Hey, I hope you all have been well! I'm sure you've all been wondering when this update was going to go up. Apologies for the delay, this autumn I began (and am in the process) my program to acquire my master's degree. To those of you who don't know, this is quite a lot of work that requires extensive reading and writing. As a result, I haven't had the chance to do the editing on these chapters that I'd want to. In fact, this story may not be updated until the winter. I'm updating it now because I have worked hard on this chapter and managed to beat back some of the assignments I have due. Plus, you all deserve to know what's going on. So, without further delay, enjoy the chapter (which is the longest one I've uploaded so far).


Burn

"Is there a fire!? Are there any breaches?" Varro called to James who stood atop the rampart, gazing off into the distance.

"No fires, captain. But you need to come up here and look at this," James called down, gripping the hilt of his sheathed sword and nervously chewing on his lower lip. Alexandro could see a similar sense of dread in the faces of the other guards along the wall.

Varro scaled the defenses two steps at a time. Alexandro was close behind and bumped into his back once he had crested the stairs, the captain having stopped dead in his tracks. Alexandro squeezed past the captain and saw what had left him stunned.

The hill in the distance, the hill he and Selene had arrived from, the hill his friend from the Firelink Shrine had arrived from, was completely engulfed. Illuminated by the pale light of the moon, a thick shroud of darkness had amassed atop the hill and was writhing violently, jutting its dark tendrils in various directions. Shapes could be seen moving amongst the shadows, yet no clear figures had appeared through the pitch blackness.

"It's here…" Varro muttered, barely audible above the alarm bells ringing. More guards were amassing at the bottom of the stairs, loudly asking what was going on. There was no fire. They were under siege.

Alexandro stared at the mass of darkness thrashing atop the hill in shock. Was this the abyss? Had it come for them now? A wave of anxiety washed over him as he tried to rationalize what he was staring at. Was this unrelated to him? Or had he caused this surge of the abyss by extinguishing the First Flame? Had he given humanity a chance only for it to be quickly extinguished by the darkness he had brought forth? Was he a harbinger of destruction?

He could hear Varro silencing the bellringers. With them quieted he could now hear townsfolk crowding near the gate with the guards and lobbing questions of what was happening. Varro stepped next to him, yet Alexandro never took his eyes from the hilltop. "I guess it doesn't matter that you told Selene…No way of hiding this secret now."

Those were Varro's only words before he set off to give orders to the men along the wall. Alexandro had barely registered them, but the mention of his wife's name broke him from his stupor.

"Selene!" He thought, whirling from atop the stairs and looking out to the crowd of people. It wasn't hard to find her platinum hair in the back of the crowd, looking up to him with concern etched across her features. Andre's large frame towered beside her, acting as a beacon in the mass of people now concentrated around the gate.

Alexandro rushed down the stairs, forcing his way through the crowd and making his way to her. Thankfully, most of the townspeople ignored him, directing their concern to Varro who was pacing along the wall and stationing men. He quickly found his way to Selene and Andre, the three of them sharing a destressed look.

"What dost thou see from atop the wall?"

Alexandro didn't need to answer her question, the fearful look he gave her was all she or Andre needed to know. The abyss was here, there was no denying it. Andre's lips set into a deep frown as he crossed his arms over his chest, "How far is it? Is it advancing?" He asked, keeping his voice to a whisper.

Alexandro shook his head, "It isn't moving yet. However, it's right on the hilltop. Who's to say how fast it can strike or will strike." He suddenly realized the absence of Cynthia, the Shrine Handmaiden, Cornyx, and Karla, glancing around for them. "Where are the rest of our people? Are they safe?"

"Cynthia has remained in our home, waiting until all is safe."

"Cornyx and Karla stayed behind with the Shrine Handmaiden. They are all safe. The real question is where is the council at? Ye'd figure they would be timelier considering the concern…"

Andre raised a valid point, everyone in New Astora had arrived once the bells began to ring, why wasn't the council here yet? Moreover, once they arrived, how would they begin to explain this horrible force beyond their lands? They had kept everyone in the dark for so long, how would they react to the truth?

"Lest my eyes deceive me, I believe they are along the ramparts," Selene whispered, pointing towards the far end of the ramparts where an assembly of robed figures stood. Varro was amongst them, vigorously waving his hands towards the abyss and speaking to them.

"How'd they get up there so fast? Are there other stairs around the wall?" Andre asked. The council had given him an ominous vibe when he met them yesterday with Cornyx, Karla, and the Shrine Handmaiden. The way they peered at them beyond the brim of their hoods, their eyes scrutinizing their every move. Something was amiss with them, yet Andre couldn't quite place it.

"At the other end of the settlement, but that's a long walk to make since New Astora is much narrower than it is wide," Alexandro responded, understanding the suspicions of Andre. The council rarely left their chambers or their personal homes, they weren't known to linger around public areas. How would they manage to get here before he and Varro, who had only been a few minutes away?

Before he could ponder the issue further, the council began to move along the wall towards the gate where the crowd of citizens were amassed. People quieted as they saw the distinguished robed figures saunter along the walkway, eager for any information about what had caused the bells.

Alexandro recognized the hooded man leading the group, the elder of New Astora, Zacharias. He had been in favor of Selene and Alexandro being permitted to stay, though he still rarely spoke to them since that day. He seemed to be a pragmatic man who operated on purely on logic given his treatment of them.

Which was why Alexandro was floored by the words he spoke.

"Citizens of New Astora! Calm yourselves, there is no threat. An anomaly has appeared beyond our walls, a shroud of darkness enveloping the hilltop to our north. Yet, the council does not believe that it is a threat. It is merely a byproduct of this new, rich age of mankind." Zacharias gestured out towards the city, giving a gentle smile, "We have nothing to fear from the darkness. We are its humble children and it shall cause us no harm. If we leave it to its devices, then it will surely leave us to our own. Please, return to your homes and go about your lives. Maintain the virtue of calmness."

Alexandro was stunned, eyes wide as he listened to this man claim there was no threat. There was writhing darkness within striking distance of their homes! He knows of what has happened to other settlements, dead residents emitting dark auras from their corpses! How can he claim there is no threat?

Much more shocking though was how easily people believed the lie. Guardsmen remained wary, still not dispersing from the gate. Yet, towns folk seemed relieved to hear that there was no danger, and this had merely been a false alarm. It was as if they didn't want to believe that there was any danger. In a matter of minutes, the crowd had dissipated.

Alexandro watched helplessly as people began to return to their normal lives, as if there wasn't a very real threat that could smash through their wooden walls. He wanted to scream that this was a lie, that they should be preparing for an imminent attack and to evacuate those who couldn't fight. Yet, when his eyes locked with Varro's, the captain gave a firm shake of his head. He seemed just as displeased as Alexandro, but he made no moves to counter the council's claim.

The robed figures of the council began to disperse along the wall while Zacharias himself began to descend the stairs. Alexandro couldn't sit idle; he couldn't risk his home and his life being ripped apart. "Andre, go get the others prepared for battle or prepared to flee if it comes to it. Bring them to Selene and I's house. Selene, go to Cynthia and keep her in our home. Make it clear that we are in danger and that we need to be prepared. Pass the word along to any of your students that you can."

"What do ye' intend to do?"

"I will speak to Zacharias," He replied before storming off towards the cloaked figure that had reached the bottom of the wooden stairs. Selene wanted to object; she didn't want him to face the councilman alone or act too rashly. However, she knew there was no dissuading Alexandro as he marched towards Zacharias.

Almost as if he expected Alexandro, Zacharias waited there, staring at his approaching figure beyond the darkness of his hood. Alexandro could somewhat observe his expression, the indifference of his pale face. As if there wasn't a cloud of darkness threatening to descend on them at any given moment.

"Guardsman Alexandro, tell me, how are your beloved friends settling into our home? I hope they find their accommodations to their liking."

"Just fine if you're not counting the writhing mass of darkness outside of our walls." Alexandro kept his voice restrained and even, yelling here wouldn't get him very far. "Zacharias, you know that thing out there is a threat to every last one of us. It is likely the same force that caused ruin to that settlement in the south. We cannot stand idle; we need to mobilize our people."

"It is councilman Zacharias," He replied sternly, his beady black eyes narrowing in on him before continuing. "I appreciate your worry, young man. However, please do trust in the council. We understand what we are doing. So, with all due respect, allow us to do our job." Alexandro couldn't believe what he was hearing. There was no justification for allowing such a sinister force to be left unchecked.

"Sir, you can't truly believe that what's out there isn't harmful, or that these people should be kept in the dark. We are in serious danger if we don't act now. Please, you can't just pretend it doesn't exist." Zacharias seemed to shrug off Alexandro's words, unfazed by his pleas.

"You are far too young to understand the ways of the world. As I said, if we do not interfere with the darkness, it shall not interfere with us." Alexandro wanted nothing more than to scream that he had probably lived more of a life than he had. That he understood the world far better than he could even imagine. He had seen what lied beyond these wooden walls and knew that it wasn't kind. It took everything to refrain from unhinging himself. "Now, return home and keep your silence."

Alexandro felt a chill rattle along his spine as Zacharias' dark eyes bore into him. "After all, in times of crisis, those on the margins of a collective are always the first to be viewed with scrutiny. You don't want your family and friends to be in danger, do you?" The words were simple enough, they were even logical. Yet, Alexandro could feel the inexplicit threat within them. The way his tone had shifted from causal and dismissive to hard and laced with vitriol.

There was a moment of uneasy silence between the two men.

"Are you implying my family and friends are in any kind of danger, councilman?" The question was pointed, and Alexandro had narrowed his eyes in return. "Because if so, then I may need to take certain steps to ensure their safety." He had faced untold dangers before; he would not be threatened by some delusional fool.

Before Zacharias could respond, another voice intervened. "Now, Alexandro, I am sure councilman Zacharias means no such thing! Just that you are a family man and you should prioritize the comfort of those around you in these eventful times." Varro had descended the stairs and placed himself between the two men, an easy smile on his face. It caught Alexandro off guard, Varro had just been up along the wall scowling after his interaction with the council.

"Ah, Captain Varro. As always, you can be relied on to imbue clarity," Zacharias said, as if this were all one big misunderstanding. He began to turn away now, raising a cloaked hand to signal his departure. "With the matter resolved, I have other business to attend to. May your days be peaceful."

Alexandro watched his retreating form, somewhat stunned by his sudden exit. The matter hadn't been resolved at all. Before he could dwell on the unresolved conflict, Varro hooked his arm around Alexandro's shoulder and began to sharply pull him away. "C'mon Alexandro, let's go grab a bite to eat! I'm beyond famished after all that running and excitement."

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Alexandro whispered, trying to break free from Varro's hold on him, but having no success.

"Being rational," Varro whispered back, agitated. "Something bad is happening; we need to act smart. Getting aggressive with a councilman isn't smart. Getting our people ready for what comes next is."

Alexandro couldn't argue with that logic. "So, do you know what's going on then?"

"Nope, but it doesn't take a genius to correlate that black cloud to what happened at that southern settlement. The council ignored my worries, same as you. They can't be trusted." Varro spoke in a hushed whisper, his eyes swiveling about and glancing the streets for anyone who could be spying on them.

"It was suspicious, right? Why are they so dismissive…We need to make sure the rest of the guard is prepared and that we are ready to leave at a moment's notice if we have to." Varro silently nodded in response as they neared Alexandro's home. "So, does this mean that you trust me?"

There was a moment of uneasy silence as Varro's hold on Alexandro slackened, "Somewhat. I'm not sure who you really are, but that can wait. You said you weren't the cause of this madness and that's all I need. Right now, I want to focus on our situation and the protection of the citizens of New Astora." While slightly relieved to hear that his friend trusted him a bit once again, Alexandro felt a bit of doubt begin to fester in his core. Was he really as innocent as he claimed…?


"So, the abyss is right outside our gates and ol' Zacharias prefers to stick his head in the swamp instead?" Cornyx mused, his feet kicked up on Alexandro's table as he slowly dragged a hand along his bandaged face. "Something tells me he won't like it if we start preaching about danger to people."

"I fear they may not heed our words regardless. They seem more compelled to live in ignorance than fear," Selene added.

"Fools," Cornyx retorted, ignoring the pointed look he received from Varro and James.

"New Astora hasn't known anything other than peace since its foundation. They don't know of the dangers outside of the walls. It is unwise but not unexpected for them to want to remain in blissful ignorance," Varro countered.

"Perhaps they would be a bit more knowledgeable if certain people had spoken out about what exactly lies beyond these wooden walls," Cynthia sharply retorted, her piercing gaze causing Varro to tense as he shifted his gaze towards the floor. Their interactions had been tense since Cynthia's suspicions had been confirmed that Varro was hiding the truth from her about the southern settlement.

There was a long and uncomfortable silence that followed until Andre opted to break the awkwardness, "Regardless, there has to be a way to make them understand the severity of this. If we do nothing then we're bound to perish."

"Were you able to tell any of your students, Selene?" Karla inquired. "They may be a good place to start since you've developed a bond with them."

"I spoke to a few of them as I returned here. Yet, none seemed swayed by my words. Many saw me as irrational and paranoid."

"Perhaps the guardsmen would be a better place to start than civilians? I mean, they have seen the threat with their own two eyes. Plus, we have the three leaders of the town guard right here." Cornyx straightened himself up, turning his gaze to Alexandro, Varro, and James. "Though be warned, when the abyss does come, I'm not sure how well your man will be able to contend with whatever horrors are thrown at them."

"What do you mean? My men are well-trained and able-bodied; they're rarely idle for more than a day. Plus, they're the bravest group of knights I could ask for. No matter how strong or atrocious, the Knights of New Astora won't buckle." Varro spoke, conviction firm in his voice while he furrowed his brow.

It did little to faze Cornyx and his flat expression. "Your men are trained to fight other men. Things that live and breathe. Things that dwell in the abyss? They are an entirely different matter. They don't get tired or weary. They don't become dejected by defeat or the death of a comrade. I can't say exactly what will come, but I can say that it'll be something that tests the physical and mental fortitude of your men. A first line of defense may buy valuable time for people to escape, but it's important to understand that men will fall." Cornyx's blunt words took Varro and James back, unnerved by the description of their foe. Cornyx didn't enjoy being as frank as he was but being gentle and easing them into the severity of the situation wasn't an option.

"Even if we do escape, where are we supposed to escape to? All that lies outside of the walls is a barren wasteland. If those beings don't tire, then we will just be exhaustedly dragging ourselves along until we fall." Cynthia's words highlighted another issue, meanwhile solutions were becoming more and more scarce.

Everyone fell silent for a time, trying to find some solution to the array of grim problems they now faced. Alexandro's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. He had faced many strong foes as he journeyed to extinguish the First Flame. He'd conquered the Abyss Watchers who had been corrupted by the abyss. Yet, he had never faced the abyss outright. He had no clue what demented horrors he may face.

However, he had learned something more than combat proficient while on his journey. That to beat the inevitable you have to face it on your own terms. He and Selene had faced the ending of the First Flame together on terms they set and created something beautiful from it.

Something may be inevitable, but that didn't mean it couldn't be overcome.

Slowly he rose from his chair, all the attention in the room turning towards him as the wooden chair scrapped against the floor. "It is inevitable that the abyss will come. We will have to fight it. Yet, it is not inevitable that we will be defeated. The abyss is not an unstoppable force, if its creatures can be killed then they can be beaten back. If Knight Artorias from long ago could hold back the abyss and save the land he loved, then there is no reason to assume that we are not capable of the same feat! So, we will fight to repel this threat. If we can no longer fight and must run, then we will run. Whatever it takes for us to protect the lives we have made for ourselves. There may not be pleasant solutions, but we still have to act even if the odds are stacked against us."

Alexandro's pointed to James and Varro, "Rally the guards, I'll come with you. To hell with Zacharias and the council, we need to be prepared. A frontline defense will go a long way in buying time for citizens to pull away from the conflict zone and allow for reinforcements to arrive."

His gaze swiveled to Selene and Cynthia, "Selene you've taught students and Cynthia you're respected within the town, go to those who you believe will listen and preach safety. Don't induce panic, but be sure people are at least prepared for something bad to happen."

"And what of us, oh dearest pupil?" Cornyx asked. "I hope you don't intend to leave us out of the fun."

A grin split across Alexandro's face, "I wouldn't dream of it. Two of you will stand watch at the gate with some of the guardsmen, one of you will be with the Shrine Handmaiden to get her to safety if things go sour. Any extra support we can get when it hits will be useful."

The mood of the room had lifted considerably. People were no longer staring gloomily towards the floor; they now smiled warmly back at him. They had something they could put their minds to. There was no guarantee of success, but it was better than dreading an inevitable attack.

"Let's get going everyone," Alexandro said, everyone rising to join him.

Andre clapped his hands together, "I suppose I'll be taking the first watch then."

"You can take whatever watch you want old man, all I know is I'm not leaving that wall," Cornyx said, rewrapping some of the bandages around his hands.

"You say that now until its late and you begin to fall asleep," Karla remarked as she began to file out of the house. "In which case, you can come get me while I keep our beloved Handmaiden company."

"Only one you'll have to worry about falling asleep is grandpa over here- Ow!" Cornyx shouted, receiving a firm slap upside the head.

"Respect your elders."


For the rest of the day each person dedicated themselves to their tasks. Varro, James, and Alexandro made sure to quietly inform each guard of the potential threat beyond the walls. Those in reserve or who were off duty were kept in the loop and informed that their service may be necessary. Whenever the abyss struck, it would be met with fierce resistance. By night, the fresh rotation of guards was looking eager and alert. They finally had the chance to prove their mettle and defend their homeland.

Selena and Cynthia also found success in their endeavors. Alexandro had been correct, with Cynthia's presence Selene's warnings were taken a bit more seriously. Not everyone heeded their warning, but they were at least aware of the possibility. Yet a fair amount of townsfolk heeded the warning, promising that at the first sign of trouble they'd be ready to evacuate and do whatever was necessary. Neither woman quite enjoyed evoking a sense of fear into members of their home, but also knew that the fear was not misplaced. Whether someone was unprepared could mean life or death.

By the end of the day, everyone filed back to their homes to catch whatever bit of sleep they could. They were unsure of when the abyss would strike and knew they'd need all the energy they could get. The only ones who didn't return home were Andre and Cornyx, who remained along the main gate.

Alexandro and Selene barely had time for discussion as they both collapsed onto their bed, letting their minds drift into a deep sleep as their bodies were tangled with one another. It seemed that while they were with each other, there could at least be a moment of peace.

That was until the screaming began in the dead of night.

"Fire! Help, there's a fire!"

"I think we are under attack!"

"Hurry and ring the bells, the abyss is coming!"

"Secure the breach, don't let them through!"

The cries from the street sent Selene and Alexandro flying from their bed, each one trying to make their way throughout the faintly lit room, the fireplace only containing dwindling embers.

"Fuck, it's happening!" Alexandro shouted as Selene illuminated the room with an orb of light, allowing for him to find his trousers and start roughly pulling them to his waist. The upside of living close to the northern gate was that they could hear everything that was happening. However, if the gate was overrun, they'd be right in the path of destruction. "I have to get to the gate!" He scrambled to find Lothric's Holy Sword, his trusted companion.

"I will cometh with thee!" Selene responded, hastily pulling on her robes, searching for the armor her beloved had procured her.

"No! You need to get the townspeople to safety and help protect them with your students!" As much as Alexandro may have desired to have Selene by his side, he couldn't risk it. The townspeople needed protection and Selene's pyromancy may be the best weapon against the darkness.

"I cannot just leave thee to an unknown fate!" Selene retorted back, the cries from the street becoming louder and louder as she slid a leather breastplate over her shoulders. "We are a duo; we must face this together!"

Alexandro had managed to quickly equip his armor and prepare himself, far more used to the routine than Selene. "The townspeople need your help more than I will! I am sure the others will be there with me." He crossed the room to assist Selene in sliding on her greaves, sparing a glance into her milky eyes. "I will be okay love, but we need to make sure the people are safe."

Selene agreed with her husband in the matter, she knew she should leave matters at the wall to the guardsmen. Yet, she hated the idea of letting him face the unknown without her at his side.

"Hey," Alexandro began, seeing the contemplation across her features. "I have always come back, no matter how far I have gone or what has happened. I will this time as well."

Selene wanted to offer a rebuttal to his words, but the sound of their door being pushed open gave each of them a start. Alexandro had risen and unsheathed Lothric in a moment, feeling the familiar connection between himself and Lothric buzz to life. Had the invaders already breached the wall? Selene was by his side, fire sparking to life between her fingers.

"Alex!? Selene!? Are either of you in here?" It was immediately clear who the voice belonged to as Alexandro opened the bedroom door, looking to see Varro standing in the doorway with Cynthia's arm draped over his shoulder for support.

"We were just getting ready, is the abyss here!?" Alexandro rushed to his comrade, helping to prop up Cynthia, who was tightly holding her stomach and groaning in pain. "Is she okay? Did she get hurt-"

"She's going into labor." Varro's statement was concise and cut through the air. Alexandro blanched at his words. This was bad. This was very bad.

While Alexandro was at a loss of words, Selene had sprung into action and immediately came to her friend's aide, crouching down to look up at her. "Are thou sure? She was fine earlier…"

Through gritted teeth Cynthia spoke, "I could feel the contractions as we were finishing up last night…I thought I'd be fine, I thought I'd have more time."

Selene's face paled at those words and she quickly looked to Alexandro and Varro, "Thy must get to the gates, I will watch after her and get her to safety."

"I'm coming with you; I can't leave her side. Not now." Varro's words were firm. His eyes shifted to Alexandro. "I'm sorry but I need you to go to the gate and lead the men, I refuse to leave-"

"No…" Came a weak mutter from Cynthia's hunched over form. She broke herself away from the two males at her side and instead found support in Selene who quickly looped her arm over her shoulder. "You have to go to that gate and lead your men…I will be fine." It was clear from Cynthia's voice that she was in immense pain, yet the firmness in her words was clear.

"But Cynthia, I-"

Cynthia silenced her husband with her fierce amber glare, "You will go. You will make sure that our child is born into a safe home. It will all be for nothing if the gate is overrun." With all her effort she pointed to the doorway. "Go."

Varro clearly wished to fight the matter further, but the sound of approaching footsteps drew his attention back to the street.

"Pupil, the abyss is assailing the northern gate! We have to hurry, there are already casualties!" Alexandro whirled to Cornyx and his news made his stomach turn in knots. The situation was worse than he feared. They needed to hurry. Regardless of patriotic fervor, without leadership the guards were doomed to crumble.

Roughly grabbing Varro's shoulder, Alexandro hauled a stunned and unsure Varro from his home. "They will be fine; we need to go!" He shouted, his words seeming to jar Varro from his daze. The guard captain looked to Alexandro before slowly nodding and giving one last look at his wife and Selene.

"Right…Selene, please make sure she and my child are safe…Please." The desperation in his voice was evident and Selene could only offer a gentle smile as she nodded.

"Nothing shall befall them, I assure thou."

"Hey, I understand this situation is a little difficult. However, Andre is at the gate and likely needs our help, so let's get moving!" Cornyx shouted, the fear and urgency of his tone one that Alexandro had never heard before. He griped both men with his bandaged arms and hauled them towards the nearby gate. Both men complied, uneasy with leaving their significant others behind but knowing that there was no time to waste further on the matter.

Upon arriving to the gate, Alexandro's worst dreams had come true. Torches along the wall had been knocked over, setting the wooden ramparts ablaze. The gate was busted wide open and guardsmen were clashing with skeletal figures wrapped in matching bone-like armor. While Alexandro was accustomed to such horrors, the guardsmen were not. They fought with uncertainty against the silent foes, who seemed to stand strong against any retaliatory attacks. Slashes to the chest or arms had little effect, they just kept advancing and swinging their swords.

Alexandro spotted Andre swing his hammer into the torso of one of the foes, connecting with a devastating crunch that splintered their armor and sent them flying. Yet, they made no sound of pain. They hardly seemed fazed as they arose and marched towards Andre, raising their sword again.

They fought along the ramparts as well, encompassed entirely by the flames. Yet, they weren't even affected by the scalding flames. Were they resistant?

"What the fuck are they…" Varro whispered, aghast and what he was seeing.

"Darkwraiths. Beings from the abyss, unfeeling and uncaring. You can't just expect them to go down as a regular man would. They will keep going until their physical form is unable to." Cornyx said, gritting his teeth. It was just as he feared, they seemed to hardly be phased by most attacks, either by fire or by metal. Driving them back wouldn't be an easy task…

"Our enemies." Was Alexandro's solemn answer as he charged into the fray, Cornyx following closely behind while Varro still stared in abject horror. For a moment he could only watch as a guardsman was felled by one of the foul creatures and then seemingly had his life drained away from him.

Yet, Alexandro didn't hesitate to engage said darkwraith. He didn't bother attempting to strike their armor or limbs, instead lunging for their exposed heads, driving Lothric between their empty black eye sockets.

Once again, they made no noise, but they did fall as darkness seeped from their wound. This time, they didn't get up.

"Go for their head, men! Nothing less will do; it has to be the head! Drive them back, out of the gates!" Alexandro's cry seemed to lift the spirits of the guardsmen, watching one of their unknown foes finally be disposed of. The men were still wary of the encroaching enemies, but simply knowing that they could be beaten was enough to keep them from falling into despair.

Varro had snapped out of his shock, following Alexandro and lunging at another of the incoming darkwraiths. With his shield, he parried away their sword swipe, using the opening as a chance the cleave his shortsword through its skull with a furious roar.

"These beasts can be felled! They can be beaten! Onward men, go for their heads and return them to the abyss!"

Varro's words carried far more weight with the men, invigorated to see the return of their captain. They began to push back, seeing now that while these foes were indeed frightening, they could still be killed.

Andre used the new information, hefting his hammer over his shoulder before arching it downwards onto the head of the oncoming darkwraith that he had previously driven away. After a booming crunch, it did not rise again.

Alexandro fell into a groove, dispatching darkwraith after darkwraith. Memories of battling foes during his journey had returned and he found the darkwraiths to be no more challenging than a Drakeblood Knight.

"Die, you bastards!" Varro roared, relieving a darkwraith's shoulders of its head.

Cornyx was at a disadvantage without having a physical weapon and the darkwraiths apparently being resistant to fire. However, he soon learned that fireballs may not kill them, but they did push them back. Even if it was a momentary abatement, it was another moment the guards could use to regroup and catch their breaths before pushing the darkwraiths back out the gate and off the ramparts.

There was a chance. If they could reclaim the gate, then maybe not all hope was lost. Maybe they could save New Astora from the same fate as the southern settlement.

This fragile hope was shattered by the sound of a dull groan. At first Alexandro believed that one of the darkwraiths had actually made a sound. However, he realized that much to his horror, that sound was coming from the flaming ramparts. The dull groan was replaced by sharp snapping as the wall began to collapse, taking the gate down along with it.

Everyone seemed to pause as the section of the wall crumbled, the sound of their comrades buried beneath the burning rubble piercing their ears. Yet even the darkwraiths halted their assault for a moment, turning their heads to the collapse. With the wall gone, it revealed a sight that froze Alexandro where he stood. Beyond the flames of the ruined wall, stood a vast array of darkwraiths that were coming from the abyss, staring ahead with their black holes.

They began to cross the flaming remains of the wall, unbothered by the flames that licked at their armor.

There was no longer any hope, without a choke point they were about to be overrun.

"We must pull back!" Cornyx called out, desperately casting a fire ball to try and buy just a few extra seconds.

Andre's grunts could be heard over the pandemonium as he swung his hammer in a wide horizontal arch, sending darkwraith flying backwards, only for them to rise again.

Alexandro's lips peeled back into a scowl as he impaled Lothric's Holy Sword into a darkwraith's skull, stepping back as another three clambered forwards to take their fallen ally's place. "Varro, we need to fall back! There is no way we can take them out in the open like this!"

The reality of the situation weighed heavily upon Varro's mind as he was forced further and further back as a new wave of darkwraiths came forward, uncaring for their fallen comrades that they trampled over. "Fall back to the streets! We will regroup in the town square!" Maybe if they could create a chokehold, then they would be able to face their enemy better than in the open area near the gate.

Guards quickly began to fall back, eager to follow their captain's orders and get away from the sea of incoming enemies. As the men retreated, Alexandro stood his ground to try and cover their retreat. He could feel the bond between himself and Lothric humming with warmth. The two worked in tandem, much as they had done when they faced the Soul of Cinder. Lothric's warmth would tell Alexandro's of when to expect an attack from a blind spot, allowing for him to evade before a darkwraith could impale him.

"Alex, come on! We need to pull back!" Varro called from behind Alexandro.

Satisfied that he had allowed most of the men to pull back safely, Alexandro began to backpedal away from the new surge of darkwraiths. Yet, as he gazed past the flood of enemies, Alexandro saw a tall being looming over the vast amount of darkwraiths.

A blue cowl covered its visage. A large sword was slung over its shoulders, held in place by his right arm, while its left arm dangled by his side. It didn't seem to move fast, but its long legs allowed it to stride forward and cover a vast amount of ground.

While distracted by the distant foe, Alexandro's feet tripped over themselves and sent him onto his rear. Sensing opportunity, darkwraiths surged forward at his sprawled-out form. Alexandro desperately tried to push himself away and upwards but to no avail, soon they were upon them. He could only raise his sword in defense, awaiting the flurry of blows that he could not stop.

Yet, before their blades could connect with him, a large hammer swept them away with tremendous force. Their bodies flew backwards, knocking over some of the darkwraiths behind them.

Alexandro felt hands grip his armpits and haul him to his feet, whirling him around. Varro stood before him, terror alit in his eyes as Andre stood at his side, brow furrowed in worry. "Do you hear me!? We need to go, now!"

Alexandro didn't need to be told again and took off into a sprint with his two saviors. However, the image of the tall blue dark figure approaching had stained itself within his mind. He realized in that moment that the odds they faced may be insurmountable.

Once they had gained enough distance from the darkwraiths, Alexandro called out to Varro, "We need to evacuate the town! We cannot hold out against this; we need to leave!"

"Like hell we will evacuate! If we bottleneck them then we can hack them down! They aren't particularly ferocious; they just have numbers!"

"Men will grow tired Varro! It only takes one of them to fall for the line to be breached! Plus, we do not have the numbers to afford those losses!"

"I will sooner die than evacuate New Astora to those filthy bastards Alexandro and that is final!" Varro screamed, whirling briefly to shoot him a fiery glare. Alexandro didn't relent. He had seen their numbers. He had seen the blue-clad giant that would inevitably make its presence known.

"Are you willing to let Cynthia and your child die as well!?"

Alexandro hadn't expected Varro's swing, aimed directly for his jaw. He had nearly connected if it hadn't been for Andre's colossal hand snatching his wrist and pulling him away. "Now is not the time to fight with one another." He didn't need to shout; his booming voice was enough to command the attention of the smaller males. "If we don't leave now then we may not have the chance to. That fire is likely to spread from the gates to the houses. We have too many enemies to contend with."

Varro scowled at Andre's words, not because he detested them but because he knew he was right.

"You can either die defending your home, or retreat to reclaim it another night. But if you chose to fight then the lives of everyone in this town of yours is at stake."

Varro ripped his hand from Andre's grip, turning away as he stalked ahead. "I'll give the order to evacuate," He responded, submitting the Andre's logic, as much as it filled him with disgust to leave the place he called home.

Upon arriving in the town square, guards and civilians alike we huddled together in fear. James was attempting to organize them but had not had much luck. Many of the citizens were crying, the fear palpable. The naysayers were in shock, seeing the distant flames. Those who had heeded the warnings were more prepared, carrying their belongings, but still felt frightened at what was happening.

Varro began to issue orders to people, meanwhile Alexandro quickly found Selene in the crowd. It wasn't hard, all he had to do was find the group of women clustered together and the sound of Cynthia's pained cries.

Selene spotted his arrival into the group and could feel a large weight slip from her shoulders. They weren't out of danger yet, but her beloved had made it back from the gates. She didn't dare peel herself away from Cynthia, who tightly gripped her hands while she struggled with breathing evenly. Instead, she waited for Alexandro to come to her side, kneeling down onto the ground with them. His hand reached out and gripped Selene's shoulder, almost as if to steady himself before speaking.

"We are going to have to evacuate the town, can Cynthia move?" Alexandro asked, already fearing the answer. Selene's frown was all the answer that he needed to know that this was about to be complicated.

"I fear she cannot…We truly have to evacuate? Is there no other option?" The desperation in Selene's voice was thick, unprepared to hear that news. Were the enemies at the gate truly that ferocious?

"There are too many," Alexandro replied grimly, his lips curling down into a match frown. Before Selene could respond, Cynthia began to force herself into an upright position, a bitter scowl etched across her features.

"I can move," She grounded out, pushing away the townswomen that were crowded around her. Selene had attempted to keep from rising, not wanting for her to strain herself further. Yet Cynthia pulled her hands away, trying to keep her breathing levelled. "If we aren't safe then I will move. There's no other choice."

Her words resonated clearly to the women around her as she leaned on a few of them for support. Alexandro watched in astonishment as she managed to take steps forward, her face contorted into pain, but her eyes were alight with grim determination.

Suddenly, those determined eyes swiveled to him as she passed by him. "Make sure my husband lives to see his child. Please."

Alexandro slowly rose from his position, taken aback by her request. "I won't let him out of my sight." Were the only words he could think to say. Satisfied, Cynthia nodded her head before being guided forward by the entourage of women that were helping to support her.

Before Selene moved to join them, she turned to her husband and firmly gripped his hand. "And thou must make certain of thou own return."

"As always," He responded with all the confidence he could muster before dipping in to steal a kiss before they departed. "I love you, Selene."

"I love thou as well, Alexandro," Selene whispered back, before reluctantly breaking away to go and join Cynthia. Alexandro watched her retreating form for a few seconds, hoping to any God that would listen that he would be able to see this through and be reunited with her once again.

"Uncle Alex…" Alexandro turned to find Anastasia with Karla and the Shrine Handmaiden, Anastasia helping to support the elderly woman. The fear in her eyes was evident as she stared up at him, her legs shaking as she spoke, "What's going to happen when we evacuate?"

Alexandro wanted to tell her that all would be well, but he couldn't bear to lie to her. He could only give a weak smile as he kneeled down. "I'm not sure, but don't you worry. We will figure it out, we will make sure those monsters don't get anywhere close to you all." Before she could ask him more uncomfortable questions, Alexandro shifted his gaze to the Shrine Handmaiden, who had a gentle smile on her face despite the chaos all around. "I see you're taking care of my dear friend here; I really appreciate that." A simple statement, but hopefully enough of a deflection.

"She was very eager to help out once James informed her of...current events. She hasn't left our side." Karla interjected, ruffling Anastasia's curly hair. It was rare to see Anastasia flustered, her cheeks becoming as red as the curly locks on her head.

"I know I can't fight yet, or so dad says…I want to help however I can."

"And you did a wonderful job, sweet girl," Karla said, attempting to hide the fatigue in her voice as she gently stooped down next to her. "But now we have to get moving again, be sure to stay close to me, okay?"

Before Anastasia could respond, Varro's voice boomed above the chaos. "If everyone could begin moving towards the southern end of the settlement in a calm and orderly manner-" Varro's words were cut off as shrieks filled the town square. Alexandro whirled from Anastasia to find that darkwraiths were now streaming into the town square from the two streets that led into it. The silence with which they moved had allowed them to sneak in without having been detected until the very last moment. To make matters worse, Alexandro could see in the distance that Andre was right; the fire had begun to rapidly spread throughout the town.

It would only be a matter of time until New Astora was overrun and reduced to ash.

"Guards, on me! Don't let them get to the townspeople!" Varro shouted, raising his shield to block and incoming blow before cleaving into the darkwraith. Guards surged forward, spurred by a desire to protect their loved ones while their loved ones fled deeper into the settlement. Any arguments people had regarding leaving New Astora had vanished in the face of danger.

Alexandro rushed ahead without a thought, engaging the darkwraiths that grew close to Anastasia, Karla, and the Shrine Handmaiden "Go! Find Selene, she'll protect you!" He called, parrying a sword that was aimed for his torso before driving his blade through the darkwraith's skull. Alexandro didn't dare take his eyes away from the wave of foes he faced, only hoping his friends followed the sea of people fleeing the town square.

Alexandro sent himself into the fray once again, falling into the rhythm he had grew so accustomed to long ago. He spared a glance to the side, seeing that thus far the line was holding well. Varro was keeping men organized in the center as they felled wave after wave of enemies. Farther right, he could make out James holding down the flank and keeping the guards from losing too much ground.

Meanwhile Alexandro held the left end of the line, letting his blade stab and rip away at his skeletal foes.

"They may not be men, but they will fall all the same! Don't take one step back, think of your families!" Alexandro exclaimed, letting his own mind drift to the thoughts of Selene. That serene smile she had. The way her eyes looked upon him with nothing but unconditional love and understanding. The way her hand squeezed his own in troubling times to remind him that he wasn't alone.

He would return to her. No foe before him would change that. Despite the ache that had begun to develop in his arm from combat, he didn't dare take a step back.

If this kept up, then fatigue would become the real enemy. The darkwraiths were deadly in such large numbers, but they were sluggish, and their attacks were transparent. So long as the line held then they could be handled, at least until the townspeople had reached safety. Once enough time had passed, they may be able to fall even farther back, hopefully bleeding out the darkwraith forces overtime.

Alexandro's thoughts on their situation were disrupted as an otherworldly screech pierced the air. Then suddenly the ground began to shake as tremors grew closer and closer. Alexandro knew what was coming before he could even see it.

"Brace the line! Something big is coming!" He screamed atop the sound of steel clashing against steel. His eyes locked with Varro's, both men finding fear spread across their expression. The men along the line did their best to brace, awaiting the vicious thumps that rattled their bones. Even the darkwraiths seemed to halt their attack, almost as if obeying a silent order.

Alexandro's belief was confirmed as the gigantic figure wielding a greatsword and veiled by a blue cowl rushed into the town square. Alexandro was shocked to watch as it trampled its own presumed allies underfoot, carelessly blowing past them and headed directly for the guardsmen's line.

There was no way they stood a chance bracing against such a monster.

"Evade it, don't face it head on!" Alexandro's words were of little use, the thumping drowning them out as the tall being stopped just short of the line. Any momentary relief was washed away as the colossal foe hefted its greatsword with a single arm before swinging it right into the center of the line.

Alexandro could feel the blowback of the weapon's swing even from many meters away. Guards stood no chance at blocking that devastating blow, many were sent flying backwards across the square. Some had been lucky enough to catch the swing on their shields and only sent skidding across the cobblestone. Others were not so lucky and were cleaved in two.

There was nothing but silence as both man and darkwraith stared at the gaping hole in the line. However, Alexandro's eyes were on Varro and his unconscious body that had been sent flying into the well in the center of the town square, crashing against it. He seemed to have caught the full brunt of the swing and paid the price, his shield shattered and body unconscious.

With Varro unconscious, that left command to Alexandro and James. And in this situation, there was only one thing to do.

"Retreat!" He cried, filling the silence as he rushed towards Varro's body.

His words seemed to resume the action, stirring the darkwraiths to continue their onslaught. Meanwhile, the guards turned and began to run. However, none of them headed for the streets. Every last one rushed to the aide of their fallen comrades, including their captain.

Alexandro arrived at his friend's body first, finding that he had been correct; Varro was utterly unconscious. Yet, he seemed to be alive for now, even if his breathing was shallow. James arrived swiftly after him. Nothing needed to be said between the two males, they didn't have the time. James began to haul Varro's body onto his shoulder while Alexandro grabbed the other side. They fled towards the streets with their allies, doing their best to ignore the screams of their allies that had been less lucky in escaping their silent enemies.

Soon, they gained some distance between themselves and the darkwraiths and found themselves to be the only ones running along the winding road that led to the southern part of New Astora.

"What do we do!? That…thing, what the fuck was that!?"

"It doesn't matter, we have to keep moving."

"What do you mean it doesn't matter!? That thing blew away fifteen men without even trying-"

"That's my point! It doesn't matter because there's no way we can stop that thing right now, so we need to get out of here." Alexandro hated his words. He had never been one to shy away from a challenging foe. He had faced foes far taller than that monster back in the town square. But that was back when his failure simply meant returning to a bonfire.

Truth be told, he had no clue what would happen to him now if he were slain. However, he wasn't too eager to test it out. Moreover, even if he could come back, these men certainly couldn't. The only thing left to do was run.

That was until a shadow passed overhead. Before Alexandro knew what was happening, a large pile of flaming wood had fallen from the sky and landed directly onto the street in front of them, crushing houses and shops that it had landed upon. It didn't take long to figure out just where the wood had come from as he saw a similar pile of flaming wood sailing through the air from the town square towards the other streets.

How could that asshole throw piles of burning wood with only one working arm!?

"You've got to be kidding me…" James whispered, frantically searching for a way out from the obstacle. While he didn't find a way out, he did find that darkwraiths were quickly making ground on them.

Upon this discovery, James unsheathed his blade once again and turned away, leaving Varro entirely with Alexandro. "Alex, take Varro and go!" James shouted, placing himself directly in the darkwraiths path, hefting up his shield to brace for impact.

"What!? No, I can't just-"

"Shut up and go! Now! We don't have time to argue. You and Varro are too valuable to lose if we ever want a chance at surviving this!"

Alexandro parted his lips to speak but he saw what they faced. It wasn't just a group of darkwraiths that had caught up, it was an entire army of them silently marching down the street. With their backs literally against the wall, any last stand here would result in death. He felt his heart wrench as the realization set in for him. There was no time to think. With just the two of them and Varro's unconscious body they didn't stand a chance, not all of them were making it out of this alive.

"James…I…"

"Hey, I know, it's alright." Alexandro was cut short as he saw James spare him a knowing look after repulsing a darkwraith, a look of grim resolve etched across his features. "Go, get our captain out of here. And please Alexandro, please if you do value our friendship, make sure Anastasia is safe. Make sure she knows that her father loved her more than anything in this world."

Words failed Alexandro in this moment. He wanted to thank James for being one of his friends. For the way he had accepted them. For his sacrifice. Yet, without the time, all Alexandro could utter was, "I will look after everyone." Before hurling Varro's body over his shoulder and rushing to find a way through the debris.

Though one of the shops on his right had been crushed, there was still a narrow pathway through it, only blocked by a few pieces of wood that had yet to catch ablaze. Rushing towards it, he placed Varro down and began to hastily use all his strength to try and dislodge the pieces of debris from his path. From behind, he could hear Varro's war cry as steel clashed against steel. Alexandro didn't dare look back, not until he had forced the pieces of wood and rubble from his path, just barely clearing a navigable path.

He pivoted, snatching up Varro's body once more. As he did, he caught a final glance of James, who had been surrounded entirely by the darkwraiths. Yet he stood, valiantly swinging his sword and shield, roaring at the top of his lungs. He had completely encapsulated the darkwraiths attention, standing as a one-man obstacle in their all-consuming war march. Despite the blood pouring through his armor, he didn't fall. Not even as tens of dozens of darkwraiths surrounded him.

Alexandro wanted to dart into the fray and fight with him. He wanted to save him. But he knew it wouldn't work. James had given his life for him to clear the path and now he had been swallowed up by the mass of darkwraiths. Attempting to fight that unstoppable tide would only get all three of them killed.

Alexandro felt his heart tear as he turned away, pushing ahead through the narrow path he had created. He couldn't look back now, he had to keep moving. However, he would never forget what he saw. He would burn that image into his mind, he would carry it with him until he died.