Dark. That is all I can see, and all I feel, as if I had become one with the void. Is this what death truly is: and endless torture through non-existence? Or is this a punishment delivered upon me, for my transgressions against the gods, and my sins against humanity? However, throughout the darkness, slowly, I notice something: a small, speck of light, barely the size of a pea. Even though it is so small, its presence warms me, and I feel an odd calmness wash over me. As the light grows closer, I feel as if I am made of fabric, being carefully stitched together to make a tapestry. I feel bones begin to form, and organs begin to solidify out of the void. I can hear as my ears begin to take shape, and muscles begin to stretch themselves into place. Slowly, I feel myself be rebuilt piece by piece, and confusion rises within me. As the light grows ever closer, I begin to notice a voice. Not in a normal way, such as hearing. Instead, the voice resonated within my mind, as if the voice transcended hearing.

“Laurence”

Is it… calling out my name? I try to reply, but I cannot. As my body is rebuilt, I notice how strange I look. It is as if I was a more quadrupedal version of… the beast.

“Laurence”

The light draws ever closer, and my heart is pumping. What is this voice? Why am I still a beast? I finally find my voice, and before my brain can register it, I blurt out. “Hello? Who is there?”

“Be not afraid Laurence. Your kind has many names for me.”

“What are they? Your names?”

“ Some call me the formless one. Some call me the order. But your people called me… Odeon.”

I cannot move yet, but if I could, it would look as if I was a rickety shack in the middle of a tornado from how bad I would be shaking. Odeon: the most powerful of the great ones, ascending so high as to have shed a form at all. While all great ones were powerful, they still had forms in one way or another, and thus could be killed, even if only temporarily. Odeon had shed a form, becoming one with the void beyond reality.

“ You yet still fear me. Interesting. I have come to communicate with you, vicar Laurence of the healing church. Your actions have caused much devastation.”

I shiver slightly, in fear of what would happen to me. “Great Odeon, please forgive me. I only wished to he-“

“ SILENCE. I know what thou hast done. You have used the blood of my kin to attempt to ascend. However, you were not ready, so your bodies were transformed, and minds broken. ”

“ I am greatly shamed for what I have done. I wanted to save my people from death and disease, and instead, doomed them to it. I shall accept any punishment you wish, as it is what I deserve. But please, help them. Don’t leave them to suffer from my mistakes.”

“ hmm, Strange. Most mortals seek to defend themselves, yet you fully accept your punishment, and beg for them to be helped.”

I involuntarily gulp, confused and nervous at to what the god is pondering. “ Yes I do. I know I have caused much pain, and am willing to endure whatever I put others through to ensure that they do not suffer any longer.”

“ silence. You are not being punished. In fact, your response has doubled my resolve. Laurence, while you have made a mistake, you did it in the name of saving your species. Your goal, although flawed, was noble, and even though much pain was caused, it also brought joy, giving many a second chances to those damned to death, and giving families more time to be together. Your soul, while blemished, can still be redeemed. This, you shall be granted a new life.”

I am left speechless. A second chance? A new life? I do not deserve it, but who am I to deny a being so powerful it cannot manifest into a physical for, lest it be not able to contain his power? “ my lord, I’m confused. Why? What could bring you to give a lowly mortal who has unintentionally doomed his people a second chance?”

“for the same reason that I let the moon presence take Gehrman. Even the most damaged souls can be saved, if they recognize their mistakes. Grant you, the moon presence is doing things a little differently, and is borderline torturing the poor old hunter.”

“I… um, what?” Gehrman?! He was alive?! And.. being held by a different great one? One causing him unimaginable suffering?

“ Never mind that. You may have hurt many, but you did it for the sake of saving them. You then realized your folly after the fact, and are willing to pay the price in order to save whatever is left. Your soul is noble, seeking to do good, in any way. This, you deserve a second chance. ”

My jaw has completely dropped, as if it were no longer attached to my skull. Odeon thinks that despite my sins, despite my failures, I still deserve a chance at redemption because I had meant well? I stutter, trying to find words, but am unable to do so.

“ You shall be sent to another realm, untouched by the taint of the great ones. A land full of magic, and a land of friendship and happiness. There, you shall be given a second chance. But be warned, do not make the same mistakes there as you did in Yharnam. For even though there is no corruption from my kin, there are powerful forces at work there. Should you wish to study them, to possibly right the wrongs you had before, you must be cautious while working on them. For who knows what terror they could cause if mishandled . And should you fall again, and remake your mistakes, there will be no more chances. You shall suffer, for all of eternity.”

I involuntarily swallow, and nod. “Yes lord Odeon. I shall not make you regret your decision.”

“we shall see.”
Those words repeat, slowly getting quieter as the light begins to shrink and fade. Soon, what looks to be a tear in the void begins to form, with a sweet smelling wind blowing through the gash. I take a deep breath, and enter the tear while reciting my old masters adage, as to never repeat the mistakes I made again.

”We are borne of the blood. Made men by the blood. Undone by the blood. Our eyes are yet to open. Fear, the old blood.”
And this time, I intend to adhere to the adage. I will never cause that much suffering again.

Author's Note

The first chapter of fear the old blood is complete. I hope you enjoy it! Leave any feedback you have.