The Divine Hunter

"Changed your mind? Finally willing to trade?" Gaunter looked at the witcher coldly, like a spider waiting for its prey to fall into its web.

Roy shook his head in disgust. "And get involved with you my whole life? No thanks. That's nightmare fuel. I have a counter proposal to get away from you forever. Let's have a bet." Roy had mixed feelings about it. He was fearful, but he pretended not to be, and yet he also felt adrenaline pumping through his veins.

Roy had no intention to try, so he refused the offer. The problem was Gaunter threatened him with his friends, family, and parents who lived in Novigrad. He wanted to just abandon everything and do whatever he wanted, but that was not an option. He wasn't strong enough to be free of any constraints yet, so he went for a confrontation. Running away would just land him in bigger trouble.

"A bet? Is that a challenge? This is the first time someone made that request in thirty years. I applaud your courage, child. What is your request then?"

Roy was worried Gaunter might take back the powers and treasures he granted someday if Roy made that wish after he won, but if all he asked for was a path to power, then the fruit of his labor would be his and nobody else's.

"A minute, please." Gaunter disappeared into thin air, like a mist that was blown away by the wind. All that was left was a yellow afterimage.

Gaunter reappeared a couple moments later. He smiled apologetically at Roy. "Thanks for waiting. The stuff for Elder Blood took longer than I thought, but I did it. I'm fine with those requests. Anything else you need?"

Roy stared into Gaunter's eyes, taking a deep breath to calm himself down. "If I win this bet, then you'll have to leave this world and never come back. And you cannot use any of your power to approach or corrupt the world.”

"You just said you can grant me any wish. Taking back your word so soon?"

"Ah, but I never said I couldn't haggle. This is an important part of business," Gaunter explained easily. "You're only as valuable as your soul, and your terms are now worth more than that. I can't go into a contract if I risk making a loss."

The witcher met his gaze for a moment, but Gaunter wouldn't let up. He sighed quietly and took a step back. "Fine. Change of terms. It won't be an eternal exile." Roy fell silent for a moment, trying to come up with the best duration. "If I win, you'll stay away from this world for a hundred years. And you're forbidden from trading with me or my friends and family."

Gaunter rubbed his chin. He was weighing his options, and Roy waited for his answer.

"That's no way to haggle, witcher."

"Really? Is my soul only worth that much? Besides, you said haggling is an important part of business," Roy insisted. "I took a step back, so now it's your turn, Gaunter. Or all bets are off."

"Very well. State your term. But don't cross the line. You know what I'm talking about." Gaunter relented. "Stay within that line."

Roy looked at the young man on the bed. "It's about Aryan. If you lose, you'll have to null his contract and change him back before you leave this world."

"So many conditions." Gaunter mused about it for a while. "But it's fine. A challenge with no way out is a boring challenge anyway. Then let's make a deal." Gaunter waved his hand, and golden flames burned in the air. A yellowing parchment appeared out of nowhere and fell into Roy's hand.

Roy read through the contract a few times, including the fineprint. When he confirmed that there were no loopholes Gaunter could use, he signed his name. He then bit his finger and put a bloody seal on it.

Right after he placed the seal, he could feel himself connected to the contract, as if something important to him was locked inside it. Gaunter beckoned, and the contract flew into his hand all furled up. He tucked it away.

"Can't I have a copy? And don't you have to sign it too?"

"No. This is the only copy, and I'm the contract itself. I can't betray myself."

Roy fell into a moment's silence. "Don't you have to brand me or something?"

"The contract's power is more than enough. No need for brands." Gaunter smiled. "But I can help you out if you want it. Maybe a victor's brand if you win this?"

"No." Roy shook his head. He put Gryphon the cat and that bloodstone into Letho's pocket.

"That's an interesting transfiguration, and you have a nice soul there too," Gaunter commented.

He didn't have time to think. A few moments later, the darkness was pierced by the light, and Roy could see again, but he found himself in a strange place. Roy was on a squalid patch of ground. The night sky above was overcast, the dim moonlight shining on a deserted wasteland. The place was littered with shrubs, shriveled trees, and gnarly stone formations.

"Where is this place?" Roy shouted at the sky. He pushed himself up, barely holding down the dizzy feeling in his head.

Gaunter's voice boomed everywhere around him. "You want to play? Let's play." He sounded like a jester going into a game. There was a hint of excitement in it. "I have a riddle for you. Solve it and grasp the answer in your hands. Do that, and you and Aryan will be freed. I'll stay away from you for ten years too."

"And what if I fail?" Roy looked around himself. He knew he had never been to anywhere like this, nor had he ever seen any place that resembled this wasteland. Still, it was a badland, and he felt depressed here.

Gaunter's maniacal laugh boomed around him. "Then a crazy and colorful adventure shall await us merry few. You said so, didn't you?"

"Tell me the riddle then." Roy took a deep breath and paid full attention.

"To all things men and I appertain, and yet by some am shunned and distained," Gaunter said, as if he were singing. As if he were reciting a poem.

"Fondle me and ogle me til you're insane, but no blow can harm me, cause me pain.

Children delight in me, elders, take fright. Fair maids rejoice and spin.

Cry and I weep, yawn and I sleep. Smile, and I too shall grin.

What am I?"

***

Roy stared at the ground and thought about it for a few moments. He smiled. "You're losing this bet."

"Is that so? I won't be so sure about it. But if you're so confident, then find me before the hourglass runs out of sand."

A petite hourglass fell into the witcher's hand out of the sky. He grasped it and held it close.

"I have a little gift for you before we begin. Just to make things fair. You're all banged up as is."

Roy could feel a warm sensation filling up his right chest, as if a masseur were relieving his clogged veins. He almost moaned from how comfortable it felt. The warmth went away eventually, and Roy touched his ribs. To his surprise, the injury he sustained from the battle with the Ladies was gone, and his ribs were good as new. He stretched his arms and moved around. His joints cracked. The young witcher took Gwyhyr and Aerondight out of his inventory and strapped them to his back.

He was about to do something else, but Gaunter laughed, stopping him in his tracks. "I see you're ready now. Let's begin! I've tucked away a lot of surprises on this journey. Have fun, and no cheating!"

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