Chapter 35:

The deadly Hydra now is the hydra of Equality. Liberty, Equality and Fraternity is the three-fanged serpent. - D.H. Lawrence

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Current Year: 1261

"You know…" I said while the beast continued to howl in pain. "I've been trying my best to come up with a clever name for an amputee support group… But so far, I'm stumped."

After making that little quip, I immediately shuffled away from my opponent. The Leshen was no doubt preparing for another big attack after losing its arm in such a humiliating manner. There were a few more spells that I could try and use in this situation, but I honestly didn't really want to risk it just yet. Using too many spells in such a short time frame, for someone as inexperienced as myself, could have unforeseen consequences. For now, I just let the potions that were still running through my system do their job. My stamina and adrenaline were immediately starting to return to me the farther away I got from my adversary. Tawny oil and Maribor Forest is a good combination for any fight.

As my strength returned to me, the monster in front of me seemed to have gotten over the shock from losing its arm. It howled once more before sticking it's remaining right hand into the earth. My senses alerted me to the approaching magic foliage beginning to sprout of the ground. I barreled to my left in an evasive roll before the attack could reach me. As the Leshen was still in the middle of its attack, I took this opportunity to nab a bomb that was sitting comfortably on my belt. I had made sure to pack some Dancing Star's in preparation for this fight. A creature made of wood and a bomb that sets things alite don't generally mix. I knew that Leshen's were susceptible to dimeritium, but I didn't want to waste any of the metal I managed to procure on this monster hunt.

I took this opportunity while the beast was still slumped over with it's large claw still stuck in the ground to hurl my fiery explosive right into its torso. The bomb made a direct hit and erupted into an explosion of orange flames. *BOOM*

After a few moments, the smoke cleared to reveal the tree monster glazed with fire. It began moving erratically, clearly in a tremendous amount of pain from the powerful explosive. It slowly walked towards me and began sweeping its arm in large wide arcs, desperately trying to hit me. I gracefully dodge the strikes as soon as they came. My 'tree friend' was clearly in a state of rage and wasn't capable of fighting with any form of higher thought.

As I was thinking these thoughts, I moved underneath another large claw strike from the beast. I sidestepped slightly behind the large creature and managed to land a large slash right onto its back. As soon as my strike landed, the Leshen teleported into dark smoke faster than I was able to react.

My senses went on high alert as I felt a presence behind me. I immediately went to move my body, but it was too late. A sweeping blow rammed itself against me and I was sent flying through the woods into a tumbling spin. After a few seconds, my descent slowed and I was left sprawled out in the middle of a section of clearing.

"...Fuck" I groaned out in pain as I began to sit myself back up. My sword had obviously been knocked out of my hands during the fray. I quickly searched my vicinity for a moment in order to try and find it, but it was nowhere to be seen.

I could tell that I didn't have any broken bones, but I felt my back was covered in some sticky liquid. It looks like the monster managed to sink it's claws into some of the flesh of my back somewhat before I was pushed away.

I felt another presence come from behind me. I turned myself around and managed to see the Leshen holding it's claw in the air, ready to pounce on me. I was ready for it this time and quickly activated a Quen shield with my fingers. I didn't have time to cast any more complicated spells.

The brutal blow managed came crashing down on me. My Quen shield that I managed to make in time protected me, but it was shattered in the process. Orange particles were blasted all over the place and the Leshen was knocked back slightly from the rebound force.

I took this opportunity to summon another silver sword that I had safely tucked away in my 'little trinket'. The blade appeared in my hand with a red flash of light. The monster was currently still stunned from my earlier Quen shield so I moved into action. I landed a series of crippling strikes along its torso. Several slashed appeared onside its bark like skin. The beast howled once more in agony, but soon fell to the ground. It no longer was capable of mounting an offensive. It was on its last legs already and now I think it knew its death was coming.

"Ha...Ha… Sorry about… this…" I spoke out in spurts while I attempted to catch my breath. This was quite a workout for a twelve year old like myself. "It's just… the way of the world. You… kill humans… I have to come and put you down.

The Leshen didn't respond, it just continued to make the weird noises that were common among its species. I brought my sword up above my head and stared at the monster once more. The creature didn't attempt to fight back any more. I could tell that it was already drained from all of the wounds I had already inflicted on it. I gave it one more moment to live before I ruthlessly brought down my sword at an inhuman speed. I aimed for the back of its head where it's wooden neck met it's skull. My blade made it halfway through before stopping.

The Leshen keeled over and onto the ground. The last vestiges of its life has been extinguished from it. I quickly let go of my sword as I knew that Leshens were known to sprout into a bunch of roots when they die. I didn't want to get impaled on one by accident.

I moved back quickly and, just as I thought, roots started shooting up around the Leshens dead body. After a second, the roots stopped growing and the forest was quite once more. I Immediately sat down on the ground in exhaustion.

"Well now…" I said briefly while smiling and looking up into the sky with a smile. "That wasn't so bad for my first real contract. I would actually say that I did pretty well."

I was proud of my achievement. I'm probably the youngest witcher in history to defeat a monster as powerful as a Leshen at only twelve years old. No normal witcher is even out on the path at my age. They all usually keep training after their mutations are completed till they're at least fifteen.

"Did you see that Ivar?" I asked to the heavens above me, not truly expecting a response. "Don't worry… I'll be able to take care of everything soon enough. All I need is just a little more time…"

As I was reminiscing on the man who raised me in this life, I noticed that my potion effects were starting to wear off. I wasn't going to pass out from exhaustion just yet, but I was getting quite tired. I had also lost a bit of blood from that claw mark the Leshen gave me. I tried to turn my shoulder in order to see the damage myself, but I wasn't flexible enough. All I could feel was the unbearable stinging sensation that was coming from the open wound. I should probably take a dose of Swallow soon, I don't want to let my injuries fester.

Just as I was about to summon the potion bottle from my 'little trinket' I heard a loud whistling sound piercing through the air. Before I could even identify where the sound was coming from, I felt a large piercing force hit my shoulder. I almost fell over from my current sitting position, but I managed to compose myself. I Immediately got up to my feet and checked my surroundings. Despite the pain that was now wearing down on my back and shoulder, I managed to stand myself upright.

I instantly took notice of the new companions that were standing in my wake. Around twenty yards away from me were four men that were wearing Skelligan style attire. One of them held a bow that he was currently redrawing, clearly he had been the man who had just shot me. The other three held a combination of swords and axes. Curiously, Sven, the man who I had come to with this contract was standing among them.

"Sven…" I said with no small degree of frustration. "This is not how professionals do business."

"Fuck you and yur ploughin professionalism!" Sven shot back at me. "You wanted us to just throw Hilde away, Mutant? That's not how we do things 'round here, witcher!"

"Hilde has to leave or the spirit will come back. You are simply a fool and too blind to see the truth. I just killed this monster… For you, I might add." I seethed out at the ginger man while gesturing to the corpse of the beast below me. "If I did that to the Leshen, what do you reckon I'm going to do to all of you?"

"Yur tired, and injured. I bet on me and me boys to be the winners here, mutant." Sven mocked me while sporting a toothy grin. He certainly wasn't as reasonable as he was going to be in the future.

He was right though. I am tired and I'm pretty injured. I don't really know how much longer I can fight back in the state that I'm currently in. Despite those thoughts, I quickly summoned a steel sword to my hand from my 'little trinket'. My injuries were interfering in my movement, but I should be able to swing my blade well enough. I debated for a moment on whether or not to take a Swallow potion… But I made the tough call and brought out another dose of Tawny Oil instead. If I just pass out from exhaustion while fighting these four, then they'll kill me in my sleep.

"The Fuckers' castin bloete sorcery!" One of Sven's men yelled out in exclamation.

"Get the fucker!" Sven screamed out right after.

All of the men came rushing at me from all angles. They all crossed the distance they were currently standing from remarkably quickly, except for the archer. He hung back as their long ranged attacker. I quickly drank my Tawny Oil before these so-called 'warriors' could reach me. It took a moment to take effect, but I could feel my stamina rapidly returning. I breathed out a large sigh while I readied my sword in a stance that was comfortable.

"Well then," I said with a bit of annoyance. "Let's just get this over with…"