18 Ch 18 Artorias and Ciaran

(System)<Soul of Artorias the Abysswalker found! Would user like to A. integrate B. reforge/enslave/resurrect C.soul bind as shadow >

'WTF! What are those choices? At least tell me what each does!' Vyr yelled mentaly.

'Holy shit! That's broken as hell. Does that mean i would be able to befriend Sif as well?

<Yes, you would take all that is Artorias including a part of his connection to Sif. This would allow you to befriend the wolf , even more than normal.>

'Nice! What are the other options?'

'The Hell?! Thats awesome! But can I not bind him to me? It's a weird thought to have someone I respect so much bound to my every command.'

'What about the last option then?'

'Urgh, that's even worse. Hey can I at least weaken the compulsion for the binding?'

<No. The probability of attack is too high for safety. The probability of death is above 70%. This course of action is not allowed.>

Vyr thought over the options before asking one last question. 'Can I lower the connection in the future?'

Vyr nodded then selected Option B. on the screen in front of her. The soul immediately flew a few feet away from her before becoming a glowing shape of a man kneeling.

As the light died down Vyr could begin making out features of the man in front of her. He was still kneeling in front of her but she could tell he was well muscled. Not body builder style but more of a limber build. It was like all his muscles had been condensed down to be the smallest possible. Don't let it fool you though, it was easy to tell that each could explode into an attack even from his kneeling position. He had blue tinted gray hair that ran down to his shoulders. if he was standing he would be just a bit taller than Vyr at 6 ft 5'. But then she noticed the most pressing issue, he was nude.

Atorias looked up at vyr without standing and seemed to judge her a bit before saying "My Queen what are your orders?"

*Sigh*"First off, I'm not a queen so none of that, my queen stuff. My name is Vyr BloodLotus, nice to meet you by the way. Second, the first thing we need to do is get you some clothes so hang on a minute."

As Vyr was buying him some clothes she asked "Any color you prefer? Do you know what's going on by the way or should i explain?"

"I am not particular to any color. And I have been informed you are my new Liege."

"Good blue it is, put this on. I'll explain more after that." Vyr says, turning her back and handing a pair of jeans, blue t-shirt, boxers, and boots to Artorias.

It took a few minutes and a small amount of explaining before Vyr could turn around. When she did she got a better look at Artorias. His face was, well, there's no other way to put it. He was VERY handsome. There is a saying "What you do shapes you." and this applies well to Artorias. His face was sharp and well angled, yet had a wolfish side as well. It would be pretty intimidating if not for his lackadaisical smile which somehow fit well on his face with his blue/gray hair. He seemed to be in his 20s to 30s.

"Ok so what do you know? Just list out anything you are confused about or have a problem with. I plan to take a break here so we have plenty of time to get acquainted."

"I have been informed by something called the "System". It explained how I came back and how you are the one I am to follow. It did show me some things like your training at the keep of Kaer morhen, and your fight with what was left of me. It was a bit confusing to watch you defeat what i had become but i thank you for ending me before i could do more harm. I care not for much as I have seen your wanting to bring Sif with you. I only ask if we could bring my lover Ciaran. I would also not be opposed to a set of armor and a weapon."

"Yeah if you can convince her i don't mind bringing Ciaran. She has a pair of interesting weapons I wanted to examine anyway. As for armor and weapons, I don't have a replica of your set of equipment but I have others. So just pick from this list." as Vyr said so she gave Artorias a list of her equipment in her inventory, it even had pictures.

Artorias looked surprised before going through the list with a serious expression on his face. After about twenty minutes he decided on the Faraam armor with the black knight sword. As he was putting it on he asked a few more questions to Vyr. As he was getting the feel of his sword Ciaran walked into the arena and stopped seeing the two from afar.

She then walked up to the two and asked "Are you the ones who slew the man that was here before? If not can you tell me where the one who did went. I wish to make a request of them."

Vyr motioned for Artorias to talk with her as she went off to give the two some time alone. It didn't take long for her to hear sobbing, a slap, and shouting to sound off behind her. Soon after she heard two pairs of footsteps coming her way.

Turning around she could see Artorias with his helmet off and a big hand imprint on his face, walking over with Ciaran who seemed to be angry at Vyr for some reason.

"Hey Artorias, do I need to be worried about her or should I just go on ahead? "

Before he could reply Ciaran yelled "Are you the one who did this to him?!"

"Did what?" Vyr asked, looking confused.

"Made him so uselessly handsome! It was a hard enough job before, how am I to keep the nobles off him now?!"

Vyr looked at her confused and said "first off, i never saw his face before. Second, I had no control over how he became like that. Third, i don't plan to go to Anor Londo. And lastly are you really complaining about him becoming better looking?! Fuck off!"

"That's no way for a man to talk about a woman! What kind of knight are you?!"

Artorias tried to cut in here but Vyr cut him off by pulling back the hood of her prototype form and saying "The kind of Knight who is a woman! I dont give a fuck about you or your stupid made up problems! Artorias, i'm going ahead. I don't mind your request but fix her attitude first. I did nothing wrong, Hell I even helped! I don't mind not being thanked but i won't stand here and be a target for this. And you Ciaran, i don't care about what you think and i certainly don't care about what you feel. The only reason I'm listening to you at all is because of Artorias. If you have a problem with me just say it to my face next time."

Vyr pulled her hood back up before walking toward the ruins of the Oolacile township.

*\Artorias POV/*

As I watched my new liege walk toward the front lines of battle, I tried to figure out why Ciaran picked a fight with her. 'I guess the best way to know is to ask.*sigh* though i think i know the reason already'

"Ciaran, Why have you picked a fight with her? I already told you she is my new liege. I also let you know I have no desire to return to Gwyn's fold. You know as well as I the tragedies he commits."

Ciaran laughed a bit before saying "I know your wishes, but i also know you. I worry you will be inappropriate around her. After all we both know your attraction to female warriors. Much less those that have bested you in combat. I just wanted to test her mettle."

Artorias blushed a bit before putting his new helmet back on and saying "I don't know what youre talking about. Come let's catch up to her. And please don't fight with her again. We will be using special magic to leave and i don't know if i can convince her to bring you if you aggravate her so much."

"From what i have seen, she doesn't look so small minded as to hold a grudge against me for a few small words. Besides, she already said I could come if I didn't argue with her."

Artorias huffed before walking after where Vyr left to, and was followed by a snickering Ciaran. They walked through the town following signs of destruction along with the distant shouts of exertion. After a few looping paths and many bodies they found Vyr in the lower parts of the town surrounded by enemies.

The things surrounding her are twisted, elongated humanoids with what at first glance (from a long distance) are huge oozing turbans(?) going from their shoulders to the tops of their heads, decorated by little red and black beads. But really the "wraps" were a hard bone/carapice covered in spikes. In between the "wraps" oozed a weird mix of fluid and corruption different to the abyss corrupting the land. Where the wraps overlapped red eyes numbering in what seemed to be hundreds were staring with hatred at anything that moved.

Vyr was surrounded by these creatures on all sides, there were even a few spell casters with staffs above her firing down. She was practically dancing between the slow monsters. She was expertly utilizing her scythe as both a blade and a hook. Even with her being surrounded she would just use the enemies as meat shields. By either dodging or pulling them in between herself and the incoming attacks. With the enemies being so slow and uncoordinated she could really show off her training.

As the two watched, the number of enemies dwindled more and more as Vyr both gracefully and systematically eliminated her opponents. After she finished off the last few mages by throwing their compatriots at them Vyr turned to the two spectators and said "While i don't mind you watching, you could at least applaud at the end of a performance."

"Sorry" Ciaran said as Artorias just sputtered at the sarcasm.

"For what? Watching or testing me earlier?"

Ciaran looked surprised (not that you could tell. Because of the mask she wears) before asking "You could tell?"

"Yeah. it was kind of obvious. I mean who picks a fight because someone helped their boyfriend look better? So did i pass your test?"

"Hearing that I would say you far surpassed it. I will still warn you about Artorias though. He may be a legendary warrior but he is still an idiot. He forgets most things after he gets a goal in mind. He is also about as sensitive as a rock so don't expect any delicacy with him."

Vyr looked at Artorias only to see him drawing circles on the floor with his finger not denying any of what Ciaran said.

(Vyr)"Pffft! HAHAHAHA!"

(Artorias)"Do not laugh! I am a great knight! Who cares about politics and that other stuff anyway."

(Ciaran)"You should always care about FOOD! The only reason you lost against manus is because you and Gough didn't bring anything to Eat!"

"We did too! We just … might have … ran … out?" Artorias replied as His voice became smaller and smaller after his initial outburst.

Turns out Artorias and Gough left while Ciaran was on an intelligence mission. They had planned to move with speed and resupply at Oolacile, but when they got here it was already too late and the town was lost. To make matters worse Kalameet was around scaring off all the animals leaving only corrupted monsters. The two had decided to charge forth and defeat Manus before they went to find food. This obviously didn't work as they had underestimated the amount of people who had been corrupted. And even worse Sif couldn't help the two as he would be hurt by the corruption touching him. (At this time he didn't know how to fight with a blade.)

While Artorias and Ciaran were arguing Vyr was on the ground laughing as the "Great" knight's image was destroyed piece by piece. Turns out the only reason he was able to become a Lord's Blade really was because Ciaran handled everything other than frontal battles for him.

After a minute or two of laughing Vyr stood back up and interrupted them by saying "Ok enough. As much as i enjoy watching you verbally break him, I think it's time to move forward once more. I want to finish this fast and go home, plus I'm sure you want to make sure Sif is ok."

They both nodded and got ready as well.

The only way forward left was through a great hall covered in the abyss. It was lined in statues on both sides and guarding the only other doorway was a new kind of enemy. It was a huge ball of meat and ooze on two legs. And to top it off there were chains covering it attached to a two to three foot rock, and a large wooden spike/pole (think of like half a phone pole sharpened on one end) shoved through the middle of it.

If fought by swinging the rock on a chain at them or trying to ram with the pole. It was a true foe, swinging, flailing, and bashing. It fought the wall next to it to its last breath. Yeah the thing didn't even have senses besides touch, it didnt even have eyes. It bumped into the wall and started attacking it before Artorias gave it a simple slash ending its life.

Vyr walked past it saying "Rest in peace ball thing. The wall can never stop you again." in a sad voice.

This made the other two chuckle a bit before Artorias said "I dont like whats next. I hope you have a light ready. It was very dark the last time I was through here. I fear we may be here a while as well. I don't remember the way to sif as I wasn't quite thinking straight last I was here."

"Don't worry about it. I plan to take everything i can while i'm here, so i was planning to fully explore anyway. I also brought a special light as well. I'll show you after we get there."

They went down a few stairs and through a small prison that had a bonfire, which they lit and rested at. While they were prepping for the next area Vyr upped her stats again bringing all three to 40 even.

She got up followed by the other two and walked into the entrance of what seemed to be a giant cavern. When she saw the other side she asked "You wouldn't happen to know what way you went the first time, would you?"

(Artorias)"Not really No. We wondered about this place for what had to be a few days."

As Ciaran chewed Artorias out once more, Vyr began taking out the two Forbidden Slurp components she had. Turns out when you give two wealthy magical beings a job making something that interests them along with the promise of future interesting things, you get a ridiculous amount of product.

Ciaran stopped yelling at Artorias and asked "What is this stuff? I thought you were getting lights."

"Oh I am getting lights. Just watch, i'll start after I get it all out." After a few minutes Vyr had two small mountains behind her, much to the amazement of the two spectators.

(Ciaran)*whispering*"she is a wizard, isn't she."

Artorias nodded before whispering back "She must be. How else would she take out all that stuff.She even has an armory of weapons and armors!"

"I ain't a wizard! Wait no now that I think about it, I am aren't I? Huh! Anyway you wanted light right, well here it is. Just take one bottle from each pile and mix them together."

(Ciaran)"I don't see how liquid will make a fire but sure. Must be some kind of pyromancy."

"Not really but sure why not" Vyr said, mixing the chemicals together making the blue glowing juice.

The two looked at the glowing juice with awestruck faces, before Ciaran hurriedly tried to do it herself. After she mixed the two bottles together she held it like it was something precious while Artorias still looked cautious as he asked "What is this concoction? Is it safe?"

"This is called Forbidden slurp slurp. It's pretty safe, just don't take a bath in it or drink it and you should be fine. I also don't recommend spilling it on cloth."

"Will it burn it?"

"No no, nothing like that it will just stain the hell out of it. Upside you will glow for a bit."

Ciarian heard this and started drawing patterns on her arms using her fingers. She finished quickly before standing and saying "Wow your right!"

Vyr face palmed and said "of course i'm right. Whatever, just take the mixed ones and start throwing them anywhere dark."

It took them awhile but it sped up when artorias judged the Mixture safe enough. But soon they had a glowing blue cavern, as they had been killing enemies while spreading the mixture the cavern was also free of enemies. The down side though was that they couldn't find Sif.

Next chapter