Episode I: Knowledge
Act III: Contact
Disclaimer: I don't own Bloodborne, this is just a Fanfiction.
Featured Music: "Embassy Function" - Mission Impossible OST. Scene 1 (First & Second Halves).
Scene 1
Willem couldn't help but put on a comfortable frown as he lay in his favourite rocking chair, swaying his larger form from front to back endlessly. Though it was quiet as a mouse in his main office, he could distinctly hear the sounds of movement throughout the facility.
Things have certainly taken a turn here, he thought.
A small smile blessed his older complexion as his mind ruminated his past, still shocked at how he ended up here.
In headmaster Provost Wells' position.
Life is better than I thought it'd end up, he pondered on.
"I should go on my rounds."
With his ever running mind, the now headmaster Provost Browning stepped up from his sentimental seat before pressing forward in a leisurely march. He wore fanciful white robes, decorated with a blue pullover on both sides of his front, as if to make his higher rank clearer to any layman passing by. As he stepped on through past his office into reception, he gave the smiling young woman on desk a frowning nod as he passed her by, marching on through to Byrgenwerth Royal's many lavish halls. Most everybody he passed he greeted in his usual nodding greeting; the students and even some of the staff members bowed toward him in a display of high respect.
Who would have known I'd be in this position, the old man thought to himself in a low smile.
"It's just a shame I have so few friends, even now."
Count your blessings he thought, his positive side chiming back in, much stronger than it used to be.
I have at least one friend, he mulled over, a small smile returning to grace his complexion.
Things aren't all that bad.
"Sensei Willem!"
The sudden call made the older man stop his march, putting on a light frown as he about-turned to face the source of the voice. A younger man, one of his staff members dressed in Byrgenwerth Royal suit attire, approached him with a gasp as if out of stamina.
"Ah... Micolash; what seems to be the-?"
"We've finally made contact Sensei!"
Willem couldn't help his eyes widening; his senses tensed up in response.
"... What...?"
"It's true!" The shaggy haired student laughed out as he faced his mentor, still breathing heavily in an attempt to catch his breath. "A remote fishing hamlet not too far from here master!"
"What is the situation?"
"There are multiple reports that it is not of human origin; Sensei Willem, I believe they are true!" The maddened-faced Micolash could barely manage out, his eyes widening as he spoke.
"How can you be certain?" Willem pressed his former student, narrowing his eyes in emphasis to his question.
"The people involved – the villagers – all who have interacted with the beast have contracted an illness; no-one's seen anything quite like it master!"
I don't believe it, Willem thought to himself.
This is real.
It's finally happening!
Steady your nerves old boy, he pondered hesitantly.
Do not make any mistakes in doing this.
"I want as much manpower out there as I can spare," Willem immediately shot back, his eyes narrowing in a hardened frown. "Actually... where is Laurence?"
Micolash's excitement almost completely drained from his face, as if being insulted by the question.
Willem only raised a curious eyebrow up at the young man, honestly curious and his hurt expression whizzing by the insensitive older man.
"U-Um... he should be teaching a combat class with Gehrman-"
"Excellent!" Willem suddenly interrupted with a sharp smack to the gasping Micolash's back; a sign of gratitude. "Two birds with one stone; marvellous, thank you!"
Though grateful for his former student's information, he opted not to stay a second longer than he had to.
This was just far too important.
Now, only now was there finally a shot at this.
"And I need my best mind on it." The wizened old professor frowned in thought as he sped on forward as fast as his larger frame would carry him.
When he finally began to approach an open lecture, his old classroom from his days as a teacher, he slowed his pace down to a mere gradual march.
"Well done class! The winner of this duel is miss Maria!" Laurence's infectiously warm call made the frowning Willem raise up his head to find the tall young man standing over a large number of students. They all stood in a wide circle overlooking what seemed to be a duelling ring. The folded armed Gehrman watched over the lesson from a corner in the room, leaning against the wall in his own shadowy frown.
Unlike his previous jumpsuit however he wore a blackened garb with a tattered cape, seemingly more suited toward combat to fit the class. He also wore an old hat; seemingly a keepsake of his.
At least some things never change, Willem thought.
"Now, make the Hunter's Salutation, as always." Laurence's smiling voice called out a second time as he turned his black haired head down to the circle; the students all watched apprehensively as Willem quietly approached to similarly spectate.
A young woman stood opposite a young man, glaring hatefully at him; though she was striking, he on the other hand seemed very average indeed. She wore the standard Byrgenwerth Royal uniform and her long silvery flowing hair was tied neatly into a ponytail beneath the triangular hat she wore atop it. The young boy instead looked like any other average student; his uniform however was scruffily worn. He wore his long brown hair in a curtain-like fashion similar to his mentor Laurence; the scowl on his face directed veritable daggers back at the glaring young Maria.
Willem recognised them both instantly.
Maria, the winner of this duel; an exceptional gifted young student and Gehrman's new prodigy.
The boy however, was a youth with outstanding battle records and disappointing academics.
Stewart Forbes.
As if sensing his stare; the young Stewart double-took as he finished his Hunter's Salutation bow, catching the similarly glaring Willem's suspicious gaze.
Something's wrong with that boy, he thought.
How did you get in this prestigious school?
"Ah, Sensei Willem!" Laurence greeted in an eyebrow-rising smile. "How nice of you to join us; class, if you haven't already please give a warm welcome to Master Provost Willem!"
In respect to their lauded lecturer, the majority of the students all followed suite with a smiling bout of loud applause.
"Master Willem's leadership of Byrgenwerth Royal College has seen the institute go through numerous drastic changes as a result of his exceptional research!" The smiling Laurence began to introduce his mentor with a grand gesture of his two hands; the gasping Willem, realising his former student's intentions, shook his head vehemently along with his lightly shaking left palm. Undeterred however, Laurence continued. "His research... in Insight and Great Ones!"
As if in response, the class' students oohed and aahed before erupting into another light but fixed cheer of applause.
"He is said to be Byrgenwerth Royal's greatest treasure in knowledge and a pioneer in the very field that he helped to create!"
Ever one for showmanship and dazzle, Laurence's infectiously warm tone managed to erupt the class into a bright and louder applause for the older man. Willem smiled very uncomfortably; clearly unprepared for the shower of praise he was now receiving.
It went down bitter when, as always, he realised...
If it wasn't for Laurence's efforts, he would not have been recognised.
Do not focus on such things, he thought.
The fishing hamlet, he prodded himself on and on.
"Tell him!"
"Laurence, could I have a word please...?"
His sudden but quiet call made the young man rise his eyebrows in light wonder before re-turning to face his class with his usual sociable smile.
"I won't be long; remain at the ready," he spoke over warmly; the class all watched him with a light nod before the college lecturer turned to walk a safe distance away from them, joining his old mentor. "What could be so important Sensei Willem?"
As if in response, the hard-frowning Willem shot up his free hand to beckon over the leaning and frowning Gehrman from the shadowy corner of the class. The older man raised up his eyebrows in similar curiosity before leaning off the wall and stepping over lightly. As he passed the class of young students, he could not help exchange a very brief frown with the watching Maria before he finally began to approach the group of men both young and old.
"Yes, Master Willem?"
"I thought this should include you; this is some big news gentlemen." Willem began out, this time with a small grin adorned on his expression, rare as ever. Laurence's smile couldn't help but grace his own handsome complexion, infecting both himself and the listening Gehrman.
It would seem that Laurence had that effect on people.
"Micolash has just told me; we have finally made contact."
Needing no further prodding, Laurence's eyes widened in a newly gained shocked frown. The listening Gehrman could only raise an eyebrow however, unsure.
"Made contact...?"
"With a Great One, Gehrman," Willem shot back, his confident smirk still attached to his expression. "I can still hardly believe it myself."
"What is the situation?" Laurence questioned, furrowing his brow as he leaned forward, his voice hushed and whispering.
"I am still catching things up myself but I imagine it had something to do with the fishing hamlet itself; perhaps it washed up while they were doing their duties. Regardless I am to send as much personnel down there as I can spare."
"That's incredible Sensei Willem!" The class lecturer gasped out, his eyes widening in response. However, he soon realised his mentor's intentions and re-narrowed his eyes forward. "So then-?"
"Is it a combat mission?"
"No, I don't expect any real resistance but still I'd rather you all be prepared down there," Willem replied, turning his frown on the similar-faced Gehrman. "How are your students?" He questioned the lecturer in charge very briefly before re-facing the older man on his left. "Your young prodigy could possibly join in for the field experience."
Laurence couldn't help but exchange a strange expression with the listening Gehrman, as if shocked by his very words.
What's the problem, Willem thought.
There is no danger, surely.
"Um... yes, yes I suppose I could arrange that, Master Willem, so long as..."
"So long as...?" Willem repeated curiously, arching a questioning eyebrow upward.
"A-Ah, yes... it is, after all, Sensei Willem's decision," Laurence smiled on out this time as he exchanged his confirming nod with the combat expert on his right before soon facing the narrow-eyed Provost. "Every man and woman here is yours to command whenever you so please Sensei Willem."
"But are they really?"
He didn't voice his silent thoughts, bubbling under the surface.
Focus on the mission, he thought.
The mission.
"Good..." Willem nodded, his eyes very briefly wandering before they double-took similarly to another pair of eyes; a young man's. The youth previously engaged in the duel with Gehrman's favourite.
Forbes.
"Do not include him." The headmaster requested, his eyes narrowing back at the frowning student staring back at him. Laurence raised a curious eyebrow before tracing his suspicious stare, unsure.
"Master Forbes?" He whispered back in response, very briefly eyeing the frowning youth. Willem nodded as he re-faced him. "But... why?"
"Just a feeling...," the Headmaster claimed, his brow furrowing as he re-turned his eyes over to face his beloved student and son-figure. "How soon can you leave?"
Laurence's initial business-like frown turned to a warm, honest smile. "It may be an hour or two, at most, but with our organisation I'm sure we can get out there soon."
"Good...," Willem murmured back out as he nodded, turning to leave. He swivelled his head around to re-face the young teacher behind him, a light grin on lighting his face. "If all goes well, Laurence... then we may have no more need for that 'Old Blood'... hm?"
As if nervous in some sense, the listening Laurence lightly winced in response with a forced laugh before bowing forward respectfully as his mentor left.