The Witcher: My Own Path

Due to my busy schedule managing the district and the Order, as well as my little secret laboratory project, I didn't have time to visit my father. The truth is that since I moved out, I see him less and less. Not for any important reasons, but simply because I started my own life on my own. Don't think that I abandoned him, no, the truth is that I provided my father with everything he needed. Thanks to the royal salary I received for my position, we could both live without worrying about anything. If I add my businesses and the Order's income, I could send my father on a trip around the world and he would never lack anything. But the old man is stubborn and the forge is all he knows, and no matter how hard I try, he will always be there. At least I have someone I trust to oversee the few forges I own.

The sun was already setting in the west. I went back to my desk, collected all the documents I had been working on and carefully put them back on the shelf with the other scrolls and books. On my way out, I closed the door behind me and left the tower. It was midsummer, and the weather at that time of year was very pleasant: warm but not hot, and the cool evening breeze made it inviting to take a stroll. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed two men getting up from a nearby bench. They weren't elves or dwarves, but people. They probably didn't want to draw too much attention to themselves. Mirim had thought of everything. They followed me, keeping a distance of several dozen metres.

Despite my own curiosity about the reasons for my father's strange behaviour, I didn't hurry too much. I rarely had the opportunity to walk around Wyzima without worrying about important matters; I wanted to take a breather, reset and enjoy the walk. Leaving Old Wyzima, I crossed the dykes to the Monastery Quarter and then to the Trade Quarter, where I left the city through the Merchants' Gate. I met and talked to many people along the way, and before I knew it, it was almost midnight when I arrived at my father's house near our tavern.

I called my security guards, then dismissed them, informing them that I would be staying in my old house for the night. As I approached the house, I saw a faint light coming from the open windows, without thinking twice, I grabbed the doorknob and walked in. I found my father in the kitchen, sitting on a chair, with a half-drunk bottle of cherry vodka on the table in front of him. When he saw me, his eyes lit up for a moment, then he sighed and poured himself a glass, which he drank in one gulp. Fortunately, I arrived just in time to stop him from getting drunk. I sat down opposite him and said nothing. I knew my father, and he knew me, and if he had anyone to confide in, no matter what, it was me, so I waited patiently for him to collect his thoughts.

He put down the empty glass and played with it for a while, then began.

"I'm sorry you have to see your old man like this, but you didn't have to come, you know? I'm sure you have more important things to do than listen to my complaints".

"Whatever happened in the past, the last few months haven't changed the fact that you're my father and you raised me the best you could. I am who I am because of you, so you always here for you, Dad" I assured him.

He smiled and joy and pride briefly appeared on his face, but then he returned to his previous state.

He took a deep breath, clenched his teeth and his face distorted with honest anger and sadness.

"Do you remember Stefan? He lived in the fishing village and was a fisherman, a young man three or four years older than you, who gave up fishing to work in one of your food warehouses when he found out how much you paid". He asked with his eyes fixed on the bottle.

"The one who saved up for an engagement ring to propose to Ilsa, the miller's daughter?" As soon as the last word left my lips, my father's face twisted even more.

"Yes, the same one. A wonderful young man. He and Ilsa made such a nice couple. He's dead, he hanged himself two days ago!"

I must admit, I was surprised.

"What, why?" I asked, not hiding my surprise.

"He succeeded," my father replied.

"What?!" I asked, completely taken aback.

"He saved up for a ring, and when he went to the mill to finally propose, he found her in bed with that musician who came with The Witcher. He couldn't take it and hanged himself that same day".

He almost spit out the last word in anger. Before I could say anything, he looked me deep in the eyes.

"I may not be the brightest, son, but I have eyes and ears. Since you were born, I knew you were special and I was not wrong. Apart from the fact that you are now a nobleman, a knight and very rich, I also know that you are powerful. I have seen people bowing to you and following your orders without batting an eyelid, so I know that if you want someone to disappear from this world, that person will disappear and no one in this city will be able to do anything about it".

Well, well, the old man surprised me, I didn't expect him to be so observant. I smiled to myself. Now I know where his anger comes from, my father really dislikes bards because of what happened to us, but something is missing here.

We kept looking each other in the eye, and my face didn't reveal anything.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked curiously.

"Make him disappear...forever, may Stefan rest in peace!"

I don't know why, but I really wanted to burst out laughing, the prospect of erasing Dandelion from existence filled me with excitement, but before I could agree, something was bothering me.

"I know you, father, and I understand your anger, but why the sadness? As far as I know, you and Stefan weren't that close".

This time, it was my father who looked surprised. He quickly regained his composure, reached for the bottle and, instead of pouring a glass as he had done last time, took a big swig from the bottle.

He wiped his lips with his hand and said

"She's back... Your mother is back and I don't know what to do!"