The Divine Hunter

Chapter 354: Don’t Tell Them

[TL: Asuka]

[PR: Ash]

Over the skies above, the warm winter sun hung. Morning breeze fluttered across the plains of Kaer Morhen, bringing golden sunlight onto the walls of the ancient fortress.

Heavy breathing was coming from the training grounds. A pair of swordwielding silhouettes were engaged in a furious battle. A thrust and charge later, the fighters came closer and clashed like two bolts of lightning,

Metal clanged against metal a dozen times in an instant. Sparks flew everywhere, and sunlight glinted dazzlingly on the blades.

Eventually, the fighters parted, but they remained in the plow stance, ready to attack or defend at any given moment. The air was fraught with tension as the swordsmen started a staring battle, but eventually, Roy sheathed his blade and held up a lock of cut hair from the nape of his neck. He could feel sweat drenching his body already.

That was intense. "I thought you'd let me win, Eskel. It's no fun coming down so hard on a newbie like me."

"You're no simple newbie." Eskel shook his head and plopped down onto the ground beside the stakes. "I don't think Letho would show you any mercy either." He gulped down some water from the waterskin. "He'd train you up and push your potential to the fullest." The Wolf turned around and said, "But he never told me how he took you in. Was it the Law of Surprise or something else?"

Roy sat down beside Eskel and explained calmly, "About a year ago, a grave hag was terrorizing a certain village in rural Aedirn. A few people died, and the villagers were terrified. Everyone kept to themselves, hiding in their houses. Letho and his companions showed up one day and took the request to take the monster out. I told them I wanted to be a witcher. Power is an enticing factor, you see. So I said goodbye to my family and stepped on this path."

Eskel's eyes went wide for a moment. The explanation given sounded a bit too outlandish for him. "So they found a new witcher out of nowhere?"

"In a way, I found three mentors who taught me all they knew."

"You learn something new every day." Eskel nodded, though he had a weird look in his eyes. "You're an oddity. Most people think we're disgusting, but you volunteered to join us. Aren't you afraid of our unusual looks and attitude?"

"Feline eyes aren't bad." Roy joked, "At least nobody would trample all over me. And I'd prefer a straightforward attitude if a façade is the alternative."

Eskel choked. He cleared his throat and looked at Roy. "But your parents are still alive, and they don't owe the witchers anything. Did they hand you over to them? Or do they not like you?"

"Their hearts were broken. Tried to dissuade me, but I convinced them," Roy said. "I was almost fourteen back then. I have the right to decide what I do with my life."

"Can you really take this path when you know you can never come in contact with them again?"

"I don't remember that being the price I had to pay," Roy said gently. "Auckes and Serrit took my family to Novigrad. They're living a better life than they did in the village. A lot easier than being farmers. And they got themselves another kid too. I can see them anytime I want."

Eskel took a deep breath and stared into the distance, where the snowy, golden plains sat. All the witchers he knew eventually drifted away from their families due to the Law of Surprise or the machinations of Destiny.

Most witchers led their lives in loneliness and isolation, no matter which school they were from. But this one is different. Eskel asked, "What was going through your mind when you decided to join us? Just because you wanted power?"

"The grave hag killed a friend of mine. I realized then that regular humans are too fragile. Too weak. As if society isn't enough of a trial, they had to face killer monsters too. Power is the only way to survive. Status, coins, strength, either of the three is needed for survival." Roy mused, "And I saw my future. The village would face a terrible fate. Had I remained a farmer there, my family and I would’ve died beneath the hooves of war." Roy announced, "Change was needed. I had to strike out if I wished to change my fate, and I made the right choice."

He made a lot of friends and ran into bizarre encounters along the way. Slowly but surely, he was changing from a frail young man into a witcher. Roy never regretted his choice, and he would keep walking this path.

"You're… special, Roy," Eskel praised. "You possess a few nuggets of wisdom most people your age don't."

Eskel was impressed. Roy was far younger than he was, but he changed his and his family's fate all by himself. On the other hand, he found himself at the mercy of Destiny, training and living the life of a witcher for decades alongside his companions at Kaer Morhen. For the first time in a while, he was getting some ideas. Hopeful ideas. Perhaps this lad can change the fate of witchers as a whole.

"Don't just talk about me." Roy stared at him. "Tell me how you came to Kaer Morhen."

"I have a feeling you asked Geralt and Lambert that."

"If I wanna work with you guys, I have to know more about your past."

"Same old story as most witchers." Eskel nodded. "A witcher invoked the Law of Surprise, and Vesemir brought me here. Can't remember why or how it came to be, but I don't see the need to dig up the answer." He continued, "All I know is from the moment the Law of Surprise bonded me to this palace. Kaer Morhen is my home, and Vesemir is my father."

Roy kept staring into Eskel's eyes and suggested, "Would you come to Novigrad and join the brotherhood, Eskel? To protect your home from the invaders that will inevitably come?"

"You cheeky lad." Eskel sighed. "You just keep bringing that up, don't you? The brotherhood is a good idea, but I don't even see an outline for it. How are we supposed to join?"

"I'll need every member's opinion to come up with a comprehensive rulebook surrounding the expansion of our forces." A brief pause ensued. "Geralt and Lambert agreed to join."

"What did you feed them?" Eskel's eyes narrowed. He was surprised that even Geralt agreed to join. Lambert joining was no surprise, since he half-expected that to happen. But Geralt is a tough nut to crack.

"I told them about the problems they'd be facing in the future," Roy answered honestly. "The alliance isn't strong enough. We need to build up the brotherhood, gather most living witchers, and train up an army of new witchers. Or the problem won't solve itself."

"Is that so? Well, tell me what I'll be facing then," Eskel said. He was waiting for Roy to convince him.

Roy's gaze turned downward, and he pretended to fall into his thoughts. Then he said seriously, "You're going to fall in love with some horned women, and they're going to suck you dry."

Oh, um… Eskel fell into silence, a weird look creeping up to his face. He frowned, but only for a single moment. "You're talking about a succubus, aren't you?"

"Yep. Bullseye. Unorthodox taste, but nothing to be ashamed of."

I'd rather nobody know about this fetish.

"But that's the least of your worries," continued Roy solemnly. "There's something else I haven't told Geralt and Lambert."

Eskel waited for the continuation quietly.

"The future I glimpsed showed me the siege on the keep… as well as a casualty."

Tightly, Eskel held his waterskin, and his breathing turned heavier. "Who's the casualty?"

Roy pursed his lips, but he reluctantly answered, "The one you see as a father."

Eskel froze up in shock and leaned on the cold, hard walls. His eyes were closed, his mind in turmoil.

Roy looked at him silently. That was a cruel answer, and he had no plans on bringing that up, but Roy had no idea what else would convince Eskel. The man whom he saw as a father was the closest thing he had to a family. Only the news of his eventual death could change the witcher's mind.

I'm doing this to save Vesemir from a terrible fate, Roy told himself.

***

Eventually, Eskel asked, "If Vesemir moves with us, can he evade that fate?"

"I can't be sure about that." Roy was surprised Eskel would ask that question. He should know Vesemir would never abandon his home. "Maybe he can, maybe he can't. But running away isn't the answer; getting stronger is. If we band together and grow stronger, perhaps we can…" Roy clenched his fists. "Curb the danger before it even rears its ugly head."

Something jolted Eskel, and he stood up. He stretched his arms, and so did his shadow. It felt like a beast had just woken from its slumber, ready to hunt. "Promise me you'll keep this a secret from them, Roy."

"I will." Roy nodded. "So, are you going to join?"

Eskel stared at the young witcher. "We're going to pay you a visit, but be warned. Geralt, Lambert, and I have a voracious appetite. Monstrous, if you may. Prepare enough food and alcohol."

***

"Alright, three down, one to go." Roy swung his fists happily. At least my efforts aren't for nothing.

But he wasn't in a hurry to see Vesemir. Now that he was certain about the brotherhood's establishment, it was time to sort out all the gains he got from the Elemental Circle. He bade Eskel goodbye, left the castle, and went for the clearing under an oak tree.

Once again, he entered a state of meditation only to exit it a moment later, and then a sigh escaped his lips. Ever since he left the Circle, Roy had given meditation many tries, but not once did the elements propel him toward the elemental dimensions. I wonder when I’ll get the chance to do that again.

"Just seeing the ifrit and hearing it roar mutated Igni. Wonder if the other Signs would also mutate if I saw the other elementals. Guess I'll find out sooner or later." Roy had a feeling he would. If I can level Meditation up to Level 10, I can reach the dimensions without any help.

***

The changes in Igni made him realize something. One deep meditation session increased his Sign intensity and Spirit. This means the whole witcher power system is already affected, and every part is getting closer together. If I can raise my swordplay, Signs, witcher senses, and alchemy skills to a certain level, will they improve one another?

Roy held that idea down and started practicing Furyfire. He made a red Sign in the air and shoved it at a nearby mound. The explosion shattered the mound into pieces, sending soil and grass flying into the air. What remained in the wake of Furyfire was a big crater.

Furyfire was on par with that fireball Matteo shot at him back in the ambush at Spear's Pit. It was a lot more potent than Igni and worked differently. Furyfire would activate the fire elements around Roy's target and whip them into a frenzy. Ignition and burning aside, Furyfire could also explode.

One Furyfire had enough power to rival a mini Dancing Star. Quen couldn't defend against it, not even if Serrit cast a Level 10 Quen. But if Heliotrop was involved, all Furyfire could do was destroy the shield.

***

Roy tossed out five Furyfires into five mounds, expending half his mana. And then he started his second training—casting both his long-range attacks at once. On one hand, he had his hand crossbow, which boasted greater speed and range. On the other hand, he had Furyfire, which was superior in area of effect, potency, and noise.

Roy half-crouched and set his sights on a big oak tree in the distance. He made the sign of Furyfire with his left hand and held Gabriel in his right, ready to pull the trigger at any moment.

Eventually, a bolt buried itself in the oak's bark, and Furyfire came right after it. Half the bolt was blown away, and wood shavings blasted into the air. Part of the tree bark was blackened, and smoke billowed, but Roy put the sparks out with Aard.

Not even Quen, Heliotrop, or a mage's magical shield can fend off this combo at the same time. But I still need to master it. If my target's static, they're dead meat, but battles don't work that way. And there are enemies who move too fast to be seen. It'd hamper my accuracy, and that's with both the bolt and Furyfire having an in-built tracking system.

"If Furyfire and the bolt can merge and become something like an exploding fire arrow, that'd be perfect." It's gonna have the speed, range, and silence of a bolt as well as Furyfire's potency.

But he tucked that idea away and went back to practice.

Roy charged and turned directions as he shot bolts and fireballs at the oak tree in the distance. Eventually, his mana ran out, so Roy returned to the castle to see Vesemir.