West tower, top floor


    Vesemir was leaning into his old rocking chair, basking in the winter''s sun. As he recalled what he saw during lunch, a smile curled his wrinkly cheeks. Eskel and Geralt had been staying away from Roytely, but now they were goofing around like usual. <em>I see they''ve reached a decision about the brotherhood.</em>


    Kaer Morhen had been a quiet ce for far too long. Vesemir thought Eskel and Geralt had be too depressed. Geralt, especially, was bing emotional and introverted. Witchers could live long lives. If they couldn''t go on with their lives in happiness, it would be torture. Vesemir would be more than happy if Roy could change Eskel and Geralt for the better.


    Someone knocked on the door and approached Vesemir.


    "So, how did things go,d?" Vesemir didn''t even turn around. "Convinced those stubborn mules, have you?"


    "You know about it?" Roy went to his side and handed Vesemir a bottle of vodka.


    Vesemir took a swig, and his beard was drenched. "I can see the kind of person you are. You have a strong will and will do anything to get what you want.


    "Yes. We''ve reached a decision." Roy went to the window and stared at the sun delightfully. "When we leave for Novigrad, Lambert, Eskel, and Geralt wille with us. Including the Cats, we''ll have three school members talking about the brotherhood.


    "Did Letho agree to it?" Vesemir asked. "He seemed to be against the idea."


    "He was just worried about offending you. But Geralt and the others aren''t that petty. And the brotherhood doesn''t go against the Viper School''s revival. It''s actually helpful. Building a strong school all by ourselves isn''t realistic. We need to strengthen our sharedmunity if we want to change our fates.


    "A sharedmunity, huh? That''s a new idea, but you have a point." Vesemir handed the rest of the vodka to Roy. "A word of advice, Roy. Don''t neglect or hurt anyone who cares about you."


    "Thank you. I''ll keep that close to heart." Roy took a sip. The alcohol shot up into his head, reddening his face. He asked, "Will you join us for the trip, Vesemir? The pack isn''tplete without you."


    "I''m getting a bit too old. Can''t move around too much. Bones creak, muscles squeak. And someone needs to stand guard over Kaer Morhen. I''ll be fine here."


    Roy''s lips twitched. He remembered how easily Vesemir avoided the White Frost. "You jest. If you can''t move around, then that makes me a cripple," Roy joked. "And you have experience. That''s valuable. Once we return to Novigrad and take more students in, you''ll be the perfect mentor for them," Roy said. "Don''t you want to relive your youth and whip the new kids up into shape? Tell them about your stories?"


    And then the rocking chair stopped rocking. Vesemir raised his head up, his eyes ring with the me of youth. Memories were flooding his mind. Memories of his lively past, but the mes died out a momentter.


    "I''m too old for this, but how are you going to take in new people?"


    "The orphanage," Roy answered. "There''s darkness even in Novigrad. Lots of kids are abandoned the moment they are born. They can''t fend for themselves, so most of them end up as beggars or die horrible deaths. We''ll talk to the rulers of Novigrad and set up a legal orphanage. Then we''ll pick some of the most talented and strong-willed of them. Course, it depends on whether they want to join us. We''ll train them up and improve the Trial recipe with some sorcerer friends."


    "That''s a bold and innovative idea," Vesemir muttered. He wanted to ask a few more questions. <em>What if you can''t find any mages? What if the improvement fails? What if the Novigradians start to protest? </em>But he held his tongue.


    "Aren''t you gonnae?" Roy asked. "No excuses. Don''t tell me you don''t want to leave Kaer Morhen now."


    "I''ve left this ce less and less since fifty years ago. Living too long isn''t all good. Aside from Geralt and his friends, most of the people I know are dead." Vesemir shook his head. "I leave this ce a month or two every year to take some requests and move around, but that''s it."


    "Your friends are all dead, you say?" Roy''s eyes shone, and he shook his head. "I don''t think so. Someone close to you is still alive."


    Vesemir was surprised. "Who''s the one you saw?"


    "I''m more than willing to tell, but don''t forget toe to see me after you meet your old friend." Roy smiled.


    Vesemir nodded, but he said nothing.


    Roy started talking. "It was winter in 1234. A fleder had made its appearance in Oxenfurt. A request was posted to the bulletin board, and a witcher showed up. That was you. You went by a manor on your hunt for the monster and locked eyes with the daughter of the manor''s owner. Love sparked, and she sent her governess to give you a letter she wrote."


    Vesemir started rocking his chair again. As Roy recounted his ''glimpse,'' Vesemir was taken back to his glory days.


    "You would see her at night every night. But then her father heard the sounds of your sordid little affair one night, and so you escaped. But you left your armor behind. Her father issued an arrest warrant for you since then, and your rtionship came to an end. Eventually, she married an old count."


    Vesemir looked dejected.


    <em>Didn''t expect Vesemir to have this kind of past. </em>Royughed quietly and continued. "But her husband died soon, and she survived him, bing the Countess of Mignole. She''s old and wrinkly now, but she''s still single. Owns a mountain of wealth and hangs onto the memories of her youth just to live." Roy wiggled his eyebrows and teased, "Your old me''s governess sent you her letter, you guys did it in the garden, and then you escaped through the window just so you wouldn’t get found out. You were wild, Vesemir. I don''t think even Geralt canpare."


    "Is that so odd? I used to be young too. And I was adies'' man." Vesemirbed his hair back. There was fire in his eyes, and he seemed to straighten up a little. "I was popr."


    "Do you still miss her, then?"


    Vesemir said nothing, but silence was an answer in and of itself.


    Roy shouted, "So you haven''t forgotten about her. What are you waiting for, then? Go to Oxenfurt! Don''t leave thedy hanging. The Countess of Mignole has never forgotten about you either."


    "I-I''ll think about it."


    ***


    The rocking chair rocked harder.


    Roy slowly left the room, but before he did, he nced at Vesemir again. The young witcher was reminded of the original timeline. Before the battle for the keep descended, Vesemir and Geralt had a talk about this.


    "Will you see her?" Geralt asked.


    "Perhapster. Once this is all over," Vesemir answered.


    But there was no <emter </em>for Vesemir. The grandmaster died as a hero, never to awaken again.


    <em>You still have time, Vesemir. The attack hasn’t happened yet, so grab your chance, </em>Roy cheered him on silently. <em>Catch up with your past ande to Novigrad in your best shape.</em>


    <strong>***</strong>


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