Thud Thud

Rapid sounds of footsteps echoed far and wide as a figure dashed out of the overgrown forest. Then, a second figure appeared, followed by a third

They finally escaped the terrifying magnetic field when they were almost out of strength.

They took in a few deep breaths as they continued to move towards the grass by the shore, and then they slumped into the wooden boat as if the chains on them had been removed.

The light of dawn had appeared, and the mornings golden light showered upon Lake Vizima. It dispersed the mist and brought new hope to everyone.

The Weakness condition has disappeared.

Roy calmed down a bit and he let the woman from his shoulder down. He then wiped his sweat away.

Addas hair was also wet with sweat as her face paled. She no longer looked as proud.

What What happened to me? she asked as she recalled what happened to her earlier. There was only fear in her expression.

Good. Looks like youre yourself again. The young witcher heaved out a sigh of relief. He didnt want his charge to become emotionally disturbed. Princess Adda, I would like to ask you to listen to us and stop being so stubborn next time.

They started with around forty members, and now there were only around twenty left. They had lost around half, and they hadnt even encountered the being behind all of this yet. It was indeed a great failure.

This was an accident, witcher! Adda said as she lost her temper. Its because we didnt do enough investigating and preparation. Next time, when Im here, Ill make that monster in the altar pay tenfold, a hundredfold! Regardless, my people cant die here in vain!

With that, she once again began to order her troops. We will rest for thirty seconds! Dont let those degenerated vodyanoi catch up with us!

Suddenly, a handsome young knight walked out from the crowd. Your Highness, that thing in the altar is too bizarre. It transformed dozens of our brethren into those disgusting monsters.

We cannot allow it to spread its influence, otherwise, the entire city of Vizima will be affected! The knights eyes burned with determination as he continued with a firm voice. The forest on this island is obviously its lair. We should use fire to burn it all away!

I agree! someone called out. Burn the forest! Destroy the altar!

But some of our brethren are still inside, a soldier refuted. What if they can be saved? If we burn the forest down, wont we harm the innocents as well?

Theres nothing normal in that forest. All of them are evil monsters. We should use fire to purify them! We should have done that from the very beginning!

As the knights began to have differing opinions among them, Adda stroked her chin as she was clearly open to the idea.

Witcher, in your experience, are there any chances of those degenerated knights transforming back into humans?

The young witcher shook his head. The degeneration is permanent.

Meanwhile, Letho extended his hand to sense the direction of the wind and the temperature in the air. After sizing the forest up, he said, If you want to burn the forest, itll take some time. Unless

Unless someone stays behind. The black-haired knight whod expressed his opinion at the very beginning took a step forward willingly. He was still wobbling, as he hadnt fully recovered yet. Your Highness, let me burn down this sinful island As long as Master Letho is willing to lend me an alchemical bomb.

Whats your name?

Jacques. Jacques of Aldersberg

The black-haired knight raised his right hand high with a firm expression on his face. Everyones eyes were on him. Only then did Roy realize that the ears of the youthful, black-haired knight were slightly pointed.

A half-elf? No, a quarter elf.

Roy fell into deep thoughts. The name sounded quite familiar, but the information he could see was quite ordinary. He was just a normal knight.

Some of the soldiers knew who he was.

Hes the one who just joined the Order of the White Rose.

The one who talks about the White Frost prophecy all the time.

Your courage is admirable, Sir Jacques. But do you know that you will absolutely die if you stay behind? Not to mention that you might not succeed. Adda shook her head as she stepped into the wooden boat. Do not make any unnecessary sacrifices. Let us leave this place.

Your Highness, I have neither parents nor wife or child to take care of. My only wish now is to avenge my fallen brethren and remove this threat for Vizima I beg of you! Jacques suddenly knelt on one knee, his young and handsome face filled with purpose and fearlessness.

The womans expression showed that she was struggling. She bit her lips and gave him one last look. Jacques of Aldersberg, since youve decided, I approve of your request!

Everyone else, get on the boat and let us leave immediately!

The Temerian princess gave the knights shoulder a pat and said, Come back safely! Ill promote you when youre back, I promise!

Jacques stood up and took the torch and alchemical bombs from the hands of the witcher and rushed into that terrifying forest.

Roy stared at the disappearing figure with suspicion on his face. Was there someone truly as selfless as him in this world?

But he had no time to think about it, and one by one, the wooden boats left Black Tern Island.

After about fifteen minutes, everyone noticed something strange once they reached the center of the lake. All the degenerate vodyanoi corpses that shouldve been floating in the lake had disappeared. All two hundred of them. Not even a drop of blood was left.

It cant be this clean, even if the water from the lake washed them away.

And here I was thinking of cutting their ears off to bring them back to Vizima as proof of my valor.

There was disappointment on the knights faces. While Princess Adda had promised they would not be penalized and would instead be rewarded, how much reward would they be given? They had lost so many people, and at the end of the day, they still had to be reprimanded by Grandmaster Rudolf.

However, Adda was looking at the island behind her with a bitter expression. Every knight was Vizimas precious treasure. But theyd lost too many because of her stubbornness.

She was angry, regretful, but she could only sigh in the end. I have to stay low for a while now. The old man would never indulge me this much again after what happened.

But no one could foretell the future.

After a short while, when they were on land, black smoke began to fill the sky of Black Tern Island.

Excitement burst forth from the hearts of the despondent.

That kid succeeded!

There was excitement on Addas face as she trembled. Good. Jacques didnt disappoint me!

She then turned around and looked at everyone who was already quite tired and in a much looser formation. She yelled at a middle-aged knight with a beard, Vice-Captain Powell, we are now temporarily safe. Do a roll call and see how many warriors we have left and how many we have lost.

Of course, Your Highness.

The knight then turned around and stood next to her. Next, the knights and soldiers whose names have been called out, step forward!

Griez.

Present!

Fergurson.

Present!

***

Cambenel.

Present!

Viz.

After a short while, the middle-aged knight said in a bleak tone, Your Highness, there are twenty-two warriors left under your command. We have lost eleven knights from the Order of the White Rose, fourteen soldiers from the Vizima Infantry Division.

Adda took in a deep breath and nodded lightly. She was going to say something to bolster their morale and honor the dead when the bald witcher suddenly cut her off.

Vice-Captain Powell, did you count one less? He raised his broad arm and pointed at the back. Isnt there one more? I noticed he didnt say anything from beginning to the end.

Everyone instantly turned to look at him.

At the end of the squad, a skinny knight was instantly separated.

Sir, I have never seen him, a knight said with an unsure tone as he stared at the knight.

I know all the knights in the city, but I have never seen this one at all.

Did you join the Viziman Infantry Division just recently? And several in the group began to agree with that speculation.

Soldier, raise your head! The bearded man walked towards him sternly. State your name, age, and your designation.

The skinny man raised his head shyly.

He looked very young and didnt look like he was older than twenty, and he looked very ordinary, with a small nose and small eyes. He had the face of someone that if you put in a crowd, you would forget his appearance if you didnt pay attention.

His lips moved, but there was no voice.

The middle-aged knight saw his face and couldnt help but frown as his tone became wrathful. I have some impression of most of the new recruits, but I have never seen you!

Speak! Who exactly are you?!

Everyone was shocked. They had only realized that someone unknown had snuck into their squad after the battle had finished. There was no greater shame than this.

And all of them began to grow suspicious.

We were steering towards Black Tern Island when the degenerated vodyanoi were supposed to be asleep, but instead, we were ambushed. Did you tip them off that we were coming?!

Clang

The knights unsheathed the swords by their waist with a dark impression.

However, Roy was suspicious. Through Observe, the man was completely normal. There was no sign that he was transforming And as a human, how was he supposed to communicate with the vodyanoi?

It didnt make sense if he was a traitor.

The man merely showed his hands as everyone watched, and he shook his head calmly, signaling that he was no enemy.

And then, he turned to the young witcher that was Observing him and used his finger to beckon him

Kili Kala

In that instant, the soldiers, witchers, and even Princess Adda were surprised.

Why would a human speak in such a tone? Just like he was a vodyanoy?

And the person who did that immediately started to run towards the swamp surrounding the lake, just when everyone was still stunned.

Bastard, capture him!

Hes the spy, the traitor!

The group of men chased after him, but the strange man was more agile than they had first thought. In a flash, he was already very far away from his pursuers.

And the distance was still growing. Other than the two witchers, no one could chase after him.

Is he still a man? He ran faster than the horse.

Stop chasing! It might be a trap! All of you turn back to protect Princess Adda. You, and you, follow me!

***

The strange man was fleet of foot. Despite the witchers being on his tail, he immediately ran into the wide swamps next to Lake Vizima.

Then, without any sign, heavy mist suddenly rolled in from around them. In just a short while, visibility had become extremely low. Roy had immediately lost contact with Letho as he entered the mist.

Carefully, he used the Quen sign to form a shield around him as he scanned his surroundings with his dark, golden eyes, crossbow in hand, sword in the other.

Suddenly, a figure zoomed past in the dense mist. It was the knight that had escaped earlier.

Roy chased after him.

Five minutes later, after an intense pursuit

The fake knight led him to the East of Lake Vizima. He ran directly into the lake, but then stopped in his tracks and bowed dutifully towards the clear lake water.

Lights and shadows began to dance in front of Roy. After a moment, the slender man who was wearing chainmail had disappeared. Instead, a small and short vodyanoy wearing a brownish, ruined cloak stood in front of him.

His body was slightly crooked, and two very long and white whiskers grew to the side of his mouth. The skin on his round eyes was all white and gave the half-man with the fish head a kind demeanor.

And inside his eyes, there was no hostility at all, unlike the degenerated vodyanoi. Instead, there was the light of wisdom.

Zeek

Age: 89

Gender: Male

Identity: Vodyanoy Hermit (A legend among the vodyanoi and has lived as a hermit in Lake Vizima for dozens of years. Has witnessed the rise and fall of the vodyanoi tribes in Lake Vizima.)

Disciple of the Lady of the Lake (He served the goddess of Lake Vizima faithfully. And by her grace, he has obtained some spellcasting abilities.)

HP: 80

Mana: 120

Attributes:

Strength: 6

Dexterity: 8

Constitution: 8

Perception: 6

Will: 9

Charisma: 8

Spirit: 12

Skills:

Slipstream LVL 5: Low-level water elemental magic. Uses little mana. Controls the flow of the water in the lake.

Water Arrow LVL 6: After performing a simple hand sign and a short incantation, summons a water elemental arrow to attack enemies.

Telepathic Link (Passive, permanent): A unique, natural ability. It can be used to communicate with most intelligent creatures through telepathy.

***

Degenerated vodyanoy, vodyanoy, the altar on Black Tern Island, the Lady of the Lake

Countless thoughts crossed in his mind, and he understood what was happening

You hadnt degenerated Youre a normal vodyanoy?

The vodyanoy bowed to him with his webbed hand on his chest.

Garu Wuliwa Hako (Dont be afraid. I mean you no harm.)

Roy was very sure he hadnt learnt the vodyanoi language. Despite every syllable from his mouth seeming very alien, he was able to understand what he was saying, surprisingly.

That was probably the effect of the Telepathic Link skill.

Zeek, you need to give me an explanation The young witcher sheathed his weapon. Why did you sneak into our squad? Why did you try to draw me here?

Zeek then stroked his two white whiskers and said, Half a month ago, I received the goddesss revelation. She revealed to me that a group will be coming to dispatch the degenerated ones. I snuck into your group to aid you. If I hadnt, other than you and the bald witcher, everyone else would have already transformed during your short stay on Black Tern Island

Roy nodded and asked, Goddess? The deity that you serve?

The Lady of the Lake.

The young witcher calmed down. You mean, other than the evil thing in the altar, there is another greater power in Lake Vizima? The Lady of the Lake?

The vodyanoy nodded.

My brethren all originally served the noble Lady Vivienne.

PR/N: This Vivienne is different from the Vivien of the House of Cardell.

But I remember the Lady of the Lake lived in Toussaint.

The goddess is born of water. She has many sisters. The light of the goddess reaches anywhere the water ripples.

So that means Lake Vizima was originally the goddesss domain. A light appeared in Roys eyes. But it was invaded by the creature in the altar?

The vodyanoy suddenly waved its arms furiously.

Not only did the creature steal the goddesss domain, but it also bewitched my brethren and destroyed my tribe. There are less than ten normal vodyanoi left now!

I see You want vengeance for the destruction of your tribe. Then the reason you came for me is that you have a way to deal with it?

Uru!

But why me? Im just a nameless disciple from the Viper School. Letho is much better than I am, and Princess Adda had much more influence than I could ever command.

The vodyanoy looked at him with a stern expression.

You didnt appear in the goddesss revelation. You are an anomaly in that group. In the beginning, I was simply being curious. I snuck into Black Tern Island, wanting to see just how much you could all accomplish.

And then, I received my goddesss command. There was one unique individual within that group

The vodyanoy crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked at the young witcher in agreement.

You, the witcher from the Viper School, Roy, have passed a series of harsh tests in the past year.

The vodyanoy hermit then pointed his finger, which was as thick as a carrot stick, towards the clear lake water.

Go. The goddess is waiting for you in the lake. She will personally tell you everything else This is both a blessing and a test. It is all in your hands

With that, Zeek the vodyanoy waved goodbye and jumped into Lake Vizima, disappearing underneath the ripples.

There was hesitation on his face.

Could it be?

He had some guesses about what would happen next, but there was no reason for him to refuse this chance. With that, he walked straight into the lake.