Chapter 5: A Solemn Discussion
-Authors Note: Alright its not a exciting chapter but a update none-the-less. Enjoy!
Karigan sits back, her mouth slightly open, her eyes wide, her head swimming with everything that she's just heard. She hardly believes it, to think that her generation of Hunters are being cruelly affected by the terrible misdeeds of the old Hunters, deeds that the woman sitting before her took part in.
Maria is staring at Karigan her face stone cold, eyes blank, "Do you wish to run me through after hearing this? I would not blame you for wanting to; after all, I am partly to blame for the curse that has befallen you and your fellow Hunters."
"No, I do not, you clearly have suffered for your sins and I do not wish to cause you any more suffering. I am just. . . a little shocked to hear about all this. It truly is a sad tale."
Maria's face softens, "You have a kind heart Hunter, I. . .I cannot tell you how much relief this brings me, to hear that you are understanding of what happened. I feel as if a heavy burden that has been weighing me down for far too long has been lifted."
"I am glad to hear it but I still have a few questions."
"Alright, I will answer with honesty." Maria replies.
"Those creatures, the Celestials that I encountered just before meeting you, were they attempts at making Great Ones?"
"You are very sharp, yes those were the Living Failures. The Choir's ultimate goal was to harness the blood of a Great One so that they could create and commune with other Great One's. A rather ambitious goal, almost admirable in the name of science, had it not been reached by such cruel and morbid methods."
"I know very little about the Choir, however evidence of their research and experiments can be seen in present Yharnam. I've seen it first hand." Karigan says, dark memories of the Upper Cathedral Ward clawing at her mind.
"Really? Do you know if they ever accomplished anything?" Maria's face is alight with uncertain curiosity.
"Yes. I stumbled upon a Great One that I believe they communed with. Deep under the Cathedral Ward I found a creature that clearly came from the abyssal cosmos. There was no way such a creature could be born from our world." Karigan answers, thoughts of her fight with Ebrietas still fresh in her mind. She would never forget what the Daughter of the Cosmos looked like.
"Incredible, I can't believe they actually did it. . ." Astonishment clearly shone on her face, "Tell me, did you fight it? The Great One?"
"I did," Karigan smiles to herself, "She probably killed me about twenty times, but something felt wrong with leaving her trapped down there. I had to do it."
"I understand, thank you for telling me this. I appreciate it."
"You are most welcome however something about what you told me is still troubling me." Karigan's eyebrows are knitted together in a slight frown.
"What is it?"
"It saddens me that you were driven to end your own life, but how is it that you are here before me?" Karigan replies in a gentle voice. "I know very little about the different dream worlds, how they work and how they come to be."
Maria's face falls and she lowers her gaze towards the wooden planks that make up the floor. "It was a shameful act, what I did. I was too weak to continue living with my guilt, so I tried taking the easy way out, a fate that I clearly did not deserve. You see, this Nightmare is it's own plane of existence. This specific one was conjured when we slaughtered the infant Great One. Our act was such an attrocity that it warranted its own realm. However, items, places and even people like myself who are dead in the real world can exist here."
"So your real body is dead? You only exist here, in astral existence?"
"Correct. If I were to be freed from this Nightmare, I would die, since I have nothing to return to," She laughs sadly, "It is rather Ironic, don't you think? I ended my life so that I could escape my shame, only to end up linked to this Nightmare; a entire realm built upon my mistakes."
"Well, that's why I am here. To put an end to this Nightmare and the curse," Karigan puts a reassuring hand on Maria's shoulder, "We'll do it together."
Maria looks up into her face; seeing the sincerity and genuine compassion warms her cold body. She lets a tiny smile escape her lips, "Thank you Karigan. You have shown me a kindness that I do not deserve."
"No, it should be me thanking you. You are the one who has told me what truly happened. Everyone else I have spoken to dances around the truth or, just outright tries to kill me for seeking it." She lets out a small chuckle. "And Maria, you may have sinned in the past, but it will do you no good to dwell on it. You deserve a chance to be at peace and I hope to help you accomplish just that."
Karigan stands up, ringing the cold rainwater from her hair. She sticks her hand out towards Maria, who is still sitting against the wall. Maria grasps Karigan's hand and hauls herself up. The two lock gazes and share a smile of understanding.
"Well, my trousers are thoroughly soaked through, why don't we head out?" Karigan says, trying to change the somber mood while flicking droplets of water off her pants. She turns her back on Maria and begins making her way towards the lopsided doorway.
"Wait just a moment, that reminds me, I have a question of my own. I believe it is my turn to ask a question." Maria says with a sly smile tugging at the edges of her lips.
Karigan turns, "Oh, and what might that be?"
"You mentioned a Doll. A Doll that looks just like me, could you explain that?"
"Uh, I'm not entirely sure that I can. . .though I do have a working theory. . . "
"Care to share?"
Karigan fidgets in place, slight embarrassment creeping into her cheeks. She's fairly certain why the Doll looks the way she does, she just isn't sure if Maria will like what she's about to hear.
"Well, you mentioned that Gehrman cared for you, yes?"
Maria nods her head. "I had my suspicions, though I fear his feelings may have been a little more stronger than just simple caring."
"You see, I believe that once Gehrman found out about your, er, demise, he created the Doll in your image. However I am unsure if he made it out of grief or out of mania. Perhaps he created her to quell his loneliness and only made her in your image out of remembrance. However the first time I met him, he made a rather, ah, how should I put this. . .suggestive comment about the Doll and its uses."
Maria nods her head slowly, "I see, I have always cared for Gehrman, very deeply, but I always viewed him as a father figure, rather than a romantic partner. His feelings did grow more apparent in my final years of studying under him. It isn't too surprising that he created the Doll, besides he is a very skilled craftsmen. But Karigan, you said that you met him? How is that possible?"
"He resides in the Hunters Dream. I believe he hosts it. Kind of like your situation I suppose." She replies.
Maria's face is filled with longing. "The Hunters Dream!? How did he come to host it I wonder? All these years I've thought him to be dead."
"That is something I cannot answer because I do not know. However I believe he would love the chance to see you again."
"So would I, if only it were possible. I do miss him dearly. Perhaps it is for the best that we do not see each other. It would be like reawakening old ghosts." Maria expresses.
"You're probably right," Karigan announces, "Shall we continue onward? I'm getting rather sick of this musty shack."
Maria chuckles, "I can see that you do not take well to the cold, come on, we still have a ways to go before we reach the end."
The two Hunters, separated by countless generations step out into the gloomy cold, making their way further into a isolated world shrouded by secrets.