Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Having taken off her hat, Maria fondled her hair in disappointment.

“I have failed. Please, Lady Maria…”

“Lady Maria, I’m a robin. Will I ever curl up and become an egg?”

She heard them lamenting even until now. For that was never giving up the intention of haunting her.

Succumbed to the wound, Maria saw herself collapsed on the chair and by the little rest of her power, she pulled the saber out of her neck to carefully clean it, before seeing the surrounding slowly faded, turning into darkness.

That was what she yearned for. It finally ended suffering.

But it had never been that easy.

“You seek for a peaceful death, don’t you?”

"Who is that?" Maria trembled.

"Oh, such curiosity. Have you been this much all the time working for them?"

“I... don't have it anymore.” Maria’s voice dropped.

"You feel regret?"

No answer. He knew he read her mind. In a dim light from nowhere between the darkness of her surrounding, Maria somehow saw his lips moving, "I can help with a price."

“What? You sh- shouldn't be kidding..."

Following his silence was another smile. Maria felt her mouth full of dust. She struggled to raise herself as her hand punched through the layer of the ground. Crawling on the stone path, Maria slowly got up to her feet and found the beloved Rakuyo, which had been abandoned from the moment she had awoken from her bloodlust at the Fishing Hamlet, stayed by her side. She grabbed it, feeling the warmth of its handle as she drew it out the scabbard, letting the sunlight shine on the blade.

"Is it enough to clear your suspicion, Lady?"

"Wait. Where am I? H-how?" So many questions waiting to be responded to.

"You don't ask an eagle how it could fly." His voice sounded, but he was nowhere around, "Now go."

"Where to?"

"Isn't it your hunter's instinct to rush and kill any moving creature in your path? I thought you were a master among them."

"I don't kill blindly." Maria shot back.

A chuckle full of disdain could be heard.

"I see. Then find the Lords of Cinder and bring them to their thrones."

Maria halted, frowning, "Lords of Cinder? What are they?" before making another step with confusion filled in her mind, not realizing the cliff right under her feet. She dove through layers of cloud, finally smashed against something dark and warm.

"You will fight. And you will die." She heard his voice again.

Maria's eyes opened to see her surrounding. The cemetery, the little bonfire, the sky, the tower at a far distance.

"Hm..." Recalling how painful the impact gave just a few minutes ago, Maria smirked, "It's real..."

"See how amusing it is?"

"Great. Now I can't even die right."

"Why? I don't want that. I can't just follow and resurrect you every time you are doomed. Especially when I need someone to save this dying land."

"Hm, you're the most generous stranger I've ever known."

"Perhaps you're right. It's funnier when it lasts."

"And you want me to stop its end."

"Exactly! How do you think about this offer?"

Maria chuckled, "How do you know I won't eat my word?"

A big rock landed next to her, stunning the hunter for a while.

"Oh dear, that was close, Maria... Perhaps this world dislikes your joke. You may not care about yourself. But what if you have someone you wish to protect? Will you be responsible for their safety if you messed up something?"

"..." Numb, Maria stared at the bonfire, sighing, "Alright..."

"Good. But first, we need something to say that you're working for me. I apologize but my memory isn't always good."

The moment his words halted, something burned on the left side of her face. It carved strange scratches on it, before drying into a large scar.

"What've you done?" Maria groaned, staring at the new mark through the reflection on her blade.

"Relax, friend. It replaces a boring contract."

.

She sat at the bonfire in the place the Firekeeper said she could feel free to call “home”. The Firekeeper seemed to know a lot about what was happening here as she supplied Maria with knowledge and wisdom that the Hunter hadn’t had. Sometimes she wished that the woman had a name so that she wouldn’t find it awkward whenever they started a conversation. This one told her to link the First Fire over and over, but from what Maria saw on that very arduous journey, she wondered if one day the weakening flame would no longer be able to be linked anymore. Would the age of fire continue, or would it have to step back and make room for a new era by the law of nature? And perhaps Yuria seemed to go for a different plan. On the way toward Farron Keep, the hunter encountered two other mates at a bonfire. They stayed and had a little talk after reaching a bonfire in a church. About their fates, about the duties of theirs and about the past they had.

“I am very so sorry about Horace. I didn’t expect things turned out like that.” Maria sat beside the Unkindled and said.

Anri shook her head, “It’s not your fault. Bloodshed is inevitable sometimes.”

“Were you too very close to each other?” Maria asked.

And she was responded by Anri’s nod, “Yes, we were. Now without him, I have to do it myself.”

“Aldrich consumes humans and by doing so he steals their power. Are you sure that you can handle it?” The hunter looked at Anri with the eye of care and concern.

“I have to, Maria. Bringing him back to his throne will prevent further chaos. Besides, you have your own work to complete, don’t you? If you have it done, then you can always come back and help me deal with that bastard.”

Anri took out a flask in her bag and gave it to Maria.

“Here. Take this.”

“Wait, no! I… I can’t. What about yours?” Maria resisted.

Anri patted the other’s hand, “Don’t worry, I have my own. This is just an extra. You’re in hard work, so let it be a part of your strength.”

"But what's this for?"

"It helps your muscle relax and refresh your mind."

Without saying another word, Anri forced the flask to stay still in on Maria’s belt. The two separated as they gave their companion a warming handshake.

“May the best come to you, Anri.”

.

Maria crossed her arms, “The Undead Legion's down. Tough ones. Two of them chased me around until the third guy got up. They started slashing at each other until they both collapsed. But... Blood from every corner of the keep gathered. The most skillful of them resurrected. Sword on fire.”

"You still managed to get them. Such a trustworthy Lord of Hollow." Yuria performed a hand of applause.

Maria chuckled, "Not gonna lie, but... I ran away when they fought each other. I- I didn't think I could beat them all. More like a coward."

“Such way of thinking should vanish, my Lord.” Yuria turned to her, hand put on the hilt of her Darkdrift, "Tis not a fun game for children. Sometimes, we should distinguish between honor and victory. Only with that, we shall take back what's rightfully ours.”

To the sky, Yuria looked, "The prime of Londor."

“Seems to be the top priority, doesn’t it? What's the connection between your home and the curse?” Maria rotated her wrists, waiting.

Yuria lifted the mask, taking a deep breath.

“We hollows are the truest form of humans who suffer and bear the failure of living. We once had a civilization in Londor, governed by the Sable Church."

"Hm, let me guess. Something unfortunate on the path, wasn't it?"

Yuria nodded.

"The leader of us attempted to usurp the flame but failed, becoming an Unkindled Ash. Now I have to carry on the legacy. It had been so long that I couldn't recall how many times I intended to give up that little hope... until you came.”

“Hmm… You all put your future on my shoulders, don't you?” Maria thought for a second, folding her arms, “But if she, I mean, your leader, is an Ash, then she must be unearthed when the bell tolled. She didn’t show up?”

"She did. But left."

"You didn't try to convince?"

"Should the sky comes falling down, even then I doubt she would have second thoughts."

Maria sighed, “I see… Sounds like you're using me, but I can't agree more with you about those hollows.”

"My sincerest apology if it does sound so, m-"

"I know..." Maria cut in, "I was just saying what I thought. Didn't mean any harm or disrespect."

Having removed her hat, Maria flicked it with her hand. As she turned around to fix her attire, the sound of Yuria muttering caught her eardrum.

"That's your former leader's name?"

"Elfriede." Yuria replied, "Which means "willpower". I wonder where she could be, in such a cruel world tainted by liars and fear."

.

Upon returning to the Cleansing Chapel, this time Maria saw an old man kneeling in front of a statue, muttering and praying.

“Fire for Ariandel... Fire for Ariandel... And the ash to kindle flame...”

Maria’s curiosity had got the better of her as she came closer to the man and cleared her throat. The sound pulled the man to reality as he looked at her and hummed.

“Oh... This smell..." His voice trembled, "You don’t have the same scent as that woman. How very dejected...”

"That woman?" Maria raised her eyebrows, "What're you talking about?"

"Oh, oh... don't mind me, didn't mean to fall apart. Tis just a matter of fire.” The old man answered.”

Maria shrugged, "They... don't know how to make fire or something?"

"Far more than that. My lady lives in the cold land of Ariandel. I need someone to show her flame. If the tales are true, then a second Ash is what I just need to find."

"There's no other way to bring your lady fire?"

Gael stared at her this time. Something within this woman was harder to be kindled, but he smelt an opportunity.

"Actually, there might be..."

Snow and winds were dancing together.

.

“Well, well... You're Lady Yuria's Lord of Hollows. Lost your way, I suppose?" The knight standing in front of the chapel told Maria with his voice as deep as a man who smoked 20 packs of cigars a day.

"Know who I am? Hmm, interesting. Didn't even introduce myself first." Slightly she shrugged, narrowing her eyes, and stared at Vilhelm, then pointed at the gate, "What's inside?"

"A proper lady whose words will guide you." He gestured, "Go on. Right inside. Let Lady Friede speak to you."

As Maria opened the gate and proceeded, she swore she could hear Vilhelm muttering, "Strange. Slipped into here without bell toll."

Sitting, on a wooden chair beside the statue set at the end of the dark room, was a woman. An ordained hood covered her face, while she was wearing a light blue dress that seemed to be sewn with thin fabric.

Maria had a sense who this person was.

"Welcome. To the painted world of Ariandel. I am Friede. I have long stood beside our blessed Father, and the rest of the Forlorn. But Forlorn you seem not. Lord of Hollows, I know not the missteps which led you to this Painted World.” Her voice was really deep as she met Maria.

“Your name resembles a very familiar one. You belonged with the Sable Church, didn't?” Maria bent on her knee and lowered her head.

“I am no longer interested in such things.” Friede replied.

"You didn't deny it directly, meaning I was right."

Maria rubbed her eyebrows and paced around the room.

“Hmm… I have nothing to hide. I met an old man and he needs someone to show his lady flame. Now I’m here, I see no flame but snow and blizzard. Kinda confusing. Perhaps this world is too cold for fire to exist, thus his request?”

Friede, for a moment, started to understand what led the other woman here. But Maria seemed to misunderstand.

“Sometimes, you'd better leave a task behind and focus on your main mission. Should you yearn for a destination to rest after the journey, this world could has enough space to offer."

"You're dismissing me? Strange. No one greets a guest like that?" Maria folded her arms, joking.

"I do not intend harsh meaning. It is just a waste of time for you to linger."

Maria twitched her lips, felt hard to understand the pieces in this.

"So, Lady, you're not in need of flame?"

Friede shook her head. Seeing the hunter frowned and lamented about the slave knight, Friede knew this trick was successful. And then, she bowed her head slightly, watching Maria stepped out of the building.

"You owe me an explanation, Gael."

Maria headed back to the bonfire in the cave that Friede had just told her. Yet the moment she was about to leave, something poked her in the mind, turning the view charming to the hunter. She started feeling this land interesting and would be willing to spend time for a trip, for curiosity wasn't a kind of thing from which now she could liberate herself.

Chapter Text

Cold, dark, and very gentle were the adjectives to describe this place. Yet, was that what the people here crave? The weak crawling and groaning, yearning to be rescued, while the strong and scum stayed on higher ground, watching and killing.

No, that was not the point they wish for, nor the sweet, fantastic world they needed to be.

And Maria saw the similarity between linking the First Flame and continuing these kinds of suffering in the Painted World.

The knight was too slow to dodge or block the Undead Vileblood when she started spinning before finishing him with her blade stood uncomfortably on his chest. Both he and his blood fell to the floor as he clutched his wound and gasped.

“Forgive me, my Lady... I swore an oath, but I have failed you... Lady Elfriede...”

Seeing the painting lady climbing up the ladder had struck something hugely nervous to Friede. Her heartbeat became faster and for the first time after a long while, a gulp was formed inside her throat. Maria did not quit. And the battle was not heart-warming.

It lasted for so long and became not a fight, but a dance. Seeing Friede wielding her scythe reminded Maria of her mentor – Gehrman – and the things they did, both good and bad. A moment of being distracted resulted in a big scratch on Maria’s head. Blood sprayed from it. Strange feelings abruptly kicked in as she saw that Friede did not seem to prefer bloodshed, yet doing so for something else. Either to protect or to clench on it hopelessly. Maria felt it in each of the other’s attacks. They were strong and quick as the determination of her mind but were too far from cruelty and cunning.

From the outside, the praying sound of the inhabitants echoed in the air, piercing through the surroundings and came to Ariandel’s ears. He looked up, seeing blood of the women spilling everywhere in the chapel as they were pushing each other to the edge in a deathmatch. Friede made the most of her smaller size to jumped across the room and turned invisible.

“Be a good Father, Ariandel.” Maria shouted, standing tight on her feet, “Say something!”

Caught by the scythe, Maria felt a seering pain on her rib - cage. It tore her flesh apart. The piece of garb where Friede's scythe met slowly turn red on its rag. Annoyed with the invisible trick, Maria frowned, hissing. It was like someone had just slice a knife across your body, then grasped your organs and pulled them out from their stilling place.

"The trail went up." Maria's eye glanced over her shoulder, seeing her dried blood on the floor was stepped on by something whose shape resembled human's feet.

She span around just in time to deflect Friede's swing. The nun got staggered, leaving a wide opening for a massive blow.

But, Maria hesitated.

So they pulled each other into a struggle. Friede, from under the hood, lifted her face to maintain the contact between them as her violet left eye revealed under the fabric. Those were what stole Maria’s soul for a while.

“Leave us be, Undead One. Sweep all thoughts of us from your mind. As your kind always have.”

A scream of some corvians scrapped the sky above them.

Maria gritted her teeth, “You're no deaf.”

“And you're no savior.”

They broke the contact as Friede swung forward while Maria decided to roll to the back of the other lady. And eventually, they rushed toward each other, both weapons raised and sliced, getting injured as they dashed past each other. They fell to their knees, feeling blood pouring from the cut.

“No...” Ariandel shook his head, "NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"

He stood up from his chair, smashing the big bowl to the ground.

"WHAT IS IT FOR?" He screamed again.

Fire spread everywhere in the room and destroyed the wooden wall, making a big part of it collapsed right above Friede, while she was still catching her breath and unaware of it. Maria sprinted to her side and pushed the lady back to not let her be buried. So they both rolled on the floor, before stilling. Many other pieces fell on them as the blonde used her body to shield the brunette, protecting her from danger. The gap between their bodies was no more, yet that between their faces was still there, very close that Friede could feel the warmth of Maria’s gasp when another wooden part hit her on the back.

A few moments later, from above, Ariandel lifted these fallen objects and pulled his two “children” out of the mess.

“That was… crazy…” Maria gasped, trying to fill her lungs with air.

Friede, in return, got up to her feet and reached for her weapon without a word spoken. This was her attempt to prevent the world from being replaced by a new one. Maria forced herself up again, as blood on her face followed the gravity to land on the floor. They both got into stance.

“STOP!”

Father had had enough of it. He snatched the scythe out of Friede's hand and looked at them, “If they want a new world, then so be it.”

“Father?” Friede cut in, "What are you talking about?"

“This is my land and the home of those you wish to protect… I made a world of peace and love, not with rot and blood.”

"Have you forgotten what fire did to you? Why must we keep it?"

"I never forget what it did to me..." Ariandel broke himself free from the chair and as he stood up, shaking his head, "But... I can't change the past.

"But we do for a better future."

"No future would come, should we prevent it to come."

And he lowered himself to stay near the Sister, "By blood, we run away from our mistake... We are Forlorn for our thought. I see it clear in both of you. You don't want to kill each other..."

Friede dared not to argue but fell quiet.

“That’s a smart thing, blessed man.” Maria said, turning to Friede, “Hey, you’d better do as he said.”

Friede frowned and raised her voice, “We’re not finished yet.”

Maria pressed the wound on her temple which was left by Friede’s weapon and walked out of the chapel. Her steps limping.

"I welcome another round. Though that's not what I'm looking for."

Without the hunter, Ariandel and Friede looked at each other. The fire had come to this land. Not yet strong, but growing.

“Follow her.” He told the woman.

"Father, I hope you made up your mind."

Frowning, Friede made her way to the entrance. Her bare feet stepped on a small pool of blood that had not yet dried, leaving an unclear sensation. Only now did she notice that was blood which scattered on the ground, but on her body there was only a very shallow wound, if not to tell it did not cause her much pain. She glanced at the steps, seeing that red thing leading out of the chapel, following the behind the person who had just left.

At the gate, she found Maria sitting flat on, clutching that wound on her body, grunting. The area on Maria's face where Friede's scythe contacted was left with a large and so deep cut that it seemed one could see Maria's skull.

Friede felt in her blood when other person's breath became heavy. She bit her lips and sighed.

"Why must you come to this?" She pitied, before kneeling next to the younger woman.

---

“Thank... you.” Maria said when Friede applied some fluid on her temple. The estus did help but wasn’t able to completely heal, let alone that the injury on her rib-cage gave Maria no chance to properly hold the flask.

Guess who helped that poor wench to drink the thing?

“You won't bear a scar thanks to it.” Friede put the small jar back on the counter as she touched her own temple as a gesture, "But, the other scar. It seems strange and stubborn. I doubt I could help with it."

Maria watched her from behind, having a fight of thoughts in her mind to finally drop a question.

“Why do you hate fire?”

“I don’t want our work squandered.” Friede came to the window and looked outside. Not only she detested that, but also, she feared it.

Maria stood beside the lady, “Squandered?” as she leaned on the balcony and stared to the far distance, “I squandered my safety to cover you, didn’t I? But I don’t regret that.”

As she continued while Friede was still silent.

“Some people don't love peace, yet you do…” Maria sighed, “Just in the wrong way.”

“In this world, I find my place and need not fight anything. An endless peace, even should it be an empty shell, who would resist?”

“It doesn't make sense. A lot of them outside begging to see it burnt.” Maria glanced over Friede, “My way to peace brought me here, you know. But if I have to choose between a rotting reality and building something good, I’d rather stick to the latter.”

Friede did not reply. She just stood and looked at Maria when the blonde suddenly turned. They gazed at each other for a while in silence and saw something flashed in their eyes.

“And by choosing to start a new, I realized something worth doing than dying. I want to atone, for what I did in the past turned me sinned.”

Friede, at this point, hummed in return.

“May I ask what you did?”

Maria didn’t know how to draw a proper response as she just chuckled and after a short amount of time, she shared Elfriede her story, as if there was no need for the distance between the two who had just cleared the air after a deadly battle and relaxed in a hidden room behind the biggest painting in the chapel.

Maria, having remembered something, took the Estus from the table and gave it to the other lady, “I had never seen a nun fight like that. But you did well, anyway."

.

Despite the snow and strong winds, the daylight had begun to appear in the sky of this cold place. Maria went to Ariandel chapel.

Empty...

She found the lady had moved to sit at the gate.

“You slept for two days.”

“Oh, did I?” The Vileblood smiled at the other lady and was greeted the same way once the she had settled next to her.

It was hard for Maria to not be beckoned so sweetly by the soft armchair on which she laid after days of resting on the hard ground.

“Ariandel's left. He wants to meet his beloved people.”

“On that crumbling bridge?”

“He’s a bird.”

“Oh well, I see... You didn’t accompany him?”

“They're not friendly with me. For I kept them that way for a long time.” Friede clasped her hands, and then remembered something, “Ahh yes, this is yours. A remembrance of this cold world for the great Lord of Londor. May it help you bear your duty.”

Friede handed her "new friend" a ring on which placed a light blue pearl, “This once was supposed to be with me. But in the end, it didn’t grace my hand, for the painting and frost has become my home.”

Now given the gift, Maria reached to take it but immediately learned that Friede’s hand was still cold and pale. The hunter spent some seconds putting the ring on her finger, before taking Friede’s hands.

“Cold.” Maria covered them in her lap, not before turning to face the other, “You're sure you’re familiar with this weather?”

Friede nodded, watching Maria’s fingers brushing the back of her hands.

“Um...” Maria uttered, removing her necklace, “Erm... you should keep this.”

“Undead One, this is...” Friede fell confused.

“A memento my late mother gave me. She believed it would protect me from illness and cold.” Maria held it to her face, “It’s warm, always. I think you’ll need a bit of it. Even in a cold land, no one would reject that cozy feeling, right? Besides, you gave me the ring, so let this be… the beginning of us.”

Friede greatly appreciated her kindness as she bowed her head in agreement, letting Maria have a chance to put the necklace around her neck.

“I thank you, Undead One.”

“Call me Maria, if you would.” Maria smiled, “How long since you last went outside?”

Friede averted her eyes from the other and took a deep breath while staring at the cold white ground, "I do not count. From what I remember, that was... that was long enough to be forgotten by my kins.”

“You surely have your reason for all the mess.” Maria leaned on the wall and gestured pointlessly, “Will you enlighten me?”

“Perhaps someday, if we are closer to each other, I’ll tell you the reason.” Friede responded, looking at Maria’s dull expression from under her hood.

Maria could see the burn scar on Friede’s face, as she recalled what Yuria had shared about the eldest sister.

“That burn. From the fire that turned you to Ash, isn’t it?”

Friede shook her head, “From something else.”

“What is it?” Maria asked.

“I believe you have a more serious matter to attend to, Lord of Hollows.”

Friede meant no impoliteness in the way she responded, but privacy she needed to cover the pain of her heart...

She was also right about the journey of that curious woman. The sooner Maria could complete it, the sooner she could finally rest her hands. Afterward, perhaps, they would have more time for chatting.

They bid farewell and the hunter crossed the bridge. With eyes on Maria’s back, Friede suddenly felt uncomfortable as she knew not if they would have a chance to meet again. Seeing the blonde went back to her business, Friede wished she hadn’t missed the hold moments before.

“How very unusual.” A thought ran in her mind when she observed the necklace and its emerald pearl.

---

“Ah, our Lord. Where have you been?” Yuria asked as she saw Maria wandering around the Shrine.

“Let’s just say I got into a little mess. But it seems alright now.” Maria rotated her wrist, “Guess who I met.”

"Gwyn?"

"Elfriede."

“Tis a joke, isn’t it? How is she?” Yuria’s voice raised in surprise and softness.

“Strong. Nearly killed me."

"For Heaven's sake. Why?"

"Little misunderstanding. But we're good, now. Still, woman has her dream to gaze at. So I don't think she'd come back any sooner.”

“Is that so? What a shame. Duty's boring, I suppose.” Yuria sighed, “Speaking of that, your spouse is awaiting in Anor Londo. Please, come and visit her.”

“What?!” Maria was stunned, “But… Excuse me, I might have heard wrong. What did you just say?”

“Your spouse.” Yuria repeated.

“My spouse?” Maria stuttered, “I-I don’t remember having intimating relation with anyone.”

“Pardon me for the lack of announcement. Yet this is a compulsory rite for ones who aim to be the Lord of Londor.” Yuria explained, watching Maria pacing in front of her.

“Is there… Is there anything else I can do? Because I think I’m… not ready for marriage.”

“There is, in fact. But to gain, you must find who bears the power of it and take it from them. Honorable Lord of Hollow, there isn’t anybody else harbor such that much dark sigil. Elfriede does not seem to return, so this all depends on you. Unless you want to ravage her power."

"Hang on, you really want me to do that?" Maria's face changed quickly.

"I'm not letting that happen."

Maria rubbed her eyebrows and exhaled. That wasn’t what she expected. However, if it helped her to finish the job, she could try.

“Do I… This is private, but I must ask. Do I need to give birth after that?” She narrowed her left eye and waited.

Fortunately, Yuria shook her head.

“Hm, forgot about it... Alright, I’ll see what I can do."

The wicked Sulyvahn collapsed on the ground. Maria sank her knees to the floor, fainting away. She dreamed of Friede sitting at the gate, with that necklace around her neck as its pearl rested just upon her heart. When the hunter awoke, she found the blue ring embraced her finger. Gently she touched it and for no particular reason, she smiled.

“I don't understand, Frozen, why I smiled thinking of you.”

And whilst that Undead Huntress was cleaning her weapon, Yuria’s speech about the rite appeared on her mind. Maria stood up and set her feet out of the church.

“But I'm not okay with this wedding.”

Chapter Text

The Vileblood rushed out of the dark chapel immediately and only stopped as she saw the pilgrim.

“Ahh, out gracious Lord. What stopped you from the wedlock?”

Maria gritted her teeth so secretly hard that her jaws became broad and square.

“What are you expecting me to do?” She asked, trying to calm herself.

“Please show no hesitation and lock this sword on her. Doing so will give you your strength.”

A dozen seconds passed between them. Finally, Maria closed her eyes to take a deep breath and exhaled slowly, attempting to soothe herself from the mood. How useless the method was.

So she stung a punch in his face.

"M-my Lord, what on earth?"

His question met no answer, as he found himself lifted up.

"Give me a reason why I shouldn't chop your head apart."

Shaking, the pilgrim's voice cracked, "Our gracious Lord, have mercy, please. I just did as Lady Yuria's command."

"And you killed blindly." Maria growled, her face red with fury. Indeed, if there was a tube attached to her ears, it would be no difference between her head and a locomotive.

She threw the pilgrim to the wall. Her steps hurried as she yearned for an elucidation.

.

Pacing around the shrine, Yuria began to feel uneasy. Knowing that the way to regain the fire for humanity was never easy, but teammates were still considered teammates. Couldn't say they didn't care about each other. That wedding would be a surprise for Maria, but it was something she had to do. It's not exactly a tradition, but a ritual that bestowed a blessing.

"You've honestly lost your mind." Yuria lifted her body from the chair, walking briskly to follow the other person.

"I do not."

"You can't marry a woman."

"Because it makes you sick?"

"It's unbecoming. Against nature. And you can't give birth."

"Everything happens around you is nature. It's just you who don't accept it. Besides, I'm not ready for children."

"What? Are you serious?"

Her sister nodded.

Yuria rolled her eyes, couldn't believe that she had to here something like that for the first time of her life.

"I'm afraid I have to remind you again, Elfriede. We use her power, the power of a demigod, to gain what we need. And we need you there, when everything is over, to snatch the power from that girl."

"Listen, Yuria. I know you put our goal on top. But we make Londor a land of human and--"

"And humans are treated like animals." Yuria cut the speech, "You're in love with the one whose ancestor banished us all."

"We can't follow their footstep once we knew it was wrong."

She made her way to stand in front of Yuria.

"I beg of you. Consider Nora a part of our family."

Yuria slapped her forehead with a palm. Having taken a deep breath, she shook her head in disbelief.

"She can be a good companion. But she has nothing to be called "family" to me."

Elfriede's lips tightened. Her gaze was fixed on the floor. She felt helpless at Yuria's rigidity. Standing between family and love, people often could only choose one. But Elfriede wanted to carry both, and because of that, she gradually became tired, personally feeling useless. Few words which she failed to hold back had found their way to whispered.

"I had her."

The eldest sister stood frozen on her feet, watching Yuria stomped out of the hall.

"Destiny." She smirked, thinking, that what she offered Maria was not a man indeed, "No other choice."

“So what’s your next plan for all this stupid Londor?” Her voice echoed in the air and startled everyone in the Shrine, “What happened to Horace, to Anri, don’t you know how to show respect?”

"My Lord, you're back. I was worried..."

"Answer my questions."

Yuria saw anger in the other woman's eyes.

“I am very sorry about that, our gracious Lord. But to complete your mission, you have to do everything you must.”

“So you mean you already knew Anri was dead, yet you still asked me to come there? To perform that nonsense?” Maria smacked the Avowal Sword to the ground so violently that it broke, and she pointed to Yuria’s face, her eyes wide opened with a fire in it, “I am not your puppet!”

“My Lord, please calm yourself. I believe we can talk about this a gentle way.”

“Your little puppy killed my friend...” Maria pouted her lower – lip and shook her head, "You should be grateful I don't gut you right here and now, Yuria."

"My Lord..."

"I don't want to hear." Maria's eyebrows soon formed a shape of a large V, as she sucked the air all of the sudden, then exhaled heavily, "We're done."

And then the hunter turned her back to Yuria, leaving her alone with her own thought. It was fine to Maria if she had to sacrifice her own happiness and principles to build something bigger and better, yet seeing someone close to her died and was brought to a ridiculous rite exceeded what she could stomach. She had left many things behind to pursue something she hadn’t known about its result. More and more casualty wasn’t what Maria aimed for, especially when she had had enough chaos in her chest.

She did not care about the plan anymore, for all she wished to have then was to find a peaceful place and released the stressful burden.

She returned to that cold land. At least, snow and wind would soothe her heavy mind.

.

"Oh, welcome back, Un- I mean, Maria."

Friede, to Maria, from an uncertain point, had become a person whose appearance pushed back the dense fog of misery. But all Maria could do at this point was bowing her head with a lip corner twitched slightly to replace a sad smile, then brought herself to the room.

Friede and the good Father traded a look with each other, wondering what had caused such quietness from the young woman.

Her two hands gripped her own hair and her eyes clasped. A big gulp formed in her throat. Maria hadn’t stopped staring at the floor. The door creaked open behind her back. A big hand pushed Friede into the room, before shutting the entrance of it, leaving the two some privacy.

“This world has no mercy… The Church, the Fire, even Londor…”

Friede quietly put a hand on Maria’s shoulder. The story Maria told.

"Forgive her. She did it for the sake of mankind.”

Maria bit her lip and looked at Friede, “Doesn't the life of someone else matter as long as you achieve your goal? Building a castle on land made of human flesh and bones worths it because you considered nothing could be crueler than the curse, didn't you?"

"That was one of the reasons why I abandoned my old home.” Friede cut in, "I was too soft to accomplish my duty."

Maria threw her head backward and sighed, “Goddamn it!” She gestured vaguely, “Well, sorry for my bad word… I take the matter serious but never had an idea it would be... harsh like this.”

“Things get harsh because you haven't got used to it. However, have you ever thought about ending the Fire, alone?” Friede raised a question with her warm deep voice toward the other.

“Hmm, I did… But…” Maria said, “I don’t feel like they want that. As long as there's just a tiny hope. Besides, those people fear the dark. I don’t see the end is timing. Meanwhile, they see it somehow unacceptable.”

A chuckle from Friede was enough to lighten the mood of the hunter.

“They fear, that if they don't follow the old Gods, the world will come to a painful end. But is it true that lasting the Fire is always good? Or will it create chaos and burn you to ash? Like it once did to me?" Friede paused, looking back at Maria, "Men are meant to be props of the world, not a weak and fleeting form "bestowed" from the late parties. No matter how tender, how exquisite, a lie will remain a lie.”

Friede's lines had caused a mild impression to Maria. That was the first time she had witnessed such motivational quote from the woman who was supposed to be a person of few words. Flowery literature many ones could make, but that which was both weighty and pleasant to ear only came from beings who had been through quite a lot.

“Hm, maybe…” Maria lifted her face, “But why didn’t you set fire to this land? You were afraid of a new world, either? I thought you would do anything to befit your people, like how you once sacrificed for Londor...”

“No smoke without fire.”

Maria turned to Friede and sat cross-legged, “I’m all ear.”

"Long story short, perhaps?"

"Well, thanks but I prefer the long story long, too." The hunter replied, hand under her chin, waiting.

Elfriede lowered her head, recalling the memory of an old event. Old, yet not faded.

“Years ago, I rose up thanks to the bell, knowing from that I became an Ashen One. Renouncing Londor I did, and came here shortly thereafter. Weak and, deprived, as a sovereignless soul, I did everything I could to survive out there, even fighting wild wolves to put something into my belly. A disgusting taste of corpses struck me. So I started to throw up and crawled on the cold ground, bearing a thought that I wouldn't make it."

"And somehow you made it..." Maria whispered.

Friede nodded.

"Ariandel appeared. He took care of me like his own child. And a part of his people I turned to be.”

Friede, at this point, looked at her hands on which the burn settled, as she continued.

“Back then, fire existed in some places. But it also destroyed and burned down the whole village where his family lived. I tried to save people, but I was too small compared to the burning place. Beams fell right where I and a child were standing. I was lucky then since the worst I got was these burns. But shamefully, the child wasn't. His head got crushed. Blood everywhere... Ariandel screamed in anguish when he saw me carried the boy out of the house. Only later did I find out that was his child. Sadly, neither his spouse nor many other people survived. Till these days, his sobbing and groaning sound in grief still lingers, sometimes echoes in my head.”

She sadly chuckled, “And from that very moment, I marked fire as a threat. Coldness doesn’t kill as long as you’re smart enough. But fire…” She gulped, “Burned me to ashes, burned those poor to nothing, and put our blessed Father in pain. I had to do something to prevent these. Thus, to the flame we put an end. Perhaps I was selfish, but, I did have my own purpose, didn’t I, Maria? When I stood there, next to him, in front of the graves of people wasted after the event, and saw myself completely useless. That was a chance to repay him, but I could do nothing...”

Maria did not speak in response, yet she nodded in and patted Friede’s shoulder, then gave it a very gentle squeeze.

It was a few moments later, the hunter made her speech, ”I'm sorry... You can drop it now if you want. Don't let a burden bother for so long because no emotion lasts forever."

And a few seconds was enough to poke her memory, "Besides, I have something for you."

Maria reached under the bed and grabbed her satchel, bringing out a new pair of leather shoes, whose length seemed to reach one’s calf.

“I got them from the handmaid. She said these were a reward for bringing her a new chair. Erm…” Maria tried to find a word, “You don’t have any, right? Your body wasn't borne to be tortured.”

Friede fell silent as she blinked several times under her blue hood while she didn’t know how to react. Or perhaps it was her who did not know how to explain to the hunter that such trivial things that Maria had just mentioned would not cause her any damage because, naturally, she was an Ashen One, so a few scratches and minor inconvenience mattered not to her.

Yet, she found it very touching and lovely. 

In Maria, Friede felt something so interesting to learn. If there was one thing she adored in the woman, that would be the willingness to leave what she could not stomach (just like herself), contradicted to the people who tried to sit down under the situation.

“Let me help you.” Maria smiled at Friede, "Don't worry, I don't have feet fetish."

And the frost woman did not refuse her request. Moreover, she chuckled at the second line. While Maria was putting the shoes on Friede’s feet, the other woman secretly let out a smile. What an emotion. She recognized it had been performed more than before, especially since the hunter reached this land.

"Your toenails need cutting and filing a bit, dear. I'll be sure to find something for that soon." Maria giggled, pointing at the woman's feet in jest, before falling silent as she saw the burn they habored.

Gently and unintentionally, her finger touched that skin, caressing the scar, until getting her mind back when Friede curled her toes.

"It tickles."

"Oh, I'm... sorry. Didn't mean to do that, haha." A fake smile Maria showed, as she felt something heavy lurking around. Soon she hurried back to put the shoes on the elder woman.

She wondered in her mind if that was either because of the accident.

“The necklace you gave me. It's really warm.” Friede said.

“See?” Maria spoke and giggled, “I told you. Not only it warms your skin...”

Lifting her face, a gaze was formed between them.

"... But also, it warms your heart." Tightened the last shoelace, those letters escaped her mouth finally.

“Thank you, Maria. Thank you so much.” Friede could not find any different sentence to describe her gratitude, “You’re so kind.”

Maria shook her head as she rolled her eyes and frowned, “Errrr, don’t say that. I'm allergic to compliment. Maybe I’ll have a little nap. And...” She averted her eyes and sighed, “Back to Anor Londo.”

“I suppose you don’t intend to perform the wedding, do you?”

“Definitely not.” Maria stated, “But there’re things to complete.” Maria said, sliding off her long coat and walked to the armchair.

“Come and rest yourself here, on this.” Friede pointed to the bedsheet.

Maria took off her own boots, "I often move. Might disturb you for that. Do you really want me on there?”

“Yes.” Friede insisted, “Simply, you deserve a bed. And I don’t allow me to treat a special guest in such a poor way.”

"Special guest, what is it?"

"A... friend, as you can consider."

"Hm, really? If I'm not mistaken, we clashed at each other." Joking, Maria's grin was wide to her ears.

"Many had their weapons drawn and raised to stand against me before you. But..." Hanging, Friede stood up to slightly pace toward Maria, who was now leaning on the window edge, "To what I remember, they were not offered to share a bed with me as you are."

"Hm? Then you let them sleep on the floor?"

"No." Friede shook her head, "Six feet under."

"Ah. Aha." Maria scratched her head, not knowing why she could feel her sweat, "Oh, I'm lucky to have that privilege. Sure! It wouldn't hurt, anyway."

And she went straight to the bed.

.

Closing her eyes to relax, Maria hoped to find peace into her sleep. Friede did not seem to acknowledge it, since she paused reading her book and used the shared blanket to cover the younger lady, before taking her eyes back to the pages.

Or perhaps she knew it clearly, yet did as she wanted to?

---

Having transferred through the foggy entrance, she was stunned by what lied before her. There was a young white man laying on the viscid floor. Most notably, the mucus beneath her legs was moving, carrying the remaining piles of flesh and bones with it. The white man groaned in pain, reaching for his weapon but then collapsed in the hideous black mess. Behind him, a large mouth with pointed teeth opened widely and seized, slowly chewing and swallowing his body. Maria couldn’t do anything but watched in disgust and worry.

“By the gods, what’s this sickness?” She muttered, watching the monster used the man’s own body to fight against her, “You coward, can't even be yourself.”

Aldrich did not seem to care for what the hunter said. Although he had just had his meal, Maria, such a beautiful and remarkable woman, would definitely be another delicious snack for his belly.

The battle lasted terribly as the mud under Maria's feet slowed her down. Even when she is a good fighter, her stamina began draining, while that bastard still liked to creep through the floor for a few seconds and then emerged in whatsoever damn corner. Aldrich raised his bow and delivered a heavy rain of dark arrows toward the female. Despite her effort to run away from them, Maria, eventually, got one pierced through her shoulder and knocked to the ground. The Devourer of Gods plunged his blade to her chest, making Maria to cry out in agony, and then lifted her into the air, facing the lady to him as he licked his lips and smirked at her. Maria saw herself so powerless that even to a filthy impostor, she could not stand a chance. Her beloved Rakuyo dropped, and she felt pity for her fate – being eaten alive. In the final try, Maria reached her black firebomb and threw it to Aldrich. But the explosion caused him no trouble and in return, he clasped the Unkindled by his tail of stench. Consciousness began to fail Maria as she learned the fading surrounding. As everything seemed to be over, a sharp cut echoed, followed by Aldrich’s groan as he tossed the hunter away. Maria moved to stand up and brought her eyes to figure out what was happening, finding a familiar woman whose right side of the face was burn and hidden under the hood of a black outfit that now replaced the ordained dress.

The Vileblood’s mouth hanged open as it formed a mixed expression of both surprise and happiness, “Frozen?”

The interferer grabbed the small metal stick, which was held behind her back, before tightening the grip, and by the time she performed an edgy flick, turning it into a magic supported blade while the main great scythe stayed in the other hand, her speech synced:

“A Lord should be on his throne.”

When there came to the end of that sentence, Friede span herself into the air, slamming the explosion to the Devourer of Gods, without giving him any chance to escape from the critical attack. Aldrich, after getting ass–kicked, terribly slowly took back his stance to hurl a powerful cluster of light toward the Ash. How very sorry for him the strike was blocked when Friede cast a spell of ice wall to shield herself and other several black serpents straight to his face.

Aldrich roared like a true beast in the poor form of his prey as he struggled to fight back but soon when he prepared his bow, Maria appeared from nowhere and immediately thrust her blade to his face, then sliced it violently across his body, before once again to his chest she plunged the Rakuyo, forcing him to the floor. Taking the precious opportunity, Friede dashed forward, swinging her weapons as she clasped their blades together around Aldrich’s neck and cut it without a second thought. Maria hastily stuck a group of firebomb to his body, before pulling Friede away just in time to avoid the explosion. His stinky black blood spat all over the women and in the end, the filthy one gave up his final strength as he collapsed and faded into nothing but a tiny soul, as proof of a fallen Lord of Cinder.

Maria put it in a small jar and turned to look at her companion. Happiness appeared on her face as she rushed toward Friede and pulled her into a warm embrace, despite the wound on her torso that hadn’t totally recovered.

“Thank you…” Maria whispered.

.

The two sat down near the bonfire outside the structure. Together they enjoyed a moment of peace and relaxation after quite a long journey.

“I didn’t think you would come.” Maria said after smiling when she saw Friede wore the pair of boots gifted by none other than herself just a couple of weeks ago.

“Neither did I.” Friede looked at her, “The little girl said she felt something bad coming to you.”

“And then you left?”

Friede nodded, “She rarely says something like that. But once she does, the incident occurs very accurately. She once mentioned an Unkindled, who would bring fire to Ariandel, and became a friend. I saw it ridiculous, until...” At this point Friede paused and by the eye of meaning, she blinked to Maria.

“I see… It’s good you're here, anywa--” Maria suddenly sneezed and the action hurt her wound which had been left by Aldrich and yet hadn’t totally recovered, making her hissed sharply while putting her hand on it.

“You don’t look good.”

Maria turned shy as something fragile of hers got unpacked. Though, she couldn’t deny it.

“Naturally, I’m bad at cold resistance. Maybe a few weeks in Ariandel has come to this.”

Lady Elfriede did not say a thing, yet in return, she held Maria’s face and smiled at the poor hunter. A scent of ash and snow mixed together, with the feeling of special warmth quickly came to Maria’s knowledge as she stared at Friede in silence, seeing how amazingly outstanding that woman was. Every second maintaining the look to those violet eyes was every second of Maria, whose heartbeat from an unknown point had uncontrollably went faster, felt her mind blown away as peace and joy were the winner of all emotions. The pain soon faded but something else remained. Something hot was dancing.

“Maria… I’m sorry but… Are you aging?” Friede frowned as she saw some little wrinkles displayed on Maria’s face, “These wrinkles on your forehead…”

“Ah, really?” Maria chuckled, “Aren't we supposed to age? You’re lucky your beauty stays by your side, Frozen.”

“How long have you been in this?”

“In what?” Maria asked.

“In the hunt, and in this path.”

Maria hummed and tried to remember.

“Almost 10 years, I believe.”

“You have your special blood. Can’t it somehow help you?” Friede lowered her hands to Maria’s broad shoulders.

“It depends.” Maria said, "And it's a long story."

The touch halted as Friede wondered what they would do next and Maria looked around, seeing some silver knights patrolling without paying attention to the two individuals, as she turned to her Frozen and said:

“I doubt the world will end if we sit here for a while.”

Later, Maria leaned her back on the wall behind and fell asleep.

"Marvelous. It works." Friede thought, looking at the sharp blade of her scythe, as black flame smoldering on it.

Chapter Text

“Andre, would you mind taking a look at my weapon?” Maria asked, giving the man her weapons, “I feel like it’s a little blunt.”

The blacksmith started observing and slightly touched its blade, then hummed in thought, “You’re right. Degradation. Stay there. It should be real quick.”

He raised Maria’s saber in the air and whirled it, focusing on the sharp sound as he narrowed his eyes and examined it carefully, before reaching for a bucket below the canvil and dipped the blade into the liquid.

“Your weapons was made very meticulously. Their blades was formed of Tamahagane, a kind of steel used to make the legendary sword of Eastern warrior.” He said, “Well, if you find any Titanite, bring it to me. I’ll make your lovely sword a beast.”

“Then do it.” A voice came from behind Maria, “Please.”

It was Friede who gave Andre a Slab he had just asked.

“My oh my! I remember this voice. Are you… are you the one with a two-horn hat?” Andre seemed to be surprised, looking at both women, “How long has it been, young one? Where’s your hat?”

“Life is cruel. I guess I dropped it somewhere.” Friede shrugged.

Maria turned to her and asked with a chuckle, “You did wear that?”

Friede glanced at her, “Could say I did something when I was younger.”

The hunter could not help but burst into a laughter. Friede sighed, leaving Maria giggling like a maniac as she came to where she believed that particular person could be. Time flied, yet the scent still remained in her memory.

"Looks like you and Maria won't talk again." Folding her arms, Friede released a smirk.

"Guess who made it first? And now you resent it." Chuckling back at her sister word, Yuria knew a way to tease, "Sounds very classy, doesn't it?"

"It changed."

"Hmm... A change of heart. Such a pure angel who would abandon her homeland after slaying and killi--" Such sacastic voice got interrupted by a hidden blade inside Friede's sleeve. Its sharp point pressed to Yuria's throat, not so strong that it could cut her sister flesh.

"Stop." With a serious face, Friede stared at her, "I don't want to hear that."

"Oh." Yuria giggled at the danger, "Good to see how you reinvested yourself for a simple life like that, dearest sister. But still, your defensive method never fails to impress me."

Having retreated the small blade, with her cold expression, Friede stated, "And whoever taught me that?”

“Well, didn't it seem to be no one but myself? Why? Ah yes, since I thought you were ready for Londor."

Friede went silent in return. Meeting Yuria here was awkward already, hence that woudn't be one of a kind manner to cause a bigger fight.

"But alright then, you don’t have to.” Yuria broke the stillness between them. She crossed her arms, keeping "What a disappointment. I thought somehow you could... assist Lady Maria."

"Please, Yuria..." Her voice changed abruptly, as if she started to beg, "I've lost enough just for that. Even the ones I wished not to fail." Friede closed her eyes, frowning, then release a sigh as if it awoke a recollection which she craved to put aside.

"And now you want to lose her, even?" A question from Yuria pulled her elder kin back to reality. Friede's face changed immediately, as she frowned.

She looked at Yuria, seeing the younger one pointing at Maria, who was chatting with the Firekeeper. That cheerful laughter from the hunter and the chuckle from the blind woman lifted something heavy from her chest, only to put another larger rock in it. How Yuria came to know this seed of romance she knew not...

"What do you mean?" Plainly she asked.

"All the time we've been through together. All the things happened from the dawn of Londor. And you honestly think that I can't read it in your eyes, don't you?"

Being unable to find a word back, Friede shut her lips, walked into the Shrine, hiding from the truth that she could do nothing to justify her complicated thoughts.

“Lady Elfriede, am I… Am I a good fighter?” Nora gasped, laying motionless in the sister’s lap, “I swore to protect you…”

“You’re the best fighter I’ve ever known…” Friede slightly caressed her companion’s pale face, “Please… just don’t leave me…”

“Please forgive me, Lady Elfriede…”

She smacked her tongue again. Never would she doubt a vast of honest feelings she once couldn't hide from the late one.

Yuria knew it. She knew almost everything about the eldest sister, how sensitive Friede could be, how stubborn she could become, how resolute she used to be, and how big the recklessness of hers was. She remembered almost every cat and dog of the arguments they had before.

“Yuria, you keep acting like the world is only cold and hard. I doubt this is the true things you want in Londor, is it not? You might know the feelings of mine right now, when you have a real person you don’t want to lose, or when you realize what does matter to you.”

"I have you, Liliane, Vilhelm, Yoel and lastly, that young woman whom nights you spent with. That's all I care for. Other people?" Yuria smirked, "I'm not going to die without them."

"In my view, somehow you are cruel and cold-blooded. Yet for some reasons I cannot bring myself to hate you. I think you might never change..."

"Only to those who don't matter to me."

A touch made her jumped slightly.

"Maria?"

"You look anxious, ma'am."

"Pardon me, I... must be absorbed in thought."

"Why don't you share it with me?"  Maria smiled, trying to clean a dot of dust stuck on the woman's cheek.

"Um, it's... nothing serious. I just... I... May I ask if you could go back to Ariandel with me?"

"Oh, sure. For what?"

"There is something I should do."

---

“But Lady Elfriede, can you wait a bit? I need to go number one.”  The girl said, curving her lips as Friede rolled her eyes.

“Quick.” She told the Painter as the kid ran outside, “Don’t wander around. It’s cold.”

Maria looked at them, feeling hard to understand. The air was somehow cozy here.

“So this is why you want to go back here, isn’t it?” The hunter had her long coat hanged on the wall as well as her gloves taken off, as she darted her sight to Friede, who was holding a tray of colors and brushes on her hands.

“Maybe.” Friede didn’t look at the blonde since her eyes was on the paper.

Maria straightened her back and leaned on the wall, folding her arms, chuckling, “Hm, feel regret already?”

Friede glanced at her, “What’re you expecting to hear? Truth or lie?”

“Up to you.”

“I don’t regret.” Friede said, as she secretly released another sigh.

"Interesting. Someone did tell me that she wanted come back here, then turned a whole bloody room upside-down just to find some papers, didn't mind her face covered in dust. And now she said she didn't feel sorry for what she'd done." The hunter's finger rested under her chin as she smacked her tongue and chuckled, "Not a professional liar, then."

She propped her elbows on her knees.

"But when I look at you right now, I have a feeling that if you have kids, they will love you so much."

A strange stillness gathered in the air, as Friede turned her head just slightly enough to contact the look with the hunter.

"I can't have children."

"How come?" Maria frowned.

"An inauspicious gift for those who are absorbed by fire."

It took longer than they thought. Friede released a heavy sigh and got on her feet. Putting the tray to the table, she walked outside with her mind reckoning the girl must be making, perhaps, a snowman.

Conversing to what she thought, the girl was no where to be seen.

“Little girl, where are you?” Maria yelled in the air, hoping to receive a response. Friede had gone on another way to find that kid, either, as they wish to see her as soon as possible before the weather got bad.

Painter was so excited chasing a beautiful ladybug for such a long way that she ended up in front of a group of wild wolves, which could lead to a horrible outcome if she hadn’t been fast enough to climb up a tree. But the dried plant couldn’t handle her weight as it broke and the girl was thrown to the ground.

“No!” She screamed while reaching for a branch and swung it to dismiss the fierce animals that was putting her in a dead – end, “Get away from me!”

Those wolves rushed to the poor girl in her cry for help. She curled up and clasped her eyes as a deep fear overtook her mind. And if it wasn’t for Friede using none other than herself to shield the girl, she could have been torn by the sharp and stench fangs of foes. They didn’t stop biting and riping Friede’s flesh when the woman could do only one thing that was to cover Painter in her lap, for she acknowledged that she forgot to bring along her weapon as well as using her pyromancy flame could burn the girl. Painter opened her eyes only to see these cruel animals sinking their teeth into Friede’s arm and snatched the skin out of it.

“Lady Elfriede…” She looked at the frowning woman and sobbed, seeing the other’s blood spilling on both faces of theirs.

Soon they felt a slam on the ground, followed by an intimidating roar. When Painter looked up, she saw a giant corvian standing behind the wolves. She had no idea who that was because the vision was blurred by her tears. Yet Friede felt lucky Ariandel showed up. He raised his big hands above and smacked it to the ground with his scream until the last wolf turned its ass to run away.

And as he turned to look at them, he saw an arm of his little Friede was now painted in a mixture of blood and ragged muscles.

“Friede!” Maria dashed toward them and sank her knees to the ground, eyeing the dreadful wound on Friede’s right arm, “Oh no…”

“I’m sorry, Lady Elfriede…” Painter said with her broken voice, “I didn’t know it would come to this.”

“It's just a scratch.” The woman said under her breath while looking at the girl up and down, “Did they hurt you?”

Painter shook her head and embraced Friede tightly. She sobbed and only until they were brought back to the chapel by the good Father, it turned to be a burst of tears once again.

“The Estus…” Friede muttered.

Maria gave her the bottle but instead of chugging, she poured the liquid flame on the wound and hissed sharply for the contact.

"Have you lost your mind, woman?!"

"I know what to do..."

The injury healed more quickly with a cost of thunder pain.

"I'm sorry..."

"For what?" Maria's eyebrow raised in agitation.

"For letting you see me like this." Observing the recovering wound, Friede's mouth twitched for the agony.

“That's nothing... By the way, you need new clothes…” Maria said, gesturing at the woman’s outfit which was now torn by the wolves, “Come, I’ll help.”

Maria slowly removed the garb on Friede’s upper – body and left it on the floor. The moment she took off Friede’s undershirt, she saw a large round burn on the other person's back. It had a shape that looked alike the sun in the distance above Lothdric with a crease in the middle. The burn scar spread almost all over Friede's back and some of its scorch lines reached the front of her chest. Maria gently placed her hand on it, then slowly ran her fingers everywhere it touched on the other's back.

“This is…”

Friede did not move, yet the words escaped her mouth, “The day I failed.”

“Did it… Did it hurt?”

Maria could only exhaled heavily when it came a slight nod from the other one.

“Maria... The Fire... and the path you're going...”

“…”

“I’m scared of seeing you die.”

“If I die, I could always go back.”

“I thought the same thing once.”

The room soon was filled with quietness and the only noise happened was the wardrobe getting opened, as Maria took out some garments and put them on her now pretty important person.

“How is she?” Ariandel raised his voice upon seeing Maria opened the door.

“Alive." An answer she gave as she turned to look at Painter. The kid was still sobbing.

"And you need to change your costume, lady." The hunter said, sitting on her heels, "Would be better if you take a bath."

A soft pat put on the girl's shoulder as Maria swept the tears hanging on her cheeks, then gently rubbed her head.

"I have caused you so much trouble."

"I do not disagree with you. But we will talk about this later. Now, I think a new painting wouldn't be something good if the artist's covered in blood." Holding Painter's small hand, Maria added, "Come. I'll give you some hot water."

Leading them to the settlement of corvians, Maria stopped inside a house before igniting the coal stove. A chair just beside it reminded her of someone. And for that, she sighed, shaking her head.

"I'll look for a bucket. Promise to stay here, will you?"

Seeing a nod put an assurance to Maria. The girl must have learned a lesson.

-----

“Fear not, the dark, my friend. And let the feast begin.”

“I’ve heard many tales of the Abyss. People don’t seem to like it.” Maria shrugged.

“Ah, oh, then the fire has swallowed them whole. The fear of the Abyss, the fear of Darkness, the fear of the end of the Fire, are the creatures gnawing at them.” The Locust Preacher said with a smile, “The greatest emotion of us is fear. And the greatest fear is to fear what we don’t know. And to run away from it, some tends to keep everything preserved in their perspectives, despite how bad it could become.”

“So you mean the Abyss isn’t as bad as people think?”

“Ah! The Abyss, is an exact reflection of our soul. Those who are haunted, cannot escape its grip. Those who are aware of it, turn it into strength. It is everything, and also, nothing. Don’t dive too deep and so you have nothing to worry about.”

.

The red - hood turned to her, “Ah… I see you right now. Drained in your nightmare. Powerlessly fight against what you don’t like. Yet, desperately needs it to complete a task.” And he released a mad chuckle, “No Champion, we are… But, a little hope for a safe return.”

His speech finished with a pygmy thrown at the Vileblood.

“Her dark soul… for my lady’s painting.”

"Step... over my corpse first."

Gael was right about the hunter. For she was literally losing her sanity. She hated the fact, yet she could not do anything else. And perhaps that Locust man wasn’t wrong, neither. Those who were haunted, would not be able to flee from the truest mirror of beings. Maria had pushed herself beyond the limit. Purple flashes and blood, as well as flame, clashed against the lightning and homing red skulls on the air when their capes waved in strong winds and sandstorm.

As Maria's blades pierced through her chest, she knew that the Maria had become the kind of person she hated. Her hair band fell off for the spins she made, and sadly, her own pale yellow hair dyed in crimson red above the bleeding eye sockets. As it was not enough to voraciously chew the reality, those blue eyes were, now, as dark black as the void of the Abyss. The Slave Knight fired a series of arrows at her, but she never dodged, or in other words, she didn't have any left sanity to dodge such trivial things anymore. They slashed at each other, swinging both sides violently with all they had, in a seemingly endless battle.

Eventually, only one was left standing.

Maria collapsed on the ground and looked at her fingers on which now the nails had turned into dark claws.

“We are born of the blood. Made men by the blood. Undone by the blood.”

That voice sounded in her head.

“You dislike your own blood? What a waste of life!”

“Drink it. Taste it, Maria. Enjoy this red. Our gift.

But it was also their curse.

“Lady Maria, I have failed…”

“Lady Maria… I am… a shame of life…”

“Lady Maria, my head… the pain…”

"Lady Maria... Darkness surrounds me... No, help me, please... I don't want to be consumed."

Under her feet it rose. Through her body it spread and leaked. No. She tried to resist until her beastly roar became her failure as finally, the Abyss had won.

She wished she could have died, but her legs didn't stop. Pacing and pacing only, Maria then had nothing in her mind but emptiness. That sweet smell of blood. Oh ~ It sang to her.

---

“Where are you going?” Ariandel raised a question as he saw Friede preparing something with her small bag.

“To the Ringed City. It’s been months since Maria left. And the painting girl’s waiting for that color from her uncle.” Friede lifted her face up to look at the big man, “Father, I have to do something. I made a promise with Maria...”

Friede held the estus flask in her hand, “She left this to me, saying I might need it to look after this place. But now I realized without any kind of this flask, I’m afraid that…”

“I understood.” Ariandel responded, “Go. Be safe. I will handle until you people come back... in one piece.”

Friede nodded and set to find the woman she needed.

The woman she needed.

She remembered how tight she held Maria’s wrist before the hunter decided to part.

“Maria, don’t do something you might regret.”

“I don’t regret.” Maria closed the conversation by patting Friede’s hand in reassurance.

Maria turned, but at the same moment when she prepared to leave, she felt a grasp on her wrist.

"Wait..." Friede told the young woman, as she took the long blue coat hung on the wall and wrapped it around Maria, then whispered, "Take this."

They regarded closely, seeing the feeling that was as big as the whole world crackling in their eyes. And in an instant, they found their hands holding each other, yearning for a wish to last this moment forever.

"When did you make it?" Maria made her words. A corner of her lips formed a smile as she observed the cape through every seam of it.

"A few weeks ago, while you were away."

"I'm surprised, really. Never knew you could use needle and thread."

"You weren't here so often, so I got bored and decided to kill some time. Though it's not as I expected. Now here you are, but soon again you would leave, I suppose I have to..." Friede gestured vaguely, "...continue with it. I have not many friends to talk, you knew that."

"Hm, you can sew a new outfit for that little girl in the meantime, I believe. And talk to her, also."

Humming in response, Friede seemed to agree with her suggestion.

"Thank you for everything. I... don't know what else to say, or to... return..." Maria scratched her head. Her perplexed and confused attitude left a faint smile on the other lady's face.

"There is one thing I would love to have you do to return this favor." Having fixed Maria's collar, Friede lightly leaned forward, softly requested, "Promise to stay safe."

For the first time, Maria had a chance to reach and put a gentle touch on that woman's face, planting a farewell kiss on her forehead.

Sand everywhere. They moved, playing hide and seek with the wind in the air. Friede didn't know how far she had to go in this vast, endless desert but kept stepping forward. What appeared to be worse was she didn't know where Maria and Gael could be. Without a clues about the safety of the other two, for the first time after so many decades, the feelings of confusion and anxiety  kicked in, like a fire flaring up. Strange! The cold of the Painted World seemed to bury all of Friede's emotions, but it turns out that in the end, for the hug, times of holding hands and sharing life stories with Maria, she felt a resurgence of life. When she was with Maria, she found herself respected and something so peaceful that it became different from what she had once enjoyed before they met. Ever since their first encounter, her mind got a little younger.

It was never easy to suffer from a heart of stone. However, no one said it was not going to feel again.

Friede smiled to herself while thinking about that very person. But then that bit of joy was snuffed out like a candle in a storm just as she found Maria slashing madly into the air in the midst of a ruined rubble.

“Beasts everywhere.” The words dribbled from the female hunter, “Help... please... I didn't mean to do that...”

Perhaps the cursed did not realize that her beloved Rakuyo was no longer the weapon she knew, because the two sharp blades of it were stained in a dark purple, such as the chaos in the mind of its wielder. Maria heard someone called her, for that, she turned. Friede stood frozen when she met Maria again after a long while and it was so hard to tell how she felt exactly, because she would not be able to realize Maria without her familiar costume.

“Maria?” Friede asked, backing away.

It was unclear who or what Maria saw Friede as. But by the way she growled and stared like a beast, Friede knew there was no time for jest. The woman reached the scythe behind her back and just in time dodged a razor – sharp cut brought by the hunter, as that hunter’s mouth hanged open.

“You’re as bright as the sunlight. It burns my eyes… But your soul is dark. Very dark.”

“Maria… What have you become?” Friede’s voice trembled as she thought about the thing that could have happened.

A wild grin appeared on the hunter's face, poking her 4 lengthened fangs.

No estus available. Beside, she didn’t know how to cast a spell. Her wound would get worse if she didn’t do something to heal. The path was long and vague. The foes were so many. They wouldn’t spare her any chance to proceed without a way to cure. She grabbed a fallen enemy and slit his wrist, then held it to her face and sucked the black blood, hoping it would help her somehow. Yes it did work more effectively than the liquid flame in the bottle she no longer brought along.

And so, she continued the journey. During the hunt, in an attempt to save her life, Gehrman had to give her the blood which he knew she didn’t want to use. She was afraid of it, of one day, it could corrupt her.

"You already knew I would never use this, master Gehrman."

"Of course I know. But you'll have to do everything to survive."

One had failed to uphold the principle she set. Then she no longer drank it to heal, but tasted it. It appeared in her mind the memory when she caught hold of Halflight, Spear of the Church, and sank her fangs in his neck only to ripped it open without any hesitation. She didn’t know why she enjoyed that moment so much, when his blood was all over her face and the scent of it awoke the lust of that smell within the lady.

.

"Sick creature."

"Maria, I've come to find you. I've come for the color."

"Color of the innocent..." Maria's eyes darted at Friede, so directly that the elder woman could see blood did flow from it.

Dust and sand splashed everywhere as they fought at the end of the world. Friede knew not the turmoil in her heart each time she swung her scythe toward Maria to keep her at a safe distance. She did not want to hurt the other, for everytime she did, hearing Maria’s groan was enough to wreck her as if a fire had burned her flesh. But she had to throw Maria into the air by the blunt of her scythe, then hooked the sharp side to the other's back and sent her to the ground. The Rakuyo got knocked out of its owner’s hand by the following hit. Without sparing herself a moment to have a breath, Maria immediately slashed her claws, staggered Friede. This time her attack spread all over the place as she sheathed the saber and dashed forward Friede, unleashing another cut. Blood spilt to Friede's face before she realized a sharp blade flicked through her skin. She saw Maria cut the gap, sword slashed forcefully and decisively. No moment to talk, Friede did know she must not fail. For her and Maria's sake.

So she managed to stomp on Maria's blade when the Vileblood thrust it mindlessly. With the hidden blade extended, she countered the blonde in the chest. A contorted face she made before withdrawing it. It hurt as if she had just stabbed her own body.

"Wake up, Maria." Begging wasn't what she was good at in the old days, but she had to do it now, as her eyes saw that warming coat slid off Maria's shoulder, exposing the young one's bloody tattered shirt. Her sword was no longer in her grasp.

Both looked at each other, getting numb.

"Kill me, please." Suddenly that thought emerged from Maria's mind barely in half of a second. Shaking her head, the hunter hissed, groaning, roaring, charging to her oponent.

She tumbled to the ground, but quickly lifted her spines up, shaking like someone who got stroke by the thunder. But she lunged on her heels again, as Friede  swept the scythe handle to the hunter’s feet and wrestled that poor soul to the ground.

What a dicky fate.

She looked at the blonde with an eye containing sadness, hoping that they would not have to end the deathmatch by killing. Yet to her surprise, Maria suddenly flashed. She stabbed Friede at the back, piercing her chest with those darken claws and threw her to the wall nearby. For an unknown reason, her pace refused to rush to the woman. She struggled to fight back that invisible shackle. She wanted to kill, to end, to see Friede dead, but a faint thought was trying its best to hold her back.

"Proclaimed yourself Sister... Selfish... Hypo-crite..."

Friede gasped in pain and struggled to stand up only to be pinned on the sand. If it hadn’t been for Maria seeing the necklace around her neck, the consequence would have been much dire. That thing awoke the hunter from the bloodlust as she finally let go of the Ash and fell on her knees, before crying and grieving at despair. She felt pain in her chest, especially when she looked back at Friede, who sat on knees with a hand extended and waiting.

Maria, she missed her mother, of the words spoken between them.

“My child, keep this near your heart. For it will always stay to protect and save you from every worst nightmare.”

Seeing the blood stain left by the wound caused by none other than herself on Friede's chest had broken her down. She clutched on the other woman with a trembling hand when a few words fell from her lips, “I’m sorry…”

“It’s alright. I got you.” Gently, the woman stroke Maria’s back, feeling the other’s tears on her shoulder, "Let us go home."

Feeling hard to breathe still, however, Friede pulled Maria into a hug. A wind blew her hood away.

"That illusion. It... blinded me." Whispering with her heavy gasp, Maria gripped Friede's waists.

"That's no illusion." Friede said, looking at their surroundings, "Reality... Part of the world is now no more..."

Chapter Text

The scene before Maria's eyes was still something familiar. Snow, winds and petals sometimes fell to the ground. But in her heart, another emotion began to reside. Since the moment she came back here after that long journey in search of the colors for the little Painter, the memories and thoughts of it lingered. She remembered old Gael, how he begged her to take the pigment inside his stomach, his last grip, as well as the moment he breathed his last in front of the hunter...

Speaking about Gael, Maria found it hard to not think about Painter… “He fought beside me. He stayed so that we could escape.” was the only thing Maria said, before giving her the last thing dropped from the fallen man – his Greatsword. Tears did she see from the girl, and only she was able to hold her tight…

“Lady Maria… You and Lady Elfriede… What is the relationship between you two?”

"I consider her a close “friend” to me.” Maria emphasized the “friend” word, yet she didn’t hope the girl understand the complicated thought she was holding, “And… I think you should just call her Friede or Lady Friede.”

“How come?”

“She… isn’t fond of recalling the past.”

“I see.” Painter blinked her eyes, “You know, I feel a change in her recently.”

“A change?”

“Indeed. Before you showed up in this land, Lady Friede was… different.”

“How different?”

“Very introverted, reticent, staying in the chapel everyday. But now, things seem to… change.”

“Aha.” Maria replied simply, “Never thought you stayed so close that you got the details.”

“Actually, I did. I drew those portraits, you know? But one day, she came back and asked Sir Vilhelm to escort me to a new building, without any explanation. I clearly saw a new burn on her face at that moment, but I didn’t have any chance to ask her about it.”

Painter moved her brush to the canvas, as she paused and frowned in confusion, “About Sir Vilhelm. Lady Maria, do you know where he is? He’s very stern. He’ll never let me get out of his sight without a permission and if he has to, he will follow me everywhere. But Sir Vilhelm also cares for me. I wonder if he’s busy with what Lady Friede commands.”

Maria sighed.

“Mmm... Adults usually spend time on their business. We should… sympathize it.”

“I presume so. But, if you meet him, could you tell him I really miss his cakes?”

“He cooked for you?” Maria asked.

The answer was a nod from the girl.

“Yes, and for Lady Friede, also. He likes her so much.”

“Likes her?” Maria’s voice had come to a higher tone.

“You don’t know? Oh, it’s so strange. I thought you got it, since you’re very close to her.”

“I… might be close to her, but still, those private things I consider not to unpack.”

Maria smiled at her, kindly and this time, her leaving wasn’t interrupted.

As soon as she stepped into the room, she found Friede was waiting for her to return and so she was guided to sit on the armchair.

“How do you feel?” Friede lifted the fabric covering Maria’s eyes, “These eyes are tender, still?”

“Getting better, I guess. But I need time and this hood to avoid strong light.”

Maria felt lucky that she was recovering gradually since the incident. Her eyes needed taking care of more often as the direct light could hurt her slightly. Thus Friede's hood was given to the young woman. Thin fabric layers had been wrapped around Maria's head, as a mean to help.

Friede gently placed her fingers on the other’s eyes. A feeling of cool and comfortability soon came to greet the hunter.

“Now how about this?”

“Fascinating. I like it, honestly.” Maria smiled as she held Friede’s wrists and enjoyed the moment, “Wish you do this to me all day.”

They both chuckled at the same time at the terrible joke.

“You seem to need a rest?” Friede’s hands left Maria’s face.

“Hm, maybe. Today, it’s colder than usual.”

“Because the winter is coming.”

“Really? This world has different seasons?” Maria raised her eyebrow.

“Not very clear, but it does. Usually, the summer will be less cold and has fewer blizzards, as well as the winds won’t be so strong. And it has just past.” Friede said, sitting next to Maria.

“Woa ~ Then I guess I’m going to sneeze more from now on. There’s no fireplace here and I can’t see any flame in this room.” Maria looked at Friede.

“Then I suppose it wouldn’t get warmer so soon.” Friede swept the hair stuck on Maria’s face, “You had better get used to it.”

Noticing the woman was stealthily moving closer until she could finally lean on Maria’s arm, the Vileblood lady responded by wrapping her arm around the brunette. Together, they sat in silence, feeling the heartbeats synced through every second passed.

“Warmer to have you with me.”

---

Karla had asked Maria to join her in a jolly journey. As she kept hearing a voice calling for her, echoeing inside her head. Together they went past the mountain and to a far distant land with no inhabitants.

“Are you sure about this?” Maria asked, looking at Karla.

“I’ve been through this before. But this time it’s different, especially from your return. Bigger, louder. So I think there’s a connection between the call and your presence. Beside…” She hesitated, her legs kept pacing forward, “Something familiar in you this time I feel. The Abyss. Bad thing happened then, I reckon?”

“Yeah… Real bad.” Maria responded, before stopping with Karla in front of an old altar.

“This is it. The sound comes from this place.” Karla said and readied herself to cast a spell, “I can’t be sure what will happen once we start, but I’ll try to keep you safe.”

“Come now, I can handle that myself, can’t I? If the Abyss runs deep in me, it won’t hurt much.” Maria chuckled.

“Hm, don’t take any chances, Maria. You’re not that old to be God of the Abyss. Even I cannot be sure if it swallows me whole.” She darted her eyes to the hunter, “Ready?”

Maria stood on her feet, yanking the Rakuyo in her hand and got into her usual stance, “Yes.”

But contrary to what they thought, the surrounding remained strangely silent and normal afterwards. The only thing that made both of them suspicious were the heavy sighs and moans coming from somewhere. A while of wandering in the darkness led them to the only light emitted. Never had she thought it would be here, yet perhaps someone had offered a kind assistance. Adored by Cainhurst knights, Evelyn had never failed Maria, either. She aimed it to the wall and saw a glowing blue leaked through the iron frame.

“Those who are aware of it, turn it into strength.”

“Interesting.”

Maria turned, seeing Karla felt dizzy and before the woman collapsed to the ground, the hunter had reached to catch her.

“Karla, what’s wrong?”

“I didn’t know the spell cost so much power. I’m sorry…” Karla responded by a weak voice as she tried her best to focus on the blurred vision of Maria, who then lifted her up by the arms.

“Relax. I’ll get you to the Shrine.” Maria said with a charming smile which could tear a storm apart.

Karla chuckled. She felt hard to decline the fact that the other one was very gentle and cute.

“In your arms? Oh please, I prefer not to have something so intimating with my student.”

“Your student?”

“Are you not? Weren’t it you who asked to learn some sorceries?  I consider you my only pupil.”

“Aha, so now you think a student helping an exhausted teacher is something inappropriate?”

“Pfff… I might be old, but not so fragile, Maria. Do not think I can’t even walk myself.”

Maria stopped, as she raised her eyebrows mischievously, “Then why don’t you?”

“I’m… tired.” Karla sighed, changing the subject, “You know, I think it’s lucky you don’t turn into some kind of beast.”

Maria hummed in return. She found difficulty drawing a reply. Managing to release another smile, she simply nodded her head.

“Perhaps for now. But I have my reason to be here after all.”

“Hmm… You turn my curiosity on. Anyway, remember, no matter what you do, it’ll not change my gratitude toward you. Should you need my assistance, I’m always ready to help.”

Maria traded a look with Karla, humming again as she noticed the fatigue lurking in the other woman’s voice.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Now rest.”

The road back to the Shrine was quite far, not only that there was not even a single bonfire. Maria cursed in her mouth. Karla giggled because of that, before dripping off, resting her head on the young hunter’s chest.

.

When the two returned to the Shrine, Friede was also there. Perhaps missing someone had drawn her to this place again? The vision of Maria holding a woman in her arms and gently took care of another person who wasn’t her made Friede to feel something in her heart. A mild strangely unpleasant emotion, even though she herself did not figure out exactly what its name was.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

Oh! Maria's simple question filled with concern to Karla now fanned another flame within the frost woman. And then unconsciously, Friede stroked her face, her hand stopped just below her chin while her mind was messing with some thoughts.

Why? Why did she found it quite annoying just because of a little thoughtfulness and care Maria expressed to someone that wasn’t her?

Jealousy?

Actually, there was a person who also expressed such action and words that contain care and sweetness to her, but it had been a long time since she last saw him. Vilhelm. In her heart, though the romantic feelings to him she did not have, the respect and gratitude for that valiant knight remained as the first days they met.

And Friede thought Vilhelm was back to Londor for a while to help Liliane, until Yuria returned from Undead Settlement, leading a weak and ailing hollowed man by the hand, that it turned out Maria did not tell the truth... She left the Shrine. She knew Yuria would take care of the man because she learned the truth that Yuria had some unnecessary special feeling with this knight before. Sadly, the old Vilhelm had never responded to that.

“How is he?” Maria asked, watching Yuria helped Vilhelm fix the shirt.

“He remembers nothing.”

“I’m… I’m sorry.” The Vileblood rubbed her head awkwardly.

“I don’t judge if you do what you have to. He would be fine, for now, anyway.”

With Vilhelm sat on the platform, Yuria turned to Maria, sighing.

“What’s the matter?”

“About what you commanded, I regret to say that Eygon of Carim is no more.” Yuria said, “It’s unclear if he decided to end his own life. The cell door was locked when I came.”

A little piece of disappointment appeared on Maria’s face, “Oh… Damn shame.... I don’t know what Irina would react to this. He was a close one to her. A knight. A companion…”

“But at least it wasn’t our fault, I believe so. It’s most likely he turned his fate by his hand, not by the other’s. Unlike…” At this point she paused, wondering if she should finish her sentence because it could become a cruel irony.

She shook her head finally.

“Ah, no matter. Do you intend to tell Irina that?”

“Mm… Maybe. She asked me to find him.”

Maria tended to leave, but Yuria had grabbed her wrist.

“Wait.”

"Yes?” She raised her eyebrows.

“I’ll tell her that later. You have a bigger matter to attend to.” Yuria said, pointing at the ring embracing Maria’s finger, “Take heed. Silence can be a signal of fury, especially to my sister. And the sky is peaceful before a storm. I prithee, be careful.”

They looked at each other, reaching the understanding of the meaning of Yuria’s words as Maria bit her lips and bowed before turning her back to get out of the corner.

---

"Are you sure about this?" Maria asked, looking at Hawkwood as he gave her his Farron's Greatsword.

"Of course. For everything you've done for us. Consider this a gift. I don't need it anymore. For now, I bid you farewell, to find my own path."

"May I ask you what your goal is this time?"

"Dragon. That's all I can tell." He ended his line with a dull face, before gesturing to say goodbye to the lady, "This sword has been with me for years, never fails its task. May it befit you somehow."

...

Lying beneath was a secret beckoning her to seek. And so she didn’t give it up. She waded across the rotting surface and run away from the foes chasing behind, ending up in a small building, bearing a question that if this world was truly peaceful and wonderful then why the people attacked her as if she was the one who could ruin their home.

“Take this.” He handed Maria an apple, “Suppose that you want to kill a few minutes. Not sure you feel hungry, but just in case…”

“Mm, thank you.” Maria deeply felt both happy and respected.

“Surely you've seen the rot that afflicts this world. But that witch fooled the good Father, and buried the flame. After we had all made up our minds, too.”

“Who is that “witch”?” The hunter raised a question, though she had a mild realization for the corvian’s implication.

“Standing beside our good Father is a woman. She came here a very, very long time ago. And somehow, she controls this world, with our Father… becomes a puppet. I know not if you met her, but there’s one thing you should bear in your mind. She isn’t the one we yearn for. No matter how hard she tries to assume the figure of our Lady, no matter how many things she does to show us kind, she remains no way close to her.”

“Really? Why?”

“Because emulation matters only when you do good for people, not just preserving a deception in the name of peace. The painting of Ariandel is falling apart and this cycle of Rot is going unchecked. All thanks to her…” At this point the Corvian lifted his face to look at Maria, “That’s why we need a flame. The flame that sets fire to this world, for the sake of a new one.”

Having ended the conversation with the Corvian, Maria headed outside and proceeded through the Settlement. Evidently, that man did not lie as all she saw was the withered and wretched inhabitants shriveled in the cold when steadily being killed by those armed bastards. Maria gritted her teeth in anger. She knew anger, yet the only thing she must do was to find a way to solve all problem. The root of all this mess must be eliminated, so she hoped to have a talk with Friede once again.

Yet when she got near the rooftop, a corvian knight saw and chased her. Wishing no more bloodshed, Maria ran away in an attemp to lose him but soon got a cut on her leg, falling to the rotten ground. When the knight was about to end her, he was pushed back. Maria got back to her feet and saw the Corvian who had a talk with her moments ago stood with a rusted knife in his hand and tried to stop the knight so that Maria would have time to flee.

“Birdy!!” She screamed as the knight stabbed the Corvian mercilessly before throwing him to the wall.

A fire had come in her mind, and soon a fire would burn everything to ash.

She dragged her red eyes to the corvian knight, who had just put an end to the poor one, and enraged at the cold–blooded creature when she plunged the greatsword in his chest before deciding to quarter his corpse and kicked him down the ledge, then turned and knelt next to the dying buddy.

“Hey… hey… You must hold on.” She whispered with a low voice as if tears were going to burst.

“It’s… it’s fine, my friend… At least I won’t suffer any longer…” The Corvian gasped, “Eat the apple… before it rots like this place.”

“I will. I will.” Maria held his hand in the final moment.

Having no idea, yet Maria could see a glint in his eyes when his breath became shallower.

“Even if you are not an Ash… I wish… you show us flame…”

She buried him properly as it was the right thing on behalf of a forever farewell.

Fixing her hat, she drew out the unique dagger holding at the belt. Those people in the dark expect something new to happen as a light at the end of a tunnel. Something that could savage the ever-lasting lives suffering what should have ended at a long distant time ago.

.

“You’re not welcome here. I told you already, tarry no longer and begone.”

“I know you’re working for the Sister. Open your eyes and see what’s going on.” Maria said while she was walking in a circle with Vilhelm on the opposite.

“It’s none of your business. The fire must not come to this world by all means. Mind your own duty. Lady Friede has spoken, has she not?”

“By all means…” Maria gripped the sword firmly in her hand, “Even letting them brethren cutting down each other?”

“There’s nothing we can do. Sacrifice is necessary sometimes.”

“Enough you hypocrite!” Maria smashed her blade against Vilhelm’s Onyx. The black flame spread through the contact as they broke it and fought for a goal set individually.

Vilhelm slammed the blade to Maria and pulled themselves into a struggle, “You lack the stomach. Humans are more nuanced than you think.”

His sword slashed at her but to his surprise, she parried it with ease by the dagger, before piercing through his chest with the larger blade of Farron by a spinning attack.

“Human never controls everything. They flatter themselves.”

A hidden path had opened. Maria got upstairs and from that moment, she had her mind enlightened by the true Lady.

---

Alone, Maria knelt before the poor Corvian’s grave.

She reached her satchel and took out the apple which he gave her. Such an emotional gift of an eternal farewell. The fire came to this land and soon would it burst into something big enough to set up the final moment for the Cold Painting. Yet he could not make it to this point.

Maria tasted the apple. Bitter. She didn’t know whether it was bitter by nature or because the emotion was too great to bear that it turned everything she experienced into a kind of compost.

“I'm sorry for that, Frozen... But I did what I had to...”

“Of course...” Friede said, glancing over her shoulder by an eye that contained a nameless sadness, “People keep doing as they pleased and then find an excuse. How very human…”

Maria fell numb. She walked to the woman, taking a deep breath.

“Don’t you think you’re that kind?”

Slightly did Friede turn to the hunter. Her violet eyes met Maria’s beautiful, and sorrowful ones.

“Fixing not the problem, you let it spread while clutching at your very reason. Forlorn? It was why you prevented the others from having a better life? I see them dying. I see them killing. I see so much blood. And I even lost a friend. And Gael, and... Is that the cost for your decision upon this land?”

"Maria, I didn't ask him to seek the dark soul pigment for the painting. We adored this world. And I changed my mind because --"

Friede decided to cut her line, before changing it, "Nevermind. I never grant those beasts any blessing. I intended not to harm them... Unlike when you did to Vilhelm..."

“I’m just telling you that we all committed bad things. And … Gael… he deserves no death. We were all sucked into that mess, even Vilhelm… Together, you and Ariandel embraced the rot and it brought pain to the people you wish to PROTECT."

“To say that I dislike dishonesty is the purpose of our conversation. I made it clear, Maria. We're straying from it. I hope next time we can be straight to each other.”

"And impersonating someone to fill your pleasure is honest, isn't it?"  Maria asked.

"Think it as you prefer. But... I just want to follow her footstep, to show them love and mercy."

"You can never be Priscilla."

Maria bit another piece. More bitter this time.

"Shouldn't have said that..." Muttering, she threw the apple away. Thus she realized it rotted.

She saw Friede coming with a flower in her hand. Having put it on the Corvian’s grave, the brunette stood there silently for a while, together with the other woman.

“He likes flowers.” Friede whispered.

Maria, with her back facing the woman still, glanced over her shoulder.

“Action counts more than words.” She smirked, “Nice gift, by the way. If only it woke him up.”

The hunter then left, sparing Friede her privacy. Or perhaps she couldn't stand staying with her any longer.

"You really hate me, don't you?" Friede released a question, but no one was around to hear that.

.

Several steps had led the Vileblood to an abandoned village near the beach. It was hard to imagine in a cold and pale world, such beautiful view like this shoreline existed. Not only did it remind the hunter of another familiar place but also it did torture her with its memory. Somehow, the image of her fellows slashing blindly in a midst of blood of the fishmen appeared. She recalled how they screamed, how they groaned in pain before demise.

“How could I forget…” She muttered, then heard a noise sounded somewhere inside the old houses. With her hand put on the gun holster, Maria walked slowly and carefully, before instantly drew it out to point at a corvian that was about raised a pan in defense.

They didn’t move.

“Ah, have you lost your way, young lady?” He lowered his "weapon" and asked.

“Not really. Still bright, I guess.” Maria replied.

“Oh, then why did you come here, this forsaken ground?”

“I…” Maria sighed, lowering her gun at last, “I didn’t lose my way but… seems like I lost something else…”

The corvian hummed in return as he smelt something at this woman.

“Hmm… Pardon me for such an improper speech, but this fragrance… is from our Mistress, Lady Friede. You must be very close to her.”

“Perhaps. You know her?”

The corvian nodded, “Of course.”

Maria smiled, looking around, “Nice to meet you. What’re you doing here?”

“Here? This is my home. Once it was peaceful and lovely, until a fire took place.”

“Was there an arson?”

“An accident.” He gestured, “Come, let us sit down and talk.”

A fish was put on a small bonfire. Maria observed her surrounding, noticing a mildly rusted helm on the old counter.

“You’re a Corvian Knight?”

“Was.” He answered, “My prime ended long ago.”

"You seem to live here alone for a while. I wonder what you have been through."

"What I've been through?" He put his hands near the fire, "Many. But I suppose you're waiting for the main details. The details that have something to do with our Lady."

A silent moment kicked in between the two. The man had his hand rested under his chin as his eyes darted to the sky, thinking.

“Hmm… They of corvians lived in happiness and hospitality. The Good Father always had a big vessel on his back, intending to set a new fire for this world."

*Ariandel, decades ago*

"Father, wait. You go so fast." Friede said in her breath, as she tried to catch up with the bird man.

"I'm old enough to be bested by your speed, Friede." Ariandel turned his head to check the woman out, his legs kept moving.

"You walk slowly, but your legs are longer than mine. Why don't you just fly?"

"Oh no. That's a terrible idea. I can't hold the vessel stable while flying. And the flame will surge, destroy everything it touches. I'm not planning to do so."

"Then what's your intention?"

"Start from the Northern jungle. It's wide, easy for the fire to work, but also surrounded by lakes and mountains. So it will be safe enough to burn this land, part by part, without risking everyone's life."

"So now we're going there, aren't we?" Friede asked again, this time her pace was faster so that she wouldn't be so far behind the man.

"Not yet. I'll drop by my village for a while. They might need to prepare before I start. Once the jungle is done, they move there, and I'll go back to burn the hamlet."

"Oh, it sounds perfect, good Father. Seems like a new era is about to come soon." Friede said with a chuckle and forget that she was going to be exhausted following the man.

"And you sound excited. I'm glad that you're happy with us."

They finally reached the village. Friede found herself desperately in need of air after a long journey. Ariandel giggled because of that. He put the vessel down and covered it with a flat rock.

"I'll be quick. Would you please watch over this thing?" He asked, and was replied by a nod from the woman.

Friede sat down. Having put on her glasses, she opened the book whose title always made her exhale slightly every time she looked at it.

"How to eat the dark soul." She read the book name, wondered who the hell published this kind of ridiculousness, "Why did I bring it along, anyway?"

She didn't know some eyes were watching.

"Hey, is that Lady Friede?" A young corvian gathered with his friends.

"Oh my god. She's so beautiful. I wonder if she can tell us what she's reading."

"Book is dull as hell. I prefer playing with her." Another corvian suggested.

"Hm, good idea."

.

A petal fell onto his hand. He looked at it with a smile.

"I was one of them."

"You still remember it. Your memory isn't bad." Maria put her hat on the thigh.

"Because that was the day I'll never forget."

.

Amidst the fire, Ariandel rushed to find his people.

"Friede!" He yelled, reaching the woman, seeing a large new burn on her face, "What happened?"

"Father, oh Father, the children. I was playing with them. I was careless. One hit himself to the vessel. And... And..."

"I got it." He looked around, "Help me find them. Quick! Help me save them."

The two gave no second thoughts, as they both headed straight into the village, already collapsing. They felt the heat of the flame on their skin. Burning. Tearing.

Very few survived.

.

“There was an infant among the survivors. Good lady and the Father took care of him, deciding not to tell him that terrible incident, for it should be left well alone. The child loves flowers, those with light blue petals. Sometimes, my Lady made her way to the depth of the painting, and to a very beautiful garden where she could find them for him. But a man appeared with his great wolf. He pierced the woman’s foot with his sword. Thanks to our intervention, we managed to get out of the damn hole. Never we return to it again.”

He turned the fish to make sure it wouldn’t burn, while Maria's mind recollected when she had helped the woman to put on the shoes. She remembered the scar that stretched on her right foot. It must have been uncomfortable.

“I became an honorable knight alongside with some other brothers. But later then, the infatuation of my brothers toward the lady had turned them into some… killing machines. Frustrated and disappointed, I quit, returned to this place. No one else knows about the truth. It lies unseen. Those who came here later never understand. I know they see her as a tyrant, but it, somehow, was a little far from the truth… Now you see, I am still waiting… waiting for an end…”

They sat there in quietness when the man started enjoying his meal after Maria’s kind rejection to his offer. The former knight did not point to the names, yet Maria could figure out who he had mentioned in his story.  Her hands clasped together at her nose as she hissed sharply, then released her breath slowly as if something was bouncing in a corner of her head.

“She let them die.” The blonde stretched her legs, looking up at the sky with sadness filled within her pale eyes, “I managed to forget it, because I trust there’s a second chance for people. We got into an argument but I’m a freak, too. I wonder if I could keep acting like the past never happened.”

“Trust nothing but your heart in such a situation. For someday, you’ll get old and learn how to forgive. It’s not weakness, you know. It’s humanity. One could win a court, but would never pass the judgment of conscience."

.

.

With Oceiros’s head on the floor, she folded her arms, staring at the twin princes.

“Oh dear. Ashen One, I did not expect you would do this.”

And she paced toward him. Lorian, with his sword ready, was about to intervene, yet was halted by the younger brother.

“Name your price. And I will grant you wish. Only, with one condition, do not ask me to link the Fire. For the mantle of Lord interests me none.”

“No. I ask you to help me bury it.” She stated firmly.

The twins traded a look with each other, wondering the question in their head.

“Then why don’t you just let it fade into nothing?”

“That’s the problem, your Majesty.” At this point, Friede had already been right in front of him, “Kill me, if you would, but the Unkindle won’t stop rising. They’ll not listen to your words as I do, even if they see a poor hollow weeping with a child in her lap. Maybe they’ll rush here, turning your castle into ash, or even set a fire right at your feet. They don’t stop until you’re forced to sit on your throne, and while it happens, the poor outside keep bearing the lasting curse.”

“Ashen One, I sympathy your care for the others. But torturing an already totured isn’t a good idea.”

“I know you don’t want to bear this curse, your Majesty. Neither do the others. But sometimes… we don’t have a choice…” She swallowed hard, begging by her low voice, “We need your help. For me, for you, and for… Nora.”

Upon hearing the name, Lothric, from under his hood, lifted his eyes to the woman.

“What of her?”

Friede took out a broken amulet from her belongings. Having shown it to the prince, she knelt on one of her knees.

“She didn’t want you to sacrifice. Knowing that someday you would be forced to do so, Nora attempted to help me usurp the fire… but we both failed.”

Lothric reached to take the amulet, eyeing it, observing it. He felt something in it. A weak and faded sound whispering something in his ears. He heard her voice. He felt her presence, though it wasn’t something before his eyes…

“Our forsaken sister…” He turned to Lorian, “So this is why father obliterated her name.”

The elder twin got it by a touch. Such a strong chain freezing their hearts.

“Witnessing what the linking curse caused, she couldn’t stomach it longer, and set to do what she had to…” Friede noticed tears had begun to well up at the corner of her eyes. Still, she tried to hide it. “Prince Lothric, Prince Lorian… All my words were spoken. Now, it depends on your choice.”

---

*Meanwhile, the Painted World of Ariandel*

Maria had decided to go back to the chapel, hoping that she herself had calmed down before having a gentle talk with Elfriede. The gate she opened, and she walked into the building, but Friede she did not see. She climbed to the attic and found Painter sleeping soundly near her canvas. How lovely the girl was. Her beautiful dream had taken root and they all hoped soon it would result in something as good as her intention.

Gael would definitely love to see it, either.

Chapter Text

"Lady Elfriede, you're back!" Painter ran to Friede in joy but soon realized that something was wrong with the woman in front of her.

There was something heavy in the corner of Friede's red eyes.

"Lady Elfriede, are you... are you crying?"

Friede couldn't answer her question. She took a deep breath, then patted the girl's head. She turned to Vilhelm with a look that contained thousand words. The knight nodded in response.

"Come with me, girl." He said, and grabbed Painter's small hand, "I'll get you some cakes."

And then he led her out of the chapel, leaving Friede alone with her thoughts in turmoil. She sat on the floor, clutching her knees, head rested on her forearms. It was over. It was really over. They were all dead.

"What have I done?" She asked herself. Images of miserable fates in that village appeared again. No way she could get rid of it.

Why did fire always bring such pain? Why should the people she loved suffer a tragic death caused by their protector?

"It's the same thing."

"What brought you to this decision, Ashen One?" Lothric asked her.

She didn't pay much attention to his question, because she recalled the dream in which she had seen Nora waiting for her next to First Fire. She had witnessed Nora alone fighting back the man who burned her alive. She had seen Nora fall. She had found herself rushing forward, her heart broke to pieces as she knelt beside the lady.

"Elfriede. Do you believe in reincarnation?"  Nora's hand touched Friede's tear-soaked cheek. Who would have thought that the smile of a dying person could be so beautiful.

She closed her eyes, determined not to let the other person see her weakness.

"I wish destiny let us reunite again..."

She kissed Nora, yet soon she realized that wasn't who is in her lap, but a blonde, blue-grayish-eyed woman.

"Maria?"

"Ashen One."

Lothric called her again, this time, she noticed.

"What brought you to this decision?"

She stared at him, saying nothing.

"You disappeared for so long. But here, you return, re-join the path." He made his speech whilst the woman was brushing the necklace pearl in her hands, "Is it about love?"

.

Elfriede had herself thrown away. For a short moment, she was stunned. Reaching for her Onyx Blade, she forced herself to crawl back to her feet. This enemy was too tough for her to stand a chance against him. He plunged his sword to her back, pinning her to the ground full of ashes. She cried out. The grip from her blade started losing, and suddenly she heard a knock from behind.

It was Nora who came to save her.

“Elfriede…” She whispered, holding Friede’s face by her hands, “How dare you leave without telling?”

“I… don’t want you to do this. It’s dangerous.” Friede grunted, coming to realize that her hand was gripping the woman’s wrist for the first time, “Get out of here, Nora. Go back to Yuria.”

“No! I’ll stay with you. I’ll fight with you.”

“You can’t defeat him…” The Onyx propped on the ground had failed to handle Friede’s body, as her knee collapsed and a hand from the other woman helped her to stand still.

“But we can.”

Once again a familiar place she walked along. Everything seemed to be the same as the old moment when she first came, except this time, her old sword was not there. Having bestowed it to her knight, she had renounced her previous identity and determined to live within her own peace after all.

But who would have thought…

“I feel your honesty.” The younger twin raised his voice, “Very well. We will grant you strength. And bear in mind that a trick should not be played upon us, otherwise, darkness will bury everything we have.”

Every step she proceeded, every truer emotion she felt. She knew he was still there, sitting, guarding, waiting. Slowly her finger stood on the scythe. She meant to cut it, to see her dark blood. Across the ashen way she sprint. Her teeth gritted hard when she darted her frowning eyes to the battlefield at which that champion settled. She rushed to him, bearing duty, vengeance, and love on her shoulders. She gritted her teeth, making a massive jump and landed in front of the guardian of the First Fire.

"Maria... I can't lose you."

.

“Oh, what are you doing?” Ariandel asked.

“I’m trying to make a plank, you know. We need to cover the hole in the attic before someone falls from the ladder.” Maria delivered a soft smile while cutting the woods lying on the ground, “How are your people?”

“They seem… better, I suppose. Here the fire came as they wish. It is just…”

“Hm? Just what?”

“I truly hope the girl completes as she always wishes.”

“Hmm…” Maria narrowed her eyes upon hearing as she hammered the nails onto the plank by a solid stone, “If she isn’t able to, why kept her isolated? Were you too weak to recognize what they did to her?”

Ariandel could not answer. He seemed to realize that a large part of what had happened was charged by his own lack of realization and weakness. Who were already no more couldn’t resurrect, and yet he and Friede gave those who were still breathing a life worse than death. He once wanted to burn this world to create a new and better future, but he was not heartless to watch people die in a sea of fire...

“Soon I’ll head back to my business. Take care of the girl. You and that woman.”

“I haven’t seen Friede for days.”

“Hm… Maybe she went to have a breath.” Maria smirked, hiding the thought in her head, “Or to run away from her guilt. Who knows?”

"You sound irritated. Something wrong? Did you two get into an argument?"

"Not... really..." Maria raised her eyebrows to cover her lying, "Just a serious conversation. And we didn't seem to reach a mutual agreement."

She hammered the nail and made the sound 'bruh" in her mouth, "Need a bigger hammer. Andre must have it. I should go ask him."

"Good idea. Got the woods here, so when you come back, we might as well fix the rope bridge."

Maria nodded at him, as she returned to the outer world.

.

"Welcome home, Undead One. From you, I see a familiar sense. May I pose you a question?"

"Ah, go ahead." A smile appeared on the hunter’s face.

"Maria, is it your name?"

"Hm, yes. But, you never called me that."

"Of course I do acknowledge. Yet a present was asked to be sent to you by a woman who is… most likely an Ashen One. Thus I have to make sure it won't come to the wrong person." The Firekeeper gently handed her a lumen lower made from paper and as Maria took it, a vast of thoughts danced across her mind that she realized who could be the artist.

"Erm... About that woman. She has cold hands and the scent of ash and snow, doesn't she?" The flower kept between her fingers was caressed with deep care as her question sounded.

"Indeed. A warm, but also somehow very cold voice she possesses, either. She traveled to Lothric to fulfill her duty and test if her heart was blackened."

"She went to Lothric?" Maria started to sweat, "What?!"

Having finished her sentence, Maria rushed her way to the destination. She didn't know from when she would care for the woman so much, yet she must not let Friede face the wound alone at all cost. Seeing the Lothric Royal Knights patrolling only to guard an empty room, Maria gripped her hair in disbelief. And as she went outside, the red sun had struck uncomfortable feelings to her chest. She felt scared and nervous. The army chased after her until her shadow was faded by the distance under the daylight.

Back to the Shrine, she looked at five thrones. Those lords had surrendered their fire.

"Maria, she left a letter for you."

.

That thing, he slammed his sword to her scythe, breaking it. For a very long time, she didn't plan any training, the power had slowly drained within and it sucked the last drop of her strength. She hated herself for not being strong enough. Even now they were united in such a match, she found it too heavy to stand on her feet. During the long journey to get here, her body was already exhausted. Once dead and then resurrected was so enough to prove a simple fact - no more than a kind of mere human who suffered bitter defeat.

He knocked the scythe out of the challenger's grip. And while his other hand grabbed her head, he plunged through her body by the coiled sword. Blood did she cough. Blood did she saw it dropping to the field. That amalgamation made another move, throwing her away.

Lying on ashes, bested, embarrassed and disappointed, only a faint sight of the emerald pearl on the necklace she saw from her left eyes.

"What a shame, Elfriede...”

Dragging the defeated one toward the Fire, that mad ash failed to torch her the second time as a gunshot echoed into the air, leaving a hole in his head.

"This is you and me, Gwyn." Maria said, aiming Evelyn at him.

They slash at each other. With the gun in her hand, Maria charged it and pulled the trigger, shooting at him. Bullets made from the Abyss within her had pierced through his armor, crafting several injuries upon him. But he wasn't the one who gave up easily. He swung at her and put her neck in his grasp. Having knocked her to the ground, he did not hesitate to stab the woman, but she was quick enough to stop the coiled sword by her hands. It burnt. The more she tried to resist, the more her stamina lost. This one was so strong and the fight was so tough.

"I wish destiny let us reunite again."

In such a pitiful state, Friede managed to root her feet on the ground. Having punched the foe in the head, she forced him to change his direction.

“No!!!” Maria powerlessly screamed, making a mad dash to the other two as that Ashe didn’t stop launching his punches to Friede’s face. He put all his strength and brutality into his attacks as he wanted to prove that she was such a trivial loser who came just to be bested again. Maria, from the bottom of her heart, felt as if it was torn seeing the scene.

Crawling, the hunter suddenly saw that broken scythe glowing. Hesitation had no chance to step in as she quickly picked it up. While her legs kept running toward them, she charged the weapon, pressing everything she had into it, and unleashed an empowered mortal slash, breaking the contact between the guardian and the other woman. She looked how it hurt him and one more time made the cut, leaving a dark purple trail lurking in the air. Making the most of this opportunity, she jumped to stand on his shoulders, eventually ending the battle by the deathblow.

...

Maria stared as his head rolled on the ashen ground. She wiped her face with her own hand, feeling the bloody fight had then come to an end.

Winning was great, but no joy would last when she found her beloved one responded not to anything she did. She held her and felt the tears welling up. She hated herself for being soft. But who, actually, could fight against such strong feelings in this kind of circumstance.

"It's over, Friede. You won." Her fingers wove into Friede’s hair, as she begged and gazed at the woman’s face covered in nothing but blood, “You know I won't cry, right?... Right?"

Over her shoulder, Maria glanced at the First Fire, now left lonely at nowhere of a cheerless world, beside ashes of people who fell on the journey to prolong an era that would end in grey. She lifted Friede by her arms and turned on her heels, giving no more care about the dying object behind her back. There was no raining that day, but something crystalline kept dropping all the way back to the cold world.

"Hey kid." Maria told the Painter, who was slowly walking out of the room.

"Yes, Lady Maria?"

"Make your wish true. And please, shut the door behind you." Her eyes locked on the little girl, and she was responded with a nod.

Such quietness that she disliked so much.

No matter how long it was going to take, she definitely would wait.

*But time had passed and there was no good sign*

Maria cut her finger, leaving the blood to drop on the floor as she knelt in the middle of the ritual cycle. The candles soon alighted before shadow settled in the room. Patience was the key, she believed.

"Greetings, Maria."

She heard the familiar voice and as her eyes opened, she saw a man standing. Bald, brown eyes, wearing an orange shirt and blue trousers, with an apple in his hand. He smiled at her.

"You are..."

"I sent you here after that hm... unsuccessful suicide. It's been quite a long time since we last talked."

"Hm... I see. But still, I don't even know your name, stranger." Maria said, folding her arms.

"Come now, Maria. Since you accomplished the not-so-easy task, I started to consider you a kind partner to believe in." He smiled at her again and bit the apple, "Now, tell me. What do you want in return?"

"What do I want in return?" Maria's eyebrow raised in confusion, "What does it mean?"

"Tsk tsk... Well well, it seems I forgot to say something." He rolled his eyes, speaking, "Let's say I have a big deal in business and you helped me complete it, bravely. You didn't even need my guidance. I appreciate it much. Though I said lifting the curse of an endless Nightmare was your gift at last, but now I see you're struggling. Perhaps you need help? Perhaps it's about your "Frozen"."

"Hm... You know about us." Maria sighed, "You're right. She's been like that for years..."

Maria went to the window. She looked outside, far away, in a direction where she could see that roof which she built a long time ago. Sorrow in her eyes the man did see, as he smiled again.

"I wish to stay with her." She said, staring at the floor.

"Hm, you must be careful with your wish, Maria, for it will also grant you consequence."

"Consequence..."

"Well, maybe I should get to the matter. Between life and death. To bring her back, you have to sacrifice something in return. Something great enough to embrace her consciousness."

"Something great enough..." Maria leaned on the wall, keeping her sight on the floor again as she deepened herself in thoughts, "I'm afraid I only have my cheap life for that, man."

"Come now, friend. It's so touching. To see how far love can reach.” He bit the apple, thinking, then he spoke, “Alright then, I’m gonna help you. But remember, this method will also lift the curse of the undead.”

“You mean she’ll become a normal person?”

“Not really. Still an Ashen One, as always she is. But she can die. And if she does, she will not resurrect. The same thing goes to you as well. For you are the one who grants her another life by cutting your own undeath. In short, you two will be happy again, but as I know, we sometimes say: Till death do us part.”

“Really…? We can die?” Maria asked, but needed not an answer, "You truly love trading. Those with difficult choices."

"Yes, I am, indeed. But sometimes generous without condition. Not everyone sees this side of me.”

"Yeah, got it... May I ask what your name is for the last time?"

"Hm... Some prefer me as Master Mirror, but you can call me Gaunter O'Dimm, instead of unnecessary distance."

“Fine, Gaunter. Do it.”

“No regret?”

“No.”

The man smiled for the last time and slowly he stepped back into darkness, “As you wish, Lady. This is my farewell gift. May you find your peace with the people you care for.”

---
*No one counted how many seasons had passed*

"Hmm, things go well, I see." Maria said, looking at the workers around the construction. Londor was made whole again.

"Pretty. Soon will it be completed, and we might have a goodly home to settle." Yuria, standing with her usual pose, replied, as she removed her mask at last. Her white hair was exposed in a faint wind gliding gently across the place.

"Yes, I hope." Maria smiled, thinking.

"Still being bothered, I see..."

"About what?" Playing coy, Maria didn't know how Yuria could read it in her mind.

"About everything. Such as... that..." Her sentence paused to make room for a kind smile she delivered to a familiar person, who dropped by the table to check the manuscript again.

Anri gestured by her hand, before bringing her mind back to the building.

"Sadness ages us rapidly. These wrinkles on your forehead. Stop adding any more of them." Yuria sensed the thought from Maria's head, "It wasn't your fault, Lord of Hollows."

“Didn't I entrust you the title?”

"You may insist that. But, without your help, we could never have this day."

Maria tended to shoot back, but the conversation was interrupted by Vilhelm, who came with a flower hidden behind his back. Lovingly, Yuria didn't refuse it. The hunter smiled at them, then said goodbye, before getting back to her place of belonging. Even though she felt nothing clearly, she still, considered this a good thing for the other two.

.

It turned out that even fire could not completely burn this world, but the rot in it. And it also seemed like the artist of the new painting couldn't paint a new world using the dark soul of man. However, Maria had spent a lot of time cleansing the basement, making it cleaner and safer, together with the good Father.
She left her empty new house to find her way to a cliff and sat down, letting the wind freely touch.

When she opened her eyes, there was someone else there.

"How does it feel after a long sleep?" Maria broke the silence between them.

"Very strange. And also warm."

"Hm, how so?"

"Strange, since I dreamed of a familiar cemetery... But then, I awoke and saw you grieving ... crying..."

The hunter twitched her lips, "Must have looked silly, right?"

"Not one bit... It proves that someone values my existence and doesn't enrage when I fail. Also, the little young lady. That was the second time I saw her tears."

“I think you're important to her.” Maria said, hiding a line of thought, “And to me.”

Lifting her face slightly, Friede felt her hand was embraced by the other woman. For the first time, she turned shy. Maria let out a chuckle as she slowly removed Friede's hood. A small scar was added with the burn on her face as a memorable gift from the Age of Fire. If only she understood that no matter if it was there or not, to Maria, she was gorgeous. Weaving their hands into each other's, together they stayed with no word spoken. The inhabitants of the Cold Painting might now see the sun shining, but they would not be able to witness a couple being busy with kissing.

“By the way, you didn’t fail, m'Lady.” A soft smile had appeared on the hunter’s face as a flower was gently shown to the elder woman, "You succeeded."

Friede, blushing at the word, averted her eyes, “T-thank you for that c-compliment.”

“No need to thank me.” Wrapping her arm around Friede’s waist, Maria pulled her closer so that the woman could lean on the hunter’s chest, “What do you suggest us to do now?”

A moment of silence happened, as Friede finally hummed in response. Slightly, she turned and gazed at Maria’s eyes, whispering, “I presume we can have some private moments together then.”

“Wow, just get right into the point, huh? What is this then? Nun gone... free?” Maria chuckled.

“I’m too old to play a shy girl, Maria. Unless you ask gently…” Mischievously, she winked at the hunter.

“At your service, my Lady.”

Pulling themselves into another kiss, Maria felt like her stressful mind was now abandoned, since her hands had found their way to Friede’s abdomen, pressing the woman to the ground as the contact of their lips gradually grew more vehement. They felt the heat in each other's gasp every time a small pause occurred to let them catch a breath.

"Where's your scar?"

"Huh? Which scar?"

"The one here." Friede said, as she planted a soft kiss on Maria's temple.

"Well ~ I guess the man kept his word "

Pausing no more, Maria's hands began their wild moves across the other woman's body. She pressed upon Friede, bringing their hips closer, urging the pleasant that starved them for so long.

“What the…”

“Something wrong?” Friede raised a question as Maria slowly broke from the touch.

“Is that…” The hunter’s eyes tried to focus on a familiar figure at the spot just outside the distant chapel.

They traded a look with each other in surprise and agitation, “Is that the red hood?”

Without a second thought, they got back speedily to their feet. A glint showed in Maria’s eyes as she turned to Friede, “Let’s go. I'll serve you later.”

“But…” The other woman hesitated, feeling awkward, “I… can’t… meet him...”

Maria fathomed her idea, yet, she grabbed Friede by the hand and pulled themselves into a run, keeping a smile on her lips, “We only live once from now.”

And so, they rushed to where they saw that very man wearing the worn and red armor of a Slave Knight, who was also stretching his arms, being ready to hold the little Painter one more time after such a tremendously long and troublesome journey, as the girl dashed and jumped into his lap with joy and tears on her face.

Chapter Text

*A few years later*

The guests had all returned to their homes. In the great hall now only a few figures remained huddled together at a table in the corner. Food and drinks were still full in the kitchen.

"Wow! Where does the time go? How long since your last presence here, dearest sister?" Liliane dropped the question, pouring beer into the cups of people sitting around the table.

"Just over a century. Wasn’t really long." Friede replied, toasting everyone, and then turned her gaze to Yuria, "We were doing very well. Then you invited us to the wedding. God, she told me she’d only marry after mine. Liar."

"My rear rooted on the floor, waiting, but you didn’t." Yuria shrugged, a bright smile appeared on her face as she looked at her spouse.

Vilhelm must be very happy. He darted his sight to the middle of the hall where two children were coloring scribbles together. The younger girl suddenly sparked color on the older one's face.

"Mira, I told you not to dirty people." He raised his voice.

"It's okay, Sir Vilhelm. I'll wash it later." The older girl looked over at them, holding a drawing in her hand, "Behold, Mira drew you and Lady Yuria."

"Wow, that's beautiful. Why don’t you draw Lady Friede and Lady Maria someday." Liliane laughed, pointed at the two people sitting opposite her.

"Oh, that's a good idea. But how do I draw them?" Mira asked.

"Errr... Draw them holding hands." Liliane suggested.

"Holding hand?" Mira widened her eyes and ran to the table, excited, "Oh, so Lady Friede and Lady Maria are lovers?"

“Yeah.”

“No.”

Maria and Friede looked at each other, eyebrows raised. Friede's fingers entwined lightly into the other's under the table.

"We're each other's life." Friede looked at her and smiled.

Both Yuria, Vilhelm, and Liliane suddenly felt sick in their stomach.

"Alright. There’re kids here, let's not be so cheesy." Yuri waved her hand in the air.

From behind, Mira's friend called out, "Hey Mira, come here."

The child seemed quite excited by the picture Painter showed her as her eyes widened in amusement.

"Oh wow, what on earth is this animal?"

"Not “animal”, Mira. This is the Good Father, Ariandel. He's the one who restored the cold and gentle world where I live."

"Wow. That's interesting, isn't it? I'll ask my mom to take me there. Hihihi."

The words of the two children echoed in the direction where the adults were sitting. Friede sighed upon hearing that. She grabbed the full glass of beer and drank it to the last drop.

"What’s that?" Maria smelled something strange in Friede.

"I don't expect more Forlorn in Ariandel." Friede replied, then looked at Yuria and Vilhelm, "Promise me you'll take good care of her."

"We will." Vilhelm nodded as the two of them toasted each other.

"When do you plan to return to Ariandel?" Yuria asked.

"Probably in a few days." Maria replied, "They're building ships to go fishing. I'll lend them a hand, maybe. What do you think, Friede?"

"It's up to you. As long as there's a place for us to rest here. Besides, a few days wouldn’t hurt, ‘coz I miss this place."

"Yet she turned her back and walked straight away. Didn’t even bother to look back." Yuria extended her hand towards her sister, "180 degree now. What a lie."

Liliane laughed, slapping Maria's shoulder.

"I guess her motivation is right here, is it not?"

The newlyweds and youngest sister laughed while the other two women glanced at each other. A look filled with thousands of words. No need to say it, though, since they knew the answer.

"What? Why is everyone looking at me?" Liliane spoke up when all four of them turned their gaze to her.

"What about you?" Yuria asked, "Who is your motivation?"

"Erm..." Liliane didn't know how to answer because until now, to her, love wasn’t so interesting.

"Meow~"

"Ahh! There you are, Sama." She exclaimed as the cat jumped into her lap and cuddled.

She first met the cat when the palace had just been completed. Amidst the mess of bricks and mortar, a young, stray cat entered her sight. Liliane had never had kids, but the way she took care of the little beings around the place was no different from the way a mother would take care of her young children. The truth was, had the Age of Fire continued to last, and if the Empire of Human hadn’t come, then, the dogs in the garden would have still rib-protruding, mouths full of drool, waiting to strike whoever came close to them. Fortunately, that long and lie-stricken era was over.

"You haven’t changed a bit."

The eldest sister would never forget this reunion moment.

---

Maria entered the room, closing the door behind her back.

"Did the kids sleep?" Friede asked, slowly removing her attire and stepping into the bathing bucket.

"Not yet. But soon. Yuria let her sleep in her own room to teach her courage and independence." Maria replied, her clothes also left her.

"Hm, just like my mother back then. I was just 5 when she first sent me to another chamber." Friede recalled, "At first I wondered if she didn't love me anymore. Then I grew up and realized that was how she taught the three of us to be strong."

"Hmm, thanks to that, the three daughters later founded the Sable Church. Admirable."

They shared a kiss while Maria's hand gently massaged Friede's shoulder. The other person really liked it, but never would she ever admit. Many topics were talked between them, old and new, from heaven to earth, from past tense to simple future. They had a lot in common, and they loved their differences. That was how they fill the gaps and became each other's life, just like Friede said.

"Water’s getting cold. Don’t stay there all night, Maria.” Friede lifted herself out of it, wrapping a towel around her body.

Suddenly she was lifted up to the bed in a rather rough manner.

“You don't need to put on your clothes." Maria whispered into the other's ear. The warmth of her voice ran down Friede's neck, evoking something hot.

"Maria, wait..." Friede put a finger on Maria's lips, "I'm not ready."

"Ha, you always said that, but in the end, your intensity got me every time." Maria's lewd smile pierced Friede's heart, making her blush, "I love to see you go wild."

Yanking the towel around Friede, Maria caught the woman in her arms by a soft kiss. The room once quiet was now disturbed by their gasp.

[Knock knock]

The sound pulled them away from arousal. Slightly, Friede pushed Maria away, wrapped the blanket around her body, and grabbed the book, pretending to read. Maria quickly put on her pajamas and opened the door.

"Oh, Painter, you don't sleep?"

"Not yet, Lady Maria. Lady Liliane made some cakes, so I helped her bring them here, in case you two want to eat."

"Oh wow. Please send her my thanks, girl. And you too. Remember to go to bed early, okay?" Maria smiled at the child.

Painter wished them good night and turned to leave, but paused suddenly on her track. She looked at Friede and frowned.

"Lady Friede, the book is upside-down. Have you noticed?"

Friede glanced at Maria in a mild panic, then quickly waved her hand vaguely in the air and placed the book on the nightstand.

"Oh, sorry. I was just thinking. Didn’t pay attention to it."

"Seriously?" Painter tilted her head, "Okay then, I'm going to my room."

The girl said goodbye and turned away. Maria put the cake dish on the table and locked the door. Fun should not be disturbed by others.

"If you don't want to do it, I'll stop." Maria said with a smile, as she turned around and picked up their clothes.

Suddenly she felt a smack landed on her behind.

"Wa?"

"Pardon me. It looks... absorbing... Even when covered by something."

"Would be better if you free it from the fabric, but since you..." Maria's voice dropped lower as she saw Friede stood up, wrapping her arms around Maria's firm body and rested themselves on the bed.

"Change of plan." Friede whispered, and soon let her tongue meet the other's.

"Sweet. As usual." Maria drew a sensual smirk on her face as her tongue dragged itself across Friede's body, "You erect my boy."

“You’re unique.” Friede clasped the blonde hair, her back arched for the contact.

“And I’ll serve you well, my queen.”

Maria loved watching her sweetheart’s reactions to every move she did when she went inside her body, slowly at first, then faster as the rhythm brought them to climax. She was addicted, to hear the moaning uttered from that woman's lips. That wasn't their first intercourse, and definitely wouldn't be the last time Friede had her legs on Maria's shoulders. The burn marks made her body more wonderful.

"You... fu... so... good..." Friede’s voice became unstable, as she wrapped her arms around Maria's neck to pull them closer. Their groins smacked into one another in hurry and thirst.

They locked themselves in a passionate kiss, trading saliva at the tip of their tongues. Oh, they adored this kind of wet. And no matter how wet it was, Friede was close to feeling tense.

"It hurts..."

"I'm sorry... I can't stop..." The younger woman kept penetrating. She wanted to see it, to get it, to be at one with the woman beneath her. She bit Friede’s breast, pressing her thigh so that she could go deeper as if it was far from enough for them. Their sweat mingled as Maria began to shake.

And she always knew how to sync their pleasure.

When they woke up, it had been already dawn. The sunlight crept through the window, bringing shadows of birds singing for a new day.

“I started to love this place.” Maria said, putting her hands on Friede’s shoulders as they both sat beside the window, watching the flower field.

“Me too.” Friede replied, “Some people deserve a second home.”

“Maybe. But you know what?” Maria asked, brushing the ring on her finger, “My home is wherever you are.”

The small box shown before Friede got opened, as Maria knelt down on one knee.

“Marry me.”

Something glittering and happy in Friede's eyes was screaming. She smiled, placing both hands on the other's cheeks.

“Okay.”