Daylight reflected off the curved Burial Blade as the Huntress cut through some overgrown vines in a single slice. She pushed the branch they were hanging from up while walking deeper into the forest. The leaves and detritus covering the forest floor crunched under her feet as she made her way forward. She had long since left anything resembling a pathway behind. Firstly, it made it much more difficult for any monsters from the Fallen City to track her down. They’d likely have troops stationed in specific places to capture humans that managed to escape from Lescatie. One of the most likely places they would be is the main roads that lead directly to other, safer towns and villages. And the second reason was that she had no idea where she was going. This world was not her own, meaning any sense of direction she gained from Yharnam wasn’t going to help her here. She’d have to start from scratch and figure things out from there.
Memories of attempting to solve Yharnam’s labyrinthine design the first time she encountered it resurfaced in the back of her mind. She sighed in frustration, shaking her head while cutting down another obstruction of vines. The headache she got from the constant dead ends, loops, and locked doors were not something she was looking forward to reliving. Which is why she took it as a blessing when she encountered an old, gnarled tree. Its roots had been upended to the point that they formed a small alcove in the ground. The earth around it was uneven and slightly warped from a combination of natural elements and time.
The Huntress made her way to the natural niche, carefully stepping on the uneven ground. She crouched down when she reached the tree, leaning up against its trunk before moving into the alcove. Briefly, she thought of finding something to cleanse the inside of the niche before she moved in but swiftly rejected the idea. Starting a forest fire when she’s trying to stay hidden was the last thing she needed. Thankfully, there wasn’t much inside save for a few harmless species of fungi.
Satisfied with the accommodations she crawled inside and went as far back as she could without losing sight of the entrance. She leaned against the tree bark, set her Burial Blade at her side with her hand holding its grip, and started to close her eyes. She pictured the place in her mind long before her eyelids shut and her soul began to wander. At the back of her mind, she felt the same pull that she always did whenever she used the lanterns. A small smile appeared on her face as she felt her consciousness slip away.
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Her eyes opened the moment she felt grass against her back. A foggy, never-ending expanse as far as the eye could see, stretched out above her. Long pillars were barely visible in the distance, each one tall enough to touch the sky. Pale white flowers shifted beneath her as she stood up. They spanned the entire fenced-in property, save for the obvious man-made walkways. She checked her clothes and nodded at how all the blood from her fight had disappeared. To her right was a tall building she recognized as the Hunter’s Workshop. Gehrman’s wheelchair was in the same place it had been since their battle, vines wrapping around its wheels. The Huntress took a moment to cut the weeds down with her Burial Blade before exiting through the open fence nearby.
A humming sound reached her ears as she exited the clearing. Her pace quickened until she rounded a corner to find its source. Kneeling in front of one of the many graves dotting the property, a small white cloth in her right hand and a bucket of water to her left, was the only one who remained with the Huntress after everything that happened in Yharnam. Her hand rubbed the wet cloth up along the grave, grime disappearing underneath her careful attention.
The Doll’s hand stopped as the Huntress rounded a corner. She carefully placed the cloth onto the edge of the bucket. She slowly rose to her full height, her flower pattern dress and skirt flattening out as she stood. She turned to face the Huntress, her serene face impassive while she bowed deeply, “Welcome home, Good Hunter.”
The Huntress broke into a short sprint before throwing her arms around the Doll. She hugged her only remaining friend tightly, feeling all the stress and worry she kept hidden melt away in an instant. With the closest thing to elation she could muster, she said, “It’s so good to see you, Eve.”
The Doll rested her chin on the Huntress’ shoulder, “And it is good to see you safe, Good Hunter. How was your journey to this Waking World?”
“Mostly pleasant,” the Huntress backed out of the hug while smiling softly beneath the bandana, “save for an altercation with some of the locals.” She glanced down to see a small, bubbling hole in the ground near her foot. The familiar groaning of the Messengers heralded their arrival, three pale, malformed bodies crawling their way out of the ground. They raised their arms towards the Huntress in a display of happiness.
She bent down and started to pet the foremost Messenger, while looking up at Eve, “Mind if we go inside? I have a lot to say.”
Eve bowed, “As you wish.”
The two of them entered the Workshop, the lack of dust coating the interior a testament to the Doll’s meticulous cleaning. Various weapons dangled over the workbench with the fireplace illuminating their shadows on the wall behind them. The blood-stained altar stood imperiously at the end of the room, and the storage chest remained directly to the right of the door. The Huntress stepped passed the large number of old books that littered the ground, Eve following close behind. The Huntress went to the empty chair across from the altar, sitting down with a sigh as the Doll circled to her right side. The Huntress removed her hat sending her red hair spilling out around her face. The long locks reached the back of her neck, something the Huntress dreaded. Long hair was a detriment during a battle, especially if the opponent managed to get behind her. She sighed at the idea of having to cut it again while pulling the bandana down from around her mouth, revealing her pale white cheeks and pink lips.
She leaned back in her chair and looked up at Eve, “There’s a war going on. Don’t have anything concrete, but it appears to be between strange monsters and humans.”
When the Doll’s eyebrows started to raise, the Huntress quickly said, “Not Beasts, something else. The Hunt hasn’t followed us and it never will. Not while I draw breath.” The Huntress’ hands involuntarily squeezed the arms of the chair at the thought of a repeat of Yharnam.
She shook her head and continued, “Other than that, the world seems to be rather primitive compared to Yharnam. The monsters I faced seemed surprised at the sight of Evelyn, meaning firearms aren’t common here. However, three of them shot balls of fire at me while I was fighting them. Seems they can use some form of the Arcane. Different from Yharnam, but dangerous and noteworthy.”
Eve nodded along while grabbing a hold of the Huntress’ hair with both hands. She plucked the ornament from her hair and began to comb the crimson locks, “Did you meet any other humans?”
“None save a father and his daughter trying to escape from a city the monsters were assaulting,” the Huntress closed her eyes as the Doll went to work on her hair, “He gave me a quick summary of the situation before we set off. From what I could gather when I was escaping with them, the monsters don’t actually wish to kill the humans. They instead wish to seduce or, if they resist, violate them in hopes of procreation or finding a ‘husband’ as they say.”
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She shrugged, “That’s all I managed to glean from my short stay...it was short, wasn’t it?” The Huntress leaned forward to allow Eve more room to work, “It’s strange. I remember awakening in the city when it was under attack, and before that my battle with the Moon Presence. But...there’s a gap in between those events.” She placed a hand on her chin in contemplation.
When Eve finished with her hair she leaned back and let the Doll massage her shoulders. Her suddenly tired bones cracked under her friend’s ministrations, making her smile with relief. She looked at Eve, “Something to worry about later. Little else to say. Now then, what should my next move be in this new, fascinating World we are in?”
Eve nodded at the Huntress, “I am glad you find this new World to your liking, Good Hunter.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” the Huntress began to count off on her fingers, “It’s not Yharnam, there are no Beasts, it’s not Yharnam, there are countless new things to discover, it’s not Yharnam, I can meet new people here, and it’s not Yharnam. The inhabitants might be a bit strange, but they are leagues better than the Yharnamites...so far.”
The Huntress nodded her head, “But I need at least some vague idea of an objective before setting out. I am all too aware of the risk and dangers involved with wandering around aimlessly in unfamiliar territory.” Her expression darkened as unpleasant memories of being ambushed by Beasts flashed through her mind. She rubbed her chin in thought, “How about this? I look for civilization, procure this world’s version of currency, and find something or someone who can tell me more about the war?”
The Doll patted the Huntress’ back, “If that is what you wish to pursue, Good Hunter.”
The Huntress shrugged while leaning back in the chair. That’s the best answer she would get out of Eve. She nodded before looking up at the Doll with her violet eyes, “Then it’s settled. I’ll leave...in a few more minutes.” She leans back into the chair, feeling so many knots melt away under the Doll’s skillful hands.
As she closed her eyes, Eve soothingly responded, “Of course, Good Hunter. Take as long as you need, and may you find worth in this Waking World.”
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The Huntress crawled out of the alcove into the open forest. The sun was shining bright above the canopy, its light creating patterns on the floor. Unseen animals and insects filled the woodlands with bellows and cries of varying volume. She stretched her arms out towards the sky, her bones popping as she walked away from the gnarled tree. She double checked everything on her person, stopping at the treeline before she started on her way. She didn’t carry much considering she was in uncharted territory. Carrying too many items might end up a hindrance when none of them apply to the situation. Better to take only the essentials before committing to any particular loadout. Her Burial Blade, a secondary weapon, Evelyn, twenty Blood Vials, twenty Quicksilver Bullets, and the Monocular for scouting and observational purposes.
Satisfied with her equipment, the Huntress observed the forest around her. Bereft of anything approaching directional assistance she did the same thing she did when she got lost in Yharnam.
She picked a direction and started walking.
If it worked in Yharnam, why wouldn’t it work here?
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She couldn’t have been more wrong.
In the orange hue of the afternoon sun, the Huntress cut her way through another patch of brambles and sharp vines. She stomped through the fallen foliage and took a moment to catch her bearings. She couldn’t see any end to the forest in sight, all paths leading deeper in.
She frowned while continuing her stride, cutting down any obstacle with a single swipe of her blade. The situation wasn’t completely negative. In her experience the deeper into an area you traveled, the more likely you were to find hints of intelligent life. Though, usually, the intelligent life she found was varying levels of insane and always attempted to kill her on sight. But finding creatures that wanted to kill her lead her to the correct destination ...eventually.
That hope in mind, the Huntress raised her blade to cut past another wall of hanging vines but stopped mid-swing. Her arm fell to her side, she stood up straight and listened to her surroundings. The cacophony of animal and insect cries had stopped. Instead, the crunching of leaves and soft exhalations of breath circulated her position.
She shook her head, quickly realizing what was occurring. She looked to the right and said, “I know you’re there. Come out and let’s get this over with.”
Her voice was calm, but the authority behind it revealed her annoyance. It took a few seconds before her command was followed. From all around her figures stepped out from behind the trees. They had none of the features the monsters she fought last night did, meaning this was her first encounter with the humans of the Waking World. And judging by their ragged equipment, mismatched weaponry and armor, and rough appearances, they were the worst kind of people travelers could encounter on long journeys; Bandits.
They proceeded to close in on the Huntress, giving her time to count out their numbers. She could see at least eight surrounding her and hear one more hiding behind a tree nearby. She guessed the one in hiding was their leader, considering they hadn’t come out with the rest. Meaning they were likely the brains of this gathering of chuckling fools.
The Huntress rolled her eyes as the gang stopped moving closer. Their formation was a simple circle, with any gaps blocked to prevent an easy escape. They attempted to look threatening by chuckling and brandishing their weaponry with vicious smiles. They kept this up until a whistle split the air. The laughter ceased as three of the bandits made way for the man who was hiding behind a tree. Unlike the rest of them, his auburn hair had much less dirt in it. He smiled smugly while brandishing a decently maintained spear in one hand. His armor had patches in it but was mostly intact compared to the rest who had pieces of armor strapped to certain extremities.
The leader, the Huntress guessed, tapped the end of his spear against the ground before speaking, “And what are you doing out here lass? All alone in the middle of the woods?” His voice was smooth and slimy, the kind that would make your spine tingle at how uncomfortable it sounded. The perfect voice for a liar and con artist.
The Huntress inwardly sighed, remembering a certain cowardly spider, before replying, “Traveling to the next town. But I seem to be lost. I don’t suppose I could trouble you for directions?”
The bandits started to laugh while their leader placed a hand on his chin, “I know where you’re trying to go, but I can’t seem to remember exactly where it is. Perhaps something could refresh my memory?”
“If it is currency you’re looking for, I’m afraid I have none,” she saw a few of the bandits deflate at that, “nor can I give you any of the items on my person.”
“That right?” the leader leaned on his spear, his eyes leering at the Huntress’ body.
“Come on, Brugel,” the bandit to his right, a beast of a man with wild unkempt hair covering his face, said while licking his lips, “let’s just grab the lass and have some fun. We haven’t seen any action in three months.”
The leader, Brugel, smacked the bandit on the back of the head before turning back to the Huntress, “Pay him no mind, ma’am. But he does speak some truth. Information is not cheap, and if you can neither pay us nor give us any compensation...well we’ll need some other form of ‘payment’. It’s simple business you understand.”
“Or,” the Huntress continued, raising her Burial Blade, “you could tell me, free of charge.”
Brugel narrowed his eyes at the Huntress. “Careful there lass,” he pointed towards the trees behind him, “Let’s not be hasty.”
“Those archers won’t help you,” she said to the surprise of the bandits around her, “before you ask, I could see the glint from their arrows. They’ll be the first to go. Then your men, and then I’ll capture you and make you tell me what I want to know.”
There was a pause as the highwaymen realized what was happening. Brugel’s face remained unmoved for a few moments, before he shrugged, “Well, so much that plan.” He picked his spear up and pointed it towards the Huntress, a cruel smile on his face as his men began to cheer, “Boys, knock her out and bring her home with us. By the time we’re done, she’ll be begging for mercy!”
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“By the Gods! Please show some mercy!” Brugel howled as the big toe on his right foot fell to the ground in a bloody heap.
The Huntress looked up from his foot, her blood-covered glove holding a wicked-looking dagger she took off one of the dead bodies behind her, “But we’ve only just started. A man strong enough to have no qualms about threatening vulnerable young girls should be able to handle this much, right?”
She gave the hyperventilating man an innocent look, before turning her attention back to her work, “Now then, there are a few questions I have that you’re going to answer. If you do not know the answer, make an educated guess. Please try not to lie to me. I’ll know, and then I’ll be very upset.”
He whimpered and screamed as the Huntress proceeded to torture him. Nearby two of the archers watched in abject horror, unable to act with their arms and legs pinned to the ground by their own arrows. Their panicking eyes shot between the torture of their leader and the mutilated corpse of their comrades littering the ground.
After watching another toe fly from their Brugel’s foot, they couldn’t help but think the dead were the lucky ones.
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The Huntress stood on a hill overlooking the town in the distance. Her arms were crossed over her chest as her eyes scanned the dwelling below. The bandits’ information had borne fruit, and she found civilization just as the moon crested over the horizon. She smiled while lifting up a sack that jingled in the night air. She reached inside and took out one of the gold coins she found among the remains of the bandits.
‘All three objectives completed in one day. Not bad.’
She returned the coin to the bag, tied it to her waist, and began to make her way towards the hamlet.