Chapter 3: A Gracious Meeting

Karigan reawakens at the lantern just outside the clocktower. Her thoughts a scattered mess. "She looked just like the doll. Exactly like her. How is that possible? Is she somehow connected to the Hunters Dream, the Doll, or perhaps even Gehrman?" She shakes her head. "Either way I have to talk to her." Karigan had noticed that the woman had hesitated before killing her, that and the look in her eyes said it all. They had looked tired, as if she didn't want to be there, fighting.

Steeling herself, Karigan makes her way up to the clocktowers foggy entrance. She steps through it.

The woman is already standing, those strange double blades gripped tightly at her side. Seeing Karigan, she slowly walks forward.

"Ah, you have returned, you must be connected to the Hunters Dream. No matter, I will deal with you all the same. The outcome will not differ."

"Wait! Please, just stop. I don't want to fight you!" Karigan slowly places her Holy blade on the floor along with her pistol. She raises back up, her hands empty and outstretched. She backs away from her discarded weapons to prove her point.

The woman stops, curiosity spread over her face. "You are a strange one indeed." Her voice is soft, her words rolling with a strange accent. "Not like the others, who foolishly attack without reason."

"It's just that, well this might sound strange, but you...you look exactly like someone I know." Karigan tells her from the other side of the room, her voice echoing off the high walls.

The strange woman lowers her weapon. "And who do you speak of?"

"Someone from the dream. She's not exactly er. . .alive." Karigan struggles to place her words. She does not want to scare the woman into making her hostile. "She's a Doll."

"A Doll you say," Her eyes flash with a look akin to remembrance, maybe even worry, "Your words are very strange Hunter, but tell me, why are you here, if not to fight? What are you doing in this Nightmare? You are clearly not drunk on blood, so tell me, what is it that you seek?"

"I seek answers." She replies.

"There are no answers here. Nothing but madness. You should give up, return to your Hunters Dream."

"I will not. You must be here for a reason. Why else would you be guarding this clocktower?" She makes a sweeping gesture with her hands, "Something must lay beyond here. However I do not wish to fight you."

"And why is that?"

"You are the first person to listen to me. Insanity lurks around every corner here, prompting more questions. I just want to find out the truth."

"And tell me dear Hunter, what do you know about this Nightmare?"

Karigan hesitates, she's not sure if she should tell this woman. "I know about the curse."

"The curse?" The Lady raises a pale eyebrow. "Pray tell, what do you know about it?"

"I know that the Old Hunters did something. Something horrible. An act so cruel that they've been cursed, along with their children, and their children's children. That curse affects the Hunters in present Yharnam. Hunters like myself." Karigan says, she's nervous, her voice shaking slightly, "However I know not of what they did."

"And for good reason that secret should stay well hidden." The woman replies. "And I must admit, I am a little surprised that you managed to figure out that much. It is impressive, most never know why they mindlessly wander in the Nightmare. Attacking without knowledge.

"It's like you said, I am not like most Hunters."

"Indeed, but as I also said, that will not stop my blades from piercing you again."

"But I want to end the curse!" Karigan blurts out.

The Blonde looks surprised, a little taken aback. "You. . .you want to end it?"

The air is heavy with silence and apprehension. "Yes. Along with bringing an end to this Nightmare. Whatever it is that the Old Hunters did, their mistakes should not affect the Hunters today. They do not deserve it."

The woman sheaths her blades. Karigan lets out a sigh of relief, she may just be getting through to this woman.

"Come closer. If you wish to talk, lets not do it across the entire room." The woman speaks. "And you may pick up your weapons."

"Your not going to run me through with your blades then?" Karigan asks with a small smile.

"Not for now at least."

Karigan could've sworn she saw a tiny smile spread across the woman's pale lips. She bends down and picks up her weapons, sheathing them as she walks towards the woman. As she gets closer she realizes that the woman is quite tall. A good head more than herself. She stops when she's a arm-width apart from the other woman. She realizes just how tired the woman looks. Karigan can tell she's trying to hide it, but the look in her eyes betrays her.

"Will you help me?" Karigan asks softly, leaning in closer, "To end this Nightmare?"

The woman turns her head to look Karigan dead in the eyes, she lets out a small sigh, "Maybe it's about time this Nightmare came to an end. . .yes, I will help you. I grow weary of this place, of guarding secrets, of the needless killing."

Karigan smiles, hope blossoms in her stomach. Things might finally change for the better, to have a companion. "Thank you, but I do not know your name. What should I call you?"

"I am the Lady Maria, but you may call me Maria. What is your name Hunter?" Maria's voice is strong and clear.

"Karigan." She replies.

"A fine name that is. It is an honor to meet such a Hunter."

"No, the honor is all mine." Karigan says, bowing her head as she reaches her hand out towards Maria. A gesture of unity.

Maria grabs Karigan's hand and shakes it, squeezing gently. Their eyes lock and they both smile.

"So where do we go from here? I see no exist in this room." Karigan asks.

"There is one, you just don't see it." Maria replies with a cunning smile. She reaches into her coat, pulling out a small disk. It matches the massive clock-looking contraption that leaks light from behind Maria. Upon closer inspection, Karigan realizes the dial has runes along its smooth edges. Karigan doesn't know her runes too well, but from what she can tell the clock's two hands point to Guidance and . . . possibly Beast's Embrace?

Maria walks closer to the Giant clock. Karigan watches inquisitively. Maria holds the celestial dial high above her head. For a moment nothing happens, but then the air is filled with a ticking and heavy thumping noise. Much to her surprise the clock begins to spin, its hands moving towards each other. They come together, both hands pointing towards the Deep Sea rune. The clock stops turning and shifts down, revealing a circular doorway.

Maria lowers the dial and half turns, her back still facing Karigan. "You wish to seek answers dear Hunter? You will find them, past this Astral Clocktower."

Karigan walks up to stand side by side with Maria. Turning her head she speaks, "You will accompany me, yes?"

"Maria turns to look at her, "Yes, as I've said before, it's about time you Hunters learned the truth."

Karigan smiles, "Well, lets go then." She walks forward, stepping through the bright light that emanates from the opening.

Maria follows.

-Authors Note: Hey guys, please let me know if you like this! I need to know what you think so that I can continue this. Thanks for reading!