Chapter Text
Knowledge. A most fickle thing indeed. One moment, you think you have everything figured out – feel that you know all there is to know. And the next, you make a discovery that shatters any and all preconceived notions you may have held, rendering all that you thought you knew worthless and leaving you more baffled than ever before. Ironic, is it not?
Yet, in spite of it all, humanity finds itself on a never-ending quest for knowledge. There is no stone they will not turn, no veil they won’t tear away in pursuit of this goal. And no institution better represents this restless drive than Byrgenwerth, the largest – and only – institution for higher learning in the independent microstate of Yharnam. Scholars from all over the continent were drawn to it, in no small part due to rumors of it being the source of countless…peculiar discoveries, discoveries that supposedly turned all earthly knowledge on its head.
“Is everything alright, Laurence?” One of these ever-inquisitive scholars was suddenly roused from a state of absent-mindedness, managing to make out this question over the rattling of the stagecoach he found himself in.
“Of course, Master Willem. Only…it’s rather cold out here.” He replied, drawing a smile from the figure sitting opposite him – Byrgenwerth’s current, longstanding headmaster.
“As to be expected. We were warned well in advance to prepare for such a thing.” He rightfully pointed out. This was exactly why Laurence had been advised to wear several layers over his formal uniform. The insulation within their stagecoach helped to relieve them somewhat, but it could not entirely stop the cold winter air from seeping in.
“Is that all that’s troubling you?” His master then inquired.
“Yes, sir.” Laurence promptly replied.
“Really? You’re not at all concerned with what’s to come?” He was very clearly unconvinced, but even so, Laurence wasn’t quite sure what he should say in response. Though from the looks of things, his silence was enough of an answer for him.
“As I thought. I would tell you not to be anxious, but it is only natural that you are.” Master Willem pointed out, no doubt in a bid to offer his idea of reassurance.
“If only it weren’t so.” Laurence replied with a small smile.
“Indeed, but remember, you are representing Byrgenwerth tonight for a reason.” He reminded him.
“Well, of course. It’s because you chose me to.” Said Laurence.
“Precisely, Laurence.” For what it was worth, this did make him feel somewhat more assured in his position. Master Willem could’ve chosen from any number of other candidates, but the fact he was here at all showed that he had faith in him and believed him to be the best possible representative for Byrgenwerth’s scholarly body.
“But still, do keep in mind that in order for this expedition to occur, we need to remain in our benefactor’s good graces. You are to be on your best behaviour and speak only when spoken to; in all other cases, leave the talking to me. Understood?” Laurence nodded his understanding.
“Yes, Master Willem.” He said.
“Good. But with all that said, please, do not look at this merely as a responsibility. Mingle, feast, enjoy yourself. After all, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.” All too true, Laurence thought. It’s not everyday that you get to be part of a royal visit.
It wasn’t long until their stagecoach gradually came to a stop, with Laurence being able to faintly hear a conversation just outside, no doubt between their driver and a guard of some sort. As this was happening, Master Willem gave him a look that simply told him to get ready. Soon enough, the conversation ended and Laurence could hear footsteps just outside their stagecoach, followed by a knock.
“Our apologies, Provost Willem, but the incline is far too icy for the horses. You will have to make the rest of the way on foot.” He heard a male voice say.
“Oh, that’s quite alright. Please, let us not keep Her Majesty waiting.” He replied.
“Very well.” The door to their stagecoach was opened, revealing a man wearing a decorative and regal uniform; a mostly black overcoat over a red vest, with various strands of goldwork adorning it. “Please, come with me.” The man invited, holding out his gloved hand for the headmaster.
Laurence watched as Master Willem was led out of the stagecoach and once it seemed he had safely exited, he started making his own way out, making sure to keep a good hold on the handle provided to ensure he didn’t slip. Snow blew into his face as he stepped outside into the cold night, leading him to take a moment to shield his face before he brought himself onto the road, freshly fallen snow crunching beneath his feet.
And it was then Laurence managed to get his first good look at their destination: a large and frankly intimidating castle, one that he had before only been able to glance at from a large distance. Castle Cainhurst, home to the family of nobles that have ruled over this land for centuries.
“Well, we made it.” Laurence was almost scared out of his skin when he heard a voice coming from behind him, turning to find an all too familiar face. “Why so skittish, my friend.” He said, clearly amused by his predicament.
“I don’t know, Micolash. Have you ever gone on a nearly hour-long carriage ride before?” He asked his fellow scholar.
“Not until today, but I cannot say it has dampened my spirits.” As Micolash spoke, another female figure approached behind him.
“Neither can I, but I do believe there’s a reason for our differing moods.” She pointed out, which almost instantly made Micolash’s smile disappear.
“I’m well aware, Caryll.” He replied to her. “Then why make the distinction?” Laurence asked him.
“Am I not allowed to express concern?” Micolash replied, which only amused him even more.
“Oh, is that what this is?” He made sure to convey his doubt in his tone. “Of course. You have much that is expected of you tonight.” Said Micolash.
“Don’t I indeed?” He knew that Micolash had been vying for the role Laurence would be playing tonight and that he was understandably upset when it turned out he hadn't received it. At the same time, he also knew that he wasn’t going to call Master Willem’s decision into question. He never did.
Yet despite their often-noted tendency to compete among themselves, Laurence recognized Micolash as a brilliant mind in his own right and saw their competitive streak as a means of pushing themselves to be the best they can be. Caryll on the other hand had little interest in competition and achieving whatever accolade was on offer that day, simply choosing to focus on her own studies. Despite that, she stuck around with them because they somehow always seemed to find themselves in the same spaces and because she supposedly found their “antics” amusing; no doubt her way of saying she enjoyed their company. Odd though they may be, they were among the closest bonds that Laurence had forged in his time at Byrgenwerth.
“Laurence, to me!! The rest of you, stay with your assigned partner and follow us in an orderly fashion! We will be out of this cold soon enough!” They heard Master Willem call out behind them, signifying that the time had come to enter the castle.
“I have to go. See you inside.” He told the two of them.
“We’re right behind you. Good luck, Laurence.” Caryll said to him. After giving them a quick nod, Laurence turned to make his way to his master’s side, who was waiting for him alongside the guard from earlier, looking out at the bridge behind him. From there, one could see countless other Byrgenwerth scholars making their way to form the line, a procession of stagecoaches just to their side.
“Is that all of your scholars accounted for?” The guard asked Master Willem, who looked over the chaotic scene. “It would appear so.” He replied.
“Very good. Follow me and watch your step.” The guard instructed as he turned towards the staircase that led up to the main gate, leaving Laurence and the others to follow.
As expected, the stairs were rather slippery due to the accumulation of ice, which led to Laurence having to be extra careful during his ascent. The last thing he needed was to fall and have to spend the rest of the night tending to a sprained ankle, or worse. As the party got closer to the top, the gate started to rise, which allowed them to pass through into what looked like a courtyard, with the rest of the castle looming overhead.
“You’ll have to forgive the limited reception. Her Majesty would’ve preferred to meet you here, but as you understand, we had to adjust our plans.” By complications, he no doubt meant the winter storm that they were trekking through as he spoke.
“No need for apologies, good knight. I understand.” Laurence couldn’t help but raise a brow at his Master’s reply. Was their escort meant to be a knight? If so, he hadn’t expected them to dress so lightly.
Regardless, the knight would have them walk for a few more minutes until they reached yet another gate, which much like the previous one opened for them as they approached. Inside, they found a vast room which contained sizeable gathering of well-dressed nobles as well as more knights, who started applauding almost the moment Master Willem stepped inside, leaving their headmaster to put up his hand and wave to their onlookers as Laurence walked silently just beside him.
Suddenly, the applause died down and Master Willem came to a stop in the center of the hall, leading Laurence and his fellows to do the same. Every head turned towards the other end of the hall, just before all those gathered bowed down. Unsure of what to do, Laurence looked ahead to his master to find he was still standing completely straight and in the process, spotted someone descending down the staircase.
“Welcome to Castle Cainhurst, Provost Willem. We are pleased to see thou have arrived safely.” The woman spoke in an antiqued tongue, yet every word conveyed authority.
“And it is an honor to be here, Your Majesty.” This time, the headmaster bowed, prompting Laurence to do the same. He held this bow until he noticed Willem straighten himself out, no doubt because of a prompt from their host.
“We must commend you all for braving this ghastly weather. Had we known it would get like this, we would’ve postponed this occasion to a later date.” The Queen said.
“Oh, I could not ask you to do such a thing. After all, a matter such as this cannot simply be delayed.” Master Willem replied.
“Dedicated as ever, we see. Wonderful.” She then turned her gaze directly behind Master Willem. “And how wonderful to see so many of your scholars here with you.”
“Not just any scholars, Your Majesty. These are the finest minds that Yharnam has to offer.” Master Willem added on.
“Oh, we have no doubt.” It was then that the Queen turned her attention to him. “Ah, and this must be the dignitary thou spoke off.”
“You are correct, Your Majesty.” And there was the signal. Laurence stepped forward and bowed his head to the Queen, his hands behind his back. “It is an honor, Queen Annalise.” He said before he stood up straight once more, just as they had practiced.
“Correspondingly.” She offered him her hand; the back of it was facing to the side instead of straight up, which told him she meant to initiate a handshake. “What is thy name, noble scholar?” She prompted as he accepted her offered hand, being sure not to grasp it too firmly.
“Laurence, your Grace.” He responded as calmly as he could, letting go of the Queen’s hand when he felt her loosen her grip and returned it back behind his back. All throughout this, he maintained eye contact, which helped him notice the somewhat critical look she was giving him.
“Ah, yes. Professor Laurence, if we’re not mistaken. The headmaster has spoken most highly of thee.” At first, Laurence found himself too stunned to reply. He knew that Master Willem must've informed her of who he was before tonight, but had he really been singing his praises? A question for another time.
“Well, it is a privilege to have this opportunity.” He replied.
“It most certainly is. No one has ventured into the old tombs for a very long time, much less been the one to lead such an exhibition. We look forward to seeing the result of thy leadership.” In response to her words, Laurence simply nodded. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
With that, Queen Annalise turned her attention back to Master Willem, allowing Laurence to relax somewhat. That initial introduction was always going to be the most difficult and perhaps most important part of tonight; he had been extensively briefed on the proper procedure one must follow when meeting Yharnam’s royalty, something that he in particular had to get exactly right, seeing as he was essentially the chief representative for Byrgenwerth’s scholars and as Her Majesty had said, the leader of a historic exhibition. And clearly, that preparation had paid off, at least so far. Now that it was over, he wouldn’t need to interact with the Queen unless she requested it, unlikely as that might be.
Laurence remained only partly aware of the conversation unfolding beside him as he decided to take the chance to get a better look at his surroundings. Glancing around the room, he silently observed the various people gathered there, in particular two figures standing guard on either side of the staircase. They wore what looked like traditional silver knightly armor, only significantly less bulky; he could only assume they were of a higher rank to the knight that had escorted him and Master Willem here.
As he continued his observations, Laurence noticed movement out of the corner of his eye, causing him to turn his gaze to the upper levels of the hall.
And what he saw caused his eyes to widen.
Looking over the railing was a lone woman, wearing a red and gold colored dress. From his distance, he couldn’t quite make out the details of her face, but what was most obvious was the pale complexion of her skin, somewhat similar to that of the Queen. Yet almost as soon as he had taken notice of her did she seemingly take notice of him.
Rather unexpectedly, Laurence felt a chill run up his spine, yet could not bring himself to look away. She had started moving, running a hand along the railing as walked in the direction of the staircase, all the while appearing to be looking right at him. A myriad of questions ran through Laurence’s head. Who was she? Could she tell he was looking at her? Was she even there?
“Is something the matter, Professor?” The Queen’s voice snapped him back to attention, finding that both her and Master Willem were looking at him.
“No, Your Majesty.” He promptly replied, trying his best to sound composed.
“Art thou certain?” “Of course. It is simply the chill; I am not quite accustomed to it.” Laurence said as an excuse and although she didn’t appear entirely convinced, she didn’t seem prepared to pursue the matter further.
“Do forgive him, Your Majesty. He has not yet attended an event of this magnitude.” Master Willem said, which thankfully drew her attention away from him.
“Understandable. Everyone has to start somewhere.” She looked back at him as she said this. “Now, where were we?” She asked Master Willem, all while Laurence tried his best to prevent his eyes from wandering again.
“I do believe there was someone you intended for us to meet.” The headmaster reminded her.
“Ah, yes. But alas, they have not yet arrived.” Just as the Queen said this, Laurence noticed that woman from before descending the steps, still looking in his direction.
“I believe they have now.” Him saying this managed to get the attention of both Master Willem and the Queen, both of whom were no doubt wondering why he had spoken out of turn. Yet instead of saying anything, they simply followed his gaze to the stairwell and to the mysterious women. As she reached the bottom, the two knights standing guard on either side turned in her direction, before placing their blades to their chest and bowing as she walked past. The woman proceeded to approach Queen Annalise herself, stopping a few steps in front of her and dutifully bowing to her.
“Apologies for my late arrival, Your Majesty.” Laurence heard her say.
“None needed. In fact, thou have arrived just in time.” The Queen said to the new arrival before turning back to them.
“Provost Willem, we proudly present to you Lady Maria of the Cainhurst Knights, your scholars’ watchful aegis.” The woman – who he now understood to be Maria – stepped forward and extended her hand to Master Willem.
“A pleasure to meet you at last. I’ve been told much about you.” She said to him.
“Likewise, my lady. Her Majesty had much to say on your behalf.” His master responded.
“And we can assure you that none of it was an exaggeration. Lady Maria is one of the finest knights Cainhurst has to offer. You have my word that no harm will come to thy scholars so long as they are under her protection.” Laurence was only partly aware of what the Queen was saying, as part-way through her statement, Maria’s eyes once again fell on him. The look she was given him appeared rather curious, but also calculating, akin to a hunter evaluating their prey.
“And who might this be?” She soon enquired, still looking directly at him. Whatever words Laurence could’ve said were caught in his throat, but thankfully, Master Willem decided to speak instead.
“That would be Laurence, my lady. He is to be to our scholars what you will be to your company.” Once Willem had finished his explanation, Laurence silently nodded to confirm that everything he had said was true. Soon after, he noticed the corners of Maria’s lips curve into a small smile.
“I see. Then I presume we will be working closely together.” She said, leaving him to think of some sort of response.
“It would appear so.” Was what he eventually said. With that, she stepped towards him and offered him her hand.
“In that case, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Laurence.” For a few moments, he could only stand there, but eventually, he managed to regain his bearings and proceeded to shake her hand.
“Likewise, Lady Maria.” He politely replied.
As their handshake concluded, Laurence continued to look at her, or more rather up at her. As it turns out, she was a lot taller up close - nearly half a head taller than him in fact and he wasn’t someone who could be considered short. Adding this to the manner in which she had been inspecting him a moment before, as well as her almost ghostly complexion, Laurence would’ve been dishonest if he said he wasn’t somewhat intimidated. Of course, her commanding presence wasn’t the only thing that stirred this feeling within him.
She was gorgeous. There was no other way to put it. A fair and slender figure, seemingly flawless skin and as he had come to see, penetrating, beautiful green eyes. And from the looks of things, she was completely aware of the effect she was having on him - and no doubt many others – for her posture and demeanor conveyed a great deal of assurance in herself.
“Well, now that the necessary introductions are out of the way, is the banquet hall prepared?” Queen Annalise asked Lady Maria.
“Yes, my Queen.” She confirmed.
“Excellent.” The Queen then took a step back, turning her gaze to the hall at large.
“Attention! In short order, we will be making our way up to the banquet hall. Nobles, please allow our honored guests to pass first; they have travelled far and braved the elements to be here tonight, and we do not intend to keep them waiting any longer than we have to. Once they have all made their way onto the stairwell, then you may follow, in an orderly fashion, of course. Once you are there, our guardians, the knights, will show you to your seats. Now then, scholars of Byrgenwerth, follow me.”
It wasn’t a long walk for them to make it to the banquet hall, needing only to make their way up the nearby staircase and through a nearby doorway to make it inside. Numerous portraits hung from the walls, no doubt representing outstanding nobles and knights from years past. Countless marble statues were displayed at numerous points of the banquet hall, each one portraying a different figure or pose. And to top it all off, music also filled the hall, with a group of musicians sporting violins, flutes and even a harp being located at the end of the hall. And in the center of it all were a set of long, pre furnished tables and as promised, Laurence and everyone else were guided to their seats as a wide array of chefs and servants bustled around the room, filling cups and providing them with various hors d'oeuvres.
Once he was seated, he found all that could be expected from an event like this: dishware, cutlery, napkins and cups for drinking, which had already been filled before their arrival. Yet it was clear that what he saw before him couldn’t simply be found at your average dining table. The plates were adorned with rich patterns and were almost no doubt crafted from porcelain; the forks, spoons and knives were finely crafted works of silver; even the napkins appeared to have been made from high-quality linen. And of course, all of them were spotlessly clean. Hardly a surprise, he supposed. They were nobility after all and judging from the extravagant dress and flagrant displays of high art he had seen thus far, they were keen to impress those who visited them, a keenness that frankly bordered on being conceited.
Soon enough, the seats had been fully filled, with the arrangement being one table on the left of the room for Laurence’s fellow scholars and another for the nobility opposite them. But of course, Laurence wouldn’t be sitting with his fellows. No, he was sitting beside Master Willem at the central table, which they would be sharing with the Queen and the newly met Lady Maria, who sat by her side at the other end.
At first, the hall was alive with chatter, which promptly died down once Queen Annalise tapped her glass with a piece of cutlery, with all present turning their attention to her as she stood up from her chair (naturally bigger than everyone else’s) while holding her glass.
“Ladies. Gentleman. While we wait for the main courses to arrive, I would like to once again extend a warm welcome to our visitors, the noble scholars of Byrgenwerth. As you all know, Byrgenwerth, and the minds it has produced, have been an essential part of making Yharnam into the city it is today. As a center of learning, it boasts a student body numbering in the thousands and as a center of research, its contributions to the fields of history, astronomy and theology are known and respected across the continent. And this prestigious reputation is due in no small part to its esteemed headmaster, and our long-time friend, Provost Willem.” Laurence’s master nodded his acknowledgement of her praise and the ensuing applause, which gave him the opening to stand up and proceed with his part of the address.
“On behalf of all of Byrgenwerth’s scholars, I thank you all for your warm welcome. As I’m sure all of you are eagerly awaiting the feast that Her Majesty has graciously arranged for us, I will keep this address brief.” Laurence smiled to himself. Limiting himself to such a short speech must’ve been hard for Master Willem; he knew from experience that he could speak for hours if he really set his mind to it.
“At its core, Byrgenwerth is a place of discovery – of unraveling the numerous mysteries of the world around us. And the ancient civilization of Pthumeru is perhaps Yharnam’s most enduring mystery. Even after countless ventures into the vast underground labyrinths that they left behind – the funds for which were graciously provided by the noble Cainhurst family - we still know precious little about their culture, their society and the people that once called them home. I myself have had the privilege of partaking in several of these aforementioned ventures in the past, some of which I found myself at the forefront of, leading my scholars into the depths below in search of anything that might get us closer to the truth. But alas, I find myself no longer able to serve such a role, much less be an active participant in it. Which is why I am proud to announce that the scholars of Byrgenwerth will be led by one of her most distinguished scholars and educators, Laurence.”
Just like that, noble and scholar alike started to clap for him, though he noticed that the applause was far more enthusiastic on his side of the table. Every one of the scholars seated by his side was a familiar face in one way or another: classmates, friends and even the odd one that he taught himself. Once the applause had died down, Master Willem continued.
“Ever since he first arrived at Byrgenwerth fifteen years ago, Laurence quickly proved himself to be an outstanding student and an equally capable leader, never shying away from a difficult task or putting himself above his fellow scholars and colleagues. It has been my utmost pleasure to witness his progression from being just one of many students attending our numerous lectures into someone who leads them, imparting his knowledge and wisdom to the next generation of Byrgenwerth scholars. And being witness to this growth leaves me with no doubt that he is someone that perfectly encapsulates Byrgenwerth’s values and ideals – that he is worthy of being its chief representative. Good luck to you, Laurence and to all embarking on this ambitious expedition.”
With this, Master Willem concluded his address and sat back down, allowing another short wave of applause to fill the silence in the room. Despite Master Willem being the one who had just finished speaking, Laurence was well aware that most of the eyes in the room were on him. These were very strong statements that his headmaster was making on his behalf, which no doubt caused many to wonder whether he was truly deserving of them, thoughts that occasionally passed through Laurence’s own mind from time to time. But one thing was for certain. Hearing Master Willem praise him like he had, in front of such an ‘impressive’ audience no less, was truly honoring. And well, he couldn’t deny that it felt rather good to have his efforts be recognized.
“A most shining address thou hast provided, Provost Willem. To continue on a similar note, we would like to draw attention to another party due to participate in this upcoming expedition. As Provost Willem has said, the labyrinths beneath Yharnam are very much shrouded in mystery; even we do not fully know what lies in wait there. And so, to ensure the safety of the scholars who shall venture into its depths, we have arranged for them to be accompanied by a company of our most noble and distinguished knights, led by Our very own Lady, or perhaps more appropriately in this instance, Captain Maria.”
As Laurence steadily clapped along with the rest of the room, he looked over to where Lady Maria had been seated, managing to spot her beside the still standing Queen. Much like him, she didn’t seem to react lavishly to the attention, simply choosing to offer a smile to the crowd as she scanned the room. Nonetheless, it was clear she was quite proud of her current position, which he supposed was to be expected. Having a royal singing your praises would flatter just about anyone, much less someone whose life had no doubt been given in service to one.
She continued, “The Knights of Cainhurst are a group with a long and proud history, a history which Lady Maria has both honored and bolstered throughout her service. She is a warrior in every sense of the word, one that we have every confidence is prepared to face any and all dangers that may lurk beneath the surface of our glorious city. And so, to the scholars of Byrgenwerth, I offer my assurance that no harm will come upon you so long as you are under her watchful protection. And to Captain Maria, and all the knights under her command, I bid thee to go forth. Show no fear, for the might and honor of Cainhurst is with you.”
Yet another round of applause followed and just as it started to die down, a servant ran up to the Queen and whispered something in her ear. After she gave her inaudible reply, the servant ran off and allowed her to turn back to the hall. “I am pleased to announce that you will all be served shortly. Please allow our attendants to perform their work.”
Almost on cue, servants carrying various platters steadily poured into the hall, setting about delivering the main courses for all those present. As Laurence himself waited to be served, he was practically overwhelmed by the sheer diversity of scents in the room, which was reflected in the food he could see being offered on the plates; dishes composed of fish, meat, vegetables and sauces that Laurence did not even know the names of.
Once it appeared that everyone had been served, Queen Annalise arose from her seat and raised her glass.
“Now then, without further ado, may the feast begin.”
At first, Laurence looked around to see the rest of those gathered start to dig into their food. The nobility picked up their cutlery and started to eat in an orderly, sophisticated manner, while most of the scholars seemed just as awestruck with what had been served to them as he was. In Laurence’s case, it was a serving of cooked asparagus, some sort of soup that he had yet to touch and a serving of some sort of meat, with some sort of sauce. Perhaps it was lamb, or something completely different? Odds are, he wouldn’t know even after he tasted it.
Taking his cutlery, he cut off a piece of the meat, put it in his mouth and…he was right. He still had no idea what this was supposed to be. Tasted pretty good, though.
“Feels as if you’ve stepped into a completely different world, doesn’t it, Laurence?” Master Willem said just beside him.
“Indeed, it does.” He replied, staring down at the meal in front of him, whose ingredients he guessed was worth more than every piece of food he had eaten in the past week put together.
He heard Master Willem chuckle. “Well, enjoy your time in it while you can. Who knows if you’ll ever get the chance to experience it again?” He said before turning back to his own meal.
Deciding to do as he was advised, Laurence set about trying to get a taste for the strange food on offer, which was expectantly delicious, even if lacking in abundance. The dessert that was brought out after the main course was similarly sparse; a small serving of a sweet treat similar to ice cream, which he was told was called “sorbet”.
“I think you might have yourself an admirer, Laurence.” Micolash suddenly stated, catching his attention.
“What are you talking about?” He asked.
“That Maria woman. She’s been watching you all night.” Caryll pointed out, her tone clearly expressing suspicion. Looking over to where she was sitting, he saw Maria conversing with the Queen and another, noticeably older male figure, no doubt an important one, judging from the fact he was conversing so freely with them. Part-way through this conversation, she snuck in another glance at him.
“I noticed.” Laurence said, turning back to his two colleagues.
“And are you going to do anything about it?” Micolash asked him, to which he could only shrug.
“What do you suggest I do?” He asked back.
“I don’t know. Maybe she’s waiting for you to go up to her.” He suggested.
“Pft, why didn’t I think of that?” He sarcastically replied. They had been expressly told that they should avoid leaving their assigned seat until after the Queen gave her blessing for them to do so.
“Is this gossip I’m hearing?” Master Willem suddenly chimed in. “Oh no, Master Willem. We were just…” Micolash almost immediately tried to apologize, but the headmaster merely laughed it away.
“Worry not, Micolash. But if I may, I would like to remind you all that this is also a social event, so I hope that you’re prepared to ‘rub shoulders’, as they say.” Laurence knew enough to recognize that this wasn’t merely a suggestion – it was an order. The entire purpose of this gathering was to allow them the chance to interact with their Cainhurst counterparts before their venture, and vice versa. As for him, well, he had an obvious ‘target’ to focus on tonight.
“Yes, I simply cannot wait.” Laurence said. “Oh, I’m sure.” He took a sip from his cup, clearly amused by the situation.
“And do tell, Laurence, what do you plan to do?” Despite the open-ended nature of the question, it was clear that he was referring to something very specific.
“You’ll see.” Was all Laurence said in reply.
It wasn’t long before the Queen announced that the time had come for the second phase of the festivities to begin. They were to leave the banquet hall and return to the hall just outside, where the guests would be able to mingle, drink and if they so wished, dance.
What joy, he thought to himself.
“Excuse me.” He said to Master Willem and his fellows before he rose from his seat and crossed the length of the table, where Lady Maria was still sitting, propping her chin up with her hand. Trying to maintain a cool demeanor, he stopped just by her right, which almost instantly got her attention.
“My lady.” He politely greeted, watching as her lips curved into a small smile.
“Well, well, Laurence. How unexpected.” She was no doubt being coy with him, but he chose not to draw attention to it. “On your way downstairs, I presume?” He lightly nodded.
“I am. Would you care to join me?” He knew he was being bold asking this of someone of her stature, but really, that was the point. And judging from her expression, she recognized that.
“Gladly.” Maria replied, prompting him to offer her his hand to help her from her seat. The two of them proceeded into the ballroom together, where several of their respective peers had already started gathering. However, just as he was about to turn in the direction of the staircase, Maria unexpectedly stepped just in front of him, stopping him in his tracks.
“Is something the matter?” He calmly inquired.
“I would prefer to stay up here for the time being. We’ve been sitting for an awfully long time, see.” It took him a moment, but he eventually pieced together what would compel her to do this.
“Ah. Stiffness, yes?” She lightly nodded to confirm. “You don’t mind, do you?” She asked him.
“Not at all.” He replied, though something told him that she was experiencing no such thing. Regardless, he walked with her over to the railing overlooking the hall, where he had first spotted her earlier that night.
“So tell me, how are you finding this most splendid banquet?” She soon asked him.
“Well, it’s certainly been an…unique experience.” He replied.
“It’s dreadful, I know.” She unexpectedly said.
“I… wasn’t suggesting that.” He said, thinking that she must’ve somehow misconstrued his statement.
“Oh, I’m sure, but I’ve been to enough of these events to know that their novelty runs its course very quickly. They sit you down and then leave you to gradually realize that this is all there is to it.” Despite the fact she was smiling, Laurence could tell that she was speaking from the heart, at least in a way. Despite the extravagance that his hosts treated the event with, the banquet was nevertheless quite dull; if he felt that way after just one event like this, he could only imagine how she must feel after what must’ve been a lifetime of them.
“Does Her Majesty know you feel this way?” He asked semi-seriously.
“Oh, it doesn’t matter what I think, does it? Besides, it is my knightly duty to fulfill any and all obligations placed upon me. This just happens to be the most common one.” She replied.
“How tragic.” This managed to get a small chuckle out of her, an admittedly pleasant sounding one.
“Indeed. But I imagine you’re no stranger to obligations yourself.” Maria looked over at him as she said this, clearly confident in her statement. And she had every reason to.
“If Master Willem asks me to accompany him somewhere, then I must accompany him. That’s simply how things are.” He acknowledged.
“So they are. But do tell me, Laurence, what sort of tie do you have with him?” Laurence doubted she knew just how loaded of a question this really was for him. His history with Master Willem was rather long and just as personal, though he assumed that she merely wanted to know what his position within Byrgenwerth was.
“I’m a professor. He is my headmaster. Need I say more?” Was his simple response.
“A professor, you say? And just what is it you ‘profess’?” Was her next question.
“Medicine.” He quickly replied, which seemed to surprise her somewhat.
“Really?” “Indeed. Though I believe the proper term for my position is ‘professor ordinarius’.” Laurence felt that he didn’t have to explain to her what it meant.
“Impressive. But how exactly does a man of medicine find himself heading a mission such as this?” Laurence couldn’t fault her for making this inquiry. The subject of their future exhibition admittedly fell more in line with Micolash’s faculty, yet he was nevertheless chosen to lead it instead of him.
“Surely you know, my lady, that a scholar mustn’t confine himself to a single discipline. And I happen to have a…wide range of interests.” Was what he decided to go with.
“And a wide range of support?” Maria’s assumption wasn’t that far off, but Laurence wasn’t prepared to be boastful about it.
“Perhaps.” His acknowledgement managed to get a small chuckle out of her, an admittedly pleasant sounding one.
“How very humble.” Said Maria.
“It is essential to be aware of why I am where I am.” He replied with a small shrug.
“Oh, I’m sure there’s more to it than just the support of your peers. From what I’ve heard of your headmaster, he is a difficult man to impress.” She pointed out.
“I would wager a guess that him and Her Majesty are similar in that regard.” He said in reply.
“Oh, almost certainly.” She acknowledged, wearing an almost enigmatic expression.
Though veiled as a sort of compliment, it also showed a bit of curiosity on her part on just what was it about him that drew Master Willem’s attention. Or at least, he liked to think it was mere curiosity. The more likely option was that she was evaluating him – scrutinizing everything he did and said in order to determine his supposed worth.
Laurence knew all this because he was in the process of doing that exact same thing to her.
“I recall Her Majesty saying that you were among her most seasoned knights. Tell me, just how did you gain such prestige?” He asked not just because it would give her the chance to talk about herself – which just about everyone liked to do – but also out of genuine curiosity. From what he understood, Yharnam had not been at war since the defeat of Napoleon several decades prior and Maria did not appear much older than he was, which would make her participation in that conflict unlikely.
“The same way any knight makes a name for themselves without a war to fight – tournaments.” She replied.
“Go on.” He prompted, somewhat intrigued.
“As should be obvious, we knights have to undergo many years of training, honing our strength and resolve. Now, there are of course those of us who’re stronger or more resolute, so we like to organize certain…contests to determine which of us fit that mold.” Laurence listened to her explanation with a keen ear.
“And do you?” She made her best attempt at a humble smile.
“I will leave it up to you to decide.” Maria eventually replied, even though it wasn’t all that difficult to reach a conclusion given what she’d told him. Whatever it was that happened in these ‘contests’, she must’ve won her fair share of them to be where she was today.
By now, the second phase of the gathering was in full swing. Soft music flowed through the hall and a few people had taken to the dance floor, although most chose to remain on the sidelines and converse amongst themselves. Despite his better judgement, Laurence turned back to Maria.
“Tell me, how are you feeling?” He asked her.
“Better, I’d say.” She replied, no doubt already catching on to what he was planning.
“If that’s the case, may I have this dance?” He put forward his hand once more and waited for her reply. Looking at her then, it was clear that she was somewhat surprised, but at the same time, also amused by his proposition.
“You may.” Maria said as she accepted his hand. With a warm and welcoming smile, Laurence proceeded to walk her down the staircase, her arm interlaced with his. Yet far from being relieved at her acceptance, Laurence instead found himself feeling mortified. A million thoughts rushed through his mind, though most of them were slight variations of the same one.
This was a horrible idea.
He had never danced a day in his life, much less with someone else. Any number of things could happen now and none of them would reflect very well on him.
“I assume you don’t have much experience in the ballroom?” Maria suddenly asked as they were partway down the stairs, almost as if she could sense his uncertainty.
“No, but I am nevertheless willing to learn.” He admitted while keeping up his confident façade. Yet in spite of his doubts, Maria simply smiled.
“Hmm, honest, too. I like that.” She said in a noticeably quieter tone of voice, making whatever Laurence was thinking to say retreat back into the depths of his mind. No doubt taking notice of his uncertainty, she went on to say, “Oh, don’t you worry. I’ll lead.”
They would soon reach the bottom of the staircase and step out onto the dance floor, after which much of the attention in the room suddenly shifted onto them, including both Master Willem and the Queen, who appeared particularly bewildered by what they were witnessing. This extra attention only put additional pressure on him.
“Don’t mind them.” Maria said to get his attention. “Just focus on me. When I make a move, you try to do the opposite; if I move a leg forward, you move yours back. Simple enough?” She explained in a surprisingly calm manner. Laurence had fully expected her to be at least somewhat irritated by his inexperience, but it would appear not.
“I suppose.” He replied.
“Good.” She turned to face him then, placing one gloved hand on his shoulder blade while holding one of his own with the other. Seeing no other option, Laurence placed his free hand on Maria’s shoulder, looking up at her as he mentally prepared himself for what was to come.
“Get ready.” No sooner did Maria make this warning did she put her left foot forward, which made him almost subconsciously move his right one back; taking a brief pause, she slightly tilted her head to his left before sliding into that direction. She then repeated a similar process for the next part of the dance: she stepped back with her right foot, he stepped forward with his left; she moved to the right, so did he.
Laurence quickly realized that she was showing him the pattern and that her slower movement was merely to make it easier for him to grasp. Once this became clear, he noticed that the pace of their dance gradually sped up as he got a better grasp of what he was meant to be doing.
“Ah, see? Not so difficult, right?” She asked him some way into their dance.
“No.” He agreed.
“Hmm, then maybe we can change things up a little now. Perhaps I should twirl you?” Laurence was immediately horrified by her suggestion.
“I’d prefer that you didn’t.” He told her, which only made her laugh.
“Relax. I am merely toying with you.” She assured him, continuing on with their dance and allowing relief to wash over him. He was no doubt going to receive a fair share of snide remarks after tonight, which would have only gotten more severe if she had gone through with her suggestion.
Yet despite the presence of these thoughts, Laurence tried following Maria’s earlier advice and kept his focus solely on her, drowning out the thoughts of what their onlookers must be thinking of his performance. And once he was able to get into this mindset, he found that the whole thing became rather…fun. The dance itself was admittedly quite simplistic, but at least Maria hadn’t gone out of her way to embarrass him by selecting something that would be far too complex for him to grasp.
Then there was of course how close the two of them were, so close that Laurence could clearly smell the perfume that Maria was wearing – he had no idea what it was, but he was sure it was one only someone like her could acquire. And really, that was the strangest thing about this whole situation. At first, he had expected that she wouldn’t be caught dead interacting with someone like him and yet here she was, effectively teaching him how to dance in front of dozens of onlookers without a care in the world. Perhaps it was all an act, or perhaps she wasn’t as cold as he initially thought.
“You are quite light on your feet, I see.” He eventually complimented her.
“Naturally. Battle is in many ways like dance; to be effective in it, you must be aware of your opposite at all times, be able to predict what they’re going to do and react accordingly, often on a split second’s notice.” Laurence couldn’t help but raise an inquisitive brow at her little lecture.
“Are you trying to tell me something?” He asked her.
“I am, but perhaps not in the way you think. For you see, I am not merely trained on how to battle simple men.” Despite the somewhat cryptic nature of her reply, Laurence was quick to pick up on its subtext, something which Maria must’ve noticed.
“Yes, you know of what I speak, don’t you?” She stated.
“Of course.” Laurence promptly replied.
“I doubt that is all Master Willem told you, is it? Surely, you thought him mad when he first shared that knowledge with you, yet you were fascinated by it all the same, yearning to know more. And it is that same curiosity that led you to me.” He couldn’t help but notice that her tone had grown more ominous than before, which was only further enforced by what she said next.
“But the question remains. Are you prepared to delve deeper?” Her voice was scantly above a whisper as she posed him this question, her eyes boring deep into his. Despite this, Laurence stood firm.
“I am not afraid.” He stated, after which she leaned in even closer to him. “Is that so?” She once again whispered to him.
By now, their dance had essentially concluded, leaving them standing almost at the center of the ballroom. The only difference was that Maria was now so close that one forward movement would lead to their noses touching, a proximity that no doubt gave their observers a vastly different impression of the situation between them.
Yet it was clear to him what she was doing. She was testing to see if she was really in control, using both her status and her intimidating presence to test him in a way. And as much as it pained Laurence to admit it, it was somewhat working, but he wasn’t going to let her see that. He held firm, staring back at her with similar intensity, continuing to grasp her hand to show he didn’t intend to back down.
Each second that ticked by felt like an eternity on its own, but eventually, what could only be described as a smirk found its way onto Maria’s face.
“I see. We’ll get along just fine.” She said to him.
“Won’t we indeed.” He replied in a similar, calm tone.
With little else left to do, both Laurence and Maria released each-other, after which they walked hand in hand off of the dance floor as the gathered guests looked on. Seeing as she had not been seated anywhere prior to their dance, Laurence simply took her as far as the central staircase before turning back to her, releasing her hand and bowing to her in that proper order.
“Thank you for the dance, Lady Maria.” Laurence said to her as he concluded his bow.
“The pleasure was all mine. Until we meet again.” She replied. “I look forward to it.” Said Laurence.
After holding her gaze for a little while longer, Laurence turned away and retired from her company. Once he was sure he was out of earshot, he let out a quiet, relieved sigh before making his way back to where Master Willem and his colleagues were.
“I must say, that was a most splendid performance you put on there, Laurence.” Micolash said as he approached, a noticeable snideness to his words.
“You are free to try and outdo it, my friend.” He jeered right back as he took a seat, allowing himself to rest his aching feet. As he did, he noticed that someone was missing.
“Say, where’s Caryll?” He asked as he tried to find her.
“Just over there.” Laurence looked in the direction his colleague pointed in to find Caryll in the midst of a dance with one of the knights, which upon further inspection he recognized as the one who escorted them into the castle.
“Poor chap. Probably thought she’d be an easy charm.” Laurence couldn’t help but chuckle at Micolash’s comment.
“Well, he’s in for a rude awakening, isn’t he?” He said in reply.
Soon after, Master Willem approached them. “Enjoying ourselves, are we?” He said as he looked down at them.
“Why yes, Master Willem. I have to say, tonight has come with many unexpected delights.” Laurence could think of what at least one of those “delights” were and judging from the chuckle Master Willem made, so could he.
“Indeed.” He turned his gaze to him. “I presume you and Lady Maria got on well?” Laurence wasn’t quite sure how to respond to this question.
“I believe we’ve reached an understanding of sorts.” Was what he chose to go with.
“Why, good. Why, that’s very good. That understanding may prove useful when you reconvene.” Said Master Willem, prompting Laurence to look over in the direction Maria had retreated to earlier, finding her in the late stages of conversation with Queen Annalise.
“We shall see.” Said Laurence.
A few seconds later, Maria’s gaze once again focused in his direction; whether she knew he had been doing the same, he did not know, but she looked across the room just long enough to let him know she remained aware of him even then – almost as if she knew exactly what was going through his mind. Yet despite that, Laurence noticed something different about her, that she didn’t appear quite as confident as she had earlier in the evening. No doubt she had felt she had him all figured out before they had even properly interacted. That as a simple scholar without much experience with figures of her standing, he would be timid and thus, more susceptible to her influence.
But all these self-aggrandizing thoughts did not mean that Laurence understood her any better than she did him. It had been all too easy to think she’d be akin to a brute, using her physical prowess to intimidate others into compliance. In truth, she was much shrewder than he had given her credit for; not only did she seem to be well-educated in her own right, but her approach was much more welcoming - gentle, even. A perfect way to loosen one’s tongue, assuming she could lull them into a false sense of security first.
Laurence had to admit it. She intrigued him. With any luck, he’d get the chance to discover whatever secrets she might be hiding, if not on this expedition, then perhaps some other time in the future, unlikely a prospect as that was.
But of course, any scholar worth their salt would relish the opportunity to delve into the unknown.