Advent of the Game-Given (Elden Ring SI/Multiverse Gamer)

4. That Which Was Promised

"We're almost there, just a little more."

Pitter-patter.

The walk back to the Shunning Grounds was tiring, not only because we were a ways away, but also because we had to drag the corpse back with us.

There was the choice of leaving it, but that would mean we'd have to go hungry and hunt something else to keep ourselves fed.

"Drother, I an weary, canst we not rest awhile?" she asked, her soft, squeaky voice laced with exhaustion.

"I understand, sister, yet we must press on, lest the stench draws more rodents, or something worse upon us."

She didn't reply, breathing a sigh, the fatigue audible in her voice.

No matter how dreary our life was, I never once liked seeing her like this, sad, tired, and exhausted.

Yet, our safety was paramount, which was hypocritical of me to think, considering I was the one who suggested hunting the rodent in the first place.

A rodent that could've killed us in one bite.

Even though I put our lives at risk, she didn't say a word objecting against it, instead choosing to go along with such a risky design.

It was also why I decided to become the bait for the rodent—I owed her that much, at least.

Besides, even though I advised her, I was also quite tired, but I did not let it show, for it would only encourage her further.

We could not afford to rest, especially not when we were so close to the safest place in these accursed sewers. Otherwise, we'd just be sitting ducks in a hazardous environment—

My train of thought halted, eyes opening wide as I learned another strange sentence.

Or would it be more correct to say that I remembered?

Yet, I'd never heard anyone say such a thing before, and I was sure it was not present in my memories, at least before remembering it.

Just what is happening to me?

Perhaps it'd be best if I had one of the Perfumers–preferably Tricia–take a look at me, once they come down again.

Letting my thoughts wander, we kept walking. A while later, I noticed a flickering light in the distance.

As we approached closer, the pipe we were in began to transition into a brick tunnel, and the source of the light turned out to be a dancing flame lit on a wooden stick stuck between the bricks on the side of the wall.

"Behold, sister, we art almost there." I gained Mehg's attention, using one hand to point at the torch.

Looking towards her, I saw her eyes lit up in recognition. Grasping the rodent's tail firmly, she started walking faster, forcing me to match her pace.

"Sister..." I started but chose not to say anything, relenting with a sigh.

Traversing at a faster stride, we began coming across more and more torches that lined the walls, serving as a guide to our destination, in case we ever lost our way.

Following the trail, it led us through a few twists and turns, until we eventually came across the end of the tunnel, opening up to a sizeable area.

It was much brighter, evident by the multitudes of torches littering the entire area–a large, sturdy chamber of solid walls, built with bricks, not unlike the tunnels.

There were multiple archways on both sides of the chamber, some leading to rooms, while others connected to tunnels, leading deeper underground.

Ragged clothes unceremoniously decorated the walls, as if someone had attempted to mimic the appearance of a peaceful home.