Chapter 33
Two first-year students were walking through the UA park, which was slowly beginning to resemble a forest. Large, wide trees appeared alongside a lake, where a group of brave souls tried every day to draw a sword that lay just beneath the water's surface.
One of the girls looked at a hare that had perched by a small stream and was drinking. She stopped and called out to the student with her. Her friend placed her hands on her cheeks and said,
"So sweet!"
"I've never seen anything so beautiful."
As soon as she uttered these words, a bolt shot from the trees, striking the hare, pinning it to the ground.
"AAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!"
"YOU BRUTAL MANIAC!"
Both girls began to scream... while Vesemir calmly emerged from behind the trees and approached his prey. He slung the dead hare around his waist and headed towards his camp.
One of the students clenched her fists, tears welling up in her eyes.
"How could you!? You're a murderer!"
Vesemir stopped and looked at them over his shoulder. His face betrayed neither anger nor satisfaction. It was indifferent. He responded as if explaining something to a child.
"It's food."
"Food?! There's plenty of food in the dining hall!"
The young witcher shrugged. He turned back and headed towards the lake. The sound of water echoed through the trees. The apprentices watched him.
"...A monster..."
Vesemir paused for a moment... but he couldn't provoke a few girls who didn't know the real world. He simply shook his head and continued forward.
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The stew bubbled slowly in the heat. Vesemir stirred the dish occasionally. He focused mainly on skinning the hare.
The smell of the stew mingled with the smoke, and the wind carried it through the area.
The sound of footsteps broke through the crackling of the fire and the gurgling of the pot. Someone was walking towards him. Vesemir didn't look up.
Midnight emerged from the shadows of the trees. She wore a sweater draped over her shoulders. She crossed her arms under her breasts and looked concerned.
"Vesemir... two girls ran into the teacher's office crying that you were murdering rabbits."
"A hare."
"Excuse me?"
"It's not a rabbit, it's a hare."
Midnight sighed and sat down across from him on a fallen log. The flames of the fire reflected in her eyes. She inhaled and reluctantly admitted to herself that the aroma of the stew was enticing. She'd never smelled anything like it before. It was unlike anything Lunch Rush had cooked.
Vesemir didn't look up. He simply stirred the pot.
"The food will be ready soon."
Midnight stared at him with worried eyes.
"Vesemir... why did you do this? We have food in the cafeteria, after all."
Vesemir finally looked up from the pot. His voice was calm but firm.
"I'm not a child. I can take care of my own food."
Midnight frowned.
"Vesemir... I know you can handle it. But you're not in the wild here. You don't have to."
The boy shook his head and went back to stirring the stew.
"I don't want to rely on others..."
"You don't want to... or you can't?"
Vesemir paused for a moment with the ladle in the pot. The light from the fire reflected in his pupils, giving them a wild glow.
"I can't rely entirely on others. I can't afford it. It will lead to death... mine or someone else's."
Midnight sighed and shook her head. She looked higher than Vesemir's head... she surveyed the surroundings. Warm sunlight filtered through the leaves... the place looked like something out of a fairy tale. The sound of rustling treetops and birdsong... A dozen or so meters away, a squirrel climbed a tree, clutching an acorn in its mouth.
"You don't have to be like that. You don't have to push people away every time just because you're afraid of losing them."
"Hmm... who said I'm afraid of losing anyone?"
Midnight stared at him, her heart clenching with regret. She knew she wouldn't convince him with a single sentence. "Can you tell me more about yourself, Vesemir? Something we don't know yet?"
Vesemir stared into the flames for a moment, as if truly considering her question. Then, without a word, he reached for a ladle, scooped up a portion of the stew, and poured it into a wooden bowl. The aroma of wild animal meat wafted even stronger. He handed the bowl to Midnight with a smile.
"I'm quite a good cook."
Midnight raised an eyebrow and accepted the bowl. The warmth of the stew spread through her hands, and the aroma made her feel strangely hungry. She dipped her spoon into the stew and tasted it carefully. The stew was slightly spicy. She could clearly taste the paprika... and the meat practically melted in her mouth. She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the taste. After swallowing, she looked at him in slight disbelief.
"Oh my god...Vesemir...this is truly delicious. How did you do that?"
Vesemir just shrugged, helping himself to a helping.
"Water, meat, peppers, onions, carrots, and spices. It's not difficult."
She tried another spoonful, this time scooping up more stew, and couldn't hide her smile. She began tapping her feet as she swallowed.
"Lady Midnight. I'm so pleased you find your meal to suit your ladyship's taste."
Midnight burst out laughing, setting her bowl on her lap and covering her mouth with her hand.
"Honestly... I still can't believe you come from the medieval world, even though I've seen the music videos."
Vesemir swallowed and nodded.
"I may still not fully understand your technology... and your quirks, but I can assure you, Lady Midnight, that I've never uttered a word of untruth to you."
Midnight raised an eyebrow, this time intrigued.
"Then I can ask you anything, and you'll answer me?"
"No. If I don't want to say something, I simply won't say anything."
"But you said you've never lied to me."
"And that's true."
"So... no lies, but also no guarantees of an answer?"
"My word is worth more than gold. I don't waste my words. When I promise someone something, I have to keep it. Otherwise, how could people trust me?"
Midnight blinked, and her smile faded, replaced by a serious expression.
"Does that mean... that the oath you made... the night you defeated the Wraith..."
Vesemir set the bowl on the ground, his gaze hardening.
"Those weren't words spoken in anger. They were an oath... and from what I see, the pro heroes aren't doing anything about it. No one is doing anything to catch the murderers and rapists of this family."
Midnight inhaled sharply. She tried to regain composure. She hoped she would dissuade Vesemir from his path of revenge.
"Vesemir...it's not like no one is doing anything. The investigation is ongoing, there are procedures, there are rules..."
The boy interrupted her in a sharp tone that left no room for doubt.
"Where were the procedures when it came to protecting the innocent!?"
Midnight looked at him with wide eyes. She felt fear...but not for herself, but for what this boy might do...she was afraid of the path he might take...
Vesemir took a deep breath...he closed his eyes.
"Forgive me, Lady. My behavior was inappropriate and unbecoming of you...but I can no longer sit and pretend it's none of my business."
Midnight's gaze softened, though concern still lingered in the depths of her eyes.
"Vesemir, you can't do this...You can't take justice into your own hands."
"Why not? I've been doing this my whole life."
"Vesemir, you're only fifteen... no one your age should..."
"If not me, then who? Who was supposed to protect the people when monsters came out of the forest? When the village burned, people were murdered, and women were raped? Who the fuck was supposed to do this, I ask you WHO!?"
Midnight flinched at the force of his voice. The words echoed in the treetops, and birds flew from the branches. She stared at him with wide eyes, but not with terror... but with pain that pierced her heart.
"No one should... least of all a child."
Vesemir slowly raised his head. His gaze burned with anger and regret at the same time.
"I am not a child. I do not need your protection."
Midnight clenched her hands in her lap.
"Vesemir... in our world, you are still a child... Please... do not kill whatever innocence remains within you."
"Innocence? I saw innocence die first. I saw the innocent burn, the innocent scream for help that no one gave them. Innocence is a luxury… and I never had that luxury."
Vesemir stood. Midnight did the same and took a step toward him, her voice trembling.
"And what if we want to give you that luxury? Think of Yui… of Nejire… do you want to disappoint them?"
Midnight took a step closer, her voice warming, though fear still lingered in her eyes.
"Vesemir, they see in you a boy who can smile. A boy who can no longer be alone. They want you to live, Vesemir... and they want to live with you."
Vesemir froze. His breathing was heavy, deeper than usual. Finally, he looked up at Midnight, and in his eyes, alongside anger and regret, something fragile appeared... perhaps a hint of uncertainty, perhaps even fear. His voice trembled, but quickly hardened.
"They don't yet know what it means to have me close. They don't know that every moment with me is a risk. So, for their own good... they shouldn't see me anymore."
Midnight felt her heart clench painfully. She stared at him in disbelief, as if she'd just heard the thing she feared most.
"For their own good...? And who gave you the right to decide for them, Vesemir? They chose to be with you."
The boy clenched his jaw, his gaze hardening.
"They don't understand the consequences. They only see part of me... but they don't see the shadows that walk with me. They don't truly know me... and as soon as they understand what I am... they'll leave."
Midnight shook her head, her eyes glazed over with tears, but her voice was strong and confident.
"They see the scars. They see the pain. I saw their looks when they watched music videos of your past. Yui and Nejire already know you're full of shadows. And yet... they didn't leave."
Vesemir looked away, as if he couldn't bear her words. His fingers twitched, as if reaching for a weapon... a reflex that betrayed his feeling of vulnerability.
Midnight took a step closer and, ignoring his stiffness, took his hand.
"Yui and Nejire are not your enemies. They don't look at you like a monster. Give them a chance... please, Vesemir... just give them a chance..."
Vesemir yanked his hand away. He turned and began walking deeper into the forest.
"Vesemir!"
Midnight shouted after him... but suddenly... a portal opened right in front of Vesemir, and he stepped through... leaving her alone. She stood there for a long moment, staring at the spot where Vesemir had been a moment ago. The portal closed as quickly as it had opened, leaving no trace behind. The silence of the forest suddenly felt unnatural, as if nature itself was holding its breath.
"...Vesemir...?"
"She reached for the small device attached to the collar of her sweater."
"Nezu... did you see that? Please tell me this isn't a dream."
For a moment, there was only silence on the line. Then Nezu's calm, yet clearly tense, voice rang out.
"I saw everything, Midnight. Vesemir went through the portal… but I have no idea where."
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Vesemir stopped at the edge of a lake that gleamed like liquid silver. Its surface was still, too still, as if it were not ordinary water but a mirror waiting to reveal the truth.
"You have finally arrived."
Vesemir knelt on one knee. Beneath the water's surface, he saw a woman wielding two swords.
"You have kept me waiting for you for a long time, knight."
"Forgive me, Lady, for I did not know if I was worthy."
The Lady of the Lake's voice echoed loudly throughout the area.
"Dignity is a burden you carry with every choice you make. Therefore, I ask you, knight, not if you are worthy, but if you are ready."
He was silent for a moment, as if considering the Lady of the Lake's words, until he finally replied in a firm yet humble voice.
"I am ready to keep my oath, regardless of the obstacles before me."
Two swords emerged from beneath the surface of the water. One of them Vesemir had seen before... but the other posed a mystery to him. Both swords were adorned with golden runes in a language unknown to this world.
"Behold... your Aerondight and Excalibur. Forget not that you are a righteous and honorable man, devoted to doing good. And for these reasons you received the blades. Now bear it."
Vesemir stepped onto the lake's surface. He stepped slowly on the water. The swords floated on the water, their blades pointing upward. The Lady of the Lake released them, and her silhouette slowly disappeared underwater.
The young witcher grabbed his sword. He watched as the golden markings on both swords faded, but after a moment, sheaths appeared on the swords.
"Vesemir..."
"Yes, Lady?"
"Try not to lose them... just like your grandfather used to."
Vesemir froze for a moment upon hearing these words. His fingers tightened on his sword hilts, and a hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth.
"I wouldn't even dare think of it, Lady."
End of Chapter 33