Little Witch Academia: The Ashen Knight (LWA x Dark Souls)

Ashen One

Once again...I found myself in pure, endless darkness. No light, no sign of life.

Just an empty husk of space where I could not feel anything.

Twas as if I never left.

But that was a lie. I did indeed feel something...something empty within me...

I felt Hollow...

Was this truly what fate had in store for me? After everything I did...all the sacrifices, the suffering, the deaths, and the loss...I was damned to rot away. Nothing but a nameless knight with a title that was worthless...

The only thing keeping me from truly Hallowing were the memories...of Luna Nova.

Miranda taking me in and providing a place of sanctuary...aiding Akko and her friends in the little adventures they found themselves roped into...

And Chariot...someone whom I forged a strong bond with. United in our shared desire of protecting Akko and ensuring she would unlock the Grand Triskellion.

A bond that could have grown to be more than just friends...what could have been...

But instead, I sacrificed it all for her world. For their world. So that it would not fall to ruin as it did so long ago...

A noble sacrifice, many would say. But it did not dull the pain of being torn away from what was supposed to be a moment of celebration.

Death could not even allow me to say what I needed to tell Chariot...I was not sure if she even heard what I said...

Was this fate of mine intended to be a cruel jest?

Is this how Death sought to reap twisted pleasure from me? To smugly laugh as whatever humanity was left in me sank further and further into this endless abyss?

"Ashen One. Hearest thou my voice still?"

That voice...was it my mind playing tricks upon me? No, it couldn't have been. It sounded so close, yet so far away...I recognize that voice from anywhere...

I turned my head around until I saw a flickering flame ahead of me, of which barely lit the empty abyss surrounding it. Finding the strength to rise back up, I trudge forward, desperate to rejoin with the voice. Finally, I arrived and fell back to my knees, my hands extended forward to feel the warmth of the fire.

But the voice...perhaps if I respond...

"Yes. Can you hear my voice as well?"

Silence...just pure silence for what felt like agonizing eternity...until...

Footsteps rung out directly in front of me, and like an apparition appearing before me like a ghost, there she was...the Firekeeper...my Firekeeper...

A gentle smile rested on her face as our gazes locked, even despite her mask still being present. "Ashen One...tis good to see you once more." It almost felt like a dream, one I dared not wish to wake from. Without hesitation, she held her hands out and grasped mine tenderly.

"Aye...I can say the same, Firekeeper." I finally said, savoring the moment as my gaze remain locked with hers. A stir of emotions rose up within me, jubilation and regret being the most prominent. "I...I have missed you dearly. All this time, I thought I would never be able to reunite with you. Especially after..."

"Ease yourself, Ashen One. I understand wholeheartedly. I'm aware you've had quite a journey of your own in our time away from each other." Her response left me speechless. Aware of my journey?

Before I could inquire further, the flame that rested between us suddenly rose up and expanded like a small sun. Through what I could only assume was sorcery, it began to show images of myself, and the many mishaps I found myself in.