The Divine Hunter

“So that’s why we came to Cintra? For the Wild Hunt?” Roy asked curiously.

“Part of the reason.” Letho twirled his glass of wine around. “According to our investigations, the Wild Hunt appeared twice in Cintra. Once in 1252, and once in 1253. Two years back to back. Once or twice might be a coincidence, but the Wild Hunt showed up again in Cintra in 1258. They appeared three times in the same place, and we know it’s no coincidence. There must be something in Cintra that’s attracting them, just like how they desire young witcher apprentices.”

Letho looked sad. “We came to Cintra to look into this. After all, the school is on a decline, so we are no match for the Wild Hunt. We can’t face them head on.” He paused for a moment, then he said, “All we can do is sabotage their operation and weaken them. However, things happened, and you had to undertake your trial, so we arrived late.”

“Fortunately, the Wild Hunt hasn’t gotten their hands on their victim yet, so all is not lost,” Auckes added. He and Serrit had arrived in Cintra one month prior to Letho and Roy’s arrival, so they had been looking into the case.

“Kid, you know something, don’t you?” Letho had been working with Roy for six months. He knew Roy must have known something

Roy sighed. “I’m just thinking about how we should start the search for the Wild Hunt.”

“We’ve made some progress here,” Auckes said. “We asked the citizens who saw the Wild Hunt, and after we pieced all the clues together, I realized that the Wild Hunt kept appearing in Cintra because they were looking for someone.”

“In 1258, a five-year-old girl in the village outside the city went missing for no reason and appeared outside her home an hour later. She was unscathed, but her mind was in shambles. She still can’t communicate normally now, and we had to use some unorthodox methods to get some info out of her.”

Auckes thought about that day. “She was in the forest near her home that evening, and the sky got overcast, then it started to rain not long after that. She kept running home, but she said she could hear shouts, whistles, neighs, and the footsteps of horses behind her, then she felt someone picking her up. She said she was taken onto a flying horse. When she looked back, she saw a terrifying man with a mask, and he was wearing heavy armor as well. She also heard them saying something. They said something about Cintra and the chosen person. They also said something unintelligible. We think that it’s something like Elder Speech.”

Auckes continued. “Then she fainted. When she woke up again, she was already outside her home. She wasn’t hurt, but her mind was damaged. She kept having nightmares about the Wild Hunt. We used Axii to heal her as a reward. She forgot all about the nightmares. Now this chosen person is our goal. We must not let the Wild Hunt get their hands on them, no matter what.”

Roy took a swig of the wine. “What should I do?”

“Put the mission aside for now and let’s drink.” Auckes gave Roy another glass of wine.

“The chosen person… The apprentice witchers… What usually happens to those who are abducted by the Wild Hunt?”

“We’ve been looking into this for a century, and as a part of us, you have a right to know,” Letho said. “The Wild Hunt goes around the world, spreading war, disaster, and diseases like the plague. But it’s not always smooth sailing for them. Sometimes they run into a few powerful characters out there, and they lose a few men because of that. So they need new blood.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Letho stared down. “The Wild Hunt took one of the witchers who was in our batch. When we fought the Wild Hunt after that, we saw the kidnapped witcher among their ranks. He might be wearing their armor, and he might have been turned into a phantom, but he was still holding his weapon, and I would recognize his eyes anywhere. Alas, he was already brainwashed and became the Wild Hunt’s puppet. That’s not a rare case actually. Most of the turned humans would fight for the Wild Hunt until they died. A few lucky ones would receive ‘mercy’, and the Wild Hunt would return them to the human world.”

Letho looked at Roy. “The Wild Hunt prefers younger witchers. Those who are easily brainwashed, or those who are powerful are on their list as well. They think that using witchers as their soldiers would be a better choice.”

“Are you saying they might target me?”

“Yes, kid. You might be taken and brainwashed too.”

“Can any of you save me if that happens?”

Letho shook his head. “Unless the Wild Hunt releases you themselves. I’ve never heard of anyone escaping their grasp otherwise, but as long as you don’t show yourself in front of them, they won’t notice you.”

The witchers kept drinking and allowed Roy some time to process the news.

“One more thing,” Roy interrupted. “Letho, you said sabotaging the Wild Hunt is one of the reasons we’re here in Cintra. What are the other reasons?”

“Those don’t really involve you.”

“Do you think I won’t know what you’re up to just because you’re keeping it a secret?”

“Hey, kid.” Auckes got up groggily and held Roy’s shoulder. “Letho said you’re a quick learner. So how’s your swordsmanship training going? He never praises anyone, so if he praises you, then you must have that special something.”

Auckes burped loudly and took Roy with him, though he was wobbling. “Here, let’s spar and get me sober.” He dragged Roy out with him without giving the boy any chance to protest.

Auckes slammed the door shut, and a while later, sounds of sparring and metal clanging were heard. The horses neighed in fear as well.

Serrit whispered, “I think he knows more than he lets on. Have you used Axii on him?”

Letho had a weird look on his face. He used Axii on Roy on the first day of their adventure. He could give Roy knowledge, but he couldn’t get anything out of him. It was like something was preventing him from doing that. “He’s not like the other guys. We can trust him.” Letho looked outside darkly. “We know the Wild Hunt isn’t the only source of pain in this world. Politics is a source as well. He has the most potential out of all the witchers I have seen, and I have thought about this. If he gets involved in this matter, it’ll only ruin him.”

“That is not like you. And he’s smart enough to find out sooner or later.” Letho shot him a glare, and Serrit shrugged. “Fine. We’ll keep this a secret and try to raise him up to be a real witcher someday.”

“Now let’s talk business. Verden’s ambassador has been in Cintra for a month, and they’ll probably send the princess over to finish the engagement. And the troops in Erlenwald got some reinforcements as well. Is Calanthe going to do anything soon?”

“We aren’t professional spies. Once we send them the information, we will have repaid our debt. Cut off all ties with them after that.”

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