Chapitre 22: Lansseax's Liaise
3 extra chappies in ma P @treon.
***
The gold-inlaid doors creaked open, their ancient weight revealing a figure he never thought he'd see again, not for another century. Beneath the towering statue of Queen Marika the Eternal sat the only woman who made even his emotionless heart lightly flutter.
The inside of the church was bare, pillars gracing the sides, but otherwise empty. A woman beautiful enough to topple eras sat under the massive statue on the sweet-smelling grass. Cradling a golden cup engraved with a likeness of Erdtree, she patted the ground next to her with a clawed hand once she saw him.
"Godrick the Golden, descendant of Godwyn the Golden, thou hast at last a figure befitting a Demigod," she spoke cheerily. "Come, we have much to discuss."
"Why art thou here, priestess?", Godrick said bluntly. Trying to see her status now was just as useful as it was when he first tried it. A cartload of question marks was all he got.
"Art thou ignoring mine invitation?" Lansseax frowned at his suspicion, her hand furiously patting the grass beside her.
"If I don't get an answer, yes."
"Fine", she huffed and put the cup down. "If thy wishest to scorn my help, then so be it."
"Why would I need thy help?" Godrick raised a golden brow, eyeing the cup that resembled the one that housed the Sacred Tear. "I've managed well enough thus far. Never did I think thou wouldst break our deal by seeking me out sooner than agreed."
[Observe]
[Sacred Tear: During the age of the Erdtree, these tears were used to spread the faith, for theirs was once a certain blessing. Can be consumed to bring your physique closer to the Erdtree Constitution. +5 Vigor.]
"The deal doth not forbid me from seeking thee before a century hath passed, and mind thee, I shall do mine utmost to rend thee to pieces," she snorted. "And I am here to tell thee that thou hast already received mine aid, though thou art blissfully ignorant of it."
"Now that's news to me", Godrick nodded.
"I know it is. Now, if thou wishest to know how well thou shouldst thank me, thou hadst better sit where I bid thee," she said, lifting her chin high and patting the grass once more.
Reluctantly, Godrick sighed, his massive form sinking beside her. The scene was almost comical—a hulking demigod, clad in golden armour, sitting beside a woman who barely reached his chest. Yet appearances, as always, were deceiving.
"Now, let's make another accord before I begin", she fixed her draconic slits on him and licked her lips.
"No", Godrick said immediately, sensing where this was headed.
"An arm?", she teased, her voice softening into a playful grumble. "Surely thou wouldst not miss it?"
"No."
"A hand, then?"
"No."
"A finger?"
"Absolutely not."
"Gah!", Lansseax huffed before shoving the golden cup into his arms. "There. That should regrow whatever I bite off."
Godrick looked at the cup and then at the Ancient Dragon, who looked at him like a kid would a cookie.
"Fine, a hand then", he sighed and removed his gauntlet, holding out his left hand. "Only a hand this tim-
(HP 200/200 -> 173/200)
Before he could finish, her claws flashed, severing his wrist. She unlocked her jaw and shoved the entirety of his hand down her gullet, groaning in pleasure as she did it. Droplets of blood ran down her perfect neck and into her bountiful chest, staining the white gown.
"Thou dost taste so sweet... even better than before..."
Ignoring the Ancient Dragon next to him who was acting weirder by the minute, he turned his attention to the stump that his left hand had turned into. He quickly downed the glowing liquid in the golden cup, hoping that Lansseax was right. It went down smoothly enough but tasted...woody - more like the taste of chewing through the bark of a tree.
(Vigor: 20->30)
The effect was nearly instant as the flesh around the stump warped and twisted, sinew knitting over bone. A hand replaced the one he lost nearly instantly and he let out a sharp inhale at the staggering amount of Vitality that poured into his body. His flesh and blood briefly flashed gold as his heart echoed like a distant drum.
He felt more robust, more...full, complete.
"The effect is stronger than usual," Lansseax remarked, licking blood of her fingers. "Is this the work of thy Great Rune?"
Godrick stiffened but before he could respond, his helmet was off and Lansseax's face was inches from his.
"Thy eyes are pretty, how didst thou come by them?" she whispered, captivated by the patterns within patterns swirling in his irises.
"How dost thou know of my Great Rune?" His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. Did she always know? Who else did?
"Everyone doth now," Lansseax replied, reclining as she picked her teeth with a claw, her gaze narrowing at Godrick's look of disbelief. "What? Didst thou believe that activating a Great Rune would go unnoticed? And the Cornerstone at that? Such an act would surely alert every Great Rune bearer. Now, they all know another Demigod hath risen to join the fray in this game of thrones."
"So Morgott..."
"Indeed, that omen-cursed, soulless... thing realized thou hadst duped all and sundry, and ordered whomever thou didst send in thy stead to be arrested and crucified," she spat, her disdain for the Omen King plain. "Meanwhile, thy soldiers were to be banished in disgrace, stripped of their titles and rank."
Godrick gripped his Greatspear tighter. "I gave my retainer a Grace Mimic. Given that he is not before me now, I assume he has evaded capture."
"Nay, he didst not evade anything," Lansseax grinned, revealing unusually pointed teeth. "When the news reached mine ears, I reminded that vile Demigod that the Dragon Knights were not his to command. Stronger than I he may be, yet to harm me would alienate too many from the Golden Order. My Knights delivered thy retainer to thy forces safe and sound, once they had captured and imprisoned Godefroy the Grafted."
Godrick looked into those draconic slits that were crinkled with amusement and felt quite grateful. If Taraghlan and many of his forces were captured and stripped of their equipment, it would've greatly complicated or even ruined his plans.
"Thank you", he dipped his head. "Truly."
"Well, temper thy hopes for now. All is not well. Thou hast been declared an enemy to the Erdtree, just as every other Demigod. Henceforth, thou shalt be hunted by the Hands of the Fell Omen, the Tree Sentinels, and all of Leynde—wait... thou art smiling... why dost thou smile?"
Sure enough, Godrick's face split into a smile as he heard that he was being hunted by arguably the strongest force in the Lands Between. It was getting too boring for him with nothing meaningful to do.
Lansseax matched his grin, her draconic eyes gleaming. "If thou dost not despair, then thou art worthy of my blessing. But as thanks, thou must do something for me."
"I do not agree to anything before hearing the terms," Godrick replied, his tone measured. Gratitude did not cloud his judgment.
"When I came here, I intended to spin a tale of deep history and duty," she said, tucking a strand of white hair behind her ear. "But now, I see that is unnecessary. Thou art a simple creature. Thou desirest only to fight."
"Can't deny that", he shrugged.
"Then listen well," she said, her voice turning grave. "I wish for thee to hunt down every drake in the Lands Between. Every. Single. One. From the weakest hatchling to the mightiest of them."
"All of them?", he raised a brow, his thoughts drifting to a certain maimed one that made quite an impression on him.
"Yes," she affirmed, her voice like iron. "The Dragon Lord himself entrusted me with guiding warriors on the path of Dragon Communion. Thou shalt consume their hearts, Rip and take their power for thine own, and prove thy worth."
"What of the stories of those who partake in Dragon Communion transforming into Wyrms, cursed to crawl on their bellies?"
"Foolishness," Lansseax spat. "Those are misguided souls who seek power without understanding its purpose. Partaking in the communion for but personal gain and without guidance. But thou shalt be different. I shall guide thee personally. There is no risk of developing the insatiable hunger."
"Hmmm...", Godrick cupped his chin before getting an idea. "Help me wield Ancient Dragon Lightning and I agree to the terms."
Lansseax gave him a toothy grin. Feral but electrifying.
"I thought thou wouldst never ask."
***
POWERSTONES! Else I kill Lansseax!
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone