28 Kindred Spirits #28

Author's note: I fked up by posting the wrong chapter yesterday, then posted the same one today, so Im reposting both chapters...

...

Renna's voice echoed in Adrian's ears, her enigmatic question hanging in the air like a haunting melody. "How long, I wonder... Before the Tarnished tire of obedience to the Two Fingers?"

Before Adrian could react or respond, Renna dissolved into the swirling snowflakes and particles, leaving a sense of intrigue and uncertainty. He stood there, momentarily frozen in place, contemplating the meaning behind her words.

The reference to the Two Fingers sparked a flicker of recognition within Adrian's mind. They were supposedly vessels of the Greater Will, the deity that ruled over the Lands Between. But beyond that, Adrian knew nothing about them, or it, or whatever they might be.

However, what bothered Adrian the most was Renna's reluctance to reveal the identity of Torrent's former owner. She only told him that Torrent's first owner was someone Adrian knew of and explained that it was not her reveal to expose the identity of the second.

With her business concluded, Renna asked Adrian to learn more about the Lands Between. Adrian couldn't help but feel she was indirectly berating his ignorance of the world, but he had no idea how to reply.

And before he could even process the situation, Renna uttered those words about the Two Finger and disappeared, leaving him with more questions than answers.

'Fuck you, Miyazaki... fuck you, R. R. Martin, for this convoluted lore...' Adrain mused, his eyes twitching in bemusement as he returned to the church, his eyes settling on Kale. He looked at the merchant, who had momentarily stopped playing his instrument, and asked, "mind if I join you at the bonfire? It's getting a bit chilly..."

Kale's eyes met Adrian's, and he replied with a nonchalant shrug, "Suit yourself..."

Adrian settled on the ground, the crackling fire casting dancing shadows across his face. He closed his eyes, allowing the warmth of the flames to seep into his weary bones, attempting to clear his mind from the recent encounters. A deep sigh escaped his lips, a mixture of exhaustion and contemplation.

Adrian's mind wandered as the moments passed, and he couldn't help but voice a desire. "Do you have anything with alcohol for sale?" he asked, looking at Kale with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Kale's gaze turned quizzical, a hint of amusement flickering in his expression. He chuckled before responding, "You think too highly of me, I'm afraid... such pleasures are worth twice their weight in gold..."

Shaking his head, the merchant added, "If you're seeking such rarities, the capital might be your best bet, though even there, it's scarce."

Adrian couldn't help but chuckle at the merchant's words. "I suppose that's one more reason for me to reach the Atlas Blateu..." Adrian's shoulders slumped as he spoke, realizing the scarcity of the indulgence he sought.

Another sigh escaped his lips, a mixture of disappointment and resignation. He settled into a companionable silence beside Kale, appreciating the ethereal melodies resonating from the musician's rebab-like instrument.

In the quiet moment, Adrian decided to break the silence and engage in small talk, hoping to learn more about Kale's background. Turning his gaze towards the musician, he spoke with genuine curiosity, "You mentioned that you're part of a nomadic people. Do you mind sharing a bit more...?"

Kale paused, his gaze distant as if lost in memories, contemplating Adrian's question. Finally, he replied with a hint of weariness, "It's a far stretch to call us a people, but many of us yet survive in these lands, merchants, and traders like me..."

Adrian's curiosity piqued, and he leaned in, his eyes fixed on Kale. "Others like you, huh? I don't think I've encountered any of them yet..." he asked, eager to learn more about the enigmatic merchant's origins.

Kale's eyes met Adrian's, and a small smile played upon his lips. "You eventually will, sooner or later, for better or worse,..." he said cryptically. "...And if the mood takes you when you meet one of my people, then offer them some trade, won't you?"

Adrian raised an eyebrow, intrigue mixing with confusion at Kale's words.

A knowing glint flickered in Kale's eyes as he continued, his voice tinged with a touch of melancholy. "My people, wanderers all, have long been spurned by the grace of gold. It is why we cannot settle and why we are forced into this pitiful, unceasing journey instead..."

Adrian furrowed his brow, attempting to unravel the meaning behind Kale's words. "The grace of gold, huh? It sure seems quite the picky, fickle thing..." he muttered, a tinge of frustration in his voice.

Kale nodded in agreement, his gaze turning introspective. "Indeed, it is..."

"But thanks to that, things are not so different for us now, though the Elden Ringwas shattered," Kale continued, his voice tinged with resignation and hope. "I think this makes us kindred spirits of sorts. Your people, the Tarnished, and mine."

Adrian chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Aimless traders and slightly less aimless vagabonds, I suppose it is fitting," he replied, acknowledging the parallel between their journeys.

Kale let out a tired sigh, his gaze turning somber. "Yes, well... perhaps you don't need to hear this, but... See that no harm comes to my kin should you meet them," he said, his voice carrying a note of concern.

Adrian gave Kale a quizzical look, silently urging him to elaborate further. Kale met his gaze, his eyes filled with weariness. "We have a saying, we wanderers," he began, his voice laced with quiet intensity. "Lament not your solitude. Expect no sympathy. No regard. Nothing. But if anyone dares harm us, show them no mercy..."

Adrian absorbed Kale's words, the weight of their meaning sinking in. He understood the depth of loyalty and protection that Kale's people held for one another, forged through the trials of their nomadic existence.

"That is our code, so to speak...." Kale continued, unbothered by Adrian's contemplation. "It's Just the way we are. Deeply unforgiving..." He concluded, turning away from Adrian and shifting his attention to the flames.

A confused chuckle escaped Adrian's mouth as he gave Kale a strange look. "I don't know if you're warning me not to lay my hands on your people or asking me to protect them, but either way..."

He turned to the flames and continued. "I'm not one to assault strangers unprovoked... and I don't imagine I'll find many friendly faces in these lands..." Dismissively shaking his head, Adrian stood up. "I'll always try to keep such faces around should I find them..."

Kale's weary eyes softened, a glimmer of gratitude shining through. "Then you're a better soul than most... take care on your journey, friend..."

...

Standing at the site of grace in Summonwater Village, Adrian basked in the gentle caress of the cool breeze. He reveled in the momentary respite it offered, his outstretched arms absorbing the refreshing touch of the wind. However, his tranquility was short-lived as the breeze shifted, carrying an unsettling odor from the east.

A foul stench, reminiscent of death and decay, permeated the air, assaulting Adrian's senses with its putrid presence. The wind, blowing from the east, seemed to carry the lingering remnants of the plague that had befallen this village.

Adrian's brows furrowed as he gazed at the village's remains, a poignant tableau of destruction and abandonment. Dilapidated houses stood as solemn sentinels, their weathered facades hinting at the lives that once flourished within their walls. Broken windows gaped like empty eyes, reflecting the desolation that had befallen this place.

Adrian's eyes settled on the encroaching swamp, its murky waters swallowing the once-bustling streets. The swamp, an eerie and foreboding expanse, stretched like a treacherous labyrinth, its twisted roots and tangled vegetation obscuring the secrets beneath.

A surge of resolve surged within Adrian as he surveyed the swampy domain. It was why he came here, to defeat the mariner and claim its death root. With unwavering resolve, he summoned Torrent, the spectral steed materializing in a burst of ethereal energy.

With a fluid motion, Adrian swung himself onto Torrent's back, settling into the saddle with practiced ease. His grip tightened on the reins, his knuckles whitening as he took a deep breath.

As the spectral horse began to move, the ground beneath them seemed to ripple, responding to Torrent's otherworldly presence. The muddy earth churned and shifted, accommodating their passage through the swampy terrain.

Ahead in the distance, Adrian could see the mariner drifting aimlessly with its spectral boat, emitting a light purple hue, seemingly patrolling as if they were its own by right.