The Witcher: My Own Path

(Two years later, the year 1256, Vizima. Headquarters of the Order of the First Reconciliation.)

In the great chamber, seven people sat at a massive and richly decorated round wooden table. Once the main chamber of an ancient elven temple, it had been altered and converted into a meeting room for all the Councillors of the Order. The walls of the chamber were decorated with long blue tapestries, almost reaching from the vault to the floor, with embroidered white and grey griffins, the Coat of Arms of the Order. Magnificently crafted and decorated olive lamps illuminated everything inside.

''My Lord, is this really necessary? With what we have achieved over the last two years, it should be quite enough to secure your title, we just need to wait a little longer.''

''I have no more time.'' I thought. In less than a month, Geralt will arrive in Vizima to disenchant the striga; if I do it before him, I will not only gain more fame, but also Foltest's immense gratitude. That perverted bastard loved his sister very much, even if it was a sick love, but still. If I disenchant his daughter, I can gain a lot from it.

''It's not enough Albert, we all know what Foltest is like.''

''Not enough? My lord just look at what we have achieved over this time, what you have achieved! From a poor blacksmith's son you have become one of the richest people in Vizima and certainly the most popular, to the people you are ' Knight of the Warm Morning '.''

''Don't exaggerate Albert, only in the districts of the poor.''

''Albert is right ladies, maybe only in the districts of the poor, but it still gives more than half of the entire population of the city.''

''Do you also think, Nightingale, that what we have done is enough?''

''My lord, your inn in Podgrodzie is the most popular in the whole city, comfort of rest, pleasant atmosphere, separate buildings for those who like gambling from dice to pazaak and roulette, for the open and those who prefer anonymity. A boxing hall with tournaments giving a lot of entertainment and providing a lot of excitement. VIP rooms with all the amenities and all this brings huge profits. You also own the 'The Hairy Bear' in the poor district and the 'Old Narakort' and the 'Fox' in the Trade Quarter. You own the largest farmland around the capital and the largest food supplier in the city. Admittedly, you don't make much profit from it, but at least the non-humans in Old Vizima and the Temple Quarter don't starve anymore. They love you for it. Our rapeseed oil and olive oil lamps have almost displaced candles and torches throughout the city. This invention sealed people's opinions of you as a genius. Your 'Lord of the Rings' books, gave a breath of fresh air to literature, and people who can read almost kill themselves for your novels. On top of that, you run one of the largest blacksmith workshops in the city, rivaling the entire Blacksmith's Guild.''

''And what do you think about it Mirim?''

''Until two years ago there were only six of us, we had nothing, just dreams and faith in you. Now the Order has almost a hundred members. We have a strong foundation and a well-developed five 'Spheres' The Sphere of Espionage and Intelligence with Nightingale in the lead, the Sphere of Threat Elimination with me, the Sphere of Business Defence with Haren, the Sphere of Infrastructure Development with Gavorn, The Sphere of Oversight and Business Management with Albert and six months ago, Orik joined us with his collection of books and scrolls and knowledge laying the foundations for the sixth 'Sphere of Science and Guidance' which you yourself joined with your laboratory and experiments. Our people learn to write and read in our secret school, they are educated and taught so that they cannot be manipulated like a mere mob. The only thing missing is the last 'Sphere', the 'Sphere of Equipment and Logistics' to complete the plans envisaged, in this case we lack not funds but the right people.

''My Lord, you have entrusted me with the supervision of our entire business and, according to my calculations, we could start slowly investing in sewing rooms so that we ourselves could create garments for our people, not only for your official business, the 'Miracles of Tyr' but also for the Order with armour and all equipment. We could eventually start a furniture business, but we won't do it if you die.''

''Any thoughts, Gavorn?''

''Well, I agree with my colleagues, we have achieved a lot. Over that time we have bought a lot of houses and renovated a lot so that our people have a place to live, we have changed how the Temple Quarter looks. The roads are better, cleaner, the buildings renovated, there are fewer homeless people because we have invested in the Hospital of Lebioda to set aside some rooms for them to spend at least the winter and more rainy days there. We are building an orphanage. All this is thanks to you, I will not belittle our work, but you are our pillar, our leader and without you the Order has no future!''

''My people and I are doing everything in our power to keep the 'Miracles of Tyr' and the 'Order' safe, we will give our lives for this, but the truth is that if we lose you, everything will lose its meaning.''

They nodded their heads almost in perfect synchronicity at Haren's words.

''Orik, do you wish to add something?''

''I joined the Order not long ago, I was just a small dealer of books and scrolls at the gate to the Trade Quarter. You know this because you yourself approached me and struck up a conversation. I had heard of you before, because who wouldn't. Brave, kind, intelligent, a hero. As a dwarf living in a human city, I was sceptical about the rumours about you, but when I met you and we started talking... A lot changed for me that day, you offered to work with me and I had no reason to refuse, but I would never have suspected that in the shadows you were the leader of an organisation with such bold plans and goals. Even then I doubted you in the Order, but now it is different. As an old dwarf with no family, no children, I have come to love, what you have created, what you have created and no one needs to make me commit to it. The Order is everything to me, but so are you. Until I met you, I was like a living corpse, nothing mattered to me and if you were gone, there would be nothing in this world that could move my old heart again.

I looked at them all, together and individually. They were right, because in the last two years we have really achieved a lot, but it is still not enough. Even on the scale of Vizima, I am only a rich businessman, rich but not influential. I am still just a villager, without a title without status. I could praise them for their dedication, loyalty and hard work, but I can't, because what I really want goes far beyond Vizima itself!

''Can I ask you guys something?'' Looking at them, I asked the question. It was rhetorical, and they knew it, so they didn't speak, they waited. I could feel and see that they were tensing up in anticipation of some harsh words from me, they knew me well enough at least.

I wasn't in the habit of shouting and I won't be doing that this time, but I will say some really unkind words.

''Have you all gone fucking mad!? Have you all gone mad from luxuries?'' My voice was cold and low almost silent, my face serious, my eyes squinted. I was measuring them with every word I said.

''Is that all you have to say? A few successes and you're going to sit back and wait for miracles to fall on you? And what about the hundreds, thousands or even millions of people, elves, dwarves, Dwarves, Lowlanders and the rest of the despised races, does their misery no longer matter to us?! Because what? Because it is good for us!'' I stood up from my chair, slapping the table with both hands. Their heads were hung in shame. ''Now tell me, for fuck's sake, since when do you think I've gone soft, since my sword and my skills have become a reason for you to doubt me and my power were juggling tricks, is that how you see me? Now, What the fuck am I to you now, a panic-monger? Look over there!'' I pointed to the proudly hanging tapestries of our Order.

''Maybe the griffin is too much for you, maybe we should change our symbol to a fucking panda sitting on its ass and munching...''

''No, sire forgive us...''

''Silence!''

In the process of giving them a reprimand I circled the table, I was now back at my own chair. I sat down, and there was still complete silence in the comatose room.

''Trust me! I will not let you down, just as you have not let me down!''