There is a discord for this fic. It has Live Updates about chapter progress and when they are completed, among other things. I'm also very active there and am likely to respond to any message sent there. Join at discord.gg/aWZ9qX9mAW
Glory to my Proofreader: Bakenekon. For he is the one who points out mistakes and acts as a good wall to bounce ideas off of.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Oh? What's up, Melina? Finally got bored of just sitting back and watching?"
Melina, however, didn't reply.
Instead, she stepped closer, her soft hazel eye piercing into his own, her expression slightly tense. Tarnished barely had time to register her movements before she suddenly grabbed his shoulder with both hands and pulled him toward her.
His breath hitched slightly as their faces ended up mere centimeters apart—so close that he could see the fine details of her features.
She was beautiful.
Not just in the ethereal, graceful way he had already acknowledged, but in a genuinely mesmerizing way. Her lips, soft and delicate, looked entirely too kissable for his own good, he felt a small tinge of nervousness creep up his spine.
Tarnished chuckled awkwardly, his usual smug confidence faltering just a bit. "Well, uh… I gotta say, I enjoy the sudden attention, and I admire your straightforwardness, but…" He rubbed the back of his neck, laughing lightly, "I am so very, very confused right now."
For a moment, she did nothing but stare into his eyes, her gaze calm, yet scrutinizing. Then, with a small nod, she released him and took a step back.
"I apologize." She said, her tone as even as ever, though there was a small hint of something beneath it—relief, perhaps?
Tarnished tilted his head. "For what?"
"For grabbing you like that." She folded her arms, her violet gaze steady as she explained, "I needed to see it with my own eyes… To confirm that you truly have it."
Tarnished blinked, still slightly thrown off by the whole interaction. He straightened his posture and arched a brow. "...Have what?"
Melina looked at him intently, as if expecting him to already know the answer.
"The Grace of Gold."
His expression flickered, intrigued.
Melina continued, "I needed to see if you truly hold Queen Marika's Grace within you."
Tarnished scratched his chin, curiosity piqued. "And? Do I?"
Melina nodded. "Your relative safety on your journey and your unnatural strength for a newcomer to these lands were already indications of it," she admitted. "But… I needed to see it for myself before making my decision."
Tarnished crossed his arms. "See what, exactly?"
Melina hesitated for a moment before her gaze flicked toward his eyes.
"To see the Grace of Gold within your gaze."
Tarnished's brows furrowed. "Wait, what?"
She studied him for a moment before letting out a small breath. "You truly haven't noticed yet, have you?"
He shook his head. "I'm gonna have to go with a hard no on that one."
Melina reached into the folds of her dark robe, pulling out a small, simple mirror before handing it to him.
"Look." she instructed.
Tarnished took the mirror, half-skeptical, before tilting it toward his face. He got a strange system notification a second later.
[It's you!]
His gaze turned to Marika for a moment, but she just shrugged. He decided not to think much of it and turned his gaze back to the mirror.
His deep azure-blue eyes stared back at him. At first, he didn't notice anything different—until he shifted the mirror slightly, catching the reflection in the flickering light of the Caelid sun above him.
Then he saw it.
A subtle shimmer of Gold, faint yet undeniably present, swirled within his irises—like tiny embers of celestial fire, lingering just beneath the surface. It wasn't just a reflection or a mere trick of the light. It was part of him.
Tarnished muttered, "...Cool."
He took a moment to look closer and admire his new face, 'Damn, I really am a sexy bastard now. I kinda look like Miyamoto Musashi from Vagabond, except without any scars and deep blue eyes. The gold shining in them from Marika's Grace makes me look even better, too.'
"You are welcome~!"
He smirked slightly at the Goddess' response before he glanced back up at Melina, quirking a brow. "As cool as that is, if that's what you wanted to know, why didn't you just ask me?"
Melina closed her eyes briefly before answering. "Because I needed to be sure you wouldn't lie."
Tarnished wasn't offended in the slightest. If anything, he found it amusing. He grinned, handing the mirror back. "Oh ye of little faith~!"
For the first time, Melina's lips tugged upward slightly, just the faintest hint of amusement flickering across her face.
Tarnished shrugged nonchalantly, watching Melina's expression as she studied him with newfound curiosity.
She let out a soft sigh, crossing her arms beneath her cloak. "In any case, I hope that you can forgive me. I have been testing you—to see whether or not Grace truly does guide you. And whether or not you are fit to face the challenge that entails."
Her hazel eye softened, and for a brief moment, she seemed almost… relieved. "But it seems my worries were unfounded."
Tarnished chuckled, giving a half-smirk. "Evidently."
She gave a small nod before continuing, "Torrent had your measure from the very start, whereas I merely pretended. There is but one other thing I can do to offer you guidance. I can take you to the Roundtable Hold—a gathering place of Tarnished champions, guided by Grace…"
Tarnished tilted his head slightly, mulling it over for a second before shaking his head.
"Appreciate the offer, but I got a few things I'd rather do first. Some loose ends to tie up before heading there. So, I'll go later."
Melina blinked in mild surprise, as if she had fully expected him to say yes. But instead of pushing the matter, she simply nodded slightly. "That is fine. You may take this at your own pace. May the Guidance of Queen Marika the Eternal help you along your path until you are ready."
She studied him for a second, then added, "Though, I must ask… Why have you not summoned me to strengthen yourself with the power of runes yet?"
Tarnished sweat-dropped slightly.
Ah. That.
The truth was, he was just used to Rune Level 1 runs, having conditioned himself to get through the game without leveling up. It wasn't necessary in his mind to use his hard earned Runes on leveling up—at least, not yet.
He hadn't yet fought anything that pushed him enough to necessitate an upgrade.
He scratched the back of his head, chuckling. "Haven't really felt the need to. I'd rather save my runes for supplies and materials."
Melina narrowed her eyes slightly, clearly surprised by the answer. But after a moment, she simply nodded. "It is your choice. I shall not interfere."
A comfortable silence stretched between them as Tarnished thought for a moment, staring off into the distance. He watched the wind rustle through the golden leaves of a nearby tree, his fingers idly tapping against his thigh.
Then, just as Melina was beginning to fade away, he spoke again.
"Wait."
She paused, blinking curiously. "Yes?"
Tarnished grinned slightly, looking at her with genuine interest. "When you said you were done pretending to be my Maiden… Did you mean that?"
Melina tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "Of course. I do not speak in falsehoods. Why do you ask?"
Tarnished's grin widened.
"Because I want you to actually join me on my journey."
She stared. "...Pardon?"
"I mean travel with me." Tarnished leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on his knees. "As far as I know, a Maiden is supposed to accompany her Tarnished in their journey, right? They fight together, explore untamed lands together…"
He smirked slyly and looked to the side. "Among other things..."
Melina's mouth twitched slightly at his tone. "Other things?"
He waved it off with a grin, then continued, "Point is, why don't you do the same? You can fight, can't you?"
Melina's hazel eye flickered with something unreadable as she took in his words. She looked genuinely uncertain.
Tarnished watched her, feeling his grin falter slightly.
'She's thinking too hard about this…'
He sighed and waved a hand. "Look, if you don't have an answer for me now, that's fine. You can-"
"Very well."
Tarnished paused.
"Wait, really?"
Melina exhaled softly, as if bracing herself. "Yes." She folded her hands in front of her, looking away slightly as a faint blush formed on her cheeks. "It is logical. If we work together, we may reach our goals far faster. It is the most practical course of action."
His smile stretched wider, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
"Perfect."
With a sharp whistle, he summoned Torrent, the spectral steed appearing in a flash of azure mist. Without missing a beat, Tarnished swung himself onto its back before turning toward her, extending a hand.
Melina stared at him, then at his outstretched hand.
Then back at his face.
Then at his hand again.
A visible sigh left her lips as she muttered under her breath. "What have I gotten myself into…?"
Nonetheless, she reached forward, placing her hand in his.
Tarnished gripped it firmly and pulled her up onto Torrent's back, the steed snorting in response as he adjusted his size accordingly, making room for both riders.
Melina took a second to steady herself, adjusting her cloak and shifting her position slightly.
Then, with a small nod, she spoke, "I am ready."
Tarnished grinned, flicking the reins lightly. "You won't regret this."
Melina sighed, glancing off toward the Rot infested wildlands of Caelid. "I very well hope I do not."
Tarnished rode forward, Torrent's hooves thudding softly against the cracked and blighted ground as they ventured deeper into the Caelid wastes.
The air was thick and vile, carrying the stench of decay and rot, the very land itself corrupted beyond recognition. Skeletal remains of trees loomed like gnarled fingers, their bark peeling, blackened, and lifeless.
As they passed through a crumbling ruin, a group of rotting skeletons stirred from their graves, raising brittle weapons with slow, lazy swipes at them.
Tarnished barely paid them any mind.
Torrent merely sprinted past with ease, and the skeletons collapsed pitifully as they missed entirely, their fragile forms clattering into piles of broken bone. Melina watched this unfold before speaking, her voice carrying the weight of genuine curiosity and mild concern.
"Why would you come here of all places? I understand that Radahn is at his festival, deep within these infested lands… But surely you know that you are not yet ready to face him."
She tilted her head slightly, watching his profile as he stared ahead with quiet determination. "What else could there be in this wretched wasteland?"
Tarnished smirked slightly, not taking his eyes off the path ahead. "You'd be surprised. There's quite a few things I need from Caelid before I leave."
Melina raised an eyebrow at that, listening as he continued.
"After we're done here, I'd like to make a quick stop at the Weeping Peninsula for some more stuff," he explained, adjusting his grip on the reins. "Then, after that, we can head to Godrick's Castle and finally kill that pathetic excuse of a Demigod."
Melina hummed softly, as if processing his plan. "I see… And where do you intend to go first? I would at least like to have an idea of how long we must remain here."
Tarnished tapped his fingers against Torrent's reins thoughtfully before answering.
"First, we'll be heading to Fort Faroth. Then Fort Gael. After that, we're making a stop at the Cathedral of Dragon Communion, and to finish it off, we'll be heading to Sellia."
At this, Melina's expression flickered with mild confusion.
"That is… Quite the selection…" She murmured.
Her tone was curious but reserved, as if she were waiting to see if he would elaborate.
He didn't.
Instead, Tarnished chuckled, shaking his head. "There's far too much I need to cover to be satisfied."
Melina simply hummed in response, her gaze lingering on him briefly before she let it drop.
The road ahead twisted into a new horror.
A wide, cracked path led straight into the maw of death itself—massive, grotesque Monstrous Dogs stalked the area, their elongated limbs twitching unnaturally as they feasted upon rotting corpses scattered across the blood-soaked ground.
Their jaws gnashed and snapped, exposed muscles twitching grotesquely with every unsettling movement.
The sight made even Melina tense slightly.
Tarnished pulled Torrent to a slow halt, narrowing his eyes at the creatures. Something just behind them caught his eye—a large, seemingly untouched caravan, surrounded by a few dead scattered knights who he assumed were the meals of said monstrous creatures before they had arrived.
Melina followed his gaze, understanding immediately.
"I suggest we go around," she advised, voice steady yet firm. "There is no need to fight those things."
Tarnished didn't respond immediately, instead studying the layout of the battlefield. Then, after a moment, he grinned. "They're right next to something I really, really want."
Melina sighed. "Of course they are."
Tarnished rubbed his chin for a second, then his eyes lit up with realization.
An idea had formed.
He hopped off Torrent, rolling his shoulders.
Melina narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing?"
He grinned at her. "I have a plan."
She crossed her arms skeptically. "Oh? And what might that be?"
Tarnished tilted his head, still smirking. "Just trust me. When you hear my cue, come grab me."
Melina frowned slightly. "...Cue? What cue?"
Tarnished simply grinned wider, patting her shoulder reassuringly. "You'll know it when you hear it."
Melina stared at him, utterly bewildered. "That is… Not reassuring."
But before she could press further, Tarnished turned on his heel and full-sprinted toward a nearby hill, one that overlooked both the Monstrous Dogs and the caravan below.
Melina watched him go, rubbing her temples with a sigh.
"This fool is going to be the death of me."
Tarnished sprinted up the hill, his breath steady, his excitement barely contained. The cliff's edge came into view, and without hesitation, he pushed off with all his strength, launching himself into the air. The cold wind rushed past him, his heart thrumming in exhilaration.
He landed heavily atop the caravan's wooden roof, the wood creaking beneath his weight. Without missing a beat, he sprinted down its length, the force of his footsteps rattling the planks beneath him. Below, the Monstrous Dogs continued feasting, unaware of the reckless intruder soaring above them.
Tarnished reached the caravan's edge, then leapt off, gracefully landing on a small stone platform beside it. There, in the dim light of the blighted Caelid sky, sat a large, iron-bound chest.
His eyes gleamed with anticipation. He rushed forward, gripping the heavy lid and flinging it open. The metallic scent of ancient steel met his senses. Inside, nestled among dust and decay, was a massive, weathered Greatsword—a behemoth of a blade that radiated sheer weight and destruction.
Tarnished grinned wildly, reaching in and gripping the hilt with both hands. The moment his fingers wrapped around the handle, a surge of excitement coursed through him.
But he wasn't alone anymore.
A guttural snarl rang out behind him.
One of the Monstrous Dogs had noticed him, its rotting, elongated body rising from the corpse it had been devouring. Its sunken, soulless eyes locked onto him, and with a bone-chilling screech, it lunged.
Tarnished ripped the Greatsword from the chest, his laughter booming across the battlefield. He hoisted the massive blade skyward, grinning like a madman.
"I HAVE… THE POWER!!"
The Monstrous Dog hesitated, its rotted brain struggling to process the sheer insanity before it. Then, all at once—every other Monstrous Dog snapped their heads toward him.
The distant chewing and snarling ceased. Then, as one, the pack surged toward him.
A sudden notification flashed in his vision.
[WARNING: Stats insufficient to wield weapon effectively.]
Tarnished's grin faltered.
"Oh, right."
The first Monstrous Dog lunged, its massive maw snapping open, aiming to tear his head clean off.
Tarnished tightened his grip on the Greatsword, twisting his body.
Then, he swung it.
The massive blade came crashing down like an executioner's axe, the sheer weight of it alone enough to send a concussive shockwave through the air.
CRACK.
The Monstrous Dog's skull crumpled like brittle parchment, its entire head smashing into the dirt with a sickening crunch. Its limbs twitched once, then fell still.
Tarnished exhaled sharply, blinking. Then, he grinned. "Totally calculated."
The remaining Monstrous Dogs did not care. The moment of silence was shattered as the rest of the pack reached him, their massive claws tearing at the ground, their grotesque forms barreling toward him.
"Uh oh…" Tarnished felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple, his grip on the then Greatsword tightened as he then willed it to enter his inventory for safekeeping and to lighten his load in case he needed to run for his life. "Sure hope Melina got my cue…"
For a split second, there was only the sound of snarling beasts, the rush of wind, and the thudding of countless monstrous limbs against the ground.
Then, a blur of blue shot through the air.
Torrent leapt from the cliffside above, his spectral form twisting gracefully as he double-jumped midair, his hooves dispersing a burst of azure sparks.
Tarnished grinned in relief.
"You got my cue!"
Melina, sitting astride the ethereal steed, did not share his amusement.
She glared at him, her expression was one of annoyance.
"Get on. Now."
Tarnished didn't argue. He vaulted onto Torrent's back, landing just behind her.
Their bodies pressed together slightly from the close proximity, the warmth of her presence noticeable despite the urgency of their escape.
Tarnished leaned in slightly, smirking. "Floor it."
Melina huffed sharply, gripping the reins.
"As if that wasn't obvious?!"
With a sharp pull, Torrent whinnied, then bolted forward, leaving the lunging monstrosities behind in a blur of blue light and dust.
Torrent surged forward, hooves pounding against the scorched earth as he pushed himself to his absolute limits. The monstrous dogs behind them howled, their twisted, gaping maws snapping shut just inches from their heels.
The beasts were relentless, their grotesque forms moving unnaturally fast despite their bloated, rotting frames. Tarnished, caught off guard by Torrent's sudden burst of speed, teetered dangerously.
He swayed, struggling to keep balance, and for a split second, it felt as though he would be thrown off entirely. Instinct took over before thought, and he did the first thing that came to mind—he wrapped his arms tightly around Melina's waist.
Melina immediately stiffened, her entire body going rigid at the unexpected contact. The situation was dire, the howls of their pursuers growing louder, but even over the rushing wind and the thundering hooves, Tarnished could hear the distinct fluster in her voice when she shouted, "W-Where now?!"
Grinning despite himself, Tarnished leaned in slightly to make sure she could hear him over the chaos. "Stick to the left! Keep going until you see a ravine splitting the earth!"
He didn't need to turn around to know she would likely glare at him, her face probably still red from his sudden hold, but she did as he instructed, urging Torrent down the path.
The putrid air of Caelid carried the scent of death and decay, the crimson wasteland stretching endlessly before them. The monstrous dogs were relentless, their pursuit unwavering.
Tarnished scanned his surroundings quickly, eyes sharp, taking in every landmark and detail. That was when he spotted something just ahead—a faint, golden shimmer nestled on the roadside. His eyes widened slightly as realization dawned. It was a Site of Grace.
Without a second thought, he tightened his grip on Melina, shifting his weight slightly to the left as they passed.
Her breath hitched sharply. "A-Ah!"
Ignoring her flustered response, Tarnished stretched out his right hand as they rode past. He felt the warmth of Grace flicker against his fingertips, a brief connection forming between him and the ancient power buried beneath the land. A moment later, a familiar notification blinked into his vision.
[Lost Grace Discovered]
Tarnished grinned victoriously. "Yes! Got it!"
Finally steadying himself, he loosened his grip on Melina ever so slightly, allowing her to breathe. She let out a small, shaky exhale, her composure slowly returning. Her voice, though still holding the faintest trace of fluster, was more composed when she spoke next. "…And what now?"
Tarnished turned his gaze forward. The ravine was just ahead, its deep chasm cutting through the land like a wound. He smirked. "Jump over it."
Melina's head snapped toward him, disbelief etched into every inch of her blushing face. "HAVE YOU LOST YOUR WITS ENTIRELY?!"
A piercing howl echoed from their right, chilling and inhuman. A large, pale beast lifted its head, its rotting sockets locking onto them with something akin to hunger.
The moment it saw them, a violent screech ripped from its throat, and suddenly, nearly a dozen more Monstrous Dogs surged from the crimson fog, moving like streaks of death across the wasteland.
There was no more time.
Tarnished leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to something softer, yet undeniably firm. "Trust in me."
Melina clenched her jaw, eyes narrowing. "There is no trust here, you madman!"
The ravine was getting closer.
The monstrous dogs were almost upon them.
The edge of the cliff loomed before them, and there was no turning back now.
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Tarnished leaned in just a little closer, lowering his voice to an almost teasing whisper. "Sometimes, you just have to take a leap of faith."
Melina froze and shivered slightly. Then for a moment, she seemed as if she wanted to throw him off of Torrent right then and there.
Then, with a frustrated growl, she snapped the reins. "Fine."
Torrent let out a sharp whinny, gathering strength in his legs as they shot toward the ravine at full speed. The beasts behind them lunged, closing the gap, their claws raking against the dirt.
Then, they jumped.
For a moment, the world seemed to still.
The howls behind them faded.
The wind ceased.
And for a fraction of a second, it felt as though they were weightless.
Then, just before gravity could reclaim them, Torrent ignited a burst of spectral energy, kicking off the very air itself in a second jump that sent them soaring across the chasm. The moment his hooves met solid ground once more, a small shock rippled through them.
The impact was sudden, but they had landed safely. Tarnished and Melina turned in unison, looking back across the ravine. The monstrous dogs stood at the very edge, snarling, their empty maws snapping wildly at the air, but they were unable to reach them.
A long silence stretched between the two of them.
Then, simultaneously, they let out a shared sigh of relief.
Melina turned to Tarnished, her expression unreadable for a brief moment. Then, before he could react, she suddenly pinched his cheek.
Tarnished yelped. "Ow, ow, ow—HEY!"
Her voice, though flustered and exasperated, carried a distinct frustration. "That was utterly reckless! Were thy senses not intact, Tarnished?!"
Tarnished rubbed his cheek, laughing. "Oh, come on. Everything worked out, didn't it? Look on the bright side!"
Melina huffed, arms crossed, her face still noticeably flushed. "The 'bright side' is that thou art alive. But that was by sheer chance, not sense."
Tarnished smirked. "I'd say it was a mix of skill, luck, and a healthy dose of insanity."
Melina exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers against her temple. "Agh… I fear I may regret this arrangement already."
Tarnished chuckled, patting Torrent's neck. "Oh, you definitely will."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stones, please.
Author's Note:
Also, I thought I'd just come out and confirm it since a lot of you were asking, the MC does know about the DLC and is well versed in most of its lore.
…
Next Chapter Title: Road to the Elder Dragon.
…
If you want access to all my stockpiled chapters (16 chapters ahead) as well as special privileges on Discord among other things, you can go do so on my Patreon!
Join at patreon.com/Helios539