the wonders bequeathed to other races, my princess. T’is of no concern to thee.” He politely replied, though he noted this seemed to unnerve Gwynevere as she paused and clenched her fists.
“I know all too well thou would never intend to involve me in such study. I know too, however, that thou has hit hindrance after hindrance in thine pursuit for knowledge. This course of study confounds thee more than any other avenue, thine behavior during our lessons has spoken no differently.” She replied, sounding most sympathetic for her teacher’s plight. Seath was now feeling confused as the princess approached him again.
“As such, why dost thou come to me on this matter?” He asked.
Gwynevere reached out and took both of the dragon’s hands. Her skin felt as soft as the silk that robed her body, so much so the dragon felt ashamed that his own, scaleless hide should pale with its mockingly smooth texture.
“To offer thee my aid, if thou wishes it. To act upon feelings I have found myself beset by for some time.”
The blush was back, and Gwynevere tried to hide it by tossing her hair over her face. Seath rather wished she wouldn’t (it hid how cute she looked when embarrassed) but his mind was more preoccupied with her rather suggestive phrasing.
“Fairest Gwynevere, I fear thine words have lost me in their stead. What is this thou offers as aid to my-“
Seath had no need to finish the question. His answer was delivered in the form of the princess’ lips being pressed to his own. He thought to push her off, but then remembered she was firmly holding both of his hands.
Not that he’d want to push her off the more he thought about it.
No, no this was actually rather pleasant…more than pleasant…
He had no desire to stop this…at least until Gwynevere did so for him.
“I…forgive my directness, Grand Duke. It seemed more appropriate than to waste more time with words.” She meekly replied with embarrassment. Seath felt his lips, sensing how they almost sizzled with the heat of their union.
“I…I assure thee, thine directness is…appreciated.” He replied, his body feeling like it was on fire. This was strange, new, and not at all unwelcome. “I…was not aware thou felt so strongly for me.”
Seeing her affection had stirred such emotions, Gwynevere embraced the dragon.
“For many a year hath I sensed my attraction to thee is stronger than to any else. I did not come to thee before because I wished to assure it was not a mere phase of my blossoming into maidenhood.” The princess’ face was beetroot red as she placed a hand on Seath’s chest. She looked quite possibly the cutest he’d ever seen her look.
“Pray, might I continue with my proposition of assisting thee?” She asked. Seath now worried he was going to burn the princess with the sheer heat of his body. A mere sample of this novel phenomenon was one thing, but to be offered more afterwards?
“I…doubt I could stop thee from doing so…” He replied weakly before finding himself taken in another kiss. This one he made sure to return, wrapping his arms around Gwynevere’s voluptuous body as she let herself melt against his skin.
Yes, he definitely needed more of this.
He NEEDED this!
He needed HER!
***
Twilight suddenly realized she’d been holding her breath the entire time the memory had been playing. She let it out in a great whoosh.
“Well, that was…ummm….” She struggled for a suitable adjective while trying to ignore how red her face was.
“Unexpected, though quite endearing.” Luna jumped in, her own black fur helping to hide how bashful she felt. “She had feelings for you?”
“T’would seem so, as did I in return, though t’was not until that moment that I realized such. She had seen the discontent that did spawn from Gwyn’s rigid class system, loathed the way all residents of Izalith were mocked and distrusted for their more simplistic lifestyle, lamented how Gravelord Nito and his legions had all been forced back to their catacombs due to the public fear of death. She deemed that such segregation was fracturing the unity that had made possible the Age of Fire, and as she grew into one who could choose her own destiny, she sought to fix that.” Seath sighed. “T’would seem I was the only soul she felt a solid affinity with. Not even her own siblings nor the covenant established in her name attained the same level of trust and affection. When agree I did to become more for her….never shall I forget how she burned with utter happiness.”
Seath dipped his nose as his wings spread as if relieved of their previous burden. Indeed he seemed almost joyous as he stared at the paused scene of him and Gwynevere sharing their first time together.
“And from there…what happened?” Twilight asked.
Seath sighed again.
“For a time we fared surprisingly well. If our relationship did cause any unrest among family or nobility they voiced no mention of it. For once, dare I say, fate did deem that we be happy together.” The dragon replied as the vista changed to another moment of Gwynevere and him in a tender embrace, their eyes taking in a beautiful sunrise as they enjoyed the simple pleasure of each other’s company.
“You were lovers?” Luna asked.
The joy promptly vanished as did the scenery. Blackness returned as Seath scowled and rubbed his eyes.
“We were content to be together, but did we love each other? Aye, there lies the terrible question. She oft swore that her love for me was unconditional. I, however, could not answer in turn.” He replied.
“Why not?” Twilight asked, getting another scowl from her teacher.
“Have I not made it obvious, Twilight? The Everlasting Dragons had no need and thus no understanding of such a concept as love. I, likewise, was beset by the same shortcomings.” He spat, then turned to Luna. “If there is one who could answer in mine stead t’would be the one thou didst claim as expert on all matters related to the subject.”
Luna gulped heavily as she remembered Cadence’s own little analysis of the white drake. She thought to repeat what the pink alicorn had said, but then recalled the overtly negative tone of her words. Fortunately Seath seemed to not want to wait for a reply as he dove into the next part of his tale.
“As the years passed such inability to grasp such a seemingly important concept did begin to wear upon me. As my research into sorcery and immortality advanced so did my pursuit to understand my feelings for Gwynevere, yet no matter the effort, the answer continued to evade me. She desired to give me her heart and soul, yet try as I might, I could not do the same in turn.” Seath’s visage turned as dark as the void around him. “And thus, perhaps as punishment for my failure, came the point where time did seek to end our relationship. In true form it chose the most traumatic moment.”
He turned to gauge the ponies listening to him. They looked very apprehensive, but neither seemed eager to stop him from continuing. Again reminding himself that this was entirely on them, the dragon summoned a new memory.
“When my madness from being denied that which I sought to know grew too great, Gwynevere came to me with perhaps the kindest and most foolish offer: together we would bear a child as she knew I had often contemplated in mine research. In her eyes such a crossbreed would be the shining icon of the new age, a being that bore the strengths of dragon and gods, and was nurtured by both. We would explore love as a family, as well as representatives of a return to harmony and acceptance.” Seath shook his head, his voice sounding disgusted as well as remorseful. “At times I ponder if she hoped to prey upon the fatal power of mine curiosity with her own blind optimism.”
Twilight cleared her throat. “I take it others did not approve of that?”
“Thine phrasing is far too light, Twilight. Others did not just disprove, they sought to ensure that we regretted such trespasses till both of our dying days. We were left to enjoy our unions together, consensually and unbothered. When Gwynevere was at last with child, much to our surprise and delight, no gossip was heard, nor a protest cried even as the flames began to fade. When at last our daughter was born….then….then…”
White breath, laced with pure unbridled rage surged from Seath’s maw. Before him a duplicate of himself lifted another bundle of blankets from two of Gwynevere’s handmaidens. He pulled it back to reveal a strikingly pale but perfectly formed girl, a tuft of snow white hair already gracing her head and several tiny dragon spikes framing her eyes. A cute, fuzzy little tail poked itself from the blankets, swaying in joy as the infant gurgled and beheld her parents for the first time. Beside Seath, Gwynevere looked overjoyed at the mastery of their new baby, their flawless little crossbreed….
Then suddenly the chamber shook as something impacted hard against the door.
All eyes turned as the wooden walls shattered and splintered, voices screaming for the occupants to open up and surrender themselves for arrest. Seath handed his daughter back to the handmaidens and strode to protect his family as the doors were beaten down into matchwood. In strode a giant and rotund being, clad in armor that seemed to glorify his portly anatomy and wielding what appeared to be a gigantic hammer of some kind. Behind him dozens of silver knights charged in with their weapons drawn.
“T’was only at our daughter’s birth that we were notified of how our actions had displeased and horrified those around us. On orders from her brother, Gwyndolin, Executioner Smough led a brigade of Gwyn’s warriors to capture us and do as was law to all crossbreeds.”
Smough pointed at the bundle with demand for it to be handed over. Seath moved to block him and the executioner laughed while raising his hammer as a challenge. Seath exhaled a thick cloud of crystal breath, ready to fight the loathsome being, but Gwynevere held him back. He looked back at her, demanding what she was doing…then watched in stunned silence as the princess held up her hands in surrender. Her handmaidens stepped forward, holding the infant crossbreed out. Smough ordered them to put it on the ground, then proceeded to wind his hammer back in preparation to finish the poor child off with one solid blow. Fortunately several of the knights promptly stepped in and snatched the crossbreed away, chiding the executioner for not following due process. Seath shook his head, gaped, snarled and did everything he could to deny what he was seeing. Smough, with evident disdain, gave the order for the baby to be disposed of as per Gwyn’s Law and it was duly whisked out of the room. He then decreed that Seath was to leave at once and would be put to death if he ever approached Gwynevere again. The dragon rounded on the princess, she bowed her head and clasped her hands, begging him to please obey and not make this any worse for either of them. Seath could do naught but stare as her as he was forced out of the room by the blades of the knights and Smough’s hammer.
The memory ended, leaving the dreamscape in an uncomfortable silence, broken only by the plink of angry tears upon Seath’s tentacles.
“Betrayal, it seems, is most easily enacted upon those who have already done the deed themselves.” He said in a deathly cold tone.
Twilight stared in horror at her teacher, Luna held a hoof to her mouth as the pieces now finally fell into place.
“You trusted her, and in the crucial moment she failed to stand by your side?” The moon princess asked.
“So it would seem. She loved me, but she loved her family as well. Fate forced her to choose which mattered more. She chose.” Seath replied, his breath turning his tears to ice as he bitterly wept from the agony of recollection.
“Seath…I…I’m so sorry…” Twilight began, only for her teacher to hold up a hand.
“Save thine pity, Twilight, there is still more to tell.” He snarled.
The lavender alicorn swallowed heavily.
“More? Wha-What happened after that?”
Seath began to summon another memory. “After that, the darkness truly took hold of Lordran and all the souls that dwelled within it….”
***
Further and further into the darkness the Chosen Undead strode, knowing all too well that each step was only bringing her closer to a fate worst that death. Her role here in the Abyss had been served, there was no other reason for her to stay. Unfortunately the shadows were playing tricks on her sense of direction so retracing her steps was proving no easier a task. Not that going back the way she came would lead to anything good. All that waited above ground for her were the remains of Oolacile, and she’d already confirmed there was no means of returning to Lordran there. The bonfire in the coliseum had been deliberately cut off from the others so warping away from this nightmare was out of the question, as was just striking out into the surrounding lands since she’d been told this area was about 300 years too early for her objective.
300 years…crud had she really been rotting away in the asylum for so long?
Dashing such thoughts from her mind, the Chosen Undead turned back to what seemed like her only option: continue exploring the Abyss and see if there was another means of escape. If nothing else it appeared that someone had expected her to take that course of action anyway.
The undead held her lantern up and watched as flickers of color danced across the ground before her. After rescuing Sif (hopefully) she’d inspected the paths leading away from the cave the wolf had been hiding in, finding one was covered in scattered prism stones leading deeper into the darkness. Since prism stones at least served as a marker of some manner to prevent one from getting lost the Chosen Undead had been following them, figuring that even if they lead to nowhere she’d at least know how to return to a somewhat safer area.
Gripping one of her tracer swords in her free hand, the husk steeled herself for battle again as more of the black phantoms swarmed her from the darkness. Her pack by now was heaving reassuringly with the mass supply of humanity she’d acquired from these creatures, but the undead sadly knew she couldn’t draw any reassurance from this. The phantoms could kill her faster than their humanity could heal her if she wasn’t careful, and as there seemed to be no end to their numbers she couldn’t count on the odds shifting in her favor any time soon. At least Ciaran’s blades proved sufficient to strike them down with only a few hits.
Further and further the Chosen Undead descended, till at last she came to a toppled slab of rock bridging the gap over a bottomless pit. Common sense dictated this could lead to nowhere helpful, but it still bore the twinkling colors of prism stones, while the path along the cliff side looked like it terminated in a sheer drop. Again deeming she had no choice, the Chosen Undead carefully descended the cracked and crumbling slab, keeping her steps light and her body lowered so she didn’t lose her balance. At the bottom she found a chest, a real one mercifully, and opened it to be presented with a new pyromancy. According to the scroll it was written on it was known as ‘The Black Flame’, custom designed by a pyromancer who had wandered the Abyss long enough to hone its weighty power into an explosion capable of smacking away even the mightiest of shields. The Chosen Undead sighed as she memorized the pyromancy then let the scroll crumble to dust. Had she not already exhausted her energy fighting the phantoms this might have been a useful find. Now it just served as the last testament of another soul who had met their end down here. An end that continuously threatened to become her own if she didn’t find a way out soon.
Coming to a passage on the other side of the bridge, the female husk continued her search, encountering more phantoms and wearily cutting them down before consuming their humanity. Her body felt energized by the constant top ups but the hopelessness of her situation was weighing heavily on her mind. When she came to another platform and found the way ahead blocked by another fog gate, it seemed she had indeed reached the end of her tether. Fog gates never promised anything but misery so here was as good a place to rest as any.
The Chosen Undead set her lantern down and made herself comfortable on the edge of the precipice. She had neither the strength nor the resources to keep moving forward so it appeared turning back was going to be her only option. Back to the cave where her wolf friend had nearly died, perhaps to take her place and perish in her stead.
NO! No she couldn’t risk going hollow now! Not after everything she’d struggled through, and most certainly not when so much was dependent on her success! Even if she could just make it back to the coliseum at least she could refill her estus flask, and hey, if Ciaran was still there then the two might find some peace of mind together. For a little while at least…
The husk rubbed her dry and cracked eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill from them again. She couldn’t stay here, even if those most important to her were here. Cruel as it seemed to have to leave everything she valued behind a second time, she was too important to Lordran to let petty personal issues get in the way. Maybe later, when she’d finally succeeded and was free of her obligations, she could see about coming back…maybe….
The female took a deep breath and slumped against the wall, focusing on the haunting sense of nothingness around her.
The sense of nothingness…and yet also the sense of being watched.
Glancing over the edge of the cliff, the undead felt herself shiver upon noticing a collection of eyes in the darkness. Not white ones but red as the blood that thickly oozed through her veins. They swayed back and forth in the void below, almost beckoning her closer. Tentatively the undead gripped the edge of the cliff and leaned over, her own gaze following those silent eyes.
Back and forth they swayed, like a pendulum.
Back and forth…
Back and forth…
Each time they seemed to call to her, asking her to lean forward a little bit more.
And a little bit more…
And a little bit more…
The undead felt herself giving over to the force of gravity, her balance finally upsetting and sending her tumbling to join those eyes in the void.
Only the sudden crash of something heavy landing behind her, and the grip of a hand on her shoulder, prevented her from the final, fatal fall.
“There you are! Bless what god or goddess graced us with such a fortunate turn!” Siegmeyer declared as he hauled the undead back from the brink. “See Griggs, what did I tell you? Always pays to check any elevator or staircase or passage leading into dangerous territory. You never know what you’re going to find!”
From above, Griggs descended with a ball of light floating above his catalyst.
“Ugh, I still say that was an unnecessary risk, however, I’ll concede that for once it paid off.” The long suffering sorcerer groaned as he joined the pair. “Are you alright, my noble savior?”
The Chosen Undead shook, then grabbed her helmet and yanked it off. She stared up at both of the two in dumb shock. After having had to pull so many other souls out of harm’s way it was a tad mind blowing that those same souls had now come back to return the favor.
“I’d say she’s in dire need of a rest. Looks like this place hasn’t been kind to her in the least.” Siegmeyer said as he whipped out his estus flask. “Here my dear, you could probably do with a swig or two.”
The Chosen Undead drank greedily of the healing flames, feeling herself returning to something resembling a stable mindset as her injuries were finally mended and the humanity in her took advantage to pep her up once more.
“There you go. Up you get, dear!” Siegmeyer helped her back to her feet and dusted her off. “Nothing to worry about now. We’ve come to take you to somewhere more pleasant! You’re had everyone worried sick!”
Griggs allowed himself a small smile. “I suppose this also makes us even for watching each other’s backs?”
To her surprise, the Chosen Undead found herself chuckling somewhat at that. Just at the moment when it seemed she was ready to give herself over, fate had finally thrown her a bit of a bone.
To give herself over….
The Chosen Undead’s smile faded as she heard a dark growling echo from the void below. Hesitantly she took a step towards the edge and felt herself shiver again upon seeing the eyes had vanished.
“Come along now, time we got back to Firelink Shrine. I think this place has done its worst to us.” Siegmeyer commented jovially as he hunted for a homeward bone. Griggs promptly lost his smile too.
“Siemeyer, what did I just say about…”
The Chosen Undead spun around, grabbed her friends and jumped back from the brink. As rude as it seemed to knock both of her rescuers flat on their butts she had good cause: namely the earth shattering roar that rumbled across the Abyss, followed by the return of an unwelcomingly familiar hand. A hand covered in simian like hair, as well as numerous ugly burns.
“Seriously, Siegmeyer, the next time you open your mouth I’m turning around and running as far away from you as I can!” Griggs swore as he scrambled from the descending limb. It smashed through the cliffside, breaking an enormous chunk of rock off and nearly sending all three of the undead into a free fall. Quick as a flash the Chosen Undead was back on her feet with her swords at the ready, prepared to finally face this damned soul that had worked so hard to make her life hell. The hand rose and curled itself into a fist. She raised her blades and braced herself to weather the blow.
“NO!” Griggs promptly got up and yanked the female husk out of harm’s way as more of the cliffside was demolished. “I mean, no. Look, while I value your willingness to throw your life on the line every time I or someone else is in danger, I’d like to request that, for once you refrain, please.”
“Yes…erm…don’t get us wrong, you are certainly one of the bravest and most skilled warriors I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, but I don’t think I’m being too harsh in saying none of us are prepared to face this…whatever this is…at the present moment.Maybe later we can come back if you really want to, though.” Siegmeyer quickly replied as more punches fell upon them. Conceding her rescuers had a valid point, the Chosen Undead joined them in rushing back up the way they'd come from, losing their footing several times as their assailant continued to pound away at the rock face. Everyone grappled for something to hold onto as the floor was ripped away from underneath faster than they could get across it. All three hurled themselves back onto the platform at the bottom of the fallen pillar as the giant hand made a last desperate lunge. Fortunately it seemed they had found a spot just a little too far for it to reach, and with another ungodly roar, the hand retreated.
“Indeed…much…MUCH…later.” Griggs groaned as he gathered himself up from the ground. “Can we please leave now? I think I’ve learned enough about how tragic the Fall of Oolacile was first hand. I’d very much like to find somewhere nice and less noisy to document my findings.”
“Jolly good idea!” Siegmeyer replied as he found his homeward bone and wrapped an arm around the Chosen Undead. “Stay close to us now dear!”
Griggs retrieved another bone for himself and the three were mercifully whisked out of the darkness, finding themselves landing back in front of the Lordvessel in a blaze of light.
“Praise the Witch’s Flame, you return at last!” Laurentius cheered as the returned heroes promptly collapsed before him.
“Chosen Undead! Pleased am I to see thee again!” Frampt declared as the female husk coughed and looked up from her sprawled position. As dank and disgusting as the sight (and smell) of the primordial serpent was, he might as well have been an angel for how relieved she was to see him in return.
“Exceptionally well done, Griggs. Perhaps I was wrong to deny your company when I first set out from Vinheim.” Logan commented without looking up from the book he was reading. “Please, everyone, take a moment to rest and collect yourselves. We have big news to impart. Well, more specifically, Laurentius does.”
The sorcerer gestured for the beaming pyromancer to take over so he could go back to his studies. Clapping his hands together, the hooded male smiled as brightly as the fires around him burned.
“Your return could not have come at a better time, Chosen Undead. I’ve found the location of our missing Seath!”
***
In the darkness a figure writhed in the grip of chaos. Numerous red eyes on the bizarre extensions of its misshapen skull blinked and flinched as the creature pounded the dirt and roared its anguish.
“I told thee, aye. T’was a frantic and reckless course of action bringing the Chosen Undead here! Art thou now convinced or must thou jeopardize matters e’en more?”
The figure ceased its maniacal pounding as it registered a new danger behind it. It turned to retaliate but a red aura suddenly appeared around its body, levitating it off the ground and crushing it like a walnut.
“Thou hast had thine chance to enact thine own vengeance, and failed miserably! Tell me why do I not just snuff out thine light right here!? None will miss thee, the Abyss shall not mourn thee, thou art as thine title hath always indicated.”
The aura cruelly shrunk around the creature’s buckling body. It writhed and cried in pain but, as had been stated, not a soul was around to hear, or care.
“Ah, but I still have some small use for thee…two remaining duties that may yet be thine salvation.”
Bones snapped like twigs in the magical grip. The creature braced itself for its demise.
“The last of the Lord Souls still remains somewhere in Lordran. Find it and see it safely to the ponies’ realm. Where it lands matters not, just obtain it before the Chosen Undead does!”
With its body breaking in about 20 different places, the creature wailed.
“Then, when thou hast accomplished that, turn thine gaze to the north; to the returned dominion of their Crystal Empire. It is time to reclaim what is rightfully mine.”
A weak, pain racked nod, almost like a plea for death.
“Do this and I may let thee breathe for another day. Fail, and thou shalt again be reminded of how truly forgotten thou art, pygmy!”
The aura vanished and the creature plummeted back to earth, fracturing a few more of its remaining bones on impact. The damage was nothing that could not be recovered from, at least for one of the being’s stature, but then again the physical pain was not intended to be the masterstroke. Rather the torturer’s blunt words were the real hardship; that all too present reminder that its victim was indeed alone and forgotten by all, trapped down here in the domain of its own making. Where it had no choice but to obey the one who so delighted in prolonging its suffering for its own ends.
Grunting weakly as it tested what parts of its body could still move, the creature curled up into a ball and tried to bear the pain till it recovered. Afterwards it had to plan for its new task, lest it again draw the wrath of its master and be reminded of the direness of its situation.
A situation it had only itself to blame for.