Walking out of the round tower, John was deep in thought.
"Something's off. Nine parts out of ten, it's not right."
He went over to Marijka and took hold of his horse.
"Ever since I killed that bear, things have felt strange."
At first, he had treated this place as just a point in the past, something like the function of a Pensieve.
But what that sorcerer had just said planted doubts in his mind.
The Black Sun?
The evil night goddess Lilith?
None of these existed in the original wizarding world.
That much he was certain of.
If nothing else, a curse like the Black Sun—if it truly existed—would have been recorded in magical history.
But in John's memory, there was no such thing.
"If this isn't a memory from the past world, then where exactly am I now?"
Leading Borro away, John noticed Marijka hadn't followed.
John drew his sword, his eyes fixed on the four runes etched into the blade.
Could it be that the Witcher trial had sent him into an entirely different world?
"Another crossing?" he muttered. He still hadn't sold the bear hide.
A faint unease lingered—had he really isekaied again?
After walking some distance, he decided it was best to focus on completing the trial first.
The chances of encountering magical creatures in town were slim, so John prepared to leave.
Once outside the gates, he mounted his horse and rode toward the forest.
But his departure didn't go unnoticed.
Among those watching was the woman cursed by the Black Sun.
Renfri.
...
In the forest, John searched for a while. Perhaps because of the slain demon bear, no other magical creatures appeared nearby.
Instead, what nagged at John was the venison that had been snatched from him earlier that morning—he was starting to feel hungry.
Dismounting by a stream, John used magic, blasting the fish in the water up into the air.
He skewered two fish, lit a fire, and once again found himself grilling in the wild.
As he sat down, someone emerged from the trees.
It was Renfri. She walked over to him.
"Here to buy the bear hide?" John asked without looking up.
Renfri chuckled softly, replying instead, "You met that wizard this morning, didn't you?"
John lifted the roasted fish, blew on it, and said casually, "Your information network is impressive. That guy's afraid of you."
"I was once a princess. Did he tell you that?" Renfri sat down beside him and picked up the other roasted fish.
"He sent men into the forest to kill me. I killed the hunter with my mother's brooch."
The fish had no seasoning, but it was fresh.
Maybe it was the air here, but there wasn't even a trace of fishiness—only a clean, savory flavor.
Renfri licked her fingers, calm as she said, "His men... defiled me."
John glanced at her.
Her expression was as steady as if she were just talking about how many pieces of venison she'd eaten that morning.
"They took everything from me, then let me go," Renfri said, meeting John's gaze. "They turned me from a princess into a curse."
"To avoid starving, I stole. To avoid being killed, I killed."
She looked at John and recounted the past: "I want revenge. I want to kill him."
John could feel Renfri approaching with intent.
That was also why he'd chosen to leave the tavern with Marija.
"You want me to kill a wizard for you?" John put down the grilled fish and shook his head. "That's your problem."
"This is the lesser of two evils," Renfri said firmly. "He hunted me first."
Her voice carried hatred. "I once had a bright future, but because of the Black Sun curse and him, it's all gone."
"Elsewhere, a queen celebrates her first victory, and here I am, explaining to you that I'm not a monster!"
She tried to stay calm, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her.
"My fingers bleed when they're hurt. If I eat too much my stomach hurts. I laugh when I'm happy and curse when I'm angry," she took a deep breath, hatred in her words, "When someone hurts me, I retaliate—I want to kill them."
Seeking an answer or some measure of recognition from John, she asked, "People call you a monster too. What would you do if they came after you? Attack you.. wouldn't you kill them?"
"How do you know I haven't killed?" John shot back, and Renfri's emotions faltered for a moment.
John shook his head and said coolly, "You make your own choice. You don't need to ask me."
He turned and left.
If Renfri had ever met someone named Johny Silverhand, she would understand just how vengeful the handsome witcher before her truly was.
In truth, he didn't quite fit the witchers' code.
Witchers hunted monsters, not tangled themselves in politics.
But John was different—the renown of the Second King of the wizarding world was built atop bones buried in the soil of gardens.
After walking some distance, John found a place to resume his wilderness survival.
With a wizard holed up in the town, he had no interest in lingering there.
He built a small campfire and let out a sigh.
"She ate my venison, and then my fish too..." He sounded regretful.
He hadn't eaten since morning, and finally managed to roast two fish—only for one to be snatched away.
He was starting to miss Daphne's cooking.
Strange as the taste had been, at least it was unique.
At least it had filled his stomach—better than now, when he still had to think about where to catch his next meal.
…
Renfri came again.
She looked at John's profile and suddenly asked, "Do you believe in destiny?"
Destiny?
John paused, and Harry came to mind.
He remembered how he had destroyed Harry's so-called destiny—or perhaps the destiny that had been forced upon him.
Renfri came over and sat down. John shifted slightly, but didn't get up or walk away.
"I've decided," she said, "I'm leaving tomorrow."
John blinked.
Leaving? Fine, but what's that got to do with me?
It's not like I'm the mayor.
Besides, we only met this morning. It hasn't even been a full twenty-four hours.
We're really not that close.
But Renfri clearly didn't see it that way. From the moment John entered the town, she had been watching him.
She tilted her head, raised her hand as if to warm herself, but quietly leaned closer to John and said, "When I was little, my mother used to poke me on the forehead with her finger."
"She'd say she'd pay a silver coin just to know what was going on in my head."
John had no interest in knowing what went on in her head. He was more occupied with the thought of whether he should go catch two more fish.
The fish had tasted pretty good.
When he snapped out of it, a hand was already reaching gently toward his cheek.
What met his eyes were those shimmering, liquid eyes of hers.
John immediately turned his head aside, dodging, leaving Renfri momentarily stunned.
Her hand shifted insistently, as if unwilling to give up, and John dodged again.
Now Renfri was annoyed.
The mood was right—so why the hell was he avoiding her?
The dry wood was ready, the flames were there.
She'd brought the wine herself, and she was right beside him.
Renfri stared at John, demanding an explanation.
But John was completely at a loss.
No, hold on—we've known each other for less than a day.
What's this supposed to mean?
"I like you, Yadani," Renfri said, her eyes brimming with boundless tenderness as she confessed directly.
John went silent, his expression unreadable.
Seeing his lack of response, Renfri's tone turned wounded. "Do you despise me because I'm a monster?"
"No."
"Then… do you already have someone you like?"
"Um.. No."
"Am I not pretty enough?"
"Also no."
John was completely impervious, and Renfri was starting to lose her composure. "Then why?"
"Because I'm only fifteen. Still underage," John said with absolute sincerity.
"…How old did you say..?"
Renfri stared at him, utterly dumbfounded.
She looked at the black cloak draped over him, the sharp lines of his handsome face.
Amid his dark hair, a few strands gleamed faintly, like moonlight turned silver.
The suffocating aura of blood and violence surrounding John only added to his raw, feral presence.
In his eyes was the ruthless decisiveness of someone accustomed to killing.
And yet, if one looked closely, there was still a trace of youthful immaturity lingering on that striking face.
You're telling me you're underage?
Girls like her tended to prefer someone more mature, and John's bearing and attire had concealed all hints of youth.
Renfri forced a weak smile. "You're joking, right?"
"I'm not," John replied calmly. "Give it a little while and I'll technically be sixteen."
Renfri: "…" You're telling me I was just trying to seduce a boy?
And nearly rolled into bed with him?
All that serious, heartfelt confession earlier—was I really saying it to someone not even sixteen?
"I… I need to calm down." Renfri covered her face with both hands.
John just gestured for her to do as she pleased.
After a while, Renfri pulled herself together.
What was wrong with being younger?
Wasn't that practically a bonus?
She looked at John, hesitated for a long moment, then said seriously, "I don't mind."
"I do. Thanks." John's merciless reply froze her smile in place.
Bolo nudged John with its head, hinting that it was hungry, easing the awkward atmosphere a little.
Renfri took a deep breath. "I'll be leaving tomorrow... Hope we meet again, Yadani."
Her voice faded into the forest as her figure disappeared into the distance.
________
o(*￣▽￣*)ブSupport and Read 12 Chapters ahead: Patreon/Dragonel