Chapter 45 - The Cleric and the Hunter

On the banks of a small stream in the midst of the Chenmai Forest, Hakuya and Reid nursed their wounds. Their clothes were stained and tattered, and there were burn marks on their skin from the caustic blood.

“How are your eyes?” Hakuya asked. He was sitting on a large rock on the edge of the stream with his feet in the water. The Hunter’s eyes were bloodshot and irritated, even after Hakuya’s treatment, but he hadn’t complained once.

“Never been better.” Reid said as he wrung his shimmering cloak out in the stream. The corrupted blood easily washed out of the mystical garment, which had been largely unaffected, much to Reid’s relief.

Hakuya nodded, feeling strung out. He sighed heavily, slumping back on the rock as he looked up to the sky. Once they had reached a safe distance from the cabin Hakuya had performed a Rewind on Reid’s eyes. Despite his efforts, he wasn’t able to heal the Hunter’s vision back to perfect health.

The caustic blood attack had been difficult to heal. Hakuya suspected that the blood priest they had encountered was at least at the level of Disciple, and that the aetheric energy in the cabin was specially attuned to his domain, amplifying the corruptive elements of the blood. In order to reverse the damage from the attack, Hakuya had to first neutralize the aetheric frequencies left behind by the blood. Following that, he only had enough strength to partially reverse the physical damage to Reid’s eyes.

That action alone left him feel brittle, as if one good shock at that moment would cause his body to shatter. As he lay with his feet in the water he focused on centering himself and accessing the energies of nature to help him recover.

“That priest’s pathway...” Reid said.

“Demonic Domain of Life.” Hakuya replied. “His God is an ancient enemy of mine.”

“Strange that Life and Nature would be at odds against each other.” Reid finished wringing out his cloak and stepped out of the stream, flinging the garment over his shoulders. Despite being wet, it flowed gently around his body as if it were lighter than air. Light and shadow speckled off of the cloak in a softly fluctuating pattern.

“That’s why I emphasized, Demonic Life.” Hakuya said, “They are not concerned with balance or the natural way of things. They only desire to grow, to proliferate, to consume the things in their way. The Devileyes carry the demonic energy within them. I wouldn’t be surprised if the monster you fought did as well.”

“If I find its trail, I’ll bring you along next time to ask it.” Reid grinned. Despite the burns down his arms and face, he still seemed to maintain a good mood. “If the priest is the cause of the monsters appearing, then maybe I should thank him for giving me work.”

“If I find the priest again, I’ll bring you along to tell him yourself.” Hakuya grumbled, sitting up. He was finally starting to feel whole again. It was a strange sensation, one that he hadn’t felt before. But he’d also never been tested by such a powerful opponent before. He silently thanked Yuima in a prayer as he realized how lucky he’d been simply to have survived.

“You’re going to chase him down?” Reid raised an eyebrow.

The corner of Hakuya’s mouth twitched as he shook his head, “No. That would be too reckless. I’m going to report it to the authorities in the city.”

“That’s level-headed of you.” Reid said with a grin. “For a moment I was afraid you were going to suggest going right back to the cabin to fight him.”

“Would you have come if I did?” Hakuya asked.

“No!” Reid barked with a loud laugh..

“...” Hakuya found himself speechless at Reid’s blunt refusal. He bit his tongue to hide his emotions as he stepped through the water and climbed back onto the shore.

“All recovered?” Reid asked.

“Never been better.” Hakuya said with a sigh. “We’d better get out of the forest. Thank you for letting me rest.”

“I should be thanking you.” Reid replied. “Wouldn’t be much of a Hunter anymore if I ended up blind.”

The journey through the forest was uneventful but tense as Hakuya and Reid kept watch for signs of being followed or ambushed. It was late afternoon by the time the pair made it back to the edge of the city. They passed by several fields and farmhouses on their way to the East Cato Clinic. Their worn down, beaten up appearances caused the few city folk on the road to keep a wide berth around them.

Hakuya frowned, wondering if they really looked that dangerous. He glanced down at his earthy brown robes and saw that despite his efforts, the bloodstains soaked into the fabric did in fact appear quite grisly. He glanced over to Reid, whose arms and face were red and scalded in several places. He imagined that his head and face looked very much the same. He frowned, wishing he still had his hat. He would have to purchase a new one.

As they approached the front doors, Hakuya’s mind drifted to the matter that he had intended to speak to the Hunter about when they returned.

“Reid, I still have the vial of pure aether.” Hakuya paused as he considered his options, “I could concoct a healing salve for us to share. Or I could sell you the vial as either aether or a salve. Actually, I’ll give you it for free if you’d like. It’s my fault that you were injured, since you were accompanying me to the cabin. I didn’t expect to find anything dangerous there.”

“Accidents happen. Everyone makes mistakes.” Reid said simply, “Either option is fine, but whichever one we agree on, I’ll pay you the fair price.”

“Think about it and tell me later, then.” Hakuya nodded, then sighed as he contemplated his next steps.

He needed to visit the export shop to put in a request for Biltishroom, which hopefully would pay off quickly. With the marks from selling the aether to Reid he’d be able to afford the vital ingredient to heal Anabelle and her daughter. However, before that he absolutely needed to report the Demonic Life ritual location. The blood priest would definitely not sit around after being discovered, so there was no time to lose.

Also, he needed to retrieve the chest that he had loaned to the pawn shop. His brow creased in irritation as he thought about the increasingly complicated situation he had gotten himself into. If things with the Demonic God of Life Deka really became serious, he absolutely needed the chest in his possession.

“Right after we return to the clinic, I want to report what we found to the authorities. Will you join me?” Hakuya intended to only take enough time to grab his belongings and change his clothes before heading into the city. Even his and Reid’s wounds from the battle would need to wait.

Reid stretched his arms above his head, “I’d rather not. Cults and blood rituals have nothing to do with me, and I’d like it to stay that way. I’ve half a mind to disappear for a while until things calm down.”

“I hope you’ll reconsider.” Hakuya said, “Good help is hard to find.”

As they approached the clinic, the doors suddenly opened and the slim form of Josie, the nurse. As she ran out towards them, Hakuya had the impression that she had been waiting for them to show up.

“Something’s happened.” Reid muttered.

“Hakuya!” Josie called out, “Anabelle... The plant growing out of her has...”

The horror in her eyes expressed her thoughts even as her voice choked.

Without another word, Hakuya and Reid ran past Josie into the clinic, through the empty lobby and into the back hallway. Dr. Ilic was waiting for them beside the door to Anabelle’s room. His eyes lit up with relief as Hakuya approached.

He exchanged a look with Hakuya then glanced towards the room, wordlessly directing the pair inside. There, they saw the motionless form of Anabelle still lying on the bed with vines wrapped around her limbs. A long, black frond extended straight up from her arm, and at the end of it was an eyeball. The eyeball was not looking in any particular direction, but seemed to be scanning the area in a gentle, lazy manner.

“It’s nearly ready.” Hakuya said grimly, stepping towards the bed. There were several other fronds that were growing black bulbs on their ends, nearly about to ‘bloom’.

“Let’s not give it the chance.” Reid replied, unsheathing the sword at his side.

“You can’t cut the stem.” Hakuya said, “It would probably incite a bad reaction.”

“I’m not cutting the stem, I’m cutting off its life source.”

Reid stepped forward, but Hakuya quickly moved in front of the man, making a motion to grab Reid’s arm. Reid drew back quickly, pointing his blade towards Hakuya.

“You know it has to be done.” Reid’s hawk-like eyes grew dark, “The longer you wait the worse it will be for us.”

“There’s still time.” Hakuya growled, pointing his finger at Reid’s face, “I’m not giving up on her!”

“You’ll kill us all, then!” Reid shouted, waving with his free hand, “We don’t know how this thing multiplies. It could already be infecting us. Everyone here is in danger.”

“I can’t let you kill her, Reid.” Hakuya said.

“You don’t have to let me.” A mischievous smirk crossed Reid’s lips as his eyes glinted dangerously. “Don’t worry, I’ll take responsibility.”

Reid stepped forward once more, grabbing onto Hakuya’s tattered robe and yanking him aside.

The Hunter moved so fast that Hakuya didn’t have time to react. He crashed into a side table, falling to the floor with bandages and other implements clattering down beside him. By the time he recovered, Reid was already at Anabelle’s side, thrusting his blade down at her neck.

“No!” Dr. Ilec yelled from the doorway.

Just before the blade contacted Anabelle’s body, it froze. Reid paused, mid-swing, his body trembling. It wasn’t just his arm that stopped, but his entire body. Even the flow of his cloak was frozen. After a few seconds, the trembling grew in intensity as Reid fought back at the force holding his movement.

Hakuya clambered to his feet and grabbed Reid with both hands at the moment the stasis wore off, throwing his whole weight into tossing Reid out of the doorway. The Hunter’s blade stabbed the air, continuing the original motion as he slammed against the hallway wall outside of the door.

“You-!” Reid bared his teeth as he regained his balance. He bent down into a fighting stance as he glared at the Cleric, who stood his ground in the center of the room.

With a practiced motion, Hakuya unsheathed the sword from his waist. The air around the edge of its long, polished blade shimmered with a subtle but menacing energy. He held the blade in front of him with both hands, exhaling slowly as he stared back at Reid with a resolute expression.

Hakuya was not fast, nor did he have enhanced strength. His path did not offer him such advantages. However he did not need speed if his opponent was frozen in time, and even if Reid’s skin was made of steel, the blade would cut through the Hunter’s body effortlessly.

Hakuya’s crucial disadvantage was that he did not want to make the first move. He would only get one chance to strike, and it would have to be a lethal blow, or the Hunter would finish him off just as quickly. Was Reid fast enough to get to him before he could activate stasis again? The Hunter already knew his trick and was rightfully angry. Hakuya had broken the innate trust between them by using his powers on Reid, but he had had no choice.

Reid’s hunched body looked like a beast about to pounce. His limbs were coiled springs ready to explode in violence. He glared at Hakuya with a feral intensity filled with rage.

Seconds passed. Neither Disciple moved from their position, but Reid’s body trembled with rage as the more rational part of his mind fought against his fighting instincts. Hakuya remained resolute, not daring to speak lest the wrong word set the Hunter off. At present, Reid calmed down. His expression softened as he straightened his body, though his eyes still maintained a dangerous edge. His lips curled in a grimace as he sheathed his short sword.

“You’re digging your own grave, Hakuya.” He growled, turning away. “I won’t be a part of it.”

Without another word he left the building.

Hakuya slowly returned his blade to its sheath, a feeling of exhaustion spreading through his limbs. He stepped outside of the room and looked to the right at Reid’s departing figure, then looked to Dr. Ilec who was sprawled backwards on the floor to his left. He was frozen in place from fear and shock, having not had moved from where he had fallen when Reid had been tossed out of the room.

Hakuya wanted to say something reassuring to the doctor, but nothing came to mind. He reached down to help the doctor back up to his feet.

“Are you alright?” Hakuya asked.

“Yes. I think so.” Dr. Ilec responded shakily.

“I have something urgent to do before it gets dark.” Hakuya said quietly, not meeting the doctor’s eyes. “I will have a look at Anabelle when I get back.”

He went into the spare room where he had stuffed his belongings. In it was a spare set of robes, which he quickly changed into. Slinging his sack over his shoulder, he habitually moved to adjust his hat on his back before realizing that it wasn’t there anymore. With a slight frown he left the room.

Dr. Ilec was waiting with Josie in the hallway. They looked at him with worried expressions, unable to translate their thoughts into words.

“There’s still hope.” Hakuya said quietly, though he was believing it less and less himself, “I’ll be back soon, don’t worry.”

He glanced at Anabelle’s room, his expression darkening.

“For now, it would be best to find some rope and tie her down.”