After showing the letter to Iosefka, you carefully put it back in its envelope before condemning it to the depths of your sleeves. "Well, can't rightly say no ta that."
"Looks like a trap," she says.
You shrug. "Eh, I ain't lookin' a gift horse in the mouth. Never gotten ta kill a vampire queen before and this one was nice enough ta give me directions." You've killed a vampire empress, two vampire tsarinas, and a vampire president, but the archetypal monarch has always eluded you. Shame about President Donaire; she had some great economic policies.
"If you're certain. The girls and I will keep up with everyone's physical therapy while you're gone."
"Ye've done great work tonight, Doc. Thank ye."
"It was my pleasure. Also, Hemwick Lane is to the left of the Grand Cathedral's entrance."
"Much appreciated."
You follow her back indoors and gather up some vittles for Yurie before heading back outside. You turn to fetch Alfred before realizing that you have no fucking clue where he is; a lot's happened since he bitched out and Yharnam's a big city. A trip to the entrance of Old Yharnam reveals nothing and, while the idea has merit, you elect not to have Ebrietas throw you as high as possible to signal him. Wait, maybe if you had a flare gun in your hand and fired it right as you reached your apex...
No, no, you promised not to abuse your regeneration anymore. Another brilliant idea killed before its time.
Simon's made excellent progress when you arrive, halfway through the bookshelf after the one you were struggling with. He waves at your approach, not taking his eyes off his work as you deposit Yuria's lunch in a corner.
"Everyone doing well?"
"Looks like; they don't have to keep Djura strapped down anymore, so that's a plus."
"Good to hear. What are you up to now?"
"Got a letter from the Vileblood Queen invitin' me ta Cainhurst, actually."
Simon puts down the current stack of books and looks over his shoulder at you, eyebrow quirked.
"What prompted that?"
"Somethin' about my 'actions on this night.' Not sure what specifically she's referrin' to."
"You have done quite a bit. My money'd be on destroying the Healing Church; they didn't have a great relationship with the Vilebloods."
"Ye're probably right; think she'll give me a medal?"
"Don't get your hopes up. What's the plan?"
"Go there, say hi, thank her for her consideration, then kill the shit out o' her."
Simon nods. "What if she actually does give you a medal?"
"Same thing but I'll probably feel a wee bit shittier about it."
"Fair enough. I'll stay with the women, help them out."
"Ye don't wanna come along?" you say.
"And slow you down? Besides, the invitation was only for you and if there's one thing I learned about aristocrats from my time in Intelligence, it's that they don't approve of plus-ones."
"Works for me. I'll go tell the lasses goodbye and be off, then."
"They're pretty focused right now; I'll let them know where you've gone when they take a break. Have fun storming the castle."
You teleport back to Cathedral Ward and, with the sort of spring in your step only impending slaughter can bring, stroll towards your destination. From the great doors, a staircase leads down into a grassy passage that swiftly opens into a section of woods. The place is utterly choked with massive trees, many ringed with clusters of graves to maintain the classic Yharnam aesthetic.
Unusually spiky dogs rush you as you begin your hike, backed up by a handful of gunmen. All of them utterly fail to break your stride or your good spirits. In fact, they actually manage to improve said spirits when you hit one of the dogs so hard it impales itself on a tree and dangles thirty feet in the air.
Before long, you find a pair of tall wooden gates that you boot open with a whistle. A small settlements squats at the base of the slope, stone and wooden structures scattered throughout and the stench of death near-choking in the evening air. You flick the waiting lantern and look the place over, noting the continued abundance of graves.
Man, the stonemasons here must make a fucking mint.
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