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Tarnished shifted slightly in Fia's embrace, letting his head rest more comfortably against her chest. The fabric of her dress was cool and smooth beneath his cheek, but her body radiated a soothing warmth. Her hands, soft as silk and steady as a heartbeat, stroked his hair gently, like he was some precious thing in need of calm.
A low, pleased hum rumbled from his throat as he let his eyes fall shut for a moment. It was… oddly comforting. A rare moment of stillness amidst the chaos.
Behind him, leaning lazily against the archway with one hand resting on her hip and the other tapping against her elbow, Marika appeared in her ethereal form, looking completely unimpressed.
"So this is what brings thee solace? Collapsing into the bosom of a maiden?" She muttered, voice dry enough to parch desert sand.
A system prompt appeared across Tarnished's vision.
[You have received: Baldachin's Blessing]
[Status Effect: Max HP -5% until used]
Tarnished peeked one eye open to see it and gave a small mental shrug.
'Worth it.'
"Why of course thou wouldst consider a curse such this worthy enough to keep. So long as it came from a maiden's embrace." The Goddess' voice was filled to the brim with dry and humourless amusement.
Fia's voice, quiet and soothing, reached his ears again as she kept stroking his hair, a faint flush on her pale cheeks. "What you felt light up inside you was a Baldachin's Blessing. Though it is but a fleeting thing, I am afraid."
She took a soft breath and spoke again, her voice like mourning veils in the wind.
"I was known as a Deathbed Companion, where I come from. After I received the warmth and lifely vigour from a number of champions, I was to lay with the remains of an exalted noble, to grant him another chance at life. To do so… is the purpose of my being."
Marika scoffed softly from behind, crossing her arms. "Hmph. I suspected as much. A ritualistic clinging to death's coattails. To cradle what ought to be conquered… is to embrace weakness."
Tarnished gave a small, noncommittal hum in response, it was half agreement, half dismissal. He didn't much care. It felt good, so he let it be.
Marika narrowed her eyes and huffed in annoyance. "Thou could at least pretend to care about such things, my champion."
But Fia continued, gently brushing a stray strand of his hair from his forehead.
"But before I could bear the noble into new life, I was awakened by the guidance of grace… and chased from my birthplace. Pray, be kind." She said softly, her thumb brushing over his temple. "Despite all that… I still wish to be a Deathbed Companion."
There was a pause, a moment of quiet comfort where the fire crackled and the warmth of her embrace threatened to lull him into a true sleep.
Then, Fia leaned down close, so close that her breath touched the shell of his ear, and whispered in a tone that made goosebumps rise across his skin.
"…Should you desire, great champion… I would lay with you. Properly."
Marika blinked once. Then again. Her arms slowly dropped to her sides as her jaw shifted, caught between dropping and locking tight.
"…Seriously?"
Tarnished sat frozen for a moment, his thoughts swirling like a whirlwind. Part of him screamed to accept, Fia's offer was tempting in every sense of the word. Her voice, soft and sultry, her hands that cradled him with warmth, and her gaze full of longing…
It was enough to make any man falter. Especially one who'd walked the desolate, blood-soaked lands of Caelid, where comfort was as rare as hope.
But another part of him, the quieter and steadier half, held him back.
He felt his arms tighten around her instinctively, drawing a soft gasp and a quiet moan from Fia's lips. Her breath hitched as his fingers gripped her waist briefly before releasing her with a sigh.
He slowly raised his head from her lap, meeting her eyes. She looked… breathtaking. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling with a warmth that made him ache. His gaze lingered on her parted lips for a second too long, and for a moment he considered kissing her right then and there.
He cursed himself inwardly.
Still… he made his choice.
Reaching up, he gently cradled her face in one hand, his calloused fingers brushing against her soft skin.
"Fia…" he murmured. "I'm sorry. You're… incredible. And I won't lie to you, I was tempted. I am tempted." He gave her the faintest smile, tinged with regret. "But I've already given my heart to another."
Fia blinked in surprise, then gave him a bittersweet smile tinged with sadness. "I understand. We all carry our commitments. I would never ask you to betray yours."
Behind him, Marika had reappeared, standing just beside the doorway with a hand on her hip. Her expression, once deeply unimpressed, now shifted to something more surprised… and, curiously, respectful.
"...He actually turned her down." She muttered aloud to herself, almost as if she couldn't quite believe it. "Hm. Perhaps I judged thee too harshly, my champion."
Fia tilted her head as her smile grew ever so slightly. "That said… if your arms are ever tired, your mind burdened… I will still hold you. As many times as you wish."
Tarnished felt the knot in his chest loosen. He hadn't ruined anything. He gave a small chuckle and nodded in gratitude, staying in her embrace a little longer, just long enough for the heat of temptation to pass.
Eventually, with some reluctance, he stood up.
Fia rose slightly, brushing off her skirts with practiced grace. "You are welcome back anytime. For comfort…" she paused, her eyes glinting with mischief as she winked sultry at him. "Or… if you ever change your mind."
Tarnished's soul damn near left his body as he stuttered on breath alone, managing only a choked cough as he nodded stiffly. "R-Right. I'll… keep that in mind."
She giggled sweetly as she waved him off. "Farewell, great champion~ Until we meet again."
He stepped out of the room and gently closed the door behind him, exhaling as if he'd just walked out of a boss arena. Despite the temptation, he felt lighter, like he'd passed a test he didn't know he'd been taking.
Marika appeared at his side, lounging on a glowing spectral throne with her legs elegantly crossed. She studied him with narrowed eyes and a faint smirk. "I must admit… I'm impressed. I fully expected thee to stumble face-first into that woman's lap in more ways than one. What stopped thee?"
Tarnished sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I mean… yeah, I wanted to. But I'm not the kind of guy who lets himself be guided by lust alone."
Marika blinked once. Then gave him a look. A long, unimpressed look.
He clicked his tongue, muttering in his head, 'I'm not! As beautiful as Fia is, she's not you. Or Melina. Or Ranni, for that matter. And I'll be damned before I do anything that could screw up my standing with any of you. I might be greedy, but I'm not that stupid!'
Marika stared for a moment, then burst into laughter, elegant and mocking in equal measure. "Hah! That's more like it! The exact inane, ridiculous logic I've come to expect from thee."
His right eye twitched in annoyance. 'I'm taking that as a compliment.'
"Take it however thou wishest. It is no less true."
Tarnished didn't bother replying as he made his way toward the hallway Roderika had mentioned, heading to find the clerk that would get him and Melina a room for the night.
Tarnished made his way down the polished stone corridor of the Roundtable Hold, passing unfamiliar faces as he went. A few knights in varying states of rest, some Tarnished fresh from battle, others clad in robes muttering over tomes.
He made a mental note to swing by Hewg once he was done arranging a room, his weapons could use a bit of love after the last few fights.
Eventually, he found what he was looking for: a modest desk to the side of the hallway with a small sign perched on top reading "Inn Reception".
Behind it stood an old man with thick, round glasses and the type of aged calm that comes from decades of dealing with weary wanderers. Tarnished walked up, placing his hands on the counter.
"Evenin'. I'm looking to book a room for two."
The old man looked up from his paperwork, adjusted his glasses with a slow, practiced motion, and nodded. "Of course, young man. And where's your companion?"
"She's off fetching us some food for the road," Tarnished replied casually. "Should be back shortly."
The old man hummed and jotted something down on his parchment. "Would you prefer a single bed or two?"
Tarnished considered this for a beat, then tapped the wood of the desk with his finger. "Two beds."
The old man nodded again, scribbled more notes, then spoke while flipping through a ledger. "We've got one room with two beds and a private bath. Includes a shower, too. That one's 2,000 runes a night."
Tarnished smiled, knowing they could more than afford it with the spoils of recent battles. "I'll pay for a week up front." He reached into his soul and willed forth the runes.
[–14,000 Runes]
The clerk accepted the payment and continued writing. "Under what name should the room be listed?"
He thought for a moment, then said with a grin, "Melina."
The old man blinked, clearly unsure if he'd heard that right, but eventually just shrugged and wrote it down anyway. A few seconds later, he reached beneath the desk and retrieved a brass key attached to a chain with a small wooden tag. The number 69 was carved into it.
Tarnished took one look at the number and smirked. "...Nice."
The old man scratched his balding head, grumbling under his breath as Tarnished turned away. "Why does every damn customer say the same thing when I hand 'em that key…"
As Tarnished walked away, amused by the small victory, Marika shimmered into view at his side, arms crossed and golden eyes half-lidded with a mix of judgment and curiosity.
"I must admit, I'm surprised. I expected thee to request a single-bed room and feign innocence, all in an effort to lure my daughter into thy embrace."
He chuckled at that, wagging a finger. 'Everyone knows that trick. Even Melina, as dense as she is, would see it coming from a mile away. That's why I didn't do it.'
He leaned in slightly and rubbed his hands together like a cartoon villain plotting something nefarious. 'See, I'm playing the long game. I figure Melina's probably not used to sharing a room with a guy, let alone a bed. But if we spend enough time in the same room in separate beds, yet still side by side… Eventually, when she gets comfortable with my presence. Used to it.'
He chuckled again, his grin widening. 'Then, one day… We go to get a room and 'Oh no!' they only have singles available! Of course I offer to take the floor like the gentleman I am, but Melina? The kind, sweet, guilt-ridden little maiden that she is won't let me. So we'll share a bed. And from there... I'm sure you can see where the plan leads.'
Marika gave him a long, deadpan stare, her expression unimpressed with just a faint twitch of amusement behind her eyes. "Truly, thy perversions are only matched by thy creative foresight. If only thou wouldst dedicate half as much wit to noble pursuits as thou dost to seduction."
Tarnished gasped in mock offence. 'Hey! I'll have you know I'm plenty smart when I want to be!'
"Aye." She said, sighing as she turned her head, golden hair catching the light. "And therein lies the problem."
He simply laughed, shaking his head as he made his way toward the forges.
Tarnished strolled down one of the long, torchlit halls of the Roundtable Hold, muttering to himself as his boots echoed softly against the stone floor.
"Alright, got a few thousand runes left… Need to find some smithing stones if I'm gonna get this greatsword up to snuff. I wonder if there's some merchant around here selling 'em. I mean, if this world's more fleshed out than the game version, it's gotta have a proper vendor somewhere…"
Just before he rounded a corner toward the forge, a deep, gravelly voice called out to him.
"Over here, stranger!"
Tarnished froze mid-step and turned, eyes widening in surprise. Standing just a few feet away in the shadows was a tall man cloaked entirely in dark fabric. A rich purple cloth mask covered the lower half of his face, and beside him were bulging bags and crates filled with an assortment of trinkets, weapons, and glowing stones.
His eyes glittered beneath the brim of his hood as the man leaned slightly forward and nodded. "Apologies for intrudin', but I over 'eard ya mentionin' somethin' about needing some smithing stones to upgrade ya weapons?"
"Wait a second… you look awfully familiar." Tarnished muttered under his breath as he blinked in disbelief, his mind was already buzzing and drawing comparisons to someone he never expected to see here.
"What, in the name of grace, is a 'Resident Evil'?" Marika's voice echoed dryly in his mind as she read his thoughts. "And why are there four of them?"
'Not the time, I'll tell you later.' He shot back mentally, waving the thought away as he approached the merchant.
The cloaked man chuckled and turned slightly, pulling open one of his larger sacks to reveal neat stacks of glimmering smithing stones nestled among bundles of cloth and twine. "Then I bet I got somethin' that might interest ya'!"
Tarnished knelt down, brows arching as he inspected the wares. "Holy hell… Speak of the devil and he really does show up…"
"What kinds you got?" He asked more seriously. "Any somber stones?"
"Got Smithin' Stones up to the fifth tier," the merchant said with a grin in his voice. "Freshly mined and cleaned. As for the somber kind, I've got up to the third tier. Not much demand, but a rare treat when I get 'em."
Tarnished bit the edge of his thumb, thinking fast. 'Twelve stones from each of the first two tiers, that should be enough to get the greatsword to +6. But how much would that actually cost…?'
"184,800 Runes for tiers one through six." Marika said in his mind, not missing a beat. "But for tiers one and two alone, you will need precisely 21,600."
He blinked, mildly impressed. 'You just… knew that?'
"Didst thou think a Goddess would lack the grace of arithmetic? Please."
He chuckled softly, standing up and checking his rune count. 30,000 left. It was enough… barely. He reached for his pouch when he suddenly felt a very distinct intent smack the back of his mind.
'Ow-!' He thought, rubbing the back of his head instinctively. 'What was that for? And how the hell did you do that?!'
"Do not pay full price like a common fool. Haggle."
'...You want me to haggle? Seriously?'
"Thou art not swimming in riches, are you? Use that silver tongue of yours for something other than seduction for once."
He rolled his eyes but couldn't help the grin forming. 'Fine, fine. I'll give it a shot.'
Clearing his throat, he crossed his arms and looked at the merchant with an easy smirk. "Twenty-one thousand, huh? How about you knock a bit off the top for a first time client? Maybe… twenty percent?"
The merchant tilted his head. "Hah! A cheeky one, eh? Mmm…" He eyed Tarnished for a few seconds, then nodded slowly with a sly grin. "Alright, stranger. You got yourself a deal. Twenty percent off, but only this once!"
"Deal." Tarnished reached into his soul and drew forth 17,280 Runes, passing them over. The merchant nodded and tucked the payment away before handing him a neatly bundled set of Smithing Stones. Which he immediately shoved into his inventory for later.
"Pleasure doin' business. Don't forget, I'll be around if ya need more."
Tarnished gave him a nod and a finger gun. "You bet I will."
As he turned and began walking toward the forge, Marika floated beside him with arms crossed.
"I must admit, I am surprised. I didn't expect thy haggling to work so efficiently. Well done."
Tarnished chuckled smugly. 'What can I say? I'm a man of many talents.'
"A womaniser and a merchant. You'll be running a marketplace by the time you reach the capital."
'Don't tempt me.'
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Author's Note:
Figured it would be better to have him just buy the majority of his Smithing Stones instead of needing to scurry around the world and collect them, more seamless for the story and we don't have to ruin the pacing!
Also this is more of a downtime chapter, I'm aware. Next ones will be better, promise.
Stones, bag, you get the idea.
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Next Chapter Title: To What Would You Pray To?
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