Chapter 13: Two Peas in a Pod #13
Author's note: thanks to you're support, we've reached number seven in the monthly power stones ranking, so here's another double release! Keep the power stones flowing, and there will be even more! If we reach the top 3, I might even release 3 or 4 chapters at once!
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Maintaining his calm, Adrian listened intently to the girl's words, still trying to process the ordeal she had to endure. He sat beside her, feeling the soft earth beneath him as he gave her the space to share her story.
"Grafted, huh? Did you face Godrick?" he asked, curious yet cautious. The girl nodded slowly, her gaze distant as if replaying a haunting memory.
Her voice trembled as she responded, "No... we didn't even get to face Godrick.... It was supposed to be a noble cause, a journey to restore hope to these lands, but what a nightmare it turned out to be...."
She lowered her head, a mixture of sadness and anger etched on her face. "Did you know? If you're grafted by the spider, you become a chrysalid," she revealed, her voice tinged with bitterness and self-loathing. "It's quite the lark, when you think about it."
Adrian nodded as the girl spoke, acknowledging the gravity of her words. "Lark isn't the word I'd use to describe what happened to your friends," he admitted, his voice tinged with empathy. "Then again, I couldn't even imagine what you went through."
The girl's bitter chuckle echoed once more, resonating with the weight of her experiences. Her pain and sorrow were evident, and Adrian felt a deep desire to offer comfort, but he found himself at a loss for words. He knew he couldn't truly understand the horrors she had faced.
Much to Adrian's chagrin, the silence stretched out, but the girl quickly broke it with an inquiry. "You're all on your own, I see. And heading to Stormveil Castle?" she asked, curiosity evident in her tone.
Adrian nodded in confirmation. "I'm not headed straight for Stormveil Castle, but I know I'll have to go there sooner or later. Preparations are in order..."
The contemplative expression on Roderika's face showing she understood the weight of such a decision. "You were enticed by the one in the white mask... I think...?" she mused, referring to White Mask Varre, whom Adrian had encountered before.
Adrian chuckled, shaking his head. "Enticed? That guy with his creepy mask couldn't even entice a fly to a garbage heap," he retorted, trying to lighten the mood, albeit with a hint of sarcasm. "I'm going to Stormveil Castle because it's the only way to move forward, not because of some seedy character's words."
The girl's mournful gaze met Adrian's, her eyes filled with longing and self-doubt. "Well, that makes us two peas in a pod. But I don't have your courage," she confessed, her voice tinged with a hint of despair. Adrian's confusion grew, but he remained silent, letting her express her thoughts.
With a heavy sigh, she continued, her voice trembling slightly. "It's scary, you know... having your arms cut off. Or legs. Or your head..." Her self-loathing was palpable, and it pained Adrian to witness her anguish. "I want to be like everyone else, but I'm too scared... I'm nothing but a craven."
Adrian's eyebrows furrowed as he listened attentively to the girl's words. He could sense the deep-seated fear and guilt within her, the desire to break free from the shackles of her own insecurities.
"I think you're misunderstanding something..." Adrian declared, his tone unwavering. "I'm not going to Stormveil to get grafted. When I set foot in that castle, it will be for one reason and one reason only: to kick Godrick's ass and take his great rune..."
The girl flashed Adrian a genuine smile, her eyes sparkling with a glimmer of admiration. Her words resonated with sincerity as she remarked, "You really are brave." There was a brief pause as she gathered her thoughts, her gaze shifting downward as she reached into her pocket.
Adrian watched intently, curious to see what she would unveil from within her pocket. As her hand emerged, it held a small pink gem that emitted a soft, ethereal glow. The intricate carving within the precious stone revealed the delicate form of a spectral jellyfish, its translucent tendrils swirling gracefully.
Understanding dawned on Adrian as he recognized the item in her hand. It was a spirit ash, a precious artifact used to summon various creatures from the spiritual realm. In this particular case, it housed the essence of the Spirit Jellyfish.
The girl's voice carried hope and uncertainty as she spoke, "Can you take this little one with you?" She extended the gem towards Adrian, offering him the opportunity to take the spirit companion under his care. "The poor thing deserves someone braver than myself... And she looks rather fondly upon you."
Silently, Adrian accepted the gem, delicately cradling it in his hand. The pink glow illuminated his features as he inspected the intricate details of the spirit ash. He knew the significance of this gesture, recognizing the trust and connection the girl had placed in him.
With a nod of gratitude, Adrian replied, "Sure... I'd appreciate the company..." He carefully stowed the gem in his inventory, ensuring its safekeeping for the journey ahead.
The girl's smile brightened again, a glimmer of relief and satisfaction evident in her expression. "It'll be glad of your company, I think, the little'un," she concluded, her voice filled with tenderness and melancholy.
Returning her smile, Adrian expressed his appreciation, grateful for the gift. With a sense of closure, he realized that his time in this place had come to an end. It was time for him to continue his journey.
As Adrian got up and prepared to leave, the girl's voice pierced the silence, causing him to pause. He turned his attention back to her, giving her his focus.
The girl's request hung in the air, and Adrian listened as she spoke. "If you're going to Stormveil Castle, might you pass a message for me?" she asked, her voice filled with hope and longing.
Adrian considered her words, knowing his path would eventually lead him there. He responded calmly, "As I've said, I won't head into Stormveil Castle soon, but if the message could wait, I don't mind passing it on."
The girl nodded understandingly, her eyes conveying gratitude for his willingness to help. With a solemn expression, she began, "If you see the little chrysalids in Stormveil Castle, tell them I love them."
Again Adrian felt the urge to comfort the girl, but he couldn't summon the right words. Instead, He nodded, silently promising to fulfill her request--to be the messenger she needed, at least.
She took a deep breath, her hand instinctively resting over her heart as if seeking strength for the words she was about to utter, "And that, despite my craven heart, I'm sure I'll be joining their club soon enough..." A bittersweet smile played upon her lips as she acknowledged her fate.
Another bitter chuckle escaped her lips, the sound laced with a tinge of irony. "I'm finally getting the hang of this whole 'pain' thing, you know..." Her self-deprecating remark held a glimmer of resignation, a testament to her enduring fragile spirit.
"I'll definitly deliver your message..." Adrian assured her, his voice steady and determined. "But a messenger can't deliver a message if he doesn't know the sender's name, you know...?"
The girl chuckled softly, realizing her oversight. "Of course, how silly of me," she responded. She continued, her voice filled with determination, "Tell the little chrysalids that Roderika, the silly noblewoman they followed from beyond the fog, sent the message."
Adrian nodded, acknowledging Roderika's words. He introduced himself, extending a hand to shake hers in a display of camaraderie. "Now that I know your name, it's fair you know mine... I'm Adrian,"
He went on, his tone filled with sincerity. "I promise to deliver your message, Roderika. But for now, try not to dwell on joining your friends, and stay safe..."
A bitter smile appeared on Roderika's lips as she expressed her gratitude. "I'll be waiting for you in this shack then, waiting for news of my friends..." she said, her voice filled with resignation and hope.
With a sense of purpose, Adrian bid his farewell, his heart heavy with the weight of Roderika's story. He stepped out of the time-worn shack, the sunlight casting long shadows across the ground. Summoning Torrent, his loyal companion, he mounted the horse and prepared to depart.
As Adrian and Torrent rode away, their figures gradually fading into the distance, they set their sights on the eastern horizon. A vast forest loomed ahead, its towering trees beckoning them into its depths.
The wind whispered through the leaves, carrying a sense of anticipation. Adrian tightened his grip on the reins, his determination unwavering. Together, a tarnished and a spectral steed ventured into the unknown as one, the sound of hooves fading into the symphony of nature.
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