Chapter 19: The Crow’s End

The Lord of Cainhurst

A title passed down for centuries after Yharnam's passing, it was revered as the highest rank of nobility within the land, saves for the King himself

The reason for the title's strange property lies in its origin. Dating back to the time of the Pthumerians, drinking the blood of one's king as a pledge of loyalty has been a long-honored tradition. It is only until Mergo's death that the practice was discontinued

Still, the belief retains

He who holds the purest blood is the rightful king

And he who holds the blood of king, holds the blood of Cainhurst

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My footstep echoed across the stone chamber as I made my way up the obelisk stairs. In contrast to the raging storm outside, inside the hidden part of the castle there was only complete silence

Candle lit up the stairway, illuminating my blood-stained figure. I wiped my hand to swat away some of the blood dripping down my clothe. It has been like this ever since those Cainhurst souls let themselves be absorbed by me

I rechecked my equipment to see if they're still in pristine conddition. Most of the blood has been cleaned of, leaving only my clothe to be stained with the crimson color

Having found my condition in satisfactory condition, my mind wandered about the anomalies I've encountered in this area. Inevitably, it strayed toward a certain weapon

A silver Kris blade named Demonbrandt, it's gleam reflects a pure holy silver more akin to a Church weapon than any Vileblood creations from the game, which is a fact that puzzled me

Since the blade's wielder was no longer alive, I took ownership of the sword and sent it to my Workshop for further research. The fact that a skilled hunter, and someone who has the Gamer system by his side, is unable to wield something is intriguing by itself

If the opportunity arise, I'll have Gehrman take a look at it. The old man's more knowedgable about the history of Yharnam than me. Maybe he'll dig up something noteworthy regarding the weapon

I stepped into the chamber. Ignoring the multitude of statues standing to the side, I approached the throne. Or more accurately, the masked figure regally sitting on it

The sound of my footsteps stirred the slumbering Vileblood awake. Behind slitted holes, crimson eyes groggily opened, before her eyes widened

Queen Annalise sat up straight in her royal seat, posture ram rod straight in a regal manner refined through years of ruling as the Queen of a castle. Though I suppose she goes by the "Vileblood queen" now

"Kin of Blood, how long We have waiteth for thou" Her voice echoed across the chamber as I approached her

"Kneel. Though We are no longer of sacred blood, We are of the first line, and We demand thee appropriate amount of respects from one such as thou"

With a dress as white as snow and a contrasting iron mask adorned on her face, Annalise looks to be the very definition of misery.

The metal headwear that bound her to this castle shone in the brilliant luster of surrounding candles, painting a picture of a deceitful golden cage. A crown of illusion, how fitting, and yet ironic

I stepped forward, my boots clicking on the ground as I lowered myself. My body bent forward with one hand stretched forward, as if seeking an audience with royalty. The stance itself felt far too familiar to be a coincidence

I frowned as memories of the first playthrough went through my head. My character kneeling in front of her with that same posture...with that same outfit...with the same weapon

Maybe it was just a coincidence

Forcing myself back to the present, I smile and plastered on a formal front

"Queen Annalise, a pleasure to finally meet you in the flesh"

She acknowledged my greeting with her head inclined

"As do us, dearest. Thine return to Cainhurst is welcomed. We art sure Our kin would be overjoyed to know of thine presence here"

"I...had already met them. Though they are quite enthusiastic about my return, I failed to see why though?"

"Have thou forgot? We of Cainhurst value talent before lineage, but it is often the case that stronger blood leads to poweful knights. Yours just happen to be the most pungent of them all, perhaps even more so than Ours"

I looked down at my hand

So that's where the increase in fiream damage comes from. Absorbing all the Vileblood's and Executioner's blood into myself should do that

The information was swiftly stored away in my head. She did not seems to want to offer me a pledge. Why is that? Did she know I already have the Cainhurst badge? Or...I'm already a Vileblood without knowing it

"Actually, your Highness" I hesitated "There's something I'd like you to lend an ear to. I had found myself in the most bizarre situation and wish for your aid"

"Very well. Tell us thy dilemma"

With a regality befitting that of medieval royalty, she spoke. The tired woman before me seemed to turn into a ruler in that split second, showing me a glimpse of the Queen that used to rule the castle of Cainhurst

Thus I began speaking

I told her of my journey into Yharnam, of the blood transfusion. I told her about my path from the clinic to here, the monsters I faced, the hunters I met, the nightmare.

Of course, a few details were left out. Mainly the system I possess and the fact that I had experienced this through a game before. But between the different tales, I made it very clear that certain memories were lacking, and that I possess no prior knowledge to the events of my life here as a noble

Amidst it all, she listened on with an attentiveness befitting a judge

"- And when I defeated Executioner Logarius, this crown allowed me to come to your chamber. It seems a type of arcane has been enchanted to conceal the throne room from the rest of the castle, preventing others from seeking you out in hope that one day the Vileblood's existence would die with him"

I ended my story with the boss fight

"How queer...thou tale is most intriguing, indeed" Queen Annalise nodded to herself. I looked up at her, eyes narrowed in confusion

"Would you entertain your subject with details of my past self, my Queen? Perhaps a recollection of instances in my life would be enough to trigger something"

"Truthfully We could not recall much" She mused "Most of Our impression about thine background hath been through our dear Maria. Thou were an exiled scholar from Byrgenwerth, and who are quite skilled in the use of our blood arts. Thou and our Kin are close with each other, and it is through her did We discover about thine true Lineage. But as to thee origin, that We do not know much of"

My eyebrows shot through my hairline. If she can't recall anything it is quite unexpected, but not troublesome. It's the fact that she can't recall after what she said in the letter that makes no sense

"Then why send the invitation, your highness?"

She tilted her head. Crimson eyes narrowed behind the helmet's slit in a mixture of suspicion and wariness

"What invitation do thou speaketh of, Blood Kin?"

Though confused, I pulled the Cainhurst invitation from my jacket. It was a piece of paper whose page has been yellowed out with time, marked with a blood red wax on the front. Said mark is in the shape of the Corruption tune

With a flourish of my coat, I handed it to her. I watched as the Queen slowly scanned over the letter's content.

Upon reaching the end of the paragraph, I watched her froze.

Annalise's grip on the antique paper tightened as she slowly crumble it in her hand

"We hath written a formal letter as of the moment thou are still present within Yharnam. But thou soon disappeared after, thus so the letter was not sent. How did it ends in thou possession?"

"It is found in Central Yharnam, your majesty. The letter sat on the table and was clearly addressed to me" I lowered my head

In my mind, something doesn't quite add up. If it wasn't her who sent this to me, then who?

"This...is not Our mark of blood. Yet if one wasn't of our Kin, they would not be able to forge this seal. There's only one other who knows intimately this symbol...Catherine"

The name rings something within me. An unknown emotion that I cannot pinpoint. Somehow, my chest hurt

My eyes narrowed as the Vileblood registry surfaced within my mind. I focused back on queen Annalise who's still in shock from reading the invitation

She shook her head with barely contained distaste, tossing the letter to the ground as thought it was an accursed thing "That damned crow. To impersonate her queen's signature, had her arrogance know no bound?"

I calmly eyed Annalise, whose crimson eyes glowed under her iron mask. A few second passed, before she slumped in her seat

"Thou would excuse Us for Our ignorance. Such mistakes should have been rectified had our Kin been among the living"

"It is of no importance, your majesty Annalise. The invitation has served its use already" I soothed her "I admittedly am befuddled by this turn of event as much as you. However, it is best if we solve this through clarification. I believe the one responsible for this is a Crow, yes?"

There are three crows in Yharnam that I am familiar of

One is my familiar.

One is a good companion

The last one...brought forth a sense of paranoia within me.

The sound of bullets fill my ears. The Repeating Pistol roared out like a beast hungry for the taste of flesh. Two figures moved at the same time, their weapon clashing at the center of the Grand Cathedral in perfect tempo

Eileen laid wounded at the steps of the cathedral. She was rendered useless in combat, leaving me out to hold out agains this ....monster by myself

Hollowed ringing sounded as quicksilver casing hit the floor. Amidst it all, feathered cape fluttered at the edge of my vision. I swung blindly forward. With disgusting ease the Hunter evaded it with a burst of silver mist, reappearing behind me

The crimosn red blade stained in the blood of Cainhurst descended down on my head. All it took was one shot, their Chikage's lightning fast strike ripped through my soft flesh, reducing my health to zero

I watched in horror as the familiar crimson text appeared on the screen

'YOU DIED'

I involuntarily winced. Somehow the gameplay from memories seems more realistic every time I think about it

My unpleasant reverie returned me back to the Queen, just in time to catch her response

"Indeed she was. Catherine of Cainhurst, a child borne into a long line of accomplished knight. At a young age she has been rival with Maria for their skills in combat" Annalise's voice took on a more reminiscent tone "Ah, of the olden days where they would drew their blades at the first sign of contact. We do believe they have the same interest in you"

I absentmindedly nodded to her rambling

The bloody Crow has been a tough enemy in one of my early game. While not a boss, the amount of time I've died to them is roughly the same as those sharks inside the Fishing Hamlet's well. It took some leveling in the Chalice Dungeons to beat them in fair combat

But...to call them a "She"?

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. The Crow wore a feathered cape that covered most of her body and a mask that concealed the entirety of her face. Add that with the continuous interruptions through continuous pistol firing and you've got yourself the perfect androgynous hunter

Good thing I've already sent sir Edgar and a few others after Eileen.

If things proceed like in the game, the Crow will soon be located. And when the fighting starts, my familiar would be of good assistance to her.

Hopefully I can avoid her death this time

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If the crow could sigh, he would

Unfortunately, sir Edgar is a bird. A hunter's familiar and, most importantly, a predator in his own rights. Those who hunt does not speaks until their prey have been taken down, for it is only

As his gaze swept across the Cathedral Ward's towering landmass, memories of his first life seeped into the crow's mind.

Memories of a life long past, when he was still a simple creature just seeking out for his fellow crows

Before the dreadful fall of Yharnam, before the foul blood littering the streets lured in his brethren, before he signed the contract to become a hunter, he was the best crow there is among the flock.

His wings soared in the boundless sky, every caw of his beak sending terror into rival flocks. Villagers feared him as they all threw their breads to him as offerings every morning. His black feathers shone with a healthy black sheen, causing females to flock to him like a babe to a natural chad. For in his youth, he was the King of the Yharnam Sky

Perhaps that was why when the Scourge spread, he was the only one unaffected by it all

The Hunter took him in, offer him company and grants him the strength of blood. It would not do for a majestic crow as him not to repay that debt with everything he has

The raven dived down. As sir Edgar drew near the building the black-clad silhouete he was looking for appeared just behind an abandoned carriege, nimbly jumping through several scattered landscapes as she made her way toward the Grand Cathedral's entrance

"Eileen is a Hunter of Hunters. Her job is to hunt Hunters"

A fellow crow, she is.

Hunting hunters, she does.

Wise, her action not

It would not do. Crows are solitary creatures, but in these trying times it is better for one to form a murder of their own

He reared himself forward, landing on a perched up railing. His caw caught the woman's attention. She stopped just in front of him

There was a momentary pause in her posture. After all, he was non-feral and possess a gracefulness to him that most beasts here lack. From a hunter's point of view he must have been a strange sight

"A...crow? But most of your kind looks different" She eyed him curiously, eyes peering between the holes of her mask

"Hunter! Hunter!"

Eileen's hand stopped just shy from drawing her blade before the words registered within her mind. Did this animal really just talk? Many questions ran through her head, the battle hardened woman eyed him with wariness born through years of hunting in Yharnam

Shaking her head, the Hunter of Hunters brushed aside her cloak and stepped forward

"Caution! Enemy ahead!" The crow once again cawed. Ignoring him she went past the animal and toward the Cathedral's entrance. "Try tongue! But Hole!"

As utterly impossible that crow looks to be, there is another crow she has to take care of. One that is of many levels more dangerous than the one behind her

Her footstep rang against the tiled brick. Normally silent, the sound echoed inside the empty hall, bringing with it a rhythmic sound of death approaching

She is a hunter, hunting hunters. But this may just be the toughest one to take down yet

Moonlight illuminate the figure standing at the other side of the Cathedral. Their back faced toward the altar, heads lowered as though listening to something

At the sound of her blade being drawn, the Hunter turned back. Their face met Eileen's empty one. They did not show their eyes, for the Bloody Crow had been blinded long ago

A necessity for those who had had too much of the Hunt. The beautiful red color became enticing the moment one's sanity waver, which is why some Hunters chose to blind themselves, either with bandages or more thorough means

Through their ears, the echoes of blood sing. The melody of the night offer them a guidance most foul through nightmarish fevers

The Vileblood knights, whose helmet's eye slits are cast away, is a testament ot this practice

She pulled her blade free from the corpse before her. On the cold floor laid the dead body of one Executioner Alfred

"Persistent bug"

The Bloody Crow spared him a glance before flicking her Chikage to the side, spattering the blood on the floor

"So you have come" She gently stated, white locks of hair swaying to the side as the Crow inclined her head in greeting

"I have to. What in the bloody Nightmare do you think you're doing, Catherine?" Eileen circled around the Crow. She in turn mirrored her action "Olek. Henriet. Damien and now him. All of them, dead, and for what?"

The dance had just begun. Two predators sizing each other up, awaiting for a moment of weakness, a momentary falter in stride to pounce.

"I saved them" It was barely a whisper that greeted her back "By releasing them to the Waking world, I saved them from the Nightmare that plagued this city. Their blood, in turn, strengthen me so I continue with my Hunt"

"You delusional girl, there is no way to end this Hunt" Eileen hissed "Our job is to clean up the Hunters who went mad. That's all there is to it, that's all there is to do"

"I understand you, Eileen. Your bones have grown weary, your body...detoriating. Without the gift of the Tainted blood, the passage of time erodes all your strength" Metal boots clicked on the ground "You are but an old woman now, so-"

They moved at the same time. Two dark blurs plunged across the room and into the other's death

There was a clang as their blade clashed

"-let me give you the peace of sleep you deserve"

Eileen's grip trembled from the force behind the Bloody Crow's strike. How much Blood Echoes did she absorbed to be this strong? Dozens, no, perhaps hundreds of Hunters must have fell under this woman's blade to harness this much strength

"What have you done?"

"I hunt the hunters who hunt hunters. You could say I'm the Hunter of Hunters of Hunters" She pushed her back. Eileen fired shots from her pistol that was easily dodged "Eventually, comes the Hunter who hunt said Hunter of Hunter of Hunters to become the Hunter of Hunter of Hunters of Hunters, and the one to hunt said Hunter would be the Hunter of Hunter of Hunter of Hunters of Hunte-"

"Enough" She snapped "Take this seriously, Catherine"

"Let me have my fun" She dashed to the side, deflecting the old woman's throwing knives away. Her grip on the sheathed Chikage tightened as a red flash sprung forward and nicked Eileen by her shoulder

Pain exploded in the old woman's nerves. With the ease of an experienced Hunter she easily ignored it, reaching to her side for the Blood Vials in her pocket

The Numbing Mist crashed into her seconds later, making the older Crow stumbled. So much for respite. They are both predators in their own right, it would only make sense they can predict what their opponent will do next

Except, prediction doesn't necessarily equates to one's ability influence the outcome

A blade pierced through her side. Eileen hissed. She turned her head, only to be met with the barrel of the Crow's mechanical firearm as she cocked the trigger

With barely a moment to react, she dodge

The shot was fired at point blank range, twin bullets digging deep inside her shoulder as the flash of pain distorted her spatial perception. the woman backstepped away from her adversary. The crow responds by getting in closer with a horizontal slash that she blocked with her own. Batting away the offending weapon, Eileen lunged forward with a riposte

They pushed against each other in a deadlock. The Crow twisted her body at the same time Eileen ducked down, avoiding her overhead swing and responds with a Pistol shot to the face

The Crow only tilted her head- and to the old woman's shock -the bullet only grazed against her metal helmet due to the impact angle

"That should be impossible" She dryly remarked

"Impossibility is for the weak" The Crow's tone booked no sympathy, Chikage pressing to her neck. No mercy. Just like a hunter should. "Accept your fate already"

The fight barely last two minutes. She was hopelessly outmatched. The curse of age had came to her, and sadly, without the Dream there's no second chance she can take. Eileen narrowed her eyes, a deep exhale escaping her

She has no intention of dying here yet

"Caw! Fucker!"

The window shattered as the silhouette dived down from above. The Cainhurst crow barely had time to raise her sword as sharp black talon crashed against the metal. She rolled away from Eileen just as her daggers slashed through the air where she'd stood just moments ago

"Well, another one had joined the fight..."

Edgar stood to his full height

"Blood of beasts, pray in twice. Blood of Hunters, pay the price!" He stood to his full height, black wings sprearing to the side. For a moment, an insatiable amount of bloodlust eminated from him

Six crimson eyes glowed in the darkness. Behind that mask of bone laid a beast. Not a slave to the blood, but a master of darkness, tamed by the incarnation of the hunt themselves

The Good Hunter had no idea just how good a pet he'd just raised

Eileen smashed her blade together, hands reaching to reload her gun. Catherine sheathed hers, head turning to face both of them

Three Hunters. Three Crows

Let the bloodbath begin

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As time clicked by and silence descended, it was apparent our conversation has ended. But I still have something to do

"My queen, would it be possible to join your Covenant?"

"We thought it prudent to ask. Why join when thou is already belong a part of us?" It took a moment for me to realize the implication of her words

"It's a way to renew my vow. Please think of it as result of my memory loss, as I do not recall having your Rune equipped when waking up"

"There isn't? Then tis a shame" She mused "Bend the head, and indulge thyself in Our tainted blood"

The knife stabbed deep into her wrist before my eyes. Annalise slowly slid it across, parting the flesh from each other - a scene that would have made my past self feel greasy, but now there's nothing that can compare to the brutality of the Hunt. Instead, I focused on how the flesh seems to regenerate the moment the wound was made

Instantaneous healing

It's even faster than [Unnatural Recovery]. So if I were to drink that, would the regeneration power stack? Furthermore, what Default Skills will be acquired if I equip it?

As the blood entered into the chalice, I eyed it in interest. The crimson liquid steadily poured from the wound in streams, slowly trickling down to mere droplets. And soon, the cup was full

The blood of an immortal, who won't be fascinated by it?

I raised the contained and took a deep chug, feeling that same burning sensation back when I absorbed the Vileblood and Executioenr's souls. Only, this time it was more intoxicating

I could get drunk on this if I hadn't controlled myself in time. I opened my eyes to see that the vital liquid inside has been drained completely empty

Putting the chalice down, I bowed my head in thanks

"You have my gratitude, my Queen"

"Mind theeself not. Anything done for the growth of Our covenant art permissable"

A smile graced my face at her words

She really thought I'd kill in her stead and offer her the Blood Dregs. So predictable and naive. Queens certainly hold sway over the knights, but they will never understand the heart of Hunters

Due to joining [Cainhurst Vilebloods] Covenant, a skill has been created

[Knight Pledge]

"Now, thou'rt too a Vileblood. We two, the very last on this earth. We await thy return. For the honor of Cainhurst"

Bidding her farewell, I made my way outside

The cool wind of the castle greeted me as I placed my foot past the door, with my coat billowing along its path. I sighed, feeling relieved that I finally complete my quest here

Before me, the lantern stood still, almost unnoticeable from the snow if not for the ghastly glow it emitted. Messengers coiled at their feet as they huddled together to fight off the biting cold

A part of me felt guilty for it. Here they are waiting for me while I was busy making chit chat with the Queen inside, leaving them to the mercy of nature

"I'm sorry little ones"

Said I, draping my coat over them. The Messengers made cute noises and grabbed for the piece of garment, partly for the warmth it offered, and partly for it being a gift from the Hunter they worship himself. I have known them for long enough to ascertain their behaviors for what it is

Seeing them acting like this brings a wondrous joy to my heart. Perhaps I should pay a visit to Oedon chapel after all this is done

My attention turned back to the lantern. I placed my hand on it. Soon, reality faded to black

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Author's Note: And that wrap it up nicely with a 4.5k word count. Tbh I don't know whether to make the Hunter a male reader or an actual OC, hence the weird title/addressing between them

On the matter of OC, I hope you don't mind me adding some lore to the Bloody Crow of Cainhurst as I did my other fics

I just don't like wasting good character potential to someone who looks so cool, yet made so little appearance the game itself. Going the conventional route with this one means the most we'd have is a glorified boss, some extra Blood Echoes, and nothing more. I hate that

Also, I have started reading up on some Bloodborne related media. So far there's been a few recommended to me and I think I'm starting to understand the plot (in general, that is)

- Vaati Vidya: Need I say more? Really great summary of the general world. However his normal videos seems to be more focused on Dark Souls

- Redgrave: Wrote the Paleblood Hunt, a 70-page essay that covered the majority of Bloodborne lore that are now considered Canon. Have a blast reading it

- Sinclair Lore: Theories regarding the untold lore. Some of them are quite outlandish, but they're good food for thought

- Lance McDonald (Recommended): Cut content from Bloodborne/ Most of the ideas in this story will be implmented from his videos 

Why make the Bloody Crow of Cainhurst a female?

Because she's a fucking bitch