Chapter 53

(Hello everyone! I'm back!

Why no chapter for a while? For two reasons:

1st reason: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on PC. How can I put it… cough, cough... I 100% completed it because I'm a huge fan of the Final Fantasy series, as well as Resident Evil.

2nd reason: a small exam today, which I finally finished.

Anyway, back to your favorite series!)

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Sylvanna was already gone.

I let out a sigh as I discovered the piece of paper resting on the bedside table. She had only left me a message. Nothing else.

I picked up the note between my fingers and quickly scanned the first lines.

"Hello Aiden, I hope you slept well.

Initially, I wanted you to help me with my goal, but after the time I spent with you and certain strange things I never want to see again, I've decided to leave. What I wish to accomplish is nothing less than vengeance, and I absolutely refuse to let you take part in it.

Aiden, you are an exceptional person. You stayed by my side despite my many secrets, and in the one moment I felt vulnerable, you didn't judge me. Instead, you listened in silence and supported me with your simple presence.

That's why I don't want you to fall into this darkness with me. To me, Aiden, you are… "

The sentence ended abruptly, cut off by a heavy scribble. She had erased what she intended to write, crossing it out repeatedly to make sure no word could be deciphered.

I ran a finger over the ink, as if that would somehow bring the words back. What had she wanted to say? Why had she changed her mind at the last moment?

I continued reading.

"Aiden, the orb you are looking for is in a dungeon that only the duchess knows the location of. I lied when I said I knew where it was. Forgive me.

May we never meet again, for the Sylvanna you knew no longer exists. Only someone else will take her place, and you will hate her. I would rather you remember me as I was when we first met… and the moments we shared.

With all my… "

Another scribble. This time, I was almost certain of the word she had erased.

"friendship."

I slowly folded the letter, clenching my jaw. Sylvanna was an expert at hiding her emotions behind a teasing smile, a well-placed jab, or a carefree attitude. But here, in these hastily scribbled lines, I sensed something different. Doubt. Fear.

She was gone, and I knew she had no intention of coming back.

I ran a hand over my face, frustrated. Maybe I should have insisted more? Maybe if I had forced her to talk, I could have eased her burden? A part of me refused to admit that I had grown attached to her presence. To her sharp remarks. To the smiles she thought she had hidden.

But it was too late for those questions now.

A sharp noise broke my thoughts. Three knocks against the door firm, methodical.

I straightened up and walked toward the entrance, casting one last glance at the place where she had slept the night before.

Opening the door, I found the innkeeper standing there, looking uneasy, avoiding my gaze.

"Sorry to disturb you, witcher… but the duchess's guards are waiting for you."

I took a deep breath, glancing one last time at the room behind me.

"Alright. I'm coming."

Closing the door behind me, I left behind a memory that, without even realizing it, had just become another wound to add to all the others.

-----

Descending the stairs, I noticed two guards engaged in conversation. They turned as soon as they saw me and stepped forward to meet me.

They stopped in front of me, adopting a solemn posture. One of them, a man with an upright stance and well-maintained armor, cleared his throat before unrolling a parchment. He took a formal tone as he read:

"We are on a mission by order of Her Serene Grace, the Duchess of Toussaint. We have been sent to locate the witcher named Aiden. This task was entrusted to us due to a threat looming over our noble duchy. Disappearances are affecting both nobles and citizens alike, and their frequency continues to rise."

His gaze grew more serious before he continued:

"The duchess requests your presence to resolve this mystery and wishes to meet with you in person."

Closing the parchment, he handed it to me with a firm gesture.

"Take this. It confirms that you have received the invitation personally."

I took the scroll and placed it in my satchel before crossing my arms. I studied them for a moment, gauging their seriousness.

"Can you tell me more?" I asked, my tone questioning.

The guard nodded. "Of course, witcher, but we should discuss this on the way. Her Grace wishes to see you as soon as possible."

Then, as if remembering a formality, he extended his hand with a smile. "I am Gaspard de Beauregard." He gestured toward his companion with a slight nod. "And this is Baldéric de Castelfleur."

Baldéric gave me a brief but cordial nod.

I shook Gaspard's hand and introduced myself in turn. Without wasting more time, we retrieved our horses and set off toward Beauclair.

On the way, Gaspard spoke again:

"The disappearances started months ago, first in villages far from Beauclair. The victims were mainly hunters or elderly folk. At first, we assumed they were simply accidents or that they had gotten lost. Some old men even choose to vanish into the forest rather than burden their loved ones."

His expression darkened.

"But when the disappearances began happening in Beauclair itself… and when a child vanished, the duchess took the matter seriously. We have gathered several testimonies, but they aren't very useful. Some claim to have seen a shifting silhouette, a creature of shadow moving at inhuman speed. Others insist it leaves no trace behind."

I furrowed my brow, considering what kind of creature could abduct people in a city without being detected. Few monsters would dare attack a capital like Beauclair, let alone well-armed patrols. This felt less like a wild hunt and more like a series of carefully orchestrated ambushes.

"And the festival?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Gaspard shook his head. "Unfortunately, certain council members insisted on keeping it going despite the duchess's reluctance. They believe canceling it would cause panic and damage the duchy's reputation."

He let out a weary sigh before adding bitterly:

"Her Grace was forced to yield. To reassure the public, she declared that no monster could ever frighten the valiant warriors of Toussaint."

We finally approached the castle. Gaspard showed a document to the guards, and we passed through the gates. A steward promptly came to meet us and gestured for the stable hands to take our horses. One of them reached for Ganon's reins, but the proud stallion pulled away, pushing the servant back before following the other horses on his own. The stable hand hesitated, then hurried after him, visibly embarrassed.

Before the grand throne room doors, a majordomo took a deep breath before announcing in a clear voice:

"By order of Her Serene Grace, the witcher is present, accompanied by Sir Gaspard de Beauregard and Sir Baldéric de Castelfleur."

The heavy doors slowly swung open, revealing the throne hall. On either side, armored soldiers stood motionless, watching our approach. I followed my companions, kneeling a fraction of a second after them.

A voice rang out, authoritative yet composed.

"Raise your head."

I obeyed and met the gaze of the ruler of Toussaint.

Anna Henrietta sat with a natural grace, befitting a sovereign. Her poised stance was not rigid but carried an air of authority and elegance. Her piercing gaze, tinged with subtle mischief, scrutinized my every move with unsettling precision.

She wore a finely embroidered gown in the colors of the court, reflecting her rank and refined taste. Her exquisitely crafted crown caught the light from the stained-glass windows. Around her, shimmering tapestries and sculpted columns framed her seat, enhancing her regal aura.

A faint smile flickered across her lips before she let out a soft sigh.

"So, this is the witcher. I expected someone… more imposing, based on my knights' accounts."

I raised an eyebrow. A provocation. I let it slide.

She clapped her hands together, straightening slightly before announcing in a firm voice:

"Witcher, I have a request for you. I need you to find the one responsible for these abductions and bring them to justice. If it is a monster, I order you to kill it."

I remained silent for a moment, arms crossed over my chest. Her tone made it clear she already considered the matter settled. But I had learned long ago never to blindly follow the orders of nobles, no matter how high their station.

"What evidence do you have?" I asked cautiously. "I can't track a creature without a lead. I have no desire to waste my time on meaningless patrols and baseless accusations."

Her expression darkened slightly. A flicker of irritation crossed her eyes, but she did not react immediately.

"My captain managed to wound… something," she finally admitted after a brief pause. "A fragment was recovered, but we don't know if it belongs to a monster or a human."

She hesitated before continuing, her voice measured.

"Additionally, Count Albert has recently drawn suspicion. He has been purchasing a large number of animals in a short span of time, yet our investigations have found no sign of any livestock or breeding facilities. This may seem trivial, but given the circumstances, I prefer to leave nothing to chance."

She gestured to a servant, who brought forth a parchment. She elegantly scrawled a few words on it before handing it to another attendant, who then approached me and placed it in my hands. Her gaze was sharper now.

"Witcher, I am counting on you to solve this mystery. This matter has plagued the duchy for too long, and I am occupied with the affairs of the festival. You will have access to all necessary resources. Sir Beauregard and Sir Castelfleur will assist you in this investigation."

I hesitated for a moment before asking:

"Your Majesty, why not simply cancel the festival?"

A heavy silence filled the hall. Some knights exchanged uneasy glances. Anna Henrietta, however, remained impassive. She placed her hands on the armrests of her throne and leaned forward slightly.

"Cancel the festival?" she repeated slowly, as if tasting the words. "Witcher, do you have any idea what that would mean?"

I remained silent, prompting her to continue.

"This festival is far more than mere entertainment. It commemorates a historic victory and serves as a crucial diplomatic event. Envoys from several kingdoms are already present. Canceling it would be seen as a sign of weakness in the eyes of foreign powers. That is something I cannot allow."

She paused, then added in a colder tone:

"And what do you suggest? That I strip my people of their only source of light while the shadow of fear creeps through Beauclair?"

I met her gaze.

"It is not light that is lacking, but caution," I replied calmly. "If these abductions are the work of a monster, it will wait for the perfect moment to strike. A crowded festival could be the ideal opportunity. Panic and chaos would only serve it."

A shiver ran through some of the nobles at the thought, but Anna Henrietta remained unfazed. Her gaze, however, had darkened slightly.

"You seem very certain of yourself, witcher. But you are unaware of the constraints I face. This festival will go on, whether you approve or not."

She took a deep breath, as if regaining her composure.

"And the reward?" I finally asked, though the question left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"Two thousand crowns and a deed to a vineyard in the duchy," she replied without hesitation.

I remained silent for a moment, weighing her words. Two thousand crowns… a considerable sum, more than reasonable for a standard contract. And a vineyard? A piece of land, an unusual gift coming from a sovereign. Too unusual.

This was more than just a reward. It was an incentive. A way to tie me to the duchy, perhaps. A means to buy my loyalty.

I glanced at Gaspard and Baldéric, then at the knights surrounding us. I knew how nobles played their games, and Henrietta was no exception. She needed a witcher, but more than that, she wanted another piece on her political chessboard.

"Why a vineyard?" I finally asked.

She gave a faintly amused smile. "Because I reward loyalty, witcher. And I want to ensure that you remain an ally of Toussaint, even after this matter is settled."

I hesitated. A reward this generous always came with a price.

"I'm not a knight," I said slowly. "I'm a witcher. I have no use for titles or land."

"And yet, I'm certain that one day, you'll appreciate having a place to rest, a home to lay down your sword," she replied gently.

I stayed silent.

Finally, I gave a slow nod before bowing one last time.

As I turned to leave, her voice rang out again, sharp as a blade.

"Witcher… I hope I have not misjudged you. And I expect you to live up to your reputation."

The throne room doors closed behind us, leaving me with an unsettling feeling.