The scourge has started to take hold of Yharnam but the church and citizens are fighting back. Young hunter, Auna, sets out on her first hunt to prove herself against the beasts that plague her city. However, she finds that not everything is black a...
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The Road to Cainhurst
A hand gripped Auna's shoulder, jostling her awake. She choked into the muddy earth as she came to.
"My dear, are you quite alright?" The concerned voice accompanied an arm helping her up. A bearded man, with wild hair, kneeled before her. His blue eyes looked her over to spot any injuries. "Come now. Into the carriage. Let us take care of you."
Auna didn't have the energy to fight against him. His voice was kind and she hoped that he had good intentions. The fog in her mind was almost as strong as the smog that filled the forest. He presented an ornate carriage led by two black mares. At the opening a face appeared looking down at them. One thick eyebrow raised, the man inside the vehicle held out a hand. Fingers trembling, she grabbed his forearm and was hoisted into the cab and plopped into a velvet seat.
"Thank you, dear boy," her savior said, climbing in after her. He took the seat next to her and tapped on the roof. The horses whinnied and the carriage began rolling along. "My name is Logarius," the man said.
"King Logarius?" she questioned. The name was still fresh in her mind from the night before.
"Master, please, if you must use such formalities," he said, waving his hand. "You are a hunter, are you not? What pray, is your name my dear?"
She nodded, pulling her father's hunting cloak closer to her. "Auna," she said. He reached for her hand and pulled it to his scraggly beard. Kissing it, he grinned.
"Beautiful name like your face. I feared the worst when I saw you on the road. Lucky that we found you when we did." Logarius had an effervescent energy that Auna had never known. He slapped a hand to his forehead looking across the carriage. "How silly of me, this is Scholar Stephen."
Auna looked across to see his companion leaned back in his seat. Stephen seemed the opposite of his counterpart, calm and still. "Nice to meet you, my lady." His eyes watched her closely.
"My wife has asked to escort him here from Byrgenwerth," Logarius continued, drawing her attention again.
"Byrgenwerth?" she exclaimed. "You're from Byrgenwerth?"
Stephen seemed apathetic to her curiosity. "Sort of," he said, a grin tugging at his lips.
"My dear lady, you seem to know of me," Logarius interrupted. He held her hand between his palms, attention focused solely on her.
"No, master. Another hunter was trying to get to Cainhurst and told me about a meeting of hunters," she admitted, eyes drifting back to Stephen. His eyes bore into her, eyebrows furrowed.
"A hunter trying to get to Cainhurst?" Logarius said. "Who, might I ask?"
"Alfred..." he voice broke at his name, a rush of memories flooding her brain.
"Dear old chap," he replied, unaware of her down turned face. "Where is he now? I hope he is headed towards the castle as we speak. I would much like him to see this miracle that Stephen brings."
"He died," Auna murmured, tears escaping her eyes and running down her dirt-caked cheeks.
"Oh, dear," Logarius consoled. He pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve and dabbed her face. "He was always such a bright child and brilliant hunter. It breaks my heart to hear of such things. Is that why you were wandering in the woods?" Auna could only nod. "Come now. You will be taken care of at Cainhurst. And upon the next moon you will see this brilliant miracle."
"It certainly will be a spectacle," Stephen added, his expression not changing even as he looked into her weeping eyes.
