Unexpected Guidance

by Citizen Nappa

Broken and scarred by the seemingly never-ending night, the Good Hunter finally gives up. But in the darkest depths of the Nightmare, he manages to find a guiding moonlight of his own. (The Hunter x Lady Maria) *Renovation complete. Enjoy.

6. The World We Knew

Lady Maria sat in her chair in Astral Clocktower, reading through one the latest books the hunter had brought her. But despite her best efforts to take her mind off it, she was unable to focus on the contents of the pages. Instead, she found herself thinking about the whereabouts of a certain hunter.

The last time they saw each-other, he had unexpectedly cut their meeting short, retreating to the Hunter's Dream with little fanfare. It was clear to her that the events of that night still weighed down heavily on him and would most likely haunt him until the end of his days; as would the guilt that no doubt gnawed away at his spirit.

Seeing him revert back to the tortured state he had been in during their first session had disheartened her, especially after he had begun showing some traces of recovery. He was visibly more composed, no longer fidgeting with his hands and speaking with much more confidence, even letting her sit by his side in some instances, exhibiting at least some semblance of comfort around her. He seemed to have grown more humorous as well, though she was unsure if this was a part of his natural self or a coping mechanism; not that it was an unwelcome change by any means.

All this apparent progress had prompted her to try and approach what she believed to be the event that had impacted him the most, what had set him down this self-destructive path. But even she wasn't prepared for what he had described. Seeing the people he had set out to save brutally murdered, watching one of his few friends and a child he had sworn to protect dying right in front of him; all because of a single, seemingly harmless decision.

Despite his undying nature, Maria found herself worried about him. She understood that he needed some time to himself, but she still couldn't help but feel regret to how she had conducted herself near the end of their last encounter. She hypothesized that he hid his face behind a mask because he wanted to hide his pain from the world, be it out of a desire to appear in control or out of shame, and she thought that convincing him to take it off would help him accept the unfortunate parts of his past. But she couldn't deny that she was curious to know what he really looked like, behind the veil he casted around himself.

She acknowledged the moment he left that she had broken his trust, letting her own morbid curiosity take advantage of him in a moment of weakness. He had not returned for several days, if not a whole week; leaving her questioning if he was to return at all. Or if he had gone and done something completely reck…

"Is this a bad time?"

She looked up from her reading to find Zoran slowly limping towards her, using a cane to support himself. His attire was charred and stained with dried blood; a vile stench emanating from him as a result. But despite all this, his face was still covered by the mask.

"Gods, Zoran." She frantically said as she set down her book and rose from her seat, swiftly moving towards the injured hunter.

"I'm afraid I've made a bit of a blunder." He acknowledged, still limping. "I was hoping…" He was cut of by an exclamation of pain, losing his hold on the cane and falling forward, with Maria just managing to catch him.

"Easy now." She gently said as she pulled him up and draped his arm over her shoulders, helping him towards her chair. "What happened?" She questioned as she slowly guided his battered body towards the chair.

"I got careless. I let my guard down for a split second and before I knew it, I was on fire. The next thing I knew, a canine the size of a carriage collided with me at full force and then, everything went dark." He explained as she seemed to find the source of his injury. And she believed she knew what had caused it.

"And where exactly did you find this creature?" She asked, dubious that he had come into contact with such a beast.

"Ever heard of the cursed land of Loran?" He asked in return, causing her to look up at him in shock.

"What on Earth were you doing down there?!" She demanded in exasperation, failing to see any reason for him to go that deep into the Tombs of the Gods.

"Truth be told, I haven't the faintest idea. At this point, I just want to see what's at the end of those blasted labyrinths and whatever it is, I somehow know it's not going to be worth the effort." He said in response, seeming rather calm considering his current condition. She decided not to press him further, sighing as she turned her attention to his wounded leg.

"Where do you feel the pain?" She calmly asked.

"Right leg. Below the knee." As she prepared to check the location for an open wound, she realized that the decorative boots he wore as a part of his attire prevented her from inspecting it properly.

"I'm going to have to remove this. Apologies in advance." She told him, swiftly undoing the buckle and gently beginning to take off the boot. As she did this, Zoran winced in pain, gripping the handles of her chair until she finally set it off the side.

She then proceeded to grab the dagger part of her Rakuyo and gently cut off the part of his trousers below where he said the pain was, seeing that there was no visible wound.

"Good news is that there are no open wounds. Unfortunately, that means your tibia must be fractured. A few pints of healing blood should be able to repair it." As she diagnosed his condition, he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"See, that would've been reassuring. If I had any on me, that is…" She looked up at him in bewilderment, not believing what she just heard.

"You mean you ran out?" She questioned him.

"There was a slight complication in the labyrinth I fought that watchdog in. The moment I entered, it was as if a curse was placed upon me, seeping away at my strength to the point where everything I encountered seemed to demolish me in just a few hits. I… ended up using up all of the ones I had just trying to survive." He explained, seeming embarrassed to be having this conversation at all.

"So how come you coming back to life didn't fix it?" She continued her questioning.

"The process is…imperfect, shall we say. It seals flesh-wounds well enough, but it doesn't do so well with broken bones." He revealed, though she still didn't understand why he had chosen to come here.

"And tell me, why did you choose to come here?" She exclaimed in mild frustration.

"I was hoping you would help me find a remedy." He revealed, causing her to scoff at the idea.

"Zoran, I was a caretaker, not a doctor. This is nowhere near my specialty." She explained, with the hunter looking down at her in mild surprise.

"Oh. Well, in that case, do you think you can use that blade on me one more time? Save me the trouble of walking down the stairs, if nothing else?" He humorously requested, with Maria softly sighing in response, although a small smile did form on her lips.

"As tempting of an idea as that sounds, I don't think it will be necessary. I have an idea." She stood up and picked up the dagger of her Rakuyo once again, moving towards the small table beside the chair. Before she set to work, she noticed a photo frame lying face-down on the table; picking it up to reveal its contents.

It was an old photo of her and her compatriots, that was taken just outside of the workshop. She looked on with a sense of longing, seeing her past self standing proudly and happily amongst people she had called her friends. Her family.

"Care to fill me in on what this idea of yours is?" He asked, snapping Maria back to reality.

"Just don't move, alright? You'll see." She said in reply as she placed the photo into her jacket. Kneeling down before the table, she picked up the dagger portion of her Rakuyo and set about cutting off two of its legs. In short order, she picked up the legs and moved back to where Zoran was sitting, though she quickly realized that she didn't have a necessary component to make her idea work.

"Do you have any cloth? Bandages, perhaps?" She asked.

"I do, but they're rather unsanitary." He answered, still appearing puzzled by what she planned to do.

"They'll have to do. Give them to me." Zoran complied, reaching into his bag and pulling out a cluster of bloodstained bandages, handing them to Maria. Placing them on the ground, she moved the two pieces of wood on either side of Zoran's leg.

"Hold them in place." She ordered, with the hunter following along after a brief pause. She then set to work wrapping the bandages around his leg, securing the stilt in place as best as she could.

"Listen, Maria. About our last meeting, I…" He broke the silence before Maria cut him off.

"There's no need. If anything, I should be the one apologizing. I overstepped my bounds." She said to him, not letting it breaking her concentration.

"I know you were only trying to help me, but discussing what happened that night, it…" He started again, but this time she paused and looked up at him.

"It's alright. I understand." She told him, effectively silencing him. After finishing wrapping the final bandage, she took a moment to observe her handiwork before moving her hand to the lower level of his leg.

"Can you feel this?" She asked, making sure that she did not tie the knots to tightly that they blocked his circulation.

"I can." He responded.

"Good." She said as she rose to her feet. "Remain here for the time being and avoid moving your injured leg. I'll be back soon." She ordered before she turned to leave, her mind set on a specific location.

"Do hurry back? Please?" He called out behind her as she walked towards the gates of the clocktower.

Maria made her way back into the Research Hall, who's seemingly endless set of twisting walkways and revolving staircase was lit with an eerie green light emitting from nightmarish lamps. She scanned the outline of the facility, trying to remember which path led to where. Making her way down the stairs, she set her sights on the room where the lifts to the other floors of the building were located.

Entering the room, the first thing she saw was a pair of deceased patients lying on an operating table; various medical instruments embedded in their bodies. Doing her best to ignore the horrific sight, she approached a large hatch on the opposite end of the room. Kneeling down and trying to open it, she found herself incapable of doing so.

Locked. Why wouldn't it be. She had instructed that all storage facilities were to remain locked to keep the patients from coming in and claiming any of the materials. And all members of staff were to carry a collection of keys that would grant them easy access.

A slight panic manifested when she did not find the keys in their usual spot in her inner coat pocket. She remembered then she had turned in her collection of keys to Laurence as a sign she wanted no further involvement in the experiments and furthermore, that there was now no way to open this hatch. Unless…

Maria remembered a certain incident when a patient had stolen the keys from his caretaker; they never did find the perpetrator. But it was possible that he was still here, somewhere.

Seeing no other option, she rode the lift to the upper floors, where she found several of her patients lying dead; slain by Zoran during his journey to the top, no doubt. She reluctantly patted each of them down in search of the keys, with every body she came across only serving as fuel for her guilt, realizing that all of them were here because of her.

Each of them was a blasphemous attempt to ascend beyond the primitive limitations of man, brought about by a group of overtly ambitious scholars and doctors playing God. And she was the one who guided them down that path, making them feel content in their madness even as their minds deteriorated to the point where they lashed out in anger against everyone around them. As more and more lost themselves, the threat of violence grew so severe that they were forced to assign a handful of the Church's hunters to protect the staff from their seemingly random outbursts.

And through it all, they were in indescribable pain, leaving them with little choice but to euthanize them. Yet their numbers continued to grow and the process became so common that at least five patients were put down on any given day. What had happened to them after she passed in the Waking World, she wondered. Were they left to die or were they all executed to tie up loose ends?

They had placed their faith in her and this was what they had to show for it. But at least they were free now, as little comfort as that brought.

As her search continued, Maria couldn't shake the feeling that she was somehow being watched, her gaze wandering around to see if her suspicion was warranted. As expected, nobody was there but her. Who else could possibly be bold enough to wander this far into the Nightmare?

Even after all of the bodies had been searched, there was still no sign of the keys, leaving her with no choice but to continue her search. Turning to the staircase behind her, she froze in her tracks as she saw that there were no railings on either side, with a single misstep risking her falling down several stories. Maria silently cursed the one who had concocted such an infernal idea. It was a bad enough to place this in an area where patients tended to roam freely, much less so high up in the facility.

So high up…

Maria's knees slightly shook, her heartbeat growing faster as she looked up to where the staircase led. It was possible that he had managed to make his way up there, hiding among the rats and crows that infested the building. No, that would be ridiculous. Measures were put in place so no one would be able to ascend that far. Surely there was no need for this, to risk her life just so she could retrieve some keys. Just the thought of it was making her head spin…

She turned away and barged into a nearby room, drawing in a few heavy breaths in an attempt to calm herself down. Maria felt a newfound appreciation for her staff, who were much braver than she to make that climb every day in order to close the tower down for the night.

Gods, she hated heights…

"Plip…plop…plip…plop."

She almost jumped out of her skin when she heard the uttering, looking down to see a bulging, white blob of flesh that had once been one of her patients.

"Lady Maria, I'm a robin, will I ever curl up and become an egg?" Whether he knew if she was really there or not, she did not know, but she could not say anything in response. "What say you? Lady Maria, Lady Maria, say something! Anything…" He continued to demand, sounding more distressed by her silence with every word.

She chose to stay silent, not wanting to further his delusion. As morbid as it was, she found herself saddened that she could not end his suffering at that moment, his transformation having progressed to a point where he was now impervious to harm. Now the only thing he had left was that sound that her patients had described so vividly, the eternal sound of the churning ocean.

As she re-entered the lift, she jumped off halfway down and landed on the third floor, seeing as there was no other way to reach this part of the building. Such a nonsensical design…

She repeated the process from the previous location, until her search brought her to a slightly darkened room, where she found a lone, deceased patient with one half of his body hanging over the side. As she knelt down to inspect him, she almost immediately noticed him griping something.

"There." She exclaimed as she tore the keys away from him, almost immediately regretting her haste. He had no doubt been beaten to near death by his fellow patients as they vied for possession of his prized collection. What had he planned to do with them, she wondered? Was he planning escape or simply to raid one of their storage rooms? In any case, it seemed like his plan never came to fruition.

The keys in hand, she made her way back to the hatch, swiftly unlocking it and raising it open. Descending down the ladder, she soon found herself in a familiar location. The first thing she saw was a desk with a wide array of books and jars stacked on top of it, with a small staircase leading down to a vast open room: a single operating table at it's centre, with several shelves and a collection of chests on either side.

This had once been her study, where she would document the successes and failures of her experiments, as well as the general conduct of her patients and staff in order to report back to Laurence at a later date. It was also where she stayed for the first few months of her time here, before re-locating to the Clocktower in order to observe the progress of her most promising patients more directly, a decision that was cemented when one of the patients discovered its location and spread the word, leaving her unable to sleep as they gathered outside and above, trying to get her attention.

The only belongings she had taken with her had been the chair and table that now furnished the Clocktower, donating her bed to the patient dormitories and permitting her staff to make use of the facility and remaining writing materials in whatever way they saw fit. But as the number of patients grew ever larger, this room and much of the upper level had been refurnished and converted into storage facilities for the materials needed to accommodate them.

Maria quickly made her way to the shelves on the left side of the room, looking through a few of the cases until she found a stock of unused vials of healing blood. Sighing in relief, she picked out a pair and carefully tucked them into her jacket, before turning to leave.

But just as she was about to step onto the stairs, her attention was caught by a chest she had spotted out of the corner of her eye. She suddenly remembered a particular item she had left behind during her move, the fate of which she did not know. Could it possibly still be here? She moved towards it, opening it up to make sure her hunch was correct.

And it was.

Maria felt a rush of nostalgia as she observed her old hunter's uniform, which had been assigned to her upon her arrival to the Workshop. The garb she wore now was donned much later into her career, when she had established a name for herself and finally became comfortable in sharing her Cainhurst roots with her compatriots. She had been unwilling to part with it for mainly sentimental reasons, even though she had outgrown it in just about every way. And out of a strange feeling it would be useful one day.

Choosing to put that aside for now, she climbed out off her former study and hurried back to her tower, having wasted enough time away as is. She practically ran through the gardens and soon found herself at the foot of the stairwell to her sanctuary. Yet as she began to climb, she could make out a faint sound coming from inside; which resembled a light melody. She froze as she tried to hear the sound more clearly, before another source of sound joined the fray. A slow, seemingly melancholic singing…

"Ase chonguri k'ovtk'uatu na

Sk'ando chkimi gachireba na

Okh, nana didavoi, nana didavoi, nanina

Chonguri si mu shegilebu na

Vegi kadre gachireba na

Dudi opi lari mapu na

Sakme teshigini martu na

Ubeduri chk'imi dursu na

Irpel chk'ua chk'imda mursu na"

The melody suddenly stopped and the light singing ceased, leaving Maria completely bewildered at what she had just heard. She was certain that had been Zoran's voice, but the language he had used was completely incomprehensible to her, yet strangely familiar at the same time. Somehow, she had almost forgotten that he was not a native to Yharnam; an outsider who hailed from a faraway land. But from exactly where, she was still uncertain.

After standing still for a few more moments, she continued the rest of the way up the staircase, passing through the gates to see Zoran still reclining in her chair, looking up from the book she had left behind and swiftly placing an unknown item back into his bag.

"Well, you certainly took your time." He said to her as she approached.

"Do forgive me. Had to make a small detour." She responded as she pulled out one of the vials she had retrieved. "This is a much older strain then the one you use, so it will take a little while for it to take effect." She explained as she stood by his side and prepared to inject the blood into his right leg, before he unexpectedly motioned for her to stop with his hand.

"Are you certain there's no other way?" He asked, appearing hesitant to accept the process.

"It's either this or not being able to properly walk for the next six weeks." She warned him, causing him to sit in silence for a few moments before sighing in resignation.

"Very well." He agreed, leaving her puzzled by his reluctance. She proceeded to gently press the vial into his leg, the hunter wincing in pain as the blood entered his system.

"Does it feel any different?" She inquired after giving him a little time to recuperate.

"Only one way to find out." He responded, attempting to rise from his seat before Maria placed a firm hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"If I'm not mistaken, that haste is what got you in this bind in the first place. Best you stay stationary for the next little while." She told him, not prepared to let him go just yet.

"And how long would that be, may I ask?" He demanded, appearing taken aback by her assertiveness.

"A few hours. At least long enough for the blood to fully take effect." She answered, before continuing. "Unless of course, you're eager to return to your hunt." With that, Zoran's willingness to argue vanished immediately.

"So it's just the two of us, then?" He asked in an insinuating tone.

"It would seem so." She said in acknowledgment. Her hand still on his shoulder, she traced a finger up and down a bit. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Yes, it has." He agreed. Though faint, Maria could just make out his expression shifting behind his mask. "Did you miss me?" She couldn't help but smile as she began to play along.

"How presumptuous of you." She replied, which only seemed to spur him on.

"Really? Because you're doing a poor job of convincing me otherwise." Maria briefly snickered at his comment.

"Oh, alright. Perhaps a little bit." She admitted with a sly smile.

"Then I'm sure you wouldn't mind continuing where we left off? I promise to make up for lost time." So it was a return to form he wanted, then? Very well.

"It would be most discourteous of me to deny a guest. Come along."

She stood by his side as he slowly stood from his seat, taking his right arm over her shoulder and helping him over to the stairwell. After a short walk, she helped him down onto one of the lower steps, being cautious of letting him put pressure on his injured leg. Once he was securely seated, she turned to her chair.

"Maria, if I may be so bold." He said, stopping her stride. "I was thinking that instead of the usual routine, I could…ask you a few things instead."

She turned back towards him, flustered by his sudden initiative. "Oh. Well…what exactly did you have in mind?" She asked, slightly hesitant to accept his offer.

"That depends on what you're willing to share. But I'm sure you have your fair share of stories to tell." He explained, before continuing.

"Besides, why should these meetings be exclusively about me?"

Maria took a moment to consider his words, a slight concern lingering in her mind. She held a slight fear that this would open a door to a path where they would both regret; yet at the same time, she couldn't deny that she was tempted by his proposition. What would be the harm in indulging him?

"I…I suppose I can appreciate a slight change of pace." She finally answered, though she did not move from her spot for the next little while, unsure of what exactly he wanted her to do.

"Aren't you going to have a seat?" He asked, beckoning to the space on his left. This had been the first time he had personally invited her to sit next to him, having only tolerated her proximity by her insistence for relatively short intervals. Though she briefly pondered as to what this meant for the nature of their relationship, she eventually complied with his request, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"So, what is it that's piqued your interest?" She eventually queried, unsure of what to expect.

"How did you become a hunter?" He asked, though even this simple request caught her off-guard.

"That's more a matter of "why" then how." She warned, though that didn't seem to dissuade him.

"Oh, that's of little concern to me. Feel free to take as long as you like. As it is, it's not like I'm going anywhere for the next little while." He responded, leaving it to her to begin her story.

"Well…"

….

Despite its prestigious reputation, Byrgenwerth did not live up to the exalted stories told of the discoveries that occurred there. Not that it really mattered. Maria was there for only one reason.

In the dead of night, the college was devoid of residents, its scholars having long ago retired to their quarters or returned to the various towns that surrounded the college. A perfect opportunity for Maria to fulfill the objective her Queen had given her.

Byrgenwerth had severed all ties with Cainhurst Castle after they had discovered the treachery of one of their scholars, forming a new group focused on the exploration of the perilous labyrinths laid out beneath Yharnam, which the Knights had originally undertaken on their behalf. But they had also left the aristocracy in the dark as to their progress with their study of the Old Blood, studies that Cainhurst had funded. It was Maria's duty to retrieve their latest breakthrough; a vial filled with the rejuvenating blood of what was called a "Blood Saint".

Donning the garb assigned to all Royal Guards, Maria was able to traverse the dimly lit building with little chance of detection. Opening a chest on the upper levels of the college, Maria claimed her prize. Grabbing a pair of the surprisingly light vials, she gently placed them in her bag and moved to make her escape. Though no one was present on the college grounds, Maria did not want to risk being caught of guard. Exiting through a side door on the bottom floor, she began to swiftly run in the direction of the forest that obstructed the building, confident in her escape.

"It is unlike the nobles of Cainhurst to send envoys without an official warning." A mysterious voice suddenly rang out behind her, stopping her dead in her tracks. Slowly turning around, she found nothing but a frail looking man, a crude blade sheathed on his back. The same man who had been by the side of Wilhelm's representative on every expedition into the Tombs that she could remember.

And Maria knew better then to underestimate him.

"How did you find me?" She demanded, her helm obscuring her voice.

"It was clear to us that your Queen had no interest in leaving us to continue our work in peace. It would have been foolish to leave our most treasured place of learning undefended." The man replied, not showing an ounce of fear at her presence.

"I mean you no harm. Queen Annalise only wants what rightfully belongs to her." She attempted to reason with the man.

"Oh, I know. Once exposed to the blood, it becomes an obsession. But it seems Her Majesty has forgotten one thing. She may hold sway over the land of Yharnam." He moved then, drawing his blade faster then Maria could process. "But she has no authority here."

Maria then drew the blade that had been assigned to her upon her ascension to Annalise's court, eyeing the man with intense scrutiny.

"I am giving you one chance to depart. Leave me be and no harm will be done to you." She warned the stranger in front of her, though her voice quavered slightly due to his staggering display of speed.

"Hmmm, I had heard the knights of Cainhurst were a rather bombastic bunch. Most interesting." He said, not moving an inch.

Maria decided to make the first move, slashing at the stranger as fast she could. Much to her shock, he deflected her attack with minimal effort, causing her to follow up with several more swings of her sword, the man deflecting each and every one. Eventually, she thrust her sword forward, hoping to impale him in the chest. Much to her surprise, he seemed to dissolve into smoke, disappearing before her very eyes. The shock from his display of blinding speed quickly turned to fear when his blade sailed past her head, it's edge visible out of the corner of her eye. She froze, too stunned to react.

"Impressive. Show me more." The man said, his voice coming from behind her.

Not wasting any more time, Maria slashed her sword behind her, only for the man to disappear yet again and swing his blade at her from her side, forcing her to go on the defensive. He repeated a similar dive-and-dash technique until he saw Maria had managed to either dodge or block every one of his attacks, though she did not manage to land a counter hit on him while she did this. Maria's heart beat against her rib-cage, drawing in heavy breaths as their duel began to take its toll on her. Though she was already visibly winded, her opponent did not seem to show signs of weariness.

"What the hell are you?" She questioned, unable to comprehend the speed and dexterity displayed by the stranger.

"Better to ask, what are you?" The stranger responded in a calm voice, as if he was only toying with her.

"I am a Royal Guard of Cainhurst Castle. And I will not be mocked by a trickster such as yourself." She stated defiantly.

"Trickster, you say? Do tell me…" He swung his blade over his left shoulder, attaching it to a long staff that was sheathed on his back before pulling it over his right shoulder, his weapon now resembling a scythe.

"What guard is so easily frightened by a mere jester?" He said in a mocking tone.

Maria had never seen a weapon like that before. Despite its run-down appearance, it was far more complex then anything found in Cainhurst's armory. A short-hand blade that could be transformed into a long-reaching scythe at any time? Combined with his seemingly inhuman speed, she would be outmatched at any distance. Unless….

"Oh, but you see, there are tricks not even the jester could comprehend." She said before plunging her sword into her stomach, causing her opponent to recoil ever so slightly. When she pulled it out again, the blade was now coated in a thick coat of blood.

"I see. Then the stories are true." The stranger inquired, seeming familiar with the secrets of the Royal Guard.

"I would have preferred it had not come to this, but you leave me no choice." Maria told the man in front of her, before sheathing her sword and just as quickly unsheathing it, leaving a trail of blood in the blade's trajectory. Slightly caught of guard, her opponent managed to evade the attack at the last second and began to swing his scythe horizontally, forcing Maria to evade each strike lest she risk losing her head. Seeing an opening, Maria went on the offensive, taking advantage of her sword's increased range to push her attacker back. She knew she could not keep this up forever, for she already felt the weapon sapping away at her strength.

Their battle continued until Maria could feel her arms growing heavier every second. Despite her best efforts, she could not land a single hit on the scythe-wielding stranger, who seemed to maneuver around her attacks with ease. And something told her that he was holding back. The burden of her blade suddenly growing to strong, Maria was not able to react in time as the man slashed her across the chest with his scythe, the impact of the blow sending her flying back several meters. Her strength drained, she could only watch as the stranger approached her, knowing she had no way of re-energizing herself. She had failed.

"Do it." She beckoned, fully prepared to die.

"Whatever do you mean?" Her assailant questioned her in a calm tone.

"I have failed in my mission. Failed my Queen. You must kill me." She practically pleaded, but all the stranger did was look down at her in silence.

"Now that is most unfortunate. Perhaps I was wrong about you, Maria." Maria's head shot up at the stranger, shocked that he knew her name.

"How did you…?"

"You showed great potential in the Tombs of the Gods. I did not believe that one so young would be such a capable hunter. And who better to send on a mission like this then the Queen's most prized asset." The stranger explained to her.

"You knew I'd come. You wished to test me." She realized.

"Indeed. And I must say, your reputation precedes you, Maria of the Royal Guard." The stranger commended her.

"How did you know I was coming? Cainhurst has been out of contact with your fellows for well over a year." Maria inquired, wondering if there had been a mole in the nobility's court.

"Officially, yes. But do not think I haven't noticed that many of my students have gone missing in lands not far from the borders of Cainhurst Castle." He said, glaring at Maria accusingly.

"What are you talking about?" She asked, genuinely confused by his accusation.

"Annalise never told you, did she? Her Guard has been slaughtering my protegees and harvesting their blood, no doubt bringing it back to their queen in order to further her aim at conceiving the next Vileblood heir. We found one of their bodies not far from the entrance to Hemwick Charnel Lane. The injuries inflicted upon him could only come from a weapon similar to the one you wield now."

This revelation was of great surprise to Maria. She knew that the Queen had ambitions of producing an heir, but she never really considered how she planned to achieve this goal. It horrified her that she had conducted such brutal schemes behind her back, staining the honor of her fellow guards in her selfish pursuit of destiny. If any of this was true, of course.

"Why should I believe you? I understand you are responsible for that new band of vagabonds that go around cleaning up Byrgenwerth's messes. I can see exactly what you're trying to do; trying to turn me against my home in a vain hope to gain my allegiance. I would sooner die then study under the likes of you." She practically snarled at him, seeing right through his façade.

"I do not expect you to believe me, nor will I force you to accept my offer. But know this, Maria. There are things at play within Cainhurst Castle that go against everything you were taught in your adolescence. If you ever find yourself disillusioned with your home, seek out the Hunter's Workshop. There, I can promise your skills will be put to good use." With that, Maria finally rose to her feet, sparing one last look at the stranger before she set of the way she hoped to escape.

"Maria. The two vials you took. Do be so kind as to return them." The stranger called to her after several steps, causing her to remember her original purpose as to coming here. Fishing out the two peculiar vials, she began to wonder whether she wanted to bring this blood back to the Queen. If what the man said was true, did she truly want to be complicit in her scheme? After pondering for several moments, she tossed one of the vials underhand to the stranger, who caught it with little effort. She was just about to do the same for the second one before he stopped her.

"Unscrew the top and press the vial into your right leg. It will help you regain some of the strength you lost in our battle. You will no doubt need it for the return journey."

Maria was caught off guard by this order, but she complied with his instructions. She felt her strength slowly return to her and the pain in her chest where the stranger had struck her subside, realizing that this was the fabled Healing Blood that Byrgenwyrth was said to be experimenting with. She had long thought those stories myths and he found herself wondering what other secrets these scholars hid. But an immediate one stuck out.

"Who are you?" She asked the stranger one more time.

"You may have heard whisperings within Annalise's court about one known only as "The First Hunter." He smiled then, his eyes glancing in her direction beneath the tips of his hat.

"But you may call me, Gehrman."

….

"And the rest, you can say, is history." Maria concluded her account, with Zoran looking on in wide-eyed amazement.

Everything Gehrman told her had been true. Upon discovering the truth, she denounced the Cainhurst Nobility, abandoned the Royal Guard and left Cainhurst Castle, never to return. Once she arrived at the Hunter's Workshop, Gehrman had taken her in, teaching her in the ways of the Hunt. Her Rakuyo had been designed specifically to serve as a foil to her previous reliance on blood tinge, a fact she kept secret from her fellow hunters in fear of retaliation.

Over-time, she would evolve into one of the finest hunters in all of Yharnam, to a point where she was ranked only under Gehrman in terms of prowess. Until the tragic cycle of disillusionment repeated itself.

"You said earlier that Cainhurst funded Byrgenwerth's research. Why?" He inquired, appearing genuinely eager to discover more.

"Because in a way, Byrgenwyrth owed it's entire existence to their pilgrimage. When Wilhelm first founded the college, he had to get the nobility's approval to use the land in order to construct what he thought would be a place to study history, archaeology and various other subjects relating to the human condition. When the scope of their studies expanded, his scholars would descend down into the Tombs; but due to their limited budget, they needed Cainhurst to fill the void for their protection." She explained, though it was clear he was still curious.

"And you were among them?" He continued his questioning.

"I was. I remember being told that the scholars we were defending were a means to an end, so we could reclaim our birthright as the descendants of the Pthumerians. But at some-point, Byrgenwerth's influence grew far beyond what Cainhurst had predicted and the visions of the two parties diverged significantly. From that point on, a strong animosity plagued their relations, until communications abruptly ceased."

After she concluded her recollection, Zoran seemed to take a little while to formulate his next question.

"So. A knight of Cainhurst, were you?" Maria lightly smiled, amused that he had not pieced this together sooner.

"Don't tell me you're surprised." She teased him.

"I'm not. It's just…from what little I've heard about you prior; it was said you despised the use of blood-blades." He explained, though this only amplified her amusement.

"And how do you think I developed that distaste?" She asked in a light-hearted tone.

"Touché, I suppose." He acknowledged, before deciding to pursue the subject further. "What was it like, then? Growing up in Cainhurst Castle." He asked, though Maria did not answer immediately.

"My upbringing. It was… complicated to say the least." She stated, hearkening back to her early years.

"How so?" He inquired.

"My father was a diplomat, distantly related to Annalise. He met my mother while he was drafting a defensive agreement with another kingdom and ultimately brought her back with him, though he had to fight tooth and nail for their marriage to be accepted. As you could imagine, being the result of a union between an official and a foreigner made me…unpopular among my peers. They thought me a perversion. A stain on the noble Cainhurst bloodline." She revealed and it seemed Zoran knew exactly where she was going.

"I would imagine you wanted to prove them wrong?" He correctly inquired and she decided to carry on.

"Yes, but at the time, I had no idea how to do it. I spent most of my childhood pursuing various fields and practices, trying to find something I could dedicate my life to. But one thing I was always fascinated by were knights. I remember scouring through our archives for stories of valor and indulging in make-believe battles with the few children that were willing to associate with me." Maria paused for a moment, smiling as she remembered just how naïve she had been then.

"I had my grandfather to thank for that. He was one a long time ago, and he had quite a few stories to tell as a result. While I was growing up, I revered him; wanted to be exactly like him. When he watched over me while father was away on assignments, I would keep pestering him to teach me how to use a sword and although he rebuked me several times, he finally caved. And it didn't take long for those lessons to become a regular occurrence, albeit ones that were conducted in secret." She revealed.

"And let me guess. You were a natural?" He asked with a trace of amusement.

"He certainly seemed to think so. For one day, I was summoned to come before the King and Queen. My father was there, as were the rest of their council, which as you understand made me nervous that I was about to be scolded. But instead, I was prompted to rise and given one of our ceremonial blades. The next thing I knew, my grandfather entered from the side." She recounted with a smile on her face.

"Really?" He said, no doubt enjoying her recollection.

"Yes. He said later that he pulled a few strings in order to get a chance for me to show my potential to Annalise, who was impressed enough with my performance that she ordered for me to receive further training. Once my position in the ranks had been secured, my family threw me a surprise dinner in celebration, where my father expressed his support for my ascension. After that, my grandfather gifted me his old weapon, saying that there will be stories written about me in due time." It was so strange. Back in the day, recounting that night would always bring a smile to her face. Now, it invoked nothing but feelings of melancholy; ponderings of what could've been had she not gone down this path. Even the most precious of memories could be sullied by the passage of time.

"Were you happy? Once you were accepted, I mean."

"For a time, I was. As I continued to rise through the ranks, I remember being so proud of myself, of the honor I brought to my family name. But I learned very soon that nothing I would do would earn me acceptance among my fellow knights, even the ones under my command. And after the Forbidden Blood was brought back to my homeland, it changed everything." She continued.

"The ways of old were slowly abandoned and the methods of our forces began to revolve around our newfound control of blood. I went along with it at first, but I couldn't shake the feeling that our way of life had been corrupted, as every aspect of our society seemed to shift to further the nobility's thirst for this new resource, one that never seemed to be satiated. And that I had sold out my bloodline; my very soul in pursuit of something I would never receive."

As she concluded her account, her demeanor shifted to a much more downcast state, as she found herself lamenting the lengths she had gone to in order to feel like she belonged at Cainhurst, sacrifices she had made in vain.

"Do you ever miss it?" She was snapped out of her stupor when Zoran asked yet another question, though she almost didn't hear it in full.

"Hmm?" She murmured in slight confusion.

"Cainhurst. Or at least, what it used to be." He clarified, leaving her to ponder his question.

She hadn't heeded her former home much thought over the later years of her life, focused as she was on her duties within the Church. But her battles with Zoran had forced her to embrace all the worst aspects of her heritage. But instead of putting her thoughts into words, she reached into her jacket and pulled out the shattered photo-frame she had picked up earlier, handing it to Zoran.

"Are these…the Old Hunters?" He asked, his eyes tracing over the photograph.

"Yes. My compatriots. My friends. My family." She answered, softly smiling as she thought back to everyone gathered in that picture.

"There's so few of you…" He noted, appearing surprised that there were little more then a dozen people in the photo.

"Back then, that was all that we really needed. We were mostly assigned to exhibitions into the Tombs, before we began to aid Laurence's ambitions in the background. It was only after the Healing Church grew in influence when we needed to greatly expand our ranks." She explained.

She could tell that his eyes were set at the center of the photo, where her and Gehrman stood on either side of a man wearing a scholarly uniform.

"That is him, if you're wondering." She said to him, recognizing he was trying to figure out whether he was looking at Laurence or not. "He and Gehrman were very close. So, when he began training the hunters, Laurence was made an honorary member." She revealed, though she vastly undersold just how close the two of them were. Almost like brothers.

"So that's what Gehrman looked like in his heyday? If it weren't for the leg, I could hardly tell the difference." Zoran said.

"That was by design. To a beast, someone of his stature would seem like easy prey; until they were cut down faster then they could blink." Maria explained, remembering the sheer spectacle of seeing Gehrman move. It was an art-form.

"What about the others? Who are they?"

Maria proceeded to point out and name each of her compatriots, with each one bringing back a certain sense of nostalgia. They had all been carefully selected by Gehrman, who had made it a top priority to ensure there was a diversity of talents amongst his pupils.

Valtr stood by Maria's side in the photo, but for whatever reason, Zoran did not seem to recognize his former master. After this brief moment of confusion, she moved on to the rest of her compatriots.

Yamamura, a warrior hailing from an Eastern land who had fled his home after a series of reforms rendered his order obsolete; wandering the lands with no clear aim. Gehrman had caught wind of his presence in the city and after besting him in a duel, had offered him a chance to put his talent with his ceremonial blade to good use.

Lobsang, a traveler hailing from a mountainous land. An efficient, but gracious hunter, he was also a very spiritual man. Whenever one of their fellow hunters passed, he would organize a funeral where they were left on the hills just beyond the city; allowing the elements and carrion birds to claim them and letting them return to the sky.

Faust, an exceptionally talented medic and all-around colorful personality, albeit one who was down on his luck when he had been recruited. He would go on to become a pioneer of blood ministration, as well as her right-hand man in the Church's experiments.

Selene, a street thief whose penchant for stealth and infiltration made her well-suited to navigate and plunder the ancient labyrinths beneath Yharnam. Her and Faust grew close over the years, and the two eventually married, all while she became a figurehead of the Church's charity branch.

Alexander, a Byrgenwerth scholar who was ardently committed to the idea of gaining audience with the Great Ones and eagerly volunteered to join the hunters in their treks into the Tombs. He became a leading cleric of the Healing Church and was responsible for the running of the orphanage, yet despite his vicious efficiency in the hunt, he exhibited great kindness to the children in his care.

Leonard, who's bravery and resolve were second to none; one account describing how he had supposedly held of a beast with nothing but a broken sword he had plucked from a nearby corpse. He would remain a hunter till the end of his days, founding the Tomb Prospectors and exploring the labyrinths on the Church's behalf until his eventual disappearance.

Robert, a loud-mouthed Scotsman who despite his ill-temper and abrasive personality was an undeniably formidable warrior, and more surprisingly, an incredibly loyal companion and friend. Yet it was with Yamamura that he developed the closest bond of friendship, and after he fell in battle against a powerful beast, the Eastern warrior pursued it with a vengeance.

And then there was Ludwig, standing by Gehrman's side with his hands on the pommel of his prized great sword; radiating dignity and pride. And this wasn't unearned, for he had been an incredibly capable warrior even in his early days. Before Gehrman's retirement, he had been the natural choice to be his replacement and no matter how much he insisted that she be the one to take up his mantel, she knew from the start that he was more of a leader then she could ever hope to be.

One thing Maria did not admit was that she had developed something of a fancy for him, one she respectively bowed out off after he had informed her of his…inclination. But regardless, they remained close friends, although she long considered that to be the most embarrassing moment of her life.

"An interesting cast of characters, to be sure." Zoran said after she had finished describing them all.

"Oh, undoubtedly. But they were all masters of their craft and Gehrman knew it. He had a keen eye for those with unrealized potential and would take them under his wing; giving them the chance to put it to good use. And he expected nothing in return, but I think he knew that we would've died for him. He gave us a home. A purpose. And helped us realized just what we were truly capable off."

The two stared at the photo for a little while longer, until Zoran seemed to remember what had led to this exchange to begin with.

"I take it the answer is no, then?" He said, causing her eyes to drift to the side.

"I can't say. The longer I spent away from home, the more I realized just how flawed my world-view had been. I had perpetuated a system where the vast majority lived as serfs, all while having potentially life-saving treatment kept from them because they weren't considered worthy of the privilege. And the knights I led served with little compensation, all because of how enamored we all were with Annalise's silver tongue." As she recounted all the systemic problems of her homeland, she couldn't help but feel shame at her past service to the Cainhurst elite.

"I…I can imagine." Zoran offhandedly commented, arousing a brief moment of confusion before she chose to continue.

"But I cannot deny that…I missed my parents. We were never on the best of terms, but I always knew they only wanted the best for me. The day I departed, I left a detailed note in my father's study informing him of my decision and hoping we would meet again some day. But as I was about to leave, I found my mother waiting for me." She paused briefly before continuing.

"She told me that she had been aware of my desire to leave for some time and that if that was what would make me happy, then she would not stop me. And just as we were about to part ways, she gave me this." She recounted, pointing to the green jeweled brooch on her collar. "It had been a gift from my father when he had proposed marriage to her, proof that he treasured their bond far more then he did his reputation. And she said she hoped that I would pass it on to someone one day, without the same limitations her and him experienced. She said that…she was proud of me, and that she knew I would go on to do great things." She revealed, her smile fading as she realized how well her mother's prediction held up under scrutiny.

"That was the last I saw of either of them. I pledged to uphold the traditions of my homeland as best I could, but in the end, leaving that accursed land is one of the few things I don't regret."

As the two sat in silence for the next little while, Maria thought back to what she heard when she entered the tower; the only display of Zoran's heritage she had seen since their meetings began. Feeling slightly more confident in her approach, she posed him a question of her own.

"What about you? What was your home like?"

Zoran turned his head in her direction, his eyes looking off to the side as indecision seemed to grip him.

"What city was it?" She looked back at him in confusion, unsure if she had heard him correctly.

"Excuse me?" She said to get him to clarify his bizarre question.

"Your mother's home. It was in Poland, wasn't it?" Upon hearing him say this, Maria's eyes widened in shock.

"It…was. How could you possibly know that?" She acknowledged after recovering from her daze, utterly bewildered how he was aware of such a thing.

"The agreement your father drafted. Krakow erupted in rebellion against it's Hapsburg masters several decades ago and if I were a betting man, I would wager Yharnam was seeking its independence as well. They saw they had a common enemy and chose to unite against them." He explained, leaving Maria even more baffled by his uncanny deduction.

"Is there any reason you're telling me this?" She demanded, more then a little frustrated by how he seemed to be avoiding her question.

"As a matter of fact, there is. As it happens, such an agreement was necessary because of events set in motion by my ancestors." This revelation both erased her perception that he was playing mind-games with her and kindled her intrigue.

"Go on." She said to him, keen on hearing more.

"They lived along the banks of a great river; vassals of the union between Poland and Lithuania. One day, they rebelled against the Commonwealth and in a bid for protection, allied themselves with Moscow. And so, this alliance continued, until the Russian state was cemented as the major power in the region. But more then a century later, the monarchy abolished their hegemony and resettled them to lands close to the Black Sea, which is where I grew up in. In any other case, I'm sure they would've been exiled, but they were simply to valuable an asset to give up." He started off, though Maria was slightly puzzled by why he chose to begin with this piece of local history.

"Why is that?" She inquired, genuinely curious.

"Because they saw their worth as a military force." He revealed, before continuing. "There were many hosts much like ours, strategically scattered across the lands along the empire's borders as buffer zones. But the few traits that were universal amongst us were our desire for self-governance and our rigid military structure." He briefly paused before continuing.

"War was our way of life and there was scarcely a period where we weren't on some sort of campaign. For more then a century, we served as a vanguard of their expansionist forces; aiding their ambitions in exchange for relative sovereignty. It was a shaky arrangement from the start, but so long as our freedom was assured, we were content with serving the Tsar."

As Zoran went into further detail, fragments of a distant memory returned to Maria's mind. Stories her mother would tell of nomadic warriors whose unparalleled horsemanship and vicious efficiency on the battlefield was known and feared throughout Europe. But their society was said to be a polar opposite of their benefactors, valuing freedom and democracy above all else. And some of the words he used seemed oddly familiar.

The Black Sea. Moscow. Tsar.

Maria stared slack-jawed at the hunter as she realized just who was sitting besides her.

"You're one of the Cossacks?!" She exclaimed in a mixture of shock and realization, with Zoran turning his attention to her.

"Ah. Someone who knows their history." He commended her.

"History? Cossack warriors are legendary. Their horsemanship was said to be unrivaled and their efficiency on the battlefield almost without peer, yet that was about all any of us knew about them. I just…never imagined I would meet one in the flesh." She said, with her apparent excitement amusing her visitor.

"Do I live up to expectations?" He light-heartedly asked.

"Well, if nothing else, I can understand why so many were afraid of you. What with the first-hand account and all." She admitted as Zoran's face shifted beneath his mask in what she assumed to be a smile.

"Ah, Maria. You flatter me." He said in mock pride, placing a hand over his heart to drive it home; as Maria barely managed to suppress a laugh.

"Oh, but enough of monarchist politics. Tell me more about your history."

This simple prompt spawned hours of mindless conversation, as Zoran described every minute detail of his upbringing, day-to-day life and service in the military, which branched off into Maria describing small parts of her time in Cainhurst in kind.

When he revealed that he had been taught how to ride a horse at the age of three, she told a story of a disastrous carriage ride that left her and her father stranded in the woods.

Descriptions of the wide-open land surrounding his stantista, as it was called, prompted her to describe the undeniable beauty of the castle during winter time.

His recollections of the strange haircuts sported by some of their older soldiers as a mark of honor and pride reminded her of a wig prized by many of her fellow knights despite it being little more then a silver ponytail. Then again, they always found pride in the strangest things.

And his recollections of social gatherings among his friends spurred mentions of the lavish feasts the nobles would organize for themselves and they both found that they tended to result in unspeakable depravity.

So these retellings of the mundanities of their everyday lives continued, yet despite this, Maria's interest never wavered. Every small story he told her only piqued her curiosity further and she found herself smiling, laughing and joking all throughout their exchange. And he was clearly enjoying himself as well, which made the whole thing even better.

"The army choir, you say?" She asked with a wide smile on her face as Zoran began yet another account.

"Indeed, though I only did it because one of my army friends persuaded me to join. I was skeptical, but he assured me that I had an impeccable singing voice." He revealed with his mask doing little to hide his amusement.

"And do you?" She coyly asked, the little she heard of it prior still fresh in her mind.

"The conductor certainly seemed to think so. Thing is, the reason I was nervous was because, until then, I'd never actually done it sober." Maria erupted in laughter at this revelation, having done so numerous times prior as she listened to tales of his escapades.

"Never figured you for a musician." She light-heartedly commented as her laughter subsided.

"Really now? Do tell me, how did you enjoy those violin lessons?" He fired back as Maria shook her head in amusement.

"I told you before, it was my mother's idea, not mine. Besides, I only ever managed to learn one tune." She reminded him, still embarrassed at the memory.

"Come now, I'm sure you were marvelous. Maybe I can dig one up somewhere and you can show me." Zoran continued to tease her, though even then, the smile did not fade from her face.

"Cheeky, aren't we?" She noted, her spirits lifted that he was once again showing some signs of his natural self.

"I can even sing along if you'd like. If nothing else, my ensemble had a wonderful catalogue." He assured her, eliciting a chuckle from her at the idea.

"I'm sure they did." She said before a brief silence settled over them, with Maria noting just how lively her visitor seemed compared to their last meeting. "I must admit. Going off of what I heard about your people, I would've dismissed you as little more then a band of barbarians." She told him, having gotten a sufficient impression of their customs.

"Aye, well, that's how it is. When you're at someone's beck and call at all times, it's essential to find something to take your mind of it all. Very easy to forget that the battlefield isn't all that defines you." After he said this, his gaze became slightly downcast, as if he was sentimental about something.

"You miss it, don't you?" She softly asked him, with his only response being a drawn-out exhale. She decided to try her luck at determining the cause of his longing. "Did you leave someone behind?" He sprang back to attention, appearing slightly flustered at her question.

"Oh, no. Nothing like that. The early years of a Cossack's life just wasn't suited for that type of union." He clarified in slight embarrassment.

"I see. Family then, is it?" She acknowledged before continuing her inquiry.

"My father and a younger sister. My mother…passed away a few years after her birth." He revealed as his lively demeanor slowly faded away.

"I'm sorry." She stated in acknowledgment.

"Her time came. There was nothing any of us could've done to save her. But father took it the hardest. Her passing utterly devasted him, so much so that he retired from service and swore never to marry again." As upsetting as his story seemed, Maria found it rather moving that Zoran's parents seemed to have cared for each-other so.

"And what did he do then?" She inquired, for whatever reason expecting the worse.

"The only thing he could do. He raised us on his own; becoming a farmer in order to support us. And as I grew older, he began to prepare me for my mandatory service, granting me his old uniform and weaponry after my training was complete. But my despite me having my own block of land to live on, his door always remained open to me." Maria couldn't help but softly smile as Zoran praised his father, pleasantly surprised to hear he had grown up in a relatively loving household. With everything that had happened to him, she almost expected to hear that he had been abused as a child or something equally awful.

"He sounds like a great man." She acknowledged.

"Yes, that he is. Everything I am today; I owe to his guidance." He sighed softly then, as if he was reminiscing about days long past.

"What about your sister? Were you close?" She asked, having not heard anything about her thus far.

"Ah, little Olena. My pride and joy. We were almost inseparable, me and her; always out somewhere in the village doing only God knows what. She always there to reign me in, and even when we were a nation's length apart, I could count on her to keep our home safe." He recounted, his eyes lightly glistening as he spoke.

"Was she a soldier, too?" She asked, noting just how proud he seemed to be of his sister.

"No. But that doesn't mean she wasn't eager to learn." He answered.

"I always did wonder what it would be like to have a sibling. Maybe growing up wouldn't have been so lonely then." She reminisced; her voice slightly trailing.

"Maybe so. But when someone's is always there for you, you begin to take them for granted. And you don't realize just how much they mean to you until they're no longer there." He said in reply, turning to look her in the eye. "You two would've gotten along well, I think. She was always the more outgoing one between us." He told her, her lips curving into a slight smile at this comment.

"I find that very hard to believe." She lightly teased him, with his only reply being an acknowledging "hmm".

The two sat in silence for the next little while, as Maria tried to think of a way to continue the conversation. She was not prepared to press Zoran further in terms of his family history, seeing as her inquiry into his personal life was already pushing boundaries. Yet the openness he had shown during their conversation quelled her fear that she had somehow broken his trust. Feeling more confident, she decided to reintroduce the subject that defined their last encounter, but in a more direct way.

"Why do you wear it?" She asked, drawing his attention back to her.

"Pardon?" He said in confusion, almost as if he had been broken out of a trance.

"Your mask." She clarified, leaving him to look back at her in an uneasy silence.

"What do you think?" He asked in response, either out of genuine curiosity or in an attempt to change the subject.

"What I think?" She repeated his question, taking a moment to ponder her answer. "I think you do so because you're trying to hide. Be it out of a desire to appear in control when you're really not, or if you are simply to ashamed to show your face after everything that has happened." She stopped speaking then, staring Zoran dead in the eyes.

"Am I correct?" Maria demanded, though the hunter did not immediately answer. After a while, he simply looked off at the opposite end of the room, appearing hesitant to speak.

"Nothing escapes your scrutiny, does it?" He said in a plain attempt to play her questioning off.

"Zoran." She firmly said, signifying she wanted him to take this seriously. After a little while, he let out a sigh and succumbed to her pressure.

"You see, the process I went through as I grew up was…quite gruelling. As soldiers, we were expected to be well-disciplined and efficient; meaning we had to close ourselves off from the suffering we inflicted on our opponents. To show remorse was to show weakness, and weakness was to be severely punished." After this brief explanation, he looked back in her direction before continuing.

"I've-killed a lot of people in my time. Many I thought were deserving, and many I knew were not. And ever since the first time I did it, I knew I would never be able to do what was expected off me. So I spent most of my service off the battlefield: I would hunt, tend to weapons and horses, collect timber and provide reconnaissance, among other things. But I could never shy away from taking up arms, for if I let my true feelings be known, I would've been ridiculed; branded a coward and a weakling. Guess that's a fear I never truly overcame." He finished his explanation, his eyes slightly gazing downwards as Maria looked on, regretting her unwelcome move during their last encounter even more.

"Did you truly have no one to turn to?" She asked, finding it hard to believe he was completely isolated.

"Only Olena, and even then, we would scarcely discuss it. As for my father, well…as supportive as he was, I never told him." He revealed, casting his eyes to the side. "I went on many raids and fought many battles, but it didn't get any easier. Really, the only thing that kept me going was knowing that- this was why I was born. I was always meant to be a soldier and to turn away from that would make me a disgrace to my people. A disgrace to my family." It was then Maria realized just how much trust Zoran had built with her that had shared his struggles at all, much less to such a great extent.

"About the last time we saw each-other. When I tried to unmask you, I must admit, I…" She paused briefly, ashamed that she had to admit this at all. "I wasn't acting with only your best interest in mind." She revealed as she averted her gaze. Despite the cryptic nature of her statement, Zoran must've understood what she meant, as he didn't say anything in response. But eventually, he saw fit to speak.

"Are you still curious?"

She turned her eyes back at him in surprise, finding that he was looking back at her expectantly. Taking a moment to contemplate her next move, she slowly began to reach for his mask; before stopping just as her hand was about to come into contact with it. Even as hesitation stopped her, their eyes remained locked.

"May I?" She asked him, wanting to be certain this was what he wanted, which he soon confirmed with a silent nod of his head.

She started by easing the decorative cap from his head with both hands, revealing a mess of brown hair on the top of his head. Setting it aside, she then took hold of the top of his mask and slowly begun to lower it as Zoran's head leaned forward slightly to encourage her. It wasn't long until her eyes were drawn to his defining feature. A long scar across his right eye. Maria's hand found its way to his cheek, softly tracing her thumb across the fading wound.

"Marked in more ways then one, I see?" She softly stated, smiling back at him.

"I suppose you can say that." He said in response, his brown eyes appearing much lighter now that they weren't obscured by his headwear.

From the few illustrations she had seen of the Cossacks, she recalled almost all of them having incredibly long mustaches and distinct, imposing faces. Yet the one before her was strikingly…ordinary.

The features of his face were well defined, with a faint trace of a mustache stretching the length of his lips. As she observed him, he softly smiled at her; his apparent maturity belying a sense of youthful mischief. Really, he looked like he could've come from anywhere, but the fact that he was a soldier was not in doubt. And quite a handsome soldier at that.

As she looked him over in greater detail, she noticed that the area beneath his eyes were sunken, making her wonder just how long they had been like this.

"Zoran, when was the last time you slept?" She questioned him, concern clouding her mind.

"Not since the night of the hunt started." He admitted.

"And how long ago was that?" She pressed on.

"I don't know. I stopped attempting to comprehend the flow of time here long ago. Besides, it's not like I have anywhere to rest without worry."

Maria knew she couldn't let him leave in his condition, but what could she possibly do? The few beds that were present in the Research Hall that weren't unsanitized where too far away for him to reach in his current state. She knew he did not wish to return to Dream unless he absolutely had to, being unable to find comfort there anymore. That only left…

"You may rest here." Maria offered him.

"Maria, no. I'm fine." He attempted to stand up, but Maria placed a firm hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"No, you are not. You need rest. You will get no closer to whatever it is you seek by depriving yourself of sleep."

"But I…" He attempted to argue before Maria interjected once more.

"Remember that you are only human. Rest. I will watch over you." She attempted to calm him down, coming off as more eager then she intended to.

"Trust me."

Zoran seemed to take a moment to process her offer, seemingly pondering the ramifications of letting his guard down in so absolute a fashion. But he was clearly in no position to argue any further.

"Alright." He eventually agreed. "But I need to…"

"Hold on. Allow me" Maria immediately understood what he was going to say; rising from her seat to aid him in lifting his wounded leg up so he may properly lie down on the stairwell, leaving him lying on his back with his hands on his chest.

"Do you need anything else?" She asked, as his position was undoubtedly uncomfortable.

"No. This'll do." He answered, slightly shifting as he spoke. Content with his answer, she turned around to return to her chair only to suddenly feel his hand grasp hers, causing her to look down at him in surprise.

"Wait, actually…can you stay here? Please?" He requested, catching her by surprise.

Against her better judgement, she sat back down and looked down at Zoran as he lay on the stairwell, seemingly struggling to relax himself. An idea formed in her head, moving a bit closer to him and gently lifting up his ailing head, allowing him to rest it on her lap.

"Maria, what are you doing?" He questioned her in a hazy voice as she did this, she began to run her fingers through his hair.

"It's alright. Now shut your eyes. Rest." She gently reassured him and as she felt him slowly begin to relax himself, she quietly removed her jacket and draped it over his body as he slightly shifted as a result of her action. His eyes fluttered open, looking down at his new covering before rising to meet hers. Maria experienced a flush of embarrassment, silently praying that she wasn't blushing as she awaited his reaction. Yet all he did was smile, which brought a sudden feeling of warmth that made her smile back.

"And here I thought I had you all figured out." He said in a low voice after they remained in that position for what seemed like an eternity.

"I thought the same about you, not to long ago." Maria admitted after she regained some semblance of sense.

"Really? And what did you see?" He inquired, his curiosity spurred.

"What I expected to see-was a beast. Or at least, someone holding onto the last vestiges of their humanity. But that is not what I found." She begun to gently run her fingers through his hair. "What I saw instead-was a raging sea. And in this sea, there was a ship; damaged, but still salvageable. And all it needed to stay afloat was a light; one that can help guide it back to shore." She concluded her account by placing her hand over his chest, where both of his were folded.

"Sleep now, Zoran. I will wake you once the waters calm." Soon after, he shut his eyes and relaxed his head against her lap as Maria continued to look down at him, experiencing a strange sense of comfort from seeing him so at ease. He finally fell asleep not long after, his breathing slowing down to a consistent rhythm as she looked down at the slumbering hunter, softly smiling at him.

"No ship is meant to be steered alone."

….

Zoran gripped his cane with one hand as Maria gently held on to his other arm, slowly guiding himself down the staircase outside her tower. He had woken up from his much-needed nap only a few minutes earlier, finding that the pain in his leg had all but vanished; indicating that the Healing Blood had run its course. Despite his fear of nightmares gripping him as he slept, none had appeared, allowing him to sleep soundly and according to his guardian, lengthily.

He had long wandered whether he could truly slumber in his current state and with the constant danger of his surroundings, he had never been bold enough to attempt it. It didn't help that he had struggled with sleep ever since he was a child, never feeling secure in sleeping unless someone was there to watch over him. But here, he felt secure. Like nothing there could hurt him.

"Easy now. One step at a time." Maria coached him, noticing slight wince he had made when he put pressure on his bad leg.

"I'm fine. Just need a little time to readjust, is all." He reassured her before continuing downwards, reaching the bottom in short order and prompting her to release her hold on his arm.

"I'm in your debt yet again." He said as he turned towards her, still gripping his cane more out of custom then necessity. "I do believe I've taken up enough of your time. It's time I returned to my duties." He stated before turning towards the lantern to their side, the messengers reaching out for him as they always did.

"Where do you think you're going?" She asked him in a tone that drew the line between stern and inviting, stopping his short walk before it even begun.

"I'm…going back to the Dream." He clarified, slightly confused by her demand.

"I'm afraid I can't release you from my custody just yet. There's one more small thing I want you to do." She revealed, baffling the hunter even further.

"And whatever will that be?" He demanded light-heartedly, intrigued by what she had in mind.

"How confident are you in your bad leg?" This question caught him off guard, but he chose to go along.

"I can walk, if nothing else. Why do you ask?" He answered, still confused by what she wanted from him.

"I wish to teach you one of Gehrman's oldest techniques. The Art of Quickening." Zoran immediately recognized which technique she was referring to. During their duels, he remembered instances when she seemed to move faster then his eyes could track; her movements obscured by a white mist.

"Could you really do that? By all accounts, that art was lost long ago." He said, remembering reading somewhere that the technique in question has not been used since the founding of the Church Hunters.

"It was to be expected. It takes even the most seasoned hunter years to truly master the art. And yet, I feel as if your creed of hunter would be better accustomed to such a technique." Maria then held out her hand, looking at him expectantly. "Your firearm. Give it to me."

Complying with her instruction, he unholstered his pistol and handed it over to her. He watched intently as she took out one of the bullets loaded within and inspected it. It was a pale white, having been fused with his own blood in some arcane ritual upon his arrival in the Dream Workshop. Gehrman had said normal bullets would be ineffective against his query, which made the usage of these "Quicksilver" bullets a necessity.

"Your cane." Realizing what she was planning, he moistened for her to step back before reluctantly swinging his support to the side and transforming it into a bladed whip. He would've preferred for this to remain hidden. Brought back far too many unpleasant memories from back home.

Holding it out, he watched as Maria took off one of her gloves and lightly nicked one of her fingers on the jagged edge; the two of them wincing almost in tandem. Holding out the bullet, she positioned her bleeding finger just above it; the two of them watching as a drop of her blood fell onto the silver bullet and seemed to merge with his own.

"That should do it." She said, handing the bullet back to him.

"What exactly am I to do with this?" He asked as he held the special bullet in his hands, more then a little perplexed as to what she was planning.

"I believe that you, with your connection to the Dream, have the ability to tap into the abilities of hunters long past. Albeit when something binds you to them in some way." She explained, with the prospect intriguing him. He had acquired several tools that were no doubt used by other hunters before them and seemed to know exactly how to use them the moment he picked them up. But to do so with an art as precise as this…

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try." He said, eager to see if it was possible. "What now?" He asked as he awaited her next instruction.

"Come." She said simply, leading him into the small garden just beside them; stopping a few steps away from the massive flower at the centre. "Hold it tight. Now close your eyes." He complied with her instructions and soon, he could feel a strange sensation sweeping through him. As if the blood in his veins was no longer his own.

"Do you feel it?" He could hear Maria's voice beside him, which by itself seemed to calm him.

"Yes." He replied.

"Very good. Now, I want you to look deep within your mind. Uncover the secrets of your forebears." He did as she asked, racking his mind until a distant memory seemed to return to him. Its arcane powers flowed through his body and it felt as if he was no longer confined to the limitations of his human form.

"I have it." He said triumphantly.

"Excellent. Now what you need to do is relax; focus in on your surroundings. And when you think you're ready, move forward as fast as you can." Taking in a deep breath, he took in the feeling of the breeze brushing against his face and the pleasant smell of the surrounding flowers. Then, after standing still for a few moments, he dashed forward…

His physical form seemed to evaporate before it reformed itself just as quickly, leading to him collapsing to the ground as he struggled for breath. His head was spinning. His heart was racing. His leg was flaring with pain. And he felt as if…

"I think I'm going to be sick…" He promptly warned Maria as he tried his hardest to contain his upset stomach, registering that she was already by his side.

Almost as soon as he said this, he was being dragged to a nearby railing, which he managed to reach just before his vomit finally gave way. He once again attempted to catch his breath, gripping the railing with both hands as he leaned slightly over the side. Through it all, Maria was gently patting him on the back, trying what she could to relieve him.

"Sorry you had to see that." He said as his breath returned and he straightened himself out.

"No need. I reacted about the same way when I first attempted it. The old man had the nerve to tell me that it was to be expected." He softly chuckled, although he still felt stiff after his ordeal.

"God, I'm exhausted. How is it you can use this so many times without tiring?" He asked as he recalled just how effortlessly she had utilized it in their battles.

"The key is to utilize it sparingly. If you were to use it in quick succession, it would tire you out very quickly. It would be tantamount to save it for when an enemy is on the offensive so you may catch it off guard. With a technique like this, timing is everything." As he absorbed her advice, it occurred to him just how freely she was divulging the secrets of her trade. Especially since he may use it against her were their hostilities to resume.

"May I ask you something, Maria?" A look of slight unsurety found its way onto her face, but she eventually responded.

"Sure." He straightened himself out and looked at her with a serious expression.

"When do you think this will end?" She appeared confused by his question, slightly narrowing her eyes.

"What do you mean?" She asked in hope of clarification.

"This arrangement of ours. Surely, there will come a time when it will run it's course." Maria turned her head slightly to the side, seemingly pondering what it was she would say.

"I'm...I'm sure we'll both know when the time comes." She responded after meeting his eyes again and Zoran sensed a slight apprehension to her words.

"You sound uncertain." He acknowledged.

"Off course not, I understand that..." She paused then and after a brief sigh, chose to start again. "Look. I know this is most likely something you don't want to hear, but this agreement of ours will last for as long as you want it too. If you feel now is the right time for us to part ways, then I will understand..."

"No, that not what I..." He interrupted her as an unexpected panic surged through him. Maria looked back at him in surprise at his forceful response, prompting him to try and clear up any misunderstanding he may have caused. "I mean, there's no need for us to get ahead of ourselves. I have no intentions of stopping this for now." He rebounded as well as he could, which seemed to be enough for her.

"Really? Well, that's quite a relief." Maria said with a slight smile.

A relief? She was relieved that he wasn't leaving? He knew that they had long ago shed their mutual animosity, but it was still so surreal to hear those words coming from her. Was this really the same woman who had cut him down as if he were no more then a simple beast not too long ago? Truth be told, he had almost forgotten that their current relationship was the result of a truce. Really, he had kept coming back in part because he very much enjoyed her company.

The Doll that was no doubt based on her had been a great help throughout his journey and he greatly appreciated having someone he could always turn to. But she was naïve; incapable of comprehending or assisting him in dealing with his grievances and troubles. She was simply there to make his hunt easier, to help him gain more power and offer words of support. That was her sole purpose. Still, he distinctly remembered an odd exchange he had with her a while ago, where seemingly without prompt she asked him a question he hadn't been prepared to answer.

"Would you ever think to love me?" She had asked. And for whatever reason, her question still came to thought from time to time, even more so in the past few days.

Maria had mellowed over the span of their sessions and while she remained a diligent listener and prudent in her advice, recently she appeared to become more...cordial, so to say. Her conduct had shifted in such a way that he sometimes forgot that if fate hadn't willed it so, they would no doubt be in the midst of killing each-other. And seeing this other side of her was a very welcome surprise. He hadn't realized how much he had missed being able to converse with someone about such trivial matters, more-so in a way where he didn't need to filter himself. He had been wanting to find a way to lift Maria's spirits in some way for some time, to repay her even in so minor a fashion. Yet seeing her in so merry a mood, smiling and laughing as if nothing were wrong in the world was like a reward in and of-itself.

But after Maria took off his mask and got her first true look at who he was underneath, it was like he was seeing her in a whole new light. Her beauty had been evident since he first laid eyes on her, but so too was the despair that lay just behind the curtain; a dark cloud that never seemed to part. And as she gazed back at him, a smile adorning her face, he saw the light break through for the very first time. And he couldn't bring himself to look away. No, instead he felt a sudden...yearning; a yearning for something more. Unlike anything he'd felt before.

What was happening to him? It couldn't possibly be that...

"Speaking of which, there's just one more order of business before I send you on your way." His thoughts were broken when Maria chose to break their silence. He was going off of observation, but it seemed as if a similar indecision was affecting her as well.

"Oh, Maria. It's almost as if you don't want me to leave." He said the first thing that came to mind, masking it with humor in order to throw away suspicion. Judging from the amused sound she made, it worked.

"How very astute you are. Come with me." She ordered before turning to make her way towards the entrance of the Research Hall, beckoning for Zoran to follow her as he watched her walk away. Soon the two were at the precipice of another staircase, with the hunter sighing in slight frustration.

"I think you'll appreciate this. Come with me." She ordered before turning to make her way towards the entrance of the Research Hall, beckoning for Zoran to follow her as he watched her walk away. Soon the two were at the precipice of another staircase, with the hunter sighing in slight frustration.

"You know, if it's really so much of a nuisance, I can carry you down." She offered in a mocking manner, taking notice of his irritation.

"I think I'll manage." He said in response, doing little to hide his amusement.

"As you wish." She replied before beginning her descent, leaving Zoran to follow her while supporting himself against the railing. The two then entered an elevator that led to the upper levels of the building, exiting and moving through a narrow passageway towards the next floor.

"Just around the corner here." She said to him while pointing to her left, prompting him to follow her to a door he had left unopened during his exploration of the facility. Maria dug out a key and unlocked the door, opening it up to reveal a wide room with several tubs lining the walls, with wooden panels set up around them; no doubt to provide some semblance of privacy.

"What is the meaning of this?" He asked in bewilderment.

"This is where we would take the patients that showed the most promise, instructing them to listen closely to the distant sounds in their minds so my staff had an opportunity to properly sanitate them. Had to fight tooth and nail to get this room set up." She revealed, looking straight ahead rather then at him.

"Alright, by why are we here?" He asked, still puzzled by why she had brought him here.

"I'm sure you know the answer to that." She replied and soon Zoran realized the answer.

"Oh, come on." He said with a slight chuckle.

"I'm sure the beasts outside won't mind that you look like you've been frolicking in a burning field, but I think we can both agree you can benefit from a proper bath." She explained to him, though he found himself unable to argue with her. He did not remember the last time he had properly bathed.

"I can't say that sounds like a bad idea." He acknowledged, finding himself eager to begin.

"Wonderful." Maria said before making her way to a side room. "Pick out a spot and wait. I'll only be a moment." She ordered before disappearing into the next room, leaving him with the opportunity to explore the area.

It was much cleaner than the rest of the hall, though with the poor lighting, he could scarcely make out any details. As he picked out a location in the middle of the right side, Maria reappeared from around the corner, carrying a pail of steaming water and a jug.

"Here we are." She stated as she set down the two items on the floor next to the tub. "I'm certain you can handle it from here. I need to go run a quick errand." She said to him before turning to exit the enclosed area and close the door behind her, leaving Zoran alone with the pail of water. He was unsure what she could possibly need to do, but he cast this thought from his mind.

Setting his cane of to the side, he set about lighting a candle that was resting on a nearby table with a match, granting himself some much-needed light. He then set about removing his tattered garb, placing it on a bench by the door and moving towards the tub, carefully setting himself down so as to avoid reigniting the slight pain in his leg.

Taking the jug set out for him, he dipped it into the pail of water and poured its contents over his head, savouring the relieving feeling of clean water on his skin that he had not felt in so long. Noticing a bar of soap on a nearby table, he took it in one hand and proceeded to carefully scrub himself clean, washing himself off with the jug every once in a while.

This continued for quite some time, until the amount of water in the pail was running low and Zoran was finally content with himself. Feeling more rejuvenated then he had been in ages, he finally exited the tub; grabbing a nearby towel to dry himself off. Turning back towards where he had left his garb, he quickly noticed that the clothing awaiting him were not the same ones he had left there.

Reaching up and taking hold of one of the new items of clothing, he held it up to find a garb adorned with various brass trinkets, as well as a plain undershirt. After a moment of indecision, he proceeded to dress himself, finding that the items fit perfectly; much to his surprise. He also took the three vials that he had found next to them, quickly placing them in his bag.

Grabbing his cane and exiting the stall, he found Maria sitting on a bench on the other side of the room, in the process of reading a book before being interrupted by his appearance. Or rather, his anticipated appearance, judging from the smile on her face.

"Everything turn out okay?" She asked him, eying him up and down.

"Dandy." Was all he said in response. Holding onto her book, she made her way over to him, not paying any attention to his disapproving frown.

"Don't give me that look. Were you really so attached to that old garb of yours?" She asked as she approached.

"That makes two jackets now, Maria." He reminded her, though all this did was cause her to chuckle.

"On the contrary, I do believe this makes up for the first one. I'll get back to you if I find another set lying around." She countered, stopping just in front of him.

"What…is this exactly?" He asked, still unsure of where exactly she had gotten this.

"That is my old garb. It was assigned to me when I first enlisted under Gehrman; who advised me to avoid wearing my traditional attire for the time being because it may…upset some of his students." She explained, as Zoran looked up at her in disbelief.

"You held on to it all this time?" He asked in amazement.

"Truth be told, I wasn't sure why. I outgrew it long ago, yet for whatever reason couldn't bring myself to get rid of it. I had an aching suspicion it may prove useful one day." As Maria spoke, it was then Zoran seemed to remember that she was almost a head taller than he was, forcing him to slightly tilt his head back to be able to look her in the eye.

"Maria, I…I can't take this." He said to her, even though he was flattered at the offering.

"Oh, nonsense. You will make better use of it then I. It's yours now." She reaffirmed her position, leaving him with no retort. Seeing no other way to change her mind, he decided to learn more about his new garments.

"These trinkets. Is there any purpose to them?" He said while pointing to the various piece of metal strewn across his chest-plate.

"Not exactly, but some believed that they would help ward off beast-blood during the hunt. They didn't have any proof for it of course, but it brought a sense of comfort for them. I suppose it became customary overtime." She answered before tilting her head slightly to the side, as if she were curious about something. "If you don't mind me asking, did you not have a uniform back home?" She inquired, prompting him to snicker.

"I did, but I had to leave it behind. Wasn't exactly the brightest idea to ride across the steppes in full uniform, especially when we weren't on the best of terms with the other hosts. Simply wearing the hat risked me being picked off from a mile away." He revealed, chuckling along with her at his exaggeration.

"If you so wish, you're free to go now. But I would recommend you take a little time to make sure you're back to full health before returning to the Tombs." She told him, leaving him cold at the thought of fighting that watchdog again. From the beginning he saw little worth in trudging through that accursed dungeon, especially with the minimal rewards he got from attempting it in the first place.

"You know, on second thought, I think I won't go back to that labyrinth for a while. It is a silly place." He said to her, his humorous spin hiding a genuine dread to return to those forsaken depths.

"Oh. Well, in any case, do try to avoid any unnecessary trouble. My generosity does have it's limits." She warned him, though it didn't come across as vexing.

"Duly noted." He remarked in response before turning towards the door, with his host following in short order. The two proceeded to take the elevator up in relative silence, exiting into what was once an operating room before turning to face each other one more time.

"I thank you yet again for your hospitality. It's been a pleasure." He told her with a light bow.

"Pleasure was all mine. Godspeed." She said in response. He then turned to leave for the elevator that would take him to the bottom floor, finding that it was still there waiting for him. "Oh, and Zoran." He stopped his retreat and turned to face her, finding her standing in the same spot and seeming at odds at what exactly she wanted to say.

"You don't need to hide anything. Not here. Not from me."

Whatever it was he wanted to say was caught on his tongue, leaving him bereft of speech. Eventually, he settled on an acknowledging nod, receiving one in kind before finally entering the elevator. As he exited the room that Adeline once occupied, he looked up to see Maria ascending the staircase to her tower, casting a smile at him as she did. Looking to the side in light embarrassment, he turned towards the staircase that led to a lantern. Raising his hand towards it, he began the process of being transported back to the Hunter's Dream, grinning like a complete fool.

Unbeknown to him, a figure had appeared in the upstairs doorway, looking on as he faded away. His expression was hardened, not wanting to believe what he had just witnessed. He had his suspicions from the very beginning, but opted to grant himself some time to confirm his hypothesis, rather then casting judgement prematurely. But there was no doubt in his mind anymore.

"Taken by the Nightmare, are you?" He exclaimed to a now empty room, gripping his curved blade as a plan formed in his head.

"Then you leave me no choice."

...

Author's Note: Kept you waiting, huh?

Here you have the reason I started the re-write in the first place, which is that Zoran is in fact a Cossack. I originally conceived this idea as an explanation as to why he was as skilled in battle as he was, but upon further reflection, figured that I could use it to add even more flavor to his character. His original backstory I thought was relatively simple and not very in-depth, so I focused on giving him a fleshed-out origin. Not wanting to leave Maria out in the cold, she received an expanded origin as well, detailing both how she met Gehrman and her life in Cainhurst Castle.

This did require me to do a butt-load of research in order to do this, which is partly why it took me so long to release this. Here's some of what I found...

- The host Zoran originates from are known as the Kuban Cossacks, the second largest host behind the Don Cossacks. They are the remnants of the Zaporozhian Cossacks, who were disbanded by Catherine the Great in 1775. In his case, he lived in a stanista called Batalpashinskaya, which today is known as the city of Cherkessk. His mother originates from Georgia, which by know is part of the Russian Empire.

- In the context of this story, Yharnam is located on the border of Bohemia and as such, was once one of the many kingdoms under the banner of the Holy Roman Empire. After the Napoleonic Wars, it came under control of the Hapsburgs and the nobility aimed to gain their independence from them; forging alliances with like-minded kingdoms such as the Free City of Cracow in order to rebel against the Crown in the 1848 uprisings. Yharnam managed to gain it's independence as a result of this.

- The choir Zoran was a part of is the famed Kuban Cossack Choir, which still exists to this day. Despite this, the song he sings in this chapter is a Georgian folk song by the name of "Didavoi Nana", which has the singer speaking with the guitar-like instrument they're playing and lamenting that they can't escape their problems, even contemplating taking their own life.

- The Cainhurst nobility is majority German-speaking, and Maria's distinctly Slavic accent comes as a result of her mother's Polish heritage.

Even if you've read this story already, read on. I made quite a few changes in the later chapters in order to let the story flow better. I spent over two months on getting them in the best shape I could, so I would greatly appreciate it if you could point out any gramatical errors that may have slipped through the cracks.

Enjoy! And sorry it took so long.