Percy was still in a mental stupor at the event that transpired yesterday. After he had told Gideon his plan to head to Stormveil and defeat Margit and Godrick, Percy decided to head to the library to find a place to settle down and relax. He wasn't ready to talk to his mom yet and surely did not want to head downstairs. It was still too early to deal with the rowdy group of Tarnished who would no doubt stare at him.
So the library was the best choice for him to make. However, that soon changed when he found a young lady huddled behind a few bookshelves far into the room. She seemed to be asleep with a stack of books scattered around her prone figure. Percy wasn't going to interrupt the girl, but it was her tear-stricken face that stopped him. However, before he could approach her, he felt a sense of foreboding.
-Flashback begins-
Percy was just leaving the library when he came face to face with his mother's smiling face. Without even a single word ,Percy followed her into their room.
"What's wrong, Mom?" Perseus said nervously.
"Nothing."
"Really? Well then-"
"I heard something very interesting earlier."
Percy involuntarily swallowed. "What was it?" he asked hesitantly.
Lady Fia merely smiled and grabbed him by the shoulders. "I caught word that my beloved son harbours intentions of embarking on yet another adventure. Not even a few days since his return from his three-year-long absence. A humorous tale, is it not?"
Percy stiffened under her cold gaze paired with an equally eerie smile.
"Now, my dear son, indulge your mother's curiosity and tell me why you've decided to venture into Stormveil Castle? Ah ah ah! Don't let your gaze wander astray." Lady Fia gently but firmly redirected Percy's gaze to face hers and not the door.
"I-I uh um… can explain?"
Lady Fia chuckled sweetly, which only seemed to unnerve him when she closed her eyes and tilted her head.
"M-Mom? You're scaring me-"
"Don't worry, darling, you know I wouldn't do anything to you.
"Yes, I do-"
"As long as you explain yourself, of course."
Percy felt his knees tremble, causing him to sit on the bed. "I was planning to tell you tomorrow. Or at least after a couple more days. I just wanted you to not worry and give us time to just relax after all these years." Percy explained with his gaze down.
Percy felt the space beside him move, and a hand slipped atop his.
"It gladdens my heart that you hold me dear in your thoughts, Perseus. Yet, be assured that there is no need for you to keep secrets from me."
"But aren't you mad, sad even, that I'm going off to Stormveil after just returning from my journey?" Percy shook his head. "It's not going to be the same. I'm going to be facing the Fell Omen and the Grafted."
Silence overtook the two as Perseus averted his gaze to the fireplace. Then he felt his mother's hand squeeze his own.
"I'm not mad or sad, dear."
A perplexed look crossed Percy's face. "Huh? Why not?"
Fia released a melodic group of laughter. "Because I know you'll prevail, after all-"
"How are you so confident?!" Percy abruptly stood up, tearing his hand away from his mother's. "I could permanently die, Mom! I'm not going to be fighting a simple undead or a damn Godrick footman. This is Margit the Fell Omen we're talking about! The one who personally killed tens of thousands of Tarnished by himself."
"Not to mention Godrick the Grafted! Just one false move, a slight hesitation and I am done for. My body will be desecrated, my soul gone, my connection to the grace severed. You won't ever see me again!"
Percy took a deep breath and turned back to see his mom's expression. What he saw only ignited his anger once more. Percy closed his eyes and said in defeat. "How are you so calm?"
Lady Fia caressed his cheek, making Percy lean into her cold touch. For him, it felt warm, it was the hand that kept him safe, the one that held his hand, the one that fed him whenever he was too sick, the one who watched over him and cleaned him when he had a fever.
"Because you were born to become a great hero, Perseus. You hold an unwavering resolve, an unyielding will that does not let the Lands Between corrupt you, unlike those unfortunate souls who have been ensnared by their sins and wavering resolve." Fia pulled him into a hug, directing his head to rest on her shoulder as she brushed his raven locks.
"Strength courses through you, Perseus. I know that no matter the challenges that may loom ominously and the despair that may threaten to engulf you; know that no matter what, I will forever firmly believe in your victory."
Perseus nodded into her shoulder before pulling back. "It's going to be different, though. I'm going to purge them and their influence from Stormveil entirely. I only have one chance, and if I fail, then I'm gone forever, I won't be able to return-"
"You only need that one chance," Lady Fia interrupted him.
Percy wanted to reply, but instead, he smiled. "I love you, Mom, thanks for always believing in me."
"I love you too, sweetling. Always remember that. However, let us now address the matter of secrets you are hiding from me."
Instantly, the smile on Percy's face disappeared. When he went to move back, he found that he couldn't. His body froze, and he heard the locks on the door slam shut. The shadows in the corner of the room seemed to grow alive as the air became colder with each passing second. He knew he was in for a major scolding from the way his mom's hand became colder, the warmth from before dissipating. The final hammer was the look in his mother's eyes—he knew he was doomed.
-Flashback ends-
Percy survived his mother's wrath. However, it could be said that he had taken a big scolding. It was like when he was still a kid, when he had gotten into Gideon's room, making a mess when he tried to climb on one of the shelves. In the end, he was released by his mother, who didn't have a tad bit of guilt on her face. She told him to go enjoy the rest of his day, but unfortunately, there was no one on the second floor of the Roundtable. Brother Corhyn had disappeared, and Gideon was occupied in his solar.
Percy didn't want to disturb Hweg, and although Ensha was present outside Gideon's room the man was as quiet and as dismissive as ever. So, instead, Percy decided to just sit at the round table in the main chamber and try to read a recipe book. However, all he accomplished was getting a headache from all the moving words regardless of the fact he discovered how to craft a freezing pot.
The next day, Percy returned to the library in hopes of finding the girl, and he did. This time, she was awake and sitting at a table with a stack of books to her left. However, she seemed distracted by how her eyes seemed to be glazed over.
"You alright there?" Percy asked, sitting down at the open seat across from hers.
"Hm? Oh, greetings, Tarnished."
"What's your name?" Percy asked after returning the greeting.
"You can call me Laena, Tarnished."
Percy nodded. "Are you perhaps a Maiden?"
A sad expression made its way onto Leana's face. "I am, or at least I was until my… Tarnished passed away. He didn't make it to their first grace site. I could have guided him more, but without him resting at a grace site, it just wasn't possible."
It was one of those situations. Percy knew all about them. It wasn't all that simple being a Tarnished, contrary to what others thought. The general knowledge was that the Tarnished were known not to perish either in battle or through other means, such as an illness. They were given the ability to come back to life through the blessing of the grace. If a Tarnished died, they wouldn't have to worry about leaving the Lands Between. All that happens is that their body is sent back to the closest grace site they had touched or rested at.
However, there is a catch. There are situations where a Tarnished could find themselves dead once more without a second chance. Just like the Tarnished in Laena's case. One of the ways a Tarnished could permanently die was when they died before reaching their first grace site. Now you may think they'll just come back to life by the blessing of the grace. But they couldn't because the initial blessing of the grace was only to retrieve them from outside the Lands Between. Their power, or full blessing, to come back alive was only activated once they touched the very first grace site they visited. Only then would they make their first connection with their Maiden.
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Thank you, Tarnished. Alas, there is naught but a thing I can do." Laena shrugged helplessly. "I shall have to wait till a new Tarnished arrives, one bound to me and them by the blessing of the grace."
Percy nodded in understanding. He didn't ask why Laena didn't just pick a Tarnished that was maidenless, because the truth to that answer was they couldn't. This also leads to the next reason for the countless deaths of the Tarnished. Another way for them to die would be if they were maidenless. It was very common for some Tarnished to find themselves without a maiden. Because of that, they lacked the ability to be brought back to life; however, they do retain the ability to strengthen themselves using runes without the need for a maiden.
Because of this, not many of those Tarnished choose to fight the monsters outside the Hold. Often, they are content to stay in the Hold or live with a few other Tarnished somewhere safe outside, such as camping by a wandering merchant. However, although they may not choose to fight, they are still able to use the grace sites to travel to and from other sites. Of course, there were still those Tarnished who chose to keep on fighting regardless of the disadvantage. Percy knew a few of them personally or by ear.
For example, there is a Tarnished captain from the Myrmidons who grew his fame by fighting in the Lands Between without a hint of fear. They fought by themselves and alongside their comrades against monsters regardless of their strength. This was impressive as the Tarnished did not have a second chance, but even then, he still chose to venture out of the Hold.
But there are some good things about this. Although a Tarnished may not have a maiden assigned to him once they return to the Lands Between, they have a chance in the future to be blessed with one. There are reasons for this, such as when a Maiden loses her Tarnished. This was considered a great blessing for any Tarnished without a maiden, despite the fact that a fellow Tarnished passing away was how they got partnered with a maiden in the first place.
"Hey, Leana… by chance did your Tarnished pass away two days ago?"
"Huh? Oh, yes, he did."
"...I saw his body. Maybe if I had just arrived a few minutes early, I could have saved him."
Laena sighed. "Fret not, for he simply had the misfortune of encountering that troll. The Lands Between are perilous, so thee are not to be blamed."
"Hopefully, you get a new Tarnished soon. You seem to care for people, so I know you'd do a good job when you get your second chance."
Laena looked thoughtful. "Thank you, Tarnished."
Elden Ring
A few days passed, and just like Percy promised, he and his mom took that time to be around one another. He was gone for three years, and Percy missed her dearly. So together they did mother and son stuff. From talking in the balcony gardens during lunch, to doing yard work with his mother, where they planted flowers, to reading together in their room, and eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner alone as they talked about Percy's childhood. There was so much they did, but in the end, Percy still had to leave.
Percy did his best, though, to make both of them forget about his inevitable journey. Maybe it would have been easier if one of the others returned, but apart from Corhyn, the other Tarnished of the greater Roundtable did not return. So Percy, when he wasn't with his mother, would just talk and drink with the Tarnished downstairs. He was in disguise, of course, otherwise he wouldn't have peace.
"I wonder where everyone is," Percy mused to himself.
Brother Corhyn, who sat across from him, eating some bread, answered. "I am uncertain of the whereabouts of our comrades. I do recall Diallos Hoslow saying something along the lines that he and his assistant, Lanya, intended to explore the Lakes of Liurnia."
"Big brother Dia? I wonder if he'll bring something back. Do you know what D is doing?"
Brother Corhyn shook his head. "I do not, but I can tell you that Sorcerer Rogier is somewhere in Limgrave. Then there is Achilles, who is set to return soon. However, you may be long gone before he and his men return."
Percy sighed. "That sucks. What about Ensha? I didn't see him outside Gideon's office."
"You are already aware of how... silent Ensha is. None but Gideon knows of his whereabouts."
Percy winced. "Yeah, that was a stupid question."
"No question is to be considered foolish, Percy. To ask is to sharpen one's mind and cultivate mental prowess."
"I guess you're right. Do you know where anyone else is?" Percy asked, to which Corhyn shook his head. Percy sighed, "I'll see them once I return, I guess."
"I'll see you tomorrow, Brother Corhyn. Hweg should be nearly finished with my blade." Brother Corhyn nodded absently.
Percy stood up with a stretch and slid his chair in. Apart from his, there were 9 others, including Brother Corhyn's. In total, there were ten chairs and rarely were they all occupied at once. Even before Percy left, he could count the number of times everyone was present on one hand.
The ten great Tarnished they were called. The presumed strongest, deadliest, most talented and fearless of all Tarnished hailing from the Roundtable Hold. It was merely a title in Percy's opinion. A title that didn't matter all that much, considering they were all Tarnished. In the end, it was used to simply differentiate the ones who are above from the rest. But Percy knew that wasn't true. There were good Tarnished out there that were leagues above their peers, and they weren't blessed with a seat.
Percy hummed as a melancholic and far-out look crossed his face. "Vargram, the Raging Wolf," Percy whispered as he walked passed an ornate silver chair with wolf motifs on the backrest and two sculpted wolf heads made of silver on the armrests.
"Scylla, the Heartless One." Percy traced the chair right beside Vargram's. A chair decorated with six tentacles interlocking to make the backrest.
"Big brother Diallos…" Percy smiled as he came upon the simple yet elegant chair made of silver with a red cushion and the sigil of House Hoslow proudly depicted at the back.
After looking at the unoccupied chairs, Percy sighed and turned, not wanting to dwell on the aching feeling in his heart. Nevertheless, he didn't have to worry about it too much for Hweg knocked him out of his musing.
"Your blade is complete, Percy. I've sharpened the dulled edges and incorporated the smithing stones you managed to collect to further strengthen the blade. This right here will help you accomplish your goal."
"Thanks, Hweg." Percy grabbed the blade. Giving it a few experimental swings. He could feel the difference. It felt more powerful to say the least and a lot more attuned to him.
"It's no trouble." Hweg shrugged, watching with a small smile. "That should help you when you venture into Stormveil. Those soldiers won't even see you coming before your blade cuts through them like butter."
"Yeah…" Percy said absentmindedly. With his blade finished and his armour polished and repaired, he had nothing left to do except say goodbye to his mom.
"Well then, goodnight, Hweg."
"Aye, goodnight Percy… or should I call you Tarnished now that you're taking the first steps into becoming the Elden Lord?"
Percy laughed but confliction settled in his stomach. "Percy or Tarnished, I don't mind Hweg. You're a dear friend of mine so call me what you want."
| Notes |
Laena: OC Maiden
Death #1: Not making it to their first grace site. The initial blessing of the grace is the act of bringing the Tarnished back from outside the Lands Between.
Death #2: If a Tarnished claims their first grace site and they are not blessed with a Maiden they are still in danger of dying permanently.
Vargram, the Raging Wolf: Canon Tarnished. Check Fextralife for more lore information.
Scylla, the Heartless One: OC Tarnished, inspired by Scylla from the Odyssey.
Diallos, of House Hoslow: Canon Tarnished. Check Fextralife for more lore information.
| End |