"Evolution. That is the guiding principle behind the discipline of medicine. As human civilization grows and changes, so too do the methods that its doctors use to ensure the well-being of their fellow man. Ideas and practices that were once considered common knowledge fall out of favor and new forms of treatment arise to take their place, bringing with them newfound prosperity for mankind."

A crowded class of students, each with a notebook in front of them and a metal pen in each of their hands, listened attentively as their professor paced at the front of the lecture hall. For them, this was a weekly occurrence, where they learned about the basic history and proponents of medicine. But for the instructor, this was but one of several lectures he would be giving just this week, each of varying academic intensity. Years he had spent there, imparting his wisdom on countless aspiring doctors and physicians, many of whom would inevitably find themselves overwhelmed with the demands of the profession.

But some, like their esteemed professor, would choose to dedicate their lives to the preservation of others and work tirelessly to find new ways of limiting the scope of human suffering. And as the head of the faculty itself, Laurence was at the head of these pursuits.

"And those who pioneer these methods will forever be immortalized in history," he addressed to the students. "For an example, look no further than Hippocrates, whose oath each and every one of you will be expected to swear and uphold centuries after his passing. His understanding of medicine may seem primitive to us now, especially with the plethora of knowledge available to us, but does not make his teachings any less valuable."

The professor continued. "At this point in time, I am sure most of you will be familiar with the concept of "humors". Countless medical minds have contributed theories regarding them, but the most relevant one - the Hippocratic interpretation - is as follows. Within the human body are found four essential substances: phlegm, yellow and black bile, and perhaps most important of all, blood. To ensure health, these four substances must be kept in a state of balance; having too much or too little of a given humor is what leads to the development of certain diseases and can even affect one's temperament and personality."

Around this point, the professor turned towards the black board, picking up a piece of chalk and briefly listing the relevant substances. "In the case of blood, it is the source of energy of the human body and soul. As a result, those with an excess amount are believed to be especially enthusiastic, social and charismatic - a temperament that scholars have dubbed the sanguine personality type. However, they are also at a higher risk of developing fevers, excess sweating and other such ailments, which is why historically, a patient would have their blood drained to combat their effects."

As he finished jotting down this simple example, Laurence turned back towards his students to ensure he still had their attention. As he did so, he noticed an…unexpected figure near the front of the crowd - Ludwig. As opposed to the rest of his onlookers, who proudly wore the uniform distinguishing them as students of Byrgenwerth, he wore only simple street clothes, making little effort to blend in with the crowd. Not that it would've done him much good, seeing as he was considerably older than the young scholars surrounding him, not to mention taller and bulkier. All this made it certain that Laurence would notice him and once he did, Ludwig silently mouthed "carry on", which seemed to imply the reason he was here wasn't quite urgent.

Taking this into account, the professor decided to continue with his lecture. "Regardless of your individual views on its validity, this system has been at the root of our field for centuries, with its prominence only starting to be challenged fairly recently. In particular, it has been proposed that diseases are spread through the transmission of invisible, infectious "seeds", but I must stress, these are still only theories. Only with time, and intense academic scrutiny, can we determine their validity. And as aspiring doctors, it is incumbent upon you to not become set in your ways. We live to serve our patients, not our pride. And if a development in our field proves to increase our effectiveness, we are obligated to embrace it, regardless of how far it strays from what we've come to know."

After taking a moment to scan the room and gauge his audience's reaction, Laurence finally saw it fit to conclude his address. "It is my hope that each of you approach your studies with this maxim in mind. Now, let me keep you from them no longer."

With that, the students began preparing to leave, putting away their notebooks and utensils as their professor looked on. "With any luck, we will convene again next week," he announced to the class. "Regardless of whatever other responsibilities are placed on me, I am always willing to offer counsel if you believe you require it."

It wasn't long before the lecture hall was all but empty, save for the professor, a handful of students who stayed behind to ask him some brief questions and the unexpected visitor, who had yet to move from his seat. He continued to wait patiently until the last of the lingering students had left, which was when Laurence finally decided to approach him.

"You'll forgive my lack of applause."

"None needed," he replied. "Though I must say, it surprises me to see you here."

Ludwig shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing wrong with broadening your horizons, and broadened they have been." He leaned back in his seat then, crossing his arms across his chest. "How high is your blood count meant to be, again?"

"Very amusing," Laurence replied, not quite sure if this was meant as a jest or a compliment. At the very least, he could be certain that he managed to retain his attention. "But if I may ask, what compelled you to seek me out in particular? There is no shortage of quality lectures in this building alone."

"Simple. It was the only place I was sure to find you - before you can make yourself too unavailable, anyway."

Despite raising an inquisitive brow, Laurence couldn't say he was surprised. There was little chance that Ludwig would come looking for him without a reason, especially at a time like this. "Do you require me for something?" Laurence asked.

"I don't, but Gehrman does," he revealed. "He asked me to find you."

"Gehrman asked you?" Laurence repeated after him, genuinely surprised.

"Indeed," Ludwig confirmed. "I haven't caught you at a bad time, have I?"

"No, not at all. But…why did he send you?"

"I suppose it's more accurate to say that he and Master Willem did," he clarified. "Gehrman believes he's made a breakthrough and wishes to share his findings with you. He would've come for you himself, but there are a few things he needed to prepare for your arrival."

Laurence didn't need to be told what this potential breakthrough was related to. It had been several days since Gehrman had tasked himself with unlocking the secrets of the chalice they'd discovered in the labyrinths, which had been the last time he had heard from him. If he chose to summon him now…

"Where do I find him?" he asked, knowing that doing so was essential. As if recognizing his haste, Ludwig smiled to himself.

"Come with me and I'll take you to him." Upon saying this, he stood up from his seat, in which he almost barely fit to begin with. After the briefest moment of hesitation, Laurence nodded his approval and followed after the stable master as they made their way outside.

Those who didn't know Ludwig would've no doubt found him quite imposing, what with his towering height and muscular frame, something that his profession helped maintain. But one need only glimpse the warmth with which he treated his equestrian wards to understand his true character, which Laurence was able to do when they discovered his personal steed, Baltric, outside.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting, old friend," he softly said to the horse as he went up to pat his mane, laughing as Baltric brought his nose up and released a breath from his nostrils, supposedly in greeting. After a few seconds of tending to his animal companion, Ludwig turned back towards Laurence, who until then had decided to keep his distance. "Well? Come over and say hello."

Slowly, and quite nervously, Laurence approached Ludwig's steed. As he did, both of them kept their eyes trained on him. "Be gentle now," said Ludwig, though he didn't make it clear whether he was speaking to him or Baltric. Regardless, the professor maintained his careful pace as he got closer to the horse.

"Hello there, Baltric," he eventually greeted him, doing his best to replicate Ludwig's soft tone of voice. "You remember me, I hope?"

"I'm sure he does. Come just a little closer so he can make sure."

At first, Laurence wanted to question why such a thing was necessary, but ultimately, he saw no harm in humoring the stable master, who kept a watchful eye as he resumed his approach. "Now hold out your hand," he instructed once it seemed Laurence was close enough.

Upon making sure that Baltric was calm, the professor extended his hand palm side up, keeping as still as he could while the horse curiously sniffed it. When it seemed he was satisfied and turned his head away, Laurence silently looked to his master, who with a smile motioned back towards the animal with his head. Deciding to risk it, he further extended his hand and gently placed it on the horse's neck; when he didn't recoil, he ran it along his thick, but surprisingly smooth skin.

"Majestic creature, isn't he?" Ludwig asked him as he stroked the horse's neck.

"Yes," the professor agreed. Baltric was a large and proud steed; he had to have been to carry his master for so many years. Yet despite his no doubt long service, his pure black coat still glistened in the sunlight. "Just how long have you had him?" Laurence then inquired.

"Oh, I've been with Baltric since he was but a fawn. It was I who nurtured him into the steed he is today. And since then, he has been with me through thick and thin. A true friend…"

Laurence couldn't help but notice a sense of melancholy in Ludwig's words, coupled with a look of gratitude in his eyes as he tended to Baltric's reigns. He had never spoken of his life before his service to Byrgenwerth, nor had Laurence ever seen it as necessary - or appropriate - to ask about it. But that did not mean he had never been curious, a curiosity that was further peaked by recent events.

Before he could inquire further, however, Ludwig finished fastening the reins. "Ah, but enough about that. What matters is that he is still as capable as ever." As he said this, he climbed up onto Baltric's saddle, leaving Laurence to watch in confusion. Once he was mounted, he looked down at him expectantly. "Won't you join me?"

More than a little confused, the professor briefly looked from side to side to see if he was missing something. "Pardon me?" he soon asked.

"What's not to understand?" Ludwig said with a chuckle before reaching down to offer him his hand. "Come on, climb up."

For the next few seconds, Laurence could only look at his offered hand in surprise before finally looking up at him again. "Is this really necessary?"

"Maybe not," he acknowledged. "But our destination is a fair distance away and Batric'll get us there much faster…unless you'd rather walk, of course."

The subtext behind his words was not lost on Laurence - a suggestion that he didn't take kindly to. Driven more by spite than reason, he took Ludwig's hand and clumsily joined him atop Baltric. As he did so, he briefly felt as if he'd been tilted off balance, causing him to grab onto Ludwig's shoulders in a bid to balance himself. This in turn caused his friend to turn his head back to look at him, more out of amusement than surprise.

"First time on horseback, I take it?" Ludwig more stated than asked.

"Potentially…" he acknowledged, doing his utmost to not let his embarrassment show.

"Then 'potentially', it won't be the last." With that, the stable master turned his focus in front of him, and prepared. "Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself. For now, just hold on and enjoy the ride."

With a shake of his reins, Baltric set forth, the sudden movement causing Laurence to instinctively tighten his grip on Ludwig's shoulders. However, the horse did not go above a trot, no doubt a conscious decision on its master's part to ease him into the experience.

"So then, is this to your liking?" he asked just over a minute later, leaving the ball in Laurence's court. And after giving it some thought, he gave him his answer.

"I think we can do with a little more speed."

"As you wish," said Ludwig. And just as Laurence predicted, his voice suggested that this was the answer he'd been hoping for.

Steadily, Baltric's pace picked up to a steady canter while Ludwig expertly steered him through Yharnam's twisting streets. Going any faster would've been ill-advised, not just because they had to share the roads with other pedestrians and riders, but also because doing so would all but assure Laurence would lose his grip and tumble down onto the stone below. Despite the very real risk of injury or even death, the professor felt little in the way of worry; not only because of the skill of Ludwig's guiding hands, but also as a result of…recent events. He had always been content with admiring horses from afar, but compared to the monstrosities he had encountered in Loran, their massive weight and clattering hooves seemed paltry in comparison. Most things did.

"He does not tire," he observed of Baltric some way into their ride. "A mighty steed, indeed."

"There are none better," Ludwig said in praise, taking a moment to give his horse an affectionate pat on the neck. "He has carried many burdens, but comparatively few riders."

"Like Gehrman."

The stable master came close to taking his eyes off the road to look back at him, but even so, his silence betrayed his surprise. "Yes, he is one. And the only other to have held his reins."

"A high honor," said Laurence. "Tell me. What has he done to earn it?"

Once again, Ludwig went quiet, leaving the sound of clattering hooves and the blowing wind to fill the void. Laurence did not understand the reason for his friend's hesitance, but if he did not wish to speak more of this, he would not press him further. But just as he was about to apologize, Ludwig broke his silence.

"Well…he is a dear friend," he said. "One to whom I owe everything."

"How so?" Laurence inquired, understandably intrigued.

"Well, for one, he is the reason I even have this job. It's not glamorous by any means, but compared to the state I was in when we first met…well, let's just say it's a vast improvement."

"And how did you meet?" was the professor's next question.

"In a tavern, near the outskirts of town," he revealed. "I don't remember exactly what brought me through this way, but I decided to stop here in Yharnam for a little while. But as I sat there waiting for what was to be my first proper meal in days to arrive, a perfect stranger comes up to me and asks if he could join me. Now, the place was hardly crowded that day and any other person would've told him off even if it wasn't…but for whatever reason, I didn't."

Laurence let him continue. "Then came the questions. 'What's your name?'; 'What brings you here?'; the standard fare. And I more or less answered all of them. Not under duress, of course. Looking back, I may have just been happy that someone was finally giving me the time of day…or maybe I just found him charming."

To this, the professor smiled. Even with the short time he'd known Gehrman, Laurence had to admit that he had a certain charm around him. Perhaps it was his gentlemanly sense of politeness, the air of mystery he maintained or how regardless of his circumstances, he remained aloof - acting as if nothing there could hurt him. A sentiment not without merit, as Laurence discovered.

"In any case, he kept asking me his questions, until only two remained. The first was 'Is that lovely horse outside yours?'." As he spoke, Ludwig playfully tried to mimic Gehrman's voice, once again patting Baltric's neck as he did.

"And the second?" "Would you be up for a race?", he answered. "Yes, I was taken aback as well, even more so when he proposed a wager on top of it. Not a hefty sum, but it was enough to incentivize me to accept the challenge. I won, of course."

"And were humble in your victory, I'm sure," Laurence jested, earning a chuckle from the stable master.

"More or less. But vanity aside, I did seem to impress him enough for him to ask me one more question."

The professor didn't need to be told what this question was. "And I take it your answer was yes?"

"What's the saying - beggars can't be choosers?" was Ludwig's eventual reply. "Besides, he told me he could put in a good word with Master Willem and as I saw it at the time, I had nothing to lose."

The two of them rode in silence for the next few moments as Laurence let this new information settle. A part of him had long suspected that Ludwig was an outsider to Yharnam, much like Lobsang was, but had never attained concrete proof to confirm this suspicion. Yet despite his sudden honesty, the professor noted that he'd failed to mention the prelude leading up to the events he described. But whatever that may've been, it had left him desperate. In spite of his enduring curiosity, Laurence thought it best not to trouble him with further questions, save for one.

"Why do you think he made you that offer?"

"To tell you the truth, I don't know," Ludwig admitted. "For years, I thought our meeting that day to have been a mere coincidence… but now, I'm not so sure. I know Gehrman and everything he does, he does for a reason."

"So it would seem…" Though it wasn't his intention, his words reminded Laurence of Gehrman's most recent decision, the reasons for which eluded him even now. Perhaps it was done out of the goodness of his heart…or perhaps not.

It was around this time that the professor realized that they were riding in the direction of the Grand Cathedral, passing through the entirety of Central Yharnam along the way. "Where exactly are you taking us?" he soon asked.

"To the hunter's den, good professor," Ludwig cryptically replied. "You will see for yourself soon enough."

Most of the following journey passed by in silence. Getting into the Cathedral Ward was easy enough; the tunnel leading into the district from the Great Bridge was open to all, allowing them to come and go as they pleased. But upon emerging on the other side, Ludwig took them east, away from the few living settlements present in the Ward and towards the very edge of the city - quite literally, at that.

Much of Yharnam was built on - and in some cases, into - a collection of steep hills, making it just as necessary for the city to expand upward as outward. The Cathedral Ward stood on the highest possible peak and thus, overlooked a vast, seemingly bottomless chasm. As a result, its major buildings were kept a fair distance away from the cliff's edge, but that did not mean that it was impossible for man to dwell there, as a series of winding natural pathways led down along the cliff into parts unknown. And as it turns out, it was these very pathways that they sought.

As they neared the cliff's edge, Ludwig brought Baltric to a stop. "It's best we go on foot from here. It's risky enough going down there on horseback with even one rider." Soon after saying this, he disembarked, leaving Laurence alone on the saddle unsure of what to do next. "Put your left foot in a stirrup and then pivot your other leg over. Hold on to his mane if you want to steady yourself, but do it gently. I'll make sure he doesn't bolt."

As Ludwig took hold of Baltric's reins, the professor took stock of his advice, gently taking a fistful of the horse's hair and ever so carefully bringing his free leg over his rear. Though he was far from flexible, Laurence eventually brought his entire body onto Baltric's left side, which was when he realized just how enormous his mount really was - so big that there was no way he'd be able to bring his free foot to the ground.

"Need some help?" He turned his head to see Ludwig smiling in amusement.

"Maybe," Laurence replied, averting his gaze and keeping his expression as neutral as possible. But his embarrassment was obvious to Ludwig, who continued smiling even as he let go of Baltric and reached up to pick up the professor underneath his shoulders, bringing him down to earth as easily as he would've a child.

"Please don't ever do that again," he said almost the moment he released him.

With a chuckle, Ludwig lightly clapped him on the shoulder. "Odds are, I won't have to," he said before once again taking Baltric by the reins and leading him closer to the cliff's edge. "Now then, follow me. We're almost there."

Putting aside his misgivings, Laurence followed, allowing Ludwig to carefully lead him down the sloping, yet still mostly manageable path. The terrain was flat enough that both them and Baltric were able to keep their footing, but they still moved slowly: all the while, the perilous drop remained visible out of the corner of his eye. Just as he was about to question his guide as to where he was leading them, the professor noticed something not far ahead - a cave of sorts. And just as he expected, it was here that Ludwig took them off the cliffside path.

"This way," he said, leading a somewhat anxious Laurence into the cave. As he descended down into the narrow passage, he couldn't help but be reminded of the twisting labyrinths of Loran, not only because of its damp darkness and constricting atmosphere, but because it too did not seem like a natural formation.

He was thus relieved when he soon saw light on the other side, resisting the urge to run ahead of Ludwig and finally be free of this cave. And once he was, the light seemed almost blinding despite his relatively short time inside, causing him to shield his eyes with his hand. Upon bringing it down and blinking the discomfort out of his eyes, he was met with a truly unexpected sight.

Before him was a perfectly paved path, surrounded by lush gardens of flowers and shrubberies, leading up along a hill. And atop this hill, underneath a canopy of trees, stood a small house, the mountain behind it hiding it from view. At first, he thought it abandoned, but the smoke rising from its chimney showed that it was anything but.

Laurence's eyes finally broke away from the structure when he heard whistling just down the path, drawing him and Ludwig towards it. Turning around the corner, they found Gehrman standing with his back turned to them, his scythe-like weapon in hand…which he seemed to be using to trim a patch of grass along the walkway. It wasn't a particularly tall patch, but despite that and the comparatively enormous size of his tool, each swing sent small green clusters flowing away in the wind.

Only after he seemed satisfied with his work did he take notice of them, turning his head towards them and offering them a friendly smile.

"Ah, Master Laurence. Welcome!" he said in greeting, turning fully towards him and putting out his arms. "I trust your journey here was a smooth one?"

"For the most part," Laurence replied, pausing for a moment as he remembered the reason he had undertaken it to begin with. "Ludwig said you wanted to see me?"

"Indeed, I do." Gehramn then turned his attention to his associate. "Thanks again for taking the time to deliver him to me."

"Please, it was my pleasure," the stable master replied. "Though I think Baltric here could use a breather."

"Oh, he can have that and more," Gehrman said before ushering them towards the lonely structure behind him. "As for the two of you, come in. Make yourselves at home."

While Ludwig took the time to hitch his horse on a nearby gate, Laurence followed Gehrman up along the path and closer to the house, whose door had been left ajar. Stopping about halfway up and looking around, he could see two pathways leading to an entrance, one of which circled around almost the entirety of the building, with what looked like a bird bath located in the crevice between the two.

"Right this way, sir," Gehrman prompted after a few moments. "I understand you're quite the busy fellow, so I shan't keep you any longer than needed."

"As it happens, my schedule is…mostly clear for the rest of the day." Laurence told him.

"All the better, I say." He once again motioned to follow him. "Come on, now, come in."

Smiling at his enthusiasm, Laurence finally followed him inside the house and once again found himself taken aback by the sight before him. Shelves stocked full of books lined the walls, with even more being stacked on top of each-other in the corner. A chest stood just beside him by the doorway, with several more bottles and vials full of unknown substances shelved above it. And most striking of all, a small workbench stood at the right-hand corner, above which hung countless weapons and firearms, in front of which Gehrman now stood.

"You'll forgive me if the place is a little cluttered," he said as he hung his scythe on a free space on his wall. "It's not often I host guests, especially here."

"And where is 'here', exactly?" Laurence asked. "Your home?"

"In the same way your clinic might be yours," was his reply.

It wasn't lost on Laurence that he'd never told him about his clinic, but he wasn't going to question how he knew. Of course, he did.

"So, a place of work, then?" he asked instead, which Gehrman affirmed with a nod.

"Aye. My pride and joy." Both could be seen in his eyes as he looked around the small building. "Built it myself, brick by brick…bricks Master Willem provided me with, of course, but regardless. I needed a place to hone my craft away from prying eyes and this spot allowed me to do exactly that. It's a regular home away from home."

"I see," said Laurence. Given what he knew about Gehrman, it made sense that he chose such a remote - not to mention dangerous - location. It was truly a shame that such a beautiful location was so hidden and an even greater shame that he didn't have his notebook with him.

In the brief silence that followed, the professor spotted something just behind Gehrman: a stone altar and standing on top of it, the holy chalice that he had been tasked with examining. Following Laurence's gaze, he turned towards it.

"Ah, yes," he said while clapping his hands together. "With all this excitement, I almost forgot. I have wonderful news."

"You've confirmed your theory?" Laurence guessed, recalling what he said just before they last parted ways at Master Willem's estate.

"We have," he replied. "And that's not all."

Around this time, Ludwig finally joined them inside, entering through the doorway on the opposite side of the structure. Laurence spent the next few seconds looking between the two men, as well as the chalice, waiting for them to give him an explanation.

"Sit down, young master," Gehrman invited, motioning to a small table opposite the fireplace. "We have much to discuss."

…

It wasn't long before the three of them were seated around Gehrman's table, with the chalice standing at the center. Around it was a collection of ornate teacups, which their host insisted on filling with some freshly brewed chamomile. Once he was finished, he set his pot off to the side and took his spot at the head of the table.

"That's much better," he said with a relaxed sigh. "Now then, the news. Just as I hypothesized, this chalice is not linked to any one labyrinth or any one civilization therein. However, I was wrong about one thing. You can control where you end up, assuming you've been there before…or know the glyphs required to access it. What's more, no sacrificial materials are required."

This was indeed ground-breaking news, though the extent to which depended on Gehrman's answers to his next two questions. "And how many have you visited?"

"Countless," was his reply. "From the lowest parts of Pthumeru to the Hintertombs and of course, to Loran. And I have kept note of them all."

"Impressive, and very convenient," said Laurence. "But it still begs the question. How do we get there?"

"The same way I reached them originally. With this." Suddenly, Gehrman reached into his pocket and took out a small, rusty bell, which he placed on the table. Upon recognizing just what he was looking at, the professor's eyes widened in surprise.

"Is that…one of the Pthumerian bells?"

"Yes, and in a workable state, as you can see." There was a sense of teasing in his voice, which confused Laurence until he remembered the ruined bell he had attempted to pocket - that was, until Lady Maria had confiscated it. He wasn't quite sure what he'd been thinking then, but her taking it from him even in its ruined state made the comparatively pristine bell before him even more shocking.

"I don't understand. How came you by this?"

"I found it," was all Gehrman said.

"You…found it?" He nodded his head. "Yes. Many years ago, during an expedition into the Hintertombs."

"And they did not attempt to take it from you?" Laurence asked.

"I'm sure they would've…if they knew I had it." Gehrman paused for just a moment, smiling as if recalling a fond memory. "Well, I suspected that one of them knew, but even if he did, he didn't say anything. Lovely chap, he was."

He of course didn't specify who this "chap" was, not that it mattered; Laurence had almost certainly never met him. But putting that aside, the professor suddenly came to a realization.

"Hold on. Whatever spell is placed on this bell, it summons other souls to you. This doesn't help us or at least, it shouldn't."

"You're quite correct, Laurence" Ludwig chimed in, turning his attention to him. "But that's what this is for."

Upon saying this, he took out another bell, almost identical to the first and similarly placed it on the table. "These two bells are intrinsically linked," he started to explain. "The chime of mine resonates with that of Gehrman's, allowing me to answer his call for aid and cross over to join him, wherever he or I may be."

Laurence knew at once that there was a reason it was Ludwig who was explaining this to him. "You went into the labyrinths?"

"Only a few times," he confirmed. "And all in the course of the last few days. And upon returning to the surface, I found I could access similar parts of the labyrinths entirely on my own. We've been attempting to accomplish this for several years, but have lacked the proper means to do so…until now."

Yet again, Laurence was left to look between the two men in shocked silence. But rather than waiting for them to explain it to him, he took what he'd been told and soon deduced a reason for their lack of progress.

"I see. One of you first needed to reach the labyrinths by your own means, while the other stayed above ground waiting to be summoned. But the only way for one of you to get there was by being summoned yourself."

"How very perceptive," Gehrman complimented, seemingly confirming his theory.

"There is just one thing I don't understand. Who is it that brought you down there?" he asked Gehrman.

"There's always a bell ringing somewhere in the labyrinths. In my case, it was all a matter of luck."

This simple answer revealed volumes. The combat prowess Gehrman displayed could not have been acquired overnight and it was impossible for him to get true experience here on the surface. But in the labyrinths, he could hone his skills against increasingly dangerous opponents, something he must've been doing for years, if not decades. And yet, Laurence couldn't grasp one thing.

Why?

What had compelled him to pursue such a dangerous practice for seemingly little reward? If everything Gehrman did truly have a reason behind it, then in this case, it was simply lost on him. But whatever it was, it had led to something truly extraordinary.

"Master Willem must be thrilled," Laurence said, breaking the silence.

"I'm sure he will be," Gehrman replied, taking him somewhat by surprise.

"You mean to say you haven't informed him?"

"Not yet," was his answer. "I would've liked to show him first-hand, but given his age, it's perhaps inconsiderate to ask him to come out here."

While this made sense to a degree, it didn't change the fact that Gehrman had consulted him before Master Willem. It was possible that he was simply overthinking things, but he couldn't help but wonder if convenience was really the only factor at play here.

"Well, in any case, we have a lot of work ahead of us," said the professor.

"Indeed. But I must warn you, it will take some time before we are able to organize a proper expedition. And once we can, I do not think it will be possible to do so in the same numbers we could in the past or at least, not right away."

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there," Laurence decided. "But I fear that once my colleagues get word of this development, they will grow restless. And I'm sure even you have your limits."

Gehrman seemed to consider this for a moment. "Yes, I see what you mean. I don't imagine I'll have much trouble guiding you in these early stages, but as we expand…"

"I can help you with that, Gehrman," Ludwig suddenly interjected, surprising them both.

"Ludwig, I can't ask that of…" "You don't have to. Laurence is right; we won't be able to rely on you forever. And when such a day comes, we'll need a back-up plan."

Still, Gehrman seemed hesitant and understandably so. After all, Ludwig was no warrior. Was he?

Whatever the case may've been, he soon came to a decision. "Agreed," said Gehrman. "But you, too, are but one man. We may need to think bigger."

Though he had stayed quiet until that point, the gears in Laurence's head. He agreed fully with them both; Gehrman would not always be there to protect them, but at the same time, no one else could. They could no longer rely on the Knights of Cainhurst, not without revealing their deceit; and barring that, even their warriors had been claimed by the Tombs. They needed to start from scratch.

And as the professor gazed around the small room he found himself in, he found the answer hidden in plain sight. On the wall opposite him - on which Gehrman's scythe was displayed - were countless other weapons of all shapes and sizes, all no doubt haven been crafted by him, but still lacking a proper wielder.

"I think I have an idea."

...