Chapter 1 Hunter of the Dream
Burning buildings. Burning beasts. No, not beasts. Burning people. These thoughts flooded Djura's mind as he mindlessly navigated the scorched alleys of Old Yharnam. He would always end up at the same bloodied and burnt dead end. A mangled thing that showed signs of being human lay before his eyes. He picked up the portable ashen gatling gun and strapped it on his back.
"I'm sorry I failed you too," Djura murmured those words as he went back to his tower vantage point.
"Where am I?" I asked as if anyone could have heard me. Pale flowers and gravestones were littered all across the serene environment. A flight of stairs stood before me leading to a small chapel. I seemed to be alone in this place.
"Hello, good hunter," a warm female voice said.
Surprised at the sudden appearance, I sprung back. Looking at the source of the voice, it appeared to be a tall porcelain doll clad in a prim dress. Her pale blond hair perfectly matched her white eyes. Noticing my exaggerated reactions, the doll giggled.
The Doll continued, "I am a doll, here in this dream to look after you." I kept my guard up, examining her from head to toe as she spoke. "Honourable hunter, pursue the echoes of blood, and I will channel them into your strength." I then spotted at the corner of my eye, an old man in worn clothing sitting in his wheelchair at the top of the stairs, quietly eavesdropping. The dehydrated wrinkles on his face showed much of his age and resonated an aura of wisdom.
"You must be the new hunter, eh? Come with me," the old man said. I climbed the stairs and left the Doll to her own devices. Inside the chapel, stacks of books and weapons shrouded the room with a dusty feeling. Even though it was an unsightly sight, the chapel still radiated a warm presence.
"Hmm a simple, yet young Yharnamite hunter. And you were chosen to end tonight's endless hunt. I wonder what's so special about you," the old man rasped while eyeing my armour.
"Welcome to the Hunter's Dream. This will be your home, for now. I am… Gehrman, friend to you hunters," Gehrman paused to catch his breath before continuing, "You're sure to be in a fine haze about now, but don't think too hard about all of this. Just go out and kill a few beasts, it's for your own good,"
Gehrman? Teacher of Master Ludwig? He was supposed to be missing, vanished years ago without a trace. "Ding… Dong…" a familiar sound echoed in my ears. "Ah… you are about to awaken. Remember, to end this endless night, halt the source of the spreading scourge of beasts, lest the night carry on forever," Gehrman's parting words were etched in my head as my vision blackened.
"Lionel? Lionel?" a young female voice whispered, anxiously.
"Elizabeth? What happened?" I asked, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in my head.
"My head… it hurts"
"My apologies. I broke your balance and made you fall," Elizabeth said while looking much apologetic.
"She meant that she viciously used her wooden mallet to break your balance and smash you to the ground. Oh my Elizabeth, it was supposed to be a simple sparring session," a slender young man stood up and taunted Elizabeth.
"Silence Archibald, it really was an accident. I didn't mean it. Anyways, Lionel, the bell has rang,"
"Indeed, let us carry on with our journey to the Grand Cathedral. We wouldn't want Master Ludwig to miss us, would we?"
I looked up to the large pale moon and proceeded to the Grand Cathedral with Archibald and Elizabeth, whilst rubbing the back of my head in an attempt to soothe the pain. Was it all just a hallucination due to the fall? A talking doll and the fabled first hunter were too unrealistic to be true. I shook away those thoughts and continued on our path to the Grand Cathedral.
Author's Note: So... that was the first chapter. I know it's a little too short but I promise you the next one would be longer. Yes, it is the same Archibald who invents the Tonitrus. Thanks for reading and please leave a review if you can to cleanse my mediocre writing. :)