The need to get stronger

Francis turned towards the woman and began speaking.

- "No I am not a hunter nor am I from around here. I'm simply seeking greater knowledge and I ended up in Yharnam, on my road to Enlightment."

- "One of those who think Yharnam holds the answer to your existential questions eh?" retorted the woman in a mocking voice "Wasn't there a hunter down there barring the way in and out of the graveyard?"

- "I saw something that resembled a man down there, I just didn't linger long enough to find out" said Francis shamelessly. He knew he was a coward and he stopped trying to conceal it.

- "Fear allows us to survive anyways. I commend that. You're not afraid of admitting your own weaknesses. So what brought you to the cathedral ward?"

- "As I said before, I'm seeking knowledge but I have to say, I'd love to receive a blood ministration and join the rank of hunters as well." Francis felt that honesty could lead him somewhere with this woman so he just said what came to his mind.

- "You'll have to find a blood minister for that and they're quite rare nowadays. As for knowledge, you can use this library for the moment. It contains countless books about the history of men and evolution." The woman was willingly sharing with him the information without hesitation.

- "And they say that Yharnamites aren't willing to share their knowledge of blood healing." Francis was amazed at how easily he got access to information from the first Yharnamite he'd met.

- "Who said that? We are knowledgeable people and there is no shame in sharing information. I'll just require you to tell me more about where you came from and the place you used to live in. I'm fascinated to hear about foreign places."

- "We have nowhere to go and I like this place already, so I'll be glad to share with you what I know." Francis liked the woman already and was excited at the prospect of having an intellectual conversation, away from the horrors of the streets of Yharnam.

- "Well, you can access the Cathedral ward from the floor above, but I have no business there. I'd like to go to Central Yharnam but that hunter down there scares me to death. I'd rather not go near him." She said in a frightful voice as she mentioned the hunter.

- "I must be lucky that I have avoided him then. Very well, let's converse. What would you like to know about my land?"

- "Everything, just tell me everything."

****

'Oh my god, when is this going to end? I must have died to this man a hundred times. I lost count at ten.' Surgit started losing hope at beating the old man. He was agile and fast and the more he fought him the less effective he became at countering his attacks. In fact Surgit had lost to him twenty four times already. He was getting tired of that situation. Either he wasn't strong enough or he needed to improve his fighting skill. He thought of asking Karla for help but he preferred to keep the whole affair hidden from her.

What bugged him though was the fact that every time he resuscitated, Karla was sound as sleep. She'd always wake up to his footsteps and get startled. It was as if he was living in a broken world where the same events repeated themselves over and over again. The only difference was that his death was different every time. That man had so many ways to kill him that Surgit had enough of tasting his own blood every time he bit the dust. He was back at the clinic talking to Iosefka. He noticed that she also didn't tire from his countless visits, requiring blood vials from her. Either she was the nicest person in all of Yharnam or she didn't notice that he'd visited her on so many occasions.

- "Here, take it, I hope it will come in handy for you" she said after handing him another vial.

- "Thank you Iosefka, this blood really is a lifesaver." He was really grateful for her help.

- "I like your visits here. At least I have a sane person to talk to in this city." She said in a cheerful tone.

- "Likewise, I grew tired of slaying so many beasts."

- "A hunter's job is awfully gruesome. I don't know how you manage to accomplish it. But you keep us safe so the vials are the least I could do."

- "I thank you again for your tremendous help lady doctor. Without your assistance I would have lost my mind a long time ago." And as he said it, he swore he could hear a giggle from the other side of the door.

- "Maybe once the hunt is over, we could finally meet face to face. I know I shouldn't be saying this but now I find myself looking forward to it." Her melodious voice made Surgit speechless. For the first time he wondered what the woman behind the closed door looked like.

- "I'm looking forward to that too." He finally managed to say.

- "Now go, I wish you a fruitful hunt." She said after a moment of silence.

'You had to blow it you stupid shit,' he reprimanded himself for the way he ended the conversation. 'Looking forward to it too? What do you think you were doing? Closing a business deal?' a sarcastic voice commented in his head. He was clearly not satisfied with the way their conversation ended and those damned voices weren't making it any easier. He was afraid that he'd offended her. He tried to erase that embarrassing moment but the voices were still mocking him for it.

Karla was still sleeping in the anteroom. She sat in a corner leaning on the wall behind her. 'How long is she going to sleep?' she had suffered enough damage to kill a person so he decided to leave her alone. He also wanted to find some change of clothes for her. What Paul did to her was inhuman. Her breasts were almost exposed and the hood that concealed her head before was used now to cover her chest.

On closer inspection Karla looked almost like a woman from a fairy tale. She had long red hair, a fine pointy nose and big eyes. She was as tall as he was and she was slender. She reminded him of those ballet dancers he used to watch back when he was at the academy. On his days off, he'd spend the day going to the opera house or the theatre. He enjoyed artistic performances. He preferred ballet shows the most though: how they moved gracefully with their long legs, muscular thighs and thin upper body. Karla had fair skin, too fair as a matter of a fact. A sleeping beauty, that could cut you open in two strikes. He felt drawn to her and at the same time he dreaded being on her kill list.

Surgit then had an idea. He could go to the dream and ask the doll or Gehrman how he could get stronger. As he peered into the blue flame in the lamp, Surgit felt his body getting lighter and no time, he found himself standing in the middle of the gigantic garden. The doll was standing right next to the front door.

She didn't move or bat an eye. Her sight was fascinating yet disturbing. She looked like those upper class women who always dress up when they leave their homes. No matter the errand they had to run. She wore a wood brown cape that extended down to her waist. Underneath the cape she wore a brown bodice with golden laces on them and on her head she wore a brown bonnet ornamented on the right side by flowers. She also wore a black long skirt that extended under her knees and leather brown boots with golden laces. She had ashen hair and big almond shaped eyes. She was taller than him and her voice was melodious and sweet.

- "Welcome home good hunter, what is it you desire?" she said in her dreamy voice.