Balyn was smirking as he returned to the Hunter's Dream. Of course, there was no one around to see it other than the Plain Doll and any messengers who might pop their heads up into this level of reality, and even if there were he was wearing a mask over the lower half of his face, but even so, his posture gave him away.
"Welcome home, good hunter. I take it that the hunt goes well?" said the Doll.
"Indeed it does! The gates of Byrgenwerth are thrown open at last." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I don't know who those cloaked fellows were. Creepy enough on their own, but they were infected by those snake-parasite things."
"That sounds most disquieting."
"Yeah, especially out in a swampy, grave-strewn woods. Those snake guys ought to move into Central Yharnam. As built-up as that place is, I bet that there's all kinds of trouble with the drains that they could help with."
The Doll tipped her head to one side and peered closely at him.
"Good hunter, were you perhaps bitten by one of those serpents and are feeling the after-effects of the venom?"
Balyn sighed.
"Never mind."
"Is there anything else that you desire?"
"Actually, could you channel some blood echoes for me?"
"Very well. Let the echoes become your strength."
The Doll sank to her knees, as Balyn closed his eyes. He extended his hand and felt the cool clasp of her articulated fingers close around it. His heart pounded, and he could feel the rush of his own blood coursing through his body, hot, cold, hot, cold, leaving him surging with power. When she let go he stepped back, shaking his head at the impact of the feeling.
"Whoa, that…that was intense."
"Farewell, good hunter. May you find your worth in the waking world."
He pumped a fist in exultation.
"Feeling like this, I'm sure I will!" He stepped towards the nearest tombstone that the messengers used as portals from the Dream, then spun back and pointed at her.
"Thanks for the help, babe. You're a real doll."