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Chapter 193 The Firekeeper’s Absolution

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"This is… interesting," Oswald murmured, his gaze following Naruto as he stepped into the bell tower with Anastacia held in his arms. Her eyes were wide, shimmering with awe as she looked upon the world from such a height for the first time.

"Okay, Mister Oswald, can you pardon her?"

"Of course," the Pardoner replied. "Though I am surprised thou wouldst bring such a sinner before me."

Naruto narrowed his eyes, his jaw tightening. Anastacia's face fell toward the ground, shame pressing her lower as though invisible chains were still fastened to her.

"Just help her," Naruto growled.

"Indeed, indeed… for a sin is ever a sin, no matter who commits it."

From the folds of his black robe, he withdrew a small crimson ledger bound in strange, taut skin that shimmered faintly under the light. The cover bore the sigil of Velka.

"Confess," Oswald intoned, and the air itself seemed to hush. Even the wind that whispered through the bell tower stilled. His voice no longer carried the lilting amusement from before, but the solemnity of a priest upon his altar. "A Pardoner standeth before thee. A servant of Velka, mistress of retribution, whom the very gods cast aside. Yet she seeth all falsehoods. If thy soul tremble with regret, it may be cleansed. But beware… absolution cometh not without cost."

The mask turned toward Naruto. "Dost thou understand? Pardoning a sin—any sin—demandeth a toll."

Naruto met his gaze without hesitation. "Tell me the price after this. I'll pay it."

Oswald inclined his head, a slow, solemn nod. Then he turned to Anastacia, the ledger shifting in his hands as though it pulsed with unseen life.

"Now, Firekeeper. Confess, in full. Or speak not, should thy tongue falter. Thy silence shall bear thy guilt, for the ledger itself will hear thee, and the goddess of sin shall know."

Naruto felt Anastacia stiffen in his arms, her whole body trembling. Immediately, he rested his hand on her shoulder, his grip gentle but steady.

"You deserve this forgiveness. If the gods want to say otherwise, I'll punch their faces until they get the message. But as your friend… all I can do is stand here and make sure you know you're not alone."

Anastacia's expression was torn between disbelief and fragile hope.

Oscar made a sound that caused the smaller female lizard to nudge Anastacia's side gently.

For a woman who had been told her entire life that she was a sinner, cursed and unworthy, the gesture was overwhelming. In that moment, Anastacia did not feel like an outcast or a burden. She felt love. She felt companionship. She felt… seen.

For the first time in what seemed like eternity, she allowed herself to believe that perhaps she was worthy of forgiveness. Not because of a decree, not because of ritual, but because those around her had chosen to love her as she was.

Her face pressed against Naruto's chest, muffling the sob that tore its way free. She tried to stifle it, but the tears came anyway. Her breath shook against him, her hands clinging to the fabric of his armor. Then, as her eyes slid closed, the atmosphere shifted. A current of wind stirred through the tower; subtle, almost imperceptible, yet unnatural in its stillness.

The ledger pulsed faintly in Oswald's hands, its crimson surface alive with iridescent light. "Speak, Firekeeper. Let Velka weigh thy silence. Let her raven wings judge what the gods have abandoned."

Suddenly the pages turned on their own, flipping with speed and force, then slowing until the book opened to a blank page.

Anastacia did not speak, but her soul… weighed down by guilt, by a sin old and deep… began to unravel itself in the presence of the goddess's pardoner.

Her sorrow bled into the air like ink into water. And under the gaze of Velka's servant, she let it go.

The pages of the ledger lit with violet fire, burning but not consumed. A final breeze stirred the tower, and a small halo of purple shimmer surrounded Anastacia, then faded like dusklight.

"Anastacia of Astora," Oswald intoned. "For the sin of thy birth… for the silence thou didst choose… for the life thou didst bind thyself to… thy burden is lifted. Velka hath heard thy sorrow." He pressed a gloved hand to the book's cover. "Thy name remaineth, yet the stain upon it is no more. To the world, thy sin shall be but a shadow faintly remembered. To thy soul, it shall endure only as wisdom dearly bought. Thou art… absolved."

Anastacia broke. Tears fell freely. She did not cry aloud, but her sobs shook through Naruto's arms like tremors. She clung to him, burying her face into his shoulder.

Naruto held her close, rubbing her back slowly, quietly.

Oswald stood over them, unmoving, like a priest who had completed a sacred rite.

Finally, Naruto glanced up. "Thank you," he said simply.

"I am but doing mine office. For the right price."

"How much?"

"Seven thousand souls. A steep toll, yet fitting for so deep a sin."

Naruto gave a quiet nod, forming a shadow clone that gently guided Anastacia outside while he remained behind to settle the toll with Oswald. The exchange was short, the Pardoner's hollow voice fading behind him as the boy made his way down the winding steps once more.

When he finally emerged from the spire into the open air, he found Anastacia sitting at the edge of the tower's rooftop. Her eyes, wide and shimmering, were fixed on the horizon. For years she had known nothing but the suffocating walls of her prison. Now, the sky opened before her in endless breadth. Pale clouds stretched outward like brushstrokes across a canvas.

To her, it was not merely a view. It was freedom. It was life.

She blinked rapidly, as though afraid that looking too long might cause the vision to vanish. Then she sighed, a fragile, trembling sound, and lowered herself onto her back against the rooftop. Her gaze never left the expanse above.

Naruto stepped closer, his armor clinking softly, and crouched beside her. "Now that you're free," he said with a small smile, "you can look at the sky whenever you want. No more cages. No more bars."

Her lips parted slightly, but no words came. Instead, a quiet noise escaped her throat, halfway between a sigh and a hum.

Naruto watched her for a moment, then asked gently, "So… should I heal you?"

Anastacia gave a faint nod.

"Alright," Naruto murmured. With a thought, the menu shimmered into existence before him.

[Item: Great Heal]

[Description: Great miracle cast by advanced clerics. Restores high HP. Great Heal is a long tale, only learned by a select few. No caster will be disappointed by the bountiful life that it yields.]

[Requirements: Faith 24]

Naruto pulled every soul drop from his inventory, setting them before him in a small glowing pile. He reached into the system, willing his status screen to open and update. For a heartbeat he expected the familiar flicker of light and the rush of growth whenever he updated his stats. Instead, nothing happened. His stat screen appeared duller than before, the colors muted as though the very system itself had gone stagnant.

He blinked, confused. What…?

"Thou art going to need thy Firekeeper for that."

Naruto spun around to Oswald and asked, "What? What does Anastacia have to do with this?"

"The souls of the dead are fuel for strength," Oswald said. "But the question is not whether thou usest them. It is how thou usest them."

Naruto frowned. "I know that. Affect the soul, and you affect the body."

"Indeed," Oswald replied. "But ponder this. How is it that humanity alone is able to draw upon the essence of souls? An ability not even the gods themselves possess."

Naruto's brow furrowed. "I… don't know." He said it bluntly, though in truth his thoughts strayed to the system of the furtive pygmy that he had. He kept that to himself.

"The Dark hath the power to bend souls, to shape them into strength," Oswald revealed. "Yet what humanity carries is but a shard, a fragment of that abyss. For men and undead to wield souls as power, they cannot act alone. They require a Firekeeper. She is bound to the bonfires, her spirit laid bare beneath the weight of infinite humanities. Through her burden, thou art granted the gift… to use the soul's power for thine own becoming."

Naruto drew in a long breath, the truth of Oswald's words sinking into him. He turned, his eyes resting on Anastacia. "Hey… I guess all this time I've been getting stronger because of you."

In all her years tending the bonfire, few warriors had ever spared her more than a passing glance. None had spoken her name with kindness, none had given her credit for their power. Yet Naruto was different.

Her chest tightened, the feeling strange and overwhelming. Slowly, she lifted her hand toward him, offering her strength. Though the Way of White had forced her into the role of Firekeeper for all undead warriors who came to Lordran, in that moment she chose for herself. She would be the knight's Firekeeper.

"If thou didst not know the worth of a Firekeeper, then why all of this toil? Why carry her so far? Why ask for her absolution?"

Naruto replied, no hesitation in his voice. "Because she's my friend."

For a moment Oswald was silent. The Pardoner had witnessed lords burn and kingdoms fall. He had seen men trade faith, family, and flesh for the smallest edge of power. Yet he had never once encountered a soul that spoke so simply, so surely, and believed it. His gloved hands tightened slightly on his crimson ledger, though his face betrayed nothing.

Naruto clasped Anastacia's hand.

The system stirred.

The dull, lifeless screen that had refused him before now blazed with fresh light.

[ Name: Naruto Uzumaki ]

[ Level: 54 → 61 ]

[ Faith: 18 → 25 ]

The power of Faith was always difficult to describe, but this time Naruto felt something entirely different. It was not just confidence. It was not just clarity or assurance. This was heavier, stranger, as if the very fabric of reality bent a little closer to him, like he could mold it with his will.

He compared it to Soul Sight. That same overwhelming awareness pressed at the edge of his mind now.

Faith and magic, he reminded himself, truly were two sides of the same coin. Both let him touch the unseen, both let him grasp what was not meant to be grasped.

Naruto took out the scroll of Great Heal and began to attune it. The system pulsed in response. His vision blurred, and suddenly the world tilted into the visions he got every time he attuned a miracle.

This time, his vision caused him to feel pain flood through his body. For a moment, his breath caught in his chest. He had endured plenty before, but this was different. It felt real in a way that went beyond his flesh, as though his very soul had been crushed.

Through that pain, a light broke through. White, soft, and blinding. And within it, a figure emerged.

At first, he could only make out the outline of a woman standing before him. The pain receded, replaced by warmth that flowed through every vein. Her presence alone soothed him, as if the simple act of existing in her radiance was enough to heal.

Then his vision sharpened, and before Naruto stood a vision that blurred the line between mortal woman and goddess. Her face was serene, framed by silken streams of brown hair, her eyes warm yet mysterious as if they knew every truth about him and still chose to accept him. A faint smile touched her lips, tender and knowing, crowned by a circlet of gold that marked her as something far above the reach of men. White cloth trimmed in gold wound around her body in deliberate artistry, hugging her curves while leaving her midriff bare, every line of her form sculpted to perfection. Her chest was framed with teasing dignity, her hips flowing into long, graceful legs draped by loose folds of fabric that pooled at her bare feet among blooming roses and sunflowers that seemed to glow in her presence. Pale skin shimmered like moonlight over marble, soft yet commanding, and when her arms extended in quiet benediction, Naruto felt as though he was looking at a goddess of bounty and beauty, sacred and sensual in equal measure.

Naruto's heart stuttered. He had once thought Sakura was cute. He had even found Haku more beautiful than he would ever admit aloud. But this… this was something else entirely.

His lips parted. The words slipped out without thought. "Who… who are you?"

"Gwynevere."

The vision shattered like glass. The warmth faded, the flowers and light gone. Naruto gasped, pulled violently back into the present.

So that is… Gwynevere? Naruto swallowed hard, his chest tightening at the memory. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and the thought stirred feelings in him he hadn't even known were there. But his mind quickly shifted to the strange part—why did using regular Heal and Great Heal excerpts give him visions of the Allfather, yet Great Heal itself showed him Gwynevere?

[ Great Heal has been attuned. Emit Force Miracle removed. ]

The system message finally brought the boy fully back to the present as Naruto took out his Thorolund talisman and cast the spell.

A wave of blinding white radiance exploded across the rooftop.

When it faded, Anastacia exhaled softly. She looked at her legs, then to the world below, eyes full of awe.

"It feels like a dream I don't want to wake up from," she said. "I just want to stay here… under the sun."

"Then stay as long as you like."

He walked over to Oswald and said, "Thanks for the help, man."

"I serve only judgment. Thanks and condemnation alike are not mine to give."

Naruto shifted, uneasy, before asking, "If it's not too much to ask… what was her sin?"

The Pardoner was still for a long moment. "The sins of another are not thine to know. Confession is sacred. What is spoken to Velka is veiled forever. Heh heh heh…"

Before Naruto could reply, Anastacia's voice rose from behind. "My sin was to be born."

Naruto turned. She hadn't moved from her place by the wall. Her eyes were fixed on the far horizon, the soft breeze brushing strands of her hair across her face.

"My parents… I can't even remember their faces," she said. "But they were worshipers of Queen Rosaria."

She gave a hollow laugh as Naruto remembered how the Nameless King cut the tongue of Queen Rosaria.

"I don't know why, but the church branded them heretics. They were executed. I was just a child, but my soul could tend to fire. That made me… useful." Her voice tightened.

"They spared me, but punished me for my blood. My tongue was cut so I could never speak heresy. I grew up in chains, in silence, carrying a sin I never chose."

There was a long silence.

Naruto didn't speak. He just stared, jaw clenched.

Anastacia turned her head. "Can we go back to my cage now?"

Naruto looked at her, then silently nodded. He summoned a shadow clone, who stepped forward gently and knelt beside her.

"Hey," the clone said softly. "Just remember… you always have a choice now. If you ever want to leave that place, just say the word and I'll take you somewhere even the gods won't find you."

Anastacia didn't answer. She simply leaned against the clone's shoulder, resting her head there as her eyes closed.

"Let me enjoy this dream a little longer, my dear friend."

The rooftop grew quiet again as the wind carried the silence away. The crystal lizard chirped softly, nestled in her lap.

Naruto stood still upon the spire, watching the trio leave. When they were gone, he exhaled sharply and clenched his jaw, trying to quiet the storm boiling inside him.

Oscar brushed against his leg with a soft chirp, a gesture of calm.

"Tell me, art thou wrathful at the gods?"

Naruto shook his head, though his eyes burned like flint. "No. I'm angry that people suffer for things they never chose. That someone can be branded with sins that aren't theirs, and still be forced to pay for them."

"And what is it thou intendest to do with such fury?"

Naruto was quiet for a moment. Then he spoke with a steady voice. "Anastacia's punishment is gone. That was the goal."

"That is not what I asked. I ask what thy will desires, not what thy hand hast done."

Naruto glanced down at his gauntleted hand, slowly laying it against his chest. His words came low, but firm. "Precept number fourth. It is a knight's duty to rise for the innocent. To bring justice not with rage, but with a blade tempered by honor. Even should evil wear a crown or a halo, the blade must not falter."

The Pardoner gave a quiet laugh, the sound echoing strangely in the spire. "How quaint. A nameless knight who speaks of challenging crowns and halos alike. Heh heh heh… I wonder how thy gods would greet such defiance."

"Even without my defiance, I don't think the gods would look at me favorably."

"Of course. Thou art… one of a kind."

Naruto's eyes narrowed. There was weight behind those words. Oswald knew a lot more. Testing the waters, Naruto asked, his tone edged with suspicion, "What do you know of a crow that punishes sinners?"

"Crows are ever the messengers of gods… and sometimes, their talons. Some bring pardon, some bring ruin. To know which is which? That is a matter of faith."

"And what god would call Anastacia's silence justice?"

For a moment, Oswald's amusement faltered. His tone cooled. "That, I cannot say. The courts of the gods are barred to me. I am no longer welcome. Branded heretic, my wings clipped long ago. I dispense judgment still, but I sit not at their table."

Naruto stood in silence, studying him. Then he gave a single, slow nod, and turned away with Oscar following close.

Behind them, Oswald lingered in silence. When Naruto's presence had fully faded, the Pardoner slipped a hand into his robes and drew out a Ring of Sacrifice.

"It seems that my words were insufficient to gain the boy's trust."

A voice answered in his mind, smooth and sharp. Trust doesn't matter. As long as that fire burns in him, he is worth the gamble.

"I see it now. The boy has the makings… of the Chosen Undead."

Velka's voice came again, tinged with amusement. Praise, from you of all people. That's rare.

"Not praise," Oswald replied, fingers tightening on the ring. "Truth. That boy's power to split himself into many clones is perilous. A lone warrior with the cunning of a sorcerer, the faith of a paladin, the blade of a knight, and the strength of a soldier. He is not one, but many. If the gods had sense, they would fight to claim him or seek to destroy him before he grows beyond their reach."

But that's not what impressed you, is it? Velka's voice pressed. Even Alastor never managed to stir you. And yet this boy does?

Oswald let out a slow breath. "His character. He risked so much… for a single friend. That heart of his will become his greatest strength. And his undoing."

Velka's tone shifted, almost contemplative. I agree. But Lordran was never kind to hearts like his.

Oswald's grin sharpened. "And yet, I expected you to order me to bind him to our cause."

A pause followed, long enough that the wind itself seemed to still. Then her voice came again, soft but edged with certainty.

Oswald… the gods claw at the Age of Fire, desperate to keep their flame alive. The serpents hunger for the Age of Dark, whispering of destiny and inevitability. And the boy… one day, both sides will try to shape him. They will feed him promises, burden him with prophecies, twist him for their own designs.

Her tone hardened, carrying the weight of inevitability. But they will all miss one truth.

"And that is?"

You don't tell a dragon what to do.

Oswald's grin widened, shadow stretching long across the stone. He glanced downward, watching the blonde knight make his way toward the Sunlight Altar of the Nameless King.

"No. You do not. Heh heh heh heh…"

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Author Note:

1 – Are Firekeepers the reason the player character can level up?

This is a question some of you might already know the answer to, or at least think you do, but I wanted to take the time to break it down. It is one of those little details in Dark Souls that is both ambiguous in canon and fascinating in lore.

In Dark Souls II and Dark Souls III, the games make it very clear that the Firekeeper, like the Emerald Herald or the Firekeeper in DS3, is the reason the player can level up. Likewise, in Demon's Souls, the Maiden in Black serves this purpose as the "level-up lady."

But in Dark Souls I, things are a little different. Anastacia of Astora does not act as the level-up NPC. The player can level up at any bonfire. Honestly, I always found this a little disappointing, because it feels like a missed opportunity. Imagine how horrifying and impactful it would have been if Lautrec killed Anastacia and suddenly you could not level up until you reached Anor Londo. That would have made her death not only emotionally devastating, but mechanically crippling in a way that reinforces the story.

So, how does Anastacia—or any Firekeeper—actually tie into leveling up in lore?

The truth is… we do not know for sure. The game never directly tells us. But, like always, I have my own speculation backed with some evidence, so let's get into it.

The Lords and the Dark Soul

Consider the four Lords of Dark Souls: Gwyn, the Witch of Izalith, Nito, and the Furtive Pygmy.

Gwyn took the Light Soul, granting him dominion over lightning and holy flame.

Izalith took the Life Soul, which gave her power over life and creation.

Nito claimed the Death Soul, ruling over decay and the domain of the dead.

The Furtive Pygmy took the Dark Soul, which split into fragments known as humanity.

So what did the Dark Soul actually give the Pygmy?

The answer: the power to absorb souls and grow stronger. That is what separates humanity and undead from the gods.

And here is the evidence: only humans (and those tied to the Dark, like the primordial serpents) are shown to be able to truly use souls for growth and power.

Now, let's bring in this item description:

Soul of a long-lost Fire Keeper

Description: Each Fire Keeper is a corporeal manifestation of her bonfire, and a draw for the humanity which is offered to her. Her soul is gnawed by infinite humanity, and can boost the power of the precious Estus Flasks. It can be used to gain Humanity and restore HP at the cost of losing the Fire Keeper soul to reinforce the Estus Flasks.

Focus on this line: Her soul is gnawed by infinite humanity.

Humanity is literally fragments of the Dark Soul. An "infinite humanity" is essentially as close to the original Dark Soul as anything could get.

So yes, the reason Firekeepers can help people level up is because their souls are constantly being gnawed at by the Dark Soul. That connection lets them channel that power and basically turn regular souls into stat boosts.

Which means, in this story, all of Naruto's current strength is thanks to Anastacia. Every time he sits at a bonfire, he is unknowingly linking himself to her soul, and that is what actually lets him grow stronger.

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2 – Is Anastacia's sin really that her parents worshipped Rosaria?

Nope, that is completely fanmade for this fic. Nothing in the actual lore says that. I just added it as part of my story to flesh her character out more.

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3 – Why did Naruto get a vision of Gwynevere when he attuned the Great Heal miracle?

Because Gwynevere is the Goddess of Sunlight, and she is directly tied to healing miracles and divine blessings. Now, the interesting thing is… why does Great Heal connect to Gwynevere, while regular Heal and even the Heal excerpt feel more tied to Allfather Lloyd? That is an excellent question, and I promise it will be answered later. Let's just say I have got something big cooking with the Way of White, and they are going to play a much larger role in the future of this fic.

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That is all for now.

As always, I want to thank you all for taking the time to read, comment, and follow along with this story. Your feedback means more than you know, and it helps push me to make each chapter bigger, sharper, and more true to the worlds of Naruto and Dark Souls.

Until next time, may your flames never fade.

—Adam

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[ Personal Note: First off, thanks a ton to all of you for sticking with this story. Seriously, you guys are awesome. Now, if you're interested in supporting me on P@treon, let me just say that over there, I post these massive 5k-word chapters. But heads up, if you're jumping to P@treon, you'll need to start from Chapter 90, since that's where this chapter lines up with the content there.

To everyone here just reading along, please don't forget to leave a comment! Honestly, your comments make my day, and they let me know you're as invested in this story as I am. So yeah, thanks again, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day!