The situation I found myself in was desperate; unlike his future, crazed form, the warrior before me possessed technique and skill.
I remained on the defensive, feeling the General's steel scrape against my armor, each dodged blow nearly cleaving me in two as I retreated.
It was frightening how something so large could move so quickly. Strangely, I felt a certain familiarity as I dodged his blows, as if I knew what was coming.
A diagonal slash from the left followed by another from the right, which I dodged by stepping back, casting Black Hail on the demigod's chest, piercing his armor and receiving an angry click of the tongue in return.
How? How? How? How did I know what to do? The answer was on the tip of my tongue. An image tried to form in the back of my mind, but like sand, it slipped through the cracks of my fragmented memory.
A crushing vertical blow brought the blades together above his head, but I stepped aside quickly, avoiding being turned into a stain on the ground.
I cast Dark Greatsword again, leaving a deep cut on Radahn's left side. Blood gushed from the wound, darkened by abyssal power, but he gritted his teeth and intensified his attacks.
Had I faced the General before the festival? No, but someone with swordsmanship similar to his.
Radahn lifted his left foot, and I leaped immediately, anticipating the tremor that shook the ground. Still in midair, I fired a Dark Orb toward his face, ripping off one of the horns on his helmet.
But where? When? How do I know this?
As soon as I landed, I threw myself to the ground, avoiding a bear hug, and grabbed my chime, conjuring Dark Storm, which, due to the proximity, struck my enemy squarely with a tornado of darkness.
The demigod stepped back, and I glimpsed the changes in his body: dark patches covered the exposed skin, a black liquid leaked from the corner of his mouth, and the gold in his eyes was a shade dimmer.
What will happen to him if I continue?
He wiped his mouth with his wrist, staring at the black liquid before grinning savagely and returning to the attack, his arms crossed in front of him.
Images flashed through my mind, and the world shifted around me: a different battlefield, different armies, and a different adversary.
I could feel magic crossing vast distances, the hot air of flames attacking my face, the screams of the living and the dead.
And instead of Radahn, a new figure challenged me, its red statue-like form melting with every step.
My body screamed for me to move, movements that felt natural, right for the situation, and like a puppet, I acted according to the movements of my invisible strings.
I summoned Dark Weapon, dragging my staff along my sword, covering it in dark energy, and then I ran toward the figure.
Our eyes met, but any unspoken message that might have arisen between us never came. I pointed my staff at his face and summoned Dark Mist, covering his head in poisonous fumes. With that, I thrust my sword forward, aiming for his stomach.
My chest burned as if on fire, my body trembled with constant tremors, and my breathing threatened to stop, but deep down, I felt relief, relief that I had hit my target.
"Surprisingly, you fought well."
My feelings died immediately, as did the smile that had crept across my face. The world returned to normal, and to my horror, my sword remained suspended in the air just inches from the General, covered in a purple glow.
Radahn stepped back, with a serious face and watchful eyes. I, on the other hand, tried to drop my sword or cast a spell, but a crushing force held me in place.
"But I believe this is enough. Warrior, I don't know your story, but you have demonstrated impressive strength and magic power, but this is not the place for you. You flew too high in defying us, and now your downfall has come. I will remember your name, and if my words are of any use to you, I wish this had ended differently."
Then he turned his back to me, and the weight on my shoulders increased. I fell to my knees and then to my hands, the creaking of my armor or my bones—I couldn't tell which—echoed through my now ringing ears.
My head hit the sand, and my organs churned. I felt blood pouring from my eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. My vision went black, and the General's back was the last thing I saw before everything disappeared.
-XXXXXX-
"Get up!"
"Please stop."
What?! Who said that?!
"My name doesn't matter."
"Wake up!"
I can't, I'm so tired…
"Right, then rest, my kindness will reach everyone, including you."
"You can't die here!"
Does it matter? I will return to the last bonfire.
"Your heart has suffered enough, allow my touch to soothe it."
"What if you don't return?! Or worse, what if you become Hollow?!"
The words struck me like lightning, and I tried to get up, but to no avail. I couldn't feel my body; nothing responded to my commands.
I can't, I can't, just leave me alone…
"Peace, that's what I'll bring to the world."
"Will you accept your end like this?! After all the challenges you've faced, you'll die on a battlefield again?"
Again?! It doesn't matter! I'm tired! Tell me, why me?! Of all the undead, why do I have to be the one to go all the way?! Drangleic, the Lands Between, why do I have to solve all the problems caused by others?! Forces beyond my control drag me against my will! Can't someone else do this?! There are more powerful, more intelligent, more charismatic individuals; can't they take my place for once?
"You won't have to suffer on behalf of others when it's all over."
"Many came before you, that's true, many were better than you, that's correct, but there's one detail you're not taking into account: they failed, they gave up, they suffered tragic ends. Few had a happy ending, wouldn't you like one too?"
It's too late now...
"Trina will welcome you with open arms, I promise."
"So this is how it will end, you will simply accept your death?! You fought tooth and nail in the past, each death you suffered teaching you a lesson, after so many achievements, and this is how you want to end?!"
No, I don't want it to end like this! But what can I do?! The Demigods are too powerful! I can't defeat them in a duel!
"Correct, your boldness led you to a deserved fate, but I am merciful, stop fighting and close your eyes."
"That's the problem, you're fighting by their rules! Godwyn's teachings aren't wrong; you shouldn't rely on your magic and artifacts, but there's a right time for that, and this isn't one of them! Drop your sword and show them the sorcerer hiding beneath the armor! The Lands Between follow ideals of honor and glory; show them the individual who survived the dangers of Drangleic, where you can't trust the ground you walk on or the chests you find, where every meter you walk is filled with death and learning!"
Who are you, and why are you helping me?
"I am the Kind One."
"Oh, have you forgotten me? Mother would be sad if she knew, but I can't blame you. I am..."
Light shone in the dark void I found myself in, and a figure stood before me, a tall, thin young man with tanned skin and red hair. I couldn't see his face, though the blinding light shone above him like a sun hiding his face.
Beside him, a second young man appeared, childlike, with long golden hair and dressed in white robes.
They both extended a hand toward me, and I didn't know which to take.
"Come on, take my hand! There's still so much to fight for; it doesn't have to end like this!"
"Accepted my hand, and you'll find peace. In the eternal, deep dream, you'll find what you've lost."
"You can't get back what you've lost, but that doesn't mean you can't do something new. Don't forget the past, but don't let it drag you down."
"If you hold my hand, all your suffering will disappear."
"If you hold my hand, your suffering will continue, but you will have the chance to fill the void in your soul."
Do you guarantee that?
"Yes."
"No, but you'll never know if you don't try."
With monumental effort, I lifted my head and extended my hand to the red-haired young man. I saw the hint of a smile appear on his face. The light shone brighter, transforming the darkness into a white void. When I opened my eyes, I found myself on the battlefield again.
Pain was the first thing I felt. I screamed with all my might, a wet, choking noise.
I saw red; whether it was my blood leaking from my body or the headache I felt, I couldn't tell. I tried to get up, but failed miserably, as if countless swords were piercing my flesh.
I moved my head slowly, hearing something crack along the way, and soon realized the reason for my immobilization: my broken body.
What little I could see was more than enough to reveal the extent of the damage. I scanned my surroundings again, spotting something gleaming nearby: my chime.
Words couldn't explain the effort it took to drag myself to it; only my right arm responded to my commands, albeit barely.
"GASP! GASP! GASP!"
Each breath made my lungs burn; it was as if a heavy stone were pressing me down.
"COUGH!"
I spat a pool of blood onto the ground, and my vision darkened again. It took what little determination I had left to maintain consciousness.
Ignoring the red trail I left in my wake, I closed my hand around my chime, casting Soothing Sunlight. I felt the holy energies healing my body, enveloping me in a comforting warmth. Gradually, the pain faded, but it wasn't enough. I conjured the miracle repeatedly until I exhausted my reserves.
I rose to my knees and removed my helmet, carelessly tossing it aside, and remained there, savoring every second of rest. I brushed my hair away from my blood- and sweat-soaked face, brushing away the grains of sand clinging to my skin. But I noticed something different: my mind felt lighter, and my skin felt drier and more wrinkled.
Hollow!
The word came like an arrow, and I felt despair seize my being. I reached for my bottomless bag and nearly screamed with joy when I found it hanging at my waist.
I fumbled for a human effigy inside, spilling other items and artifacts onto the floor, but upon finding the teardrop-shaped wooden figurine, I wasted no time crushing it against my chest, restoring my humanity.
I felt alive, if that made sense for someone like me. My skin took on a healthy appearance and clarity returned to my mind, and with that done, I focused on understanding what was happening.
Caelid, past, war between demigods—it didn't take long for everything to come back as the confusion slowly faded.
How am I still alive? So much time has passed, why hasn't the memory faded yet? And who… Who was that young man?
I felt something running down my face. Removing my right gauntlet, I touched the liquid and realized it was tears; I was crying.
Why? I've never cried for anyone before. Who was he? What person could be so important to me? Why do I feel like something is missing?
I lifted my head and looked toward the heavens, pondering what I should do. The battle was still raging, and as I looked ahead, I saw the outlines of Radahn and Malenia facing off against the setting sun. I closed my eyes tightly, taking a deep breath, preparing myself for what I was about to do.
END OF CHAPTER