35 The unsettling feeling of being watched

After his last trip to the Hunter's Dream, Surgit had a better understanding of Yharnam. As soon as he teleported to the dream, he noticed that his clothes had come back to normal as if by magic. What's more, the blood that stained his body had disappeared completely. Returning to the hunter's dream felt like taking a fresh shower and getting a new set of clothes. Perhaps the legends told about Yharnam were true after all. Perhaps Yharnam was a city of healing and miracles as most of the books said.

He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the doll moving and talking either. After the initial shock subsided, Surgit realized that she could only speak in riddles like Gherman. Her discourse was limited and somehow… scripted. She told him about the dream and how it was a safe haven for hunters. She asked him to speak to Gherman about matters related to the beasts. She also told him that by fighting beasts, he would collect something called Echoes of Blood which would help him get stronger. After delivering this information to him, the doll kept repeating the same thing over and over again every time he dared ask her about something different.

He then went to the hunter's workshop, where Gherman usually sat. He decided to have a rest and recollect his thoughts before going back to Yharnam. He had to get back to the city to meet Karla and Francis. He had no interest in teaming up with Francis but Karla managed to survive in Yharnam while protecting the old man. She must be an accomplished fighter in order to kill Yharnam's monsters without getting killed instantly. He needed her assistance in order to reach the Great Cathedral.

He knew he had to reach that place in order to find more information regarding Paleblood. That word still puzzled him. He didn't know why he was stuck in Yharnam nor did he know why Paleblood was the sole key for him to leave this place and resume his normal life. He soon found himself wondering what he would do once he left this nightmarish reality. He fantasized about becoming a wealthy bounty hunter, renowned all over the continent. His thoughts took him as far as becoming a prince after saving a lady in distress who also happened to be the heiress to a wealthy kingdom.

He had to slap himself awake. Daydreaming would only make him lose sight of the goal he had set for himself. In order to make his childish dreams come true, he first had to find out what Paleblood meant and where to find it. That was when he decided to get back to the city and catch up to Karla and Francis. But first, he had to pay a visit to an old friend.

The lantern he teleported to, was in front of Gilbert's house: the man who had told him about the great bridge. He was angry at his naivety, believing a stranger who may have sent him to his certain death. He knocked at his window.

- "That scent, you must be that hunter. I heard a terrible noise earlier, what happened?"

- "Are you serious? You mean you don't know who makes that terrible roar?"

- "I never heard such a noise since I arrived to Yharnam. I was scared that something terrible was about to happen in the city. When it calmed down, I was preparing myself for the worst."

- "There was a beast taller than any building at that bridge. It tried to kill me and I have a reason to believe you were sending me to my death," Surgit was getting angry. He was sure that Gilbert was feigning ignorance.

- "Listen, since I've arrived to Yharnam, I've never left this house. I was only focused on my treatment."

Surgit had to concede and give the man the benefit of the doubt. After all, he didn't want to linger there for too long.

- "Do you know of any other road towards the Cathedral Ward then?" He asked

- "As I said before, I've never left this house since I got here. But I heard of a way through the aqueducts, you can try over there."

- "And where might I find them?" Surgit couldn't stop but wonder how the man behind the window could know so much just by sitting idly in his house.

- "I'm not sure, but there has to be multiple ways to it. This city is a magnificent architectural work of art. It was built to make water accessible to everyone. I'm sure you'll find your way there."

Exasperated, Surgit left the small square and walked towards the fountain plaza. He didn't want to question the man further. He already doubted him so he would take all his answers with a grain of salt.

He also wanted to find Karla and Francis and join up with them. Once in the fountain plaza, silence welcomed him. There was no sign of any living soul. He had watched the carnage he caused when he fought the mob of man-beasts. He still couldn't believe that he was the one who did that. In retrospect, it looked like it was the work of a team of skilled warriors.

The abilities he had gained after the blood ministration allowed him to have the strength and reflexes of a hardened warrior only tales and legends speak of. As he stood next to the fountain, he saw three malformed crows lying on a pool of blood. He walked past them and looked down the fences. From there he could see the aqueducts leading to a faraway road. Fog covered the canals below but his eyesight had improved drastically since he became a hunter. He could see through darkness with little to no effort. He saw water channels extending towards what appeared to be a bridge in the distance.

This was good enough, Surgit had no other choice but to follow that lead and see where the road will take him. The question that remained was how to get down towards those canals. 'Maybe I should get back to the great bridge and inspect the place from there. I might have a better vista from there,' he thought to himself. He was making his way back towards the bridge when he heard laughter in the distance. He had an uneasy feeling, as if something was watching him from a distance.