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Solaire faced the sun, trying to bask in a warmth that actually didn’t reach him. Lordran was truly a nightmare, as even in the balcony where he was admiring the sky, the coldness sweeping from his Darksign wasn’t tamed. At least his memories of Astora’s sun brought him comfort.
He fought back a sigh. The idea to keep on the sunlight for a bit more before resuming his quest was alluring.
A clicking noise of armor resonated behind him. He turned, facing the stairs that led to a bridge to see someone terrified of him, if their raised sword and shield was something to go by. The stranger approached him slowly, the visor of their helmet preventing Solaire to know if it was friend or foe.
“Ah, hello!” He dared to say. The idea of taking his shield crossed his mind, but he other knight dropped their guard and sheathed his sword, so Solaire did the same. “You don’t look hollow, far from it!”
“Oh, thank goodness. Finally, someone that doesn’t want to kill me instantly.” The knight muttered loud enough for Solaire to hear him, and he smiled.
“I am Solaire of Astora, an adherent of the Lord of Sunlight. Now that I am Undead, I have come to this great land, the birthplace of Lord Gwyn, to seek my very own sun!”
“Your… own sun?” The knight tilted their head and pointed at the bright star in front of them.
“… Do you find that strange? Well, you should! No need to hide your reaction. I get that look all the time!” Solaire laughed as the stranger admired at the sun as if it would descend in that precise moment. Every movement they made was filled with curiosity and confusion. So, when they started walking towards the railing and rested their hands on there, it surprised him.
“Oh, ah-hah! So, I didn’t scare you?”
“At first, but you are nice.” The knight looked at him. “Everyone I met here has been kind of asshole, you know? Well, except Oscar.”
“Oh? I’m sorry about that.” Their way of talking was something he had heard nowhere before and made him wonder about this mysterious person. “May I ask about your name?”
“My… name?” The stranger surprised him by laughing loudly. “I’ve been so terrified this entire time I haven’t thought of it! I can’t remember it.” They turned around, resting their back on the railing. “I recognize I am an Undead and Oscar wanted me to fill his family’s prophecy… Maybe I should use his name, as if I die there would be no difference and if I succeed, he will be remembered.” They talked to themselves.
“Then it’s a pleasure to have met you, Oscar.” Oscar nodded to him, squaring their shoulders and giving a small giggle. What a joyful fella. “I have a proposition, if you have a moment.”
“Of course.”
“The way I see it, our fates appear to be intertwined. In a land brimming with Hollows, could that really be mere chance? So, what do you say? Why not help one another on this lonely journey?”
Solaire could see how Oscar’s entire form just seemed to bright up with a gasp from them, so their answer couldn’t be more obvious.
“This pleases me greatly! Well then, take this.” He took their hand and put the White Sign Soapstone on their palm.
Oscar looked at it for a few seconds, then sniffed it, although it didn’t smell any different from the ones Solaire had seen before. They don’t know what they are , it was obvious, so he cleared his voice before starting his explanation.
“We are amidst strange beings, in a strange land. The flow of time itself is convoluted; with heroes centuries old phasing in and out. The very fabric wavers, and relations shift and obscure. There’s no telling how much longer your world and mine will remain in contact.” Oscar shifted his gaze quickly from the Soapstone to him. “But use this to summon one another as spirits, cross the gaps between the worlds, and engage in jolly co-operation! Of course, we are not the only ones engaged in this. But I am a warrior of the sun! Spot my summon signature easily by its brilliant aura. If you miss it, you must be blind!”
Solaire laughed fondly while the knight only looked in every direction and again at the Soapstone.
“But!” Oscar looked like they had stopped listening to him long ago. “That means we can’t travel together?”
“I’m afraid so. But I’d be of help every time I’m able to!”
Oscar just stood there, looking at him for a long moment. An endless moment. Solaire was about to say something before Oscar finally spoke.
“Thank you very much, Solaire. I’m delighted to have met you.”
“The sentiment is shared, my friend.”
Oscar then pocketed the Soapstone and made their way up the stairs. Solaire glanced at him before returning his eyes upwards and keep enjoying the sun.
“Solaire!” However, it was short-lived as Oscar turned around mid-stairs and run down them again.
“Oh, hello there. I will stay behind, to gaze at the sun. The sun is a wondrous body. Like a magnificent father! If only I could be so grossly incandescent!” He greeted them again.
“… To be incandescent?...” Oscar muttered, but quickly changed the topic. “Solaire, really, why would you not come with me? We could watch our backs and everything!”
“Oscar, I’m afraid Lordran could separate us in any moment and it’s better to learn how to survive on our own.” They didn’t seem convinced by his reasoning. “Our goals will probably lead us to different locations and I would not like to meddle in your noble quest to fulfill your friend’s dream.”
Oscar’s head turned downwards, touching their Estus flask with a caress.
“Alright, I get it.” Oscar wavered in their place. “I better get going…”
Oscar turned once again and Solaire did the same, trying to focus on the dim sunlight the clouds allowed to pass. What a strange person, Solaire thought, but a really pleasant person. He smiled. Oh, how he hoped for the other knight to keep that bubbly attitude and to not go Hollow. It would damper that place furthermore to lose someone like them.
The metallic sounds of their armor slowly ceased to arrive at Solaire’s ears. He breathed deeply. The calmness left by them felt welcoming but still. Maybe he would reconsider their offer the next time fortune crossed their paths. Maybe his own sun was somewhere along the path Oscar had to take. Who knows? He certainly didn’t.
A thunderous roar pushed his thoughts aside. Ah, the hellkite dragon, ever vigilant of the burg and the cathedral. A fraction of a second later he heard someone screaming.
“SOLAIRE!!” He turned around just to see Oscar calling for him. Or rather, Oscar rolling on the ground. With part of their tunic on fire.
Oh no
He ran up the stairs just as the flames died thanks to Oscar’s frantic movements.
“Solaire!! There’s a damned dragon over there!!! I just can’t! I can’t anymore!” They cried out loud, taking the hands Solaire was offering to them. “Everyone and everything try to kill me! And I know nothing about this place apart from an old legend!! I- I… I’m just going to stay here with you forever!”
Oscar then shut their mouth as if they were a child throwing a tantrum, and Solaire helped them to stand. They bore no injuries, he checked, but a minor miracle would work wonders on his anxiety. He took his talisman and soon a warm light surrounded his friend. Oscar calmed down.
“Are you feeling better?”
“I… Yes… I’m sorry, that dragon scared me.” Oscar’s voice seemed ashamed. “I didn’t expect it to breathe fire at me from that far away. Stupid me!” They laughed it off, but his hands took Solaire’s. “Thank you, I swear from now on we will be the best of friends and I’ll watch over you every chance I have!”
Solaire couldn’t help the fond laugh that poured from his heart.
“I’m looking forward to it.”