Chapter 396 - 396: Princess Syanna’s Ending

The vampire city of Tesham Mutna rose high upon the mountainside, built from towering stone.

Though the passage of time had reduced it to ruins, the remnants still displayed the refinement of its original design.

After abruptly leaving the blood-soaked madness of Beauclair behind and arriving in the peaceful tranquility of Tesham Mutna, the extreme contrast created an intense sense of unreality.

The moonlight was cold and clear, while a gentle breeze rustled through the forest. Victor and Syanna walked side by side, following the stone path at an unhurried pace.

The calm and composed princess had become unexpectedly cheerful and lively from the moment they passed through the portal. She chatted incessantly about amusing stories from her childhood, most of them involving pranks she and Anarietta had pulled together.

In stark contrast to Syanna's relaxed mood, Victor seemed rather gloomy, responding only occasionally.

Escorting a princess to her death, the knight did not like what he was doing.

But according to Yennefer's assessment, even with her assistance, they might still be unable to defeat Dettlaff.

It wasn't as though Victor had never before been prepared to die heroically, but on those occasions, he had either been left with no other choice or had been driven by fury after someone crossed a line he could never tolerate.

Yet right now, whether the princess lived or died, either outcome was something his personal values could accept.

Emotionally, Victor sympathized with what Syanna had endured and hoped she would survive.

But rational analysis led to a different conclusion, choosing to sacrifice her would, at worst, mean never returning to Toussaint again. Insisting on protecting her might end with him dying at Dettlaff's hands...

You only got one life. What was wrong with wanting to stay alive?

Precisely because he was intelligent, he couldn't make the kind of reckless, uncompromising decision a hot-blooded hero might.

The knight's gloomy mood clashed completely with the princess's cheerfulness. Finally unable to endure her endless chatter any longer, he interrupted her.

"Syanna, have you ever thought about just how furious Dettlaff must be to resort to something as extreme and absolute as attacking an entire city?

"When he finally sees you, do you really think he'll be willing to listen to your explanation? Or will he simply swing his claws and gut you on the spot!?"

The cheerful atmosphere vanished instantly, and the smile disappeared from the princess's face.

After a moment of silence, she spoke calmly. "I thought you intended to keep deceiving me until the very last moment... I'm glad you chose to tell me."

Victor froze slightly. "You knew?"

"The moment I stood on the terrace and saw what had happened to Beauclair, I knew how this would end. After all, Dettlaff and I were together once."

"You knew you might die, and you still agreed to come?"

"That isn't important. What's important is this, Knight Corion, aren't you ashamed? You're escorting a princess to her death, sacrificing a human being to a monster."

Syanna's words were sharp, but her tone was gentle, and there was even a faint smile on her lips.

"I... am sorry. Although I believe you deserve a second chance... I have no other choice."

"No other choice!? How fitting. When my parents drove me out of the duchy all those years ago, they said exactly the same thing." The moonlight softly illuminated the calm profile of her face. "History repeats itself. The same 'no other choice,' the same knights escorting me away. Except this time, it really will be the last time. I'm glad. At least I'll never be abandoned again."

Victor had nothing to say.

He owed her nothing, yet he genuinely pitied her.

"And compared with last time, I'm actually quite satisfied. At least this time, the man escorting me away is a true knight.

"Your wisdom saw through my plans. Your valor was displayed for all to see in the Land of a Thousand Fables. And you possess honor, because you were willing to sincerely tell me that there was nothing you could do, rather than deceiving or tormenting me."

The crisp autumn wind swept past, and the leaves rustled with a soft, mournful whisper.

"Most importantly..."

Syanna stopped walking, her deep blue eyes settling on Victor.

"During the days we've spent together, I saw compassion in your eyes. You don't believe in the Curse of the Black Sun. You don't believe I'm some cursed monster. In your eyes... I'm simply an ordinary woman."

"If... if only I'd met you sooner..."

After saying that, the princess stepped closer to the knight, wrapped her arms tightly around him, and kissed him.

The embrace was fierce and desperate, as though there would never be another chance.

It wasn't love.

It was simply the last thing she could cling to in the depths of despair.

The kiss was long and deep, intense as though there would never be another.

It wasn't love.

It was a final expression of gratitude from someone who had no other way to repay him.

Jackdaws took flight as fallen leaves swirled through the air around them.

Neither of them knew how much time had passed.

When Syanna finally released Victor and continued walking uphill without looking back, the knight called out to the princess.

His Blue Rinnegan gleamed brightly.

He had made his decision.

"My dear princess, thank you for your lofty appraisal of me. I hadn't even realized it myself until you said it. Apparently, I truly am a knight blessed with honor, valor, wisdom, and compassion.

"In that case, since there is nothing else I can do for you at this moment, please allow me to demonstrate my generosity..."

With that, Victor stepped forward and pulled a silken ribbon from inside his clothes, gently placing it in her hand.

It was unmistakably the item sold by the Little Flint Girl in the Land of a Thousand Fables.

Syanna abruptly raised her head.

"This... How do you have this? Didn't she say she wanted you to play Gwent with her?"

The princess remembered it clearly. When she mounted her horse and left, the witcher had followed almost immediately. There definitely hadn't been enough time for him to play a round of cards.

Victor shrugged.

"She originally refused to sell it, but I simply offered too much.

"Five hundred crowns. She didn't even need a second to think before stuffing the ribbon into my hands. I believe that price unquestionably qualifies as generous."

Syanna burst into helpless laughter.

She stared at that utterly ordinary face, her eyes gradually becoming moist. Then she handed the ribbon back to Victor.

"Very well. You pass. Tie it on for me, my perfect knight."

"My pleasure, Your Highness."

Victor tied the ribbon around Syanna.

Then they kissed again.

Deeper, longer, and far more lingering than the kiss only a few minutes earlier.

...

Toussaint's sacred traditions stood above all else:

"The teachings of the Prophet Lebioda, and the Five Chivalric Virtues by which every knight must live, Honor, Wisdom, Generosity, Valor, and Compassion."

...

From Tesham Mutna's lookout, one could admire the beauty of the valley during the day, and when the weather was clear, even see the olive groves of Dun Tynne in the distance.

Standing in the middle of the square with her arms crossed, Syanna waited, occasionally glancing toward Victor.

The witcher had just finished making a circuit around the square. Now he leaned against a crumbling wall, taking bottle after bottle of potion from his herbal satchel and drinking them.

She didn't know what he was doing, but everything that needed to be said had already been said, and at the moment she had no desire to speak.

She watched his movements only because there was nothing else to do.

Then...

The temperature suddenly dropped by several degrees.

A wisp of crimson mist approached from afar, spiraling around Syanna and making her visibly nervous.

The blood mist then solidified.

Under the moonlight, a creature emerged, his expression cold and solemn, his appearance impossible to forget.

He wore a completely black, high-collared coat, every button fastened perfectly into place, while studded shoulder pads gave him an imposing presence.

A broad forehead, prominent nose, pallid complexion, deep lines around his mouth, and a hard, predatory gaze. Faint stubble covered his jaw, and his hair was slicked neatly backward without a single strand out of place.

Dettlaff van der Eretein.

Standing before him, Syanna didn't know what to say.

Victor remained silent.

Ignoring the witcher, the higher vampire walked toward the princess one step at a time.

"Rhe... Rhena. No, Syanna... There's something I must ask you. Was everything in the past a lie? Were the feelings between us all... false?"

The princess reached out, wanting to touch him, but the vampire forcefully knocked her hand away.

"Dettlaff... It isn't that simple. I..."

"No. It is very simple. Answer me. Did you deceive my feelings, yes or no?"

Syanna stared at Dettlaff, biting her lip without saying a word.

The higher vampire's voice turned ice-cold.

"Your silence tells me everything. Ah, my love. With sorrow in my heart, I forgive you, for the time has come for us to say farewell."

Even though she had mentally prepared herself for this, when the shadow of death truly descended upon her, Syanna still recoiled in terror, her teeth chattering uncontrollably.

There was nothing she could do.

She could only watch helplessly as the vampire's transformed claws, nearly as hard as black steel, mercilessly thrust toward her.

The next instant, golden light erupted.

The princess suddenly found herself falling lightly onto the ground, landing on a patch of soft grass.

She had gone from the darkness of Tesham Mutna to somewhere bathed in bright sunlight.

Syanna sat up in astonishment and looked down at the chest that should have been pierced straight through.

There wasn't a scratch on her.

"What... This... How is this possible...?"

She looked around.

Butterflies fluttered through the air, birds sang among blooming flowers, and somehow she had been sent back to the Land of a Thousand Fables!?

She sat dazed on the ground for quite some time before finally accepting the reality that she had escaped certain death.

The princess, having survived an inescapable killing blow, fell backward and stared up at the blue sky and drifting white clouds.

Tears streamed silently from her eyes.

...

[Name: Magic Ribbon]

[Type: Accessory]

[Quality: Epic]

[Defense: None]

[Trait: None]

[Enchantment: Syanna's Salvation]

[Note: Crafted by Archmage Artorius Vigo. When a daughter of the ducal family suffers a fatal attack, she will be transported to the Land of a Thousand Fables.]

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