(A/N: 150 powerstones by Friday and I'll drop an extra chapter over the weekend. That's right, we doing goals now cause I like to see numbers go up so put the stones in the bag and you won't get hurt. Also updated the auxiliary chapter with an entry for a certain sorcerer.)
XOXO
He was close.
Soul still far from its original state but close to the production of mana, very soon all of this meditation would bear fruit. He wouldn't be back at full strength immediately, another bout of specific training to get this body used to channeling such energy but that would be a simple matter. The physical form was a vessel that adhered to the true source of his essence. With the right flow of mana it could be encouraged to do so at a pace that defied the reason and logic any world forced on him by merely existing within its confines.
He was so close that he could force it. Just one hard push, a forceful expansion of his soul, and the power he'd been without would be back at his fingerprints. If this body were stronger, it might've been worth considering.
As things stood now, an uncontrolled burst of mana, however brief, would destroy this lacking body of his before it got the chance to adjust.
Risk aside, he was in no desperate rush to begin with. For all his complaints and grievances with his body, he rather enjoyed being without the power of mana. It'd been a long time since one of his lives took him by such surprise and forced him to struggle so early on.
The spectral steed's presence brushed the edges of his senses, leaving behind the comfort of the cabin. He'd have ignored it, if it weren't for the much smaller one accompanying him.
"H-Hello?"
Onyx opened his eyes, the awareness of those presences slipping away from him.
The blonde, led by the horse's reigns stood within the ruins, an uncertain frown in place.
"You're finally awake." Onyx said, momentary surprise taking the place of her frown at the sound of his voice. "How are you feeling?"
"Better. Much better." She bowed her head to him. "Thank you, kind sir. I owe you my life.
"Trust me, you don't owe me anything." It's not like she asked him to look after her after all. "Take a seat."
The spectral steed moved forward, leading the blonde in front of him, where she carefully sat down, cleaned dress smoothed out.
"We're on a small island off the western coast of Limgrave, in some ruins." He shared. "I think people might've come here to worship dragons but I'm not sure." He explained. "It's nothing fancy but the area is safe enough. You won't have to worry about predators or anything like that."
"The western shore?" She muttered. A surprise for her no doubt considering how far inland they'd come across each other. She likely hadn't even realized how long she'd been bedridden fighting off that infection. "And is this your home?"
"It is the place I spend most of my nights, but I wouldn't say that. I'm planning on exploring Limgrave as well as the other regions. I was actually on my way to some ruins I was told about before I ran into you." Even after mana came back into play, this place would still be the place he spent much of his time. A decent meditation spot, a relatively private space, and plenty of space below.
It made for a good base of sorts. It'd make for a perfect one once he was able to finish setting everything up.
She bowed her head again. "In that case I should apologize for impeding your travels as well."
"No need. I'm more interested in your situation than some old rocks." Be it today, tomorrow or entire years from now, he had plenty of time to learn about what these people called sorcerers and glintstone. She and whatever led to her injury didn't have that same luxury. "You kept mentioning your father and a castle?"
"Y-Yes!" Her tone rose but quickly dropped. "You've already done more for me than I should ask but I'm afraid that I must beg for your assistance. I am from Castle Morne to the southern end of Limgrave in a region known as the Weeping Peninsula. I can not be sure, my eyesight has been very weak from birth you see-" She raised a hand to the blindfold around her eyes, another piece of cloth cleaned by him when he first brought her here. "-but I've been told that the servants there were overcome by a spell of madness. The frightful howling there as I was secreted away was unlike any other sound I've ever heard."
She took a breath, winded. "My father, he is fighting there. I…I know there is not much I can do and he would want me to think of myself first, but I must ensure his safety."
Onyx hummed elbow placed on his knee and fist supporting his cheek as he leaned forward. "And how would someone who can't even tell where they are go about doing that?"
"T-The Gatefront. I had intended on seeking aid from the soldiers there but…"
So, a battle in a distant castle and a blind woman seeking to bring aid back to the fight. A possible madness. He was curious whether or not some sort of phenomenon was actually at play or if these servants were just run of the mill people carrying out some kind of rebellion.
In his experience, especially in a land wrapped up in turbulent times such as this one, servants and slaves might as well mean the same thing.
"If you are willing, I would ask that you bring me there." She said. "There is little I can offer in return and-"
"Alright." Onyx decided, raising his head from his fist.
"S-Sir?"
"I'll help you out."
Despite the blindfold, the frown and the lines of her furrowed brow perfectly expressed her confusion and disbelief. "I…forgive me for my rudness but you are a tarnished, are you not?"
"That's what everyone here seems to be calling me."
"Surely you realize the danger you would be putting yourself in? Lord Godrick's knights are known to be ruthless to those like you. Even if I were to speak on your behalf, if they do not attempt to kill you, they are likely to do far worse should they capture you." She explained, seemingly just as concerned for him, a stranger, as she was for her father. "I understand if you do not wish to take such a risk."
"It's fine. I've already decided to help." He said, the concerns brushed aside.
Would he actually be able to hold a conversation with one of those knights with her around? If he could, would they be willing to share information? And would that information line up with Kalé's? The servants and their apparent madness. Whether or not her efforts would bore any fruit?
Helping her was more of an exercise in curiosity than true altruism for him. Though he would readily admit to being partial to unconditionally kind people such as her. Not many in her position would choose to warn off what was their only realistic source of help rather than relying on pity to get more out of them.
Her type was a rarity among the worlds at large.
"I-I thank you, kind sir." She said, head bowed once more. Though she was quick to stand up. Too quick. "I am ready to-ready to-" She took an unsteady step back and would've fallen over had it not been for spectral steed shifting his hind legs to keep her propped up.
"You're too stick to head anywhere. You should get some more rest."
"But-"
"A conversation is enough to leave you out of breath." Onyx said. Her breath hitched slightly, the blond only now realizing how hard she was breathing as well as the sweat gathering along her brow. "Setting out now could end with you dead."
She gave a slow nod as she regained her footing, the horse bringing his reins back to her hand and leading her back to the cabin.
This was going to be interesting.
XOXO
"Please be safe, my lord."
"Same to you, Boc." Onyx said as he adjusted his feet in the sandy shores of the coast. He'd be dropping by Kalé and seeing about trading for the pair of leather boots he'd previously passed on in exchange for other tools.
"Thank you for having me, sir Boc." The blonde, Irina as she shared over the past few days, said with a bow. The gesture caught him off guard, Boc squirming in place, unsure of what exactly he should say back. After what he'd done for him, Boc felt indebted to him, but he was far from comfortable around other humans by the look of things.
"Here you go." Onyx broke the silence by raising his left arm out, pressing it to her elbow. She gently grabbed hold of it with both hands and the two of them took off, the sand crunching beneath their feet.
"If you don't mind my asking, sir Onyx, how did you come to be acquainted with a demihuman?" She asked, the curious question likely having been swimming through her head since she first met Boc. "I have been led to believe they are a savage people who attack others on sight. He was nothing like that."
"Pure chance. He was being kicked out of his group by others of his kind when and I was passing by at the time. They had taken his belongings and were beating on him. I stopped it."
"I see." He shifted the arm she held, leading her around some washed up driftwood. "You truly are a kind man."
"I'm sure it sounds that way but the group he was kicked out from better fit the whole savage people description. They attacked me and I defended myself. We've been helping each other since."
"Even so, he always sounds so excited to speak with you. I'm sure that wouldn't be the case if you didn't show him kindness."
Onyx hummed rather than nodded. He wouldn't say she was at her best, but Irina was close to a full recovery if she was satisfying her curiosity through conversation now. Walking at this pace was going to turn what had been a far shorter journey for hm into a several day thing, however.
It is what it is. He thought with a mental shrug, unbothered by the prospect.
"Sir Onyx? If you don't mind me-"
"Feel free to ask and say whatever you want, Irina. You don't need to worry about being formal with me." He said.
"Oh, of course, if you're certain." She said with a nod. "I understand that you're concerned for me, but I believe that I've recovered enough to travel by horseback. Is there a reason we aren't using your steed?"
Onyx chuckled. "That guy? Yeah, he isn't mine or anything. He just showed up one day and has been mooching off me ever since." He explained. "You might want to thank him the next time he shows up. The only time he let me ride him was to take you back here. Once you get used to his attitude, he isn't so bad."
"That-I'm sorry, I'm a little confused. We are talking about a horse, correct?"
"He certainly looks like one but its for the best that you don't think of him as some animal or pet. He's too smart to tolerate anything like that."
Irina brow furrowed. "…You keep rather unique company."
"Unique makes things interesting." He said with a slight smile. He didn't always seek them out but somehow someway he tended to end up brushing shoulders with the oddest people whatever world he ended up in had. This one was fixing to be no exception.
"Yes, I imagine that is the case." Perhaps picking up on his smile or just amused herself, Irina smiled as well.
He'd consider both Boc and Kalé friends of sorts but conversations within the former always felt like someone was worshiping the ground he walked on while talks with the latter were all informational or transactional with a growing familiarity.
Small talk like this was a nice change of pace.