The Witcher: My Own Path

(Velerada, Castle Quarter on the way to the royal palace)

I had just been informed by my men, whom I had left at the Causeway, to report to me immediately after dawn whether the boy who had sworn to disenchant the princess had failed or succeeded. From the very beginning the matter seemed simple to me, this monster was not the princess, it is unfortunate, however, little Adda died before she was even delivered into this world. The monster that appeared later was not her, if it had been up to me, I would have sent our troops there and ended all this horror, the king made a different decision, and if he made one, he could not be dissuaded from it. He told us to wait and hope for the appearance of a brave and noble man who would lift the curse from his daughter.

In the past there had been many daredevils willing to take up the challenge of pulling the curse off the king's daughter, the king's gratitude, the monetary reward, it was all very tempting. To the misfortune of everyone in Wyzima, they fell, and so the years passed, until perhaps the least expected person finally appeared, a mere boy, now a young man of unheard-of skill and courage. People even say that his heart is as pure as crystal. I won't lie, I met him eventually and at first glance he seemed to be just as people say, I will however withhold my personal opinion. I don't know the boy long enough or well enough. The fact is, however, that he is brave and extremely clever, and has solved the mystery that many would like to solve, namely how and why the royal daughter turned into a monster. Whether by accident or sheer coincidence, the boy, despite fear and adversity, dug to the bottom of the matter and uncovered the true villain behind the death of the royal sister, the royal daughter and her transformation into the terrifying monster known as the "striga", but that's not all, this man was also indirectly responsible for the hundreds of innocent people bestially murdered by the aforementioned creature.

Not only did the boy deliver the irrefutable evidence straight to the king, but he also swore that he would lift the curse from the princess or die trying. I felt sorry for the boy because I didn't believe he would succeed. Better men than him had tried and failed. So young, with so much potential, he would die like dozens of fools before him.

I was wrong and very wrong, never even in a million years would I have dreamt that he would succeed. Another stroke of luck? An orchestration of fate? No matter, he made it. This boy is a true miracle, a hero ahhh.... Pity he was born a peasant....

As I entered the castle, I pondered what action to take and what orders to give before waking up the King and informing him of everything. Surely His Majesty will want to see his daughter and young Tyr right away, so the priority will be to send the King's personal physician to examine and provide medical care for Adda and Tyr. If all is well with the royal daughter, the boy will need to be rewarded accordingly. I hope His Grace will not have foolish ideas in this regard.

The guards guarding Foltest's bedroom looked at me confused as I walked swiftly past them, they made no attempt to stop me as this is not the first time I have so unceremoniously entered the bedroom of the ruler of Temeria. I might say it is the privilege of the capital's steward and right hand, one of the few I have ahhh... I open the chamber door and see King Foltest sleeping on a magnificent bed, obviously not as magnificent as mine, but well, he doesn't need to know that. I approach him and poke him gently, calling him by his title.

" Your highness, your highness please wake up, it's almost two hours after dawn".

" Mmm... Velerada? Fuck off, let me still sleep"!

"But my lord it's already after dawn...."

" I don't give a fuck, every day is dawn and it's also noon, so give me a break...."

" He made it Your Majesty, the boy made it!!! He..."

"What boy Velerad, what the fuck are you talking about, give me a break!"

"He disenchanted Adda, he removed the curse, my lord...."

"Whaaat!?"

Foltesta bolted from his bed.

" What did you say!"

"The boy succeeded, he removed the curse from the princess!"

"Then why the fuck didn't you say anything when it happened!"

I just told you! Ahh... I'm getting too old for this.

"Young Tyr reached the causeway on his boat about an hour ago, he is injured and exhausted....".

" And Adda what about her, tell me!!!"

"Apparently she's fine, she's sleeping, but she's all right, she's alive!"

" My clothes! Where are my clothes? Fuck Velerada help me!"

"Yes your highness".

" Send for them and my personal medic to examine my daughter, immediately!!!"

"I've already done it your highness, they should be here any minute".

"Very well, as soon as they reach the castle, bring them to the throne room".

"As you wish my king".

(Throne room, twenty minutes later)

"Where are they Velerada for fuck's sake?"

"Patience your majesty they will be here any moment, but I would like to ask the king how he intends to reward young Tyr?"

His gaze spoke for itself, he hadn't thought about it, and I don't even think he believed the boy would succeed.

Suddenly his eyes lit up, as if he had come up with a great idea.

" I'm going to give him a title of nobility and he'll get everything after Ostrit, how does that sound?"

I wanted to grab my head and shake it in disbelief, but I couldn't.

-"Sounds great your highness, but we were supposed to reward the boy, not condemn him to a hyena".

" A hyena, what kind of hyena.... aaaa here you go, you have the nerve to speak like that about my courtiers Velerad, aren't you afraid I will have you beheaded?"

"You my lord are the one who always says " Velerad, that's what I like about you, because you don't beat around the bush and you don't bullshit " As your servant, it's my duty to keep you in good humour".

"I know, I know, but explain to me, please, why the fuck I can't do what I want in my kingdom, I'm the king for fuck's sake after all, yes or no!?"

"Of course my lord and you will, you can do as you please when your position at court is unwavering. Unfortunately, there are many among us who would like to see you dead my king, so let's not move this hornet's nest too much for now".

"Yes... Who would have thought that that son-of-a-bitch Ostrit was responsible for everything, for days incensing me with kind words and licking my shoes like an obedient dog, and he turned out to be....".

"Hyena, your love, and for now I would advise keeping young Tyr away from them. He is too young, has an ordinary background, and will not find his way into the royal court".

"So what should I do Velerad? The boy is remarkable, you must admit that. Besides, you yourself would have said to cultivate him".

" Of course, my king, we will not allow him into the royal halls so as not to dazzle others' eyes, but that does not mean we cannot care for him in other ways. He is still young, he will have his time. Let's trust him".

(Tyr, at the same time)

I walked slowly from the causeway to the castle quarter, treated by the royal medic but still dirty. Adda was also examined and they found no problems with her. She was carried gently in the arms of a nurse. The palace guards surrounded us and escorted us to the castle to meet King Foltest. Hundreds of people followed us as if in procession. Quietly happy, however, that their nightmare was finally over, the hero had returned, at last, after more than six years, the monster was gone!

When we reached the gates of the Castle Quarter, the crowd had to stop, only people with a special royal seal could go on and only the residents of the quarter and prominene figures had one. The crowd did not leave, they waited for me to return after an audience with his Majesty.

Not even a week has passed and here I am again, kneeling facing the throne as the king held his daughter in his arms. He was crying, happy and little Adda, already awakened from her sleep, was looking around curiously, all around. When the royal daughter began to cry with hunger, and Foltesowi momentarily enjoyed her, he handed the child over to the nurse, and himself moved towards me, standing a metre away from me and looking down.

"Young Tyr, you have not only disenchanted my beloved daughter from a dreadful curse, but you have also provided irrefutable evidence against the man who was responsible for so much unhappiness in the royal family. Your upright stance and noble deeds reflect your pure and brave heart, only a true knight possesses such, therefore I Foltest, King of Temeria...."

He drew his sword from its scabbard and placed it on my right shoulder

"... I fit you to be a Knight! Rise Ser Tyr of the Suburb, Knight of the Warm Morning!

" But that is not all I wish to give you, in addition to the title I grant you as a fief, the marshes to the west of Wyzima with all the villages, forests and everything that is there, I also grant you the office of Administrator in Old Wyzima and three thousand oren!"

"Thank you my king for such generous gifts, I promise you I will not let you down!"

Son of a bitch!!! I thought in my heart.

(Commercial Quarter, crowd waiting for Tyr's return)

The gates opened and a royal guard stepped out and approached Captain Ryzza, who was also waiting with the entire crowd for the return of his beloved apprentice. He whispered a few words in his ear and then walked away, back to the Castle Quarter. Ryzza's broad smile made the people around him even more interested. The captain climbed onto a cart standing nearby, so that all the congregation could see and hear him, and then shouted.

"He has become a Knight! He had become a Knight! Knight of the Warm Morning!!!"

The crowd roared and stomped with delight, cheering loudly, their hero had become a Knight!!!