Dreamer of the Eternal Hunt

by Count chaos

An old nightmare stirs, calling forth a world long forsaken. Beckoning the last bastion of humanity, Chaldea, to a land tainted by blood. Mysteries shroud every path, tempting Abigail Williams and Ritsuka Fujimaru with secrets beyond the veil of reality. But such secrets are better left alone. Nor are they without a price to be paid. For the Eternal Hunt must always have a dreamer.

7. Old Yharnam

I don't own Bloodborne or Fate Grand Order. All properties belong to respective owners.

Please enjoy this story to your hearts' content.

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Chapter 7: Old Yharnam

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Rising over the jagged edges of the mountain range like a bloated whale, the sun hung over Yharnam once more. Yet, its sickly, yellow rays burned away the fog of the Cathedral Ward only a trifle and offered no warmth. What little light that managed to pierce through those gray curls illuminated the mosaic statues that littered the ward; some stoic as the stone they were carved from, others weeping at the promise of another sunrise. However, this dreadful morning was far more preferable than suffering a single night lost in the cursed city.

Such thoughts swirled in Ritsuka's mind more than once as he traveled down one of the many cramped alleys that made up the labyrinth of the city. Not helping was a slight breeze that carried down the mountain's chill, causing him to shudder every now and then. But, if he was being honest with himself, Ritsuka honestly preferred that chill over the unsettling sensation of being watched the night prior. Thankfully that didn't seem to be the case this morning. No sooner did he leave the chapel did he try to find anything resembling the unseen watchers, but there was nothing. No one was watching him, nor anything following him as he got further and further away from the sanctuary. Whoever, or whatever, was stalking him must've given up.

But for how long? he wondered quietly to himself. So focused on his thoughts, he missed a step along the alleyway, sending him stumbling forward. The only thing that prevented him from having his face smash into the cold cobblestone like a pancake was a gentle but firm hand that grasped his shoulder at the last second before straightening him up with a quick jerk.

"Are you alright, deary?" Raikou asked, her hands immediately patting him down for any signs of injuries. Behind her the rest of the assembled servants had also had various degrees of concern on their faces. Mash and Habetrot being the most worried, of course, while Mordred and William Tell instead kept their eyes peeled for anything that moved in the alley. Moriarty raised a thoughtful brow at his master's misstep and Circe frowned, unsure what to make of the sudden clumsiness. It was a fairly balanced party to investigate further into the plague-ridden city. It would've been larger with how everyone tried to volunteer for the mission at once, but Goredolf put his foot down hard at the absurd idea. After which, Ritsuka carefully chose his servants before bidding the chapel residents farewell, promising to return before nightfall this time.

"I'm fine, Raikou," Ritsuka said, a bit of red dusting his cheeks as the motherly servant continued to inspect him thoroughly. "Just lost in thought."

"Oh ho?" Moriarty huffed in intrigue. "Care to share what's on your mind, my boy?"

"Well, it's nothing really. Just wondering what was spying on us last night… and when it'll try again."

"Ah. I confess that I contemplated such a line of thinking for a time last night. Almost as much as the deer hunter I imagine, but quite honestly there is too little to go on to give a proper answer to this equation. With that in mind, I believe it is best if you shelved this mystery for another time."

"You're right, but… I guess I'm just a little uneasy after last night. Can't help thinking we're being stalked by something dangerous."

"An understandable worry, but not an immediate one. When dealing with uncertainty, it's best to focus on present problems that you can finish before coming back to those same 'what ifs' that previously stumped you." The criminal mastermind pressed back his glasses proudly. "That was the best advice I could give my students back when I was still an ordinary professor. Needless to say, those that took it got the highest of academic honors in the whole university every year."

"He's got a point," William Tell agreed. "Best to focus on the monsters you can see rather than the ones you can't. Otherwise, a single misstep is the least of your worries."

"Besides, we'll crack the head of the first crazy bastard that tries to backstab you," Mordred smiled confidently.

"She's right, senpai," Mash agreed wholeheartedly. "We may not know what to expect the deeper we go, but we'll make sure nothing bad happens to you!"

Ritsuka smiled at his servants' kind words, especially his kouhai's. They were right, of course. Best to focus on getting to that church Rob described than worry about something that wasn't even bothering them at the moment.

"Right. Let's go then."

A tolling of a bell followed after the Chaldeans as they continued onward, its hollow chime adding to the chill of the morning. If this was any other city, the bell's tolling would herald the morning bustle of townsfolk going about their day to day. But there was no such normalcy to be found. No opening of the markets. No traffic of good folk flooding the streets. No ringing of steel as it was being transformed into all kinds of tools by blacksmiths. Everything looked and felt abandoned as a graveyard. And yet, there were still signs of life. Small piles of what looked like donations—some strange silver-looking coins with a queenly head stamped on them—placed reverently at the feet of the statues littering each alleyway they passed by. If they were prayers for salvation, none answered the desperate pleas.

Occasionally Ritsuka heard a strange sound, but every time he tried to pinpoint where it came from it seemed to disappear. At first, he thought it was simply the whispering wind, but after a while, he wasn't so sure. It sounded too deep… like moaning. An unpleasant thought, and one that wasn't solely his. Some of his friends scowled at the shadows as if they were vipers, while others wondered if there was someone injured not too far away. Determined to find out the truth of the matter, William Tell went on to scout ahead.

Exiting the alley, the Chaldeans reached a winding staircase that led to a balcony overseeing the city. The fog was still present in the city, but it thinned the further it got away from the Cathedral Ward, allowing the outsiders to see the cramped streets of Central Yharnam. They were too far away to see the city gates, but Ritsuka could make out, if barely, the outline of the mountain range where the Storm Border took refuge. With the sun hanging high in the sky, the morning clouds and lingering fog bled an extraordinary hue of red and orange. It was an unforgettable sight, but one that was eerie like the city itself.

Pulling away from the balcony's ledge, the Chaldeans continued down the staircase. Waiting for them at the very end was William Tell, carefully hiding in the shadows of a courtyard that expanded out from the staircase. "Carefully now…" he whispered as he motioned his compatriots over, but his eyes never left the courtyard. It didn't take Ritsuka long to realize why as he saw several huntsmen standing by fresh fires that littered everywhere. At their sides were some of the biggest dogs Ritsuka had ever seen. They were scrawny things, with fur that was mottled and dirty, as if it wallowed in filth for weeks without end. However, a yawn from one of the beasts revealed their jaws were unnaturally wide, almost dislocating completely off their skulls, and inside were rows upon rows of dirty, knife-like teeth. The huntsmen didn't seem to care about the unnatural mutations of their pets, if they noticed at all.

It was a concerning sight to be sure, but looking beyond it, none could mistake the modestly sized church standing behind the huntsmen with its massive doors standing ominously open. Ritsuka sucked in a breath, but he didn't rush in to see if there were any survivors. "How many?" he quietly asked William Tell.

"About a dozen," the seasoned hunter replied. "I saw a few patrolling around the corner, so it's safe to assume they got a few more in the back."

"Any of them head inside?" Mash asked, concern leaking into her voice as she stood beside her senpai.

"None. As far as I can see, they seem content to stick outside."

Ritsuka frowned at that, but didn't give voice to the growing possibility that crawled inside his skull. "Is there a way around them?"

"No. The courtyard is too closed in to get around them, especially with those dogs standing guard. And with the patrols they got going, it'll be unlikely to hide a group of our size for long."

Ritsuka considered his servant's words for a moment before coming to a decision. "Alright. We have no choice but to put them down. Moriarty, I need you to—"

BANG!

Everything blurred before Ritsuka as his servants suddenly yanked him back to safety before the rabid mob got another shot off. Only, the bullet never came their way. In fact, the mob was confused as to who fired in the first place.

Suddenly, two more shots went off in rapid succession before a bloodied huntsman was blasted off a high walled terrace on the right side of the church. A gray blur followed after the body, dropping like a furious boulder before impaling the huntsman through the heart with a sword. With one last twist of his blade, the stranger quickly got up to reveal himself to the mob. He was a fairly tall man, with dark blonde hair pulled to one side of his head while sideburns trailed down his jawline. Blood stained his gray cloak, narrowly missing a strange symbol stitched into the chest of his armor, a line with a circle at the bottom end, but the man paid it no mind. Face set in steely determination, he drew his blade aloft in his right hand before charging forward.

The mob howled curses, but their dogs were already rushing forward to meet the intruder, snarling rabidly with all the viciousness of a beast long gone rabid. Once they were a dozen paces away, one of the dogs leapt at the man, its face nearly splitting in two to reveal its vicious maw. Quick as it was, the man was quicker.

Swiftly jutting his left hand out of his cloak, the man didn't hesitate before blowing the dog's head off with a strange-looking two-barrel pistol. Before the now headless dog hit the ground, the grey clad man pivoted to the left and shot another dog that tried to blindside him. A sharp whine escaped the mad thing's snout, but the man didn't give it another glance before rushing the stunned huntsmen.

Blade flickering brightly in the firelight, the stranger sliced open the belly of one of the huntsmen before he had a chance to draw his weapon. He moved on to another, but the madman managed to raise his rifle unlike his dying compatriot. But once again, the stranger surprised the mob with how quick he was. Just as the huntsman pulled the trigger, the stranger swiftly swung his sword up and hit the bottom of the gun, sending the bullet screaming into the air. With a single quick step, the stranger closed the distance and impaled the plague ridden huntsman through the chest. He then jumped back from the dying fellow, narrowly avoiding several pitchforks and cleavers that would've torn him apart if he was second slower. Indeed, some of the rusty weapons missed their mark and impaled themselves gruesomely through their fallen compatriot, silencing whatever gurgle that bubbled up his lungs.

More and more huntsmen poured into the courtyard from behind the church, but the stranger didn't seem bothered being outnumbered. The mob rushed forward, howling madly with all the fury that the plague burned into them. Just when they were ten paces away, however, the stranger did something unexpected. He sheathed his sword back into a scabbard on his back with a very audible click.

Ritsuka couldn't believe what he just saw. Was the man mad like the mob he fought? Just when he was about to give an order to save the man, the stranger suddenly yanked the handle of his sword with both hands and swung with all his might. A thick blur smashed into four of the closest huntsmen, crushing bone like cardboard and hurling the poor fools back into the mob. Ritsuka blinked at the sight before his eyes widened as he took in what killed the mad men.

In the stranger's hands was a great hammer.

As almost as tall as the man himself, its square face head was thicker than the stranger's skull and had some kind of inscription on one side. Ritsuka couldn't believe how the stranger managed to lug that thing around, let alone hide it underneath his cloak. Then it came to him. The reason why he didn't notice the hammer before was because it was without its handle earlier—the very same sword the stranger used only moments ago.

Pushing off their ruined comrades, the mob got up from the floor, but they didn't seem too keen on resuming their charge. Spreading out, they tried to flank the stranger with their remaining numbers. Seeing their deception for what it was, the man rushed forward, intent on ending this once again for all.

Despite the huge hammer in his hands, the man was still light on his feet, quickly closing the distance between himself and his prey in two great strides. Swinging the hammer mightily, the square head took one of the huntsmen in the chest, crushing the rib cage into powder as the madman was sent flying. It was an incredible sight as the strange man went after his foes with righteous vigor, but Ritsuka noticed something odd about the way the huntsmen moved. Some tried to foolishly confront their aggressor, while others instead pulled back instead of properly flanking them. This confused the young master before his eyes widened in horror as several huntsmen pulled out familiar looking bottles with muddled liquid and a dirty rag sticking out of it.

Enough was enough.

"William!" He shouted, but the archer was already taking aim. Without hesitation, his bolt took the throat of one of the remaining huntsmen just as the bottle's cloth was lit. Gurgling in surprise, the huntsman dropped the Molotov cocktail, cracking it open and setting himself alight. Eyes wide in sheer panic even as blood filled his throat, the madman desperately tried to put out the hellish flames, but it was all for not. Soon he was consumed by the fire, sending him tumbling to the floor, kicking weakly as his skin charred and blood boiled.

The remaining huntsmen turned away from the stranger, shocked oaths leaving their lips as they took in the burning corpse of their comrade before noticing the Chaldeans charging right at them. The stranger wasn't as nearly as stunned as his prey. Indeed, he didn't even hesitate before crushing another huntsman with his hammer. Their numbers dwindling and surrounded by superior foes, the infected mob fought like cornered beasts. Despite their ferocity, it proved all for naught. One by one, they were cut down. By hammer or sword, none managed to put up any significant resistance to the outsiders' overwhelming power. Those that tried to flee were tripped up by subtle magic from Circe—a precaution the witch decided as to not frighten any sane survivors like the stranger they were helping—before William's bolts found their hearts. In less than a few minutes, the courtyard was all but silent save for the slight heavy breathing from the stranger who stood before the Chaldeans. Ritsuka and Mash soon followed after their friends, earning the first surprised look from the stranger they saved.

With the last of his foes no more, the stranger swept his hammer onto his back and with a sharp click, unlocked his sword. "My thanks for the help," he said, his voice friendly and calm even as he casually sheathed his sword into the scabbard at his side. "Tis a rare thing to come to the aid of strangers, especially as of late, but not unwelcome." He then eyed each servant curiously, lingering only for a moment on Ritsuka and Mash, before allowing a warm smile to touch his lips. "You're beast hunters, aren't you?"

Ritsuka wasn't too surprised by the fellow's assumption—his servants did leave such a powerful impression. "Sort of," he said, "but we couldn't just let you face that mob alone."

The stranger's smile grew bigger at the young master's answer before he let out a delighted laugh. "I knew it, that's precisely how I started out! Of course, I was only a few scant years older than yourself, young man. But in these trying times, we can't be picky with taking up a holy trade at any age now, can we?" He then blinked before giving a polite bow. "Oh, beg pardon. You may call me Alfred. Protégé of Master Logarius of the Healing Church, hunter of Vilebloods."

Vilebloods? Ritsuka wondered. What could have earned such a dark label? For a moment he thought it was for the mutant clergymen and giants he encountered the night prior, but he doubted it. It was too specific of a label for such creatures, especially if they were once part of the Healing Church. Questions for later. Instead, Ritsuka focused on the man himself. A hunter. After the encounter with the one in the tomb below Oedon Chapel, the young man was surprised how ordinary Alfred looked. He looked like a knight from Proper Human History, almost like the Templars or the Teutonic Order.

Clearing his throat, and his thoughts, Ritsuka introduced himself and his friends to Alfred. The church hunter took their introductions in stride, only raising an eyebrow when his eyes fell upon Circe. She had a glamour on to make her appear more human to strangers, but her choice of clothing still must've been a shock to the churchman. Thankfully, he said nothing and allowed the others to finish their introductions. The only one not accounted for was Habetrot, who wisely turned into spirit form so as to not arouse any misunderstanding with the churchman. After all, they could only get away with so much strangeness before someone gets the wrong idea.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Alfred said after introductions were finished. "I must say, it's a rare sight to meet so many outsiders in Yharnam after so long. On behalf of the Healing Church, I bid you welcome to our city… Although, I wish it were under more fortunate circumstances than the blight that has fallen upon this holy land."

"We had an interesting greeting by the time we arrived in your fair city, Mr. Alfred," Moriarty said smoothly. "But nothing we can't handle. After all, we wouldn't be much hunters if we couldn't best simple beasts."

"Quite so!" Alfred beamed at Moriarty. "Outsiders though you may be, it is a pleasure to meet skilled hunters who can lay low the beasts and the unfortunate madmen. Especially when they befoul sacred land like this here church. So, what say you? Our prey may differ, but we are hunters. Why not cooperate, and discuss things we've learned?"

Ritsuka couldn't believe his good fortune. Alfred seemed like a decent fellow and he was the first official church member they ran into since entering the city that wasn't some abomination. Of course, they just met the man, so it was too early to say where his convictions lay. However, Alfred did fight those infected huntsmen by himself, so it was clear he wasn't insane like so many in Yharnam. With that in mind, Ritsuka made his decision. "We'd be honored to cooperate with you."

"Oh-hoh! Very good, very good indeed!" Alfred then dipped a hand into his pocket, causing some of the servants to tense at the sudden action, before pulling some kind of strange, oily paper. "Take this, to celebrate our acquaintance."

"Eh? What the hell is that?" Mordred asked bluntly.

"Manners, dear," Raikou chided softly, to which the knight scoffed at her like a teenager going through her rebellious phase.

Alfred gave a chuckle at the interaction, but nonetheless answered the question. "This here is a special kind of paper that is perfect for dealing with beasts. It is nothing on its own, but the oil and special powder mixed in produces fire. Just apply it to your weapons and it will set it alight in an instance. Perfect for dealing with beasts, wouldn't you say?"

"A bit crude, but not without its merits," William Tell noted as he took the papers carefully. "I take it that the beasts here have a natural fear of fire?"

The churchman nodded at the grizzled archer. "Correct. All beasts have a natural fear of fire and will be less likely to confront you, unless they're desperate, of course. Even then, beasts are still weak to flame and will do anything to avoid it. I'm surprised you didn't know that, considering you have the look of an experienced hunter."

"I usually don't use such extreme tactics for my hunts. Too… messy for my tastes. I like to be more precise with what I hunt. To put down my prey quickly and effectively with every advantage I can muster instead of solely sticking to one thing."

"Ah-hah! I understand completely, Mr. Tell. Master Logarius always said that knowledge and understanding are the best weapons against the wicked who prey upon the innocent." Alfred's face brightened as a thought occurred to him. "There must be oodles for us to share. Go on, just tell me what piques your interest."

Seizing his opportunity, Ritsuka took a breath before asking, "What can you tell us about the Healing Church."

"Ah, a good subject to start with." Alfred then cleared his throat before beginning his lecture. "To begin, the Healing Church is the fountainhead of blood healing. A sacred art founded by the church's first Vicar generations ago, one that could, among other things, save those on death's door with only a single blood transfusion. A true miracle that led Yharnam into a golden age. To the point that many pilgrims have come far and wide for healing, or at the very least to witness this sacred rite for themselves. Of course, as the church, and therefore Yharnam, grew prosperous, so did the use of blood healing expand beyond being solely used in sacred practices. Doctors have been known to employ blood healing arts in their hospitals for anyone not inclined to join the congregation of the Healing Church. Some consider this heresy, a distillation of the good blood, but I'm not one of them."

"Really?" Circe asked, her eyes half lidded as she casually leaned against her staff disbelievingly. "Sacred blood that heals those on the verge of death? Forgive me for being blunt, but I doubt it's that simple. Most of the stories I read usually have a bit more, shall we say, consequences dealing with any kind of holy blood."

"Circe!" Ritsuka chided sternly, but stopped when he heard a good-hearted chuckle escape Alfred's lips.

"It's alright, young Ritsuka. Once, long ago, I too shared such skepticism as Miss Circe here, that is until I witnessed the miracle itself. Well, I'm a simple hunter, quite unfamiliar with the ins and outs of the institution. So, I can't say for certain how blood arts work beyond witnessing the end result. But I have heard that the holy medium of blood healing is venerated in the main cathedral. And that councillors of the old church reside in the high stratum of the Cathedral Ward. However, I'm told by Master Logarius that her holiness Amelia, the current Vicar of the Healing Church, has resided in the main cathedral since the plague first appeared in Yharnam. No doubt, doing all she can to fight the infection and restore the good blood to its rightful purity among the populace.

"If you seek blood healing, and the church is willing, you should pay them a visit. I would guide you there myself, but sadly, my current hunt has me heading in the opposite direction. I can give you directions if you like."

"That would be really helpful, Mr. Alfred," Mash said gratefully. "After our current business is done here, we plan to go see the main cathedral at some point."

"Oh? I don't mean to pry, but what business do you have with this church?"

"We're here to check up on the people at this church," Ritsuka answered. He saw no harm in telling Alfred the truth, as it didn't reveal anything about Chaldea and the church hunter seemed like a good man at heart. "A good Samaritan from the Oedon Chapel was worried about the survivors from Old Yharnam who took refuge here, so he wanted us to see if they were alright."

Alfred was quiet by the time Ritsuka was finished, his brow furrowed and his eyes stared off into the distance. "…Oedon Chapel, eh? I didn't realize anyone was still there after the plague reached the Cathedral Ward." He then shook his head before turning his attention to the curious outsiders. "Apologies for my musing, that was rude of me. As for the survivors, I'm sorry to say but they are gone."

A stiff tightness dug into Ritsuka's stomach, but deep down, he had a feeling that it was a likely possibility, especially when he spotted the mob outside the church. "I see… I only hoped they didn't suffer for long."

"Hmm? Oh, beg pardon, but I didn't mean the survivors are dead."

"What?"

"Forgive my poor choice of words, but the survivors are alive… or at least, it's possible they are alive. You see, when I came to pray at one of the monuments near this church, I also checked on the survivors. But the good folk were nowhere to be found. No bodies, no blood. It's like they were never here to begin with."

Alfred's admission caused a small frown to form on Ritsuka's lips. Before he could question the church hunter further, Mordred beat him to it. "So… what? There were plenty of these deadbeats hanging around," she kicked one of the mangled corpses lightly, "maybe they kidnapped the poor bastards?"

"Considering the fact that the infected is more interested in lynching anything that isn't part of their merry band of lunatics, that is a very unlikely possibility," Moriarty said in a matter-of-fact tone that earned him angry scowl from the blond knight.

"Mr. Moriarty is quite right, I'm afraid," Alfred agreed solemnly. "The infected wouldn't hesitate killing the survivors. And the survivors wouldn't have gotten far without a proper escort. A most perplexing mystery, but one, I'm afraid, I can't pursue at this time. If I wasn't currently busy with tracking down my current target, I would surely spend the better part of the day trying to find the survivors. Or at the very least, discover their ultimate fate."

"You mentioned your prey before," Raikou asked curiously. "What exactly are Vilebloods?"

For the first time since their meeting, a frown touched Alfred's lips, as if the very subject brought a sour taste to his tongue. "Ah, them… Well, I see no harm in telling a bit about the cursed fiends whom I hunt. Only a little mind you, as I don't wish to involve you good folk unnecessarily into one of the oldest feuds in the Church's history. Forgive me, but it's a burden I must bear alone."

"It's alright, Alfred," Ritsuka said. "If anything, I'm sorry for prying into a sensitive subject."

"You have nothing to apologize for, my boy. As for the Vilebloods… To put it simply, they are not beasts born of the plague. Rather, they are fiends of the most awful kind. Once, long ago, a scholar betrayed his fellows at the college of Byrgenwerth and brought forbidden blood back with him to Cainhurst Castle. It was there that the first of the inhuman Vilebloods was born. The Vilebloods are fiendish creatures who threaten the purity of the Church's blood healing. The ruler of these curs is still alive today, sending her vile agents into Yharnam to prey upon the unfortunate survivors even as beasts infest the land… And so, in honor of my master's wishes, I hunt down the Vilebloods and search for the path that leads to Cainhurst Castle."

The sheer venom in the man's voice surprised Ritsuka. Gone was the optimism that lit the man's face at the prospect of jolly cooperation. Now he saw something dark, something cold underneath that upbeat surface. An intensity that reminded Ritsuka of that of the same blood red gaze of the Hunter he encountered under Oedon Chapel. Only this wasn't the same killing intent. This was holy fury. Such hatred… What did they do to you, Alfred? Ritsuka wasn't certain he wanted to know the answer.

"How wretched," Raikou said sympathetically. "Such vile predations during times of crisis, taking advantage of those who can't defend themselves, are nothing short of evil. I can see why you hate them so, Sir Alfred."

Alfred held the mystic slayer's gaze for a moment, his eyes were still cold but there was an understanding there. "Thank you, truly. It is good to find common ground after hunting these fiends for so long. But I must caution you if you seek them out. Their strength far outmatches any beast in this city and only the greatest of hunters can match their wickedness." Alfred then let out a tired breath before his lively smile returned in an instance. "Ah, but enough about such dour subjects. Surely there must be other subjects far more interesting than a church hunter's hunt. Go on, ask away."

The insistence in the man's voice was clear as day to Ritsuka. Not one to risk the man's mood to sour again, he instead turned to a different subject that stuck to his head since the night prior. And since Alfred brought it up earlier, Ritsuka would be remiss not to take advantage of it. "What can you tell us about Byrgenwerth?"

"Now that is an interesting subject. Byrgenwerth is an old place of learning, and the tomb of the gods, carved out below Yharnam, should be familiar to every hunter."

"The tomb of the gods?" Moriarty repeated, barely managing to keep the surprise off his face. He fared better than his companions, their faces ranging from surprise to shock at the revelation. This seemed to amuse the church hunter.

"Ah, I forgot that you are outsiders. Well, Yharnam is built upon tombs that are once said to house ancient gods. Sadly, I don't know much other than their existence. Only the highest ranked members of the church would be allowed to know the holiest of our lore. However, I can say what I know for certainty. Once, a group of young Byrgenwerth scholars discovered a holy medium deep within one of the tombs. This led to the founding of the Healing Church, and the establishment of blood healing. In this sense, everything sacred in Yharnam can be traced back to Byrgenwerth. But today… The college lies deep within a tangled wood, abandoned and decrepit. And furthermore, the Healing Church has declared Byrgenwerth forbidden ground. It's unclear how many of its scholars remain alive, but only they know the path and the password that leads to their place of study."

Quietness fell upon the courtyard as the Chaldeans digested the church hunter's revelation. A tomb of the gods. It wasn't unheard of for cities, let alone countries, to build their civilizations upon such holy sites in Proper Human History. Yet this proposed a complication, a big one if the gnawing feeling in Ritsuka's gut was anything to go by. After all, his experiences throughout Singularities and Lostbelts that dealt with such holy ruins were never easy. Nor were they ever simple.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Ritsuka. It was a long shot, but after working with the greatest detective in history, he couldn't dismiss it. "Do you know of any rituals from Byrgenwerth, Alfred?"

"Rituals from Byrgenwerth?" Alfred repeated in puzzlement. "Hmm… I'm sorry, I don't know of such sacred rites. More than likely, one of the higher church members or Vicar Amelia herself would know such knowledge. Why do you ask?"

"Just a little tidbit we came across when we first arrived in Yharnam, nothing more," Moriarty answered quickly before his master could open his mouth, shushing the young man with a single sharp look from the corner of his eye. "We didn't know what to make of it, but since you've been a most helpful member of the church, we felt you could illuminate us."

Alfred gave the silver haired professor an understanding nod. "I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful."

"That's quite alright, my good man. You have already been a fountain of information, so don't be discouraged by us." The professor then blinked before pushing his glasses back in a very noticeable matter. "Oh goodness. I almost forgot to ask something of vital import—my old age must be getting to me. But have you happened to run into any outsiders besides us, Mr. Alfred? We ran into one earlier, a good fellow who helped us out of some trouble, but he left in such a hurry that we didn't get a chance to offer any thanks."

"Hmm… I haven't seen any other outsiders today, besides your merry band, of course. What does your friend look like?"

"He's quite a tall fellow, not overly built, but clearly a fighter. Wore a black coat and tricorn hat, but we couldn't make out much of his face due to a gray scarf covering his mouth. However, I did notice he had red eyes. Are you sure you haven't seen this fellow?"

It took some effort for Ritsuka not to turn around to stare incredulously at Moriarty. For his part, the silver haired professor merely continued smiling innocently at the church hunter. But the slightest of curls at the professor's lips revealed the wicked cunning the young man came to know so well.

"I'm sorry, but he doesn't ring any bells. He sounds like a good fellow though, if he came to help you."

"Indeed. Well, it was worth asking. If you ever see him, tell him that we Chaldeans are more than willing to thank him in person at the Oedon Chapel."

"I'll be sure to do just that if I ever see him." Suddenly, a church bell ranged in the distance and Alfred looked up at the misty sky in surprise. "Goodness, I didn't realize how quick the day was passing by." He returned his gaze back to the Chaldeans. "I apologize for my abruptness, but I must be off. I need to continue my hunt while there's still daylight."

"No need to be sorry, Alfred," William said. "We delayed you long enough as is. Best be off before your hunt's trail goes cold."

"Yeah!" Ritsuka agreed. "And if you need a place to stay, we set up a sanctuary at the Chapel."

Alfred gave the Chaldeans a warm smile. "Ah-hah, I think I shall take you up on that offer some time later. Thank you for the riveting conversation, nonetheless." He then pulled out a scrap of parchment and a pen before writing a quick scribble. Once he was done, he handed it to Ritsuka. "As promised, here are the directions to get to the Grand Cathedral of the Healing Church. I'll admit that I wrote down the directions mostly from old memories, so it might not be the safest route to reach the holy seat, let alone available any longer. But it should point you in the right direction at the very least.

"Now I bid thee farewell, it has been a pleasure. May the good blood guide your way." Giving the Chaldeans one last bow, Alfred then straightened before walking past them and up the staircase to the upper terraces of the Cathedral Ward.

"You sure inviting him to the chapel was a good idea?" Mordred questioned.

"Mordred…" Ritsuka started, but the saber gave him a bland shrug.

"Just saying. Nice guys like him always are the type who will backstab you with a hatchet when you least expect it."

"I think you've been watching too many horror movies lately."

"More like she's been hanging out with Jekyll again," William Tell said, allowing an amused smirk to touch his lips as he pulled out a cigarette from one of his many pouches.

"Hey! If you want to identify a serial killer, then you talk to one. Case in point, that beanpole gives good advice on the subject matter."

"I imagine that Dr. Jekyll has plenty of say about wicked men hiding by smiling masks," Moriarty chuckled, before his expression hardened for a moment. "But she has a point. Alfred seems like a decent fellow, but inviting him to the chapel was a bit premature, Ritsuka."

Ritsuka gave a knowing nod, but he didn't regret his decision. "Be that as it may, I can't simply turn a blind eye."

Moriarty eyed him for a moment before his lips quirked back into a smile. "You never could. At any rate, Alfred did give a few important clues." A mischievous twinkle suddenly touched his eyes. "Heh. It'll be nice to get a leg up on that deer hunter for once."

Ritsuka chuckled at the comment before turning his attention to the church. Alfred's words still rung in his head, but he couldn't back away now. He made a promise to Rob after all. Without a word, he headed towards the church with his servants quickly following behind.

The interior of the church was dark save for the ray of light pouring in from the doorway. Just enough for the Chaldeans to make out the familiar holy mosaics lining the walls and a ladder that led up to a second floor where a beautiful statue of a woman holding a babe overlooked the main whole room. Yet it was the empty makeshift beds and medical equipment encircled around what looked like a sarcophagus that held the young Master's attention.

After his servants made sure the church was safe, Ritsuka went inside, immediately drifting to one of the empty beds. Bloodstained bandages lay scattered across the bed, but aside from being dirty, there was nothing out of the ordinary with it. No signs of struggle, nothing torn up, and nothing was a mess. Indeed, aside from the scattered bandages, everything was organized in an orderly manner. Ready to be used efficiently and effectively for at least twenty or more people.

"Looks like Sir Alfred was telling the truth," Raikou commented as she examined another empty bed, one that was much smaller than the rest. "They're all gone… and not by force either."

"Yeah, but where did they go?" Mordred questioned, squinting suspiciously at the entrance. "I doubt they were crazy enough to risk attracting the lunatics outside."

"The huntsmen certainly didn't break in," Willaim noted critically. "I checked each door's lock and every one of them was intact. And since there's no sign of any struggle, we must conclude they all left of their own accord."

"But why?" Mash questioned. "If the church was secure, then why risk leaving?"

"To answer the why, my dear, we must first answer the how," Moriarty said. He scanned the room critically, occasionally examining an odd nicknack before moving to another in rapid succession. "Let us assume for the moment that the survivors wanted to leave for whatever reason, how would they do that? The doors are locked and madmen roam the streets."

"Maybe they acted like cats and escaped from the roof," Habetrot proposed as she phased back into her material form.

"Interesting theory, but doubtful. From the medical supplies and beds, there were plenty of injured or sick among the survivors. Making it to the rooftop can be tedious at best and treacherous at worst; making it to the roof with every single injured survivor without a single accident is mathematically impossible."

"Then what do you propose, Mr. Know-it-all?" Circe asked in annoyance.

The Professor pushed back his glasses before allowing a twisted smirk to touch his lips. "I've been considering this ever since we entered Yharnam, but the city's cramped and maze-like architecture allows for rather unique opportunities for, shall we say, shortcuts."

"Oh! Like secret passages?" Mash immediately perked up in excitement.

"Precisely, my dear. It's the only logical conclusion, especially with the little detours we encountered on our way to the Chapel. Combined with the many levels of Yharnam built upon the mountainside, I wouldn't be surprised if a majority of the buildings here have more than one little escape route in case of emergencies." His gaze drifted across the room again, his eyes intent on anything that could reveal the hidden passage. "The survivors must've left something behind that should give us the clue we need. No one just vanishes into thin air."

Following the professor's lead, Ritsuka joined the servants in their search. Carefully he examined everything, from random medical equipment to the very statues that lined the walls, he left nothing to chance. He didn't have to wait long, however, when William Tell gave a sharp whistle.

"Found it!" he reported from the second floor of the church. Heading up the ladder alongside his servants, Ritsuka saw the archer standing next to a lever cleverly hidden behind one of the lamp poles in the back. After getting the go ahead from his master, William pulled the lever.

A sharp, stoney hiss echoed throughout the church, followed by a heavy grind coming from the entrance. Looking down from the second floor's balcony, Ritsuka saw the sarcophagus in the center of the main room slowly moving before revealing a hidden staircase. Moriarty allowed himself a satisfied smirk at seeing his calculations be proven accurate, while Mash stared at the passage in wide eyed wonder. Not that Ritsuka blamed either of them. The hidden passage reminded the young man all too much of the stories that starred both Holmes and Moriarty.

Making his way back to the first floor, Ritsuka allowed Raikou and William Tell to scout the hidden passage first. After a moment, a sharp whistle heralded that it was all clear. Heading down the dark passageway, it didn't take long before the Chaldeans reached what looked like an antechamber of some kind. Several statues were littered everywhere, their faces covered up in a stony visage and in their hands were lit candles. And standing next to another staircase at the back of the room was Raikou and William, waiting patiently for the rest of their party to arrive.

"We're on the right track," Ritsuka said.

"Perhaps," Moriarty hummed, but his brow furrowed uncertainly. He shook his head before Ritsuka could question him. "Never mind. We'll get our answers soon enough if we keep on heading down."

Needing no further encouragement, the Chaldeans continued their trek down into the bowels of the church. Deeper and darker the staircase went, slowly going from stone and mortar to wood and plaster. The remaining candle light from the antechamber was quickly swallowed up by shadows as they reached a new room. Fortunately, Circe merely waved her hand and a ball of golden light appeared above her head, revealing they stepped into a musty and old storeroom. Ignoring the spider web-covered incense pots and ornaments that were stacked orderly in a corner, the Chaldeans continued their way downward. The next staircase they found creaked loudly with every step they took, causing William to mutter how the dead could hear them from their graves. They stopped for a moment when they came across a hole in the staircase, but fortunately they found a ladder conveniently placed inside of it.

Reaching the last ladder step, the Chaldeans were greeted once more by solid stone. There were no more ladders or staircases to be found, just a single open doorway. Raikou immediately strutted inside, gave a single all-encompassing glance, before beckoning everyone to follow her. It was a rather large room, so large in fact that it was difficult to make out the ceiling even with Circe's glowing orb. It didn't look like another storeroom, nor anything church related. In fact, the floor was mostly uneven stone tiles with huge stalks of grass sticking out at odd angles. There were a few pots here and there, and several crates piled up next to a wall, their wood so moldy that it was a miracle that they didn't crumple apart ages ago. Surprisingly, however, at the center of the room was a familiar black lantern with a pale candle. But unlike the others they come across, this one wasn't lit.

There were still no signs of the survivors, but there was one last path left. At the end of the room was a dark corridor that led to a great wooden door. It was creaked open, allowing a glow of light to flicker against the shadows that clung to the corridor's walls.

At last, Ritsuka thought as he approached the door alongside his servants. He was about to reach out and touch it when something caught his eye. Looking down he saw an ancient looking parchment, its corners torn apart as if ripped off from something. Crouching down, he carefully picked it up and read its barely readable scripture aloud, "'This town is long abandoned. Hunters are not welcome'."

"What a cheerful note," Moriarty commented as he stood beside his master.

"An omen, more like," Circe asserted. "Guess not everyone is up to the idea of being saved by hunters."

"But why?" Mash asked, a hint of uncertainty touching her voice. "Aren't hunters the protectors of this city?"

"Abandonment can make anyone's hero become their hated villain in any circumstance, my dear," Moriarty said, a wicked gleam touched his glasses as he pushed them back. "Innocents are easy to turn on their protectors if the latter doesn't solve their problems in a quick and efficient manner. This holds doubly so during times of crisis. Humans are chaotic creatures like that, I suppose. Always turning on each other when things get out of hand."

"Wow," Mordred muttered. "You're a lot more of a cynic than I took you for, ya evil bastard."

The criminal mastermind merely gave her a bland shrug. "Merely an observation I made during my years of illicit enterprises."

"Maybe so, but we can't simply turn our backs on those in need," Ritsuka asserted as he placed his hands on the heavy door frame. "Especially if this is where the survivors disappeared to."

With a steady push, and a little help from his servants, the great wooden door opened to Ritsuka's advance. What lay beyond that door was a harrowing sight. In a small valley stood the blackened corpses of once mighty spires, toppled and smoldering with lingering smoke. Charred carcasses of wooden buildings were burnt to the ground, leaving only their foundations and crooked metal fences in their wake. Those that haven't collapsed stood with gaping holes in every part of their structure. Very few buildings held no black mark, but even then, most held some degree of disrepair. Scattered everywhere were church statues like those above. However, many were blackened like the town's buildings, some even missing limbs and faces. Making them seem more like charred corpses praying for salvation even as they were consumed by flames. The only thing that didn't look in decay were the fresh long stalks of grass that poked out of uneven cobblestone that lined the streets.

A hollowing sight to be sure, but it was the decorations that churned Ritsuka's stomach. Hanging along nearly every building were ghoulish corpses. Some hung by the neck, their faces stretched out in unspeakable agony, while some were wrapped in canvas and hung upside down by their feet. Staked in nearly every street were crucifixions, their occupants nailed down with long, rusty nails. Not just at the hands and feet, but at the throat, mouth, and eyes as well. Not all were staked at the cross, some were even impaled on long spears. Those that weren't pinned to rotten wood or rusty bars, however, endured a far crueler fate. Great bonfires burned lowly at the feet of these unfortunate wretches, the flames having long consumed their flesh. Yet the bodies still burned, allowing a pungent, nauseating smell to linger.

If the upper levels of the city gave the impression of a city in decline, even abandonment, then this place was one of ruin. Still dying. Still burning.

Any normal person would've gagged and threw up their breakfast at such a horrific display of cruelty. Ritsuka felt such queasiness in his stomach, but he held it down, for the sight was not an unfamiliar one. Yet he couldn't keep his revulsion off his face, his brows knitted and his lips parted to show clenched white teeth. He wasn't the only one, for he heard a few gasps from beside him. Ritsuka never took his eyes off the awful sight until a comforting hand at his shoulder caused him to turn to meet Mash's concerned gaze. "Senpai," she said, "are you alright?"

"I'm ok…" he assured her as his expression softened. "I've seen worse." Indeed, he had, but he would never get used to this kind of horror. How could he ever get used to such cruelty? How could anyone?

Mash stared at her senpai for a long time before giving him a knowing nod. She then turned her gaze back to the grisly crucifixions. "Are these the survivors?"

"I don't think so," William said, grimly approaching one of the corpses. "This poor fellow's skin looks too gaunt and decayed to be anything recent. All the blood looks to be dried up too. Probably weeks old, maybe even a month or more." He then turned his gaze over to the still burning crosses nearby. "As for these guys… Well, I doubt our survivors are beasts."

Ritsuka blinked at the Archer before turning to the nearby fires, forcing himself to peer hard into those smoldering flames. When he finally made out what he was seeing, he realized that William was right. While most of their fur had either already burnt away or charred to a crisp, the unnaturally elongated limbs, sharp claws, and disfigured maws made them out to be infected Yharnamites. However, unlike those above, these pitiable wretches' sickness made them almost indistinguishable from beasts. Their mutations progressed to the point that they were far more feral looking and bestial. There was little humanity in them now, their descent into beasthood all but complete. With the fires consuming their very beings, they looked like devils trapped in the deepest pits of hell.

The sickening nauseousness in Ritsuka's stomach quivered at that hellish sight, but at the same time, he felt a bit of relief. "If these aren't the survivors, then where are they?"

"Excellent question," Moriarty said as he took in the ruins before him. "Outside conventional methods, this is the only way out of the church. Yet, this place looks less inviting than the Cathedral Ward…" He stroked his chin as his brow furrowed in contemplation. "It doesn't make sense. If they were trying to escape danger, then why head here? It's doubtful this place lacks any beasts."

"Maybe they didn't know better?" Circe proposed before a wistful smile touched her lips. "That's how many sailors and heroes made it to my island, after all."

"Certainly possible, but the odds that they would stay out here instead of waiting for rescue in the hidden passageway are abysmally low. No. It's becoming clear that something else is afoot."

Ritsuka agreed with the professor that things weren't adding up. Just where were those survivors? He peered across the ruined town before his eyes settled on a nearby bridge. "We won't find any answers standing around, so we might as well start exploring."

With his servants nodding unanimously at the decision, they followed Ritsuka's lead and headed towards the bridge. More crucifixions lined the street, most were burning but some were cold as stone. Those Ritsuka found the most unnerving, especially with the hollow eyes from the victim's eye sockets, picked clean by the maws of ravenous carrion eaters, seemed to follow the outsiders every step. Thankfully the staked bodies seemed to stop once they made it to the other side of the bridge. It was still just as messy and ruinous as the way they came, but more rubble and trash than corpses on display. And, of course, the weeping statues that lined every street.

"Geeze," Mordred huffed as she hopped over a broken statue, "they couldn't pick a happier mosaic if they tried, but did they have to make two hundred of these crappy statues?"

"I think the point of these statues is to symbolize some kind of woe," Mash speculated. "Maybe something in the Healing Church's doctrine revolving around loss, maybe even regret."

"An excellent theory, my dear," Moriarty said, "but why do they cover their faces then? And those that are not, why are their faces blank?"

Ritsuka pondered the question for a moment before saying, "Maybe… Maybe it's not some form of loss, but rather fear?"

"Tch! They have plenty to be afraid of, alright!" Mordred growled, before kicking one of the statues, shattering it into heavy chunks that fell down into the valley. "But it's such a pain in the ass to look at! Gloomy pieces of—!"

"You there, hunters!"

From all around the ruins a powerful voice echoed, sending the Chaldeans to a tense halt. Without hesitation, all the servants brought their weapons to bear and encircled their master, their eyes searching across the ruins for the one who called out to them. Only there was no one to be found, yet the voice continued to echo throughout the whole city.

"Didn't you see the warning? Turn back at once. Old Yharnam, burned and abandoned by men, is now only home to beasts. They are of no harm to those above. Turn back, or the hunter will face the hunt."

This is Old Yharnam?! The revelation caught Ritsuka off guard. This was the place that the survivors fled from? Why would they return to such a desolate and uninviting place? Such questions whirled in the young man's head while his servants continued to look for their hidden watcher.

"Can you see him, Mr. Tell?" Moriarty whispered, placing a hand over his mouth to hide the movement of his lips.

The marksman was silent. For what seemed like an age, his eyes slowly gazed out to the enormity of the ruins. His body was stiff, but his breathing was slow and calm. Yet still he remained silent. After a moment, he gave only the slightest shake of his head, just enough for his only companions to see. The professor grumbled at the confirmation of their current dilemma, but still said nothing. He didn't want to make the situation worse, as the mysterious speaker had the courtesy to at least give the Chaldeans a warning first.

Mordred, however, didn't hold such sensibilities. "Oi! Why don't you be a man and say that to my face!" she loudly called out. "Stop being a coward and show yourself!"

"Mordred!" Mash hissed out incredulously. She wasn't the only one, as most of the Chaldeans stared disapprovingly at the rebellious knight. All except William, who's eyes never stopped searching for the strange speaker who remained silent despite the knight's taunt.

"Relax, little eggplant. If this guy was serious about starting something, he wouldn't be talking to us." A sardonic grin quickly touched Mordred's lips as she turned to face her master. "You don't start an ambush by giving yourself away like that. It's obvious the guy is somewhere close by, probably watching us from some hole in the wall dump. Give me two minutes and I'll flush him out, no sweat."

"Uh, thanks, but let's try to settle this diplomatically first," Ritsuka suggested. Even with his knight's sound logic, he couldn't take the risk of starting unnecessary violence, especially with a potential survivor in this plagued city. Thankfully Mordred only gave him a shrug, crossing her arms around the back of her head and allowed her master to do what he was best at.

Taking a deep breath, Ritsuka cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled out, "We're sorry for my companion's bluntness and our intrusion! We meant no offense coming here uninvited!" Ritsuka paused for a moment to allow the hidden stranger to speak, but silence was the only reply he got. Not one to give up so easily, he took a deep breath and composed himself. "My name is Ritsuka Fujimaru! We were investigating the disappearance of some refugees from Old Yharnam who've gone missing from the Cathedral Ward! There couldn't be any more than twenty of them and our trail led us to this place! We had no idea it would be Old Yharnam! Have you seen them?"

Ritsuka's voice echoed throughout the city for a moment before haunting silence swallowed it up. For a long time no one spoke, let alone moved. A silver of anxiousness crept up Ritsuka's neck as time crawled on, and he wondered briefly if the mysterious watcher had fled. Then, just as he was about to call out one last time, the gruff voice spoke once more.

"No such group has come to this forsaken city," The voice called out. "Only outsiders, such as yourselves, have come through those very doors you took. There are no survivors who yet dwell in Old Yharnam's burnt corpse. Those who once held that right long abandoned it along with the sick, the dying, and the cursed souls who couldn't flee the flames they set."

The contempt that leaked out at the end surprised Ritsuka. It was not spiteful or malicious, but cold and direct. Stating hard facts and not fervent truths spoke in the heat of the moment. One of deep history that tugged at the young Chaldean's heart and curiosity. "What happened here?"

"…That which still plagues all of Yharnam. Only, this town was the first to be abandoned. The first to be purged. When the beasts and plague couldn't be contained, Old Yharnam was put to the torch."

It was a tale as old as time, but no less cruel. Ritsuka could only imagine the horrible despair those left behind felt in their final moments before fire embraced them.

"Forgive me for butting in," Moriarty cut in, "but it sounds like you were there when this awful business happened. Who are you, good sir?"

The voice was quiet again for a moment before declaring coldly, "I am Djura… a retired hunter. I was here when the flames were lit. And here I will remain here when they finally die. Now, turn back. Go I say! Lingering here any longer will arouse the beasts from their dens regardless of the time of day. If they do… then I will force you out of Old Yharnam myself."

The Chaldeans didn't need to hear the threat to know Djura was serious. There was an intensity in the air now, hostile, and ready to pounce at any moment. Just like a predator would.

Ritsuka turned to his companions and saw their tense faces. Some, like Mordred, were all too eager to fight, but others kept a stoic, professional demeanor even in the face of a threat they couldn't yet see. The only ones who looked uncertain were Mash and Habetrot, both looking at their master, sympathy standing in their eyes. Ritsuka didn't need to hear their unsaid words for he was already leaning in their direction.

"Alright!" he called out. "We don't want any trouble, so we'll leave. But if you ever see any of the survivors from Old Yharnam, please let us know. We'll be staying at the Oedon Chapel in the Cathedral Ward." With nothing more to say, Ritsuka turned around and started to head back across the bridge. His servants followed alongside him, though Mordred, Moriarty, William Tell, and Circe lingered a few steps behind, unwilling to trust in the whims of someone they couldn't see.

"Are you sure this is wise, deary?" Raikou asked in a soft voice. "We came all this way to find the missing survivors, after all."

"Not to mention this guy might be lying," Habetrot added as she climbed onto Mash's shoulder. "He could be trying to hide something big down here."

"Indeed. Why would he defend beasts? After all that has happened to the good people of this city, I would think they deserve more protection than some bloodthirsty monsters."

Ritsuka couldn't deny that both his servants had a point, but he already considered those possibilities. "Perhaps, but it's possible he's more bitter over the abandonment than the beasts. Just like Moriarty said… Besides, I don't think Djura's the kind of guy who would lie."

"Yeah," Mash added, "especially not after revealing he was watching us all this time. I don't see a liar give away a crucial bit of information like that. Especially if he meant to harm us."

"Exactly. If he doesn't want to deal with us, then I doubt he wants to deal with any survivor either. We'll just have to retrace our steps back at the church and see if we can find any clue that'll give us some idea where the refugees really went."

Raikou considered their words for a moment before giving a hesitant nod. "Point taken. Forgive me, but I can't help myself worrying over you, deary. Not when we're still in unknown terr—"

"Wait," Djura called out, halting the Chaldeans just as they were in the middle of the bridge. "You there… Boy. You said your name is Ritsuka, correct?"

Ritsuka was surprised by the sudden question, but quickly composed himself. "Yes, that's right. Why do you ask?"

"…Your garb is that of an outsider, but you're too young… far young to be a hunter. You and the girl beside you, as well as that other child riding on her shoulders." Habetrot puffed up at being called a child, but a firm hand by Mash kept her from lashing out. "But you accompany a party of hunters, seasoned if I haven't lost my mark… and your eyes… They've seen much, haven't they? Who are you really and why are you in Yharnam? Not just for some survivors, but for something else. Something that forced you to brave the horrors of this cursed land."

The keen observations from the retired hunter caused the servants to tense up, some more so than others, but Ritsuka realized this was an opportunity to expand their negotiations. "We're from an organization called Chaldea. We came to Yharnam to find something called a Tree of Emptiness. Have you heard of it?"

A pregnant pause hung in the air for a moment, before Djura answered again. "I see… I do not know what this Tree of Emptiness is, but you are not the first to ask about it."

Whatever intensity that welled up inside the Chaldeans gave away to a flood of pure shock. "Could you care to elaborate, Mr. Djura?" Moriarty asked quickly.

"There were three outsiders that came to this town before you. The first one was a man clad in white and had a strange rifle on him. He was soft spoken and carried himself like a true hunter. He even managed to sneak into Old Yharnam without disturbing the beasts. An odd fellow, even compared to you Chaldeans. He comes and goes from time to time, but he always manages to keep the peace. As long as he doesn't disturb the beasts, I allow him to stay.

"The second man to arrive had the bearings of a priest, but not one of the Healing Church." Ritsuka's eyes narrowed at that as a deep suspicion bubbled up inside of him, but he kept his mouth shut. "He had a calm demeanor, but I could tell he was not someone to be trusted. His soothing words didn't match the bloodlust he tried to hide behind his eyes. Fortunately, he left after I gave him the same warning I gave you."

"That was wise of you to get rid of him," Circe said.

"You know him then?"

"More like I have a policy not trusting any suspicious priests who speak honeyed words."

"Hah! I can agree to that, young lass. But, you're no less suspicious yourself, aren't you?" The Queen of Witches pouted at that which only earned another laugh from the retired hunter. After the laughter died, however, an intense seriousness fell upon the valley. "As for the last intruder… He's the worst of them all."

"What did he do?" Ritsuka asked, curious of the venom that now leaked out of Djura's voice.

"…The man is a vile creature hiding in human skin. He presented himself as a doctor in search of rare things to aid in his research to fight the plague. Like the chalices of legend or the Tree of Emptiness you mentioned. A noble goal… but I knew from the start that wasn't his true aim. It didn't take long for his true colors to come to light when I told him to leave, casting aside civility to lay waste to this ruined sanctuary. I drove him off, but he always came back, sneaking in through ways I've yet to discover. Sometimes bringing in madmen who butcher the beasts before taking away their corpses to God knows where. What he does with them, I can't say. All I know is that man is a defiler."

The cold anger in Djura's words caused Ritsuka to shiver. "Was he the one who had the crucifixions set up next to the passageway to the Cathedral Ward?"

"The very same. If you ever see him, don't show him your back. The man is a wicked, but crafty creature."

"What does he look—?"

BOOM!

An earth-shattering roar rang in Ritsuka's ears as he felt the stone and mortar of the bridge suddenly erupted. The breath in his lungs immediately left his lips as he felt something slam into his side, sending him plunging through fiery smoke and an intense heat. It only lasted for a second, but his eyes burned and he choked a mouthful of that awful black cloud. By the time it was over, he found that the thing that slammed into him was none other than Mash and Habetrot. Their faces were frantic and they were yelling something urgent judging by how they nudged him insistently, but he couldn't make out their words due to the high pitched ringing in his ears. Confused, he followed their gazes before he made a terrifying discovery.

They were falling into the depths of Old Yharnam.

---

"Master!" Moriarty called out, but there was nothing he could do as his young companions plunged into the dark underbelly of the abandoned city. What just happened? How could he not see this disaster coming?! One moment they were getting crucial information, the next he found himself being flung to the ground by a powerful explosion. He wasn't the only one as he saw Mordred, Circe, and William Tell all slowly struggling to their feet, some more quickly than others. The only one who wasn't accounted for was Raikou, and Moriarty could only conclude that she fell down the same hole where the bridge used to be.

"Was this your doing, you bastard!?" Mordred cried out, her helmet fully on display as she gripped Clarent tightly in both hands.

"…It wasn't by my hand that caused that explosion," Djura confessed, his voice no longer cold but instead very shocked.

"Then who?! Dammit, I'm kill 'em for daring to try and off me and my master!"

Moriarty agreed with the rebellious knight, but he kept that to himself. He couldn't give into spiteful emotions now. He needed to be calm, collected, and above all else, calculating their next move. No matter how much he desired vengeance for this slight—even if a part of him was already counting the number of gruesome ways he would enact such dark desires—he needed to focus on the matter at hand.

Suddenly, a howl echoed throughout the abandoned town. It was solitary at first, but then many more joined together to make a chilling chorus. Hundreds upon hundreds of howls, each more gruesome and inhuman than the last, screaming in towering fury as the beasts of Old Yharnam awoke from their slumber.

"…They're riled up now," Djura's voice cut through the mad chorus like a hot knife. "They'll be coming for you. Not just to sate their hunger, but to quell their fury… I'm sorry. I truly am."

"If you're so sorry, why don't you help us?!" Circe demanded, holding her staff aloft as she spotted several dark shadows creeping out of the ruins.

"I can't… For that would mean harming the beasts… and you're not going to simply run away and abandon your young friends, am I right? No. You're adept, merciless… half-cut with blood, as all the best hunters are. Especially when your friends' lives are in the balance… Which is why I must stop you. Make peace with yourselves… for I shall grant you a merciful hunt."

---

Author's Note: What a way to end a chapter!~ Who tried to bomb our heroes? Who are the mysterious figures that Djura saw? And what happened to the survivors in the old church? What horrors Ritsuka find at the bottom of the abandoned town? All these questions and more will be revealed in time.

For now, I hope you all are having a wonderful new year so far. I know I am after getting this chapter down earlier than my usual real life schedule would allow. Honestly, I'm really happy to start the Old Yharnam arc as it is something I've been thinking a ton of ideas for quite some time. As with the last chapter, it's becoming apparent that things aren't what they seem and that there are new elements in Yharnam than just the Chaldeans. One of the big things, however, I'm looking forward to righting is the servants of Chaldea versus the retired hunter of Old Yharnam. And maybe a few extra surprises. I won't say who just yet, but I think you guys will enjoy who it is when they are fully revealed.

Until then, I hope you all have a wonderful day and a happy new year!