The Divine Hunter

Chapter 522: Purification

[TL: Asuka]

[PR: Ash]

Dawn was almost breaking through the horizon, a line of white light appearing in the distance. However, the smithy of Clan Tordarroch was still dimly lit, the door and windows shut tightly.

“Are you sure you’re not joking? You can free him of a god’s influence?” Klaf was delighted. “That’s something that hasn’t happened since he was branded.”

“Svalblod can only grant his followers the powers of a bear because It branded their souls. It’s through that mark that It can influence its followers. That means the soul of any Vildkaarl belongs to Svalblod, and that god will gobble them up once they are dead. However, I know a spell to wrest control of a soul and purify it.”

Forced Taming. I can mark Farik’s body and soul with my brand, effectively taking away Svalblod’s control. How about that? Just like a cuckoo. One of his mount slots had Gryphon bound to it, while the other slot had been empty since he cut off that bond with Arvel. He could use that slot. Even if he couldn’t get rid of the evil god’s mark, it was still worth a shot. He could always cut off the bond and give Farik his freedom back.

Roy thought a lot before coming up with this plan. From what he knew, the cult of Svalblod was very small among the isles. It only had a few followers and was banned by the seven families due to their overly cruel and violent ritual. Not to mention Svalblod wasn’t even as powerful as the weakened Dagon or its peer, the Lionheaded Spider.

The young witcher was a lot more powerful as well. It was just the cleansing of a mark, not a frontal battle. Full Recovery was enough to get him out of any situation, and thanks to all those factors, he could try out his theory.

“But I will have to pay a heavy price just for this.” Roy put on a solemn look like he had to give up a lot just for this attempt.

“If you can change him back to how he used to be, you can name any terms, and we’ll do our best to fulfill it.” Klaf clenched his teeth.

“Klaf, you already owe me one for saving Farik. You have to come to Novigrad with me,” Roy said.

“That is true. I do not have any right to negotiate now.” Klaf smiled bitterly.

Roy looked at Chamir. He really wanted more than one blacksmith working for him.

“I know what you’re trying to say, Auckes, but I can’t go with you, I’m sorry. There’s barely any Tordarroch left. If I were to leave, then we might as well disband.” Chamir shook his head glumly.

Roy sighed, but he didn’t push further, then he turned his attention to the young blacksmith.

As if stung by a bee, Klaf fidgeted. “What are you suggesting, Auckes? Not Yoana.”

“It’s alright.” The girl went around her father and looked at the witcher, blinking. She forced herself to stay calm and answered, “If you can lift the curse from Farik, Klaf and I will be your personal blacksmiths.”

The witcher gave her a satisfied smile. The girl might not be a master blacksmith, but I know her potential. She’s going to be a famous blacksmith in The Crow’s Perch. This is a good deal. “I won’t exploit you two. Equality is what I strive for, and I’ll come up with a fair contract for you.”

Klaf looked a little more at ease. He was really worried Roy might be an exploitative man.

“We can talk about that later. Not like we can run away anyway,” Yoana cut in quickly. “You have to save Farik, now.”

“I need you guys to get me a sturdy chain.”

“For?”

Roy looked at the sleeping Farik. “I need to chain him down.”

***

Fifteen minutes later, the unconscious Farik was chained to a chair, courtesy of his brothers. However, he was unaware of it. He was asleep and pale.

“You sure this can work, Auckes?” Chamir frowned, his eyes glinting with suspicion. “Nothing bad will come to him, right?”

“He’ll live, so don’t worry about it.” The witcher cracked his fingers and circled the chair. “But make sure you’re absolutely quiet. No matter what happens, no matter how much he screams and cries, do not step in. You might ruin everything. Worst case scenario? He ends up dead or crippled. Not my fault if that happens.”

Klaf and Chamir exchanged a look, and they nodded with resolve.

“You saved him anyway. Just do what you have to.”

Roy took a deep breath and gazed at his target, then he concentrated on his character sheet.

‘Tame

Mount (?): You have bound Gryphon to one of your mount slots.’

Roy pulled up the chair and heaved a sigh, then he wiped his sweat off. He then turned his attention to the character sheet.

‘You have destroyed the mark of the evil god, Svalblod. You have tamed Farik. You have cut off the bond between you and Farik.’

What a weak god. He had a feeling Svalblod was actually weaker than It looked. Weaker than I thought. Didn’t even use Full Recovery. Perhaps I should make a trip to Ard Skellig and fight It there.

“I-Is he alright now, Auckes?” Klaf extended his hand, longing to hold his brother, and then he pulled it back.

Roy nodded, smiling. He then uncorked the mead and poured it into Farik’s mouth. The blacksmith drank all he wanted and looked around, his family giving him looks of concern.

All the worry and fear he’d been feeling was gone. I’m back.

Everyone stared at him for a long minute, but the concoction of the Vildkaarls held no sway over him anymore. He was still human, and he was delighted. “Klaf, Chamir! I thought I’d never see you guys again. Where’s Tomy and Rahl?”

“Sleeping in their room.”

“Yoana! My sweet, little Yoana. Come, let me have a look. Oh, it’s been a month, but you’re already getting prettier. Wonder which lucky bastard gets to marry you. Hey, what the hell am I chained for?” Farik wanted to pat his niece’s head, but then he realized he was chained down. “Let me out!”

He had no idea what happened earlier. Everything about Vildkaarls disappeared along with the mark of their evil god.

“Brother! Auckes saved you from the jaws of the bear and the trolls! No one can threaten you now.” Klaf gave everyone looks that told them to keep this a secret. He patted his chest and heaved a sigh, then he quickly unraveled the chain. “We chained you since you might be traumatized from the capture and start daydreaming.”

“Really?” Farik looked at everyone, but there was only concern in their eyes. He heaved a sigh of relief like he just got a weight lifted off his shoulder, then he turned to the witcher. “I’d still be in the cage if not for you, Auckes. How can I ever thank you?” Farik rubbed his bruised wound and thumped his chest, then he bowed.

“Still scared of the bear now?” Roy smirked.

Farik mused for a few moments and shook his head in relief, his worry melting away, and he smiled. He seemed to have gotten a few years younger. “You’ve gotten rid of it, haven’t you? I can’t feel its threat looming over me anymore. It is no longer here.”

“Good to hear.”

“It’s a pity Okala and the warriors died because they wanted to save me. I must go back and give them a proper burial.”

A heavy mood hung in the air, and the witcher was reminded of how this man shared a meal with the trolls. Yeah, you should thank them, or you’d have starved to death. Roy was in no position to judge his past, but he would stay away from this man.

“You’ve been in the mines for more than a month. First you need to get some rest.” He then looked at Klaf and Yoana, then they followed him out of the smithy.

Chamir sat beside the bed, taking care of Farik.

***

The exorcism was over, and the warm sun hung high in the sky.

“You’ve saved my brother, who is an important clan member. You’ve held up your end of the bargain, and now it’s our turn to do the same. Please give us some time.” Klaf took a deep breath, resolve flaring in his eyes, and a hint of worship flitted within them too. That taming process affected him irrevocably. “Once Yoana and I pack our things, we shall board a ship and travel to Novigrad with you.”

“Yep.” Yoana nodded, staring at the witcher with bright, sparkling eyes. He killed two ice trolls and got rid of an evil god’s mark. Legendary feats, and he achieved them.

“Very well.” Roy grasped at thin air and produced a few contracts and a quill. “Take a look and sign them.”

Klaf’s smile froze, and he reluctantly took the contract. Hope it’s not a slavery contract. He skimmed through it, and his worries melted away, a smile hanging on his lips.

Roy made this contract based on the agreement he had with Evelyn. The laborers had rights according to the contract.

Nine to six were working hours, two days off every week, free accommodation and employee meals. Their job was to research, improve, and create weapons and armor for the brotherhood. The rules for the working place were lenient, to say the least.

Klaf would be paid two hundred crowns per month, while Yoana would receive fifty crowns every month. The contract would go on for ten years.

They can’t call me a bloodsucker this time.

“Ah, Auckes, are you sure this goes on for ten years?”

“Why? Too long?” Roy cocked his eyebrow.

“No, no. Blacksmithing is our life’s work. The duration is irrelevant. What I want to know is, aren’t you worried we might leave at the end of the contract’s duration?” Yoana glanced at the contract, and she felt relieved, a smile curling her lips.

Roy smiled at her. “You can leave if you want to.”

Klaf and Yoana turned around, looking at the bustling town waking up to the morning sun. Then they looked at their smithy, their slight melancholy turning into resolve, and they signed their contract.

Roy carefully tucked the contract away and heaved a sigh of relief. We’ll have our own blacksmiths from now on. A vet and a newbie. Once we go back to Novigrad, it’s time to start modifying the witcher school armor set as well as the research on the dragon scales and bones.