Knight Aston sidestepped a bolt loosed by one of the two undead in front of him, barely being able to do so as the second came at him with a longsword. The undead with the sword raised it’s sword over it’s head, bringing the blade down at the Knight in an attempt on his life. Aston used the momentum of the sidestep to spin on his heel, using his own straight sword to parry the undead’s blow before it landed. He then slammed the pointed tip of his shield into the hollow’s skull, the blow was not enough to end the hollow but it did knock it off balance long enough for him to bring his sword back up and plunge it into the hollow’s chest. The blade hit the undead warrior in it’s unarmored midsection, it’s tip bursting through the skin of it’s neck in a small spurt of already congealed blood, the lightning from the pine resin making the body twitch. Aston pulled sharply down on his blade, the blade coming clean of the now dead hollow with a sicking sound.

Aston diverted his attention to the remaining hollow just in time to see it fire another bolt directly at his face. Thankfully for the Knight the bolt glanced off his helm due to it’s angled construction, this exact scenario being envisioned by the blacksmiths of Astora. The more flat faced helms of the Knights of Balder for instance would not redirect the force of an incoming arrow or bolt, leading to more deaths from impacts to the head from such weapons. That said, the blow still made Aston’s head spin, the force making it swing harshly to the left.

Aston shook off the blow and raised his shield to block the hollow’s next bolt, the force of the impact bucked his shield back and made his arm muscles scream in protest. Determined to destroy the annoying undead he rushed it and loped it’s head off, like the other it’s headless body twitched as the electricity coursed through it.

‘Find your peace, wayward souls.’, He repeated the simple prayer twice in his head, shivering slightly as what little power the two undead warrior’s souls still had flowed into him like the mist of a person’s breath in a cold winter day.

He moved to look down out towards the wall at his companion, he found that she was indily making her way towards the other tower. As of yet he did not know what to think of the odd creature. She held herself well enough in battle, and for now that was good enough for him. She was unwieldy at short range combat but her combat style mixed well with his own. She was likeable enough, though she carried herself like a member of the Dragon School but thankfully not as self conceited, no doubt she was highly educated for her race. Her form was what he would call healthy, though he could be wrong, that led him to the conclusion that she led a life of mild... stillness. She attempted to make idle conversation, thankfully she knew when the time called for such things and she did not babble on passed her time. For now he found her... tolerable.

He was about to call out to her when her felt a tremor race across the wall, coming from the tower across from the one he was on. The Knight felt a small terror race through him at what he saw jump down to the wall.

A Taurus Demon, wielding a massive demon axe in it’s claws.

The massive beast prepared to take a swing at Twilight, though thankfully she had the sense to jump backwards out of the way... if only just. It then raised it’s axe above it’s head and slammed it down, again rewarded with a miss.

Aston’s mind raced to find a way to kill the demon. On the rare occasion that one of these beasts or their ilk made their way out of Lordran they would normally be dispatched with siege weapons like cannons or ballistas, only as a last ditch effort were lone Knights sent to fight the beasts. He himself had little experience fighting foes such as this, the demon protecting the Asylum being the only one he had fought.

He also had Oscar with him he remembered sadly.

Twilight dodged another blow as Aston remembered how they had dispatched that beast.

“Twilight! Bring the beast to me!” He screamed as loud as he could.

Twilight’s head snapped in his direction, her eyes full of fear.

“Now you fool! Run to me! Run you imbecile!” Aston cursed the gods, as she finally started to run towards him. The mare had froze up in terror. Twilight tore across the wall as fast as her four legs would carry her, nearly jumping into the tower as the beast skidded to a stop with a roar at the lose of it’s prey.

Aston placed his shield on his back and held his sword in both hands with the tip pointed down. His shifting armor caught the beast’s attention making it look up.

Aston took a deep breath... and jumped off the tower.

His blade impacted a moment before he landed on the beast’s head, though the blade was deflected a small amount because of the thick plate of bone that made up the beasts face. Instead the blade plunged into the monster’s shoulder, the lightning from the resin coursing through the beast. His jaw clenched despite himself as the lightning jumped to his body through his steel leggings, it was not as bad as the effect it had on the beast, but it still hurt. He took the pain and used it to force the blade all the way to the hilt into the beast before pulling it out. The beast violently shook it’s head, knocking the Knight from his position atop the beast.

Aston landed on his back, knocking the air from his chest. The beast brought it’s axe down, though the Knight was able to roll to the side to avoid the blow. Aston got up to a knee as the beast prepared to take another swing, through a blast of magic from Twilight to the face made it stumble back. Aston took the chance to duck under the beast in between it’s legs, he spun around and cut the beast’s calf muscles in it’s right leg down to the bone, rendering the appendage useless and covering the knight in gore.

The beast let out a long roar as it seemed to realise it was on it’s deathbed. In a final act of defiance it somehow managed to use it’s axe as a crutch to turn to face Aston. It attempted to take a swing at him with it but when it moved it lost to balance and fell prone.

Aston took his blade and plunged it right into the monster’s left eye all the way to the hilt, the eye popping as the blade passed through and the beast letting out a small series of spasms as the last of the resin wore off.

He let himself fall to his knees in exhaustion as he pulled the blade out of the beast’s skull, it’s power slowly flowing into him giving him a small thrill.

“Aston! All you alright?!” He heard Twilight yell as she moved around the demon’s corps.

“Yes lass, I’m fine.” He answered waving her away.

“I can’t believe I froze like that-” She started only for Aston to raise a hand signaling for stop.

“You can not blame yourself for that, I know many would have done the same were they in your position. You did well lass, that blast of magic very well saved my life.” Aston said.

She shifted under her cloak, “Thank you Aston.”

“Think nothing of it lass, help me up would you?” Aston said. Twilight came over and he used her as leverage to hoist himself up and carry on with his... their, quest.

Author's Note

To anyone interested, I could use a pre-reader for this and other works. If interested just PM me.

As to why this took so long, my modem died and I just got it replaced recently.