210 Beware The Frailty Of Men

In the vast labyrinth that is the Central Pthumeru Chalice Dungeon, Surgit and Karla walked through narrow, damp tunnels. They soon found themselves standing before a large gate that towered above them. The hunters had to lift their heads up until their necks could no longer stretch in order to see the end of the gate.

"This is the main gate to the last guardian of these tombs," Surgit explained. He pointed at the bars that sealed the heavy gate from the other side. "We've already unlocked two locks. We have to find the last lever now in order to get this gate to open."

Karla nodded. "Where do you think we'll find this last lever?" she asked.

Surgit tapped his nose with his forefinger. "Follow the strongest scent," he said with a wide grin. Because of his elevated lips, Karla saw Surgit's canines, protruding a bit longer than humanly possible.

She shook her head, detaching her eyes from the disconcerting sight. "The last message we read clearly warned us against the guardians. Why pursue them?"

Surgit sighed. "When I first got inside the Great Cathedral, I met this Vicar," he said in a quiet tone.

"You met a sane priest of the Church in Yharnam?" she asked, incredulous.

Surgit chuckled. "Don't act so surprised. She wasn't sane, not really. Have you seen a hunter transform into a beast before?"

Karla nodded. "Back in the past, I fought a cleric beast, much like the one we fought when we first arrived to Yharnam."

"Vicar Amelia had the same features, but she was much stronger," Surgit replied. He took a deep breath and looked at the large metallic gate. "She was repeating some kind of prayer before I approached her. Remain wary of the frailty of men. Their wills are weak, minds young..."

Karla frowned. "What does that mean?" she asked.

"The blood that seeps through our veins, you're right to fear it," Surgit said in a quiet tone. He turned to look at her. "We both know that beasthood hides in a deep corner of our minds. The more we fight it, the harder it retaliates. It wants to manifest, turn us into hideous monsters."

Karla nodded. "I know as much. How does this relate to this smelly, damp labyrinth?"

"Laurence founded the Healing Church, is that right?" Surgit asked.

Karla nodded once more.

"After I defeated Vicar Amelia, I found a beast's skull in the Great Cathedral's altar. When I touched it, I saw Laurence, standing behind his master, telling him he's about to leave," Surgit replied.

"You mean Master Willem? The famous scholar?" Karla asked.

"Yes. I've found him in Byrgenwerth too, right before we met. I don't know how he's still alive..." Surgit replied.

"There are many things we can't understand yet," Karla replied in an affirming tone.

"Willem, Laurence, and Gehrman, they all had one point in common," Surgit said, nodding.

"The foul beast will dangle nectar and lure the meek into the depths," Surgit said. "This is a prayer the vicar repeated over and over. I believe the nectar is the blood, and the depths... Well, it's our beasthood..."

Karla's eyes widened. "What are you getting at?" she asked.

"We're all doomed to transform, unless we find a way out of this. We can't find answers by contemplating the consequences of the Church and the Hunters' follies. We have to find the source of the scourge, and halt it," Surgit replied with a confident tone.

"By source, I bet you mean these tombs," Karla said in an undertone.

Surgit nodded. "Willem and his students found something in these tombs. If we can't figure out what it is, we'll soon turn into the beasts we're hunting."

"And you seriously believe we'll find answers in these foul labyrinths?" Karla asked. She obviously had trouble following Surgit's logic.

"I believe so, yes," Surgit replied. He sniffed at the air then, turning in all directions. "The more I discover about Yharnam, the more I believe they caused their own demise. They shouldn't have delved into these tombs. They shouldn't have unearthed the terrible secrets that were buried within."

He turned toward Karla and gave her a wry smile. "But what other choice do we have? We're already cursed. The only way is forward."

Karla's lips pursed into an agreeable smile. She looked at Surgit with a strange expression on her face. Surgit frowned, and Karla's smile grew wider. Her eyes shone a bright, happy light. "What's up with you?" he asked, on the defensive.

"Nothing," Karla retorted. "I'm just beginning to notice how much Yharnam changed you."

"For better or worse?" he asked, intrigued.

"I can't really say," Karla said in a playful tone.

Her smile hadn't faded. Surgit could see the deep dimples on her cheeks. He'd never looked at Karla that way, and it troubled him. He looked at the direction from which he sensed a guardian.

"I think our last opponent is that way." Surgit pointed at a tunnel south of the big gate. He could feel heat building up at the tip of his ears. "It's best if we dealt with it at the earliest."

"Are you in a hurry to leave?" Karla asked.

"Aren't you?" Surgit retorted. He turned to look at her and found her eyeing him with a calculating gaze. Her charming smile had vanished.

"I was beginning to enjoy the time we're spending together, bonding over blood and beasts," she replied in a playful tone.

Sugit's lips twitched. "It's damp and dark in here. I don't know about you, but this place starts weighing on you after a while."

Karla nodded. Her ears perked up, and she began sniffing the air in turn. "I think you're right. The strongest smell comes from south of here."

The two hunters headed through the tunnels. They dealt with all manners of pale and skinny beasts that came their way. They soon found themselves in brightly lit room. A chandelier hung atop their heads. More than fifty candles adorned the large candelabrum.

They saw one door leading out of the room. It was open, and more than a dozen skinny creatures were running their way. They were all draped in blood. Then they heard the faint chime of a bell in the distance.

Karla and Surgit cursed inwardly at the same time. They turned to look at each other, and simultaneously, they said with narrowed eyes: "Bell ringing crones!"