The Divine Hunter

The witchers spent their day on the training grounds. Heliotrop training aside, something interesting happened. Lambert and Auckes got into a fight twice from their constant bantering, and Vesemir was the referee.

Lambert got the beating of his life twice. Auckes was far more experienced in terms of swordplay and Signs after all, but Lambert refused to give up and kept fighting.

***

Roy decided to sit this one out. While everyone was busy training and watching the fights, he went on a tour around Kaer Morhen, and Eskel was his guide. In days long past, these turrets and towers were inhabited by hundreds of Wolves. Roy could imagine how prosperous this castle must have been once upon a time.

Marks of ages long past lingered in the halls. Old portraits and paintings hung on the walls, and some of them depicted pictures of famous Wolves, like Rennes, the leader of the pack, Vesemir, the last grandmaster, and Vesemir’s apprentices.

There was also a portrait of another school’s witcher, namely George of Kagen, the Dragonslayer. In the portrait, he was casting Igni with one hand and Aard with the other. Standing before him was a green dragon close to its defeat.

According to Eskel, their school’s teachers thought having their apprentices see how George bravely took down the dragon would work wonders for their training, but in reality, George died a humiliating death.

After he killed the treacherous dragon, he was barely left with any energy in the tank. The famed Dragonslayer couldn’t even muster up enough strength to drink a potion, and a thief smuggled his gear and diagrams away. He pretended to help only to kill George in the end. And thus the Dragonslayer came to an unceremonious end.

Irony at its finest. A Griffin who abided by the knight’s creed lost his life to humanity’s darkest side after killing a village-burning monster. The Wolves never respected this Dragonslayer despite his heroic deed. They drew a mustache and some male genitalia on his face.

But that was in the past. Kaer Morhen was mostly deserted now. Not even a silhouette could be glimpsed in most places, and they had barely any decorations. Winds blew through the corridors with ease, and not an echo was even heard. This was a fortress that stood alone and desolate.

***

Roy and Eskel went through the corridors and up the spiral staircase. The Wolf explained everything about every room and building, from its use to its history. Past the drawing room, training grounds, lectern, alchemy room, blacksmithing hall, and library they went. Most of the rooms were broken and unusable, however. Only their basic functions remained.

“I’m used to it.” Eskel shook his head. “Witchers die all the time. You went through the Trial. You know how painful the mutation is.” Eskel stared at the empty hall and said something Roy would remember for the rest of his life. “Every Unexpected Child who goes through that Trial is a family broken. Every aspirant that passes that Trial becomes a mutant haunted by loneliness and discrimination from the world.”

“But that pain comes with a reward. The sacrifice means something,” Roy argued. “At least witchers possess incredible power and lifespan. We can knock back bandits and intruders and survive in most hostile environments. The world is our oyster!”

***

“You’re still young, Roy. I don’t blame you for not understanding where I’m coming from. Most people prefer a peaceful life.” Eskel shook his head. “Witchers stand to lose far more than what they gain. At least that’s what most people think. And we lost our sorcerer a long time ago. Nobody knows how to use most of the alchemical tools here. Holding the Trial in these conditions is too risky. A death sentence for the aspirants, if you will.”

“Is that what Geralt thinks as well?”

Eskel didn’t answer. Or to be precise, that was a silent yes.

No wonder they wouldn’t talk about change. Vesemir is probably the only one who still takes in new students. Lambert is in an awkward position, so the fall of this school partly lies on Eskel and Geralt’s shoulders. They don’t want to see any more children suffer the Trial, so they gave up on their Unexpected Children. If Destiny never gives them an orphaned child, they’ll probably never take new students.

Roy heaved a sigh. It wouldn’t be hard to get into an agreement with the Wolves, but Roy had a strong feeling that getting them to join the brotherhood would be a tall order. How should I change their perception? No, first I gotta gain their trust.

***

“Let’s go, Roy. You’ve seen all there is to be seen. Time to make dinner.”

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