Accursed Citrine - Yet another Dark Soul/Madoka Magica Crossover

[X] Help this "Laurentius" guy out



Oscar shrugs and grabs the thick ropes that have been haphazardly wrapped around the barrel. You step onto the top of the barrel at the same time and crouch down to look at the lid sealing Laurentius in.

Laurentius looks between the two of you with an uneasy concern. "I-Is that a yes? Uh, what are you doing?"

You pat him gently on the head and lean down closer to the barrel's lid. "Don't worry, buddy. We'll have you out real quick." You tap your finger against the lid and nod at how thin it sounds. "Uh, how tight are you crammed in there, by the way?"

"Uh, somewhat so, but not so much that I can't move about." He replies, sounding nervous. "Why?"

You tap the edge of the lip directly in front of him. "Keep away from my claw."

"Your cla-?"

Laurentius' confused question is overwhelmed by the sudden snapping and crackling of you summoning and plunging a single claw into the thin wooden lid. It's even frailer than you expected, and you're able to carve through it like a hot knife through butter. Laurentius squeals as you start to burn around the edge, wiggling desperately to avoid being caught by your claw.

When you finish the circle, you make an extra little notch in the front and, after dispelling your claw, use said notch as a handhold to yank the lid up. It comes off with a loud pop and you notice Oscar subtly lean away from the barrel and clear his throat.

Laurentius winces at this reaction, but forces a smile. "Thank you both." He says, rolling his shoulders stiffly. "I'm not exaggerating when I say you've saved my life! I'm in your debt."

"Think nothing of it, friend." Oscar says, grabbing the rim of the barrel. "And you're not entirely free yet. You may wish to hold on."

Laurentius seems to catch his meaning and braces himself on the barrel's walls. Upon receiving a nod from him, Oscar slowly starts to tip the barrel over. A wet sloshing can be heard from within as the barrel moves. You hop onto a nearby one and reach around Laurentius' arms to pull him out.

With your combined efforts, Laurentius is soon completely out of the barrel and the three of you move into the open space under the torch's light. You try not to think about what the dark liquid that poured out with Laurentius was.

Laurentius takes a deep, heavy sigh and stretches widely. "Again, thank you dearly for the assistance. I had all but given up hope before you two came along."

"If I may, how did you end up in there?" Oscar asks, eyeing the mess of barrels.

Laurentius grimaces. "It was those damned butchers. I'm afraid they got the jump on me. Crammed me into that barrel to… ferment." He shudders.

"You mentioned before that you were from the Great Swamp." Oscar says, crossing his arms. "Why didn't you just use your pyromancy to escape?"

"Wait, pyromancy?"

Laurentius ignores your question and shakes his head. "I would have, but they seemed to have thought of that. That horrible slosh they filled the barrel with made it hard to light my flame. And with the fumes that started to seep from it, I shudder to think what would've happened if I had done so…"

"Hey, what do you mean by pyromancy?"

"Ah, excuse me, miss." Laurentius says with a smile, finally acknowledging your question. "Pyromancy is the art of manipulating fire, just as our ancient ancestors. It-"

"Yeah, I know what pyromancy is." You interject, waving him down. "What I mean is, you're a pyromancer? Like, you can shoot fire from your hands and stuff?"

Laurentius is unable to hold back an amused smirk at this. "Well, there's more to it than that, but that's about right."

"Correct me if I'm wrong," Oscar adds in an uncertain tone "but I believe the art is quite common in the Great Swamp. The place is full of… well…"

"Primitives." Laurentius finishes with a wry smile. "Don't worry, sir knight. I'm well aware of the views most have of pyromancers." His smile grows genuine and he chuckles lightly. "I'm not much of a talker anyway, so no need to mince your words for me."

You look between the two of them and grumble quietly. "What's with it with magic being bad in this place? Isn't magic supposed to be all cool and stuff?"

"You seem to have a rather broad view of the different arts…" Oscar mutters tiredly, before looking back to Laurentius. "Ah, she's referring to sorceries. We had the… luck of meeting a fellow from Vinheim."

"Ah, I see." Laurentius replies with a smirk. "Well, we pyromancers aren't nearly as clever as those learned in sorceries. Most of us are more interested in understanding the powers of the flame, so we don't have much time to muck about with backstabbing and politics."

"A… respectable life, I suppose, when you put it like that." Oscar remarks, still sounding a little unsure.

"Indeed, although I won't expect a noble knight like yourself to overlook our reputation, ey? Hahaha!" Laurentius says cheerfully. After a moment, something seems to click to him and he looks between the two of you. "Ah, sorry, but I don't really have anything to repay you for your help."

Oscar shakes his head. "Do not worry about it. We merely aided a fellow traveller in need of help."

"Still, as I said: I'm in your debt. I'd like to at least do something for you." His eyes drift to you. "Say, girl… you seem to have an interest in magic. It might not be the grand sorceries of Vinhein or the Pale Duke, but pyromancy isn't anything to scoff at." He coughs and takes an apologetic glance at Oscar. "Ah, excuse me. Maybe I'm overstepping. I'm sure you're both way above using such primitive things."

Oscar sighs and shakes his head. "I'm… not against it, I suppose, if Kirika is willing. I'm sure we'll eventually encounter foes beyond mere beast if we are to continue our journeys."

Both men turn to look at you expectantly. Clearly, they're both wanting you to make the decision.

Well, it does seem like you'd be the one who'll be learning pyromancy, so it makes sense.

---

[] You decide to…
-[] Learn pyromancy
-[] Not learn pyromancy

[] Afterwards…
-[] Talk more with Laurentius
--[] Ask more about Pyromancy
--[] Ask about the Great Swamp
--[] Write in
-[] Talk with Oscar
--[] About 'Cara'
--[] About his sins
--[] Write in
-[] Move on
--[] Go check out that hole from earlier
--[] You noticed a path at the other end of the raised section…

[] Write in