21. Aedrin

Aedrin gently led him to a table while Kael, tired and still awake, tried to take in his surroundings. Kael sat down without protest. Aedrin placed a plate of hot soup and bread in front of him, the table filled with the smell of steaming food and drink.

"Eat, you need your strength," Aedrin said, his eyes still on Kael, but his expression softening. "I'll tell you more later."

Kael hesitated for a moment, but his body urged him to accept the food. The warmth of the soup immediately soothed his stomach and his body slowly began to regain its strength.

Jedi, the food in the temple was not as tasty as the food here. The taste of the food comforted Kael.

Each spoonful gave him a little more resistance and revived his muscles, which were not as weak as before. But his eyes still weren't taking in much.

Aedrin noticed Kael thinking now and then as he ate and spoke: "Kaer Morhen is our home. It is not only a castle, but also a school. Here, young and talented children learn how to kill monsters. We are the Witchers."

Kael took another drink, parted his lips, and looked at Aedrin. "Witchers? I mean, you're... You're people who kill creatures, aren't you?" he asked, his voice a little weaker, but curious.

Aedrin answered Kael's question with a deep breath: "Yes, but being a witcher is much more than just killing monsters. Witchers are ruthless yet just beings who fight the terrible creatures of nature."

Kael listened attentively to Aedrin's words. As he sipped the last of his soup, he still had many questions. "But why are Witchers so... different?" he asked curiously. "I mean, why don't they have lives like other people? Why do they only fight monsters?"

Aedrin replied, thinking about Kael's question. "Witchers do a job that other people cannot do. Our job is to keep the world in balance and to destroy monsters. But there is a price. We change our bodies and our minds to do this work. And that makes us different."

Kael was silent for a while, pondering Aedrin's words. "Then we live only for this work?" he asked.

Aedrin replied, understanding Kael's question. "This work is a part of our lives. But everyone's purpose is different. Many witchers do it for the money. As you get to know yourself, you will find your own way."

Kael took the last sip of his soup, trying to cope with the feeling of emptiness inside him. He had received his training in another world where he had spent his life, and this place reminded him of how different everything was. There were questions in his mind about his old life, but he didn't want to ask them directly.

"Is the training here... just for this job?" he said, carefully collecting his question as he ate. "Is there nothing else? Some other purpose?"

Aedrin saw the depth in Kael's questioning eyes. He understood Kael's desire to belong somewhere in this world. So when he answered, he focused only on the present moment, knowing nothing of Kael's past.

"Training in Kaer Morhen is not just about killing creatures," Aedrin said thoughtfully. "But we must focus on that. Being a witcher is more than learning to live. It's work, it's knowing yourself, it's being human... it's a difficult journey. Humans may be different from us. But the real difference is in how we develop ourselves to be able to do it."

As Kael listened intently to Aedrin's words, another question came to his mind. But instead of asking it directly, he asked it more subtly.

"Is there such a thing as mind control... the manipulation of emotions?" he asked vaguely. "My old training included such things."

Aedrin thought for a moment when he heard Kael's question. he didn't know much about Kael's past training, but he was used to such questions. He read the traces of a different background in his eyes.

"Controlling the mind, manipulating emotions, is handled differently in our training," Aedrin said, answering Kael's question. "Our focus is on direct physical skills and the ability to fight monsters. Recognizing your own inner strength is also part of the process, but here you push the limits of your body more. You learn to adapt to this world instead of controlling your emotions."

Kael was silent for a while, thinking about what Aedrin had said. The training here was quite different.

"I see," Kael said, turning his eyes to Aedrin after a moment. "There will be time for me to find myself here, to figure it all out, won't there?"

Kael thought that the witchers knew nothing about the Jedi.

Since it was impossible for him to find his master by traveling alone when it was dangerous out there, he would have to stay here until he got stronger or until his master found him.

Aedrin nodded solemnly. "Time is of the essence," he said. "Kaer Morhen is a chance for you to be here and rebuild. But what matters on this journey is what you choose."

Kael wanted to join the witch training to become stronger. When he was stronger, he would be able to return to the Jedi Temple.

When Aedrin saw that Kael was thinking quietly, he stood up and motioned for him to follow.

Kael didn't understand why he wanted him to follow him, but he followed him silently.

As he followed him, he made sure to look around. Some witchers looked at him, others were busy drinking.

After a few minutes of walking, Aedrin led him to a room inside the castle. It was dusty and colder than the room he had stayed in when he was wounded, but more livable.

There was a bed, a chest, a wooden table and chairs.

On the table was the ancient Kyber Crystal Kael had found earlier, and the sword of the man who had kidnapped him.

Aedrin smiled when he saw Kael's eyes on the crystal. Something in him gut told him the crystal was valuable, but he didn't want to steal his new apprentice's treasure.

Normally, Kael Morhen did not accept new students at this time of day, as there were already students being taught.

The average age of an apprentice in training was 17. Kael's age and physique were not suitable for the training these apprentices received.

Aedrin had brought Kael to the castle even though he knew this. Not wanting to leave him to die in the wilderness, he did the only thing he could and brought him to Kaer Morhen.

Aedrin wanted to take Kael as his apprentice. The training of other apprentices was shared. Since Kael would not be able to attend, Aedrin would do all the training himself.

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