"Honored guests, the painting before you is The Radovid's Smile, a portrait painted during the Middle Ages by the Redanian artist Filar Carden.
"With restrained, minimalist brushwork, he depicted King Radovid V in the prime of his youth, his expression reserved and the faintest hint of a smile upon his lips.
"Because of the brutal circumstances surrounding the work's creation, the smile in the portrait later became known as the 'mysterious smile.' It is widely regarded as the masterpiece of the artist's career."
After finishing, the museum guide gestured for the visitors to follow him.
"Generally speaking, however, when people mention this artist, the first work that comes to mind is the classic painting we're about to see, The Hero and the Dragon.
"The Hero and the Dragon can be considered one of the world's most famous oil paintings. Few other works have been viewed, studied, and referenced as frequently.
"The painting before us is likewise the work of Master Filar. The rapid movement of the scene and the vividly alarmed crowd reveal the painter's strong elven influence, particularly the teachings of Carden Pierre.
"The composition is symmetrically balanced from left to right, while the background extends far into the distance, creating tremendous tension in the struggle between man and dragon.
"The witcher raises his sword above his head, preparing to deliver a fatal strike to the monstrous dragon, while the gigantic beast's lunging body is made all the more striking by the arena surrounding it.
"In his use of color, Filar emphasized the contrast between the dragon's golden scales and the warrior's dull armor. The arena serving as the backdrop is painted in ivory tones that gradually darken until they merge with the gloomy sky in the distance.
"Up to this point, however, it would merely be considered the work of a master.
"What elevated the painting into legend was, of course, the identity of the witcher depicted in it.
"As everyone knows, he was that immortal man."
...
Dark clouds covered the wilderness sky.
A few beams of sunlight had previously managed to slip through the gaps, but now even those had been completely swallowed.
Gales howled in Victor's ears as he rode on the dragon's back, clutching her scales with everything he had to keep himself from being thrown off.
Realizing the witcher was still clinging to her, Saskia began performing increasingly elaborate aerial maneuvers, barrel rolls around an imaginary central axis, followed by complete three-hundred-and-sixty-degree loops through the vertical plane.
It had become a contest of wills.
The shaking was so violent that if Victor loosened his grip for even a moment, he would be smashed into the ground.
The instant they left the range of the amphitheatre, Victor slightly bent the middle finger of his right hand and pressed his palm flat against Saskia's body, beginning to mobilize his magic.
Sensing that the witcher was doing something behind her, and knowing that the wound in her shoulder needed treatment as quickly as possible, the Dragon Maiden decisively performed a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree half-loop through the vertical plane.
The maneuver left Victor hanging upside down beneath her.
All she needed now was another one-hundred-and-eighty-degree roll and she would shake him off completely.
Saskia was fast.
But Victor's Magic Sense and the speed with which he formed Signs far exceeded anything she had imagined.
Supporting himself with only his left hand, the witcher's right hand flashed with blue light before slamming against the dragon's body.
"Yrden Binding Seal!"
Stall!
The Sign pressed directly against her body was more powerful than anything she had ever encountered.
In an instant, it bound the movement of her entire body.
The lift generated by her wings abruptly diminished, causing her altitude to plummet.
Falling!
The dragon spun uncontrollably toward the ground.
Her tremendous weight smashed through the forest and carved out an open clearing.
Victor, having successfully applied the seal, calmly opened his glider and drifted through the air before landing gracefully.
...
Step by step, he approached the legendary creature.
Without question, she was the largest and most beautiful dragon Victor had ever seen.
The effects of the Yrden Binding Seal had already dissipated.
At the moment, however, Saskia had been impaled through the chest by a tree trunk and pinned firmly to the ground, conveniently accomplishing the job of restraining her.
Victor took out Philippa's rune-covered dagger, carefully aimed it at the proper location, and stabbed it into the Dragon Maiden's body to break the spell.
Faint violet light swirled around them.
Then he withdrew the dagger.
Saskia slowly pulled herself free from the tree trunk.
Amid a flash of light, the dragon transformed back into human form.
Her pretty lips were pale from her injuries, while her flawless figure was once again enclosed within her gray-blue armor.
She glanced at Victor, then laboriously sat down with her back against the broken trunk.
Staring blankly at the darkened sky, her expression was filled with disappointment and regret.
Victor could more or less understand what she was feeling.
He walked over and sat beside her, shoulder to shoulder, then handed her several vials of potion.
Saskia didn't even ask what they were.
Glug, glug, glug.
She drank them all and went right back to staring into the distance.
Victor's gaze drifted toward the valley between the twin peaks of her chest. The wound where the tree trunk had pierced her was frighteningly deep, yet it had already closed and stopped bleeding.
He couldn't help marveling at a dragon's regenerative ability.
"Do your wounds recover faster when you're in dragon form? If so, you didn't have to hurry to transform back."
Those beautiful blue eyes finally turned toward Victor.
Saskia rejected the suggestion with open contempt.
"Absolutely not. If I didn't hurry and turn back into a human, I was afraid you'd carve me into pieces!
"Don't think I didn't notice. When we first met, I saw exactly how much you wanted my body.
"Dragon scales, dragon claws, dragon flesh, dragon blood. From my head to my feet, there wasn't a single part of me you didn't want, you wicked alchemist!"
"Cough, cough, cough, cough!"
Having been exposed without mercy, Victor coughed repeatedly in embarrassment.
"Don't talk nonsense! I didn't know you back then. It was unavoidable!
"Now you're my friend. My dear friend. My closest companion, practically family. I swear I don't have any improper designs on you!"
"Really? I don't believe you."
Saskia stared at him with clear azure eyes.
Victor guiltily avoided her gaze and rubbed his nose.
"Fine. I don't need anything particularly precious or anything that would hurt. But could you at least give me a few dragon scales?
"An alchemist without any dragon materials is an incomplete alchemist!
"I've been in this world of witchers for so long, and you're the first dragon I've ever encountered. And you're a golden dragon at that. Geralt told me that in nearly a century of life, he'd only ever seen one living golden dragon!"
Saskia burst into hearty laughter.
"He told you about him? That was my father, Borch Three Jackdaws. I'm his daughter."
"So your real name should be Saskia Three Jackdaws?"
"No. Three Jackdaws is merely the surname he uses among humans. My true name is Saesenthessis."
"So that's it. When you first woke up after being poisoned, I vaguely remember you saying that name..."
The words stirred painful memories.
The Dragon Maiden's cheerful expression froze.
Then she let out a long sigh.
"Yes. Who could have imagined it?
"All because I was poisoned, I ended up being controlled, and now my dream has come to an end.
"A country where humans and nonhumans could understand one another and coexist peacefully. It ended almost as soon as it began."
Saskia was no fool.
She understood perfectly well what transforming into a dragon in public meant.
Whether it was Henselt or Stennis, both would immediately withdraw their recognition of Saskia's Republic.
The people of Vergen would fall into chaos.
A minority might not care what she was, but far more people would never accept being ruled by something they saw as inhuman.
Even if that something was a legendary golden dragon.
"Can you tell me why you did all this? You're a legendary creature. You have no real connection to humans or nonhumans. Why did you take human form and lead a rebellion?"
"If you want to know...
"My father is a simple-minded knight. He sees life as one beautiful adventure.
"He taught me to love mortals and to try to understand them. Thanks to him, I came to believe that everyone is born equal and that freedom is priceless. I genuinely believe different peoples can understand one another.
"Everything I told people about my past was true, except the part about being born a peasant girl.
"During the war several years ago, I really did witness the slaughter on the other side of the mountains. From that day onward, I resolved to create a land founded on equality and freedom."
"Uh... your father sounds like an interesting man. I hope I get the chance to meet him someday."
"Believe me, my father would probably like you too.
"As long as you don't start lusting after his scales.
"To tell the truth, hearing you ask for my scales makes you sound like quite the pervert. In human terms, it's as if you're asking me for pieces of dead skin, the skin off my feet, and my fingernails!"
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Victor broke into another fit of coughing.
But remembering the trait attached to the dragon scale he had secretly pocketed earlier, he decided to shamelessly press his request.
"My dear Saskia, no matter how you look at it, I saved you. I rescued you from the control of that malicious witch.
"Asking for a few scales in return seems like an entirely reasonable price!
"Just like I've told you before, witchers never work for free. You owe me payment for today's work. Whether you want to pay or not, you're paying!"
Victor waved his arms as he spoke, trying to make himself sound more imposing.
Remembering their previous late-night conversations, Saskia burst out laughing.
"Oh, my dear Victor. You've told me a lot of things. Oddly enough, I don't remember you ever saying that.
"But I do remember something else you told me, also about repaying someone for saving your life!
"Want to know what it was?"
Victor spread his fingers and combed his hair backward.
"When I get carried away, I say all kinds of nonsense. I have no idea what you're talking about!"
"You told me that where you came from, when a hero saves a beautiful woman, she usually has two choices.
"If she doesn't find him attractive, she'll say something like, 'I can never repay what you've done for me,' and leave it at that.
"But if she does find him attractive, she gives herself to him."
Victor stared at Saskia's brilliant smile and beautiful face.
Realizing where this conversation might be going, his heart suddenly began beating much faster.
"And which one she chooses depends entirely on how handsome the hero is.
"Personally, I think you're pretty good-looking.
"So, want to do it?
"It'll be my first time."
"Pfft!"
The witcher nearly choked again.
"Please stop messing with me."
"I'm not joking!
"My dream for Vergen has fallen apart. I actually feel pretty empty right now.
"Borch said sex with someone you trust is a great way to improve your mood, as long as you choose someone you like.
"And I think you're pretty cute."
Her fierce and straightforward declaration left Victor completely speechless.
Then, to his horror, he noticed Saskia's originally azure eyes slowly changing into golden vertical pupils.
Those were unmistakably the eyes of an apex predator.
Dragon incoming!
Danger!
...
What followed was a bloody scene impossible to describe in detail.
...
Undvik armor, gray-blue women's armor, and assorted undergarments had all been thrown chaotically across the soft grass, from outer layers to inner ones.
After several hours of the hero battling the dragon, the contest ended in a draw.
Neither Saskia nor Victor had managed to completely defeat the other.
There were several reasons for this outcome.
First, even after suffering serious injuries, the dragon's physical constitution still held an overwhelming advantage.
The witcher was inferior in sheer stamina, but his exceptional technique and indomitable fighting spirit allowed him to contend heroically with his opponent without giving ground.
Victor finally rolled off her and lay flat on the grass, enjoying the evening sunlight.
The Dragon Maiden spoke in a bright, cheerful voice.
"Ahhh... Borch was right. Doing this with someone you trust really does feel amazing!
"You did pretty well!
"No, actually, you were great.
"Vic, you were amazing! It's hard to imagine anyone performing that well with a dragon as his opponent!"
Victor was so thoroughly stunned by the compliment that he had no idea how to respond.
After thinking about it, he finally said, "Thanks. I think you were amazing too."
Saskia's bold laughter was clear and pleasant.
In the calm afterglow, Victor held her left hand in his right and idly played with her fingers.
"So, now that your dream in Vergen is over, what are you going to do next? Head deep into the Blue Mountains to recover?"
"I don't know yet. Maybe I'll travel around for a while... Ah!"
Saskia suddenly cried out in pain and pressed a hand against her lower abdomen.
Victor froze.
His first instinct was that it was merely an ordinary friction injury.
He raised one hand and called out, "Satchel!"
Then his voice immediately shifted into one of gentle concern.
"That's fairly normal. I've got some excellent soothing oil here. Rub a little on and you'll recover quickly.
"If you're afraid of pain, next time don't get quite so intense..."
Saskia sat upright with one hand covering her lower abdomen.
She stared at Victor in disbelief, her expression indescribably complicated.
"Listen to me.
"I'm pregnant, Vic.
"I'm going to be a mother!
"And you're the father!"
"Ugh! Cough, cough, cough, cough!"
Victor had lost count of how many times Saskia had made him choke today, but this was unquestionably the worst one.
He collapsed onto the ground coughing so violently he could barely breathe, nearly convinced he was going to cough himself to death right there.
It took quite a while before he recovered.
His face flushed red as he stared at Saskia.
"Stop joking! I only just finished inside you. How could you already be pregnant!?
"And you're a dragon. I'm a witcher. How could we possibly..."
His voice gradually weakened.
Because even Victor himself wasn't completely certain.
After all, he wasn't an ordinary witcher.
As a legendary creature created through a legendary potion-induced mutation, perhaps cross-species pregnancy was simply basic functionality...
Like hell it was!
Even an idiot knew reptiles and mammals weren't supposed to produce offspring together!
Unless that bastard Corion had somehow made him compatible with every species...
Damn it!
There was absolutely nothing scientific about this.
But it was very alchemical.
Watching Victor's expression change repeatedly, Saskia smiled.
"I don't know how it happened either, but I'm completely certain I'm pregnant. It's a dragon's instinct.
"As for how a witcher managed it, I have no idea!
"All I need to say is thank you."
She kissed his cheek.
"Just like Borch said, life finds a way.
"My father once believed he was the last golden dragon, but then he found me.
"When I grew up, I believed that I was the last golden dragon.
"But then I met you."
Victor blinked several times.
After finally forcing himself to accept reality, the soon-to-be father asked hoarsely, "So you're still planning to keep traveling?"
"No!
"I'm going deep into the Blue Mountains to prepare for the birth.
"Dragon pregnancy and child-rearing lasts for several years. By the time she's born and I've taught her everything she needs to know, roughly twenty years should have passed.
"After that, I'll leave her and come find you.
"My dear, as the one who managed to impregnate me, I, Saesenthessis, hereby declare that you, Victor Corion, are my mate!"
...
Victor waved goodbye as he watched Saesenthessis spread her wings and fly into the distance.
Having somehow become a father without warning, he was still somewhat dazed.
Of course, that could hardly be blamed on him.
Who could possibly have predicted beforehand that a human-shaped man could get a dragon pregnant?
Dragons were still a matriarchal species, and the child had little to do with the father, so Saskia never even suggested that Victor needed to participate in raising her.
Still, out of a sense of responsibility, the young man gave nearly every useful potion and bomb he had on him to the mother of his child for protection.
Additionally, because she was the sort of woman who loved wealth and needed to sleep atop a pile of gold coins to stay in a good mood, Victor tearfully handed over ninety percent of his accumulated money.
One encounter had practically bankrupted him.
Fortunately, the mother of his child also gave him quite a few tokens of affection.
These included, but were not limited to, dragon claws, dragon teeth, dragon blood, a suitable amount of dragon saliva, several dense scales, and even one exceptionally precious heartscale.
They were all proof of her love...
Victor gazed into the distance until Saesenthessis's silhouette vanished beyond even the reach of his enhanced vision.
Then he smiled freely, turned around, and began making his way back toward Loc Muinne.
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