Alright, everyone. Sorry for the long delay. Like really long. I should probably post *Hiatus* or something like that next time. Sorry once again. In this chapter we'll get to see...well you'll see.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

"Are we ready to head out?" Sigil asked as he strapped several throwing knives to his belt. The others nodded. They climbed up the ladder and began their journey.

Beyond the ladder and the small room next to it was an underpass, just as Solaire had said there was. Sigil walked across first but paused when he heard something.

The quiet crunch of gravel underfoot to his right.

He barely had time to react as a hollow soldier slashed at him, sparks flying from the stone as the blade bounced off.

Sigil grabbed the hollow's arm and yanked to the side, throwing the hapless creature off the edge. There was a faint crunch when it hit the ground below.

A pike slashed open the thief's cheek as he leaped back. The hollow hid behind its large shield, seemingly daring the thief to strike. Sigil grinned and swung the zweinhander overhead. The blow crushed the hollow between the ground and its shield. Solaire laid a hand on sigil's shoulder.

"Excellent work Sir Sigil! Please, stay back and heal while I push forward. It wouldn't do us much good if you were struck down now!" Solaire offered.

Sigil nodded and moved to the back of the line. When they reached the other side, Solaire signaled for them to stop. He drew his sword and charged into the room in front of them. Several loud squeaks and yells were heard.

"You can come in!" Solaire shouted.

Sigil and Oscar were greeted with the sight of a bloody Solaire surrounded by several dead giant rats.

"Impressive" Sigil said as he surveyed the room.

"Why thank you! It is quite the shame I had to dirty my crest, but I'm sure the blood will wash out." Solaire replied with a chuckle.

They continued on, climbing up a ladder in a small side chamber before filing up a narrow, curving set of stairs. They were soon presented with two choices: exit out through a doorway or continue up.

"I think we should check what's at the top before moving on." Sigil proposed.

"A sound idea Sir Sigil, lead the way!" Solaire spoke. Sigil slowly crept up the stairs, dagger drawn and buckler held out. He peaked over the edge of the next floor...

Before immediately jumping back when a massive blade whistled over his head.

"Damn! Another one of those black knights!" Sigil cursed.

"Did you see what he was wielding?" Oscar inquired.

"A massive greatsword, about as long as me." Sigil replied.

"If you don't mind, allow me to handle this," Solaire spoke as he strode forward, blade drawn. Sigil and Oscar cautiously watched from behind him.

The black knight was almost identical in appearance to the one Sigil had faced, save for the even larger sword it wielded.

The knight rested the blade upon its right shoulder before pausing, staring in something akin to recognition. A small jet of steam puffed out of its helmet.

Solaire raised his shield with something akin to melancholy.

The knight swung the blade with all its might, smashing into Solaire's shield.

CLANG

The man hardly budged.

In fact, he shoved the blade away, throwing the knight off balance.

With a single slash, Solaire decapitated the enemy. A stream of hot gas hissed out of the stump as it collapsed to its knees and evaporated into souls.

Solaire bent down and picked up a piece of titanite before tossing it to Sigil.

"Tell me, Oscar, are you still using that blessed sword of yours?" Solaire asked as he sheathed his blade. The elite knight nodded.

"Shame, you really should learn how to rely on normal steel and your own strength. No matter, I suppose a fool like me isn't one to judge." Solaire sighed.

"I'll try as hard as I can Sir!" Oscar said.

Solaire laughed, "Excellent, that's the enthusiasm I like to hear!"

"If you don't mind my prying Sir Solaire, did you know that knight back up there?" Sigil inquired. Solaire seemed to twitch slightly before shaking his head.

"Tell me Sigil, have you ever heard the tragedy of Gwyn's black knights?" Solaire asked. Sigil shook his head.

"Ah, once again my foolishness has shown by assuming someone as young as you would know such an old tale. For you see, when The old Witch of Izalith attempted to rekindle the Great Flame, she created the forces of Chaos. Gwyn and his personal detachment of mighty knights attempted to purge that blight from this world. Do you know what chaotic flames do Sir Sigil? Oh, forgive me, another foolish assumption on my part. One of Chaos's foulest creations were its flames. Flames so intense they could scorch the very soul. The silver armor of Gwyn's proud knights was blackened, as well as their souls. They remained fiercely loyal to Gwyn, but alas, that loyalty was their downfall." Solaire paused for a moment to look at the sky.

"For when Lord Gwyn disappeared, so did their reason for being. They now wander about uselessly, attacking anything that approaches them. I was merely saddened to put down what was once a warrior many times greater than myself, nothing more. Forgive me one last time, I did not mean to make the atmosphere so depressing!" Solaire finished with a sad chuckle.

"It's quite fine. Also, please, refer to me as Sigil. I don't deserve to be called "sir" by a man of your stature." Sigil said.

"Likewise, whenever a person calls me "sir" I blush out of embarrassment. Oscar, that goes for you as well!" Solaire spoke with a hearty laugh.

"Yes, si- I mean Solaire!" Oscar stuttered.

The group walked down the stairs and out the doorway they had discovered. To the left lay a large chamber, and to the right an open gateway. Checking the chamber, the party found a bonfire and a strange statue.

"Uhh, Solaire?" Sigil asked.

"Hm?"

"Why...why is there a statue of you here?" Sigil inquired.

"Oh? Oh that old thing! That isn't actually a stone imitation of myself, but rather the long since passed Firstborn of Gwyn, the Warriors of Sunlight!" Solaire explained with a laugh.

"The Warriors on Sunlight? I can't say I've heard of them." Sigil said before cringing. He could almost see the scowl under Solaire's helmet.

"Bah, curse the Way of the White. I swear if you so much as speak one word about another covenant they would behead you on the spot! No matter, I shall enlighten you, hehe pardon the pun, about the Warriors of Sunlight! In short, we are but a humble band of men and women each seeking our own sun!" Solaire explained excitedly.

"...Excuse me?" Sigil asked.

"You see, the sun is the source of light and life on this earth. Lord Gwyn is the Lord of Sunlight, as he is the embodiment of the sun's light and power. We of the Warriors seek to find our own personal sun to give us our own fount of strength and light!" He turned toward the sun and sighed. "If only I could be as grossly incandescent."

"Right, shall we rest at the fire and continue on?" Sigil said, only mildly concerned for Solaire's sanity.

"Oh, of course, I'll stand here if you don't mind," Solaire spoke while still facing the sun.

After resting, they began walking toward the gateway. A single hollow in rusting armor dashed forward, only to be cut in half by Sigil's blade.

The gateway led to a large courtyard. Nearly half a dozen hollows, armed with various weapons, stood in different positions. In front of the gateway on the other side stood a massive boar covered in plate mail, its eyes glowing a murderous red. Upon spotting them, one of the hollows ran back and closed the gates behind the boar.

"Curses, a fang boar. Stay clear of those tusks my good friends, lest they rend you to pieces." Solaire warned while Sigil and Oscar nodded in response.

Fours of the hollows charged with boar, two on either side.

Sigil took the left, Oscar the right, and Solaire the middle.

One of Oscar's hollows thrust its spear forward.

Oscar parried it to the side, shattering the rotten wood, before stabbing the hollow twice.

Before its companion could fall to the ground, the 2nd hollow had its throat cut out.

Sigil's hollows stuck close together as they both attempted to stab him.

He replied by cleaving the two of them in half with a single stroke.

The board charged toward Solaire, cracking the stone underneath its hooves with its speed.

Solaire leaped into the air, smashing the creature's snout into the ground with his landing.

Dashing across its back, Solaire landed behind it and spun around.

The only unarmored place on the boar was the tail and the area just under it.

Solaire grimaced as he shoved the blade into the beast.

The boar squealed as its insides were cut apart, before collapsing and exploding into souls.

Three crossbow bolts shattered on the ground around them.

"Quick! To that cellar!" Sigil shouted as he pointed toward a downward staircase near the opposing gateway.

The three dashed in as more bolts rained down upon them.

They took a moment to catch their breath as soon as they were in cover.

"Tell me Sigil, how did you learn to master the greatsword in such a manner? I've scarcely met thieves who could wield a longsword, let alone a weapon as hefty as yours." Solaire inquired.

"Training, and a few books." Sigil replied as he rested the flat of the blade on his shoulder. Solaire nodded, impressed.

They all turned upon hearing a hiss from around the corner. As soon as they did, a hollow clothed in sackcloth ran away.

"I suppose it would be rude to not follow him, would it not?" Solaire asked. The others nodded.

Sigil dashed after the creature into a large room.

Three more hollows sprung out from behind tables and columns.

Sigil gripped the Zweihander and spun with all his strength.

The first hollow turned with something akin to a grin, only to scowl at the fact that the would-be ambushers had all been cleaved in half.

Two more followed behind it as it charged toward Sigil.

Oscar and Solaire leaped forward, cutting the attackers to pieces.

"Nice job." Sigil spoke.

They spent a few minutes searching the room, only finding a few souls and a key.

After climbing up a pair of ladders and killing another pair of hollows, the group reached an intersection.

To the right lay a corridor leading to a terrace and a strange knight, and to the left lay yet another intersection.

Sigil walked up to the knight.

It spun around, growling.

Sigil swung his blade toward it-

CLANG

Only to be parried.

He hopped back before he could be impaled by the hollow knight's rapier.

Sigil's hand whipped forward as he threw a knife into the knight's side, causing it to stumble.

Drawing his bandit's knife, sigil stabbed the knight once, twice, thrice in the stomach. It gurgled for a few moments before becoming still.

Sigil inspected the hollow's helmet while Solaire and Oscar approached.

"A balder knight?" Sigil asked aloud.

"Indeed," Solaire replied.

"I'd heard tales of the knights of Balder trying to invade Lordran after the plague of undead, but I never thought the rumors to be true." Sigil sighed before letting the head fall to the floor with a CLUNK.

Two more hollow spearmen and another Balder knight, this time armed with a strange long sword, attacked the group in a narrow corridor. The hollows were quickly cut to pieces.

"There's the church!" Sigil said as he pointed past the stone courtyard between them and the old building. Several hollows blocked the path.

The group charged forward, cutting the hollows down one by one. To their left lay a large doorway leading into the church, and to the right was a corridor leading to an ominous clanging with a fortress in the distance.

They walked down the long corridor. It led to a medium-sized room with a few shattered statues. After descending two flights of stairs, they found and rested at a bonfire.

Strolling down another set of stairs, the group was met with the sight of a pile of tools, weapons, and a burly blacksmith.

The man seemed to be about six and a half feet tall. He was shirtless save for a thick leather apron, most likely there to catch sparks and hot flakes of metal. His arms were the size of tree trunks and his beard reached down to his waist as he leaned over and hammered a sword into shape. He paused and looked up at the new arrivals.

"Greetins, I am Andre of Astora. If ya require smithin', I can certainly help ya." The smith spoke before returning to his work.

"Why are there so many Astorans here?" Sigil quietly asked Oscar, who shrugged in response.

Each of the adventurers introduced themselves.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet ya. Now, is there anythin' I can help ya with?" He inquired. Sigil nodded.

"I have a sword that needs improvement." Sigil said as he carefully passed the Zweihander to the smith, who easily grabbed and lifted it with a single hand.

"It's a mighty fine sword ya have there, I'll give ya that. However, I can't do anythin' if ya don't have titanite." The smith answered.

"Titanite?" Sigil asked.

"The metal of the gods. It can be molded into any shape and can make a dull rusted blade cut through steel like butter. It's a grayish metal." The smith explained.

"I've got two chunks here, would these work?" Sigil offered the metal over.

"Ah, perfect! I'll have to break 'em up, but this should give yer blade a much better edge. Pass some souls over, would ya?" The smith requested.

About an hour later, the job was complete. The edge of the blade seemed to shimmer with a newfound deadliness. Sigil swung it around a few times.

"Now don't go cuttin' yer head off. Would be a shame to see ya turn hollow." The smith said with a laugh as the group departed.

They climbed back up the surface and killed the hollows guarding the church entrance once more. Sigil peered inside. To the left were a cluster of balder knights and to-

SLAM

The tip of a massive mace caught Sigil in the chest and sent him flying back. He tumbled into Oscar, who barely stopped him from flying off the edge of the courtyard into to a ravine.

Out from the shadows of the church stepped a massive knight clad in black steel armor. He easily stood nine feet tall with a mace as large as him. Growling a challenge, the knight raised his eight-foot-tall shield.

"A Berenike knight," Solaire observed.

"A what?" Sigil asked as he took a swig of estus.

"Berenike was a kingdom allied with Balder. They invaded Lordran alongside the Balders when the undead plague came about. I assume all that's left are hollows such as this one. I think I'll let you handle it Oscar." Solaire said as he took a seat.

"What?! Me?!" Oscar exclaimed.

"Of course, a lumbering oaf such as this should be mere child's play for someone like you." Solaire spoke confidently.

Oscar tightened his grip on his sword before dashing forward.

He slashed at the knight but left barely a scratch on his armor.

The knight swung the mace overhead and into the ground where Oscar had been standing, carving a crater into the brick.

Oscar searched frantically for any weaknesses in the armor, calling upon all his learning regarding combat.

The joints!

He waited with his shield up, inviting the hollow to strike.

When the knight finally did swing, Oscar bashed the mace away with such force that he seemed to almost throw himself at it.

With the knight knocked off balance to the side, Oscar grasped the opportunity and ran his blade through the unarmored armpit joint.

The holy steel blade went through the armpit, nicked the lungs, and pierced the hollow's throat.

It collapsed to its knees, choking on its blood before exploding into souls.

Oscar fell to his knees, panting. Solaire laid an armored hand on his shoulder.

"Well done! I knew you could conquer such a foe!" Solaire applauded.

"Th-thank you." Oscar stuttered as he got up. They walked into the church.

Solaire strode over to a shrine dedicated to some forgotten god. On top of it lay the decaying body of a long-dead maiden. He grabbed a writhing white growth on its chest and held it out to Sigil.

"What exactly is that?" Sigil inquired as he held it.

"That would be the soul of this firekeeper," Solaire said as he pointed to the body.

"Her soul? Why does it look more like a parasite?" Sigil asked.

"It's a bit complicated to ex- GAH" Solaire shouted as a bolt of magic struck him in the side of the head. He whipped to the right and looked up. Sigil and Oscar followed his gaze.

On top of a balcony, a figure wielding a golden trident and robes made of chainmail began dancing as a magic circle glowed around him.

"Quickly! To that staircase!" Solaire shouted as he ran towards a staircase next to the shrine. The other two followed as more magical bolts followed them.

In the stairwell stood a balder knight, who was cut down by Solaire before it even had the chance to draw its blade.

"Who. huff. Was that?" Oscar asked.

"That was a magic channeler. They serve Seath the Scaleless. I didn't expect to find one here." Solaire explained.

"Let's go kill the bastard then," Sigil muttered as he continued on.

The stairwell led to two more hallways. At the end of the second laid a large room. Stepping into the room, Sigil was immediately surrounded by a dozen hollows. They were only armed with shattered swords. Behind them stood the channeler.

It had a tall helmet with 6 eyes embedded in it. The chainmail rings formed peculiar patterns and symbols on its robes. It began performing a strange dance as the weapons of the hollows began to glow. It was akin to a dark parody of a preacher and their congregation.

The hollows charged forward.

Swinging his blade, sigil cut through five of the hollows like a scythe through wheat.

One of the creatures managed to nick sigil with its blade. It cut through his leather armor like it wasn't there.

Sigil threw a knife into the hollows throat and continued slaughtering the rest.

When all of the peons were dead, the channeler took a nervous step backward.

"No more bodies to throw at me?" Sigil said with a sardonic laugh.

The channeler vainly tried shooting a magical arrow at the thief.

Sigil dodged it with ease and brought his blade down upon the sorcerer's head, cleaving it in two.

Kicking the body off his sword, Sigil rested against a pillar and waited for the others.

"You need to stop rushing ahead." Oscar admonished him.

"I got the job done, didn't I?" Sigil replied flippantly. Solaire merely sighed.

"What was that magic anyway?" Sigil asked.

"I believe it was the spell 'Soul Arrow'. Most offensive magic targets the opponent's soul and body directly, rendering armor useless. As you can see." Solaire took his helmet off.

Underneath was a man in his mid-40s, with bright, golden blonde hair and a trimmed beard. On the right side of his face was a large crust of dried blood, despite the lack of damage to his helmet. He took a sip of his own estus flask before putting the helmet back on.

"Shall we continue?" Solaire asked. The others nodded.

Walking into a small side room, the group climbed up two sets of ladders before coming before a fog wall.

"Be on the ready," Oscar said.

They strode through the fog. On the other side, they stood atop the roof of the church. Directly across from them lay the belfry.

Slowly starting to approach it, the group halted upon hearing the cracking of stone. On top of the bell tower, a large stone gargoyle began to shift and move. Scant moments later, the stone on the beast cracked and broke off like eggshell. The gargoyle wielded a massive halberd and a huge buckler, with a double-headed ax instead of a tail. The beast howled in anger before charging the trio.

All three of them rolled to opposing sides as the halberd was swung vertically into the ground. Sigil and Oscar stabbed the beast's sides while Solaire retrieved a strange talisman from a satchel on his belt. The beast howled in pain and flew back.

Suddenly, another beast landed next to it. It lacked both a tail and buckler, but quickly revealed what it had to compensate for such losses. Unhinging its jaw, it breathed out a wave of fire. Sigil slapped his arm as his bracer had caught fire while Oscar hid behind a statue.

Solaire drew his arm back as if to throw a javelin. When his arm shot forward, so did a bolt of lightning. The bolt struck the firebreathing gargoyle in the skull, filling the air with the smell of burnt flesh as it collapsed. The armored gargoyle howled in anger at the loss of its brethren and renewed its assault twofold.

Solaire threw another lightning bolt, striking the beast in the wing and grounding it. Sigil brought his blade down and lopped off its head. The two bodies exploded into souls as the party sat down to rest.

"Why the hell were gargoyles guarding the bell?" Sigil groaned.

"Gargoyles were the guard dogs of the gods during the golden times. It wouldn't be far fetched to think they would be used to guard something as important as a Bell of Awakening." Solaire replied.

Sigil hopped up to his feet and stretched for a few moments.

"Oscar do you want to ring the bell?" Sigil asked.

The knight shook his head. "I had my chance. Go on ahead, we'll stay down here."

Sigil nodded and jogged over to the belfry. Inside there was yet another ladder. After clambering up it, Sigil sighed as he stepped outside onto a small ledge. Yet another ladder.

He slowly climbed up it, taking the time to admire the view of the mountains and rivers surrounding him. When he reached the top, he was greeted by the sight of a massive bell and lever. He yanked on the lever and stood back. The deep bonging of the bell seemed to echo across the land. Sigil climbed down the external ladder and slid down the internal one. The second his feet touched the ground, he was startled by someone.

"Greetings. I am Oswald of Carim, the pardoner. Thou art a friend? For thee, a warm welcome. Cometh thou to confess? Or to accuse? For indeed all sin is my domain." A man robed in black spoke. Sigil cautiously eyed the sword at his hip before shaking his head.

"Not today." Sigil answered before making for the exit.

"Thou art welcome anytime. It is only human to commit a sin... Heh heh heh heh..." The man chuckled ominously.

Sigil resisted the urge to shiver as he strolled back to Oscar and Solaire.

"Well done Sigil!" Oscar congratulated as he laid a gauntlet on the thief's shoulder.

Before immediately stepping back as Sigil was lifted up in a bear hug by Solaire.

"Well done indeed! This calls for a celebration! Oh praise the sun!" Solaire shouted as he slightly crushed Sigil.

"Solaire! M-my spiiinnee!" Sigil begged.

"Oh, my apologies! This armor really does hamper my ability to restrain myself!" Solaire laughed.

They climbed back down into the chamber where Sigil had slain the channeler.

"Solaire, you seemed to dislike that channeler, could you tell us why?" Oscar asked.

"Dislike is too gentle a word for my disposition toward them." Solaire spat out almost venomously. "Those swine are responsible for kidnapping people, mainly young maidens, for whatever foul experiments that slimy lizard Seath is up to."

"Look at it this way, at least the bastard won't be able to harm anyone again." Sigil offered. Solaire nodded.

"Thank you Sigil, I needed that assurance," Solaire said with a sigh.

"Hello! Is anyone there? I am in need of assistance!" A voice called out from a hallway to the side. The trio looked at each other before nodding and walking down the hallway. At the end of it laid a rotting door, easily kicked down by Sigil. Up a small set of stairs was a door of iron bars.

"I see you're still human. Then I am in luck. As you can see, I am stuck without any means of recourse. Until you came along of course." The voice spoke.

Sigil looked past the bars. Inside a small chamber sat a man clad in golden armor. On both hips a pair of long, scythe-like blades sat. The figure spoke. His voice was smooth like his armor but oily.

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

"My name is Lautrec. Lautrec of Carim."

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