Nightmare's End

Present: Foreigners

He returned to the lantern of the lumenwood garden, the high hum of the lantern beckoning the hunter to the dream. The darkly garbed man knelt, reaching toward the lantern and letting the messengers transport him. When he woke in the dream, his master stood before him.

"Stephetheon! Where were you? I almost left for Cainhurst without you!" said the majestically bearded hunter, his top hat bobbing slightly on his head of copper hair as he spread his arms in greeting.

"I was... searching, master Wolf. You needn't concern yourself, I was safe." Stephetheon knelt once more, in a display of deep respect, and as he stood he took the silver-encased hunter in a rough and tight embrace; it felt as though it had been ages since they had last seen each other.

"I know that, you dumbass. You made me wait," Wolfgore chuckled, stepping back to get a good look at his apprentice. "I like this new look, much like the Bloody Crow. Ah, but he has not the skill you possess with the Burial Blade."

"He has strong blood however," Stephetheon grinned under his mask. "To Cainhurst?"

"To Cainhurst."

***

The horses came to an abrupt halt, and promptly screamed as they died and the door of the carriage popped open on its own.

"You know what that means, brother," Wolf chuckled.

"We're here," Stephetheon growled faintly. (Imagine a really dramatic track from your favorite RPG starts, signifying a great adventure beginning) The hunters stepped out of the carriage, the dry snow crunching under their boots. "I've missed the cold, brother. Yharnam seems so much warmer."

"That's because of all the oh so welcoming bonfires at every intersection." Wolfgore kicked some snow with his silver clad foot, watching as it plunged into the sea. "Don't think swimming would be too much better than that though."

"You make a fair point there. So, what's the plan?"

Wolf put his hand on his hip and stroked his beard. "Well, if we're looking for information about the First Hunters, I heard that one of them came from Cainhurst Castle, and that he or she even shares blood with the undying Queen Annalise, if the old hunter tales have any truth within them. Perhaps we can seek an audience with her."

Stephetheon shook his head, chuckling softly. "Oh brother, always the pacifist when it comes to this sort of thing." With that, the black and silver hunter drew his Saw Spear and ran through the portcullis, steeling himself for whatever guarded the way forward.

"Oh brother, always the masochist..." Wolf ran after his friend and student, Whirligig Saw primed and ready for pizza cutting.

***

The blood lickers had proven to be more difficult than expected. Combined, the hunters had consumed seven blood vials just to kill four of them. After nearly being killed by a larger one, the comrades agreed to run past them and into the foyer of the castle.

Catching his breath, Stephetheon exclaimed, "By the... blood! You'd think they had... consumed half of Yharnam...." He pulled another vial out and injected himself with it, his willpower and resolve returning, tricking his mind into forgetting the hole in his belly from the claws of the bloody beasts. "Master, are you alright?"

Raising his hand in confirmation, Wolf responded, "I will be... gods damn those creatures. They fight like cleric beasts, taking hits like nothing. They should be called lead elixir lickers, at this rate." He stood up, straightening his back. The plates and mail in his armor jingled quietly as he moved.

"Well, they seem to prefer being outside, thank Odeon. Hmm..." Stephetheon began, scanning the chamber. He definitely noticed the massive staircase in the center of the hall, but also the bone chilling cold, especially when his breath clouded in front of his face.

"I remember reading a few of the workshop books, and a few mentioned the slaughter of the Vilebloods. Apparently many men were brutally slain by the executioners when they stormed the castle with Master Logarius..." Wolfgore blew out a few candles, inhaling the smoky scent.

"...and their wives cut their own throats, in their grief." Stephetheon finished, as the first ghost appeared, slashing violently with a warped and jagged dagger. The hunters quick stepped back, and Stephetheon stabbed at her with his Saw Spear, causing her to collapse in mist.

"Ah, shit," Wolf said, hefting his oversized pizza cutter over his shoulder. "How many?"

"Looks like there's nine of them. I'll distract them while you get behind and charge up that whirligig, got it?"

"Sounds good fam." Wolf dashed to the side, watching intently as his apprentice drew his Burial Blade and transformed it, the ringing sound of siderite echoing through the hall as Stephetheon sidestepped one woman and cut apart another. He jumped back, giving the ghosts space to approach as Wolf quietly sprinted around, his feet barely whispers, at least compared to the scythe.

Stephetheon transformed again, instead holding the sword component. He twirled it twice as he walked backwards from the wispy wenches, and Wolf raised his Saw, holding the small lever that released the tension of the blades, and crashed down on three more opponents. He transformed during his recovery swing, dispersing another. Steph cut two in half with a strong sweep of the sword. Two left.

The reaper transformed again in recovery and knocked another away, killing it by the impact, as Wolf used his mace to lift the last off the ground, roared, and slammed her into the ground.

"Well done, master," the younger praised, switching to his spear. "The servants are like to murder us though!"

"That's hardly fair, now is it? After all, we did exorcise a few spirits for them," Wolf laughed. "We should be more cautious, regardless."

Stephetheon eyed the staircase and the balcony above. "Well, we know where to go from here." He pointed to the hole in the second floor's wall.

Wolf nodded. Up they went.

I'm really happy so far with this story, and I hope you've all enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Quick shoutout to my fellow hunter Wolfgore! Make sure you check him out on YouTube and Twitch!! And congrats to him for nearly reaching 1'000 subscribers! May the good blood guide your ways.