Chapter 20
Nejire smiled brightly. Despite her smile, there was a murder in her eyes that Vesemir knew. Triss had the exact same expression on her face when, according to her, he caused trouble.
"Vesemir-kohai.... Yui told me that you didn't sleep all night."
The boy who had been called closed his eyes.... he almost cursed, but he controlled himself.
"Really, Yui decided to share such information?"
Yui frowned.
"Vesemir. Are you going to sleep."
"Hmmmm..... and if not, then what?"
Nejire took a step closer to him. Her smile grew even wider, but also... more disturbing.
"If you don't go to sleep willingly, we'll tie you up, carry you to bed, and sing you lullabies until you fall asleep," Yui interjected.
"Or I'll call my aunt, and she'll use her quirk on you."
Vesemir glared at both girls.
"This is a clear assault and blackmail against me."
Nejire put her hands on her hips, lifting her chin proudly.
"Yes! This is robbery in broad daylight! Now surrender, or we will be forced to use force!"
"Ehhh.... I never thought I would live to see the day when I would be terrorized by two ladies."
"You have two options, Vesemir-kohai. Voluntary going to sleep... or the 'we will nag you until you drop from exhaustion' operation. Choose wisely."
Vesemir took a small step back, but Yui was still clinging to his side.
"And the third option?"
Yui squeezed him tighter.
"It doesn't exist."
Vesemir sighed heavily... Nejire rolled her eyes.
"Don't be so dramatic. Sleep for a few hours, then we'll eat something, you'll tell us about the place you come from and somehow this day will pass."
"Okay, I give up. But not because I'm afraid of your psychological violence. I just want to get it over with."
Yui mumbled with satisfaction.
.
.
.
Vesemir let the girls into his room. Yui had seen his paintings before, but Nejire hadn't. She walked over to the newest painting..... and fell silent for a long moment.... She didn't smile. Finally, she said.
"So... under that hood... was a man hiding?"
Vesemir and Yui walked closer. Vesemir replied quietly.
"Yes..... he never stopped being one... even in this form...."
Nejire turned to him.
"That's why... you didn't celebrate your victory."
"Because I didn't win, Nejire... I didn't save anyone..... his murderers still walk free in the world..... I only closed one thread of that man's story... for him it was the end... for me it was just the beginning. I made an oath..."
Nejire didn't say anything for a moment. Her gaze fell on the painting again, as if she was trying to... understand?... She was trying to understand Vesemir's words with her mind... her understanding of the world....
"Nejire... I don't know how much someone's word means in this world... but my word is more valuable than gold. I made an oath, now I have to keep it. I will find those who committed this crime."
Yui approached the covered painting... she looked at Vesemir, searching his eyes for permission... He nodded to her that he agreed... she uncovered the painting.....
"Nejire-sempai..... Look...."
Description of the painting
Four knights stand knee-deep in the morning water, their backs to the viewer, fighting a fierce battle with the advancing enemy infantry. Among them, one stands out not only with his movement, but also with his gesture - it's Vesemir, but in this scene he is dressed as a knight: in full, heavy plate armor, well-fitted to his figure. Despite his knightly gear, he has retained his characteristic white mane. His hair spills out from under his helmet.
At that very moment, he raises his steel-clad hand and releases fire from it, which shoots out at the nearest enemy. The flames explode in the face of the enemy, who screams and falls, hugging himself helplessly, while the rest press on. The fire illuminates the darkness of the morning mist with a golden and orange glow, adding drama to the whole scene.
The remaining three knights fight hand-to-hand: weapons clash with weapons, shields tremble from blows. A broken crossbow sticks out of the water. The water around is churning, stained with blood, and the sun is just emerging from behind the horizon, illuminating their armor and creating a luminous counterpoint to the Witcher's fiery spell.
End of description
Yui moved slightly to the side, giving Nejire a full view of the image. There was silence for a long moment, as if even the air in the room was still. Both girls stared at the canvas. Yui said.
"Vesemir.... you told me about that battle.... right?
Nejire turned her head.
"What? The battle? You took part in the battle?"
Vesemir closed his eyes....
"It would take a long time to tell, Nejire.... in short... I fought. Yui knows the whole story, so ask her, and she'll probably tell you..... Instead... I... maybe I'll tell you about Toussaint..."
Before he could say anything more, Yui butted in. Her voice didn't allow for negotiation.
"Vesemir. Go change into your pajamas and quickly to bed... then we'll hear your story..."
"But..."
Yui narrowed her eyes.....
Vesemir fell silent.... nodded.... and went to change into a fresh set of pajamas.
.
.
.
Vesemir was wearing grey trousers and a shirt. He reluctantly sat down on the bed.
"Vesemir-kohai...."
Nejire admonished him, saying only his name.... Vesemir sighed heavily and lay down on the bed..... the girls sat close.....
"Okay..... so.... The Duchy of Toussaint..... It's a beautiful land where the sun often shines.... The capital of the Duchy is the city of Beauclair. Around the city on all sides it is surrounded by vineyards... My grandfather owns vineyards there... but I'll tell you about the vineyard in a moment.... The Duchy is ruled by Anna Henrietta... a very..... temperamental lady. In that land, everyone walks with their head held high... from the Duchess, to her knights, to an ordinary worker in the vineyard."
Nejire leaned on the edge of the bed.
"So you're saying it's like... a fairytale land? With castles, knights and noble ladies?"
"Yes.....that's what Toussaint looks like....beautiful castles....smiling people....frequent cultural events....including knight tournaments, wine tastings, art exhibitions..."
Yui nodded slightly....she moved closer....
"Tell us about your grandfather's vineyard. It must have been special since you said you'd tell us about it separately."
"Hmmmm...Corvo Bianco. Grandpa got it as a reward from the Duchess.....The vineyard is located in the Sansretour Valley.....When grandpa took over the estate, the vineyard was in ruins....but he quickly restored it to its former glory...and after the war he even bought the declining vineyard next door with his grandmother and expanded the estate. The vineyard employs about two hundred workers. It has eleven residential buildings. There's even a cellar, carved out of the rock, where we keep our wine..."
Nejire blinked a few times, astonished.
"Two hundred people.....you must have lived like a prince!"
Vesemir closed his eyes....almost smiled....
"You could say that....I remember when my team and I stole.....err....I mean, we moved a barrel full of wine to another place...."
Nejire raised her eyebrows and covered her mouth.
"Vesemir-kohai...don't tell me....that you drank that wine...."
"Hmmmm.....should I tell the truth or lie?"
Yui narrowed her eyes and lightly nudged him in the shoulder.
"I thought you were a true knight, but you acted like some hooligan...."
Despite her words, her tone was warm. She moved closer until their shoulders were almost touching. Nejire also moved a little closer. They were both already lying on the bed on his sides. Yui snuggled into his left arm, and Nejire sprawled on his right side, resting her head on his shoulder. They both looked like it was the most natural thing in the world for them.
"Hmmm..... When did you two lie down here?"
Nejire mumbled.
"Never mind.... tell us more.... And what happened next, when you got drunk?"
"Hmmmm.... we didn't drink the whole barrel..... It was one of those wines, from the highest shelf.... Grandpa got twelve barrels of Sangreal from the Duchess.... this wine was only served at the Duchess's court..... After two glasses, a person felt like a poet, and after three like a hero of a ballad. It was evening..... together with the boys..... hmmmmm.... we found musical instruments and went to play love serenades to the lady that Merdan liked..... ehh....."
Yui looked at him in disbelief.
"I didn't think someone like you could do something like that..."
Nejire lightly smacked Yui on the shoulder.
"Shhhhhh... or he won't tell us the best part.... how this adventure ended?"
"Hmmmm... well, we went to play a love serenade to the lady that Merdan liked..... we played terribly.... and so it turned out... we mistook the balcony and sang a ballad.... under the lady's grandmother's window.... and we did all this in full knight armor."
Nejire covered her mouth with her hand, trying not to burst out laughing.
"And what happened next?"
"Merdan decided to climb up the vine that was growing on the wall of the building.... he got halfway there.... and the noble grandmother went out onto the balcony..... and threw a flower pot at him."
Nejire let out a muffled squeal, unable to control her laughter. Yui tried not to laugh.
"She started calling the guards... so before the guards came, we were running through the vineyards... drunk... in full gear... in the heat... so when we got to a safe place, we decided to drink even more wine... we went back to where we left the barrel... but Geralt was already waiting there... my grandfather."
Yui covered her mouth with her hand, as if it would stop her smile, but she couldn't suppress a quiet giggle. Vesemir closed his eyes, as if the trauma from years ago was coming back to him.
"He was leaning against the barrel, his arms folded, his expression so contrite that even the barrel next to him looked contrite. He didn't say anything... for a whole minute. He just watched. And we were wet, sweaty, drunk, hung with instruments like a traveling troupe..."
Nejire burst out laughing and buried her face in his shoulder.
"And what? Did he tell you off hard?"
"Hmmm... no. Worse."
The girls looked at him reproachfully..... because he didn't continue....he was almost asleep...
"Vesemir!"
They both exclaimed.
"Tell us what happened next!"
"Ah....yes....well...Grandpa told us to drink the rest of the wine, and report for training in the morning..... In full gear he told us to train for about four hours..... I don't remember that day very well...."
Nejire snuggled closer to his side, still giggling.
"And what? Was it worth it?"
Vesemir pondered.....he almost fell asleep again....
"It was worth it..."
End of Chapter 20