Keravnos looked at Keravnos, reflected in an intact window. Though the figure was not scrawny, it was not the image of a musclebound warrior either. The dark hair and tan skin suggested southern ancestry- Haven was a rather multicultural settlement.
That is Keravnos. That is me.
He waved a hand at the reflection. The reflection waved back. The movement looked awkward, mechanical- like it had been planned out step by step. It was hard to believe those same hands could be responsible for lightning-fast axe-strikes.
What does Keravnos want?
The reflection stared at him with an unreadable gaze. All-white, unblinking eyes... was the lack of emotion displayed just due to physical inability, or did the person behind those eyes really not feel anything?
...not a question a reflection can answer, unfortunately.
A shout- Ochyrosi was calling for him. For Keravnos. Which was him. He turned away from the window, and followed the sound of her voice. There would be something to do, something to keep him occupied. Purpose. Distraction.
---
"Ker! Where the fuck are you! Ker! Get over- fuck, dude, where'd you come from?"
Keravnos pointed down the street, which- though stationary- seemed to be in the process of twisting and writhing; part of reality, but at the same time disconnected.
"You should wear bells, man. You'll give someone a heart attack some day."
Ochyrosi is joking, she knows wearing bells would be counterproductive to our operations. There is no need to point this out.
Keravnos shrugged.
"I think there are some of the Rotten on the square over there. We should smash their fucking skulls in!"
The square is not on the way to the town center. Going that way will delay the expedition, and risk injuries. It serves no purpose.
Keravnos shook his head.
"Why the fuck not?"
"Detour", he said.
"Aren't we here to kill Rotten?"
The purpose of this expedition is to eliminate Martyn before he can reestablish control over the town. Killing Rotten is a means to an end.
Keravnos shook his head, adding- "Martyn"
"Right, right. Bloke who killed the other guy. Fuck, I guess you're right. Fine. Where do we go next?"
The junction down the road showed signs of heavy boots, suggesting a Rotten Soldier patrol route. Following their tracks would be a good way of getting deeper into town.
Keravnos pointed down the street again. "Soldiers"
Ochyrosi regarded him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Let's pick up those fucking assholes and go."
She is referring to Mace Hawkshire and Lord Duffy. It is unclear whether she feels actual animosity. So long as she cooperates in combat it doesn't matter.
Keravnos nodded.
---
Ochyrosi hammered on the door to their temporary safehouse. After a few moments, they heard Mace ask for the password.
"Fuck you, Mace. Just open the fucking door."
Will Mace open the door? Would Keravnos open the door?
Mace opened the door.
A creature powerful enough to mimic Ochyrosi's voice and behaviour would not be stopped by a wooden door, so keeping it closed would be pointless.
Keravnos nodded at Mace as he stepped inside.
[...]
"Ker says there're Rotten Soldiers ahead. Reckons we should go after them."
"You sure? That seems awfully chatty for Kerry", Duffy said.
"Fuck you. Ker can talk. He's just..." Ochyrosi waved her hands, grasping for the right word. "Concise."
It is true that (I) don't speak much. However, it seems unlikely Duffy is actually complaining. He is making a joke.
Keravnos shrugged.
"Soldiers typically patrol the inner streets. It'll get us closer to the church. Let's go", Mace said, before Duffy had a chance to respond.
Mace is preventing escalation. An argument would cost us time.
Keravnos nodded at Mace, then went to fetch Atlas.
---
Atlas the Servitor methodically climbed the steps Keravnos had just surmounted. Keravnos watched it do so.
Does Atlas think? Does it have motivation? Is there a difference between us?
Atlas bumped into Keravnos's leg. Behind it, the other Hunters were waiting.
Now is not the time for these questions. Should keep moving.
Keravnos turned and walked on. After a moment, Atlas followed. The alley, mercifully, connected to the same place it had done an hour ago, and they reached the junction without incident.
Keravnos halted by a large patch of mud, in which heavy bootprints were preserved. The other three regarded the tracks as well.
"Tsk tsk, getting their boots muddy like that. Very messy, don't you think Kerry?", Duffy quipped.
Duffy is making another joke. Are his jokes not funny, or does Keravnos not have a sense of humour?
"Right? Or maybe you like to get down and dirty? You and R-, ahem, Ochyrosi have a little fun when we're not around?"
Ochyrosi glared at Duffy, whilst Mace placed a hand on his shoulder- a gentle reminder not to go too far.
There's no time to worry about jokes. Focus on the expedition.
Keravnos shrugged.
"No getting through to you, huh? Spoilsport."
Tracks headed north. Keep moving.
Keravnos walked off, wordlessly, featureless eyes focused on the street.
---
They followed the Rotten Soldiers' trail further into Darremont. As always, the deeper one got, the less sense the streets made, and the worse the Lunacite growths got. At least the Lunacite made tracking the Soldiers somewhat easier, as their careless march left shattered crystals in their wake- most of poor quality and not worth collecting, though a few were added to the packs of loot adorning Atlas. Eventually the tracks led them to a small cobbled courtyard, the well in the centre completely overgrown with Lunacite. A particularly large crystal dominated the growth, throbbing with eldritch energy. A valuable find for the Doctors back home- but one that turned out to be guarded.
Keravnos regarded the pulsating Lunacite. As it had since his awakening, it spoke to him in a strange way. There was a familiarity, almost a comfort, in the glowing crystal- yet at the same time, it felt repulsive. Sometimes Keravnos wondered what it would feel like to surrender, but he could not think about it for too long without an almost painful ringing inside his mind. The Doctors had explained that the corrupted part of the psyche would always yearn to return to Lunacy, but that the inoculation guaranteed the mind would resist. They seemed to think this effect was unnoticeable for the Hunter- and maybe it was, for the others. Maybe he was the only one who felt it consciously. But then, he wouldn't know- they all knew not to talk about that sort of thing.
He was still deep in thought when Mace shouted a warning. Immediately he readied himself for combat- or, rather, Keravnos did. Because it was times like these where he and Keravnos felt like different people. He couldn't stop Keravnos from unhooking the twin axes and spinning about, eyes scanning for foes. He could see the outcroppings of Lunacite at the edge of the square starting to move, and noticed the two Rotten Soldiers raising their pistols in his direction- but Keravnos had already started running before he could comprehend what he was seeing.
As the fighting started, he and Keravnos merged in and out- it never affected his performance, but sometimes he was in control of the axes, and sometimes Keravnos was. Keravnos killed the first Rotten Soldier, he killed the second. It was routine fighting, not a particularly challenging encounter.
However, as he withdrew the axe from the second monster's neck, he thought he saw something in its eyes- a flash of pain, maybe? Fear? Anger? Regardless, it was impossible. The Rotten had only one emotion, madness. They couldn't think. They were mindless automata, driven by Lunacy in a cruel mockery of life. The blood dripping from his axes was not human blood, not anymore.
Right?
What if it was?
If they were fighting humans, would Keravnos care?
Would he care?
Was he devoid of empathy?
Would he ever be able to laugh at a stupid joke?
Was he just as much an automata as the Rotten or Atlas?
Was-
"Hey, Kerry, wakey wakey!", Duffy said, waving a hand in front of his eyes.
Keravnos looked away from his axes. Duffy was looking at him with a slightly concerned look, although it was quickly replaced by his characteristic grin once Keravnos reacted.
"Can't be falling asleep during the fighting, Kerry!"
Keravnos looked around. The Lunacite Horrors were dead. Mace was sitting against a wall, with Ochyrosi wrapping bandages around his arm.
Have to stop getting distracted. Focus on the expedition. Make sure Mace survives- we'll need his help later.
Keravnos nodded at Duffy. "Sorry", he said as he hooked the axes back to his belt.