Jaune let out a soundless scream, blood running from his nose and eyes, the rare droplets trickling down his ears as he was held in a vice grip by an invisible hand. Aura long since shattered.
The invisible being that held him, the massive outline of nothingness made his mind cannibalize itself as everything was too much. Screams, haunting whispers, his mother's singing, lullabies, and old whispers of ancient languages all ringing in his head as madness burst behind his eyes. Left eye popping like a grape as he was unceremoniously dumped on the cold cobbled street of Cathedral Ward.
*Ding*
The haunting toll of a bell rang trough the empty night, a soft light bathing him in its gentle rays, followed by the unmistakable sound of pebbled leather shoes on cobbled stone. Shivering, he mustered what little strength he had left to try and reach for a blood vial in his breast pocket. Quivering fingers wrapping around the glass flask, clinking ringing out as the vial slipped out of his fingers as a shadow descended over him.
Blinking trough the agonizing haze he looked eyes with the soulless husk dressed in a white flowing robe. It raised its walking cane up, a giant wooden stake, bringing it crashing down into his face. Splattering blood and brain matter over the cobbled stones of cathedral ward. And Jaune knew no more.
####
"Of course they can call for reinforcements." Jaune spat to himself, parrying the scythe that was on collision course with his neck. Lunging at the Church Servant, a soulless husk dressed in what could only be weird mix of an old doctors outfit mixed with clerical elements. Almost as if someone had taken a plague doctors tools and stitched them to a plain white cassock, before marching through Yharnam. Their giant counterparts were the same soulless husks, dressed in the same clerical appeal, only giant. With weapons to match their size.
Crocea Mors tore through nothing but air, and Jaune had to hurriedly sidestep out of a stream of fire that seemed to box him in from multiple sides. A curse slipping out as multiple bullets slammed into his back in quick succession. Rooting him to his spot for a second to long as he grunted and bore the blows, eyes widening as a bladed whip coiled around his legs.
"Sanguis redemit, fides salvat. Sanguis redemit, fides salvat. Sanguis redemit, fides salvat. Sanguis redemit, fides salvat."
Razor sharp blades gnawed against his aura, yellow light flashing like fireflies. Before his leg was pulled out from under him. Instead of crashing down into the unforgiving stone, Jaune rolled with the pull. Coming up and gutting the Church Servant, blood spluttering out as his free hand ripped the whip from its hand. Grabbing it and snaping it towards a line of Church Servants who all had the same wide trimmed hat and pistol in their hands. The whip struck out, tearing through the mirages and hazes before knocking the pistol out of its hand.
Seven pistols skipping sporadically over the cobbled stone road, some even skipping trough each other and continuing their merry way. Head spasming to the side, Jaune powered trough the deafening whispers.
"Sanguis redemit, fides salvat. Sanguis redemit, fides salvat. Sanguis redemit, fides salvat. Sanguis redemit, fides salvat."
"Sanctificetur sanguis, purificetur anima! Sanctificetur sanguis, purificetur anima! Sanctificetur sanguis, purificetur anima!"
The chanting was bad, deafening so, but manageable.
Jaune couldn't say the same about how his eyes were betraying him. Looking up as three giants' came at him with their axes. A crushing blow racing towards splitting him like a log, two large swings intended to bisect him, one from the right, one from the left. Mind working on hyper drive, Jaune threw himself towards the left, hoping the two others were the illusions.
Aura flexed, shattered, Jaune grunted, his boots lost contact with the ground, blood coating him as he smashed back first into the revolver-less Church Servant. Crashing into it with such force that chunks of its lungs were spat up, tangling itself into his hair. Letting out a hacking cough Jaune stepped forward, Crocea Mors feeling like a thousand tons in his hands.
Coughing again, he spat out a glob of bloodied spit together with his front tooth. Swaying as blood tickled down his ear. A step forward, then two, shuddering slightly as he spat out another glob of bloodied spit. A wet, rasping cough as a rib jutted slightly out of his vest. Free hand coming up, grabbing the bone, and pulling.
Sharply inhaling, Jaune turned on his feet, shanking the Church Servant behind him in the heart. It collapsed, folding like a chair as it crashed into the road with a meaty, wet thud. Jaune knew he was moment's away from joining him. His heart might be beating stronger than ever, unfortunately that meant nothing when he couldn't move, legs rooted to the spot as his vision blurred.
Taking a last breath, Jaune stepped forward. Forcing his tired body to obey for one last time. Crocea Mors coming up and redirecting the axe to the side. On shaking legs, Jaune's head twitched as his blade cleaved clean trough the leg of the giant. Sword coming up to meet the crashing monstrosity of flesh and blood. Piecing right through and bathing him in a waterfall of blood as he was crushed under its gigantic weight.
#####
"No." Jaune whispered, head twitching to the side as the whispers became louder and louder. The sound of his steps being drowned out in the endless canopy of noise that assaulted his very being. The whispering had long since stopped making sense, having turned into a gargle of incoherent whispering that bordered on all out screaming. A thousand voices ringing in his ears as a thousand voices fought to drown out one another.
Knuckles turning white around Crocea Mors handle as he stared at the dozen or so rabid dogs that were growling at him. Droll coming out of their mouths like waterfalls as they paced towards Jaune.
Head twitching again, Jaune stepped backwards. Stomach churning in his gut as one of the wolves started growing. Grotesquely bending as bones snaped, flesh twisting around it's form as bone broke through skin. A step backwards, and the dog finished morphing. A gigantic werewolf taking its place, graceful movements hiding power behind a veneer of morbid beauty.
Another step backwards, another wolf started violently twitching. Exploding outwards in an explosion of flesh and blood as it shed everything. A skeletal wolf monster stalking towards him. Causing a chain reaction as the other dogs in the pack started to twist and turn.
Werewolf's, in multiple shapes and sizes. Dogs coated in fire and flames; skeletal dogs wrapped in blue lighting. A grotesque monster of a dog that had cannibalized it's brethren, growing dozen legs, and nine heads. A dozen dogs made from shadows stepped out of their kin's shadows, yellow eyes hungering at the sight of him.
Throwing himself into a bone breaking sprint Jaune hated himself for not being born fast. The dogs gaining on him by the second. Aura being ripped apart like wet tissue paper, his frail form not following far behind as the dogs feasted upon him.
####
Jaune looked up at the empty sky with a forlorn expression. Feeling like he was drowning under the mad ramblings of ten thousand voices. Blood flowing from his ears as his brow twitched. The steps of the Odeon Chapel helped ground him, but it didn't keep the voices away.
Blood, ash and rust hung in the air, so thick and pungent that he would have long since emptied his guts if he hadn't gotten used to the smell. The lines between what was real and what was imaginary had long since become blurry. The chapter dweller looking like a pungent crimson slug one second, before transforming into its crimson robed self the other. The old hag was no better, one second she was human, the other she was a hagraven. Sharp claws for fingers, feather coming out of her arms, a grotesque beak nose.
His gut churned; his heartbeat was erratic. One second it was normal, the next it felt like he had two hearts, one beating strong and true, the other filled with nothing but black and evil thoughts. A sinister echo of what he was, of who he was becoming.
Shuddering, he let out a long-suffering breath. Head spasming to the side as the stars turned into taunting smiles. Haunting laughter overwhelming the noise he heard for a split second, the twisted faces finding enjoyment in his suffering.
His mind felt like a quagmire, his body felt like it was one second away from breaking under its own weight, not to mention wet tissue paper was stronger than his aura. He wouldn't even trust it to be able to withstand the might of a puppy's tongue. Everything was wrong, everything was hurting, and everything was just so, so much.
There was no way he would be able to hunt anything but his own death. He had braved the streets of Cathedral Ward twice, the first time he thought he could power trough whatever ailment he was suffering from. The second time he had been completely on autopilot, stepping out into the streets before he had a chance to think about what he was doing. He had died both times. The first time he had been overwhelmed by something that would have otherwise been a winnable situation. It wouldn't have been easy, nothing in Yharnam ever was. But he would have had a c hance at least.
The second time he didn't know what he was fighting, having never seen anything like it before. The dog army could have just as easily been one massive hallucination for all he knew. He didn't trust his eyes to see what was truly there. Instead it was almost as if all his deepest fears had come to life.
Shooting a stray glance to the side he did his best not to visibly cringe. Pulsing brain mater leaking out from a cracked skull, half her face chomped off by a vicious bite. Bleeding, empty eye sockets staring at him. Not daring to look down, lest his heart break, Jaune gently ran his fingers through Violet's hair. Who in his vision was cacked full of blood, but his fingers told him it was only sweat and grease.
"Do you want me to sing a song." He asked gently, the question coming out as a brittle plea. A stupid question, a weak attempt to get away from everything. To find solace in something familiar.
For a second the corpse beside him was washed away. Replaced with Violet giving him a smile brighter than the sun, blue eyes sparkling as she vigorously nodded. Golden flying around from her excitement vigorous movement. Then in the blink of an eye life was replaced with unlife. A haunting visage of what could have been replacing the lively girl.
Taking a deep breath, he sat silent, mouth open, ready to sing, but coming up short. Head spasming to the side he sighed as he searched his mind for something, anything that could be called a song. Mouth twitching up as he remembered an old, old song he remembered hearing growing up. He didn't remember where he heard it the first time, but he had never forgotten it since. It was a haunting song, at it had given him the heebie-jeebies together with its fair share of nightmares. But it was also a song that would fit home perfectly in Yharnam.
"Are you ~ Are you ~"
"Coming to the tree ~"
"They strung up a man ~"
"They say who murdered three ~"
"Strange things did happen here ~"
"No stranger would it be ~"
"If we met at midnight ~"
"In the hanging tree~"
As Jaune sang, a soft smile graced his lips as Violet scooted closer, leaning into his side with a little smile of contentment. Even the voices were quieter, instead of the ten thousand rambunctious children vying for his attention, they had quieted down and listened calmly. Letting himself go in the song Jaune sighed as he felt a few of the voices quiet down and disappear.
It wasn't much, but everything was a win in his books if he could find a way to cleanse himself of whatever had afflicted him. A shuddering tearing through him as he remembered the invisible hand.
He had just stepped out of the chapel for the first time proper. He could even admit to feeling just a tad bit exited at exploring a new area. The first Church Servant's he had stumbled into hadn't exactly been easy. They were soulless husks who behaved more like zombie's than anything living. They didn't feel pain and kept on fighting even when an arm and a leg were cut off. Only dying when he pierced it's heart, falling like a puppet with all its strings cut.
What they were, he had not the slightest idea, but he knew that nothing mortal or humane would be able to keep on fighting when it had its head had been blown to bits and was decapitated.
When the fight was over, he had explored around in the little square he found himself in. Or at least he thought it was a square, with how confusing Yharnam architecture was it could just be a connection between two areas. It was filled with withered trees that somehow had roots that still grew, forcing stone and tombstones to buckle.
He had looked around quickly, spotting one of the ghostly flames that indicated something of interest. He had touched the corpse, and suddenly he had another set of the same hunters garb he wore in the Dream. And Jaune had had the audacity to smile, having wondered how Violet would look in it. Knowing deep down in his hearts of heart's that she would complete his little test. He was still on the fence about bringing her out onto the hunt, neither was he willing to condemn her to the Dream's machinations. Yet, he would never forgive himself should she die. For she would die. There was no if's and but's about it. The second he had let down his guard, a split second of inattentiveness, and he had been hoisted up by an invisible hand coated in a blue glow. His nightmare becoming worse as the line between imaginary and reality was viciously torn away.
Pushing his spiralling thoughts away he protectively slung an arm over Violet, pulling the little girl even closer. Looking down he saw the brightest smile he had ever seen. And for just a second, he knew everything would be all right.
As the song finished, he smiled at how Violet had begun singing along. Trying her best to follow along as he hummed along. She missed a note here and there, other times she completely lost track, falling of completely. But for all her small failures, her enthusiasm made up for it. Allowing the bleak streets of Yharnam to once again be filled with children song. Giving the almost desolate city a smidgen of life.
The mad rambling of the voices returned when he was done, only they were the slightest bit quieter. Going from screaming directly in his ear, to screaming at his face instead. It wasn't much, but it was something. It was progress. It was proof that he could rid himself of whatever afflicted him.
Looking down at Violet he saw that one of her eyes had returned. Her hair had also lost most of the blood that marred it.
"Are you better now?" He heard Violet whisper, blue eyes not daring to look up at him. "You…you… looked like… like… dad." Her voice broke as tears welled in her eyes. "You looked like dad… when he was just back from the hunt. He always looked lost… almost as if he had forgotten us… like he didn't recognise us. He even forgot about me and my sisters birthday's."
Sighing, Jaune grabbed Violet and hoisted her up into his lap. Ignoring the little surprised squeak as he gently wrapped his arms around the scared little girl. Only noting that she shivered like a leaf, and not from the cold.
"Yes. Yes, I am." He said softly, as gently as he could. The lie came easy, knowing that he couldn't falter now. Violet needed someone strong, someone she could lean against at this night of the hunt. He would be that rock for her, he would do everything in his power to make sure she survived, all while trying to give her a childhood she so righteously deserved.
"Something, or someone, has… cursed me with something foul. My thoughts are sluggish, my body is not obeying my will. The incense here is helping, but only slightly."
"Is… is there any way I can help?" Violet asked with a whisper. Her question almost drowned out under the multitude of voices that screamed at him. "I… I don't want you to forget me too…"
Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Jaune held it and let it slowly out. "Yes… yes you can. Just… if you could sing… something… anything… then I would be most grateful."
Violet looked up at him for a second, before leaning back into his chest as she started to sing a haunting melody that could only come from a godless place like Yharnam.
"What will we do with a drunken whaler?"
"What will we do with a drunken whaler?"
"What will we do with a drunken whaler?"
Jaune was quiet as Violet sang, letting the little girl sing her heart out. A relived smile on his face as he heard the voices quiet down. Only slightly concerned about the enthusiasm she sang with. Instead he smiled softly as she stopped shivering, tense shoulders relaxing as she felt safe. If he had to choose between Violet feeling safe, and between riding himself of what ailed him, he would choose Violet's feelings of safety. Always.
As the song come to an end, Jaune looked down to the adorable little yawn Violet let out before she wrapped herself in his coat and fell asleep within the blink of an eye. Smiling fondly, he carefully shifted his wight and wrapped his arms around her. Lifting her up and making sure as not to wake her. Violet grumbled slightly as she turned in her sleep, latching her hands around his neck and refusing to let go.
Stepping into the chapel he got a fond look from the old crone. Showing him that there was in fact a heart in there somewhere, just buried under layers upon layers of cynicism. Making his way up the little stairs and towards the dweller, Jaune ignored how a crimson slug bled into the dwellers crimson robe. He needed more than a short rest and two songs to cleanse himself of whatever was messing with his head and aura, but for now he could manage.
"Are there any beds around? Any place she can sleep?" He asked in a whisper as he gently gestured at Violet in his arms. Ignoring how one arm was chewed of and the other was nothing but bone. He knew his eyes were playing tricks, he didn't feel all too familiar warmness of blood, neither did he feel bones, instead what he felt was two thin arms that desperately clung to him. Thankful that his sense of touch hadn't decided to betray him.
Yet, that was. Jaune knew Yharnam wouldn't be so kind anymore. If it could happen once, it would happen twice. And it could, would, almost always somehow be worse.
The dweller perked up as he looked at Violet in his arms. Nodding his head so vigorously Jaune was scared he would accidentally snap his neck. "Yes. Yes. We have a room to spare. Follow me, follow me."
"We have a room behind here." The dweller whispered as he dragged himself towards a bookshelf, drawing a book that worked as a hidden lever as another bookshelf swung open. Looking back at Jaune, he beckoned for him to follow as he dragged himself into the room.
Stale air greeting them like a wall as he stepped into the spartan room. For it was as spartan as spartan was. Only consisting of a plain bed, a desk and chair with some candlesticks and other writing utilities, a bookshelf, and a chamber pot. Gentle moonlight peeking through a little window with bars that thankfully could be opened if only slightly. Enough to get some air circulation, while making sure nothing could get in. All in all, it felt more like a prison than a room.
"This is, was the reverend's room." The dweller whispered gently from the side as Jaune looked around. "He isn't with us any longer. He… he tried taking up the mantle of hunter… he didn't succeed. But… but…at least it was quick."
"Then he was luckier than most." Jaune said softly, giving the dweller a comforting look. What would get him punched in the face on Remnant got him a tearful sniffle and nod in Yharnam.
Gently wiggling Violet's arms away from his neck, doing his best to ignore how she started to sniffle and began to thrash in her sleep. Carefully laying her on the bed her thrashing growing worse. Giving her a soft forehead kiss, her fidgeting and soft mumbling turned to soft, even breaths, her sniffing dying out. Taking her hand in his, a soft, carefree smile spurting on her lips.
"You would make a great revered." The dweller abruptly blurted out. Looking both ashamed and panic stricken when Jaune looked him over. "It's… it's…" The dweller mumbled up a storm, looking more and more panicky by the second. Breath's growing ragged as he started to hyperventilate.
"Shhhh. It's alright. Take your time. You don't have to force yourself." Jaune whispered gently. Looking back at Violet as the dweller's panting breathing turned softer. Until only a soft sobbing was the only thing in the room together with Viola's soft breathing.
"It's… It's just that you care." The dweller managed to choke out between sobs, big fat tears pouring downs his face. Drying his tears he looked back over to Jaune. "You care. You do. You sat down and talked and listened to a crippled, rotting slug. No one has since my mother. No one… But you did. You listened, even going as far as bringing the old woman and little girl here. You treat me like I exist, that… that I have a purpose. That I'm not some disgusting parasite no worse than the beasts. Not even the revered was willing to talk to me, not to mention listen."
"Maybe." Jaune said softly as he shot the chapter dweller a soft look. "Maybe in another time, another life, I would have taken up the mantle of priesthood."
Pushing away the images of himself leading a prayer, Jaune could do nothing but shake his head morosely. He had thought about it when he was younger, when his father had caught him trying to apply to a combat school. Stopping his attempt to become a proper huntsman before he could even start. Even going as far as to ground him for two months. He had spent most of his time fantasizing about what he could do to help people.
Becoming a doctor to heal the wounded, a musician, a bartender, a firefighter, a police officer to keep order and help, even a lawyer or judge to disperse justice. He had lost himself in fantasies and ways he could help others, even if it was something as minor as mixing a drink ang giving a listing ear. Even becoming a member of the clergy and offering spiritual guidance and relief to those in need.
If there was a job that was about helping people, he had fantasised about it. Much to the chagrin of his family. Who had taken to calling him daydreaming and lost in thought.
Sighing and pushing away both familiar and gnawing memories, Jaune shook his head. "But that is not for me. For as long as I can remember I only wanted to help people. It has always been what I burned for. Nothing more, nothing less. Just helping people. But… unfortunately… the way I can best help the children of Yharnam is as a hunter."
A heavy silence settled over them as Jaune looked fondly at the sleeping form of Violet. Jaune didn't believe in any afterlife, but his father did, and so did most of his family.
Jaune also knew, should the afterlife be real. He would be spending the rest of his existence burning in hellfire. A fitting punishment for him. After all, he would never be able to wash away all the blood on his hands. Even if he were to grow eighteen arms and spend every waking moment washing his hands. It would never be enough.
Yet as he looked at the sleeping form of Violet, he didn't regret what he had been forced to do. He knew he would do everything again, if only for her to sleep with a smile on her face.
"What about when the hunt is over? What about when dawn breaks?" The dweller asked, pleaded desperately.
"I cannot say." Jaune sighed as he looked over at the dwellers hunched form. "I am an outsider." 'I don't even know if this night will ever end, or if it is just one never-ending nightmare.' "But… Let's wait till after daybreak for any life changing decisions. Joining a faith should never be done half-heartedly. Nothing with serious repercussions really should."
A hollow smile on his face as he remembered Beacon's Initiation. If not for Pyrrha, there was no doubt in his mind that he would be dead. But he didn't regret it, he didn't regret enrobing in Beacon with fake transcripts. If anything, the only thing he regretted was not reading up on the basics about huntsmen. Especially when he came from a household where anything but the basic of the basics were hush-hush.
"Of course, of course." The dweller nodded with a half deranged, half exhilarated smile. Looking up at Jaune with a look that was not too dissimilar to the dream's messages. Making Jaune feel more than a little self-conscious and uncomfortable. He knew the dweller to be slightly unstable. But he had not expected him to downright revere him.
Carefully Jaune twirled his fingers out from Violets. Giving her another forehead kiss when she started to sniffle and trash. A gentle smile on his face as she calmed down. With Violet sleeping soundly, he stood up, giving the chapter dweller a look before silently stepping out. The dweller getting the hint and shuffled out after him.
Mentally noting for him to get a wheelchair for the dweller, Jaune gave Violet one last look, before sighing and stepping down into the study area. A place where he knew he would be alone for when he woke up. Having developed a sixth sense for when he was waking up. Something he was thankful for, as he didn't think Nora could handle waking up to another blood fountain.
Sitting down in one of the chairs around the table he sent the notes a curious onceover before leaning back. Blinking, wooden chair turning into a soft bed and warm blankets. Taking a deep breath, Jaune ignored how there was a giant hole in the ceiling and how the sky was raining fire. He knew he shouldn't have been naïve enough to think what affected him wouldn't transfer over to Remnant.
With a tired sigh he kicked his blanket of and threw his legs down, standing up to almost nearly faint. Quickly sitting back down as his he panted. Feeling fit to faint at any second, and a freezing coldness in his bones. Recognising the all too familiar sensation of blood loss, he reached for his nightstand. Grabbing and downing the vial that stood there. Maybe not the smartest to let a vial of blood stand out in the open, but they had also relentlessly tested it, having discovered that only he could touch what he brough back in the dream.
When he touched it, it became 'real'. When Ren, Nora or Pyrrha touched it, it was 'imaginary'. Their hands just pashing trough, as if it wasn't real. And it wasn't only the blood vials that was about. His hunters axe, his hat when he took it off, everything but his bell, notebook and old flare gun was 'imaginary'. Maybe that would change as he grew stronger in the Dream, pumping his arcane stat. But for now it almost didn't matter if he had a blood vial out, a thief couldn't steal a fictional mirage after all.
"Jaune… are you ok? Your nose is bleeding." Ren asked worryingly, having just gotten up as well. Looking at the clock on the wall it showed 5 am on the dot. Exactly when Ren woke up, and unfortunately when he had begun waking up as well. Jaune missed being able to sleep past ten. Not that he got much sleeping in at all with how unforgiving the dream was. If he wanted, he was sure he could force himself to stay in the dream for some hours more.
"No." Jaune breathed out after a good five minutes of silence. A shudder wrecking him as he looked up at his friend. "I'm not." Looking down at the empty vial with a scowl. Part of him wishing it could be filled with something else so he could get the edge of what incomprehensible things he had witnessed and experiences. With another calming breath he carefully stood up. His blood loss symptoms were gone, whatever affected him still lingering.
Jaune did not like how Ren's gut's spilled out from his stomach like a string of hot-dogs. Pushing past the heart wrenching image of his friend looking half dead, he stepped into the bathroom. The mirror was cracked, a thousand and two eyes glaring back at him. Egging him on, to hunt, to go mad, to end himself. What, he didn't know.
"You alright there Jaune?" Ren asked, laying a hand on his shoulder. Jaune almost crumbling at the sudden mental whiplash.
Before he could even blink, the cracked mirror was pristine, the hushed whispering nothing but a distant dream. Everything was quiet, everything was calm. Gesturing for Ren to wait a second, he huddled over to the toilet and spilled his guts. Bile burning on the way up, bringing tears to his eyes. Cleaning his mouth when nothing more came, he straightened up and turned to Ren.
"Ren. Have I ever told you how much I appreciate you?" Jaune said seriously because he was free. His friend had freed him from what had plagued him for what felt like ages. Even if it had only been hours.
Free from the mad ravings, free from seeing his friends as living corpses.
Everything was normal, the mirror was like it had been like it was before he went to bed. A bit dirty, but clean and whole overall. His aura felt like it was back full force. The quagmire that was his mind was gone. His body felt light as a feather. But that didn't stop him from needing to test if it was really gone. For all he knew it could be like a cancer, disappearing right after treatment before insidiously returning with the host none the wiser.
"No? But I do appreciate it." Ren nodded softly.
"Quick. Punch me." Jaune ordered as he brought his aura up. Ren slamming his fist into his face without hesitation. Blinking the stars out of his eyes, Jaune let out a garbled mix between a sigh of relief and a garbled groan. Sending Ren a dirty look. "You didn't even hesitate."
"I will admit that a part of it was cathartic. Maybe uncalled for as well. Even if you did ask for it." Ren nodded, not at all minding Jaune's glare. Sighing as he looked over at his friend. "But… Jaune… we are a team. You don't have to shoulder everything alone. I understand Pyrrha, Nora and I can't even begin to comprehend what you are going through. But that doesn't stop us from worrying and wanting to help. It's just that we can't help you if you aren't willing to let us."
"It's… I don't want to burden you with anything bad." Jaune sighed out after a second of thinking. "And it's bad Ren. It's really bad. Today I learned there exists incomprehensible beings roaming Yharnam, enough to drive you mad, or turn you into a gargling mad man should you see one. And one grabbed me. And I saw… and ohhhh I saw."
"What did you see?" Ren asked carefully, cringing slightly and ready to apply his semblance to Jaune should he spiral down. Jaune only gave him a dead stare, breathing heavily out as he started.
"Everything. Nothing. The past, and everything lost. The present, and everything worth happening. The future, everything that can be. I saw right and left, up and down at the same time. I stepped in the Garden of Eden, born from the corpse of a dead god. I heard colour, tasted music. I was the first sinner, and the first sin. I saw the sun go supernova; I saw the world born anew. A world without grim, a world without life. I saw too much; I saw too little. I remember everything, yet I can't remember anything." Jaune recited, eyes glassing over as he looked through Ren.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Ren asked carefully. Earning a half-hearted chuckle form Jaune.
"Ren. I going to the library, and grabbing the weirdest, most obscure books about the soul I can find. Because whatever happened to me turned my aura to mush." A shudder raced through Jaune at the memory. The memory of his aura breaking like wet paper to attacks it had shrugged off before stung. No words could ever come close to describing the sheer betrayal Jaune felt as his very soul seemed to betray him. "Then… then I'm going to make myself a picnic basket, after that I'm heading out to the emerald forest. To the ruins where the pieces were. I… I just want to be alone. To be around nature. To not remember."
"Understandable. As far as coping mechanisms go that should be healthier than just bottling it up and pushing on as you have been prone to doing." Ren stated, noting, but completely skipping over Jaune's mention of incomprehensible beings. It was not something he wanted to bring up now, especially if the blood on Jaune's pillow was anything to go from. If his nose and ears bled through the night from just seeing it. He wouldn't want to pour salt into fresh wounds.
"It's not that bad." Jaune tried defending. Cringing and wilting under Ren's gaze. "Ok… maybe bottling everything up isn't that good a coping mechanism. But it's not like I'm taking to the spirits, or gods forbid, therapy. They would slam me into an asylum faster than I can say Yharnam. The only reason you don't think I'm insane is because of the 'incident'. Don't you dare tell me you weren't sceptical before that."
"Fair." Ren said with a nod. Fully willing to admit that he had taken Jaune's storied with a grain of salt. If it hadn't been for the 'incident', as Jaune called it, he would still be sceptical. It was just so farfetched. "But… not to be insensitive or anything. But you done? I kinda need to go..."
"Yeah… yeah… I'm done." Jaune replied sheepishly, quickly leaving his friend to do his business. Using his bell to step into his garb on the spot, blue onesie appearing on his bed ironed and folded. Writing a quick note for where he was going, he stepped out.
#####
"And that's two." Jaune sighed, ripping Crocea Mors from the chest of a Church Servant. White robe turning red as more and more blood pooled around the corpse.
A flick of his blade and it was clean, removing it's crimson coat. A relived smile on his face after having murdered the two Church Servants without breaking a sweat. Glad to be back in top condition. Not to mention, while his 'prey' had put up a good fight, they were strong, durable but also slow and predictable. Making them easy prey for him.
"Is this how my class feel when they fight me?" He mussed as he looked around, eyes wandering around. Stopping at where he knew the blue glow to be but ignoring it. Not at all wanting to reexperience that madness. Jaune was both happy, and terrified that he found a clue regarding what plagued Yharnam. Unfortunately, finding the clue had also fucked with his already fragile mental state, and completely fucked over his aura and composure for some good hours. Until he found, or created, whatever came first, a solution for what had affected him, he would not bother to explore more about that mystery than absolutely needed.
For it was Yharnam, Jaune was willing to bet his dino nuggets on that Yharnam would throw it at him again and again. Either he would find a way to overcome or circumvent that Frenzy, or he would be driven insane. There were no other options.
Going left, instead of right, Jaune stepped down a long staircase and snaking staircase. Coming to a little outcropping, a little area where the walls parted ways and opened up. Allowing for a breathtaking view of the city and the outskirts.
It was as beautiful as it was haunting. The tall, towering buildings of Yharnam looked like jagged, gnarled trees, with spires reaching endlessly for the heavens. Flickering flames from lanterns made shadows come to life. The dark and looming alleyways that snaked between buildings hid beastly eyes and forms. Stone statues and grotesque gargoyles that he had gotten used to, stood perched on rooftops and in the open. Silent sentinels standing guard over the once proud city.
The wind howled trough the streets, carrying the smell of blood and corpses trough the city. Faint cries and whimpers drifted trough the night. From mothers calming their children, promising them it was just the monsters under their beds playing tricks. Young couples who promised each other that they would see the coming dawn together. To the old and weary who despaired as they took it what their once glorious city had been reduced to, reminiscing about greater times in hushed whispers over a bottle by the fire.
Yharnam was alive with thousand upon thousands of weary souls who simply tried making the best of a bad situation. Making the weight upon Jaune's shoulder suddenly feel so much more crushing.
"One step at the time." Jaune whispered to himself, tearing his eyes from the scenery. Ignoring how the skyline looked eerily familiar to Vale's. Perishing that thought, Jaune stepped down a long and thin stairway. Coming to a stop before a gloomy church. It's glory days far behind, the trees were dead, and what had once been a sparling garden was dead.
A group of seven hunters stalked around with pitchforks and torches. A dangerously starved dog walking around with droll dripping down its mouth. Looking around and fining a rook, he pried it out from it's place. Throwing and catching it into the air sometimes as to gauge it's weight. Before launching the rook like a bullet into the side of the dog.
A pained whimper turned into a furious snarl as the dog turned to him. Alerting the other hunters as it barked and threw itself towards him in a pain fuelled blood haze. Free hand shooting out and grabbing the dog by its throat. Flexing his hand, a loud cracking pop rang out as the dog turned limp in his hand.
Feeling nothing as he snuffed the life out of the dog, he rocketed the corpse at the closest hunter. Dashing after and spearing the hunter as the hunter smashed the dog into the ground with his torch. Pulling Crocea Mors out and sidestepping the fountain of blood that came, Jaune did another quick sidestep as a hunter with a pitchfork came charging past.
Foot coming out to kick a leg, and the already unstable hunter lost balance and crashed face first into the cobbled stone. Arms snapping like twigs, chest caving in, and teeth shattering as he crashed hard into the little staircase rise. A wet, gargled breath coming out. Recognizing the sounds of a punctured lung Jaune quickly put the man out of his misery. A crushing stomp to the back of the neck and another tally was added to his kill count.
A cleaver slammed into his aura, and a fist caved in the attackers windpipe. Grabbing his sheath, he thrusted it into another attackers mouth before releasing the mechashift switch. Sheild folding out in a split second, tearing the hunters face in two. Pulling his shield out he smashed the thin, razor-sharp edge into the throat of another hunter. Serving himself a head on a silver platter. Folding his shield again he slammed it into the head of another hunter, knocking him out cold. Crocea Mors spearing trough the collapsing hunters throat before he crashed into the ground.
Looking at the two remaining madmen he sighed as they charged at him. Blinking at the sheer idiocy of it, seeing no rational thought in their eyes, only malice and overwhelming bloodlust. Stepping forward he brought his blade down sharply, cutting the first hunter cleanly in two. Smoothly continuing the motion, he thrust Crocea Mors trough the hearth of the last remaining hunter.
"Shame. I would have spared you if you turned and ran." Jaune sighed at the two corpses. He knew it was a stupid idea, but he couldn't help but hope that a mad man could get their wits about. Yet again and again he had met nothing but disappointment.
Spotting two other ghost fire balls, he hurriedly made his way over to what could only have been the mad hunters most recent victims. Quickly searching them he found a larger drop of coldblood dew. Not the largest he had in storage, having managed to find one larger in Central Yharnam, but it was medium sized.
"Should give around five hundred echoes." He mumbled as he pocketed it for now. Having discovered that all 'dew' didn't give the exact same amount, even if they had the same size. He had used three to experiment, having been more curious than in need of blood echoes at the moment. Slightly regretting his actions, when he found out he could also use them as 'fuel' for his transmutation or other blood rites. He could use the blood echoes he carried on him as well, but it was good to have options.
'If I were to find other types of coldblood, I should be able to tier or rank my transmutations.' He mussed as he pocketed four Molotov's. Not having experimented as much as he wanted with his self-made blood rite. Something he really should get to. 'What if I can transmute potions into an improved version? Transmute myself some better bloodgems should I find more. Maybe I can even transmute some quicksilver bullets together and get myself a 'super' bullet.'
His mind was racing a thousand miles an hour. Cautiously looking around he quickly scribbled his ideas in his notebook, knowing all too well he was prone to forgetting. His to-do list was starting to look intimidating. Pocketing his notebook he stepped into the church. Stepping beside the large sarcophagus carved for a king.
Carefully examining the little church he couldn't help but feel disappointed. For such a large and grand church, it felt empty, almost hollow. There was nothing of interest expect the sarcophagus.
"There got to be more here. No alter to pray too, no nave to pray on, no priest, no god, no nothing. There got to be something more." He whispered to himself as he looked around. Eyes landing on the sarcophagus again, as there was nothing else that really stood out.
"I'll come back to you." He said to the sarcophagus as he stepped out, wondering if he could find a way up to the banister. There had to be a way up. Taking a sharp right, past the already explored area. He hadn't found any way up on the other side. Unless he wanted to try his hand on parkour and make his own way. Something he was not keen on doing. He knew himself good enough to know he would never be as acrobatic as Ruby or Pyrrha.
Turning the corner and looking up the stairs. His foot shoots out in a meaty kick completely on reflex. Sending another dog flying in the air, landing with a wet thud on the fence spear tops. Before he could even know what was happening another dog had its teeth around his leg and was gnawing away. Slamming his foot into the fence hard again and again, Jaune continued until legs and bone were intertwined with the fence. With one last kick the corpse let go. Splatting onto the ground with a meaty thud.
Giving the clearly dead dog one last kick, just to make sure it would lunge at him the second he looked another way, Jaune sighed as he began ascending the stairs. Wondering when murdering dogs became the norm. Hand coming up and idly scratching at his neck.
Looking at the mad hunter who brough his gun up at him, Jaune bore the bullet and charged. Skewering him and sending him to meet his maker. Pulling out his sword he looked at the door, wondering if he would find any purchase with it. Having found none at the two doors downstairs. And not really wanting to have to bring out the axe. It would work, probably, but if he brough out the axe and tore down every stuck or locked door he stumbled across, he would really start to question his sanity.
Smiling as the door gave, Jaune stepped back into the church. Quickly making his way to the right, smiling as he stepped down a little staircase and onto the banister. Shuddering when he picked up and pocketed another skull, the whispers were bad, but nothing compared to what he had experienced yesterday. Pulling the lever, Jaune's jaw hit the floor as the sarcophagus magicaly moved backwards.
"Well fuck me." He whispered to himself, needing to take one second to recompose himself. While more than a little eager to explore the hidden passage, Jaune quickly made his way back up and out the other entrance. Wanting to take a quick cursory look before he went and explored the hidden passage. Making sure nothing could sneak up on him. Having learned that lesson the hard way.
Giving the tall obelisk a quick look, Jaune was about to double back when he spotted a man dressed in white kneeling. Sheeting his weapon, but with his hand on his weapon should it be needed, he stepped down. Frowning as he looked over the graves, forcing his wandering eyes back at the praying man.
"You are a beast hunter, aren't you?" The praying man said as he stood up and turned around. A kind face, dirty golden hair, and blue eyes not to far from his own. He was dressed in church attire, white robes upon white robes that had turned grey.
"That I am." Jaune answered cautiously. Spotting the madness in the mans eyes. It was lost, unfocused, reigned in and waiting to be unleashed. "Jaune Arc, hunter. Nothing more, nothing less."
"I knew it." The priestly garbed hunter said, clapping his hands and giving him a cheeky smile. "That's precisely how I started out. Oh, but I beg your pardon. The name is Alfred, no last name I'm afraid. That part of myself was something I freely gave up when Master Logarius took me on as protégé. A proud hunter of Vilebloods. But… what say you? Our prey might differ, but we are hunters, both of us. But a little cooperation has never hurt anybody."
"A little you scratch my back, I scratch yours?" Jaune questioned, getting a laugh and a smile from Alfred. "Yes, aptly put. You help me in my search for Cainhurst, or a way there. And I help you with whatever you might need for this night."
"Alright." Jaune said after a good five minutes of thinking. He wouldn't actively go out of his way to help him, wanting to meet with the Vileblood Queen first and foremost before he chose his side in the conflict. But denying the clearly mad and zealous hunter his wish was also clearly of the table unless he wanted to make another enemy.
Enemies was something Yharnam never was short off, but if he could even get one more ally, even if only a temporary one, then Jaune would be a happy camper. There was only so much he could do alone. And as an outsider there was a lot he didn't know about that only a native could help him with.
"Oh-hoh! Very good. Very good indeed. Take this to celebrate our cooperation." Alfred said before fishing out three papers and handing it to him. Taking the coarse papers, Jaune pocketed two with a frown. Looking intently at the last paper, sending Alfred a look.
"Ahh, I take it you are an outsider. If given your reaction to the fire paper." Alfred stated good naturally.
"Excuse me? Fire paper?" Jaune asked, fiddling with the paper in his hands. Spotting some oil, blood, and flint all ingrained into the paper.
"It's simply really. Just drag it over your weapon of choice and it will burst into flames for a minute or two. The duration varies depending on the quality of fire paper and how evenly it is applied. But never underestimate coating your blade in flames." Alfred explained patiently. "Be careful while applying it, and make sure you carry them separately. My master has told me stories about some Powder Keg hunters who had too many fire papers on them while hunting. All the friction caused the papers to rub together, making the hunters die painful deaths engulfed in flames."
"Ok, I'll take your word for it." Jaune said as he pocketed the last slip of paper, quickly taking Alfred's advice. "But if that is all, I have some more exploring to do. Some beasts to kill. And some mysteries to solve."
"Then let me not hold you for any longer. Beast hunting is a sacred practice. May the good blood guide your way."
With those parting words from Alfred, Jaune made his way up the stairs and towards the banister. Effortlessly jumping over and landing beside the sarcophagus. Doing a quick once over for his gear. He quickly lit his hand lantern before stepping foot down the hidden staircase.
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Note: The chants translated(Sorta):
Santifictetur sanguis, purificetur anima - May the Blood be sanctefied, the soul purefied.
Sanguis redemit, fides salvat - Blood redeems, faith saves.
Note: Frenzy is introduced for the first time, and I buffed the fuck out of it to give it the seriousness it deserves. The details about it will be explained at an later date when I delve deeper into the magic systems and it's 'Energy source' or whatchamacallit. But for now, it weakness the soul, body and mind. Attacks becomes weaker, the body becomes less resilient, the mind becomes filled with negative emotions, ramped up to a fifteen of ten. It can grow worse with time, even if one where to move away from the source. The only way to completely rid oneself of it is to either consume consumables or other items designed to combat the effect. Dying doesn't reset it, only making it worse. However it can be mitigated, and if mitigated enough it can and will become manageable before it disappears completely.
There are also two types of Frenzy. External Frenzy and Internal Frenzy, both will also be explored and explained more on later. If you can't already guess.
Note: Ren and Jaune is not getting shipped together. They are just two bros. As platonic as platonic be. Jaune isn't at a state of mind where he is even considering having a dating life. And Ren have someone special in mind.
PS: I got a question about the DLC. Yes, it will be included.