章 68: Hunters not wanted here

Alfred was looking at Surgit, smiling. Surgit had to decide whether he wanted to cooperate with the simple minded hunter or not.

- "Why not, after all there are many things I'd like to know about the city. And I could offer my assistance with hunting some beasts if ever you require my help" answered Surgit.

He still had issues trusting the strangers he met in this city. But Alfred looked like a simpleton he could take advantage of. He seemed to know many things about the city and Surgit will need his assistance to gain knowledge about the beasts that roam the streets. Moreover, this man was part of some sort of organization. His master must have told him at least some stories regarding the healing church and what became of the other hunters. He had so many unanswered questions. He thought that by gaining Alfred's trust, he could extract some valuable information from him. Little did he know that Alfred had trusted him already and was willing to share with him any snippet of knowledge he possessed.

- "Very good! Very good indeed!" exclaimed Alfred, beaming with joy. "Take this, to celebrate our acquaintance." He handed Surgit three coarse red pieces of paper. "These are fire papers. They might come in handy in a battle. Beast hunting is a sacred practice. May the good blood guide your way."

- "Thanks I guess" Surgit was grateful for this kind gestures. It reminded him of how Iosefka had helped him at the beginning. But before he could think more about her Alfred resumed the conversation.

- "There must be oodles for us to share. Go on, just tell me what piques your interest."

- "Very well, can you tell me what you know about the healing church then?" Surgit had multiple questions that crossed his mind. But since Alfred was part of it, he preferred to ask him about the church.

"As you may know, the healing church is the fountainhead of blood healing." Surgit nodded in agreement, he read that much in the past when he was staying at Francis' mansion. "Well I'm a simple hunter, quite unfamiliar with the ins and outs of the institution. I have heard that the holy medium of blood healing is venerated in the main cathedral. And that councilors of the old church reside in the high stratum of the Cathedral Ward. If you seek blood healing, and the church is willing, you should pay them a visit."

After finishing his monologue, Surgit was left with more questions than answers. He had never heard about councilors living in the Cathedral Ward, nor did he know that the church was restricting blood healing to the ones they approve of. He felt very lucky that the blood minister had agreed to administer blood for him the moment he reached Yharnam. Or was he? Maybe receiving blood ministration only made his life harder as he was stuck in the city, fighting all sorts of beasts. It could have been better to reach the Cathedral and just ask for blood healing then remain in the city to recover, like Gilbert. After all there was no point in thinking about the matter at that moment, he was hunter and his duty was clear: to clean the city from the beasts that roam it.

- "Tell me, have you heard of Paleblood?" Surgit remembered the note he saw in the dream.

- "I can't say that I have unfortunately." There was disappointment in Alfred's face, perhaps because he couldn't provide Surgit with the information he needed.

- "No worries" said Surgit in an attempt to console the naïve man, "No one seems to know about it in this city."

- "If it's blood related information you're seeking, perhaps the councilors at the church may be of some help. Find them and they may be of assistance to you." Alfred seemed satisfied as he managed to give Surgit a lead.

- "Thank you Alfred, you have been of great help." Said Surgit taking leave of the man.

- "I bid you farewell. It has been a pleasure. May the good blood guide your way."

Surgit left the man and returned to the ground floor of the church. The hidden stairs led down towards a dark area. Surgit had a hard time adjusting to the darkness as he was going down the stairs, despite his enhanced vision. He reached a spacious room where he could see shapes of jars that used to have incense in them. The place used to host people for shelter apparently but judging from the darkness and the silence that surrounded the place, Surgit concluded that the safety in that place had long ceased to exist.

He noticed a chest and made for it. As he opened it, dust filled his nostrils. It was clear that no one had been there in a very long time. He found a small cylindrical object. It was hard and cold, almost freezing. He closed his eyes and inspected the item using his insight. 'Blood stone shard. You can use it to upgrade your weapon and make its damage greater.' The murmurs stopped and Surgit opened his eyes. 'At last I found the item needed to make those imprints on my weapon stronger. I just need to know how to use them. Once I'm back to the dream, I'll try them out.'

His eyes by that time got used to the darkness and he could see clearly the path leading down through more stairs. He went down and found himself yet in another opening. It was bigger this time and had two huge pillars in the middle. It was spacious and cold. Surgit noticed some small windows on the top corners of the area.

He was underground. He saw a door on the other end of the room and as he headed towards it, he heard a strange noise behind one of the pillars. He jumped back in time to avoid the lunging attack from a werewolf. The beast had stalked him and was waiting for the right opportunity to attack. With a swing from his cleaver, Surgit elongated it and managed to graze the beast's head. It let out a scream and jumped at him again. Using his speed, Surgit quickstepped to the right and kicked the werewolf in the throat as the latter bit the air. Using his saw, Surgit hacked the monster's back and cut his right hind leg. Slowing them down had become Surgit's method of disposing of them. They were agile for their size and letting them attack with full strength was dangerous. He wasn't going to leave anything to luck. The beast, limping, turned towards Surgit and slashed at him with its claws. It was easier for him to dodge the attack then retaliate with another. He buried his saw in its face.

He proceeded through the door and found himself in a dark building. Stairs led further down and Surgit was wondering at his unknown destination. 'I should find some torch. The darkness in these places can be very dangerous.' He thought as he went down the first flight of stairs. He found himself then in front of a ladder and as he descended, he pricked his ears for signs of enemies beneath him.

He could only hear his feet as they hit ladder steps, one by one. Darkness enveloped the place. Even with his enhanced vision, there was nothing to be seen if not even a bit of light penetrated the room. He felt uneasy at the idea that he couldn't see clearly around him and as he reached the bottom of the ladder, he stood and used his insight to try and scout the area. Nothing happened!

He fumbled with his hands in the walls surrounding him and touched what appeared to be books. This place was perhaps a library, a tall building that used to accommodate avid learners. He found a railing and followed it with his hands. He took another flight of stairs down and found himself at the bottom of the building.

He saw some light emanating from a door and as he emerged onto the other room, he saw an extinguished lamp. 'The hunter's dream lamp, hunters used to come here.' He knew that by touching it, he would light it and even find himself back in the dream. He decided to use the little light a small window at the top of the room allowed, and the one emanating from two torches on different corners to scan the place instead.

He only needed small lighting to see very well, as if it was clear as day. He was in a large place, with a gigantic triangular dome on top. A big wooden door seemed to be the exit from the area. Surgit approached it and found a note stuck to it.

"The town is long abandoned. Hunters not wanted here."