บท 211: A Contract Sealed
Soon, Gaetan changed into civilian clothes and followed Wayne back to Beauclair.
To win his favor, Wayne generously arranged a high-end suite for him at the Red Rose Inn and gave him a hundred crowns as an advance, telling him to rest in the city and that he would find him in two days when the work was ready.
Of course, Wayne also took precautions. He warned Gaetan not to think about escaping, as a tracking spell had been placed on him. If caught after escaping, he would face severe consequences.
However, Wayne noticed that although Gaetan had a somewhat impatient personality, like a young boy, he was also quite easygoing. After receiving the money, he immediately beamed with joy, showing no signs of resentment, and seemed satisfied with Wayne's arrangements.
That was good, as long as he wasn't the stubborn, hot-headed type who would be difficult to control.
Honestly, as a witcher himself, Wayne didn't want to kill his own kind unless absolutely necessary. There were less than fifty witchers left in the world, and every loss was significant.
One night passed, and it was the day of Syanna's expulsion.
Before the duchess's daughter could be banished, Letho and his two companions returned with the Viper School grandmaster equipment diagrams. They also brought back some monster materials in their bags.
Wayne was delighted with their success and introduced Gaetan of the Cat School to Letho and the others.
After getting acquainted, they all shared a celebratory meal. Letho and his companions then bid farewell, preparing to locate the next set of diagrams.
Gaetan was surprised to learn that, besides himself, a reluctant Cat School witcher, there was also a group of Viper School witchers working for Wayne.
This shocked him, but also brought a sense of relief and increased his trust in Wayne.
At least, there were witchers from other schools willing to work for Wayne, which indicated this wasn't a trap and there was a reason to stay.
It wasn't until the afternoon, when Wayne thought Syanna's expulsion might be delayed due to the assassination attempt, that the magic mark he'd been monitoring finally moved, leaving Beauclair Palace through a section of the wall behind it.
There must be a secret passage connected to the palace, allowing for discreet departures.
Now that the target was on the move, Wayne didn't linger in the city. He briefly spoke with Gaetan, asking him to stay put and avoid causing trouble.
Then, he left the city gates, boarded his magic carpet in a secluded area, and flew swiftly towards Syanna's marked location.
The carpet was fast. After about an hour, Wayne caught up with Syanna and her four knight escorts.
Perhaps for secrecy, or because they hadn't yet left Toussaint's territory, all five members of the group wore dark cloaks. From a distance, one could only distinguish the knights from Syanna by their figures.
Having found them, Wayne was no longer in a hurry. He maintained an altitude where they couldn't easily spot him, sitting on the magic carpet and observing them from afar.
Soon, evening arrived. The group, now quite far from Beauclair, set up camp in a sheltered lowland area in the wilderness.
The night wind was chilly, and Wayne didn't want to stay in the sky any longer. Donning his invisibility cloak, he walked to their camp, sat on a secluded rock, and watched the escort team as if it were a play.
Perhaps because Syanna had been mischievous since childhood, the noble knights, whose names Wayne couldn't recall, were quite resentful towards her.
One of the knights, with a bushy beard, was particularly rude to Syanna during the journey.
Now, after setting up camp, the bearded knight berated Syanna loudly, accusing her of being a jinx and a demon. He blamed her for various natural and man-made disasters that had befallen Toussaint, as if all the world's misfortunes were due to the Curse of the Black Sun she carried. It was because of her, he claimed, that the world was filled with war and turmoil.
The duchess's daughter, recently banished from the palace and accustomed to being treated with deference by these knights, couldn't bear such insults. She retorted sharply, rebuking the bearded knight.
Unfortunately, these seemingly honorable knights had no tolerance for Syanna. The bearded knight, stung by her words, immediately slapped her across the face, knocking her to the ground, and cursed angrily, "Know your place, Syanna! You've been expelled from Toussaint. You're no longer the duke's daughter, just a commoner. And you dare to openly defy a nobleman?"
After saying that, he picked up the riding crop and struck Syanna twice hard on her body. The duke's daughter, who had never suffered any harm since childhood, screamed in agony as bloody welts appeared on her skin. The other three knights traveling with them reacted in different ways—some remained silent, some watched indifferently, and some seemed eager to join in the abuse of Syanna.
Wayne did not intervene to stop them. Instead, he sat quietly and observed. If he was going to turn Syanna into a useful tool, she first needed to endure hardships and understand the darkness in people's hearts. Otherwise, training the daughter of a former duke, who thought herself noble, would be quite troublesome. Moreover, if she didn't develop hatred toward these knights, she might not feel any gratitude when Wayne eventually saved her.
For the next day, Wayne stayed with the escort team, watching the knights' abuse of Syanna escalate from mere insults to whipping her with riding crops. The duke's daughter wailed in pain, and the flames of hatred toward the knights grew stronger within her.
Wayne couldn't help but feel a bit emotional. The Lady of the Lake once preached the Five Virtues of Chivalry in Toussaint—beliefs that were held sacred by all knights in the duchy. Even the Knights' Tournament in Toussaint had become a grand celebration for all its people. But it was a pity that, in the end, human nature is complicated.
Few can truly uphold their principles and maintain firm beliefs. Among the thousands of wandering knights in Toussaint, there were likely very few who could be called true knights. The belief in the Lady of the Lake had gradually faded in this degenerate society.
Wayne followed relentlessly, and on the afternoon of the next day, the group finally reached the border of Toussaint. Syanna, the disgraced daughter of a duke, had been brutally tortured by these knights. Her body was covered in wounds, her eyes bloodshot, and her breath shallow.
If it weren't for the girl's defiant expression and eyes filled with hatred, Wayne would have thought she had succumbed to the knights' cruelty.
Despite the beatings and whippings, none of the knights dared to violate Syanna. She was still the Duke's daughter, and even as an outcast, any sexual assault would give other knights leverage against them. The Duke's word was law, and they knew they'd face severe consequences.
Before departing, two of the knights, still smarting from Syanna's insults, seemed intent on inflicting more pain. The bearded knight, with a cruel laugh, raised his riding crop for one last parting blow.
Suddenly, a playful voice cut through the air. "Four knights abusing a young woman. This is quite a rare sight!"
"And in Toussaint, of all places, known for its chivalry. How intriguing!"
Everyone turned towards the source of the voice.
A young man with blond hair and extravagant attire stood seven or eight meters away, observing them. He wore a gem-encrusted ring, a jeweled bracelet, and a magnificent dagger at his hip. It was as if he had materialized out of thin air.
Had he not spoken, it seemed no one would have noticed his presence.
Faced with this strange situation, the bearded knight tightened his grip on his riding crop, placed his other hand on the sword at his waist, and shouted loudly:
"Who are you to mock the knights of Toussaint? Do you wish to find yourself imprisoned?"
The other knights also drew their weapons, eyeing Wayne with wary expressions. After all, in this world filled with monsters and dark creatures, one must always be on guard when encountering the unexpected. Especially in the wilderness, where danger can strike at any moment, even a large group might not be safe.
In response to the bearded knight's challenge, the handsome young man stepped forward, slowly approaching the group. He looked at Syanna, who was clutching her torn clothes and staring at him, and spoke in a gentle tone:
"Girl, you have two choices before you now."
"The first choice is that I offer you a chance for revenge. The lives of these four men will be in your hands, but in return, your life will belong to me from this moment forward."
"The second option is that I pretend I saw nothing, turn around, and leave."
"These four will continue to torment you and eventually cast you out. Alone in this desolate wilderness, you'll be left to fend for yourself, likely falling prey to wild beasts and meeting a silent death."
Though Wayne's tone was calm, his voice carried clearly to everyone present. One of the four knights, a middle-aged man with a stern face and an air of righteousness, suddenly charged forward. Raising his steel sword, he swung it at Wayne, shouting:
"You shameless cur, how dare you act so boldly in my presence! I'll lop off your head and see what other tricks you have up your sleeve."
He was tall, moved with power, and wore fine knight's armor—clearly an elite knight who had seen many battles. Unfortunately for him, just as he reached Wayne, steel sword raised high, ready to bring the sharp blade down on Wayne's neck, Wayne's left hand shot out, connecting with the metal plate armor on the knight's chest.
There was a resounding bang!
A massive burst of force erupted from Wayne's hand, and with the power of the Aard sign channeled directly into the knight's chest, it was as if the man had been struck by a speeding train. His feet left the ground, and his entire body was hurled backward, flying seven or eight meters. He tumbled across the ground, crushing flowers and plants, his armor scraping against stones, sending up a shower of sparks. Finally, he slammed into a large stone pillar, falling unconscious, blood trickling from his mouth as he groaned in pain.
Seeing this, the remaining three knights gasped in shock. One of them, the eldest and with a somewhat disheveled appearance, shouted in fear:
"Wizard! You're a wizard!"
"We are knights of Toussaint, carrying out tasks on behalf of the Duke! Why do you meddle in our affairs?"
"If you kill us, you'll become an enemy of the entire Duchy of Toussaint! A great army will be sent to hunt you down."
"I advise you to turn around and leave now. We'll pretend this never happened."
Despite his loud and stern warning, as if he had some authority, Wayne paid him no mind. Instead, he took a few steps forward, approaching Syanna. His gaze fixed on the girl, he waited for her response, speaking calmly.
Contrary to his expectations, Syanna didn't hesitate, argue, or display the haughty attitude of a duke's daughter.
Unexpectedly, after witnessing Wayne cripple a knight with a single, casual blow, Syanna merely bit her lower lip, looked into Wayne's eyes, and without much hesitation, nodded in agreement:
"Yes, I will give my life to you and become your property."
"As long as you can help me take my revenge, I would even sell my soul to you."
Wayne was momentarily stunned by her response, then chuckled. He found Syanna quite interesting—different from many women of this era. He wasn't sure whether to call her brave or reckless.
If she had encountered a true evil entity today, one could only imagine the tragic fate she would have faced.
However, having received the answer he sought, Wayne was satisfied. In this lawless age, Syanna's promise meant that no matter where they went, her life would be his property. He could treat her however he wished in the future, whether as a servant or a pet, as long as his power was strong enough to suppress any resistance. This would allow him to stand on what might be seen as a moral high ground.
Of course, he intended to keep his promise to the girl. Wayne nodded to Syanna, a smile playing on his lips, and said:
"The contract is sealed. Remember your promise, Syanna."
"From this moment on, I am your master. If you ever betray me, you'll find that death is not the most terrifying thing."
With that, Wayne suddenly sprang into action like an enraged lion, his powerful presence radiating as he charged at the remaining three knights with a speed and strength that ordinary men could hardly resist.
The bearded knight at the forefront of the trio was immediately startled by Wayne's ferocious movements and instinctively swung his riding crop towards him.
Unfortunately, the knight's movement seemed almost in slow motion to Wayne. He easily caught the flying riding crop and yanked it hard, sending the bearded knight staggering forward. Before the knight could regain his balance, Wayne's iron boot connected with the inside of his knee, forcing him to the ground with a heavy crash as his armor hit the earth with a resounding clatter.
But Wayne had no intention of stopping there. He aimed at the bearded knight's lower back, where the armor's protection was weakest, and stomped down with brutal force. A sickening crack echoed through the air as the sound of breaking bones accompanied the knight's anguished wail.
Wayne's powerful kick had shattered the knight's spine, leaving him half-paralyzed. The knight's lower body went limp, and a wet stain spread across his crotch as he lost control of his bladder. Now helpless, he could only feebly wave his hands, trying to crawl away from the devil who had so effortlessly crippled him.
After dispatching the first knight, Wayne didn't pause. He swiftly turned his attention to the remaining two, who were just as powerless against him. The older, more disheveled knight, frail and lacking in strength, couldn't withstand Wayne's onslaught. A series of punches to his face knocked him unconscious in mere moments.
The last knight, though seemingly more courageous, refused to back down even in the face of such overwhelming odds. He gripped his steel sword with both hands, desperately attempting to fend off Wayne. However, in terms of skill and physical prowess, ordinary human knights were no match for a seasoned witcher like Wayne. The more fiercely the knight resisted, the more excruciating his suffering became.
With a series of relentless blows, Wayne shattered the knight's bones and broke his limbs, leaving him vomiting blood and collapsing in agony.
Wayne showed no mercy. He systematically broke the limbs of each knight, leaving them writhing and wailing on the ground like twisted dolls, their bodies crippled beyond repair.
After the battle was over, Wayne dragged the four knights in front of Syanna, stripped them of their armor, and removed all their weapons, reducing them to helpless lambs ready for slaughter. Syanna watched Wayne closely throughout the entire process, her eyes fixed on the young man who had just beaten several heavily armed Toussaint knights into cripples with his bare hands in mere minutes. She was both shocked and awed, a strange light flickering unconsciously in her gaze.
Amid the knights' agonized wails, Wayne approached Syanna, holding a steel sword. He offered it to her without a word, his expression calm, yet the message was clear.
Syanna hesitated, a trace of struggle flashing in her eyes, but she understood what Wayne expected of her. She took the heavy steel sword in both hands and approached the knights, who were either cursing or begging for mercy. With trembling hands, she pressed the sharp blade against their throats, one by one, until all four were dead.
When the grisly task was done, Syanna dropped the steel sword and stumbled a short distance away from the corpses, unable to hold back the nausea. She vomited violently, her body shaking from the shock of what she had just done.
Wayne, however, was quite satisfied with her performance.
As he glanced at the sky, noticing it was nearly evening, he decided there was no need to rush back to Beauclair. He pulled out a magical tent from his space bracelet, set up a campfire, and sprinkled a circle of dragon dung around the perimeter to ward off wild beasts. Then, he turned his attention back to Syanna.
The girl had finished vomiting and was now staring blankly at the four corpses, lost in thought.
Wayne cleared his throat lightly. When Syanna turned to look at him, he gave her a faint smile and beckoned her over.
"Come here, Syanna," he said gently.
She hesitated for a moment but then walked obediently to Wayne's side.
Wayne reached into his bracelet and took out a bottle of intermediate healing potion. He gently pinched Syanna's pointed chin, lifting her head to expose her slender neck. Holding the potion bottle filled with red liquid above her mouth, he spoke in a firm, slightly commanding tone:
"Open your mouth, Syanna."
The girl swallowed nervously, her voice trembling as she asked, "What's this?"
Wayne's grip on her chin tightened slightly, a half-smile playing on his lips as he reminded her, "What should you call me, Syanna? Don't forget your promise."
Syanna's eyes flickered with a mix of emotions, her face growing warm with embarrassment. But she quickly corrected herself, saying, "What is this, Master?"
Without answering, Wayne pulled her body closer, their eyes locked as he spoke with authority, "Open your mouth and don't ask so many questions."
Facing Wayne's intense gaze and recalling the strength he had displayed earlier, Syanna felt overwhelmed by the pressure. Unable to resist, she obediently opened her mouth.
A smile curled on Wayne's lips as he carefully poured the healing potion into Syanna's mouth, treating it almost like a fine wine.
After administering the potion, Wayne paid no attention to the conflicting emotions on Syanna's face. Instead, he took her hand and led her into the magical tent.
After entering the magic tent, Syanna couldn't help but gasp in amazement. It wasn't just because the magic potion had quickly healed the wounds on her body from the whipping, but also because the tent, which appeared ordinary from the outside, was surprisingly spacious and luxurious inside. The interior was filled with compact furnishings and gorgeous decorations, far more elegant than anything she had seen, even in Beauclair's palace.
The spacious living room, master bedroom, and several other rooms were used as warehouses, filled with packs of tobacco, which puzzled Syanna. She was about to ask when Wayne interrupted her thoughts. He noticed the state of her long dress, tattered from two days of travel and the harsh treatment she'd endured.
Wayne reached out to gently touch her cheek, his voice soft but firm. "Syanna, you need to change out of these clothes. You're no longer a prisoner, but you need to learn how to adapt to your new life."
Syanna's body trembled slightly, and she looked up at Wayne with a mix of emotions in her blue eyes. The memories of her family, her parents who had abandoned her, her sister still in the palace, and the knights who had tormented her flashed through her mind. The contract she had made with Wayne weighed heavily on her, but she knew she had made her choice.
Tears glistened in her eyes, and her fingers trembled, but she nodded. "I understand," she said quietly.
Wayne, noticing her hesitation, softened his gaze. "Syanna, you have control over your choices here. I won't force you into anything you're not comfortable with. Take your time."
Feeling a small sense of relief at his words, Syanna took a deep breath and began to change out of her tattered clothes, revealing the smooth, fair skin underneath. Wayne watched, not with lust but with an appreciation for her resilience and strength. He reached out and touched her gently, his hand resting on her shoulder.
"You're strong, Syanna," he said softly. "And you deserve to be treated with respect. You're not just someone's property—you're a person with a future ahead of you."
Syanna looked at him, her tears now mixed with a glimmer of hope. Wayne's words were unexpected, and they stirred something within her. She nodded, feeling a newfound resolve.
Wayne, sensing the change in her, pulled her into a gentle embrace. There was no rush, no force—just a connection between two people who had both endured hardships. He kissed her forehead, a gesture of comfort rather than possession.
After a few moments, Wayne gently pulled away from the kiss, noticing Syanna's breathlessness. He saw the flush in her cheeks and the way she leaned against him, her body warm and relaxed. Realizing the intensity of the moment, he softened his expression, making sure she felt at ease.
He looked into her eyes and spoke gently, "You should take some time to rest. There's a bath prepared in the bedroom hall where you can freshen up."
As Syanna began to head toward the bathroom, Wayne watched her with a mischievous glint in his eye. Just as she reached the door, he casually followed her, leaning in close and whispering, "I think a warm bath sounds nice right about now. Mind if I join you?"
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