Death was swift. Painless even. There was no need to scream from this merciful death. The least Undead could do is accept it with grace.
When his eyes are about to close, he sees it. space warping around. An all encompassing black void embraces Undead. There is no unbearable cold. No soul devouring being trapped within. Just a warmth that seeps into his skin. A warmth that cleanses sins. Undead's eyes finally close.
——
The winds don't stop bellowing. Yet unlike before, they don't whip Undead's armour. Instead it gently caresses it, molding to its shape.
Wind…? But he shouldn't be able to feel anything. Yet he can? eyes shooting open, Undead's gaze rakes around his surroundings — trees among trees fill his view. The setting sun is no more, now it proudly stands at its peak, bestowing the land with its light.
With his mind muddled, Undead makes his way over to the closest tree. Resting his palm on it.
"The trees are real? What… what is going on?"
Surely he died, didn't he? Then how does he live? Why does everything feel so real? Just as he's on the grasp of figuring something out, an overbearing pain gnaws at his mind.
Falling to his knees, Undead clutches his head. Struggling to bear with it, he doubles over — metal clad fingers digging through his helmet and grasping his head.
Just seconds later, the pain vanishes like it never existed. But what was he doing? Yes, he was about to explore the forest.
Picking himself up, Undead marks the tree his palm was just touching, then makes his way north.
——
The sun no longer at its peak, slinks its way into the night. Undead doesn't know how long he's been walking. Yet he doesn't feel tired, thirsty or anything a human should be.
Musing over this, the joyful murmurs of children can be heard in the distance. Picking up his pace, Undead spots children (?) with wings from after. No, children would be the wrong way to put it.
Far too small to be anything human. Yet far too human like to be an animal. What a peculiar existence.
With a heavy step, Undead makes his way forward. His grating voice weaving between the trees, making its way to the miniature humans.
"where am I?"
The top question on his mind is that. Wasn't he in a fortress with Jeanne? Jeanne? No, why would he think he was with someone, Undead was alone. Maybe the pain really is messing with his memories.
Musing to himself, he spots the tiny humans running away! Determined to find answers, Undead chases his only lead. throughout the forest, the shrill shrieks of children and the clacking of armour can be heard.
after who knows how long this game of cat and mouse went on for, Undead is lead to a settlement. Well, that's the nicest way to put it. The only things that stand out are a ruined wall to the south, and a singular pole in the middle.
The tiny children hurried to the pole, hiding behind a black rabbit resting below it. The rabbit, as if confused as to what could make such children scream with fear, follows their gaze with his blood red eyes. Then he sees it.
A man clad in blood stained armour who towers over anyone around. A hollow gaze that pears out his helmet, eyeing the children hidden behind him.
'Who is this beast? The scent he gives off is neither human nor animal!'
carrying these thoughts, the rabbit eyes Undead, watching as he steps closer. Preparing himself for the worst, he steels his resolve, stepping closer to that being.
"creature from afar, what do you want with the children of the forest?"
Raising this question, Undead stops. With the faint creaking of metal, his gaze is now solely on the rabbit, no longer paying attention to the children flying away.
"I want to know where I am."
"If I answer your question, will you leave the children of the forest unharmed?"
Tilting his armoured head in confusion, a soft sound of metal creaking can be heard. "I had no intention of harming anyone, I just wanted to ask questions."
After prodding for a few minutes, The rabbit comes to realise that the man clad in armour means no harm. Finally having room to breathe, The rabbit lets out a short huff, wiping off the sweat that started to drip without him knowing.
"You truly mean no harm, then?" Muttering more to himself than Undead, the rabbit gives way, inviting Undead to sit in front of him, only then does he answer his first question.
"You are in the land free from any corruption. The holy forest, home to the children of the forest. The fairies."
"Holy forest. You seem to know more about this land than those fairies, so let me ask this. Do you know of a place holding a grand castle atop a hill? One where a helkaiser rests."
"Fort Ivern? Don't talk about that cursed land in an area as holy as this!"
watching the now fearful rabbit, Undead continues to probe.
"Why is it known as a cursed land?"
"you don't know? Hahhh, seeing you didn't even know the name of the land you asked about, that much makes sense. I will only say this once so listen closely. That 'place' prevents the [———] behind it from escaping. Yet even a fortress as large as that still has its flaws. As time continued to pass, a subtle miasma began to seep out from within, corrupting the very land we stand on!"
That fortress was cursed!?! Yet everything seemed so serene when he was there. The only things out of place were the pigment roaming the halls and that abominable helkaiser.
"Surely you jest," Undead asks, his voice laced with confusion. "If such a thing was true, why hasn't this land already fallen into chaos?"
"hasn't fallen into chaos? You ignorant thing. It seems like you've only seen this forest which is the only protection from corruption. You got lucky making your way here, if you hadn't, you would've been another demon beast!"
He would've been like that pig? The one that randomly collapsed in front of his cell? Shivers run though his whole body. Yet he can't help but feel something is missing. Like his memories have been dug out of his brain. So he needs to find his way back to his cell.
"Even if I become a beast, I still need to make my way to that fort. It's not just a need, but something more primal than that. I want to be in that fort.
Looking at Undead's hollow eyes, The rabbit can't help but be unnerved. Looking into those eyes is like staring into the pits of the underworld. Letting out a sigh, The rabbit relents.
With a dreary sigh, the rabbit relents. "Hahhh, seeing how you're acting now, you won't give up. I don't want to see this land corrupted more people than it should so I'll help you. Go north, there a fairy named leaf resides. Tell her that Prayer Master sent you"
Bowing his head slightly in thanks, metal meets metal again. "Thank you."
Not wanting to delay any longer, Undead bids farewell to Prayer Master. Heading north to meet leaf.