[h3]The Hunter's Dream[/h3]
As the vision ended Torquil took a step away as well, only to immediately fall into a thoughtful silence that was outwardly no different than his usual taciturn demeanor. His mind wandered to some of the first thoughts he recalled having after awakening as a Hunter, back in the backroom of Rebirth's Rise when he had perused those barrels of weapons. How he had first considered a sword or a spear because he enjoyed the idea of himself as a knight, a symbol of heroism and an object of admiration. How he had later picked his previous garb because it had been the one that resembled the proverbial “shining armor” most out of the options, on top of the protection he had assumed it offered. And now here he was, clad in dark cloth and wearing a mask and hat that mostly hid his face, with an axe on his hip and an oversized hammer in his hands, likely the farthest he could ever come from that initial aspiration of his.
In contrast, the Dietrich he had witnessed in the memory had been everything Torquil had ever wanted to be: handsome, confident, competent, regal, elegant, powerful... Everyone loved Dietrich, and Dietrich appeared quite comfortable in his love for himself, once again contrasting Torquil's irrational self-hatred. And even Torquil, as much as he envied and resented Dietrich for all that he had, even Torquil could not help but admire the First Hunter. Which only made it worse.
[I]Why?[/I] he thought grimly, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath of the fresh, cool and faintly floral air of the Hunter's Dream. And right there waiting for him were those brown eyes staring at him, accompanied by that feeling of disgust. [I]It's not fair. Why does he get to be the hero? Why does he get everything, and I get nothing? No, less than nothing; it's not just that I don't love myself, I [/I]hate[I] myself, I find myself [/I]disgusting[I], and I don't even know why. Are the gods truly this cruel? Would they deny me everything I want while showing me someone else who has it? If this is what they are... if this is what the world is...[/I] He clenched his jaw. [I]No, I have Ophelia and Farren... and Gerlinde, I suppose. I am not alone. They like me, even if they don't admire me the way they do Dietrich. Ophelia is so concerned about the gods and the world, even though life has been cruel to her as well, so there must be some good there. Something worth protecting. There is hope. There must be. And even if there isn't... we will make it. We will [/I]be[I] hope. Yes, that sounds nice. I will be a shining symbol. I can still be a hero. They will show me the way.[/I]

“He's something all right,” was the sum total of Gerlinde's reaction to the memory. She did not sound particularly impressed; if anything, she sounded a little bored.

Once Ophelia addressed their hosts in the Dream, the Shopkeeper seemed to listen with the same inscrutability as usual, whereas the doll mostly just seemed surprised, her glassy eyes wide open and her hands clasped over her stomach. They waited patiently for Ophelia to finish her report before responding.
“Congratulations on another fruitful expedition, good Hunters,” the doll said with bow. “It is good to hear that Eileen is safe and sound, and though it is very surprising to hear that Gehrman is alive it is still welcome news. The Shopkeeper holds no resentment for him; if anything, they are grateful for the guidance he offered.”
She glanced at the Shopkeeper for a second before turning back to Ophelia. “As for Isz, they do indeed know it mostly as a part of the Old Labyrinth. The Great Isz Chalice – which we have here in the Dream now – was the first to be retrieved from the dungeon, was what allowed Byrgenwerth to reach and have audience with the kin Great One Ebrietas, and which eventually gave rise to the Healing Church.” She paused a second as if listening. “We know little of it besides what the Shopkeeper observed while delving into it, but the Old Labyrinth bearing the aspect of Isz appears to be deeper into the Interstice than any other part of it; further from the Waking World and closer to the Nightmare. It is there most of the slumbering deep Great Ones rest, and most creatures that dwell there are their kin. It is a desperately dangerous place, good Hunter. You should be well-prepared if you intend to venture into those depths.”