Fear isn’t Cowardice.

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Tarnished urged Torrent up the winding hill, the rhythmic clatter of hooves against the dirt road filling the air. The wind howled softly through the sparse trees, carrying the scent of damp grass and earth. For a few peaceful moments, he allowed himself to simply take in the stillness of the world around him.

Then, the quiet was broken.

A series of chilling howls echoed through the valley, a sound that was both primal and predatory. Tarnished barely had time to react before he caught movement above—a blur of grey shapes leaping from the rocky cliffs.

Five wolves came crashing down around him, their sharp fangs bared as they lunged with the unrelenting hunger of wild beasts.

Tarnished clicked his tongue. "Oh, come on."

He barely needed to think before acting. With a practiced motion, he patted Torrent's neck, signaling the spectral steed to vanish. The moment his hand made contact, the horse dissipated into a flurry of shimmering blue sparks, retreating safely into the ring.

Now standing alone against the pack, Tarnished unsheathed his uchigatana with a practiced flourish, its polished steel glinting under the dim sunlight.

The first wolf lunged. Tarnished sidestepped effortlessly, his blade flashing as he cleaved through its neck in a single stroke. The beast let out a weak yelp before collapsing, its blood pooling beneath the dirt.

The second came from his right, snapping its jaws at his arm, but he twisted away, slamming the hilt of his weapon into its skull with enough force to send it sprawling. Before it could recover, he drove his sword downward, piercing its chest.

The third and fourth came at him together, one from the front and one from his flank. Tarnished shifted his stance, rolling beneath the frontmost wolf's leap, coming up just in time to slash upward and catch it midair, sending it tumbling lifelessly to the ground. The second landed behind him and lunged for his exposed back.

Teeth sank into his shoulder.

Tarnished hissed, instinctively twisting his body to shake it off, but the wolf's jaws clamped tighter, its sharp fangs piercing into his flesh. Gritting his teeth, he let go of his katana with one hand and grabbed the wolf by the scruff of its neck, yanking it off with raw force before slamming it into the dirt.

The final wolf hesitated as the rest of its pack lay dead at Tarnished's feet, their blood seeping into the soil. With a wary growl, it took a step back before turning and sprinting into the trees, disappearing into the underbrush.

Tarnished exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulder to shake off the lingering yet muted sting of the bite. "Tch. Persistent little bastards."

Marika's voice rang in his head, smug and amused. "Bitten by a mere mutt? Pitiable."

Tarnished scoffed, running a hand through his hair before responding mentally, 'Yeah? Well, I'll have you know I let him get that hit in. You know, just so they don't feel too bad before dying.'

A delicate scoff left Marika's lips, though he could sense the faint amusement laced within it. "Aye, of course. 'Twas all part of thy masterful plan, I am sure."

He smirked. 'Glad you understand.'

She snorted softly, but said nothing further.

Tarnished took one last glance at the bloody scene before stepping forward, ascending the rest of the hill. His eyes immediately fell upon a dilapidated shack, its roof caved in slightly, the wooden planks rotting from neglect. The air was still, save for the faint flutter of torn fabric against the wind.

A corpse sat slumped against the shack's interior, its bony fingers curled around a small, glimmering object. Tarnished approached and knelt down, prying the Stonesword Key from the corpse's grasp. The moment his fingers closed around it, a familiar golden notification flashed before his eyes.

[Item Acquired: Stonesword Key]

Satisfied, he straightened up, activating a Site of Grace that was beside him. The notification popped up in his view but he ignored it and turned around, only to pause when he noticed a figure sitting just a few feet away.

A young woman sat quietly within the ruined shack, her delicate frame wrapped in a deep crimson cloak. Her hands were folded in her lap, her golden-brown hair barely visible from her crimson hood. There was something melancholic about her posture, as if she had sunken into the very essence of sorrow itself.

Tarnished tilted his head slightly, then stepped forward and raised a hand. "Yo."

The woman's head snapped up, startled by his voice. Her wide, blue eyes blinked at him in surprise before she offered a soft, almost hesitant greeting. "H-Hello…"

He studied her for a moment before offering a grin. "What's a pretty young lady like you doing all by yourself in this shitty little shack?"

Silence.

Marika visibly flinched beside him, turning to stare at him with a look of absolute bewilderment. "…Didst thou truly just-?"

The young woman turned scarlet. Her cheeks flushed a deep red as she shrank into her cloak, her fingers gripping the fabric tightly.

"P-Pretty?!" She stammered, clearly caught off guard. She quickly lifted her hands to her face, poorly attempting to shield her embarrassment behind her fingers. "I-I must look awful right now! I… I haven't even been able to-"

Tarnished raised an eyebrow. "Nah, I don't know what you're talking about. All I see is a cute girl who looks like she could use some help."

The woman let out a squeak, visibly flustered.

Marika, meanwhile, pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed deeply, shaking her head in exasperation. "Unbelievable… Thou art meant to be my proud and nobel Champion, not a shameless philanderer!"

Tarnished just smirked, turning his attention back to the girl. He crouched down and sat cross-legged in front of her, his posture relaxed and open. "So? What's your name?"

The girl fidgeted slightly, shifting under his gaze before stammering, "I-I'm… Roderika…"

Tarnished's smile softened. "Roderika, huh? Cute name."

Her blush deepened further as she ducked her head, her hands now clenched into fists against her cloak. She clearly wasn't used to being spoken to so casually, let alone complimented so freely.

Marika, still watching from the side, exhaled once more before crossing her arms beneath her chest, her golden gaze scrutinizing him with mild irritation. 

"Hmph. Insatiable greed and shameless gall, all in equal measure… Tell me, mine Champion, dost thou intend to court every woman thou meetest upon thy journey?"

Tarnished grinned, leaning back slightly on his hands.

'Depends. Is it working?'

Marika's eye twitched. "Thou art insufferable."

Roderika, meanwhile, looked as if she were about to combust.

Tarnished let out a short chuckle before shifting to sit more comfortably, crossing his legs as he leaned forward slightly, his forearms resting on his knees. He gave Roderika a relaxed smile, his golden-tinged azure eyes meeting her own soft red ones.

"Well, Roderika, it's a pleasure to meet you. Just call me Tarnished, a man of no renown, no memories, and apparently no shame, if you ask some people." He shot a smirk toward Marika, who simply rolled her eyes with an exasperated sigh.

Roderika let out a quiet giggle before quickly covering her mouth, as if embarrassed for reacting so openly. She tucked a strand of her short blonde hair behind her ear, her fingers fidgeting slightly in her lap.

Tarnished took note of her nervous gestures, watching as she gathered the courage to speak. "I… I came here with companions, you see." She started softly, twiddling her fingers together. "But they're gone now. Taken away… Changed. Grafted by Godrick and his men and twisted into chrysalids." 

She bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before continuing. "And I-I was too craven to do anything about it. I just ran, like a coward! I'm nothing but a craven!"

Tarnished listened quietly, nodding along as she spoke. Truth be told, he'd never paid much attention to Roderika's story in his previous runs. She was just another NPC, another questline to complete. But now? 

Now he was here, seeing the way she curled into herself, the way her hands trembled, the way her voice wavered between shame and regret.

For once, he truly saw her. A small smile tugged at his lips.

Roderika awaited his response with bated breath, her fingers gripping her cloak as she cast her gaze downward. When she noticed him shift forward slightly, she flinched on instinct, shutting her eyes tight as if expecting pain or worse.

But instead, a warm hand ruffled the top of her head.

"E-Eh?!" Her eyes flew open as her hood fell from her head, exposing her short, golden-blonde locks.

Tarnished just grinned at her widely, his fingers messing with her hair in a playful, reassuring gesture. "Fear isn't cowardice, Roderika. It's okay to be afraid. Fear's natural, everyone feels it."

She blinked up at him, her face completely crimson red. "R-Really?"

He nodded firmly, his grin unwavering. "Yeah. Even I feel fear sometimes. Fear itself doesn't make you a coward. It's letting yourself be paralyzed by it, letting it rule you—that's what makes someone a craven."

Roderika's lips parted slightly, her breath hitching as she absorbed his words. Slowly, she nodded, though her face remained bright red, her expression a mix of awe, confusion, and overwhelming fluster.

After a moment of silence, she fidgeted slightly before mumbling under her breath, "C-Can you, um… Take your hand off now?"

Tarnished blinked. "Oh! Yeah, my bad!" He quickly pulled his hand back, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

Roderika pouted slightly, looking away as she tried to suppress a small smile.

Marika, who had been watching all of this, clicked her tongue and folded her arms beneath her chest. "Utterly Shameless…"

Still flustered, Roderika quickly busied herself by adjusting her cloak before glancing at Tarnished hesitantly. "You're leaving now… aren't you?"

Tarnished nodded as he stood up, dusting himself off. "Yeah. I should get going." He paused for a moment before offering her a small smile. "But do me a favor, yeah? At least think about what I said."

Roderika looked up at him, her red eyes flickering with uncertainty. After a moment, she gave a small nod. "I-I will."

Tarnished smiled, turning to walk away—but before he could take a step, Roderika quickly called out. "Wait!"

He turned back toward her, raising an eyebrow as she hesitated for a second before reaching into her pocket. A moment later, she held out a faintly glowing, translucent blue object—a delicate Spirit Ash.

"The poor thing deserves someone braver than myself." She said softly. "And the spirits… they look rather fondly upon you. It'll be glad of your company, I think, the little'un."

A notification flickered before his eyes.

[Item Acquired: Spirit Jellyfish Ashes]

Tarnished smirked as he took the ashes, flipping the small object between his fingers before storing it away. "Heh, I'll take good care of it."

Roderika gave him a small smile in return.

Then, as if mustering the last of her courage, she hesitated for only a second before speaking again.

"Are… Are you going to Stormveil Castle?"

Tarnished hummed in thought before shrugging. "Eventually."

She nodded at that, seeming satisfied with his answer before exhaling softly.

"Oh, if you do, could you… pass on a message for me? If you see the little chrysalids in Stormveil Castle?" She hesitated, her fingers clenching around her cloak before continuing, "Tell them I love them. And that… despite my craven heart, I'm sure I'll be joining their club soon enough."

Tarnished's smirk faded slightly, his brows furrowing at her words. He studied her for a moment before sighing, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I'll tell them. But don't count yourself out too soon, yeah?" He gave her a reassuring smile. "I believe in you, Roderika. You've got more strength in you than you realize."

Roderika's eyes widened slightly, her breath catching in her throat.

Tarnished turned slightly, glancing over his shoulder one last time. "Stay safe. If you need a place to go, try the Roundtable Hold. You should find refuge there."

She hesitated, then nodded. "I… I'll think about it."

He grinned. "Good."

Then, as he took a step forward, he paused and looked back at her one last time. His expression softened slightly.

"And Roderika?"

She blinked, tilting her head. "Y-Yes?"

"Don't give up. And don't you dare go Hollow on me."

She frowned slightly in confusion at the strange phrase, but after a moment of thought, she pieced together the meaning. Her lips trembled slightly before she gave him a small, hesitant nod. "Then… you mustn't go Hollow either, Sir Tarnished."

Tarnished grinned. "That's the spirit!"

With that, he whistled sharply, the sound carrying through the air as Torrent materialized in a burst of blue mist. The spectral steed huffed softly, lowering his head slightly as Tarnished grabbed the saddle and pulled himself up in one smooth motion.

Turning back to Roderika one last time, he lifted a hand in farewell. "See you around, Roderika."

She lifted a hand shyly, her cheeks still tinged pink as she waved back. "Farewell… Sir Tarnished."

With a small kick to Torrent's side, the steed took off, galloping away into the open fields.

Roderika watched him go, her fingers lightly brushing over the top of her head, as if still feeling the ghost of his touch.

Then, with a small smile, she whispered, "Don't go Hollow… huh?"

Tarnished guided Torrent off the main path, veering right into the side road that wound through the mist-laden forest. The distant cries of crows and the rustling of wind through the skeletal trees filled the air as he rode at a steady pace, the golden glow of the Erdtree still visible in the far distance. 

Stormhill Castle loomed ahead, but he ignored it entirely, knowing full well that he wouldn't be paying Godrick a visit just yet. As he rode, Marika materialized beside him, floating effortlessly in the air, her arms crossed beneath her ample chest as she cast him a sidelong glance. 

"Thy shameless philandering aside, I do understand thy plan to venture toward that empty farmland before taking down that false Demigod. Yet, I fail to see the purpose. Caelid is a land of little worth to thee—what dost thou seek in that forsaken place?"

Tarnished chuckled under his breath, his golden-tinged azure eyes gleaming with amusement as he nudged Torrent forward. 'Caelid isn't the same peaceful place you remember it to be, my lady. There've been… Quite a lot of changes.'

Marika's golden eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion creeping into her tone. "Like what, precisely?"

He grinned. 'Ask Malenia and Radahn.'

She was silent for a moment, as if piecing together the implications of his words. Then, with an exasperated sigh, she closed her eyes. "Those two idiots fought and destroyed the region, didn't they?"

That nearly broke him. Tarnished bit back a laugh, his shoulders shaking slightly as he struggled to keep himself composed. 'Destroyed isn't exactly the word I'd use.'

She let out a weary sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Then what word wouldst thou use, mine Champion?"

His smirk widened, but he simply shook his head. 'You'll see soon enough. Some things are best witnessed firsthand.'

Marika scoffed, clearly unimpressed with his cryptic response, but she said nothing further. Instead, she turned her gaze forward, watching the path ahead as they rode in silence.

After a short while, Tarnished noticed a faint glimmer in the distance—a Grace site nestled beside a worn-down shack. More importantly, he recognized the lone knight standing beside it, clad in battered yet well-maintained armor, his sword resting idly by his side.

'Bernahl.' Tarnished thought, already pulling Torrent to a stop.

He dismounted in one smooth motion, the spectral steed dissipating into blue mist as his feet hit the ground. Walking forward, he reached out and activated the Site of Grace, feeling its familiar warmth tethering itself to him.

[Lost Grace Discovered]

With that done, he turned his attention to the knight, stepping forward with an easy gait. "Hey there, nice to meet ya. I'd say my name right about now but, unfortunately, I don't remember it."

The grizzled warrior looked up, his sharp, experienced eyes studying Tarnished for a moment before giving a small nod of acknowledgement. His voice was deep and steady as he introduced himself. "I see, well the name's Bernahl. Tarnished, just like you, I assume."

There was a brief pause as he examined Tarnished more closely, his gaze flicking to the man's complete lack of armor before shaking his head slightly. "Let me ask you something. Are you here in the Lands Between to take up the fight? Does your faith in the guidance of Grace hold firm, despite the collapse of the Golden Order?"

Tarnished regarded him for a moment, then shifted his eyes toward Marika, who had reappeared beside Bernahl, arms still crossed and watching him expectantly. She then raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting to see how he would answer.

He turned back to Bernahl with a small grin. "Yeah, suppose it does."

Bernahl gave an approving nod. "Yes, you're a Tarnished through and through. Takes me back… But that's a quality needed now more than ever." 

He leaned forward slightly. "Any interest in bearing the torch of my battle arts? All I know is the sword. Picked up a fair few tricks in my time, too. Now's the time to pass 'em on. To a good and proper Tarnished, like you."

Tarnished hummed in thought before nodding. "Yeah, that sounds good. Teach me Quickstep and Parry."

Bernahl raised an eyebrow. "Quickstep and Parry, eh? How'd you know I knew those?"

Tarnished smirked slightly and shrugged. "Call it intuition. Could see it in your stance, in your eyes."

Bernahl studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Hah… You must be quite the experienced warrior yourself to be able to tell." He paused, then tilted his head slightly. "Then again… That much should've been obvious from how you dress."

Tarnished blinked. "...Come again?"

Bernahl gestured vaguely toward him, his tone dry but amused. "Only the most experienced and confident warrior would ride into battle shirtless, without a shred of armor. Otherwise, he would be a mad fool with no common sense."

Tarnished's eyes twitched as then, he heard laughter. Loud, golden, divine laughter.

Marika, the great Queen of the Lands Between, the Eternal Goddess herself, was clutching her stomach, her entire form shaking as she nearly doubled over. "PFFT- Hah…! Ahahahaha! H-Hah! Oh, oh this knight is more correct than he even knows!"

Tarnished clenched his jaw, his face twitching as Bernahl, completely unaware of the divine mocking, simply continued on as if he had stated the most reasonable fact in the world.

Marika wiped an imaginary tear from her eye, her smirk utterly insufferable as she met his glare. "Oh, my Champion~. 'Tis not often that another hath such a perfect grasp on thy… shall we say, 'unique' mindset~?"

Tarnished exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple before waving a dismissive hand. "Right. Okay. Are we gonna start the lesson or what?"

Bernahl chuckled, clearly picking up on his frustration but wisely choosing not to comment. Instead, he rested his hand on his sword and nodded. "Of course. Let us begin, fellow Tarnished warrior."

Tarnished rolled his shoulders, stepping forward and loosening his stance. Marika, still smiling in amusement, simply crossed her arms and watched as the training began.

'At least this guy isn't trying to kill me.' Tarnished thought dryly, raising his blade in preparation.

Then again… Bernahl did look like he had some strength behind him.

This was gonna be fun.

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Author's Note:

Stones, please.

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Next Chapter Title: Skills and Ashes.

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