A/N: Continuing off where we left, the truth behind the Great Ones and their Kin...also I hope the lore was able to be accurately matched with previous chapters as well as the actual game's lore...tried not to take too many liberties.
The four trudged into the dark building, Sio still feeling uneasy about the whole thing but it was too late to turn back now. Even though Nostradamus assured them multiple times the Cathedral was quite safe, she'd learned enough to know nothing was ever certain.
"Still, I must say I'm surprised dear friend, that you would choose to join a group of hunters...?" Their guide questioned his friend. "You used to always say numbers create more problems than they solve..."
"Hmm...call it a change of heart. We don't stay the same forever, Nostradamus."
"Oui oui, that is true. In more ways than one...indeed." They were now inside a great hall of sorts, dust covering most of the surfaces and furniture looking like they were one step away from falling apart, but at least there were no creatures wandering about as far as they could see. "Please, have a seat...if you can find one. Although I only anticipated William Tell, I am glad to share my findings with those who are interested. Not many care to learn about our origins anymore, these days...where They came from, our role as hunters in this hunt and our fates in this dream..."
Dream? For some reason that word made Sio shiver, though there shouldn't have been any reason to. Again a strange feeling that she should know something, but just like whenever she was in the Hunter's Dream, those thoughts fled the second she tried to focus. "Wait...you know about those things? The monsters that suddenly appeared, after we defeated Rom...and the moon turned red..."
"Ah, the Red Moon..." Though he was blindfolded, it still felt like Nostradamus was looking directly at her. "You, the girl...you had contact with her. The Great One, Rom."
"Y, Yeah, I did...h-how did you know..."
A tinkling of laughter from Nostradamus; not menacing but still every single hair on the back of her neck stood on end. "Just because my eyes are no longer privy to the world does not mean I do not see, Mademoiselle... in fact I daresay, I can see far more than you, Miss...?"
"Uh, Ogura. Sio Ogura."
"Mademoiselle Ogura. You came into contact with a Great One. And since your group defeated her, the veil that was cast over this world lifted and now you can see what I've long known; the nightmare this world truly is..."
"What...this world truly is? What do you..."
"Those things. The Amygdalas that Vidocq talks about...you mean those, don't you? We weren't able to see those abominations until after fighting Rom..." Adam's gaze narrowed at Nostradamus' words. "What do you mean by veil...are you implying what we saw, before...was all a lie?"
"Not quite. And you are Monsieur...?"
"Muirhead." Adam replied bluntly, not keen to give the stranger anymore information than he had to. "Somethin's changed since then, it's fairly obvious. But what's that to do with these Great Ones? Are you saying they're some sort of beings that can...influence us?"
The Choir member nodded. "In a way. I'm impressed, that a non-Church group like yours has a surprisingly solid grasp on the basics. But the truth, ah...that is always more complex, non?" He strode over to one of the leaning shelves, pulling out a great tome that was set down with a thud on the remaining table, dust rising from its weight. "Please, take a look. It is part of Master Wilhem's teachings that have been passed down since the founding of the Healing Church—despite our separations." The page opened to what appeared to be an ancient drawing, the paper yellow and wrinkled and filled with muddled text Sio could not make out, despite her schooling. But the picture and diagrams on the page...
An eerie creature, with a vertical, gaping maw and a monstrous head that seemed to be all brain, covered with countless stalk eyes all over and long tentacle-like wings on its back; around it were drawings of people kneeling or even praying, as if worshiping this creature. Lines with foreign script on them went from the creature to the humans, and Sio noticed with slight horror how some seemed to be deformed, clutching their heads as eyes sprouted out or others that seemed to be screaming in terror.
"Oh...god!" The huntress unconsciously stepped back, squeaking in surprise as she backed into Adam. "Th, that thing...why are they, what is it? Is it one of those...Great Ones you're talking about?"
"Ebritias, Daughter of the Cosmos. She came down from the heavens, and took pity on us poor humans, a race beneath their level of existence..." Nostradamus slowly turned the page, showing another image of this Ebritias appearing to interact with humans, including some who looked like they were gouging out their own eyes. "We of the Choir learned a great deal from her, in our quest for the Truth; she taught us about the Eldritch Truth, and gave us access to the Old Blood..."
The floor seemed to waver as Sio sat down; though they all suspected it, hearing confirmation from one of the elite members of the Church that there were indeed otherworldly creatures and forces manipulating their lives... "I-I don't, I don't get it...what is this 'Truth'? Why's it so important? And if this, Ebritias...if she really is just here to give us knowledge, then how come I feel like I'm about to go insane each time one of them tries to communicate with me?!"
"It is because most humans lack the ability to commune with them. To understand the Truth, and gain more Insight..." Gloved fingers paused on the drawing of a skull on the page. "Making contact with eldritch wisdom is a blessing, for even if it drives one mad, it allows one to serve a grander purpose, for posterity."
"...Okay, that's great and all, but what if I don't want to? Besides, what's the point if I'm just going to go insane..." Sio muttered, wondering if Nostradamus himself wasn't more than a little loopy after spending all this time around the Great Ones. At least she finally knew why she always went into a frenzy when fighting those creatures, but it didn't help mitigate the problem itself.
"Seeking the Truth is not for everybody; I admit that. However, I am afraid us humans...do not have much of a choice." Nostradamus gently closed the tome and returned it to the shelf. "I have chosen to dedicate my life in hopes of understanding the knowledge of the Great Ones, and perhaps even make contact with them, eventually. Though, it is not without risks, even to me; there were once other members who sought to commune with them at any means, even if it meant sacrificing their sanity... the School of Mensis, they are an example of what happens when humans foolishly overstep their boundaries. However, that is not to say there are some small...beneficial effects. For example, Mademoiselle Ogura, you suffer the blood sickness, do you not? Have you wondered why you haven't succumb to the scourge yet, despite your ashen blood?"
Sio flinched at the mention of her condition. "Y-You, don't mean to say...this, 'insight'..."
"It counteracts the effects of beasthood. In other words, you may be risking your sanity, yes, but it is also probably the only thing from keeping you from turning into a full-fledged beast," Nostradamus answered for her softly. "Not what you want to hear I'm sure, but..."
She only heard the first part of the sentence, all feeling having left her legs as she slumped to the stone floor, oblivious to Adam's concerned queries. Turning into a beast, or losing your sanity... Were these really the only two choices she had? Even worse was the fact that out of all the hunters, she was the only one who suffered from both; none of the others showed signs of contamination, and even their frenzy seemed to be less severe than hers, able to be tempered by an occasional draught of sedative while she downed pills and vials like candy. Her body was trembling with both anger and despair and a tear fell before she knew it.
"I-It's not...it's not fair!" Sio choked out a sob, not even bothering to wipe her tears. "I don't care about the Eldritch Truth! I don't want to turn into a beast...! Why am I the only who's suffering..." The last thing she wanted was to give off the impression of an immature child, but the huntress couldn't help it; to come all this way, only to learn she was nothing more than a puppet for the whims of godly creatures, far beyond their understanding. Sympathetic or not, it seemed the Great Ones did not care if humans went insane; the only thing that mattered was passing on this 'truth'. "I hate this! Why did I even come here...maybe I should've just stayed behind and let the disease run its course; at least I wouldn't be plagued by those monsters trying to force me to understand things I can't..."
"Oy now, you don't really mean that..." Gentle hands helped her up, procuring a handkerchief and wiping her face. "Chin up, Ogura. You've come this far already, I know you won't just give up."
"Apologies, Mademoiselle. A hunter's life is not easy...I am surprised you chose such." Nostradamus bowed in sympathy. "Please, take your time to rest here; it is safe, I can assure you." The other two mercifully left the immediate vicinity, giving Sio some privacy.
Sio only continued sniffling, grateful for Adam's handkerchief. "I know...I know...! Still, in hindsight...I can't help but wonder if I made a mistake...hell, even the 'paleblood'...those were all just lies, too..." The huntress hugged herself tight, wishing she were anywhere other than this damp, cold cathedral, where monsters and alien creatures prowled about and she never felt truly safe, even in the Dream. "I just want this to end..."
"And it will, Sio. You have to trust me. Trust yourself," Adam firmly chided, brushing the girl's tangled locks. "I know you're feeling awfully discouraged, and hell so would I, if I were in your shoes. But you've also done remarkably well, even with those conditions. Think about it; most normal hunters barely make it this far, but you discovered something most people never find, in spite of your illness." He patted her on the back, offering a small hug as Sio blew her nose. "Don't forget, you're not alone in this fight; you'll always have me an' Hunter. We won't leave you behind, Sio."
"A-Adam...th, thank you..." Though her body and mind were exhausted, she knew Adam was right—giving up was not an option, not after all they overcame, and the small, precious moments of happiness she found during this journey... "U, Um, A-Adam? C-Can I ask you for a small favor...?"
"Hmm?"
Sio blushed under his curious gaze; those green eyes were almost too piercing at times. "I-I, it's just...I'm sorry if it seems silly, but...c-could you, hold me really tight?" She half-expected him to laugh or scold her for wasting time, but then a pair of strong arms encircled her, and as she buried herself against his broad chest his embrace tightened. A couple of tears fell as she couldn't help but contemplate her future, but Adam simply held her until the hiccups subsided.
"Feelin' a mite better now?"
"M-Mmm...s-sorry about that..." Slowly she unwound herself from his grasp. "Thank you...I feel like, that's the only place I ever really feel safe...when you, hold me...all tight like that..." Her cheeks were rosy from both the tears and shyness, Adam feeling his own face grow rather warm.
"...Of course, Sio. I'm glad to hear it." Good thing neither Tell or Nostradamus were around, but at this point Adam couldn't have cared less; if the others began finding out about his relationship with the huntress, then so be it. Things were getting more desperate than ever, and if indulging in these moments of tranquility meant risking the attention of others...well, it was worth it. "But did you get what you wanted here? The truth about your condition..."
Sio nodded as she pulled her overcoat back on. "Y-Yeah...I mean, I kinda already figured out some of it, but hearing it from Nostradamus himself..." she sighed, turning her back towards him. "...I was hoping he'd be able to have some sort of cure for either of them, but it looks like, there really isn't...except for ending the hunt. Still, it pisses me off knowing that those, creatures just play around with us like toys...can't they just leave us alone?"
"I am afraid not, Mademoiselle Ogura," the two whirled around as Nostradamus came back with Tell. "To creatures that might as well be gods, our wants do not matter. However, perhaps you could try asking her yourself, if you wish..."
"Her? As in, Ebritias? She's here?"
The man in the blindfold cap nodded. "Oui. She still exists, hidden below us in this Cathedral, at the Altar of Despair...She granted us the knowledge that allowed The Choir to become what it is now."
The two hunters looked downwards below the balcony. Though nothing was visible, Sio felt the familiar stirrings of frenzy the longer she stared. "N-No...th, that thing...even up here, it can...influence me..."
"Sio!" Adam pulled her back from the ledge, immediately grabbing a sedative from his pouch. "Don't go down there; it's not worth th' risk, 'specially with your condition... We should leave and head back. There's no more reason to be here."
"Alas, I am afraid you cannot go back the way you came." Adam looked at Nostradamus in shock. "The only lamp in this vicinity is below; where Ebritias dwells."
"Bloody hell!" Adam swore violently, the Stakedriver nearly primed by the time he paced over. "There's no way I'm letting Ogura get near that thing! If it's as powerful as you say, she'll go mad in an instant! There has to be another way!"
"There may be." Tell's deep voice chimed in, the duo having nearly forgotten about the mysterious hunter who asked for their company on this trip to begin with. "We may not be able to backtrack, but if you're worried about the girl's condition...then we'll just get rid of the creature."
Neither Sio nor Adam could respond; what Tell said made sense, but it was shocking to think the hunter who appeared to be on good terms with this Choir member would turn face against his friend so quickly. Then again, who could say for certain whether or not Tell and Nostradamus were truly friends? In Yharnam, 'friends' and 'companions' were loose terms, often lacking the finer points of their true meanings. It could very well be the two simply decided to work together on the mutual basis of information exchange; as soon as the situation shifted, there was no need to uphold any sort of honor or obligation.
"Th, that's...possible, but...why are you helping us? I thought this Nostradamus was your friend," Adam muttered, exchanging wary glances between the other two, though the blindfold made it impossible to determine Nostradamus' true feelings. "Just who are you anyway? Why d'you care about what happens to the rest of us?"
"That's insignificant; but if you must, consider me as someone who wants to see this Dream come to an end," Tell answered simply, striding over and now unsheathing his Bowblade. "Since the girl cannot be in close proximity to the Great One, I will help you. Unless, you think to tackle the creature alone?"
Adam stared at the hand, before reaching out and reluctantly shaking it. "No, I'm fine with that. But what about him," he jerked his head towards Nostradamus, who remained standing a ways all this time. "He's not gonna...try an' stop us or anythin', is he? From the sounds of it, The Choir reveres these things..."
Tell shook his head slightly. "No; Nostradamus may be a member of the Choir, but he also understands the Truth; possibly better than anyone else. Why do you think he has survived all this time? I know you do not trust me fully, Adam Muirhead—as you rightly should. But I can guarantee on my life, no harm will befall Miss Ogura nor will Nostradamus attempt to dissuade us."
"...Very well...I'll trust you, but just this once, Tell...you wrong about any of it, and I'll run a stake through you myself."
The archer nodded. "Fair enough. Get ready, then. As soon as you're prepared, we'll have to jump down; the elevator is broken."
As the two men readied their weapons and gear, Adam strode over to the huntress, who was hunched against an old bookshelf, eyes closed in a restless sleep with her cloak wrapped tightly around her. "Oy, Ogura. You feelin' alright? Should probably take some sedative, just in case...even if yer out of sight, don't exactly want to take chances with somethin' that powerful..."
To his surprise she shook her head weakly, eyes furrowing open. "N-No...I, don't want to keep taking sedatives, unless I have to...ooh," she moaned as another pulse of pain shot through her head, Adam looking on in great concern. "D-Don't worry about me, Adam...I'll, be fine, I promise...the sooner you and Tell take care of that, thing...the sooner we can go back, and I'll be better..."
"Sio...! Tch..." Though he knew she was right, that taking unnecessary blood ministrations would worsen her reliance on them, her strained visage worried him greatly. "Alright...but promise me, if yeh feel like it's about to burst, then take it, alright?" Sio nodded, and he left the extra bottle by her side, alongside a molotov cocktail. "An' take this, just in case...I know Tell had that whole speech about Nostradamus not interferin' an' all, but we can't be careless..."
"I, I know...don't worry Adam, I can handle myself up here. You be careful, too; I have a feeling, this Great One...she's even more powerful than Rom. E-Even if, you aren't as affected by frenzy...who knows what they're really capable of."
He nodded silently, before pulling her into a quick embrace. "I'll be careful. I swear to god, I am not dying here. You just sit tight, an' we'll be back soon." Pulling his balaclava up and settling the hunter's cap back on his head, Adam joined Tell at the edge of the balcony, the archer having split his weapon into its bow form. Nostradamus stood off to the side, staring what seemed to be into nothing.
"Well, better get started." The two men shared a glance, before leaping off onto the floor below. The floor was surprisingly wet, Adam's boots nearly ankle-deep in the fetid water as they slowly splashed towards a massive, quivering mound of glowing tentacles and undulating false eyes growing from her wings. Even without engaging in a direct line of sight however, Adam could tell this Great One exerted far greater Insight than Rom; the close they got, the more his head ached as well, and strange whispers seemed to hover around his ears, even though Tell was silent the whole time.
'Damn...better watch myself and take a sedative soon, otherwise the frenzy'll be fatal...'
The Altar of Despair... Adam's first thought was it was certainly appropriately named; grotesque statues (or were they) of villagers and worshipers scattered in different states of disrepair, some bent over in prayer while others seemed to be bemoaning some unseen horror. At the center was a strange rock, with eye-like craters that had candles stuck inside them...as they circled the alter Adam realized where he'd seen this creature before.
"Rom?! It can't be...I thought we killed her..." Adam breathed in hushed tones as the two men walked closer to what had to be Ebritias, though she made no move. "An' this big one, doesn't seem interested in us either...yet. Just like Rom..."
"Rom? Are you referring to the other Great One you and Miss Ogura encountered?" Tell cast him a questioning glance. "As Nostradamus said, most Great Ones tend to be more sympathetic towards humans...although I've no doubt they will defend themselves, if provoked."
"Yeh, the girl an' I, we encountered her at the bottom of the lake, in Byrgenwerth...was after her defeat all this weird shit started happenin'," Adam muttered, unsure of what to make of this Rom-like alter. "Arg...my head..." A sudden stab of pain that caused a temporary deafness, forcing him to uncork a bottle of sedative. "Damn, didn't think the frenzy would be this bad..."
"Then we've no more time to waste. I will keep my distance Muirhead, and leave the melee range to you." Without even waiting for a response the marksman darted back, leaving Adam to stare at the glowing, hulking creature, its eyes blinking curiously. Sighing heavily, Adam charged up the Stakedriver, getting ready to unleash the charge attack.
"Let's get this over with."
Even before the otherworldly shriek rose up from below, Sio knew the two men had engaged Ebritias. Though she hadn't lied to Adam, the truth was if they didn't finish this battle soon, she might very well lose her sanity past the point of no return. Being in constant contact with the Great One, and even encountering their smaller kin earlier outside—her head throbbed incessantly as she stared at the sedative, wondering just how long she could hold out, and if the medicine would even help at this point. 'Damn it...why does it have to be like this? Why am I the only one so affected by all this? Is it because I'm not from Yharnam...'
"You seem unwell, Mademoiselle." She jerked around at the unexpected voice, Nostradamus having been entirely silent until now. "Perhaps you should take a sedative soon?"
"N-No...I-I mean, if I have to...but, I'd rather not until then..." She wiped the sweat from her forehead, trying to sound more certain than she really was. Though she had a feeling there was no use in trying to hide much from Nostradamus; as he said earlier, just because the man was blindfolded didn't mean he couldn't see. "I-If, this exposure to Insight is reducing my beasthood...then at least there's something to be gained."
"True, the forces of kin and beast counteract each other. Is that why you came here? To find the fabled paleblood? You're an outsider, aren't you?"
Sio didn't answer; she had a feeling Nostradamus knew already, anyway. The more she tried to understand what Yharnam was about, the creatures they hunted and why this cycle existed, the less she seemed to understand. Her history books made it sound simple enough: the town of Yharnam was plagued by an endemic blood disease that turned people into bloodthirsty beasts, which in turn were eradicated by skilled hunters. But then there was the addition of the Church, who, one the surface seemed to be administering these miraculous cures made from blood, but now after wandering around for so long and picking up what snatches of gossip she could, it seemed that was all a scam—for while the blood could provide cures, it also brought healthy people ever closer into becoming a beast themselves.
"...I wonder, why these Great Ones are so interested in us. If we're so insignificant to them, then why do they try to make us understand them..."
To her surprise Nostradamus sat down next to her, seemingly unconcerned by the sounds of combat below. "That, I cannot be certain; despite my studies, I have never successfully communed with another Great One."
"But I thought you learned a lot from Ebritias?"
He nodded. "Yes, but...it is not communicating in the sense that I am having dialogue with her. She...'passes' me information, but it is up to me to make sense of it. And I admit, there are times where my mind is just as baffled as yours, Mademoiselle Ogura. The Great Ones, they were the source of the Old Blood; the original blood ministrations that let the Church rise to its prominence. Master Wilhem always said to 'fear the Old Blood', that mis-use will lead to great tragedy, and yet...it was our carelessness that led to the beasts in the first place."
"Wait, what are you saying?" Sio was taken aback by this revelation. "Are, are you saying...it was the Great Ones who created the beasts in the first place?"
"Non, not the Great Ones. Us humans, driven by greed and arrogance; for using the Old Blood in blood ministrations will eventually cause humans to turn into beasts, despite their miraculous healing prowess. And thus the Healing Church recognized a need to keep this fatal mistake a secret, leading to the creating of the hunters—led by the First Hunter, Robert Capa. And now the Church has splintered into many different factions, each with their own goals and regards for the Old Blood and Great Ones: we the Choir, who faithfully adhere to Master Wilhem's teachings and look into our own selves for Insight; the School of Mensis, who broke off and are determined to commune with the Great Ones at the cost of their sanity; Master Laurence, who disregarded Master Wilhem's adage and used the Old Blood to further the metamorphosis, in his own way to transcend humanity..." Nostradamus shook his head, slowly rising up from the floor. "Non, Mademoiselle Hunter. It is the weakness of mankind that created this nightmare."
The huntress couldn't answer to that. Good and bad, right or wrong...in the end, those were human concepts forced upon a world that contained more than them. "I think, I understand more, now...thank you for telling us what you know, Nostradamus. I'm kind of surprised you'd do so...after being here for so long, I can't exactly say Yharnam's a friendly place."
"My wish is to learn and spread the Truth, that is all." Nostradamus answered quietly. "Though, I am glad you were able to make use of my knowledge."
Just then an roar shook the entire building, Sio fearing for a second the flimsy railing would fall apart. "Aagh! Wh-What's going on down there...!" Slowly she crawled over to the edge, careful not to fall off. Below, two figures were darting among what had to be Ebritias: a giant head with eye stalks and wings, just like the illustration in the book. The entire floor was littered with blood and some other fluid Sio couldn't discern, with streaks of arcane magic bouncing around as the two continued to subdue it.
"Oh no, watch out—!" But there was nothing she could do from her position except watch helplessly as a giant, whip-like tentacle swung through the air, flinging both men against the stone wall. "Adam!" The building shook again, this time knocking down the huntress as her equipment scattered about her. 'No, I have to...help them!' She desperately felt around for her gun, only to realize it had rolled away during the tremors. "Nostradamus! Pass me the gun!"
"...I am afraid I cannot do that, Mademoiselle." Oblivious to Sio's look of shock, the man only stood and watched, despite the cathedral beginning to crumble. "I cannot and will not interfere; that goes both ways."
"Tch...nevermind!" Ignoring the risk of frenzy, she lunged forward and grabbed her firearm before it rolled of the edge, hanging on to the railing with arm and firing with the other below to stagger the creature. "Adam! Tell! Get her now!" She saw a mane of white hair glance up briefly at the shot, before diving back in with a charged Stakedriver. A hail of arrows rained from above, Ebritias giving one final cry before it sagged into a motionless heap, turning into tiny particles of light as she slowly disappeared.
"Heh, gotcha...wh-whoa—!" A split second of glory later the railing snapped, sending Sio into a free-fall, limbs flailing as she desperately tried to right herself.
"Adam!"
"What th—oomph!" Just when he'd finally shook all the dirt off his clothes the huntress landed right on his back, sending him face-first into the muck. Again.
"Ow...oh my god, Adam! I'm so sorry—are you okay?!" Ignoring her aching bum, Sio quickly pulled the man back up, wincing as she saw his now mud-covered face, glancing at her with a look that said 'really'? "I'm sorry! I really didn't mean it! I didn't think the railing would break...but, thanks for, er...breaking my fall...ahh, your clothes! Sorry, sorry...!" Sio fussed about him all the while babbling away in her native language, using her cloak to wipe off the grime as best she could.
"...Don't worry too much, squirt. Just glad you're not hurt..." Admittedly his ribs were now sore from her literally knocking the air out of him, though Adam supposed he should count himself lucky the girl didn't weigh very much. "Besides, if yeh hadn't fired that shot, I wouldn't be here acting as your cushion."
Sio grimaced in embarrassment at his comment. "...I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"Nah. I'm tougher than that, squirt."
"Your timing was impeccable. Especially considering how far you were from the battle..." Tell limped over as well, a couple of nasty scratches on his face but otherwise didn't seem any worse for wear. "We can safely light the lamp, now."
"R, Right..." With the rush of adrenaline now fading her headache returned with full force, Sio rubbing her temples in an attempt to ease the pain. "What, what about him? Nostradamus?"
Tell looked up at the second floor where they'd come from. "Nostradamus? I presume he will remain here; he is not a hunter, after all, and here he can continue his studies. Why, did you wish to extend an invitation to him?"
"A-Ah, uh, n-no I was just, wondering..." she muttered, turning away in guilt. In truth, she wasn't sure if it was a good idea to increase their numbers even more, given the tensions lately and multitude of factions in their group. Then again, it seemed cruel to just leave him behind in a place like this, especially since he didn't seem to harbor any ill will.
"C'mon squirt, let's get going. You shouldn't stay here any longer than necessary," Adam reproached, guiding the girl towards the lamp. "If that fella wants t' come, it's his choice. We shouldn't force it."
Sio wanted to say something but decided against it; Adam was right, no matter how much she wished for everyone to get along and work together, she knew reality didn't work that way. If anything, they should be glad Nostradamus wasn't outright hostile towards them, like so many others.
Just as the light was about to swallow them something flew through the air, Sio whipping her hand to her neck, only to come away wet with blood. "What th—"
"Tch, a miss...what a pity, could've ended it painlessly."
She didn't even have time to react before the blow to her head, sending her sprawling to the ground. Dimly she could hear Adam and Tell's confused yells, before more shouts and the sound of metal weapons clashing against each other...groaning, the huntress tried to right herself, but her vision and hearing were still blurry from being struck by a blunt force, blood dripping down her cheek from the wound. "What's...going, on..."
"Sio! Leave the girl alone you bastard!"
"Ah but Muirhead, you of all people should know, the real danger she possesses..."
"Fuck you Mirza!"
Mirza? 'He's here...? No, he must've followed us...! Back in the Hunter's Dream, he must have overheard our conversation with William Tell...' Fear threaded itself throughout her body, Sio stumbling half-blind as she groped frantically for her weapons. Just as she finally got a handle on her Rifle Spear, a boot stomped right on her fingers, Sio screaming with pain as the bone cracked.
"Tsk tsk tsk, Miss Sio Ogura...I did ask, what a sweet thing like you was doing, playing hunter in a place like this..." Dark eyes glowed malevolently, as Sio finally came face to face with Mahesh Mirza. "You should've stayed behind like a good girl, and not come to Yharnam..."
"Nnng...y-you, bastard...! What do you want?! I haven't done anything to you!" She desperately tried not to cry, though the pain was almost unbearable. The huntress tried looking for either Adam or Tell from the corners of her eyes, but they were nowhere to be seen; panic crept into her veins, Sio staring wide-eyed at the hunter who revealed his true colors at last.
"Not yet; you think I'm that stupid as to not realize your blood sickness? After all my specialty is ferreting out and assassinating those who are about to turn, in the name of the Healing Church...and you my dear, are as close as I've ever seen in all my years on the job."