Chapter 91: New Witcher
23 Lammas 1216
On top of the highest tower of the highest mountain in Kovir, above the snowy mountains, a young man with brown hair performs fencing moves with a bastard sword. The young man is quite tall and muscular, though thin. He is wearing a Witcher's armor from the Griffin school. His eyes closed, concentrated, imagining an opponent in front of him. Practicing the katas of the school, he has been occupying the space at the top of the Tower for a long time, judging by the sweat that can be seen on his face. He practices one more movement before stopping.
Opening his eyes, hazel eyes perfectly matching his short hair. Smiling to himself, the young man sheathes his sword and descends the tower by the interior stairs.
"The fortress has changed a lot since that pile of ruins the first time I saw it," the young man thought aloud. Passing through the floors, the young man eventually reaches the ground floor. In the large hall that covers the entire ground floor of the building, he can see several people waiting for him.
"Are you finished getting ready? Ready to take the final tests and officially become a proud Griffin Witcher?" questions Coën as he leans against a pillar. The young man approaches and sits with the others around a table.
"Of course I am ready. If I weren't, I would have put your teachings to shame," the young man retorts with a smile.
"Don't get cocky, my boy. You haven't passed the test. Remember what I told you." Keldar interjected, still with his serious look.
"Even the best wizard can be killed by the least of the monsters if he is arrogant and doesn't prepare himself," continues the young man with a severe look.
"Don't worry, I have learned and understood what you, Coën, and Lyndis had taught me. And I intend to use them to do my job as a wizard." the young man replied.
"In that case, it is good, Arthur. Now eat before it gets cold. You must leave early to get that Griffin egg to pass the final test and become a true witcher of the Griffin school."
"Or you could recite the entire Liber Tenebrarum as I do," Keldar states before eating a spoonful of his meal.
"Oh, no, I'd rather face a Zeugl in the sewers than memorize the damn tome. It's a horror to learn. It's the biggest book I've ever seen. Anyone who would rather learn it than looks for Griffin's egg is not human." Arthur complains as he eats his soup
"Thank you for the compliment, young man, but you should know that you are not human either," Keldar replies with a smile that is more frightening than anything else.
"Stop distracting him, Keldar. Arthur, are you sure you didn't forget anything in your saddlebags? Bombs? Oils? Food? Water? Potions?" questioned Lyndis.
"Yes, don't worry, I did everything last night as agreed with Coën," Arthur finishes his meal.
Arthur picks up some saddlebags next to the table and walks into the Hall.
"Don't worry, Lyndis. We've all taught him well. He will survive and pass his final test. So I'm not worried about him." reassures Keldar.
"I hope so. I don't want to lose a little brother," says Lyndis.
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23 Lammas 1216
In the afternoon, on the road leading to the fortress of Kaer Y Seren, now rebuilt unlike a few years ago, a man can be seen walking quietly. The man is Saibus on his way to visit his sorcerer friends of the Griffin for young Arthur's final test.
Walking quietly along the path, Saibus eventually stops and turns around.
Wasn't there a bird call?' thinks Saibus, looking behind him. Finding nothing, Saibus continues on his way. He continues down the road towards Kaer Y Seren as he stops again.
"There is a bird call." Saibus looks up to the sky and uses his eagle vision spell. He sees a red dot of light approaching at great speed in the distance. He considers another drop on the ground, which is blue, unlike the one in the sky. The red dot seems to be chasing the blue dot. Saibus moves out of the way and watches as the red dot swoops down and crashes into the blue dot. The beads get closer, and Saibus can now make out Arthur, the silver sword in one hand, a fist crossbow in the other, and a mummy griffin flying over Arthur and chasing him for his egg.
Arthur dodges Griffin's claw attacks and counters with sword strikes. Saibus can see that the Griffin has several wounds on its body, while Arthur only has a small cut on his left cheek.
"He's doing pretty well, not the best of strategies, but for a witcher who wants to help people and not kill all monsters indiscriminately, he has potential," Saibus thinks aloud before going. Still, this time using magic to warn the others that Arthur has passed the test.
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In the Inner Hall of Kaer Y Seren, Saibus can be seen with Desmond, Lyndis, Keldar, and Coën. The five discuss Arthur's method of stealing the Griffin egg.
"He was clever and tried to take it when the mother wasn't around. That's pretty smart for a young wizard who wants to prove himself," says Coën.
"Yes, but he was unwise to do so at a time when the mother was likely to find him. Now he has to get rid of an angry griffin." retorts Lyndis
"And from what Saibus tells us, he is very successful in this area," replies Desmond
"Indeed, he knows when to dodge and when to attack. He uses these five signs with intelligence. And what will please Keldar and Lyndis most of all? He takes into account the code of chivalry of the school of the Griffin because he doesn't want to kill the mother but only to incapacitate her and make her give up." says Saibus, finally looking at Lyndis and Keldar.
"Our teaching has been for naught for the last few years. So I would have been disappointed if he hadn't taken that test," says Keldar.
"Let's not be too quick to claim victory. When Saibus left, Arthur was still facing the Griffin. He may very well be injured or dead by now. You're not the one who says that a wizard must always be careful and vigilant, or else he'll be killed by the first drow who comes along," Coën said, causing Lyndis' spirits to soar.
"Don't say things like that. You'll give him the eye. Besides, shouldn't you believe in him more? You are one of his mentors, after all. If he's hurt or dead, it means you did a bad job as an instructor." replied Lyndis with an evil look towards Coën
"Easy, Griffonet. I know you've come to think of him as your little brother, but it's not me you should be mad at, but him for not being careful or that Griffin hunting him. And just so you know, I'm not worried about him. I know for a fact that he will pass this test.
"Let's return to the thread instead of yelling at each other. I know that Keldar recited the Liber Tenebrarum to become a wizard. But how did you two pass the test? Were you as quiet as a cat or as fierce as a bear?" Desmond redirects the conversation and asks Coën and Lydis about their respective trials.
The two look at each other to see who goes first, and Lyndis beckons Coën to begin his story.
He sighs and tells. "There is nothing glorious about this story. I came early from a great distance to observe the nest. With a long view and an elevated point, I could access the entire nest in my line of sight. I only had to hear the Griffin leave. I waited another hour and headed for the nest. I climbed up, and when I got there, I saw two baby griffins and an unhatched egg. I managed to put the egg in my pouch, but the cries made by the baby griffins alerted its mother, who attacked me."
"Those nails ripped the flesh from my right arm. I fell into some bushes below. Fortunately, I would have died otherwise. Getting to my feet, I threw a Quen sign to protect myself from Griffin's attack. I then began to run and dodge its attacks. Finally, I could take down the Griffin by coordinating my dodges with ripostes, albeit with many wounds. I quickly ran away when I heard the cry of an approaching Arch-Griffin." Coën finished the monologue of his final test.
"You've been through a lot. I can't believe you almost faced an Arch-Griffin.
"Yes, and I don't want to face one anytime soon. They are too fierce and dangerous, though full of nobility.
"And you, Lyndis, how did your final exam go?" asks Saibus.
"My recovery from the egg went smoothly. Unlike others, I used my knowledge that makes an Axii sign on the one griffin chick that was there, and I used a potion to make my scent resemble vervain," says Lyndis with a sly smile towards Coën.
"I will not allow you to disrespect your elders, Lyndis," replies Coën to Lyndis' look.
"And I..."
Lyndis is interrupted by the slamming of the Hall door. With the door wide open, Arthur walks in. His sword was sheathed, his satchel full with a golden object sticking out. He smiles, "Mission accomplished. Here is your Griffin's egg, sirs and madam."
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In the inner courtyard of the fortress of Kaer Y Seren. Desmond and Saibus stand back. Arthur stands before Keldar, Lyndis, and Coën. The atmosphere is solemn, with Keldar in the center before Arthur.
"Arthur, to tell you the truth I didn't think you would survive this training when I first saw you. I thought you would die due to your mistreatment by the pirates, but I have to say that Lyndis was right for once. You have the will to become a Griffin witcher. That's why I am giving you this medallion. Proof that you are a Griffin Wizard. Proof that you are one of us and that Kaer Y Seren will forever and ever be your new home."
Arthur takes the necklace from Keldar's hands and wears it around his neck. "Thank you, I will make myself worthy of the school code and the Way of the Witchers."
Lyndis replies to Arthur. "We do not doubt that."
(Image Arthur)
AN:
I thank ArtoriasPendragon for allowing me to use his Lyndis creation in my story.
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