บท 162: Blood Crazed Fiends

The morning's cold breeze caressed Karla's face as she stood beside the tall fair Lady Maria. She felt like a puppet, being dragged around against her own wishes. The city was calm. Few people walked by them in the street, on their way to open their shops or attend to some matters before the night falls. The whole city was about to go into an uproar.

The day preceding the hunt was special in Yharnam. Incense shops would run out of stock early during the day. People stock up on food and drinks, as if one night would last them an eternity. As the four hunters strode through the Cathedral Ward, Karla heard murmurs inside the houses they passed by. People would wake up earlier to strengthen their doors and windows with wooden board. It would be useless against the attack of beasts, but they did it nonetheless. Beggars, wearing but tatters, stretched their limbs before going to their respective begging spot.

"These are the most dangerous types," Lady Maria broke the heavy silence that settled within the party.

"Some of them are ours." The old man spoke for the first time in front of Karla. "They won't let the city fall before the hunt even begins."

"Do you even know which one of them is yours, and which is not?" the other man retorted, giving Karla's thoughts a voice. She couldn't speak in front of those three. She was intimidated.

"I might not know their faces Laurence," Gehrman answered after a light chuckle. "I can assure you that my nose never fails me." The old man was famous for his infallible olfactory system. He could smell a hunter, miles away. No spy would dare get too close to the Hunter's Order. They generally spread around the city or inside the Healing Church.

"You see the hat on the roof?" Gehrman asked. The three looked up, where Gehrman had pointed. Laurence nodded. "That's a hunter keeping guard before sunrise. And there," he pointed at a shopkeeper, arranging the merchandise on the shelves by the wall. "He's a hunter too." Gehrman chuckled before going on. "I'm not certain of his affiliation though."

Lady Maria sighed. "You never take these threats seriously master. We are worse to each other than the monsters we hunt." The lady had spent most her life in the castle, being educated on matters of governance and diplomacy.

"What threat is there?" the old man asked. "We're but mere creatures looking for a way to lead a carefree life." Gehrman went silent for a moment. Lady Maria opened her mouth to say something, but the old man interrupted her. "Other seek power, we seek humankind's salvation. Those on the path of power play a losing game." He looked at the fair lady beside him. "They are no match for my chosen student."

"Your flattery won't help you get away from your duties. When the night of the hunt is over, we need to discuss Cainhurst and that secret order that calls itself the executioners." Lady Maria wasn't impressed with Gehrman's words.

"The lady is right. We cannot allow foreign disturbance while we try to finally solve our case." Laurence was clearly talking about the thing they hoped to extract from the Great One at the fishing hamlet. Laurence shot a hateful look at Lady Maria. Karla could see his eyes sparkling, loathing seeped through the light the man's eyes emitted.

"I trust you've received the village's news my lady?" asked Laurence, his voice trembling. Karla finally understood the reason behind the heavy tension she felt. Since the four of them met and walked through the city's streets, Karla felt that something was amiss. Lady Maria didn't answer. She looked at Laurence with cold eyes. She looked the other way and kept moving.

"Do you still believe that a conversation is necessary with those yokels?" Laurence's voice was loud. Karla stiffened as she saw Lady Maria's reaction. "The salvation you seek will be the end of you. You've lost your way, looking for truth Laurence. What happened to the vision you've had? Reuniting people under one banner? What people if none remains?" Lady Maria's voice was still melodious. Yet the melody it sang was one of fury and disdain.

"Let's not speak of matters we haven't confirmed yet," Gehrman's welcomed voice interrupted the brewing argument. "We do not know if the girl has indeed been murdered. Laurence, let's not make any hasty judgments. We're on our way. We'll make our own minds when we see things for ourselves."

"I don't believe you're siding with her," muttered Laurence under his breath as he looked away. "And what use will this lass be to us?" asked Laurence, unwilling to give up the fight. "The chair she arrived in belongs to my family. If the castle is involved in her appearance, I prefer to keep her at my side." The conversation swiftly became about Karla.

She looked at the two legendary men with fearful eyes. She had never experience a fear as intense as the one Lady Maria had subjected her to. The old man was her master. 'What master would take such a student?' In Karla's mind, Gehrman was scarier than a thousand Cleric Beasts. The old man taught Lady Maria everything she knew about hunting. He also trusted her with managing the Order while he focused on private matters no one knew of their nature.

"You pick your protégés with care my lady," commented the old man. Karla swore she could see a light smirk on Gehrman's face. That little change in his facial expression sent shivers down her spine. "I don't see anything against keeping one. The lady knows how to handle people, this one won't go anywhere." Gehrman spoke after he carefully observed Karla.

The look in Gehrman's eyes put the fear in Karla's soul. She had never been more afraid in her life. She could face beasts countless times more frightening that Gehrman's in terms of physical appearance. But she couldn't bear the thought of what was on the old man's eyes when he gave her that look. Him speaking about her not escaping was proof enough that he knew of Lady Maria's methods.

Laurence shot a short look at Karla. "Did you put the poor soul through the bell?" he asked. Lady Maria nodded, not caring to elaborate anymore on why Karla was among them. Laurence let out a "humph" then no longer spoke. "The moon will be close tonight," Gehrman said as he looked beyond the city's gates.

Karla didn't notice that the party kept moving despite the argument that broke earlier. They had arrived at the city's gate when the sun rose, releasing golden lights against the wet paved streets. Gehrman looked at the almost full moon across the horizon. It was that time of day when sun and the moon danced before one eclipsed the other.

In that early morning, four hunters left Yharnam for the fishing hamlet. The events that unfolded in the village became the church's, and hunters by proxy, most well-kept secret. They didn't keep it away from prying eyes for shame but for the irreversible curse they'd cast on hunters; A curse that would last for generations, plaguing every soul that dared join the hunters.

The party arrived at the forest where Karla was found, half-dead on a mysterious chair. "You might not remember this, but you were found here. You were dangerously close to the fishing hamlet. Beasts inhabit the area, threatening everyone's lives. I do not know how you survived so long to be found, but death seems to have other plans for you kid." Gehrman's voice reached Karla's ears.

She didn't believe that the old man was addressing her. It took her a minute to realize she was expected to give an answer. "The gods love me, or curse me. I don't know which. But I do know that my life has been one of suffering since the day I wanted to wield the sword. Nothing would have led me here if I decided to shun the sword, and pick up a needle.

"Staying home, educating my children while my husband drinks his doubts and sorrow away. It'd be a dull life, but a life nonetheless. Would I change my decision if I was given a second chance?" Karla was speaking mostly to herself than to the others. The invitation to speak came as a relief to the poor woman. She had endured so much lately, with no time to settle the experiences into thoughts. "I will still pick the sword I believe. Although my life would be one of suffering, I'd take it over a dull one anytime."

"Piss on the gods," retorted Laurence. "We are weak creatures on our way to revolutionize evolution. None shall speak about the food chain anymore. This blood was our first step, the second step is the one we're about to take." Laurence shot a dark look at Lady Maria. The darkness of the forest emphasized his glistening eyes. "If we're not met with difficulties that is…"

"Oh, enough!" Lady Maria couldn't keep up with his constant nagging. "We're almost at the fishing hamlet. Less speaking, more slaying! The faster we get there, the closer we'll be to the truth. I don't take murder lightly, let alone the murder of a member of the church. But we mustn't be hasty." She looked at Laurence, meeting his gaze.

The latter looked down, realizing that Lady Maria wouldn't turn against them. They had been companions for longer than a decade. She never kept any secret from them, but voiced her concerns clearly every time she disagreed. It was his eagerness that pushed him to become restless, thus stupid.

"The sooner we get there, the sooner we solve this. The beasts in this forest are good stalkers. Be on your guard. When you strike, you strike to kill." Gehrman said as he unsheathed his weapon: A large curved sword that could be attached to a long pole, transforming it into a scythe. When held in its transformed mode, Gehrman looked like the grim reaper. The old man moved with tremendous speed, going deeper into the forest and towards the fishing hamlet.