It hadn't taken Laurence long to grow fond of Gehrman's little workshop. Owing to its remote location, it was quiet and peaceful, a welcome change of pace from the usual hustle-and-bustle of the inner city. The interior, he found, was exceptionally cozy; with a freshly brewed cup of tea beside him, the professor was able to engross himself in one of the many books in the workshops collection, with the only sound coming from the calm crackling of the fireplace…and the not so calm mutterings of his host.

"Ah, blast it all, where are they?" Laurence heard Gehrman mutter under his breath, prompting him to look up from his novel to find his host impatiently pacing back and forth, just as he'd been doing for at least the past half hour.

"Patience, Gehrman," he said calmly. "They will come."

"How very reassuring." The sarcasm in his voice was palpable, which once again drew Laurence's attention away from what he was reading.

"Is it not?" He asked, closing the book and making a mental note for where he left off. "It's what you agreed to, after all."

It was then that Gehrman ceased his incessant pacing, facing away from the professor. With a quiet sigh, he turned around to face him, his arms crossed. "You know my thoughts on the matter, young master."

"I do," Laurence acknowledged. "And I believe you're overreacting."

"Overea-?!" It sounded as if Gehrman was about to snap at him, only stopping himself at the last moment. After taking a deep breath to calm himself, he relaxed his posture and began speaking in an almost hushed tone. "I'm going to be completely square with you, Master Laurence. I haven't the faintest idea what I'm going to do."

The professor couldn't help but be surprised by the sincerity in his words and more so, the embarrassment. It made finding words of reassurance especially difficult. "Surely, that can't be true," he eventually said. "Think. How did your master teach you?"

"What master?"

Much like that, everything Laurence had been planning on saying became moot. Somehow, it had never occurred to him that Gehrman was entirely self-taught. He was sure there had been a relative or colleague or…anyone who initially set him down this road; or perhaps, that had just been his way of trying to make sense of his host's unique proclivities. It couldn't all be for sport, could it?

"Alright then," the professor said as he stood from his seat. "Allow me to amend my question. How did you learn to do…what you do?"

Gehrman seemed unsure of how to answer at first, taking a few moments to formulate a response. "By doing, I suppose," he said with a shrug.

"Elaborate."

"Well, as you probably understand, records of the creatures that dwell below are hard to come by and even putting that aside, no game that nature has gifted us can compare to them. And so, the only option left was simple trial and error."

"And am I correct in assuming you chronicled your query as well?" Laurence then asked.

"As a matter of fact, I did." Upon saying this, Gehrman made his way over to one of his many bookshelves and briefly looked through it before finding what he was looking for. "A-ha!" he exclaimed as he pulled out a surprisingly compact journal, which he brought over to Laurence and handed it to him. "Here we are. It's by no means complete, but I try to be as thorough as I possibly can."

"So I see," the professor replied as he took the journal in his hands. Upon opening it, he flipped through the pages to find countless entries dedicated to different creatures: each one featuring a general description, a short list of capabilities, a threat level and a strategy for approach; all in perfect hand-writing. In particular, one entry caught his eye – the most recent one.

Abhorrent Beast

A large, hunchbacked beast with long dark-gray fur and crooked red spikes in its back, which courses with electricity. Found in the depths of Loran and is likely among the most well-suited to survive in its humid, mysteriously stormy environment; it is likely that its present abilities are the result of several decades of evolution.

Capabilities: Aside from its enormous size and razor-sharp claws, the Abhorrent Beast has displayed the extraordinary ability to manipulate its surrounding elements, channeling lightning to enhance its attacks and creating miniature blasts of air with its fists. Other notable attributes include being able to extend its limbs to a certain degree and a thick layer of protective fur, rendering it resistant, if not outright immune to most conventional weaponry. It also appears to be quite intelligent, displaying a tendency to mock its victims and luring them to it. The effects of its beastly transformation? Or a remnant of its past life?

Threat Level: Very High. Even when weakened, it remains among the most dangerous creatures to be encountered in the labyrinths. Do not engage unless absolutely necessary.

Weaknesses: In spite of its notable intelligence and power, its aggressive nature prevents it from making full use of them. Its primary method of attack consists mainly of rushing its prey and overpowering it with sheer force, making it easy to predict and avoid; Whether a war of attrition is a viable strategy remains to be seen. In terms of weak points, the fur on its head is not as thick as it is on the rest of its body, making it much easier to damage.

...

From the first few sentences alone, Laurence recognized the creature in question. The one that they had encountered at the close of their venture into Loran - the one that had so brutally slaughtered Lady Maria's company. Yet even within that association, its horrifying visage and blood red eyes were forever burned into his memory. To think that such a thing was once a man…

"Is something wrong?"

The professor finally looked up from the journal to find Gehrman staring at him, appearing more than a little concerned. "No, not at all…" he insisted. "It is, as you said, very much in depth."

Of course, Laurence recognized his question did not concern the quality of his writing, but it was better for them to focus on the task at hand. That being said, the professor's praise was genuine. He had only skimmed through the pages up until that specific entry, but each one contained a similar amount of detail. Some polish would be necessary of course, but it would surely make for a valuable resource.

"There is just one thing I noticed. There are no illustrations."

"Illustrations?" Gehrman repeated in confusion before seemingly coming to the necessary realization himself. "Ahhhh, yes. See…I never considered them to be necessary. It was only ever meant for me, and my query are quite distinctive, after all."

This explanation made some sense, even if it was obviously spontaneous. Be that as it may, not everyone shared Gehrman's supposedly strong memory and especially not his experience. "But you can provide them if needed, correct?"

To this, his host provided no answer other than an awkward smile. "Well…" he began to say before coming to a sudden stop, not that it stopped Laurence from recognizing the reason for his reluctance.

"You…don't know how to draw, do you?"

"It's not that I don't know how to. It's just not my strong suit is all."

Laurence had done his best not to seem judgmental or frustrated, even if this revelation was…inconvenient. His inner professor wanted to tell Gehrman that he wouldn't get better unless he tried, but as it was, they were working under a very tight schedule.

"I'll see what I can do," he said with a sigh, which briefly seemed to confuse him.

"You mean to say that…?" "I will illustrate your beasts for you, yes." Laurence swiftly confirmed.

"I see," Gehrman said. "I didn't know you were an artist."

"I am competent enough. Besides, I cannot expect you to do everything yourself, especially not when I was the one who put you up to this."

Standing before him with his arms crossed, Gehrman uttered a soft "hmm," and nodded his head. Laurence half expected him to insist it wasn't necessary, but even though he was clearly torn on the idea, he did no such thing.

"Very well," he replied. "But I assume you don't want to work off just my descriptions?"

"As interesting a challenge as that sounds, yes. A visual reference would be most helpful." Laurence didn't need to be reminded what this would entail or that it was a completely ludicrous idea. And so, Gehrman did neither. Instead, he started chuckling.

"You, Master Laurence, are quite mad," he humorously said. But far from being offended, the professor mirrored his smile.

"Then I am in good company." Laurence retorted, tucking the book beneath his arm. "Now, is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Other than continuing to hold me to account? No," was Gehrman's reply. "Although, and I don't want to speak too soon, your proposed efforts might end up being for naught."

Mere moments after he said this, the two of them heard the distant sound of footsteps along the cobbled path - several of them. "Just this way. Our host will be along soon," came Ludwig's voice, something that brought a bemused frown to Gehrman's face and an amused smile to Laurence's.

"Or perhaps not."

He appeared none too pleased with his joking tone, but ultimately chose to say nothing. After letting out a resigned sigh, Gehrman turned around and made his way over to his workstation, retrieving his scythe-like weapon and its wooden attachment before sheathing both on his back. But that wasn't all. Before he moved away from the workstation, he also grabbed a scabbarded sword - a rather simplistic weapon compared to the curved and jagged designs that hung on his walls. Before Laurence could question what he needed it for, Gehrman slowly started making his way towards the door, leaving the professor with no choice but to follow.

Stepping outside of the workshop, the two of them quickly spotted a group of about a dozen or so people walking up the path, with Ludwig leading them along. Given the nature of what brought them here, Laurence would've been foolish to expect any more to have come…but seeing as he'd been expecting less, this came as a pleasant surprise. The same however could not be said for Gehrman, who eyed the approaching crowd with thinly-veiled dread.

As they drew closer and he continued to do nothing, Laurence placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Go on, Gehrman. You have my full confidence," he assured.

Even with this, it took a few moments for Gehrman to take the initiative and make his way down the steps, which happened just as the crowd came to a stop at the edge of the hill.

"Welcome! Welcome all!" he exclaimed, opening his arms for good measure. "I am pleased that you were able to make it here safely, and I thank my friend for ensuring that you did."

Upon his mention, Ludwig offered Gehrman a small bow. Once he was finished and their host continued his welcoming address, the stablemaster briefly met Laurence's eyes, allowing the professor to give him a nod of thanks. He'd been instrumental in convincing Gehrman to agree to this arrangement; indeed, he'd been even more insistent about it than Laurence was and had been just as quick to offer him his help. How he would be of use, he did not yet know, but he had a feeling he would find out soon enough.

Apart from Ludwig, the crowd was composed of mostly young, uncertain faces. A few of them he recognized as workers from the stables and the rest he guessed were students. Apart from them, Laurence didn't spot any of his fellow scholars in the crowd…all except one.

Much to his shock, Lobsang was among the faces in the crowd, standing just behind Ludwig. He had given no indication that he would be attending today or really, that he had any interest in this initiative at all. Yet here he was, listening attentively as Gehrman continued his address.

"I will be light on the introductions, as I'm sure all of you are already well aware of who I am and what I do. And given that you are, the fact you find yourselves here tells me that you are a brave and curious bunch. Excellent qualities - essential qualities for the task that your college has offered you. And under my tutelage, we will see it accomplished."

The gathered crowd looked on in an almost confused silence, not so much at their host's words, but rather at who was delivering them. And Laurence couldn't blame them - he certainly hadn't pegged Gehrman for a warrior upon first meeting him. But it was clear these men required further convincing. After all, they were being asked to place their lives in his hands - this seemingly feeble stranger.

"Ah, but we're getting ahead of ourselves," Gehrman soon said, as if acknowledging their doubt. "I promised a demonstration of my abilities and so I shall provide. Follow me."

From there, he descended down the steps and turned left, leading them through his well-maintained garden and towards a rusty, overgrown gate. Stopping in front of it, Gehrman pulled out a set of keys and swiftly unlocked them, after which it took a good bit of effort on his part to push the decayed gates open.

"Phew," he uttered once they were open, turning back towards them soon after. "Come in. Oh, and do mind the slope."

Laurence and the others promptly followed Gehrman through the gate and soon found themselves awestruck by what lay beyond. Before them was a vast courtyard, containing a hill leading up to the enormous tree that loomed over the workshop. And all around was a field of beautiful white flowers, which seemed to glisten under the light of the moon overhead.

While leading them further in-field, Gehrman took a deep breath with his nose and produced a satisfied exhale. "Lovely, isn't it?" he asked no-one in particular. The flowers did indeed have a pleasant scent to him, that Laurence had occasionally caught as it was carried by the breeze. Having such a lush spot as a private retreat would have been a dream come true to many - keyword being private.

"As much of a shame as it is to trample the flowers, this shall serve as your main training ground, just as it served as mine," Gehrman said just as they reached the center of the field, after which he stopped and turned around to face the visiting crowd. "But of course, my training wasn't entirely a lone endeavor."

Upon saying this, he brought out the sword he'd taken with it and carefully held it out with both hands. "Ludwig, if you would."

The entire crowd turned towards the stablemaster in shock as he stepped forward, accepting the offered blade from Gehrman without question. The two men shared a quick nod before both of them walked further away from Laurence and the rest of the visitors, coming to stand opposite each-other several feet apart. The field fell silent, save for the sound of the flowers rustling in the wind. Then, before any of those gathered could blink, they drew their weapons; with Ludwig pulling his sword from its scabbard and Gehrman taking his detached blade off his back in one fluid motion.

Laurence's breath went as still as the two opponents, who didn't so much as move a muscle as they stared each-other down. And then, they both smiled.

"Ready, old man?" Ludwig finally asked.

"Always," Gehrman replied. "Now, let's go!"

Suddenly, the two of them rushed at each-other, readying their respective weapons as the distance between them was closed. Gehrman ended up being the faster of the two, managing to reach Ludwig first and swinging his detached blade at an almost blinding speed. However, the stablemaster was miraculously able to deflect this attack, as well as the following flurry that his opponent unleashed upon him. Eventually, he managed to catch the curved blade at just the right angle and shifted his weight to briefly throw Gehrman off balance, allowing him to raise his sword for a counter attack.

With a heavy battle cry, Ludwig's heavy blade smashed into the Earth, sending a cluster of white flower petals up around him. Moving as swiftly as the wind that carried these petals away, Gehrman vanished in a cloud of smoke and reappeared by his opponent's side. As if predicting this, Ludwig quickly swung his sword in his direction; even though he would miss once again, he managed to predict Gehrman's trajectory with pinpoint accuracy, preventing him from finding an opening. When it became clear closing the distance wasn't an option, Gehrman quickly attached his blade to its wooden handle, allowing him to match his opponent's range without needing to sacrifice speed.

As their battle intensified, those gathered watched on in awe, Laurence included. Despite all the vouching he'd done for him, this was the first time he was seeing Gehrman in action…and what a sight it was. It was difficult to keep track of him, but each move he made was calculated and precise; with such speed and skill, it was no wonder that he had conquered the labyrinths singlehandedly.

Yet his was not the only impressive showing. Though his movements were much more sluggish and unrefined, Ludwig continued to hold his own, the sheer force behind his swings leaving Gehrman with no choice but to skirt around them, lest he be cleaved in two. But of course, there was little chance of that. Neither of them were going for the kill and even as their duel raged on, and the torrent of petals they raised threatened to obstruct them from view, the faintest trace of a smile could be seen on both their faces.

"It would seem everyone has their secrets."

Laurence finally looked away from the battle unfolding before him to find Lobsang standing beside him, eyeing both combatants with a keen interest. The professor had been so captivated that he'd all but forgotten his colleague's presence, but with this reminder, his thoughts returned to him. Lobsang had given him no indication he was coming nor had he expressed any interest in this so-called "Hunter Initiative". Yet, here he was. The only question was why?

"Indeed," Laurence eventually said, turning his attention back to the still raging duel. It would be a question for another day.

He turned his attention back just in time to see Gehrman forced back by a wide-arching slice from Ludwig, putting a few feet between them as he used his weapon's handle to support himself. Seemingly sensing an opportunity, the swordsman charged, moving faster than his hefty weapon should've reasonably allowed. But just as he drew near and readied himself for a shoulder charge, Gehrman lept high into the air, leaving Ludwig to stumble forward as he forced himself to a sudden stop. And above him, Gehrman reached the apex of his ascent and readied his scythe, whose tip glistened in the moonlight before he cut sharply through the air.

The trajectory of the wind itself seemed to change as a sharp gust of air blew towards his foe - powerful enough to almost knock the distant Laurence off his feet, who only managed to stay upright with Lobsang's help. Ludwig, on the other hand, was not so lucky and was swept away as easily as the petals that surrounded. As he tumbled down the hill, his lost sword clattered uselessness just a few steps away. Regaining his composure impressively quickly, the stablemaster scrambled to retrieve his blade. Yet just as he reached for its handle, Gehrman's crooked blade snaked around his throat, causing him to go still as a statue.

"Yield, old friend," he warned as he loomed over him. If Ludwig so much as leaned his head forward, the flesh of his neck would graze the scythe's edge and a single tug on Gehrman's part would take his head clean off. Clearly realizing his precarious position, the stablemaster sighed and retracted his hand.

"You got me," he conceded. And upon hearing this, Gehrman's smile returned.

Removing the blade from beneath Ludwig's chin, he slung his weapon over his shoulder and offered his defeated foe a helping hand, which he readily accepted. Once he was back on his feet, Ludwig gripped the back of his neck, stretching it out with an uncomfortable crack.

"One of these days, old man." He said to Gehrman, who simply chuckled and reached down to retrieve his friend's lost sword for him.

"One day soon, no doubt." With this somewhat teasing reply, the victorious Gehrman stepped forward, leaving Ludwig to sheathe his sword on his back before coming to stand just behind him.

"Now, I hope we were able to entertain you?" Gehrman asked. Looking around, Laurence saw that the rest of the audience was still looking up at their host in almost slack-jawed silence…except for Lobsang, whose state of mind was as indescribable as ever.

"I'll take that as a yes," said Gehrman. "But I must preface that what you saw is the result of over a decade's worth of training - by both me and my worthy second." He motioned towards Ludwig when he said this, something that he acknowledged with a friendly nod. But to Laurence, this came as something of a surprise. He knew that Ludwig was going to play some part in this initiative, but him aiding Gehrman in his training was never part of their discussions.

In any case, Gehrman continued. "This path before you requires a great deal of dedication and no small amount of luck. And should you choose to walk it, I promise that I will do everything in my power to guide you along it and ensure that you're ready to face its many, many challenges."

There was some subdued chatter among the crowd while he took a brief pause. "Or you can leave now." Just like that, the chatter subsided. "Worry not. There is no shame in doing so. I acknowledge that this is a lot to take on faith alone and that the danger you'll face is very much real. Master Willem has made it clear that I mustn't force your will and I do not intend to do so. The choice is yours alone."

An uneasy silence settled over the field, during which nobody moved an inch. Looking around, Laurence saw a sea of uncertainty as Gehrman's prospective pupils weighed the risks. He'd been right that the college was asking a lot of them; putting so many lives at risk was something that the professor was still grappling with. But the way he saw it, these men were indispensable to Byrgenwerth's research and should be treated as such…provided they agreed to their terms.

Yet even as more and more time ticked, nobody turned away. Seeing this, Gehrman slightly nodded his head in resignation.

"Then in that case, let us begin."

...

Author's Note: Hi. As you can see, I am not dead. I did however think it was a good idea to take five (originally six) concurrent university courses on top of working. Don't worry, though. I'm in my last week of classes and then, all that's left is exams...then summer courses.

Anyway, the main body of the next chapter is pretty much done. Should be out fairly soon-ish. Sorry for the radio silence.