I don't own Bloodborne or Fate Grand Order. Both properties belong to the respective owners.
Please enjoy this story to your hearts content.
Chapter 6: Under Unseen Eyes
Blood curdling moans howled throughout the Cathedral Ward as the malformed giants charged forth. Their roars, pained and agonized with every breath they took, shook metal as much as their feet scattered stone in their wake. Not just cobbled stone, for one giant blundered its way through the cramped houses that lined the alley. Doomed cries within the crumbling dwellings were quickly swallowed by the giants' relentless march.
Shocked as he was by the giants' appearance, Ritsuka recovered quickly. "Mordred!" he cried, but the crimson knight was already striding forth. Fiercely she roared and swung her greatsword to meet the crushing blow of the foremost giant's bloody axe. A thunderous clap shook the alley and the pavement beneath Mordred sundered into broken slabs. However, the knight did not break. Gritting her teeth behind her horned helm, she pressed back, shifting the axe ever so slightly to allow the chipped edge to slide off her sword with a steely hiss.
The giant's lumbering form stumbled as his axe slipped past his intended victim and Mordred took full advantage of the new opening. Heaving out a battle cry that matched the giant's tortured roars, she swung her sword at the emaciated creature, intending to cleave it in two. Blood gushed out as Clarent sunk into pale flesh, splattering the knight's armor a dark crimson.
But to Mordred's shock, the blade sank only so deep.
Emaciated as the sickly flesh was, the legendary sword halted only part way through the chest, as it ran into something unnatural. The rebellious knight tried to pull back, splattering more rancid blood everywhere, but the flesh surprisingly refused to let go of Clarent. Roaring in furious pain, the giant heaved its axe over its head like an executioner before bringing it down in one mighty swing. A furious clang rang out, but once more the axe didn't crush its intended victim.
Barghest grunted under the heavy weight of the axe as she stood over her fellow knight, the pavement under her split apart under the incredible strain, but she refused to budge as Galatine held the monster at bay. Taking advantage of the timely rescue, Mordred yanked her blade out, tearing a sizable chunk out of the giant and exposing his rib cage in the process. She would've retaliated then and there, but she and Barghest were forced to jump back as two more axes came crashing down. Rubble flew everywhere, nearly taking Ritsuka's head if not for Mash's timely intervention with her shield. Dust quickly followed, obscuring the Chaldeans for a brief moment from the towering fiends.
"Bloody tough bastards!" Mordred growled, heaving Clarent upright, she charged forth once more to meet the giants before they resumed their charge.
"Fall back to a safe distance, Master," Barghest yelled as she moved to join her companion. "Their strength is ferocious!"
Easier said than done, Barghest. Indeed, a retreat, even a tactical one, was difficult in such cramped quarters. There were little open places for Ritsuka to safely direct his servants and the giants demonstrated a clear lack of care for anything between them and their victims. If retreat is not an option, then we'll just push forward. Ritsuka was sure El-Melloi II would've offered a far more intricate strategy, but right now, brute force was the better option. At least until they got out of the alley.
Opening his mouth to give the command, Ritsuka hesitated when he spotted a white blur suddenly emerging from the dust cloud, darting directly for his head. "Mash!"
No sooner did her name leave her senpai's mouth did the demi-servant heaved her shield, blocking a ghoulishly, pale hand. She would've shoved back then and there, but paused when she took in the assailant's visage. It was the clergyman that Mordred beheaded.
Clothes stained red from the neck down, the creature raised its ruined arms at Mash again, revealing ghastly, withering tentacles that shredded both tattered sleeves and ghastly flesh alike. The slimy appendages grasped Mash's shield, wrapping around the metal tightly with unnatural strength even as the young shielder tried to break free. Suddenly a familiar moan cut through the dust cloud, but it didn't come from the fiend that held Mash.
Whirling around to this blindside, Ritsuka only had a moment to see the clergyman that Okada disemboweled rush at him, tentacles erupting from his exposed guts like furious eels. The sight was revolting, but Ritsuka stood firm. Whipping his hand up, he took aim and fired off a gandr at the creature. The shot proved true, halting the monster's charge for a split second. That was all it needed for a giant paintbrush to smack the clergyman aside.
A bone crushing crunch filled the air as the monstrosity's head caved in, red fluid mixing with the blackened ink. Brow furrowed; Hokusai swung her paintbrush once more to finish the job. Furious black strokes filled the air, staining pale flesh as if it were canvas. Each stroke battered and destroyed the clergyman's body, tearing apart tentacles in the process, but to the painter's growing shock, it refused to stay down. Furious groans wheezed out the ruined body as it degraded into a withering, pale mess, but still more and more eel-like creatures spewed out.
It was the same for the one who held Mash's shield. Okada wasted no time coming to the shielder's aid, slicing apart the clergyman yet tentacles sprung out ferociously. Lashing out like whips, battering Mash's shield intensely and forcing the assassin back as the vile creatures struck erratically, destroying anything that came within reach. At first, Ritsuka thought it was simply to force Okada back, but when the tentacles struck down a thick, metal lamppost at random, he realized that wasn't the case. Unlike its kin, this one was blind.
The missing head, Ritsuka realized. These things are like parasites, using the body as hosts! But only so much as that ruined body will allow. It was a small revelation to be sure, and a disgusting one at that, but it was enough for an idea to come to mind.
"Mordred! Barghest! Keep the giants busy while we deal with these guys!"
"Yes, master!" The knights yelled at the same time. Vigor renewed in their veins at their master's command, they charged at the giants again and again, wailing down blow upon blow at the monsters who towered over them. Red chunks and chipped bone flew everywhere, but like the clergymen who called them forth, the giants simply refused to die. But the servants kept all three occupied, even as the foul creatures' ferocity grew and their tortured roars turned shrill.
"Moriarty, we're going to need fire and lots of it!"
The professor curled a brow at his young master before a fiendish smile crossed his lips. "I might not have the gift of flames like a certain Japanese warlord, but I do have some experience with arson." Flanking the monster that held Mash in place, the professor aimed his coffin-like weapon before unleashing a firestorm of bullets and rockets. Flames bursting out of its body like firecrackers, the creature howled a soul piercing shriek as heat consumed it, releasing Mash as it tried to get away. But the shielder would not allow it. Lunging forward, she slammed the creature into a nearby wall. Mortar crunched and brick blackened with the creature's flames, the tentacles surging against the sacred shield with insane vigor and furious hisses. Holding fast, Mash pushed harder against the monster, pinning it down as the flames consumed the parasites and flesh alike. Furious shrieks thundering against the brave demi-servant, the tentacles abandoned any attempt at fleeing and instead shot out like spears for their tormenter's head. Flashes of steel cut down such desperation. Face set like cold stone, Okada's blade blurred around Mash, but not once did he touch a single hair on her person.
Then it was over. The tentacles, their pale flesh blackened to a crisp, fell still and what remained of its host shortly crumbled limply against Mash's shield.
Its kin didn't fare much better under Hokusai's assault. While she didn't have Moriarty's flair for dramatics, or his level of arson, her skill with the brush rivaled her father's. Every wave of her oversized brush was a breath-taking picture come to life. A furious tide that tossed the parasite ridden clergyman aside till it impaled onto a lamppost. A tornado that shredded flesh and tentacle alike. Finally, a roaring mudslide crushed what was left of the abomination before hurling it through a nearby abandoned apartment. Even if it somehow still lived, there was little doubt it would be able to escape the ton of rubble that made its tomb.
With one obstacle taken care of, Ritsuka turned just in time to see Mordred leap up and impale Clarent deep into the chest of the giants. Bloody froth roared furiously out of the abomination's mouth, flailing wildly to dislodge the knight, but her grip was iron. Bellowing out a roar that matched the giant, Mordred heaved herself upward, yanking out her blade and beheading the giant in one mighty swing. Dark tainted blood gushed out of the fresh stump, raining down on the knight as she landed on the broken cobblestone street with the giant soon following after. Thankfully, it did not get up like the clergymen.
The two remaining giants went still as stone. Their sunken eyes lingered on their fallen brother, hallowed faces twisting from unbearable anguish to righteous fury. Soon a bellow escaped their lips, but it wasn't the mournful cry of death that the Chaldeans came to know. No, for what came out their bloodless lips was a haunting dirge. Their words were indescribable, but it did not matter. For their very alien groans sent a chill down the Chaldeans' spines as they continued to sing.
No… I actually am cold. Ritsuka realized in shock. It was then that he noticed an eerie glow around the giants' weapons. A pale blue light that shrouded the axes like mist at the dead of night. One of the giants took their fallen brother's axe and held it aloft, it too soon was encompassed in the same haunting color. Then they turned, their eyes filled with the same otherworldly blue glow. No word escaped their lips. No more howling or furious melody. Only madness alone remained.
Mordred and Barghest had only a moment to prepare themselves before the giants charged again. Almost immediately they were forced to give ground, the giants unleashing a reckless fury that tore at everything in their path. Nothing was spared, from building to alley alike, from corpses to the poor infected trapped in their homes, a glowing tornado of carnage was left in the giants' wake. Clumsy though their movements were, such suicidal ferocity contended with the servants' strength. Not to mention whatever enchantment empowered their cruel axes seemed to cut easily into metal as if it were mere clay. More than once, an utterly reckless strike cut into the knights' armor, not enough to maim, but just enough to add their crimson fluids to the sea that stained the alley. Crimson that froze immediately to their armor. The raw air went rigid with a hellish chill that emanated from the cruel axes, growing colder with every blow the giants threw at the Chaldeans.
Both knights grimaced at the absurdity of it all. No matter how much blood Mordred spilled or how much flesh Barghest seared off—fending off the abnormal chill with her flames in the process—the giants fought on, silent as death.
Ritsuka tensed at the sight. The giants were formidable before, but now they were like juggernauts! Furrowing his brow, he was about to give the order to reinforce Mordred and Barghest, but suddenly something caught his eyes. It was only for a brief second, but when one of the giants lunged forward with reckless abandon, he noticed how it suddenly slowed down briefly. If anything, it looked like it was having trouble getting up at all.
Licking his lips, Ritsuka darted alongside the brawl, inching ever closer to get a better look. None of his servants kept him away from the fight, but Mash clung to his side, shielding him from debris that flew with every titanic clash. Suddenly, he skidded to a stop. He and Mash were only twenty paces away from one of the giants, the one who picked up its fallen brother's axe. It was at this blind spot that Ritsuka finally saw the yellow bone sticking out of the abomination's knee. A furious groan escaped the giant's lips as it jerked up, popping the bone back into place with a horrible grinding motion.
"Moriarty!" Ritsuka called. "Lay down covering fire when I give the signal!" He didn't bother checking if the professor acknowledged him or no, his eyes were solely trained on the giants' movements. When the right moment came, it came with a mighty shake as one of the giants slammed his axe down into the alley, creating a fissure that reached from end to end. "NOW!"
Thundering rockets screamed through the air before slamming into the giant just before it could pick itself up. Stumbling forward, it cried out as the bone jutting out its knee seemed to rise further out of its flesh. One large hand tried to push the abnormal joint back into place, but one swift motion from Barghest's blade had it fall to the ground. Pressing her advantage, the fairy knight delivered a swift kick to the malformed knee, crushing it and sending the giant tumbling face first into floor, nearly landing on Ritsuka if not for Mash pulling him away. No sooner did it try to get up did Barghest crush its head with a single strike; flames bursting out of Galatine like a mighty gale, consuming the body in hellish heat.
Ignoring the crumbling ashen body behind him, Ritsuka turned to the remaining giant. "You know what to do, Mordred!"
"Gladly!" The rebellious knight closed the gap in two mighty strides. Twin axes came down upon her just as she was two feet away from its knee, forcing her to block with Clarent, the ground trembling once more under the strain, but it didn't matter. Smiling viciously under her helm, slipping one hand from her sword, before hurling her plated fist at the exposed bone at the giant's knee. Crumbling like wet tissue paper, the giant fell forward, screaming out in agony as he nearly collapsed atop Mordred. Giving a dismissive huff, the knight merely took a single step to the side as the creature came crashing down. Pathetically it tried to get back up, but it could only manage a whimper before being silenced as its head left its shoulders courtesy of Clarent.
Seeing all their foes slain, Ritsuka closed his eyes and let out a relieved breath as he drank in the silence. When he opened them, however, he blinked when he noticed his servants still as stone. Ignoring the scarlet stains on their weapons and armor, the servants warily peered about the ruined alley. A normal reaction after such a brutal encounter, but their stance was too tense, their expressions cautious, and their eyes uncertain. A creeping unease settled over them all.
Ritsuka opened his mouth to ask what was wrong, but stopped. He could feel it again. The sensation of being watched. By what, he couldn't be sure, but he knew it was the same eyes that followed them just before the fight with the clergymen and the giants. But… If it wasn't these guys watching us, then who is?
Following his servants' example, the young master tried to find the source of the unseen eyes. Yet, his own discerning gaze found no one. They were alone as darkness settled over the alleyway. Suddenly, Ritsuka stilled. Looking up at the sky, he finally realized that twilight long since faded into an unsettling black hue, swallowing all light save for the eerie glow of the moon on high. Night had fallen at last.
Beware the night. There are new nightmares wandering the streets than just simple beasts.
The words from the hunter's letter flashed hauntingly before Ritsuka's eyes. It took some effort not to swallow the sudden dryness in his mouth, but he could not stop the shiver that crept down his spine. There was a wrongness that came with the night. A creeping dread that, while didn't send him into a panic, allowed unease to take root. He couldn't see what was watching him, but a tiny part of him, a primal thing that awoke from the darkest pit of his very being, told him to leave. To run back and hide—to hurry back to the chapel and to safety. The light of the moon offered no soothing to this unnerving apprehension, nor did it banish the lurking shadows that crept into the alley. Almost as if they were alive and starving to devour all light, especially that which gleamed in the eyes of the living. Ritsuka knew it was nonsense the moment he thought about it, but it didn't dispel the unease of being watched by the unseen eyes.
"Let's head back to the chapel," he said. Mute nods answered his command. Brave as they were, none wished to stay any longer than he.
Retreating from the alleyway in a tight, orderly manner, with Barghest leading the way while Mordred brought up the rear, everyone made their way to the towering chapel. Nothing pursued them as they silently fled, but the eyes followed. More than once Ritsuka looked back, and so did the rest of his friends, but only darkness trailed after them.
Exiting one last final street, Ritsuka felt relief wash over him as a familiar desolate courtyard came into view. The doors to the chapel stood open, allowing bright light to spill out and hold back the encroaching dark. Leaning casually at the doorway with gray curls of incense licking up his boots was Hajime, looking utterly bored as he fiddled with a button on his jacket. At a first glance anyway. In truth a hand rested on the hilt of his sword and his eyes drank in everything at a glance. Yet the moment his gaze fell on Ritsuka's group, he visibly relaxed and waved them over.
Needing no further invitation, Ritsuka hurried along with his servants across the courtyard. They were halfway to the door before a howl ripped across the night, freezing everyone in their tracks. It was a loathsome sound, a soul piercing noise filled with insatiable and inhuman hunger that it chilled Ritsuka to the bone. Then, as if summoned by the first, another howl joined in. Then another. Soon, the whole of the cathedral ward rang out with in a bestial choir. Servants held tight to their weapons, their faces a hard mask as if they suspected a horde of beasts to emerge from the shadows like a flood. Yet, nothing appeared as the howls faded away into the night. Silence reigned as the Chaldeans stood frozen under the moonlight.
A scream soon broke that daunting quiet. A far more pathetic human sound, quivering with horror before a guttural groan snuffed it out. It didn't sound too far away from where the chapel stood, as if just right around the corner in some dark alley the Chaldeans just passed by.
Ritsuka didn't realize he had taken several steps back to the dark filled streets before a firm hand grabbed him by the shoulder. "No, Master!" Moriarty said before yanking his young master back to the chapel. "Don't be a fool."
"But—!"
"There is nothing you can do to help the dead, boy. Especially with God knows how many of those beasties out there just waiting to pounce… Not to mention, what other horrors lurking in the shadows. If we go after every scream blindly, we will find ourselves in quite a few fiendish predicaments." The professor gave his young friend a sympathetic look. "I am sorry. It is hard to be so helpless when we can do so much more, but we must go about this smartly. Only then can we save these poor folk from such horrors."
No matter how much he wanted to disagree with Moriarty, Ritsuka knew he was right. His guts twisted as he dared to admit it, as he often had since he became a master, but he knew he couldn't save everyone. It didn't mean he couldn't try, but he wasn't foolish enough to deny the cruel reality of their situation. There were too many unknowns in this Lostbelt. Each crueler and deadlier than the last. Then there were the eyes. Ritsuka could still feel them even now. He knew, somehow, that they didn't belong to whatever made those howls. Still Watching. Waiting.
With a sigh, the young man reluctantly nodded. "…Let's get inside." The other servants agreed, slowly heading in one by one. Ritsuka followed before stopping at the doorway. Hajime raised an eyebrow at him and Mash paused beside her master, worry written over her face. Ritsuka gave them a reassuring smile, before turning his attention to the courtyard they just crossed. Shadows stretched out like fiends from nearby lamplights and the mournful statues that littered the ward wept with frozen tears. He stood there quietly for several heartbeats, but no matter how much he searched, nothing was there. Nothing was there.
Shaking his head, Ritsuka allowed Mash and Hajime to lead him back to the chapel, finally away from the unseen eyes as the great, sculpted doors shut tightly behind.
"So, we have to worry about giants and strange infested men of the cloth now?" El-Melloi grunted as his master finished recounting the horrors they faced that evening. Ritsuka quietly allowed the clocktower teacher a moment to truly digest everything, knowing it was a big pill to swallow. While the rest of his servants took off to have a much-needed break and to fill their bellies with dinner prepared by Circe, the young master instead went straight to the library with Mash and Moriarty in tow. Better to recount everything while it was still fresh in his mind before letting it all fade away with sleep. A frightful sleep he reckoned. However, he wondered if it was best to wait till morning, what with how El-Melloi's fingers twitched towards the interior of his coat, longing to light one of his cigars, but managed to compose himself. After all, adding another fire hazard to the numerous candles that littered the chapel's library was not the wisest of ideas.
"Bah! As if a plague of beasts wasn't enough to deal with. What's next? Fighting giant spiders and moth people?"
"I believe the latter is mostly associated with folk stories from the United States, professor," Kadoc said idly, his eyes never once leaving the aged leather-bound book he found amongst the pile he gathered at his desk. Anatasia was at his side, looking the spitting image of nobility with a book in one hand and a fresh cup of tea in the other. If not for their current predicament, one would be forgiven for assuming the two were on a date.
"Considering the number of surprises we had today, I wouldn't put it past this Lostbelt to try bringing out Dead Apostles and soul eaters! Why not Carol's jabberwocky while we're at it?" Shaking his head, El-Melloi turned his attention back to Ritsuka and company. "You did well to make it back here in one piece. Even with such obstacles, you made the right call to retreat before things got out of hand." The lord's brow furrowed as a hand swept over aged parchment. "Sometimes I wish my intuition wasn't so dead on… From the scant notes we managed to uncover so far, it looks like Robert wasn't downplaying how overrun the Cathedral Ward has become. So much so that sections of the ward were apparently barricaded by the Healing Church before whoever wrote these records simply gave up counting how many stable parts of the city remained. And from what Robert has said, it sounds like not even half of them slow rise in beast attacks. And with your encounter with infected clergymen with God knows what kind of parasite, it's a safe bet that only individual holdings are safe havens now. Even then, that isn't saying much…"
Ritsuka wasn't surprised by El-Melloi's bleak findings. Tonight proved that this Lostbelt was teeming with horrors that he only began to scratch the surface of. Yet, he dared to hope that there were other sanctuaries like Oedon Chapel still out there just waiting for any kind of rescue. It was foolish, he knew, but Ritsuka wasn't one to give in to the darkest of possibilities so easily.
El-Melloi studied his young master's face for a moment, sensing the kind hearted determination that he came to know, before scratching his head in annoyance. "Bah. You're just like a certain student of mine. Always getting into trouble and never knowing when to leave well enough alone until it comes right back to bite you in the ass. Then again, I don't have that much right to complain myself."
"You know me so well, teach," Ritsuka said with a grin. "Did you guys find anything else?"
"Some progress, but not enough to get to the heart of this case," Holmes admitted from his corner of the library. Leaning back on the high back of a comfortable chair he found in the study, he pressed his fingers together as his brow furrowed pensively. "Much of the texts here cover many subjects related to the local church, but mostly in the superficial sense. Daily prayers, routine discipline practices, instructions on preserving the sanctity of church grounds, and so on. Entry level knowledge for initiates. Nothing related to its core beliefs or origins."
"Surely the great detective hasn't met his match so soon," Moriarty snarked. "I figured you would have something more substantial with your brilliant deductions by the time we go back.
"On the contrary. We uncovered a few important bits of information as we delved deeper into the library." Idly held up an old black book with a bent back. "This is a ledger containing a list of key church members that are in the Cathedral Ward in its first chapter. Most of the names are crossed out, except one. Vicar Amelia. According to Robert, she's the current leader of the Healing Church and is residing in the Grand Cathedral at the heart of the ward. At least, before the mass outbreak of the bestial plague. Presuming she has not been infected or killed, I recommend we follow Gilbert's advice and try to find her."
Ritsuka nodded readily at the suggestion. If anyone would surely know more about the awful plague, it would be the Vicar. It was the logical next step and yet Ritsuka noted the furrow of Holme's brow. "…But that's not what concerns you, is it?"
Holmes looked up at the boy and smiled. "Very perceptive, Mr. Fujimaru. You are correct, the Vicar is the least of my concerns…" Putting down the book, he then pulled out a parchment so decrepit that it was a miracle it didn't fall apart in his hands. Clearing his throat, he read the barely legible words verbatim. "'The Byrgenwerth spider hides all manner of rituals, and keeps our lost master from us. A terrible shame. It makes my head shudder uncontrollably.' A most perplexing clue indeed. What is the Byrgenwerth spider and who is the lost master? Do they relate to the Healing Church or are they separate? Such questions are noteworthy on their own, but what I find fascinating is the fact that someone deliberately crossed them out."
"A cover up then?" Mash asked.
"I don't believe so. Just a single line through each word, dismissive as if checking groceries off a list. Furthermore, the culprit added their own note below the original script. 'The spider is gone and the ritual changed hands. Hidden within a dream and away from eyes above and below. No. If it's knowledge you seek, then turn thy eyes to the pale blood in the house of pain built from ten thousand shrines. Be warned. The gaze of unseen eyes withers the faint of heart and their touch grasps the hearts of men… Do what thou wilt.'" Holmes' frown returned as he put down the note. "The ink from this new message is fresher than the old crossed out one. As for how recent, I can't say…"
Ritsuka went still as the message's cryptic words echoed in his head. Like the first, it sounded like pure gibberish. Ramblings of some mad man left behind in the chaos that took hold of Yharnam. But then they mentioned the eyes. The unseen eyes. It wasn't simply his imagination. There was something out there. But what? "…What do these messages mean?"
"I haven't the foggiest." The detective let out a chuckle as his young master nearly fell backwards at his answer. "But I managed to discern three important clues from this note. The first is how recent the changes to the note are, indicating the second author was here not too long from our arrival into Yharnam."
"Is it from the hunter?" Ritsuka asked, feeling the others in the room stiffen at the mention of the fearsome figure.
"No, the writing is completely different from the hunter's own note. This leads me to the second clue. I asked Robert about this note and he mentions the hunter neither took or left anything in the chapel prior to our encounter with him. However, he swears that, other than ourselves and the hunter, none have entered the chapel since he took custodianship." That earned raised brows from Ritsuka and Mash, but the detective already was moving on. "Finally, this leads me to the third clue, and that is someone obviously wants the mysteries of Yharnam to be delved into. The note was conspicuously placed where all could see. Was it left for everyone fortunate enough to make it to the chapel or a message for someone personal? Such questions have yet to be answered, but it's clear that this mystery has far more threads than originally anticipated. However, I should point out that despite their different meanings, both messages are valid clues on their own. It is best that we keep an eye out for anything relevant to them if we want to solve this case."
Ritsuka nodded slowly, uncertainty welling in his gut. He had a bad feeling that there were far more skeletons hidden below the bloodstained foundation of the city than he dared to imagine. But after tonight, he knew that they could not avoid them, no matter how wretched they were.
"Amusing as these deductions are, I can tell that this isn't what's bothering you, Holmes," Moriarty noted, much to Ritsuka's surprise. After all that, this wasn't what bothered the great detective?
Holmes' brow furrowed once more, as he leaned back in his seat. "You're correct, my dear rival… There is something else about this note that bothers me, but I'm not entirely certain. I can make some educational guesses, but… Now is not the time for such presumptions."
"I knew you would say that…" The wicked professor grumbled.
"So where do we go from here?" Ritsuka asked, his words half muddled by a yawn that escaped his lips before he realized it.
"For now, you should get some rest," El-Melloi said, using his firm teacher's voice when dealing with a troublesome student. "It's been a rough and exhausting day for everyone. No, don't try to hide, boy. I can see you're barely managing to stay awake as it is. Frankly, it's a miracle you didn't fall asleep the moment you got back, knackered as you look." Suddenly, a loud rumbling escaped Ritsuka's guts, causing a rosy blush to his cheeks. "And on an empty stomach no less…"
"Haha, sorry."
The Clocktower Lord shook his head in annoyance. "Go get something to eat, Ritsuka. You too, Kadoc. You'll look like a ghoul if you stay up any later."
"I can still—" Kadoc started to protest before a gentle hand laid across his left arm. Anatasia's gentle smile took out the bite of whatever argument he was going to make. "… Fine. We'll turn in for the night, but my study better be exactly where I left it tomorrow morning"
"We wouldn't dream of interrupting your research, Mr. Zemlupus," Holmes assured him. He then turned to Ritsuka and Mash, a warm smile on his face. "Go on now. I don't imagine we'll be joining you for dinner tonight, but I promise we will keep you apprised of any more findings we discover."
"Alright, Holmes," Ritsuka said. "Good night, but don't stay up any longer than us!" At the detective's nod, Ritsuka led Mash and Moriarty to the main chamber of the chapel. A particular spicy aroma mixed with the heavy scent of incense tickled his nose the moment he stepped inside, but it was no less mouth-watering judging by his stomach growling in approval. Having cleared out sections of pots for a temporary kitchen, Circe wasted no time creating her famous dish, kykeon, in a big cauldron she found. Beside her, Chiron oversaw some sizzling gyros, carefully cutting them up before applying the right number of spices that would dazzle the tongue. Barghest stood at the side, eyeing the meals critically. Although tonight's expedition left her unable to participate directly with the cooking, she nevertheless tried to give advice on seasonings, spices, and techniques to draw out the best flavor. Having three supreme chefs at hand left everyone a bit ravenous, eager to partake in what could only be described as a meal from paradise.
Sometimes it amazed Ritsuka how these three managed to make anything from the rations they had on hand. Then again, the queen of witches was well known for preparing feasts for her guests. He suspected she may have cheated a bit to keep their food stores normal, but he wasn't complaining if it meant having such quality meals despite such trying times.
On the other side of the chapel, a small medical ward was set up for the wounded. Under Asclepius' strict supervision, none were denied the treatment they deserved, but some—if not nearly everyone—wished the good doctor wasn't so pushy about his methods. Such complaints usually disappeared the moment Asclepius suggested bringing in Nightingale to help speed their recovery. Some even went as far to say how they were to be operated on by the good doctor. Currently only several Hassans, Asako especially, and Vlad were being treated; their injuries were not life threatening, but still required certain attention. According to El-Melloi, Li Shuwen had already been discharged and left the chapel with Raikou and William Tell to secure the perimeter. Ritsuka frowned at that, but mostly because they had a second order to go retrieve Gilbret from his hideout. After experiencing the night for himself, no matter how short it was, he prayed that his friends would make it back safely and soon.
Shaking his head to clear such bleak thoughts, Ritsuka turned his gaze to the back he saw the rest of the servants mingling together in their makeshift resting area they set up while Ritsuka's party was out. Mordred, Cu, and Okada huddled together, cleaning their weapons and armor while arguing who got the most glory after dealing with abominations they faced tonight. Morarity went over to join them, giving his own take on who deserved the recognition; the mischievous smile on his lips betrayed his amusement at their bickering. Hokusai and Van Gogh quietly talked together, admiring several creepy statues, and taking precise notes of every little detail they found. Robert sat near the edge of the group, rubbing his hands occasionally before stopping abruptly, occasionally flinching when addressed. Salieri being the most prominent as the composer was quite interested in the history behind the chapel. Naturally there were talks of old religious hymns and psalms that fascinated the composer, most of which that Robert knew of seem to focus on blood. Ritsuka wondered how long it had been since Robert had real company to hold conversations about such morbid topics. But for all his jitters, the man didn't shy away. If anything, he was happy to have someone around and fill the lonely chapel with lively voices.
And then there was Abigail and Justine, talking eagerly together as they sat comfortably in the center of the ring of servants. Habetrot and Fou were at their side, the former laughing along with their fun while the latter barked happily as one or the other stroked his soft mane. It was a warm sight. A noticeable improvement over their anxiety and despair that plagued them earlier. However, the way they tightly clung to each other, their postures stiff and reluctant to let go, told Ritsuka that their cheerfulness masked their pain. Yet, it was an improvement nonetheless.
Wanting to help ease their burden, as well sate his own hunger, the young master of Chaldea walked over to Circe's kitchen with Mash following in tow. "Well, well," Circe said with a grin. "Come to fill your bellies with the most delicious meal this side of Yharnam? You're in luck! I got plenty to feed everyone here. Not bad for the Queen of Witches after she spent all day working wards around this dreary chapel, eh?"
"I feel like you may have cooked more than you needed, Circe," Chiron commented even as he carefully filled out a plate with gyros before handing it out to his master. Circe pouted at the jab before filling Ritsuka's plate with kykeon, not stopping till the portion was bigger than the lowly gyro. Ritsuka smiled and took it in stride, knowing well enough the consequences of upsetting someone who regularly turned people into pigs. Suddenly, he found another plate shoved in front of him, its portions nearly twice the size of the one he held in his hands.
"Not nearly enough," Barghest grumbled. "A growing boy needs all that he can eat if he wants to grow up big and strong."
"Hey! Kykeon should be savored, not scarfed down like a pig!" Circe protested. Ritsuka raised an eyebrow at that but he stopped when Charon shook his head.
"Let it pass," he said solemnly. "She knows what she said."
"Gotcha," Ritsuka said before handing the plates to Mash. "If you don't mind, can I get two more? For Abigail and Justine."
Charon smiled before wordlessly filling two more plates, ignoring the bickering between his fellow chefs. With steaming dinner in hand, the young master headed back to the children. The moment the spicy scent hit their noses, the girls stopped their fun and stared at the plates. A soft smile grew on Abigail's lips, but she remained where she sat, trying to impose a sense of dignity of a proper lady that was undercut by the childish hunger in her eyes. Habetrot grinned amusedly at her companion, but said nothing that would embarrass the girl.
Justine, however, had an altogether different response to the meal. She stared at the plate in wonder, unsure of what to make of it. "What is that?" she asked.
"It's kykeon and gyros," Ritsuka explained before handing out the plates alongside Mash. "It's special foods from Circe and Charon's home. Try some."
Justine squinted at the foreign food uncertainly as it was handed to her. Using a spoon, she poked at both dishes, unsure what to make of them, before finally she scooped up some kykeon and put it in her mouth. Like a flash of lightning, her face jolted, alight with wonder and joyous surprise. "It's tasty!" she cried out blissfully. Ritsuka couldn't help chuckling at the sight, especially as she abandoned all pretense and soon was scarfing the rest of her meal with childish vigor. He remembered making a similar face when he first tried the Greek heroes' cooking, although with a bit more gasping for breath as he was not ready for some of the spicier cuisine offered at the time.
Not one to let his food grow cold, Ritsuka dug into his own meal with gusto. Soon enough, everyone was chowing down on their own food. Some more rancorously than others, some more gracefully. Regardless of who, none left a speck on their plates. By the time they had finished, everyone started to get ready for bed. Not Cu though. He was stuck cleaning dishes under Charon's watchful eye, grumbling something under his breath about "terrible luck" and "short straws."
Thankfully there were plenty of rooms for everyone to use for sleeping. Most had been filled with all kinds of religious icons, incense pots, and so on before being cleared out by the inactivate servants. Robert apologized profusely for the sorry state, lamenting about his inability to keep things orderly before El-Melloi gently put his foot down. The good Samaritan was only one man after all and done more than enough to ensure a safe haven in the plague-ridden city.
Before heading to his own room for the night, Ritsuka made one last check up with Justine. It was fortunate their expedition had brought plenty of spare sleeping gear, otherwise Ritsuka would've given up his own to her. She deserved better than the cold floor. He wasn't the only one who had a similar thought as Abigail rolled out her own sleeping bag beside her new friend, not wanting her to be alone after the ordeal she suffered.
"We'll be fine, Master," Abigail said. "We're big girls. We don't need to worry about meanies under our beds."
"Alright, alright. Just don't stay up too late and let me know if you need anything, ok?"
"Ok!"
However, before Ritsuka left, he knelt down beside Abigail so he could be eye level with her. "…Are you going to be ok, Abby?" he asked in a quiet voice that only she could hear.
Abigail blinked at the sudden seriousness before lowering her gaze, her grip on her doll tightening ever so slightly. "…I… I don't know, Master. I…" She took a deep breath, before lifting her eyes to meet Ritsuka's once more. "I have never been so scared in my life… but I will be brave. I have to be brave. For you and Justine."
Ritsuka gave Abigail a soft smile before ruffling her hair. There was another unspoken question in his eyes, an opening to talk more about what happened in the tomb, but didn't press upon it. There would be time to find out why the Hunter frightened Abigail so much. Giving her another pat on the head, he made to leave but stopped when a small hand grasped his sleeve. Looking down, he saw Justine stare back at him, her mouth opening and closing a few times before finally she took a deep breath. "…Thank you, Ritsuka… Thank you for… for the meal… and… and being here for me after… after…" Tears welled up in her eyes, but they stopped when she felt when Ritsuka embraced her with a hug.
"It's ok… You don't need to say it…" There was no need to say what had already been said. All Ritsuka could do was offer his shoulder to cry on and the girl did just that. Muffled sobs escaped Justine's lips as clung to the young man. Soon another pair of arms wrapped around her, holding her close as another fresh set of tears trailed down her cheeks, staining the white fabric of Ritsuka's shirt. Soon enough, the sobs ceased once more and the little girl allowed herself to be pulled back by Abigail. Ritsuka's heart went out of the girl and wished he could do more, but like the little foreigner, what she needed now was time to heal.
Waving the girls goodnight, Ritsuka left them and headed back to his room. Passing the few servants still awake, he was about five feet from his door before something caught his eye. Turning, he was met with the ethereal glow of a familiar lantern. Its pale light radiated soothing warmth that made Ritsuka feel relaxed, although he was sure that was merely the incense at work. Still, he found the lantern odd. Now that he thought about it, it was strangely placed in the middle of the chapel and its plain and bent aesthetics didn't fit with the rest of the religious iconography. Funny enough, it looked almost exactly like the one in front of Gilbert's hideout. But that's not what drew Ritsuka's attention. For a moment, just for a moment, he thought he saw something around it. He wasn't sure what it was, but he thought something tiny was there. A pale blur that surrounded the lantern like a fairy circle.
A flicker of the light…? It was either that or his fatigue was getting to him. As if reinforcing the latter thought, a mighty yawn escaped Ritsuka's lips. Needing no other encouragement, Ritsuka headed into his room, his bedroll already laid out by Habetrot earlier, and quickly made himself comfortable. Blowing out a nearby candle, Ritsuka quickly fell asleep as darkness flooded the room.… And in that darkness awaited dreams.
On a cobblestone path lined with gravestones, thick with gray swirls of concealing mists, was a man. His grayish blue cloak and equally dark, round hat blended with the mists, as if he were one with them. He had never been on this path before, nor was he able to see anything more than five feet in any direction. Yet, he knew this place somehow. No, that wasn't quite right. He knew the feeling this place gave off. There was no mistaking that this place was a dream, otherwise he wouldn't never have come across it. However, there was a particularity in the air, a taste of mystery and an odor of pungent supernatural. He was quite familiar with such subjects, both in life and as a guardian of Chaldea's Last Master.
In life he went by the name of Edmond Dantes. But he cast it aside for a name that struck fear in the hearts of all who dared wronged him. The Count of Monte Cristo.
Dantes's gaze narrowed at the endless path, the mist never once lessening as he continued onward. This wasn't normal, even for a dream. He could feel something hidden in those colorless swells, but the mist obscured it well. At first the gray tendrils curled around his body, threatening to swallow him whole. Now, however, they seem to part before him. Not completely giving way, but cautiously backing away at his approach. Hesitant even.
Curious… Dantes silently concluded. It's curious about me, as I do it. Hah! Like two stray cats meeting in some back alley, we are. But which of us is the lion I wonder? He didn't sense any malice; he would've known it the moment he encountered the mists so close to his master's dreams. He wasn't sure if this thing was waiting for the young man to fall asleep or that Ritsuka's subconscious accidently stumbled upon it in the realm of dreams, like he had so many times with other entities in the past. Yet it didn't try to barge in like so many unwelcome guests. If anything, it seemed content to silently observe from afar and didn't run when Dantes noticed it. Was whatever created this place that bold? Or was this an invitation? The Count wasn't sure, but the lack of malice he felt told him that whatever this entity was, it had no intention to harm Ritsuka. Nevertheless, Dantes would be a fool to let his guard down so carelessly around such a mystery.
Suddenly, the mists thinned, parting away to reveal more of the grave lined path until it ended at an old house on a small hill. The Count quirked a brow at that. Was this a gesture of good will or a trap to be sprung? A crooked smile quickly crossed his lips before he found himself walking forward. Trap or no, it would be rude to ignore such an invitation!
Striding up the path, he was almost to the front door when a hideous sensation oozed down his spine. A malevolent feeling of being watched, but not by the same entity that enchanted the mists. Turning around, Dantes's eyes widened as he took in horror. True and terrible horror beyond the scope of man's imagination. Things that would've twisted lesser minds with a mere glance. But above all else, he knew exactly what these things were. For he encountered their kin whenever he met with servants belonging to the Foreigner class.
The gray mists swirled around the Count, thickening till it swallowed the ancient house whole. Disappearing to some far-off dream and out of reach from the unspeakable nightmares that wished to invade. If this was any other time, Dantes would've suspected this was the trap. But that was a fiction. The mists churned like spiteful vipers, their righteous anger directed not at the Count, but at those who dared to intrude upon this sacred plane. There was no telling what history the entity had with these vile creatures, but Dantes didn't care. He knew his master's enemy in this Lostbelt now. And it wanted whatever was inside that ancient house hidden in the mists. No. More than that, he could feel the foul things' hunger. The hunger for his master's soul.
There was only one response to such vile intentions.
"Bwahahahaha! Daring of you to make your presence known to the incarnation of vengeance itself!" he declared, his laughter crackled with fiendish lighting and his cape fluttered open with the black fires of hell. "Very well! I shall teach you the consequences of such folly. My flames burn all. Be they man or Gods… Now… Rot in despair!"
The Count of Monte Cristo knew that he would not come out of this battle unscathed. He knew first hand that taking these entities lightly would result in a painful experience. Especially since there was no Abigail Williams to restrain the worse of their alien urges. But it did not matter to the Count. He survived hell itself once and he shall do it again.
Suddenly, there was a presence at the Count's side. He didn't need to look to know that the powerful presence belonged to the master of the house hidden in the mists Manifesting in a form fitting to be the bane of the horrors that intruded here. A rancorous laugh escaped Dantes' lips. So be it! He would not fight his battle alone! Together they charged forward, ready to rend the heavens of their Gods.
Ritsuka woke with a groggy yawn that escaped his lips. Odd. He didn't have any trouble last night, but he still felt slightly tired. His body wasn't sore so it couldn't be because he slept funny, nor did he remember any nightmares last night. At least he thought he didn't. Must've been more exhausted than I thought yesterday. Fumbling around in the dark of his room for a moment, he soon found his flashlight amongst his belongings. Turning it on, he quickly did a few stretches, brushed his teeth, and washed his face with some water from his canteen. After making himself presentable, as much as one could get while on an adventure like this, he left his room behind.
The smell of breakfast and incense greeted Ritsuka the moment he strode into the main hall. Sizzling sausage and some magecraft preserved eggs fried under Barghest's watchful gaze. Hungry servants like Okada and Cu lined up next to her station, plates ready for the delicious meal to start the day. Some stayed back, opting to pass the time in their own way. Asako, Mordred, and Moriarty played cards together. The Hassan muttered to herself at how long it was taking her personas to return from their scouting mission before grimacing as the professor won another pot for himself, the corners of his lips tugging wickedly back. Meanwhile, Salieri was content with reading alone in one corner of the room.
Despite his rumbling tummy, the young master didn't immediately stand in line to fill his plate. Instead, he took stock of Raikou, William Tell, and Li Shuwen having successfully returned with Gilbert. The ill man hacked up a series of coughs as he laid back on his makeshift bed, the same blood transfusion still stuck in a vein as Asclepius attended to him. His rescuers stood amongst the rest of the gathered servants with no visible injuries as far as Ritsuka could tell, but their clothes were smudged and covered in stains.
They were also attacked. Ritsuka knew the likelihood of such a case not happening was extremely low, but he was glad at least they came back alive and with their new friend in tow. "Welcome back, everyone," he called as he walked over.
"Apologies for making you wait, Master," Raikou said with a motherly smile. "I hope we didn't make you worry."
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't, but I'm glad you made it all back in one piece."
"It was a simple mission, nothing more," Li Shuwen said, yet his brow was furrowed. "We did run into a few snags, however."
"Such as a few beasties who took us for easy prey," William said as he fiddled with an unlit cigarette. "Just some infected thugs at first, easily beaten off with their tails behind their legs… But then we ran into a big bastard. The same kind that was burning on the cross you ran into on the way here."
Ritsuka's brow shot up at the announcement. "You ran into the werewolf?"
"It wasn't exactly a werewolf, not according to Gilbert. Something called a scourge beast…" William grimaced as he slipped at the cigarette in his mouth. "Fitting name."
"Was it that tough?"
"Not exactly, Master," Raikou said. "It gave us some trouble at first, especially since we had Mr. Gilbert with us. But we managed to drive it off…" She frowned at the admission.
"You didn't kill it?"
The demon slayer shook her head regretfully. "We made a mistake. We assumed it was a simple beast and wanted to gauge how well it fought for future encounters with its kind. After our first clash, however, it immediately retreated before we could deliver a killing blow."
"It escaped into the aqueducts," Li Shuwen grumbled as he pushed back his glasses. "Literally throwing itself off the bridge we were on without a moment's hesitation."
"It was quite a way down before it landed in the muck, but I don't think it's dead," William said with a professional gleam to his eye. "I've seen my share of beasts while out hunting with my boy, some deadlier than others, but this one lacked something they had."
"…And what's that?" Ritsuka asked quietly.
"Desperation. Most beasts show a little bit of it when facing the world's ultimate predator. However, this one didn't. And that tells me one thing. This beast is intelligent. It gauged out strength and knew it couldn't win, but didn't show panic as it fled. Just quiet cunning… And there's nothing deadlier than an intelligent beast."
The matter-of-fact description from William sent a creeping shiver slid across Ritsuka's skin like rancid oil. It sounded like the scourge beast wasn't going to give up the hunt that easily. But what could it be capable of if it knew it couldn't beat heroic spirits? Regardless, we'll have to watch our backs.
As if sensing her master's thoughts, Raikou placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled confidently. "Don't worry, Master. We made sure none of those filthy things followed us here. Even with escorting Mr. Gilbert, we covered our tracks well."
"Nicely done, Raikou." Ritsuka patted the hand at his shoulder. "I take it you didn't run into any other trouble on the way back."
"If you're referring to those wicked clergymen you ran into last night, then no."
"Not exactly…" How could he explain it when he didn't quite understand what happened last night himself? "When it got dark outside, did… did you feel like you were being watched."
The heavenly general's eyes hardened for a moment before she slowly nodded. "I couldn't see what it was, but something had been stalking us before we started to cover our tracks."
"Whatever it was, it was skilled in concealing its presence," Li Shuwen said. "I was very thorough with keeping an eye out for anything dangerous, but to my shame I wasn't able to find out what had been following us."
"It gave up before we reached the perimeter to the tomb of the chapel," William noted. "My guess it, like the scourge beast, realized we were the superior predators and was content with simply stalking us."
Ritsuka frowned, but said nothing. He wanted to believe the archer was right, but he wasn't sure. The memory of those unseen watchers left him feeling a bit anxious. One problem at a time. He then turned his attention to Gilbert. "How's he doing?"
"His condition is stable for the time being," Asclepius said, not bothering to tilt his head to the side as he jotted notes studiously. "There is so much to learn about his affliction, but rest assured that he will be cured."
"I thank you for your kindness, but please don't waste your efforts on me," Gilbert said hoarsely. "My illness is terminal and I—"
"Will undergo all my inspections and tests until I cured you. You and this horrendous plague. I thought I made that clear the first time. If your memory is failing is another sign of your condition, then this is the perfect time to try out some experimental medicine I've been working on for mental illnesses."
Gilbert shuddered before turning to Ritsuka. "Is he always like this? I met only a few doctors in my life and none were as intense as your friend."
"He's dedicated to his craft," Ritsuka answered. "Best do as he says though. If anyone can cure anything in the world, it's Asclepius."
Gilbert leaned back with a resigned sigh. "Oh, very well. Can't really complain much after you all went this far to bring me to the safety of this chapel." He then jerked his head in the direction of Robert and Justine, both being served breakfast along with the rest of the servants. "It warms my soul to know that I'm not the only one who's still alive in this wretched place… Thank you. You're all good folk."
Hearing the gratitude in Gilbert's words brought a smile to Ritsuka's lips, but also a sad reminder how resigned the man was to his fate. Not just him, but Justine and Robert as well. The endless cruelty of the city left little hope to be found, nearly breaking the survivors of what little will they had left. If he could make them feel a small measure of comfort for but a moment, then it was well worth it.
After breakfast, Ritsuka once more found himself in the library alongside Kadoc. El-Melloi looked a bit ragged from his all-nighter while Holmes looked relatively unperturbed as he puffed away at his pipe while pouring over a thick book bound in leather. I hope they at least got some food in them. Ritsuka was about to ask if they did but stopped as Robert shuffled his way into the library.
"Mr. R-Ritsuka," he said nervously. "I don't want to intrude, but may I have a word."
"Sure, what's up?" The deformed Samaritan looked puzzled before looking up at the ceiling. Ritsuka couldn't help mentally slapping himself for his slip of the tongue. "Sorry, it's a turn of phrase from where I come from."
"O-Oh, well, I see." The furrow on Robert's brow told Ritsuka that he clearly didn't, but wasn't about to make a fuss. "I don't want to trouble you, but seeing you're keen on exploring the city. I have a suggestion. T-That is if you don't mind taking suggestions!"
"Not at all. Anything is helpful, Robert."
"Yeah, if it doesn't get us mauled to death by disease ridden wackos," Kadoc muttered beside his fellow master. Robert must've heard him as he rubbed his hands anxiously. Then again, he always seemed to be doing that even when not speaking to anyone directly.
"I know you would like to reach the heart of the Cathedral Ward, especially the Grand Cathedral, but might I trouble you to try south of the chapel first? There is a temple not far from here, just at the end of the path leading out the door in fact. It was once a sanctuary set up by the Healing Church for the sick when the plague first started. Takin' in survivors from Old Yharnam before the district fell apart. I haven't heard from 'em for a long time and… I fear the worse. If… If it's not too much trouble, could you check up on 'em. Even bringing back just one person is more than enough for me."
There was not a moment of hesitation before Ritsuka spoke his answer with a reassuring smile. "Of course, Robert. If anyone is still there, we'll do our best to bring them back to the chapel."
A relieved sigh escaped Robert's lips, almost like a croak, before he reached out with his gnarled hands to encompass one of Ritsuka's. "Thank you! I pray for your safe return."
Author's Note: Hi everyone! It's been a while, hasn't it? Still off and on with getting a proper schedule going for chapters published, but as some great philosopher or writer would say, "That's life." Anyway, wanted to get this chapter done before I start the next arc: Old Yharnam. What's hidden there? What's horrors shall the Chaldeans face as they continue to delve deeper into secrets they shouldn't know? Well, you'll have to wait until next time since I will not spoiling those revelations. As to when the next chapter will be published, I don't know. So sorry for the inconvenience.
That said, I will say that I did leave a few obvious and not so obvious hints of what's to come. And some of you may have guessed that somethings are now different than in the base game in Yharnam. As to what and how much, I can't say. Don't worry though, I didn't remove anything from Bloodborne for the purpose of this story. Rather I wanted to expand upon it while trying to make it blend well with Fate's own lore with a few twists I wanted to sprinkle in. But above all else, I wanted things to fit organically and flow naturally. And I hope you guys will enjoy those ideas once they expanded upon in future chapters.
Anyway, I thank you all for reading this chapter and I hope you all have a wonderful day!
