The Grafted Blade.
With shaky arms, Onyx held the sword straight up across from his chest.
It was not a weapon built with the average man in mind. The sheer size of it ensured it'd be unwieldly for even the tallest of men. The way its blade, if it could even be called that, the thing an amalgamation of dozens of other swords, jutted out in so many different directions could easily result in the wielder bringing unintended harm to those around them as well as themself.
Onyx took a deep breath, holding the air of his inhale for several seconds before exhaling, calming the slight uptick in his breathing.
The weapon housed immense anger. Any with the strength to wield it would likely find themselves striking harder and faster than what they would've thought possible, their strength enhanced by a primal rage that they were either unaware was taking hold of them or completely helpless to resist such a powerful emotion.
Maybe both.
The one who forged it or the wielder must've housed a fury that would've drowned out all else for the blade to not have just picked it up but continue to exude it long after their passing.
Once he could actually swing it around rather than being swung by it, it'd make for an interesting weapon. Not one he particularly favored but an interesting one.
But he shouldn't be letting himself get so distracted by it.
Onyx opened his eyes, carefully turning the blade over and plunging its sharpened ends into the dirt below, that foreign rage vanishing as he released the weapon's cold handle. Without that trying to consume his senses, a crunch reached his ears.
Edgar. digging a shovel into the ground, pulled free another helping of dirt, tossing it into the growing pile beside him. Across from his cabin, they were finally getting started on the foundation for what would be Edgar's and Irina's shared home.
At least, Edgar was. Onyx had only made outlines in the dirt and showed him how deep to dig before stepping back to practice with the Grafted Blade while observing.
Edgar skills still fell short of that of a novice but the man's familiarity with the work had grown enough that things should turn out fine with a bit of direction. Not to mention, the whole digging part of the process didn't really require anything more than an able body and willingness to work beneath the sun.
Menial work like that wouldn't be a problem for the man.
"Edgar." Onyx said, the man answering with a grunt, not bothering to pause in his work. "Irina told you about our time at the Gatefront, didn't she?"
A loud crunch accompanied Edgar's following grunt, his shovel sinking particularly deep into the dirt with his next dig at it. No one would've been happy to learn that those they considered allies had tossed aside all regard for their daughter's life just to get at some perceived enemy.
"When I was there, I noticed something off about one of the knights."
"They appeared little different than a corpse." Edgar correctly surmised as he tossed aside more dirt. "We call such people the Lost. Most of their sense has left them but they still hold firm to their loyalties." For Edgar that was explanation enough, the man usual silence returning as he followed the outline of the foundation.
But Onyx's curiosity only grew. "Something like that is normal?"
"Such people are only said to have started appearing after The Shattering and Queen Marika's disappearance. I've dealt with a few beneath my command at Castle Morne. They can't be trusted with any complicated tasks, but, even as they were, they remained loyal warriors." Edgar explained. "You'll be better off questioning a doctor or a member of the church if you want to know more."
Onyx hummed while Edgar kept at his digging.
Just how deep rooted were the effects of Grace and the Gold Order's religious aspects for the loss of a Goddess and this Elden Ring to enable such a degradation to occur amongst the people here?
He took a breath and regrasped the Grafted Blade's handle.
The mysteries surrounding that question just kept getting more and more interesting.
XOXO
Meditation took many forms.
The traditional one that he was employing at this very moment, back next to the dragon corpse, a point of focus, such as his breath, chosen. Then there was meditation through repeated motion, only truly effective when one did a simple practiced action over and over. A way to train both mind and body. Then there was battle meditation. Dangerous, rarely practiced, but perhaps the one he preferred the most and, ironically enough, the one he did the least.
Baring rare exceptions, whatever form it took, meditation, by its nature, was a solitary practice.
"Onyx?"
Something that he wasn't getting much of.
"This way." Onyx opened his eyes, guiding Irina further into the ruins until she was sitting on the ground in front of him. "Here to join me in a little meditation?"
"I actually wanted to ask about that." Irina said. "I've heard of it, but I've never met someone who practiced it. Does it truly lead to some form of enlightenment?"
"Maybe, maybe not. It's different for everyone." Onyx said honestly. Whatever her idea of her enlightenment was, he knew people who dedicated their entire lives to the practice without ever undergoing some drastic change or revelation. On the other side of the coin, for very few, meditation had led to the development of entire abilities. "Why not find out the answer yourself?"
Irina adjusted herself to a more comfortable sit, smoothing out her dress. "Is there something specific I'm supposed to do?"
"Depends on the type of meditation. For now, I'll walk you through a simple one."
Yeah, he wasn't getting the undisturbed solitary time that'd was more commonplace when he first arrived, but he didn't mind it.
XOXO
Onyx fell back, sighing as built up tension left his limbs, soreness taking its place.
No longer would he be sleeping on the ground. His newly built bed, made up of wood and nailing with the actual bedding itself no more than an especially thick gathering of furs, might be a simple thing that didn't compare to other luxuries he'd experienced but damn if it wasn't satisfying to end the day by falling into an actual one after a strenuous day.
That wasn't the only addition.
Despite his body's protest, he forced himself up to a sit.
Melina had taken a seat at the edge of her own bed, placing her removed and folded cloak on the small end table that separated the head of their beds. As always, he found it difficult to tell how she felt about the upgrade. Even as she removed her boots, revealing a set of knee-high stockings as dark as the rest of her clothing, and laid herself down, assuming that robotic sleeping position of hers, nothing was given away.
"Comfortable?" He questioned.
Melina opened her eye, glanced his way, then nodded against the furs before reclosing that eye.
"Thank you for this." She said after a pause.
"No problem." He said as he turned his attention to the rest of the cabin.
Torrent hadn't had much of a problem when he found his bed of furs missing from its usual corner but made a fuss out of it for some extra food, only settling out on the porch where it was moved after securing an agreement. A sizable wooden, circular tub replaced those furs, mostly hidden behind crude wooden panels.
He hadn't cared much for modesty, but he put them there for Melina's sake, having told her to make use of it as she pleased.
For now, that tub was only good for cold and lukewarm baths unless one took the time to heat up several pots of water, but once he got his mana going, it'd be all hot baths for him from then on. In addition to a proper bed, one of the best ways to bring the day to a close.
A dresser and some hooks next to the front door was the final addition to his modest abode. The Grafted Blade and the golden halberd he'd taken from that knight were both propped against the dresser while his sword, both the rusty falchion and he longsword the knights favored hung from the hooks by leather straps. All his other equipment were in the drawers themselves.
He was more or less satisfied with this so unless some random idea struck him or Melina herself requested something, he couldn't imagine much in the way of additions. Especially not without expanding the entire building, the cozy place just shy of becoming cramped.
Aside from proper lighting anyways. He'd be looking into securing some candles or lanterns from Kalé.
Onyx followed Melina's lead, properly swinging his legs onto the bed, and folding his arms beneath his head and furs to form something of a pillow.
Little side projects done, all he needed to was get his mana going and help Edgar finish up on their cabin then he'd head out on another journey.
Where to? He hadn't exactly decided on that but maybe he'd make a stop at Sellen to learn more about sorcery. Beyond that, whatever happened happened. The more intricate the plan the more easily it fell apart after all. He was sure something or someone would catch his eye.
XOXO
(A/N: Just some light stuff that needed to be touched on before we wrap up this drawn out intro. Still trying to wrap my head around the fact that webnovel is saying I wrote 50k something words and I still have so much in my head that needs writing. Absolute insanity.)