'This...may have been a rash decision.'

The Huntress' rubbed her chin as her eyes moved between the two children she had rescued from the Slums. She had brought them to the living room and sat them down in two of the chairs. She had closed the curtains as it was getting dark out, then turned her attention to the kids themselves.

Specifically, what she was going to do with them.

Buying them, while something she felt immensely proud of, was driven by emotional impulse rather than any logical thinking. The sight of two children being sold on the street, their feet and hands likely covered in blisters as they were thrown around like pieces of meat. Her carefully curated ability to rationalize the proper path forward was driven to the back of her mind. In its place was an urge to get those children out of there, and make any who came for her understand why that would be an extremely poor decision on their part.

True it wasn't the first time such an impulse had driven her to act since coming here, but the other times had been tempered with logical thinking. The only exceptions to this were when she faced the werewolves and when the Banshee had brought the cubs to her. And now she could add this to that growing pile.

She bit her lip as she moved her gaze from the boy to the girl, trying to figure out what she should do. An idea came to her as she focused on the dirt and filth covering their bodies. A bath would be perfect for this. She could get to know the children while washing them down and ensuring they were...oh wait...

This wasn't Yharnam.

She'd have to find a river and get water to bathe them.

She started to bring her right hand up to her head but paused as something caught her eye. Specifically, the fact that her pure white glove was painted crimson. The gears in her mind started to turn as she looked from her glove to the children sitting in front of her.

Then the realization finally hit her.

She was still covered in blood from her fight with the Vipers.

That...isn't good.

She coughed into her hand speaking in a calm voice, "Ok, children. This is your new home. Feel free to explore and run around. I need to go freshen up. The privy is to the left of the stairs, don't open the door for strangers, and don't come upstairs until I return. Understood?"

The children nodded, the Huntress did the same, then she walked out of the room with her arms behind her back. She kept walking until she opened the double doors that led to her room. Then she went to the middle of the room, sat down, closed her eyes, and thought of the Dream.

----------------------------------------

"Good Hunter," Eve stood up from a grave she was tending as the Huntress' body materialized at the bottom of the stairs. She bowed to her friend, 'Welcome home. How was your-"

The Huntress ran past her friend so quickly, that the Doll's clothes briefly lifted off the ground.

A few seconds later, the Huntress dashed back out and shouted, "Hello, Eve!" The blood gone from her clothes, she gave her friend a quick hug before dashing through the Workshop doors, "Can't talk. Needed to get my clothes fixed."

"Oh?" Eve said questioningly.

The Huntress sat down in the rocking chair, preparing herself to return to her home, "I went to the Slums. Rescued two children. Had to kill some gang members. Blood was still on my clothes when I brought the kids home and...oh shit!"

The Huntress stood up, hands going to her head as she started pacing around the room, "I forgot to buy the food! Oh, what am I gonna make for dinner now?! Wait...do I even know how to cook?"

She charged to the books on the shelves and started pulling them from the wall at a rapid pace, making sure to place them back once she had read the cover, "Eve! Did Gehrman keep any books about cooking? Or child-rearing? Or...anything about being a parent?!"

The Huntress kept looking at books, going to great lengths to restrain herself from tossing them to the floor, until a comforting hand touched her shoulder. Instantly, all the tension and worry she was feeling evaporated. A misty haze cleared from her eyes as she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She turned to her companion and nodded, "Thank you, my friend. I was overreacting."

Eve took her hand away from the Huntress' shoulder, bowing as she said, "If what you seek is within the Workshop, why not ask the little ones? They would be overjoyed to be of service to you."

"The Messengers? How could they...actually, that reminds me," the Huntress turned to look Eve in the eye, "They came to me. When I wasn't in the Dream. I thought they could only do that in Yharnam..."

"When you freed Gehrman of his burden, you became the Master of this Dream. Wherever you go the little ones will follow and help you however they can," Eve waved to the left where a group of Messengers were crawling out of a portal in the floorboards. Three gray bodies pushed themselves forward, each one holding a book up to the Huntress.

The Huntress was stunned for but a moment. Then she composed herself, turning her gaze towards the space above the Weapon Bench where numerous weapons hung, their blades still sharp and ready for use. Below them were the different Badges she had collected during her journey through Yharnam. Not a single speck of dust was anywhere near the mementos. Their spotless metal gleamed in the never waning light of the fireplace.

She had never given it much thought, but what her friend said made sense. When one kills a Hunter, finds their discarded remains, or joins a specific group, they take up their mantle by carrying their Badge. Owning it would prove to the Messengers you were worthy of using the garments and weapons of the lost. It was how the Hunters retained the knowledge of the Workshop, even if a Hunter succumbed to their blood lust and turned into a Beast. Eileen had explained this to her numerous times, and her weapons spoke of her participation in such dark work.

"You are correct, Eve," she knelt and plucked the books from the thin hands of the Messengers. They made the same noise they always did, a mixture of moaning, groaning and laughing. She waved goodbye to them as they slipped away into the blackness from whence they came.

A part of being a Hunter was taking on the responsibilities of those that came before. And nothing said that it did not extend to ownership of the Workshop.

The Huntress lifted the books to her face...and immediately frowned upon reading the titles.

" 'How to care for a suffering maiden's heart'," she read aloud, " 'Winning over a woman's parents', and 'Cook her something that will make her heart flutter'."

She was silent for a few moments, before hanging her head and sighing. Her late mentor's taste extended farther than she ever thought possible.

"Oh well," she shrugged while putting up the first two books, "At least the last one can teach me about cooking. I'll be off now, Eve. Sorry I have to leave so soon."

"It is no trouble, Good Hunter," Eve's understanding smile was a wonderful sight to behold for the Huntress, "I shall await and pray for your safe return."

The Huntress nodded and walked towards the door.

----------------------------------------

She awoke back in her room, the cookbook held in her right hand. She placed it in one of her pockets and brought her arms up to observe them. The sight of her spotless gloves made her nod as she stood up. Making her way downstairs, the sound of a door closing reached her ears. A look to her left showed the girl closing the door to the privy while the boy stood watch outside. The kids spotted her as she descended the final stair, the boy moving to support the girl as they limped to her.

The Huntress frowned at the sight, kneeling to speak to them at eye level, "I'm sorry about leaving the two of you alone. Did anything happen while I was away?"

Standing up straight, the boy nodded his head and pointed towards the entrance to the house. The Huntress followed his finger, nodded while standing up, then walked to the living room. She beckoned the children to follow her while keeping her pace slow to not get too far ahead. She spoke to them as they walked, looking over her shoulder at them with her eyes hidden beneath her hat, "Do you have names, children? I need to know them in case something were to happen to you." And because calling them "children" is not something the Huntress wanted to do. They were people. They deserved to be called by their names.

The two kids were silent for a minute until the boy attempted to speak. His voice was hoarse and sent him into a coughing fit, forcing the three of them to stop in the middle of the hallway. The girl patted him on the back until he stopped. Straightening his posture, the boy looked up at the Huntress and spoke in a raspy gasp while pointing at himself, "H...Hor...Horace."

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

He points at the girl to his left, "G...Gl...Gloria."

The Huntress nods and starts walking again, "I see. Do you know your family names? Perhaps you're siblings?"

Horace shakes his head before Gloria squeaks out a reply, "Twins. Don't know...parents."

The Huntress took note of their pauses as they talked. She'd have to look into getting them water alongside food from the Market. And, judging by the orange light being blocked by the curtains as she entered the living room, she didn't have long to do that. She went to the window, slightly moving the curtain out of the way, and spotting the woman standing right at the threshold to her home.

The first thing the Huntress noticed was the weapon in her right hand. It had a long thin blade, the point on the end made to target the weaknesses in heavy armor. A rapier and one its user knew how to use judging by how she gripped it. Her feet spaced apart with, right side faced towards the door, one foot behind the other, further cemented this idea. Going off this alone it was obvious the woman had come here for a fight.

Her attire...not so much.

The Huntress sighed while shaking her head in disappointment. A part of her had hoped that Blitz had been an exception and that Sentinel and Jet had never seen a female warrior before. Mainly because, as strange as this world was, female fighters dressing like Ladies of the Night wasn't something she wanted to accept was the norm.

Yet, here stood this five foot six woman wearing a short cape that could easily be grabbed, black leather boots that only went up to her knees, a wide-brimmed hat that could be pulled down to blind her, short pants that did nothing to protect the vulnerable white skin of her thighs, and black leather so short and stretched tight around her breast that the Huntress wouldn't even call it a shirt that left her midriff bare and open to attack. She didn't want to mention the long, blonde ponytail that moved in the breeze behind her.

The Huntress stepped back from the curtain and turned to her children. She knelt while pulling her bandana down and placing her hat on the ground. Her cut short red hair framed her face as she smiled and said, "Thank you for telling me, Horace. Now, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to go out and...talk to the lady outside. While I'm doing that, do not look out the windows. No matter what you hear, don't open those curtains for any reason. When I come back, I'll take you two to the Market so we can buy dinner. Alright?"

The kids nodded slowly, their stomachs growling at the prospect of food. Gloria moved her hands to her stomach while Horace placed his on her shoulders. They both looked up at the Huntress and spoke in tiny, hoarse voices, "Yes, ma'am."

The Huntress giggled as she stood up. She pulled her bandana back up and placed her hat back on her head, "There's no need for that. You may call me Cynthia, or Ms. Cynthia. Whichever you prefer. I'll be back soon. Stay safe, children."

With that, the Huntress went to the door. She checked that her vials and bullets were fully stocked before walking outside.

----------------------------------------

Without missing a step the Huntress closed the door behind her, quickly stepped over the threshold that separated her property from the street, equipped the Rakuyo, and stopped about ten feet from the armed stranger.

She sized the woman up, eyes looking for any possible weakness that could be exploited...save for the obvious ones. She noted how, despite having experience fighting, her foe's skin was completely flawless. There were no scars, no abrasions, no bruises, not even any dirt or dust anywhere. Either she was extremely talented, or she had never been in a true fight. And based on what the Huntress had learned since she got to this world, the latter was the likely answer.

The stranger seemed to scowl at something, then spoke in a young, passionate voice, "Where are the children that were with you? What have you done to them?"

The Huntress' raised eyebrow was hidden beneath her hat, as she replied in a calm tone, "Why do you ask? And for that matter, who are you?"

"Don't change the subject. And as if you couldn't tell," the stranger began circling to the Huntress' left, her rapier pointing towards the black-clothed woman, tip first, "You may have found a way to hide your Mana, but you can't fool me. I saw the blood on your clothes. I know how you only came into town a few days ago, and how this very house was recently purchased by a 'noblewoman'. Aren't my kin meant to be more clever than that?"

The Huntress mirrored her opponent, keeping them in the center of her vision, "You are correct in all your assumptions, save the last two. I am no noble, contrary to whoever has informed you of that, and nor am I kin to you. None who would call themselves my kin would wear clothing that offered no protection whatsoever in combat."

The stranger huffed, fondling her breast through her clothes as she smiled, "My outfit reflects my freedom. Unlike you Vampires, I am not afraid to be open with my passions and desires."

The Huntress tilted her head in confusion, " 'Vampires'? Are those a type of monster? And if so, are you one as well?"

The stranger didn't catch the low rumble her opponent's voice took on, stopping when her back was facing the space between the Huntress' home and an adjacent house. She bent her knees while holding her left hand out to the side, "You're certainly committed to this act. For the sake of indulging in your game, I shall tell you what I am. I am a Dhampir. Half-breed offspring between a Vampire and a human. And while you might...gah!"

The Dhampir halted and held her rapier diagonally, letting the thicker end catch the Huntress' blade as it came down. Demon Silver hit silverite in a loud crash that rang across the empty streets. The waning sunlight elongated the shadows of the two combatants.

The Huntress put pressure on her blade, stepping closer to the Dhampir, eyes wild in anger, "You will not touch my children, monster."

----------------------------------------

The Dhampir scowled as she felt her legs skid back under the black-clothed woman's surprising strength. She had been expecting a powerful adversary, but this was beyond her expectations. It was taking up half her strength just to keep herself from flying back. She grit her teeth while gathering her Mana into the palm of her left hand. As she felt the power coalesce, she spoke to her assailant, "Tried to catch me by surprise? You'll have to do better if you plan to bring down Teresa Scarlet!"

The Vampire dashed backward just when Teresa shoved her left hand forward. The Dhampir smiled, dashing after her target with her rapier held to her right. She had to duck under her opponent's retaliatory swing but managed to place her hand on the taller woman's left hip. She let the magic go and jumped back, as a bright flash of purple light erupted from where she had touched.

The light dissipated just as Teresa landed a few feet away. She smiled while placing a hand on her hip, "That should help you see things my way. Doesn't it feel good to-"

She heard a loud bark and instinctively dodged to the right. Something whizzed by her head a moment later. Before she could gather herself her opponent came for her again, this time with a strange object in her left hand.

'What's going on?!' the Dhampir thought as she blocked a stab aimed for her gut and back stepped to avoid the subsequent upwards slash. 'She should be slowing down. The spell should've sent my Spirit Energy directly into her! How is she still this strong!?"

She shook her head and pressed the offensive, stabbing away at her opponent. Though her attacks missed she managed to force the black-clothed woman back a bit, making enough distance for a moment's rest...that is until the Vampire held the small device in her left hand towards her. The Dhampir scowled and started dashing repeatedly as her foe sent projectile after projectile her way.

She knew the spell had to have worked. It had on every other monster she had faced. This Vampire was likely hiding the full effects of the spell to confuse her. Underneath that bandana and hat were wide pleading eyes, and an open ready mouth. She just needed a few hits from her rapier and she'd fall to her knees.

Teresa grinned confidently, waiting for a lapse in her opponent's assault. When it came she skidded to a halt, holding her rapier horizontally as she took up a new stance. She pushed her Mana into the soles of her feet and her blade, as she shouted to the Vampire, "Considering you attacked me without warning, allow me to return the favor!"

She kicked off the ground, rocketing towards her opponent with incredible speed. The Vampire dashed to the right at the last second. Teresa put Mana into her toes and used them to stop her momentum just before she passed her target. She turned to face her foe and kicked off again, stabbing forward with her blade.

The Vampire held up her weapon while leaning to the left, their blades clashing as Teresa passed by. The Dhampir landed a few feet away and repeated the action. She flew at the back of her opponent, ignoring the sound of something snapping as she slashed her opponent's right side. Feelings of triumph coursing through her veins, she stopped and shot out one last time. Her blade found its mark, piercing through the Vampire's left shoulder.

Teresa grinned victoriously already feeding her Energy through the rapier and into the Vampire's body. She could feel it taking root inside...wait...

'What is this terrible feeling? My Mana it's...it's being taken from me. Why? What's happening to-'

Teresa realized what was happening just as a painful shock shot up her right arm. She looked over and saw a small dagger stabbing through her flesh.

She looked up and finally got a look at her enemy's eyes.

And for the first time in her life she felt something that no one, not even other Mamono had ever made her feel in her life.

True, absolute, all-consuming dread.

Teresa's scream was cut off as the monster's other blade stabbed through her stomach.

----------------------------------------

On a rooftop overlooking the fierce battle, Akuri stood paralyzed.

When word had reached her Mistress that her daughter was making her way to Pran, the Kunoichi had been dispatched immediately. Her task was to simply watch over the half-breed and report back if she makes any headway in discovering her mother's location.

Things had gone smoothly so far. With the newcomer taking up the Dhampir's attention, she had gained no ground in tracking down her parent. Akuri didn't truly care if the newcomer turned out to be a Vampire or not. If she was, then she could distract the Dhampir long enough for her to inform her Mistress. If she wasn't, she knew nothing of the existence of her Mistress, so Teresa would simply waste time.

She was not expecting so see the newcomer not only match but defeat the Dhampir in single combat.

That had shocked her.

Watching the newcomer stab Teresa through the gut with no hesitation terrified her. She felt her entire body begin to shake as the newcomer...the monster ripped both its blades from the Dhampir's body. The Mamono started to moan in pain, rolling on the ground while holding her punctured stomach. The monster stepped forward, grabbed the downed Dhampir by her ponytail, then started dragging her towards their house.

The Kunoichi knew she should be furious. That she should be yelling in rage and planning her revenge against the cruel monster that defeated her Mistress' daughter.

But the truth was that she was horrified beyond belief.

She had fought many humans since she came to this continent. Many Heroes, male and female, had fallen to her skills. No two fought her the same way, but they all had one thing in common; they hesitated.

When it came time to deal the finishing blow or they had an opportunity to cripple her for life, they never took it. They always let her go or tried to "redeem" her. They were all too kind to end her life.

But not this one.

When this one was given the chance to end the battle, they took it.

No hesitation. No second-guessing. No redemption.

Only death.

Akuri felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She went prone just as the newcomer looked directly at her hiding spot. She swore they could see right through the shadows, their eyes boring a hole straight through her. Her hands unconsciously went to her weapons while her mind began running her escape routes through her head.

After what felt like hours, the newcomer finally turned around and went inside the house.

Akuri stayed prone for ten minutes before she felt comfortable enough to leave.