I don't own Bloodborne or Fate Grand Order.

Please enjoy this story to your heart's content.

Chapter 5: Safe Haven

"…Hmm? Oh! More visitors!"

The monk who groveled on the cold chapel floor to Ritsuka and company—Holmes, Moriarty, Fou, and Kadoc for the most part, the rest were either too busy caring for the wounded or exploring the chapel—was, as the Hundred Personas had warned, an oddity. No, that was understatement. One could scarcely believe that having dark gray, gaunt skin, so thin that it made his already massive hands and lanky arms appear longer than they were, was anything other than abnormal. Even his white eyes, sunken into his hollow face, glowed eerily in the pale candle light as he looked at his guests.

Shifting to greet his guests as best he could, forming fresh wisps of incense from the urn jar that hung around his neck, he bowed humbly to them. "Very sorry, I didn't greet you like the others…" he said apologetically, "the incense must've masked your scent."

Scent? Ritsuka thought. Could whatever have caused this fellow's mutations also given him better senses as well? It wouldn't be farfetched, all things considered. Regardless, it would make conversation easier.

"No worries," Ritsuka said. "If anything, we're sorry for not greeting you first… We were busy with a, um, problem so to speak. I'm Ritsuka by the way. Ritsuka Fujimaru."

The monk raised his head, blinking owlishly as if he wasn't sure he heard the young man's words. "You're… sorry?"

"Is something the matter?"

"No… No, no. It's just that… well. You're the second person to show any kindness to me in such a long time. Ah! Forgive me! I meant no offense. Yharnam has become a cold and cruel place for such a long time now… I almost believed such goodwill had long since died out."

Clarity washed over Ritsuka instantly. With most of the locals nothing more than madmen or mutated beasts, he doubted any survivor, outside Justine and maybe Gilbert, would treat the hunched-over monk any less than another crazed infected. "No need to apologize," Ritsuka said gently. "If anything, we're grateful to you for letting us stay in this fine chapel in the first place."

The monk's face lit up at that, lips curling into something of a ghost of a smile, though it only made his face even more haunting. "Good, good. I'm happy to see that my hard work to turn this here chapel into something good folk like yourselves can call a safe haven. B-But I'm getting ahead of myself. My name is Robert, but you can call me Rob. It's a pleasure to know ya." He bowed his head again, this time almost scraping the floor as he bent his deformed body awkwardly about. "In all honesty, I didn't expect anyone to come here… not since the endless hunts began…" He grasped the urn around his neck suddenly as he shuddered. "I can still hear the screams of poor souls every night… None ever made it to the chapel doors, until you folk showed up that is. Well, you and a hunter who came and left so quickly I never was able to catch his name."

Is he talking about the hunter Abigail fought? Ritsuka wondered, but never said it aloud. He didn't want to give the monk the wrong idea. Fou quietly agreed with him, whining softly in his ear.

"But if I'm being honest…" Robert continued. "I didn't expect that my first guests would be outsiders. Especially dressed so strangely… and frighteningly! My heart almost gave out when I first saw the white skull mask on that man dressed in black. N-Not to say he's a bad man, oh no! It's just that he surprised me, that's all… especially after he told me more guests would be coming here. I honestly almost couldn't believe him, but, well, here you all are now."

Ritsuka was midway through apologizing to the monk before pausing at the monk's remark. Robert was able to see Hassan? I guess he's not blind after all, he thought before quickly adjusting what he was about to say. "Sorry about that. We actually didn't want to frighten you by showing up unannounced, but I guess that kinda backfired, huh."

"In hindsight, I should've thought of this happening before sending Hassan to act as a messenger," Kadoc admitted as he stood beside Ritsuka. A hooded persona sheepishly shifted from his resting place beside a mosaic statue not too far away.

"Well, no harm done," Robert said with an awkward chuckle. "I'm simply glad that ya all turned out to be good folk. It warms my heart that I was able to meet so many new people from beyond Yharnam." Suddenly, he went still and his eyes seemed to glow brighter as he turned from head-to-head of the assembled Chaldeans. There was a flicker of surprise on his face when he spotted Fou, as if unsure what to make of him, but he put aside whatever curiosity that bubbled in his throat in favor of continuing his first train of thought. "…In fact, I'm more than glad. For you to be able to make it to the Upper Cathedral Ward means that… Yes, yes! I've been waiting for one of your ilk for some time now."

"What do you mean, my good man?" Moriarty asked, quirking an eyebrow as the monk jerked back into an upright position with his hands held up.

"I didn't mean anything bad about it, if that's what you're thinking, good sir. It's just… it's these hunts, ya understand. They have everyone locked up inside their homes. Waiting for it all to end, the hunt that is… It always does, always has, y'know. Since forever… at least, that was until recently. Now they come every night, every one of them worse and worse than the last. I feel it'll not end very nicely, maybe not ever again. Even some of the folk hiding are going bad."

"Are you suggesting that the Cathedral Ward has also succumbed to the plague?" Holmes asked, which caused a shiver to run down Ritsuka's spine. A part of him was hopeful that wasn't the case, especially with how well warded off the Ward was. But the deeper he explored Yharnam, the more likely that such a notion was nothing more than a fantasy.

A pitiful whimper escaped Robert's lips as he nodded. "It has reached up here, yes… but the Healing Church has it well in hand… Or, so I hoped when it first appeared. But nowhere is truly safe anymore. The screams of womenfolk, the stench of blood, the snarl of beasts… none of em's too uncommon now. I tell ya." His eyes then brightened once more as he eagerly leaned forward. "But if you spot anyone with their wits about 'em… Tell'em about this here Oedon Chapel. They'll be safe here. The incense wards off the beasts, I can guarantee that. I know I shouldn't be askin' you, especially since you just made it to this here sanctuary, but you look like you can handle whatever nightmare that has gripped this city. You all look strong and… and I'm not. I'd be torn to bits the moment I set foot outside the chapel, but please. I can't stand the thought of just abandoning anyone to the beasts. Just like that little girl… please find let anyone who's still out know that Oedon Chapel is safe… That is if they are worth being told … Oh, and I sincerely hope they are… hee hee hee…"

The monk's rustling cackle echoed within the halls of the chapel, causing some of the other servants attending to the wounded to look at him funny. Ritsuka too found it a bit awkward, if down right creepy, but he could tell that there was sincerity behind that deformed face. Despite his appearance, Robert truly wanted to help people. After all, why put in all the hard work of preparing a safe place in the middle of a plague-ridden city that was way too big for one man?

"Of course, Rob," Ritsuka agreed without any hesitation. "We'll be sure to bring anyone we find back to the Chapel."

"Fou!" The little beast of Chaldea barked eagerly, much to the smiles of the rest of the Chaldeans.

The monk's eyes now were beaming brightly, and his crooked smile twisted till it nearly split his face in two. "Thank you… Truly, you have no idea how long I've waited to hear another kind soul say those—"

Suddenly, the ancient doorway to the tomb below was violently kicked open with a thunderous bang. Several servants drew their weapons at the audacious entry, but visibly relaxed when they saw a familiar figure clad in imposing armor strut into the temple as if she owned the place.

"Yo, Master!" Mordred, the knight of treachery and scion of the legendary King Arthur, bellowed as her helm retracted into her armor, revealing her tomboyish face and golden locks. "Ya still alive? Heard you had some trouble with the locals. Something about us needin' help with pest control." She squinted, her gaze landing on the clearly startled monk beside Ritsuka. "Don't tell me I came here just for this bag of bones?"

"No," Ritsuka said. "He's a friend."

The tomboy knight continued to gaze at the monk dubiously before letting out a scoff. "Then why the hell am I here then?"

Before she could continue her tirade, a hand appeared behind to clasp her shoulder firmly. "Behave yourself, Sir Mordred," Barghest chided, crouching low lest her head scraped the doorway. "Don't besmirch the honor of the Round Table by conducting yourself like a ruffian."

"Tch! You really take after that damn sunflower. Same stick up the ass behavior over knightly virtue. I'll act however the hell I want"

The Tam Lin grimaced at that. "How in the world did her majesty's human-self tolerate such behavior is beyond me."

"Like mother ever gave a damn about my attitude. All she ever wanted was a weapon to spite father. She got what she wanted in the end, but I did it for me, not her."

Barghest looked ready to continue admonishing the rebellious knight, but halted when a dark purple blur managed to snake past her. "Much as it's fun listenin' to the bickerin' of knights, there's only one doorway, Bargy," Hokusai said with a sly smirk. A dark red flush spread across the Tam Lin's cheeks before she quickly stepped aside to allow the rest of the expedition force through.

Soon as she was clear, nine more servants poured into the chapel, six belonging to Ritsuka and three to Kadoc. Miyamoto-no-Raikou led the procession, striding with the same grace and strength that befitted her status as the leader of the Four Heavenly Kings of her time period. She took a single glance of the room before her expression softened the moment her gaze landed on Abigail and Justine who sat quietly together at the back of the chapel. Flanked beside her, William Tell and Cu Chuliann quickly stationed themselves beside the many doorways that led out to the Cathedral Ward. They didn't say anything; they didn't have too. Just being in the city alone was enough for them to be on guard before getting any orders from Ritsuka. Circe and Van Gogh weren't as battle hardened as their companions, the former proudly strutting into the Chapel as if she owned the place while the former meekly followed along, occasionally glancing at the statues that lined the walls. The last of Ritsuka's servants was none other than Okada Izo. Unlike his fellow servants, the assassin was completely laid back despite being in a plague-ridden city. At least that was the impression he tried to cultivate, but Ritsuka could see the way he thumbed the hilt of his blade ever so slightly that the man was more than ready to draw it in a flash.

Kadoc's servants carried themselves similarly as they took open positions in the chapel. Saito Hajime didn't bother trying to hide his alertness as he leaned against a corner that allowed him to take in everything in the room at once. Salieri greeted Anatasia with a slight bow before quickly placing himself beside his Master. Chiron headed over to the wounded, already offering his wisdom and services to Asclepius.

Ritsuka wasn't all too surprised to see who was chosen for the expedition force and even approved that most of them were suited for the cramped, almost claustrophobic, architecture of Yharnam. Of course, there were plenty of other powerful servants that would have joined from the Storm Border, but unlike those chosen as reinforcements, they would've stood out as a sore thumb. Unwanted attention that Chaldea wasn't yet prepared to deal with at this time. At least, not the kind of attention they attracted already.

"Glad you could join us, Mordred," Ritsuka greeted the knight warmly. He nodded to the rest of his reinforcements before allowing a sly smile to cross his lips. "I'm honestly surprised Astolfo didn't come with you."

"Tch! The idiot tried too, but Da Vinci put a leash on him before he could get into trouble," Mordred said with a sigh. "Honestly, I was going to let Caenis take my place, but when Mother got doggy here to join this little expedition, I wasn't going to let her take all the glory."

"I'm not doing this for glory, Sir Mordred," Barghest protested. "I'm only here to protect our Master on behalf of my Queen." The towering Tam Lin then turned to Ritsuka with an apologetic frown. "Her majesty apologizes for not accompanying you on this journey, Ritsuka, but she wished for me to serve as your sword arm until you returned back to her."

"I'm grateful for all the help you can give, Barghest," Ritsuka said.

"We'll be sure to thank her majesty for her foresight," Mash added as she joined her senpai. "There will be little we can handle with you around."

"You can say that again, Mash!" Suddenly, Mash's shield started to sparkle before a tiny figure emerged from it. It was Habetrot. The tiny fairy brushed the dust off her hat before grinning at the giant that was Barghest. "With someone with superb bridal material, albeit dangerously too high bridal material, on our side, only a fool would think of stopping us!"

"Habbycat!" Ritsuka called out the fairy's affectionate nickname. "I didn't realize you joined the expedition."

"Hehehe, did you think you could keep me away from my best bridal candidate? I merely hitched a ride in her shield until we got to someplace more private. Which was a good call on my part! I don't think those looneys swarming the streets would take too kindly to little ol' me." She then turned her head to Robert, who stared back with a dumbfounded, if not fearful, expression. Even Justine, who was mostly catatonic after the painful truth of her parents, stared at the fairy, but her gaze was that of a curious child rather than of dread. "Although… maybe I should've waited until we were truly alone."

"You think so?" Ritsuka shook his head good naturedly before turning back to the monk. "No need to be alarmed, Rob. Everyone here is a friend."

"A-Are you certain?" Robert asked. "I mean, I don't think ya a liar, but…" His words failed him as he couldn't take his eyes off the little fairy. It was clear that he wanted to say she was a beast, but he could recognize, at least to some degree, that she wasn't like the bloodthirsty monsters who stalked Yharnam.

"I'll talk with Rob, ol' boy," Moriarty said before Ritsuka could get a word in. "Smooth things over while you catch the others up to speed. Besides…" He then grinned maliciously in Holmes' direction. "The deer hunter is pretty much chomping at the bit to reveal all the juicy details he discovered."

"I wouldn't put it exactly like that, but there are things we do need to discuss," Holmes said.

Realizing the gravity of Holmes' statement, Ritsuka nodded before leading the newly arrived servants, as well those who could be spared from their duties in the chapel, to somewhere private.

The study they chose as their meeting place was dusty and smelled completely of incense. Row upon row of books lined the walls with many more tomes and scrolls were scattered upon the floor. An expertly carved desk stood at the center, wax stained from thick candles burning brightly upon its once polished boards. There was an assortment of notes neatly stacked along one edge while a thick jar of ink sat amongst the dried aftermath of its last usage. Not that anyone paid any attention to whatever contents the notes entailed for all were enthralled by Ritsuka recounting the events leading to the chapel. The new arrivals patiently listened to the young master; their faces grim but also resolute as they quickly realized the dreadful reality that befell Yharnam.

"…And that pretty much sums up everything up till now."

"Oh my…" Raikou said with a frown. "I'm glad that no one suffered any fatal injury, but it would appear the situation is worse than we thought. From plague to beast, there is no end of threats. It honestly makes me regret not forcing myself into the scouting party like I wanted to. Rest assured, I will not allow any vermin to look in your direction without divine retribution, my master. You have that as my solemn vow as the leader of the Four Heavenly Kings." Her frown then vanished as it was replaced by a very warm smile. "And as a mother, I promise to make sure none dare harm a single hair on little Justine's head either."

"Well, I wouldn't put exactly like Miss Raikou here," Hajime said, raising an eyebrow at the motherly berserker, "but I have to agree that the situation is a bit worse for wear. Not disastrous, but it does look like we stepped into quite the mire… However, as much as I'm wondering what else this place has in store for us, I'm little concerned about that hunter fellow."

"A moment, Mr. Hajime," Holmes cut in. "I understand your concern, but I would ask that we put aside that particular mystery for the time being. Let's instead focus on more pressing issues related to what brought us to this plagued land. Afterward we can examine our mysterious hunter at our leisure."

The third unit captain of the Shinsengumi pondered for a moment before giving the detective a bland shrug. "The floor is all yours, detective."

"Thank you." Holmes then cleared his throat before turning to Ritsuka. "To begin, I shall recall what took place after Mr. Fujimaru and company parted from Gilbert's residence. As Asclepius tended to the poor fellow in question, I took the opportunity to interview him about all manner of things. About his life, his travels, and history. Needless to say, it was a rather riveting conversation. Especially since Gilbert has a keen mind despite his humbleness. For one, our friend hails from a small town called Norkin far south from Yharnam's border."

"'Norkin'?" Goredolf repeated as his portly projection popped into the study. "Hmph. Must be some kind of off the map town in the boonies with a name like that in Germany."

"Discounting the fact that the name is anything but German in nature, I did entertain that possibility as another oddity of Yharnam, at least until I asked Gilbert about it." Holmes then took a drag out of his pipe, his brow furrowing as his eyes became distant. "The answer he gave was quite intriguing… for he never heard of any nation called Germany."

"What?" Ritsuka asked, his confusion mirroring everyone else's. "But… aren't we in central Germany?"

"That's the assumption at the time we discovered the Lostbelt, yes. However, the concept of Germany doesn't seem to exist in this Lostbelt. Not just their history, culture, or even the name, but also the geography as Gilbert was quite adamant about several famous natural locations in Germany not existing in this Lostbelt. Furthermore, he expressed that Yharnam was the oldest nation that he knew of. Specifically having a history that spans nearly a thousand years. At least according the limited knowledge he picked up before and after arriving past the city's iron gates."

"Wait, back up…" Kadoc said slowly. "If this isn't Germany and Yharnam is in its place for around a thousand years… Then that would mean the Lostbelt's divergent point is greater than we assumed.

"Indeed, Mr. Kadoc. However, I don't believe Germany's exclusion from history is a solitary event. I questioned Gilbert about other possible historical European civilizations, such as the Romans, Gauls, and Britons, to name a few, but Gilbert still had no idea what I was talking about. Furthermore, most modern nations from the proper human history's Victorian era don't exist either. This leads me to believe that the classical era didn't occur in this Lostbelt. Or I should say, something took its place and changed not only the history of humanity, but also the geography of the land. As to the what and how, I can't say. Gilbert's knowledge of history is, as I have said, unfortunately limited, leaving the trail to that particular mystery to go cold."

Ritsuka cupped his chin as he digested Holmes' words. Each Lostbelt he had been to had some kind of event that drastically changed the course of history. So much so that often Ritsuka found himself in a land so foreign that he sometimes mistook it for something completely alien. Yharnam, however, was the opposite. Besides its very obvious and horrific problems, it looked and felt like a city from the Victorian era. Just like the London singularity. So, if what Holmes said was true, how could this familiar architecture exist in the first place?

Sensing his unease, Holmes gave the young man a confident smile. "Don't fret, Mr. Fujimaru. Such cases can't be cracked in one night, especially when they have multiple mysteries attached to them."

"What do you mean?" Ritsuka asked.

Holmes' smile thinned as he turned to pace thoughtfully across the room, forcing several servants to move out of his way. "There were a few other tidbits that I learned from Mr. Gilbert, mostly related to his life prior in his home town before his journey to Yharnam. Nothing rather groundbreaking to the case at hand, but just when I thought that avenue of information came to a dead end, Asclepius made an amazing discovery." The detective stopped in his tracks suddenly as his smile brightened with a distant fondness. "I must say that it was a pleasure to witness Asclepius at work. I'm sure Watson would love to learn a thing or two under the God of Medicine's tutelage."

"Stay on top if you don't mind, detective," William Tell advised before pulling a cigarette and lighting it with a nearby candle.

"Apologies. Couldn't help reminiscing a bit of my golden years, especially in a town somewhat akin to London. But back to the point, Asclepius made a certain discovery when he drew a blood sample from Gilbert."

"Was he infected after all?" Ritsuka asked, a lump forming in his throat.

"We're not sure… and that's what worries us. There is no doubt Mr. Gilbert is sick from whatever terminal disease that he claims is afflicting him, but that doesn't rule out the possibility of plague either. However, from what the good doctor was able to gather, there is bacteria in the blood that he has never seen before. Bacteria that is unlike anything seen in Proper Human History and acts… strangely when it comes into contact with blood cells, to put it lightly."

"Let me guess," Mordred said, "it tries to assimilate and imitate everything like some freaky alien parasite?" Everyone in the room looked at the rebellious knight questioningly which she gave a shrug. "What? I liked watching 'The Thing' back in Chaldea. Got a problem with it?"

"Not at all, Mordred, but you're not quite right. It's actually the opposite—the blood cells tear apart the bacteria and assimilate it before reproducing." Mordred gaped at the detective in surprise, nearly stumbling off her bookcase if not for a last-minute hand catching a ledge. She wasn't the only one shocked as several of the servants grumbled lowly at the revelation.

"Are you saying Gilbert's an alien parasite!?" Kadoc demanded incredulously.

Holmes shook his head firmly at the allegation. "Nonsense. Gilbert is human, albeit one that is carrying something that we don't fully understand. Before we had to leave him behind in favor of rescuing Miss Abigail, Asclepius was able to determine that the red blood cells in his sample act differently to white blood cells. While white blood cells produce and boost immunities in a body, these abnormal blood cells seem to act as lurking predators, luring in foreign elements before devouring them. Furthermore, we didn't find a single white blood cell in the sample... This is only merely early speculation, but it's almost like the Gilbert's body is intentionally letting in foreign maladies." Holmes frowned at that theory, before shaking his head. "No. It's too early to get ahead of ourselves. Asclepius plans to bring back our wayward patient for continuous treatment, so we'll have plenty of time to get a clearer picture of this particular conundrum. And determine if this merely a special evolution of humans in this Lostbelt… or part of the bestial plague."

Silence reigned in the study for a moment, allowing the Chaldeans to drink all the nasty implications that arouse from the detective's theories. None had the slightest idea what to make of the new information. If anything, it only added to the mystery they stumbled onto. However, Holmes wasn't finished adding to the pile.

"And now, my current deductions of the hunter who tried to kill Miss Williams." Taking another drag from his, allowing himself a moment to choose his next words very carefully. "After examining the report from Mr. Shuwen, it is clear that this hunter is no ordinary man. With abilities ranging from regeneration through an unknown substance to having the strength to contend with multiple servants, his presence adds a certain oddity to the mystery of this Lostbelt."

"Odder than the fact that he's still alive after getting his head ripped apart?" Kadoc noted deadpanned.

"Yes," Holmes mused. "His miraculous survival after Miss Williams coup de grace is fascinating, yes, but what I find more interesting is his other abilities. Some of which, I would say put him on a level that far out ranks any of the infected we came across and even rivals heroic spirits, more so than what we saw. I have to wonder if this is merely an individual case or something all local hunters possess."

"…Alright, I'll say it," Izo grunted out in boredom. "I haven't got a clue what the hell you've been talking about since you started blabberin'. Not a big thinker here, so explain not with so many big words or draggin' things out like Ryoma does. Hell, this guy may be tough shit, but we managed to put 'em down. So what's so fancy about whatever the hell he has under his belt?"

Some of the assassin's compatriots gave him withering looks, but Holmes merely answered with a chuckle. "Forgive my tendencies, Mr. Izo. Watson always chided me for how I could be obsessively long winded with my deductions. But to make a long story short, as you would say, this hunter was able to see some of Miss Williams' abilities."

Some of the room went still at the revelation, but Izo merely grunted in irritation. "And how's that important? We can see her creepy friends all the time!"

"That's because we are familiar with them. We know they are there because Miss William showed us her capabilities. Under normal circumstances, or should I say for anyone not a heroic spirit or higher, it should be impossible to be aware of them."

At once, a chill swept the room. Not just from Holme's theory, but from the horrible implications that came with it.

"B-But… how?" Ritsuka asked, his voice now that of a near whisper. "Unless Abby made them physically appear, then he shouldn't be able to see them."

"I have a few theories about it, but most are very unlikely and veering on pure fiction rather than factual truth. The most probable, but still unlikely, theory is that Miss Williams unintentionally made them appear."

Ritsuka frowned at that. Abby certainly was shaken up by this guy, but I don't think she would lose control like that. Not after Salem.

As if sensing his thoughts, Holmes turned to the young master. "Now you see why I'm skeptical? I can't say I dismissed the idea, but I will say that I'm confident in Miss William's growth during her tenure in Chaldea." The detective then took a drag from his pipe. "No. Until further evidence presents itself, I can only conclude that whatever power behind this hunter has allowed him a certain kind of awareness of the eldritch along with his other abilities."

"…So where does that leave us with our mystery man, Holmes?" Da Vinci asked through the hologram.

"I'm not sure. There are too many unknowns about this fellow to my liking, and the information we have only brings more questions than answers. However, I believe he won't bother us for the time being."

"Uh, not to be a contrarian, but I sincerely doubt that, Holmes," Hajime disagreed. "You don't carve up chunks out of people then just leave them alone like that. Whoever this guy is, he means business."

"That possibility is quite apparent. But if you look at the way he stopped when he spotted Mr. Fujimaru and even had courtesy to leave a letter for him, it's a stark contrast from his earlier behavior. Not to mention Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Robert, and Miss Justine hold him in high level of trust. Trust, I would add, that would be hard to gain in a city under siege by plague, fear, and death. He clearly hasn't lost his wits like those infected by the beast plague, so it stands to reason every action we have seen from him is calculated and rational."

"Rational to you maybe," Cu scoffed as he leaned against his spear casually, "but who's to say it's an act to let our guard down. Not trying to discount your theories, Holmes, but I'd feel safer if we kept this creep at arm's length."

"I certainly agree with that!" Goredolf exclaimed. "I don't care how rational this guy is or how he's friends with little Justine, but it's clear he's dangerous. Until we have a better idea who or what he is, we'll not interact with him and treat him as a very real threat. Understood, Administration Advisor?"

"Understood, Director. I will endeavor to let you know of any new developments as soon as possible. In fact, this library shall serve as a good starting point for my research. Already I saw a few notes and books that caught my eye."

"Very good." The director's hologram then turned towards Ritsuka and Kadoc. "For the time being, we'll use Oedon Chapel as a base of operations in Yharnam. We'll try to figure out a way to send supplies from the Storm Border without running into any infected on our end. Until then, keep on with your investigation of the Cathedral Ward, but don't doing anything reckless." He squinted off to the side, his frown growing grim. "Night is starting to fall and I don't want you outside with all kinds of nasty beasts lurking around. That said, there should be enough time to scout the area around the chapel. So, get a lay of the land—err, I mean city, before retiring for the day. Understand?"

"Yes, director." Both masters of Chaldea answered unison.

That would've been the end of the meeting, but Kadoc suddenly stepped up. "Since this is as good a time as any, I might as well sum up my discoveries."

"Of course, Mr. Kadoc," Holmes approved. "You have the floor."

Kadoc nodded before quickly clearing his throat. "After Anastasia, Vlad, and I split up from Ritsuka's group, we wandered around the upper terraces of Central Yharnam. Took us a while to figure out another way to the Chapel's graveyard and we kept running into infected along the way—especially overgrown crows." He shook his head in disgust for a moment before carrying on with his tale. "Nothing to write home at first… that is until we ran into a local hunter."

A murmur filled the room at the announcement but Kadoc held up a hand. "She's not like the one who attacked Abby—if anything she was more interested in cleaning up some of the infected we missed. She introduced herself as Eileen and she was just as surprised to see us as we were of her."

"How so, Master?" Salieri asked.

"She didn't think anyone would still come to Yharnam. According to her, nobody from outside the city has come into town for a good while. Outside of Gilbert anyway. Can't tell how long she meant exactly; she was pretty vague on that part. But it's clear that she clearly didn't expect anyone foolish enough to walk into a plague-ridden land. Let alone expect any kind of outside help."

"That supports Gilbert's story," Ritsuka observed.

Kadoc gave a grave nod. "Yup. She totally gave off a doomed city vibe the whole time we talked. Didn't help that she gave us one piece of advice before suddenly running off to God knows where."

"And what would that be, Kadoc?" Da Vinci asked.

"Leave Yharnam while we still can or prepare for the worst."

"I'm sorry, Master," one of the hundred Hassan personas apologized to the masters of Chaldea. "We searched the first, second, and third floor of the chapel, but couldn't explore the upper reaches. Robert said that it was completely locked off long before he came to the Chapel, but we tried to scale the building from the outside and were immediately sent back down by the same type of bounded field that prevented us from entering the Cathedral Ward. We have no excuse for such shameful failure."

"It's fine," Kadoc said. "You did the best you could with what you had. If anything, that bounded field tells us someone really wanted to keep something hidden upstairs."

"We'll have Circe and El-Melloi see if they find a way to break through that little obstacle," Ritsuka said, smiling gratefully to the masked servant. "Thanks for your effort, Hassan."

The persona bowed his head in gratitude. "It is no trouble, but your words are appreciated. Nevertheless, this marks the second time that a Hassan has been prevented from doing their duty. And that is something we can't stand. With your permission, we would like to investigate the Cathedral Ward for the answers we seek. We'll report anything else along the way."

"Alright, but don't do anything recklessly," Kadoc ordered. "If you catch a whiff of trouble, just hightail it back here and we'll deal with it together."

"Understood." Bowing his head once more, the persona then blended with the shadows and was gone.

"Now that that's handled," Kadoc turned to Ritsuka, "I'm going to go help Holmes and Lord El-Melloi out with the Chapel Library. Better to have one master here than throwing us both out to the wolves."

"That's fine with me. We'll be back before it gets really dark."

"Why do I get the feeling that it isn't going to be that simple." The pale haired boy held up his hands. "On second thought, don't answer that. Don't want to invoke any divine irony considering your track record."

"Hey, I'm not that bad at getting into trouble." Kadoc stared hard at Ritsuka, forcing the boy to sheepishly look away. "Ok, but maybe some time, but not all time."

"Whatever you say, man… Good luck either way, Ritsuka."

"Same to you, Kadoc. Hope your research goes well."

"Never was that astute as Wodime when it came to studying magecraft, but stumbling into ancient conspiracies or forgotten myths? That's an acquired specialty of mine." Smiling self-mockingly to himself, the older master headed back into the chapel library.

Ritsuka didn't immediately follow his senpai's example. Turning around, he headed first to the bench where Abigail and Justine rested upon, their hands never once leaving each other's. The young foreigner looked considerably better after Asclepius applied his trade to her person, but there was still a wariness to her, constantly flickering her eyes to the corners of the room as if expecting her assailant to pop out from the shadows at any time. As for Justine, her tears had long since ceased, yet Ritsuka could see the deep pain in her gaze. She tried to put on a brave face as he knelt down beside them, but all that she could muster was a sad frown.

There was no need to guess how they both felt, so Ritsuka instead went with a different approach. "I'm going to be exploring the Cathedral Ward for a bit with the others. We'll be back before it gets completely dark."

"…Do… Do you have to, Master?" Abigail asked. "… I don't want you to be alone out there."

"Hey, I'm not going to be alone out there with our friends at my side." It was a light hearted answer, but Ritsuka knew exactly the intent behind Abigail's words. "Don't worry, Abby. Once you're all better, I promise you won't leave my side throughout this whole Lostbelt."

The foreigner brightened at his words, smiling for the first time since her encounter with the hunter. However, Justine's frown only deepened.

"Please…" she begged in a near whisper. "Please don't go… Don't leave me alone… like… like mummy and daddy."

Her voice was near breaking and tears threatened to spill down her cheeks once more. Before they did, the child let out a startled gasp when Ritsuka pulled her into a soothing hug.

"Shhh, it's ok," he said softly. "I promise I will return."

"…Really?"

"Yes. I never went back on my word before and I don't intend too now." Suddenly, he felt something fuzzy rub his cheeks before jumping off his shoulder. Fou landed squarely in the child's lap, startling her for a moment, but she didn't scream or cry out in fear. Bewilderment froze the tears still stuck in the corner of her eye as the little animal nuzzled against her dress. "Looks like Fou will keep you company while I'm away. Don't worry, he won't bite."

"…Is… Is it a beast?"

Ritsuka almost chuckled at the question, considering she was right in more ways than one. "He's not like the beasts in the city. He's just little ol' Fou and he wants to be your friend." He then leaned closer to ear as if he was revealing a secret. "He absolutely loves it when someone scratches right behind his ears."

Justine stared at the little creature for a moment longer before raising a hand and did as she was suggested. No sooner did her finger brush against the white and blue fur did Fou let out a pleased purr. "Fouuuu~." Hearing such a cute cry sparked something in the young girl. Soon enough her hands couldn't stop rubbing the little beast of Chaldea and drawing ever growing cries of delight from him.

"Nice job cheering these two up, Ritsuka," Habetrot said as she walked over to the bench with a cat-like smile. "Did a better job than what I had in mind, but I can take it from here. I'll keep an eye on these two while you're away. Might even be able to turn their frowns upside down!"

"Thanks, Habbycat. I appreciate it." He then turned to two girls and smiled warmly. "I have to go now. So, behave yourself, you two, or Habbycat will not give you any sweets for dinner."

"Habby… cat?" Justine repeated as she stopped petting Fou despite his purring protests. "…She doesn't look like a kitty."

"Hahah! Contrary to belief, I'm not a cat. I'm a fairy! A fairy to all good little girls and boys in the world."

Immediately Justine's eyes sparked at the declaration, dashing away grief in favor of childish wonder. If only for a brief moment of respite. "You're a fairy? Just like the stories mummy used to tell me?"

"Woah, settle down, Justine. Don't know any stories your mum told you, but yes, I am a fairy. A sewing fairy! Now, let's see if I can demonstrate my craft by making you a nice dress for you. You and Abigail need a bit of mending if I do say so myself."

As the two girls huddled around the little fairy, Ritsuka quietly let them be. Heading over to the exit to the Cathedral Ward, he saw Mash, Mordred, Hokusai, William Tell, Okada Izo, Barghest, and Cu Chuliann waiting for him. Moriarty was also there, brushing one end of his mustache idly before giving the young master a grin at his approach.

"I'm surprised you're coming with us, Professor."

"It was either joining our merry band or being around that insufferable deer hunter. Weighing my options, I felt like this was the best choice to use the fullest extent of my abilities without a certain nosey someone looking over my shoulder."

"You could've gone with Raikou's group and secured the perimeter around the Chapel or played security chief here with Saito."

"Please, Master. In a city full of evil, it's best that this mastermind sticks close to his most loyal partner in crime."

Ritsuka couldn't help grinning at the wily professor before turning to the rest of his companions. Much like the initial scouting expedition, the party was small but strong. Mordred, Barghest, and Cu provided enough muscle to take on entire armies, though Ritsuka hoped it wouldn't come to that. William and Izo made for excellent support alongside Moriarty, while Mash was the ever-present rock in any formation he made up. A solid composition, but he was surprised by Hokusai's presence.

"Coming along for the ride?" he asked the painter.

The artist grinned as there was any doubt to the question. "Ya can't keep me away from this, Master. Any artist worth her brush wouldn't miss a chance to take in the scenery of a mysterious land like this."

"Even if it's filled with monsters and plague?"

Hokusai faltered for a moment before giving a bland shrug. "I'd admit, kinda kills the mood, but just take a look at these sculptures!" She gestured to the grand display of statues and busts that littered the whole chapel. "Tell me you're not inspired by these masterworks? Creepy some of them might be, but you can't deny that there's a certain charm to them!"

Ritsuka had to agree she made a fair point. The statues were breathtaking… but, he wondered, was it because of how well designed they were or how off putting they made him feel with their life-like features? "Surprised to see you're not brainstorming new material with, Goghie then."

"Oh, I would but she's busy." Hokusai pointed to her friend currently being dragged around by Circe as they made wards to help better defend their new base of operations. "Thank goodness I made the excuse to join you guys before I got roped into that Witch's schemes."

"Fair enough," Ritsuka chuckled. He then turned to the west exit to the chapel before taking a deep breath. "Ok… Let's see what the Cathedral Ward has in store for us."

There was a chill in the air as the Chaldeans intruded upon the sacred ground of the Cathedral Ward. A gloom had set as the sun bled away into twilight, coloring the once gray curls of fog into an ominous blood red. Dim lamplight from crooked or rusted posts lining every tried in vain to keep day alive for a few scant hours longer, but it was a forgone conclusion. Night would soon arrive, but already it felt like the witching hour had fallen upon the land. An omen, that's what Ritsuka felt then as he crossed the deserted squares alongside his servants. Thankfully, his steps were lighter thanks to Asclepius's expert aid, leaving him fit and ready to help his companions as best he could.

Continuing through the labyrinth of corners and alleys, Ritsuka noticed immediately how eerily quiet the ward was. While Central Yharnam was anything but lively, there was a certain murmur of wariness that covered every alley they came across. Here, it was the opposite. It felt dead and cold, as if all life had either died long ago or was hiding away in a hole, praying for the end to this horrible nightmare.

Such unnatural quietness wasn't exactly new to Ritsuka, he'd faced many situations like this in the past. It wouldn't have been so bad if not for the fact that he felt eyes upon him. He wasn't exactly sure when he felt that creeping gaze crawling all over him, but he could tell someone or something was watching him. Carefully he tried to peer around for those unseen eyes, but he found nothing of note. He wasn't the only one who felt those eyes. Izo and William looked around frequently, their hands caressing their weapons as they tried to pinpoint the source of their unease.

"I wish whoever the hell is peepin' on us would just come out already," Cu complained as he slung his spear behind his head. "Tch. Reminds me of boar hunting, only I'm the boar."

"What's the matter, guard dog?" Mordred scoffed. "Don't tell me ya lost your nerve!"

"The hell I have! I like fighting my foes head on, not being jumped from the shadows by an assassin. That kind of crap gets boring, that's all."

"Whatever you say, blue boy."

"Oh ho, is that a challenge, bastard?!"

"Guys, enough," Ritsuka cut in before his servants got into a scuffle. "Let's try to kill more of our enemies than each, alright?"

"…Tch. Yeah, you're right, Master," Mordred conceded. "Just trying to lighten up this shitty atmosphere. Damn place is quieter than the aftermath of a battlefield."

"Yeah… it is."

"Don't worry, Master," Barghest said fiercely. "Whatever cowardly vermin is stalking us will be crushed before it has a chance to think about harming you."

"Thanks, Barghest. That means a lot." Ritsuka smiled at the Tam Lin before they headed into a new alleyway.

Tap!

The sudden sound crashed the silence as if it were a sledgehammer. Everyone froze, drawing weapons with a steely hiss that was only drowned out by the persistent new sound that drew closer. Unlike the sharp steps the Chaldeans made, this was slow and measured. A hypnotic meter that drew the attention of the wary outsiders from all else in this rotten city. Mash positioned herself in front of her senpai, planting her shield firmly down as if expecting an attack to shoot out of the unnatural fog, while Moriarty and Hokusai kept close behind their master. William jumped onto a nearby podium and readied his crossbow, ready to take the head off anything that came remotely close to the Chaldeans. Meanwhile Izo slipped into the shadows, his presence disappearing like a mere wisp of fog that shrouded the ward. But his master knew he was close by, merely biding his time on whether his blade would soon drink tonight. As for Mordred, Cu, and Barghest, they merely stood their ground, waiting to be the first to greet whoever was coming their way.

The sound was clearer now, allowing everyone to hear a sinister chiming along with the tapping sound. Each tap on the stone pavement echoing throughout the alleyway, no longer steady and measured but growing faster. No. Ritsuka realized quickly. It's still the same pace… it's just that there's more than one thing making that sound now. An omen, his mind echoed at the back of his head, but he thrust such thoughts to the side. Even if there were more, he would not back down now. No sooner than he steeled his resolve did a faint light cut through the fog and with it came an imposing figure.

At first glance, he would be forgiven for mistaking the creature for a man. Wearing a dusty gray overcoat, a wide brimmed hat that reached to his shoulders, and a great big bell around his neck, it was clear that he was a member of the local church. In one hand he held a great wooden cane nearly the size of himself and in his other hand was a lantern that glowed a strange pale light.

That's where the façade ended.

For the thing rose above all but Barghest in height and a ghastly white complexation that differed greatly from Robert's gray complexation. Unlike the good Samaritan's wrinkling skin, the figure's skin was unnaturally smooth with nary a crease or line on any exposed skin. As it strode forth, its muscles bulging visibly underneath the weathered clothing, the Chaldeans could see its cold, pitch-black eyes staring back at them.

Ritsuka shivered as the figure approached. Just the way the thing walked alerted the boy that this creature wasn't like Robert. No. It was a monster poorly imitating the ways of men.

No sooner did the thought cross the boy's mind did the figure stop in its tracks. It raised its cane and pointed directly at Ritsuka, groaning out a sound that certainly no man could ever make. Suddenly, three more clergymen marched out of the fog, rushing past the first with surprising speed despite their size. They didn't get far. The heavy thwang of William's crossbow filled the alley before a bolt struck into the closest clergyman's head. The second bolt took the next in the heart, before a third and fourth struck the rest similarly. The fight was over before it began… or at least, that's what the archer hoped.

Crimson fluid gushed out of the monsters' wounds, but they did not die. They groaned, but not in pain. It was a wretched sound; a gurgling bile of disgust and inhuman fervor that rose every hair on Ritsuka's body. Realizing his mistake, William reloaded his crossbow quickly, but Mordred and Barghest already rushed forth. Heaving their great swords, they struck hard and fast despite their heavy armor. One clergyman barely let out a groan just before Barghest's Galatine bisected him, splattering dark, crimson blood upon the cold pavement.

The other clergyman barely raised his cane in time to meet Mordred's charge. A harsh clack filled the air, but her strike didn't destroy the cane. Indeed, the thick wooden club managed to halt the legendary blade as if it were enchanted steel. Not that it mattered to Mordred. Smiling brazenly, she suddenly threw her full weight behind her the remainder of her strike. Before the clergyman could realize the severity of his mistake, his arms folded together as his bones shattered to dust. Not satisfied, Mordred reeled Clarent back before swiftly beheading her foe. The headless monster fell to the floor, his body twitching before falling forever still after a few short moments.

The remaining clergymen halted their assault, but they didn't flee. Unlike other infected, these creatures seemed to keep their wits. Cautiously they kept their distance, eyeing the Chaldeans with inhuman eyes. Suddenly, one of the clergymen twisted to face the mist that filled the alley, swinging his cane in a wide arc that would've caved in Izo's head if he hadn't hastily rolled out of the way.

"The hell!?" the assassin yelled. "How did you know I was there?!" The monstrous priest gave nothing but a scornful groan. Infuriated, Izo slowly crouched low before thrusting forward like the irritated viper. The clergyman raised his lantern at the rushing assassin, now glowing an ominous pale color, but staggered when dark paint splashed across his face. That momentarily distraction by Hokusai was all Izo needed to impale the fiend, cutting open his stomach viciously, before yanking out the blade with a geyser of blood.

As the clergyman fell still the sole survivor calmly removed the crossbow bolt from its head. It groaned the same alien sounds as before, but now shriller and urgent.

"Realized you royally screwed up messing with us, huh?" Cu Chuliann asked cockily, slowly hefting his spear over his shoulder as he strode over to the survivor. "Well, too bad. You started this little spat, but I'm sure as hell going to end it!"

The clergyman moaned in response, earning another scoff from the knight. However, his hand suddenly dipped into its coat before pulling out a whistle. Sensing what it intended to do, Cu leaped at the monstrous priest, thrusting Gae Bolg forth like a red bolt of lightning. He should've done so sooner.

Pressing the whistle to his pale lips, the clergyman's shrill call echoed throughout the alleyway and into the misty streets of the Cathedral Ward. It only lasted a few seconds before Gae Bolg impaled his skull right, splattering gray matter and blood everywhere. Grunting in annoyance, the lancer flicked his wrist contemptuously, shattering the remains of the skull and removing the stains from his spear in one smooth motion. He then swiftly turned, poised and ready for any reinforcements that surely would be pouring into the alleyway any second now.

However, nothing came.

The air was still, even the mist didn't move as it was waiting for something to happen. But still nothing came forth even as time slowly dragged on.

"Well… That was a rip off," Hokusai muttered in annoyance. "Kinda was expecting a whole army of mooks to pop out of ta mists like a horror story."

"It is pretty anticlimactic," Moriarty agreed, "but better a quiet outcome than being swarmed like in Central Yharnam."

"You said it, Professor," Ritsuka said heartedly. "Especially with those things being quite durable."

"Not enough apparently," Mordred cut in as she kicked one of the ruined bodies in annoyance. "Bastards were a little tough, but nothing we can handle."

"True, but the fact that they survived my first attack is concerning," William said as he carefully knelt over the bodies to examine it closely. "These infected aren't like those in Central Yharnam. I don't see any fur or claws… and their limbs look relatively normal."

"Normal? The hell are you talking about?"

"Aside from their size and pale flesh, their bodies are relatively normal to a human's. Of course, I could be wrong and they are Fay creatures like those from Fairy Britain."

"No," Barghest said with a sharp sniff. "They aren't Fairies… but they aren't human either… They smell… they smell utterly foul. Worse than the trash and corpses I saw along the way here. I don't know what it is, but these… things are most certainly not like other infected."

Ritsuka frowned at Barghest, but it wasn't in disappointment. A gnawing unease crept its way up his spine the more he learned of these creatures. If they weren't human like the infected, then what were they?

"Are you alright, Hokusai?" Mash's question cut through Ritsuka's unease. Turning around, he saw Hokusai holding one of the clergymen's lanterns in her hands, her octopus-father clinging to it curiously.

"Hmm? Uh, yes. Could've swore I saw something funny, but now that I get a look at this lantern, it must've been imagin' things."

"What did you think you saw?" Ritsuka asked.

"Well… I thought I saw eyeballs all over this lantern." She held up the lantern for all to see, but it looked completely ordinary.

"I think your father's imagination is getting you, octopus," Cu laughed.

"Hey, that's Oto-san, not me! Ah, whatever." She threw down the lantern. "Let's just get—"

Clank… Clank…! CLANK!

Once again, the Chaldeans went silent as a new sound interrupted them. A cold sound. A heavy sound as the stone alleyway trembled with every clank that came their way. Unlike before, however, the Chaldeans didn't have to wait long for the creature the clergymen summoned to make its appearance.

Rising out of the mists like a great, pale whale till it towered over the expertly carved statues and buildings of the cathedral ward was a giant. Its emaciated flesh was covered in dirty rags that barely hit the pronounced bone barely kept together by its leathery skin. Its face was similarly hallowed and pointed while coal-black pits sunk into its skull where its eyes should've been. A hat, much like the clergyman's, shadowed its head while a greater bell hung along its neck, clanging harmoniously as it approached with two more giants following close behind. However, it was the cruel axes clutched tightly in their boney grips that held the Chaldean's attention. As tall as they were, the blades were thick and scarred with many nicks, but still sharp as bloody, fresh gore lingered on their edges. The perfect weapon for an executioner.

The trio of giants stopped before the alleyway, their soulless gazes lingering on the Chaldeans as if they were sinners to be cleansed. Then one raised its axe and hollowed out a sound that shook Ritsuka to his core. If the groans of the priests were of disgust and hatred, this creature's cry was sorrowful and filled with indescribable pain. Pain that could only be alleviated by the death of the outsiders that dared to profane the realm of their sacred blood.

Author's Note: Merry (Late) Christmas everyone! Sorry that I couldn't get this to you guys any sooner. I kind of had a rather slow year for writing, even though I had was getting all kind of new ideas. Just didn't feel like writing for anything for a while, be it for my books that I'm working on or these fanfiction stories. I wouldn't say this was burnout creeping it, just felt I needed some time to other stuff. That said, I wanted to get one last chapter for something, anything really, before the year of comes to a close. So here is my belated Christmas present to you all! Hope you like it.

Now, I won't spoil anything, but I want to say that the group of servants I chose for reinforcements was chosen with purpose. I know having this many servants in one mission can be seen as overpowered, but trust me when I say appearances are deceiving and strength does not always decide the course of fate. Also, don't worry about the other servants on the Border. They will get some screen time later, but they won't have as much as those who appear in Yharnam. I can't really say anything else without delving into spoiler territory, so I'll close with saying that I'm trying to give an everyone appropiate roles and screen time without breaking the pacing or power structure of both Bloodborne and FGO.

One last thing. Don't worry about the Hunter being missing from the story again. He'll be back in the story in about 2-3 chapters. I wanted to focus on how Ritsuka and his servants are forced to deal with the horrors and mysteries of Yharnam before the resident seasoned veteran that is the Hunter shows up again. As to how they will interact with each other after the rather blood affair with Abigail... well, you'll just have to wait and see.

Until then, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and have a happy new year!

Sincerely, Count Chaos