A Story of Eighteen Years

by Centurious the Azure

A rewrite of A Story of Eighteen Years. "This is a love story. The story of a girl with a broken soul, and the boy who tried to pick up those shattered pieces and put them back together…only to fail in every single way."

9. Farewell, Sweet Vizima!

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

A/N: Hello, dear readers. I realized that the whole original chapter was much too long. So I split it into two for your ease of consumption. Please enjoy.

A Story of Eighteen Years

By Centurious the Azure and Storm Wolf77415

Chapter 8: Farewell, Sweet Vizima! (Something Ends, Something Begins I)

(The Following Day)

The Fiertia just docked at the port town of Capua Torim, Brave Vesperia didn't have any ongoing contracts and they hadn't found any mission requests, which left the guild with some unexpected free time. Ezra had decided to make use of the respite and was engaging Yuri in a sparring match on the forward deck of the ship, something the long-haired former knight was all too willing to oblige. "Azure Edge!" Ezra leapt over the sky-blue wave of energy Yuri threw at him, before coming in with a Rage Spike. The glowing blade clanged against Yuri's katana, sending out a small shockwave.

Many of their guildmates were taking in the spirited competition. Raven whistled at how smooth Ezra's technique was. But Yuri was no slouch either, effortlessly sliding past Ezra. Their blades clanging against each other for fractions of a second, steel ringing against steel. The oldest member of Brave Vesperia cheered, knocking back a beer. "Man, those sword skills you guys can do are nothing short of amazing! It's impressive to see how different techniques develop in different worlds."

"The various artes of Terca Lumireis are nothing to mock either," Raphtalia nodded slowly, her eyes intently on Ezra. Who had just launched a Sonic Leap which Yuri countered with a Shining Fang. "Yuri is certainly no slouch with that weapon. He's proven that plenty of times. I have no problems saying he's easily the equal of some of the best master swordsmen back home. I wonder how he'd fare against the likes of the Crimson Fox or the Radiant Blademaster."

"There's one thing you've forgotten, Raphtalia. He's the one most responsible for teaching Ezra to be as skilled with a blade as he is right now. Geralt of Rivia, the White Wolf. Either way, it's quite the gold standard to be held to." Felecia said, watching intently as Ezra and Yuri's blades locked once again. "I'm sure dad, Viscount Arseid, and Geralt would be proud of strong how Ezra's become." She smiled warmly, looking at him adoringly as he continued clashing with Yuri. Her ocean-blue eyes sparkled. "I know I am."

"I'm more impressed with his pyromancy," Rita agreed, tapping her chin thoughtfully. She recalled how Ezra displayed his fire magic not long after meeting them. "Those Chaos spells are something to behold."

"It's certainly more impressive than tossing a squeaky mallet," Fianna noted, looking over to Estelle with a playfully mocking grin. "I mean seriously, of all the attacks you can come with. Squaring up with a giant monster and your first instinct is throwing a toy hammer in their face? Where do you even conjure it up, to begin with?"

Estelle was about to open her mouth in response when her most ardent protector, or "simp" as Fianna once put it, spoke up. That was none other than their Blastia junkie Rita Mordio.

"Hey, Pow Hammer is a perfectly legitimate attack!" Rita protested, only to be met with raucous laughter from Fianna and Kyana.

"It's the silliest thing ever!" Fianna shot back.

"Back in Pythagoras, I had some of the best tutors when it came to the arcane arts. I spent almost my whole life learning the art and science of Sorceries, the magic of the mind and soul. I could call up the very elements with just a gesture or unleash a Soul Spear with a wave of my staff. It's pure magic energy I'm throwing." Phoebe tilted her head, recalling the very first time she saw Estelle use Pow Hammer.

She lifted a finger, deriding a pose a mentor of hers used to do. She narrowed her eyes, turning her nose up at Rita faux condescendingly. She made a circular gesture with her finger, presenting ethereal blue power on the tip of her finger. Phoebe created a spiral of light in the air as if it proved a point by itself. "If they saw me toss out a squeaky mallet, they would have called it an affront to magic."

Estelle brightly giggled, knowing it was all in good fun. It wasn't the first time this topic would be hotly debated among them all. Nor would it be the final time.

"Oh wow!" Mikhail's eager voice brought the conversation to an end. "Ezra's going to do the thing again!" Yuri had entered into Over Limit, a heightened state of mind brought about by the intensity of combat. His entire body emanated a silvery-white light. At the same time, Ezra was prepping an attack, bringing his steel blade into a guard position. Sparks of black lightning began dancing around his hands before they began traveling down his arms and enveloping his entire body. The aura discussed focused directly into his blade, red-rimmed black lightning crackling along the full length of it.

Yuri brought his own sword up, which was shining with a brilliant yellow light, azure lightning crackling every so often. The two swordsmen smirked at each other before rushing, trailing radiant light behind them from their swords. Everyone watched in anticipation for that final strike, wondering who would prevail. "Hey everyone!" A melodic voice caused both men to stop in their tracks, the match was totally forgotten as attention shifted to the three women coming up the gangplank, laden with shopping bags and various parcels. "We've returned!"

The trio was led by a petite young girl with above shoulder-length coffee brown hair tied up with two short side ponytails and brilliant blue eyes. She took note of how Ezra and Yuri were still rooted in place, their swords still sparking energy. "Oh, did I walk in on a battle? That's not fair!" She pouted. "I missed a chance to see Ezra fight!" Fianna leered and slowly walked toward the girl who shrunk back a little, only for one of the other girls who came onboard the Fiertia to step in front of her, deftly grab Fianna by the arm, and pull her away.

Her blue eyes just glared in disproval. "Kindly keep your hands off Ronye, Fi. Do I need to remind you of the summit and why the old man decided to kick your sorry ass out in the first place?" Her brown hair was cut short, sticking out in all directions except for the two side locks that framed her face, accented by green and red jeweled hair decorations. "Honestly would it kill you to keep your urgings in check just once?"

"Aw, come on, Noa! You three have been out on that supply run for the last week!" The bard wailed. But the other girl remained resolute, her pretty face absolute artful marble. "I've missed my morning cup of coffee." the girl named Ronye winced a little as Fianna pawed at the air for her. "Not to mention my sweet little Eclair!" She cooed at the third girl, clad in an orange dress trimmed in green, adorned with four-leaf clovers and orange hair done up in twin tails. "Oh, I'm going to so get you later!" She leered, only for the taller girl to just pinch Fianna's nose shut, leading her away. "Ow! That hurts!" The redhead's nasally protests brought much amusement to everyone else present. Even Ezra thought it was funny how she struggled to escape but Noa's grip was ironclad.

"Go ahead and take the supplies to the galley, Ronye, Eclair." Noa gestured to Fianna, her grip on the girl's nose tightened for emphasis. Fianna let out a nasal whimper. Soon enough, she wouldn't have a nose, or she'd pass out from lack of air. Whichever came first. "I'll handle our resident horndog."

The girls nodded before heading below deck. Noa sighed, all too used to her naughty friend, before directing her attention back to Fianna, who had stopped thrashing about, and just settling for pouting ineffectually at her. It had no effect on her stony expression. "Now, are we going to grope any girls today? You know the answer to that right?"

"No. Madam. Noa." Fianna managed to get out, sounding totally dejected. Noa's stern visage faded just slightly, and she let go of her friend's nose. She whimpered a little as she checked to ensure that her old friend hadn't given her an impromptu nose job. "Sadist." She muttered under her breath. Noa just glared back at her, causing her to shut up. Fianna knew better than to get on Noa's bad side. She said nothing more, strolling up to Ezra.

"Sorry for breaking up your little brawl, Ezra." Noa apologized flatly to which Ezra responded with an unbothered shrug of his shoulders. "However, we've come back with supplies for the next few days, not to mention we got some fresh veal chops for dinner tonight. I'm sure Phoebe has no problem getting those prepped?" Her gaze switched to the blue-haired mage, who just smiled and nodded. Noa then let it settle on a certain white-haired little boy. "Hello there, Mikhail." She padded over to Mikhail, coming down on one knee to be eye level with the boy. "I trust you've been keeping up with your homework?"

"I sure have!" He chirped, a big smile splitting his lips. His little hands came up in a cutely enthusiastic gesture.

Noa smirked, giving the boy an affectionate thump on the shoulder. "Good, because I'll be assessing you later in the afternoon." Mikhail seemed unremarkably chipper at the prospect of a pop quiz.

"I'm amazed you get him to study like that in the first place," Felecia whispered to Noa as she passed by. "Considering he really doesn't need it, to begin with."

She sniffed, crossing her arms below her chest. "Unlike that white-haired hag our Mikhail adores so much, I do see the value of a good education. Besides, he has a long way to go, and we need to be sure he'll be ready when the bulk of us are not around to help him anymore." Noa glanced back to Mikhail. Just for the barest fraction of a second, her face softened before the mask of impassivity returned. "If I can do that much, and get the kid off to a good start. Then I can look the reaper in the face and say I lived a good life." Felecia patted Noa on the shoulder.

Ezra wore a lopsided grin, "You shouldn't make it sound like you're dying, Noa. You're only nineteen, for goddess' sake."

Noa deigned to ignore Ezra's teasing, entirely stone-faced. She never so much as broke eye contact with Felecia. Ezra felt a chill breeze as she gave him the cold shoulder. As much as he didn't like being ignored, Noa's briskness was always hot to him. Ironically. "I hope we came at a good time, from what I gleaned through our communications via megascope Ezra was telling all. Again. He likes his stories; I will acknowledge that much."

"Well," Felecia began to explain, catching Ezra making a myriad of silly faces out of the corner of her eye. He was trying his damnedest to make her crack in front of Noa. She almost did submit to it, starting to break into a smile. She stopped herself, sending a chilly scowl at Ezra. He merely returned it with a shit-eating grin. She cursed inwardly, pressing down her amusement. "You guys came back at a good time. We've been spending dinner time recounting the journey leading us here to Terca Lumireis. We're just finished up the whole mess that was Potema and her attempted demonic invasion. So now we're about to leave Vizima, and I believe that you're due to make an appearance. Given the part, you and Fianna played in those particular events."

Noa looked rather intrigued, letting out a light hum. She took on a more relaxed stance. This was a sign she was very willing to take part in the next session. "Ah yes, that does seem like such a long time ago. I wasn't sure what to make of Ezra when he walked into the Datura. But I won't deny that he significantly changed all of our lives."

(Later that night)

The delectable smell of grilled veal chops wafted in the air, and everyone was very hungry. Phoebe had even prepared a nice big pot of fish stew in case any awkward questions from Mikhail cropped up. Noa was now sitting next to Fianna. She looked on wistfully at the tableau of beauties laid out before her. She couldn't even so much as lift a finger unless she was prepared for Noa to suplex her to the ground…it wouldn't have been the first time she had done it. Ezra then strode in, Felecia and Kyana on both sides of him. Somehow, he almost seemed regal with a sense of ennui he exuded for two moments as he stood there with both his queens on either side of him. Blink, and then it was gone as he cracked a stupid grin at his friends.

He seated both the girls before taking his own place at the table. Phoebe came out, a dark blue apron over her pale lavender tunic. A huge platter of meat in her hands. "Dinner's ready!" She called out in her melodious voice. The platter was handed around to everyone, Mikhail had three of them and he was going to town. Phoebe sighed, mentally noting to double up on the boy's etiquette. She would get him to at least not chew with his mouth open.

Ezra took silent note of Phoebe's plight before moving on to more pressing matters. "All right, folks. I believe we left off our little tale with me going to get Rose." He began quite solemnly, clapping his hands to bring everyone's attention to him. "I was so hopeful, hopeful that I could make a better future for her." He shook his head, bringing a cut of meat up to his lips to devour. He chewed thoughtfully for a long moment before downing it with a swig of ale. "Wishful thinking at its best. I had issues to settle with Rodger, and of course, it got nasty. My friends and I ended up to our necks in shit." His gaze fell on Fianna and Noa meaningfully. Fianna smirked cockily, gesturing for him to load up on the praise. Noa sipped at her drink, watching Ezra quite intently. He savored being focused upon by her Prussian blue gaze quite a bit. "Of course, I've learned something else as well. I had plenty of people willing to pull me out of said shit if needed."

The Datura hadn't changed once. Of course, would it have in just three days? The girls were still out on the porch, and I could smell the rancid perfume coming in through the open window. But I steeled myself for what was to come next. I was about to achieve the first of my main goals. With Rose free, it would be on to Novigrad to find my mother. Granted I did want to pump Rodger for any viable information he might have. The pathetic excuse of a former pirate still had some use for me. I walked up the rotten wooden steps and reached for the door, fingers on the bronze handle. "This is it, don't get scared," I whispered to myself.

Turning the handle and throwing open the door I barged in. Dandelion and the Scattered Feathers were getting ready to perform the afternoon show. The man himself had his faithful lute in hand, tuning up his instrument of choice. My jaw nearly hit the filthy ground at the sight of Fianna on the stage, having swapped out her normal attire, a red t-shirt, and tight white pants, for a stunning costume.

I had no idea that Fianna was so blessed in the chest. Let's face it, the brilliant red low cut, halter top decked out with gold and silver sequins wasn't doing much in hiding it! I got a good long look at her bare midriff, flat as could be, and very well-toned. Not to mention the hot pants, also done up with sequins and long red fringe did nothing to hide that very toned ass of hers. red and gold feathers decorated her hair. I was hypnotized by the sight. The red of her costume was a stark contrast against that pale creamy skin. Despite how perverted the girl can be, she has a body for days!

Those blue eyes lit up at the sight of me. "Ezra!" She called out, hopping off the stage. I barely had time to react before she swept me up in a mammoth hug. Giving me a very intimate view of her cleavage. "Oh, Ezra I was so worried about you! Erik stopped me and told me about that encounter you had with that horrid demon and said you had some kind of seizure and just collapsed into a heap. I thought for sure something awful had happened to you." It was then I noticed something, Fianna was wearing perfume. But it wasn't noxious like what was sprayed around the Datura on a regular basis. It was light and flowery. I'd even go so far as to call it pleasant.

"Your timing couldn't be better; we were just about ready to begin the show. Unless of course, you're here for a different kind of entertainment?" She idly twirled her hair while giving me a hungry smile. It sounds ridiculous, but that was the moment I concluded Fianna really was kind of hot. Needless to say, I tried very hard not to look anywhere but her face. Her aquamarine eyes glimmered in mirth. This was the part she loved doing. I would have probably humored her if I wasn't so focused on Rose.

"I'm afraid not, Fianna. I'm here for business, not pleasure." This seemed to just make her all the more enthralled and held onto my arm tighter.

"Oh, so you're not just here for a quickie with a two-Crown floozy?" Fianna gasped, her eyes shining brighter. "Could it be you were saving yourself for moi?" She let out a happy squeal, hopping up and down in place. "Oh Ezra, I don't know what to say! We can go up to one of the rooms and I'll show you a new dance I've been working on! I found a new way to twist my body and you'll be the first person to see it!" Damn it Fianna…why did you have to tempt me at this critical juncture? "Just so you know," She traced my chest with her index finger, giving me the biggest, brightest bedroom eyes, she possibly could muster. "I've never been with a guy before, just so boring really. But you, you're actually quite interesting. I can't seem to decide."

Luckily, I didn't have to wait long for backup to arrive in the form of the one person who can keep our resident bard under control. She was tall and cut an imposing figure. Her choice of dress was Far Eastern in nature. A kimono top colored a dark blue trimmed in gold, held shut by a red sash. The sleeves were a sheer fabric, showing her muscular, well-defined arms, covered by long purple, fingerless gloves. A red sarong with various tribal symbols patterned on it. Purple thigh-high stockings that left her toes exposed and finished with sturdy brown sandals. Her dark blue eyes held a look of irritation and then she looked to me and there was also, confusion?

"What are you doing Fianna?" She demanded, looking over to me with that same mix of annoyance and growing puzzlement. "And…why are you with the likes of him?" I could feel her eyes examining me. Like she was the overprotective older sister. "It doesn't seem like your normal fare." I didn't recognize her from of the Feathers' prior performances. Fianna's grip on my arm tightened a little bit. If I didn't know any better, I'd say Fianna was almost afraid of her.

"Oh, come on, Noa! A girl can't expand her horizons? Experiment with something new?" She pouted, resting her head on my shoulder. She let out a melodramatic sigh. "Ezra, this is Noa. She's my warden. But she knows her way around an instrument, so I suppose putting up with her is worth it. Sit back and enjoy the show, Ezra. It's going to be killer!" Fianna winked at me. Noa just rolled her eyes, before glowering at me again. Clearly, we would have words down the line. Fianna sauntered back to the stage and all I could do was watch her backside. I wasn't sure what it was about that moment, but I just felt some quiet yearning for her. Fianna emanated a warmth, not too different from my own flames.

She ascended to the stage, Noa right before. She gave a slight nod to Dandelion, his instrument now tuned and ready. Fianna gave a sweeping bow. "Hello there, fine people of lovely, tender Vizima! I'm sorry to keep you waiting. Thank you so much for being patient. It's been a rough couple of days but isn't this the reason why people like me exist, to make your days a little easier?" Several of the patrons let out a raucous cry and Fianna winked at them. "Well then, how about we get this show started?" This produced even louder cheers. "All right then! Boys and girls, let's break some hearts!"

"Hey, bard girl!" My eyes narrowed at that familiar voice. Across the room were Rodger and his boys at their usual booth, already clearly drunk. "Why don't you open up with my favorite sea dirge? You know what I'm talking about!" He leered. Hammer snickered in agreement and Anvil just was Anvil. Oh…fuck not that song! It was one I knew all too well. Erik was more than familiar with it too. He had made us sing it more than a few times. To think he would make the likes of Fianna and even Dandelion degrade themselves to perform it! Rodger banged the table. "Come on, what are you waiting for? Get singing or I'll carve up that gorgeous little tummy of yours! It's what we're paying you to do!"

Fianna, Noa, and Dandelion all looked less than enthused. What was to come was something so bad even a consummate professional like Dandelion wanted nothing to do with it! Fianna put a hand on her hip. "Fine, but only this once!" She looked to the heavens resignedly. "This is the Way We Have Sex…enjoy!" Wow, she really didn't want to sing this. The band started playing an airy tune. "This is the way we have sex! Ya put in her butt, and treat her like a slut!"

It was all so hilarious in its stupidity. Rodger cackled and began singing his loyal idiots as well falling into place. For posterity, I'll say all three of them were extremely tone-deaf. "Yuyakan girls love to take it in the ass, and you can bang Dark Elf girls against a tree or on the grass!" All the different ways women love to get sex…supposedly. The patrons in their drunkenness banged their tankards and stomped their feet in time to the song. I guess it's not so bad if you're totally wasted. Thankfully, it only lasted two rounds.

Rodger then caught sight of me, beckoning me over to him. The contempt rolled back to me with a vengeance. I then remembered the connection between him and Rose, and I was half tempted to incinerate him right then and there. The flames rose up in me, but I had to quell them. I couldn't let my anger get the best of me at this moment. Not when I was so close to my goal.

I pushed my way through the crowd to where the Madame sat at the bar. "Ah, if it isn't the hero of Vizima. I dare say you're just as popular as Geralt of Rivia himself." Ugh, the scratchiness in her voice, nails on a chalkboard were more pleasant. "So, what can I do for a great figure of your stature?"

"Simple," I said, looking to where Rose was seeing to some of the guests, holding up the bag of money. "I want to relieve you of a flower from your garden." I didn't need magic powers to see her inner greed switch flip on. It was all there in her eyes. She eagerly reached those gnarled fingers out to take the bag, and I pulled it just out of her reach. Silently enjoying the annoyance in her sunken in eyes. "How about we discuss this little business transaction in a more private setting?" The Madame said nothing, leading me upstairs to her office.

"You seek to take one of my little flowers, young man?" The crone let out a knowing chuckle. "I have a good idea of which one you want. The thorny rose you've been trying and failing to win over since you got here in the first place?" A low growl escaped my lips as I dropped the bag of coins on the desk, the cord holding it closed loosened, causing the coins to spill out on the desktop. The Madame picked the Crowns up with open glee. "Ah, yes. You're not all talk after all. You have been a busy little boy. You could easily pay for a couple of my girls. Indigo was always sweet on you, perhaps you'd want her along with Rose? I know the two of them have been more trouble than they were worth."

"I got the money; do you want to accept my offer or not?" My resolve had never been sharper than at that moment. We didn't break eye contact for at least a minute. As I looked square into the abyss that was the Madame's stony grey eyes, a part of me wondered just how attractive she had been at Rose's age. Not that it would have made it any harder for me to take Talion and stab her right between said eyes. "If Rose is such a hassle to you, then I'm doing you a courtesy."

"Indeed, you are. The girl is your problem now." Horseface took the coins, her eyes shining just as much as the money was. I felt a huge weight lift from my soul with those words. Finally! Now would come my next big challenge, repairing the damage from Rulid. I walked out of the office with an extra spring in my gait. Just in time to catch Fianna singing one of Dandelion's better-known songs, the Whoreson Prison Blues.

I felt a huge weight lift from my soul with those words. Finally! Now would come my next big challenge, repairing the damage from Rulid. I walked out of the office with an extra spring in my gait. Just in time to catch Fianna starting on one of Dandelion's better-known songs, the Whoreson Prison Blues. I'll say that she has a set of pipes that few could match. Her voice was sultry and alluring. "So, lock me up and sock me up and throw away the key! Go fuck yourself you whoreson. Cause you're done fucking with me!" The way she swung her hips as she sang was hypnotic. Perhaps I could spend some time with her later.

I quickly banished any thoughts about that from my head. I knew where my attention should go. My gaze fell on Rose. She had just left the patrons she had been attending to and was heading back to the garden, most likely just wanting to be alone. This is it; everything came down to this moment. I boldly strode up to her, her face had the usual mix of apathy and contempt for the world.

"What do you want this time, you fuckwit? You've got some more of that cheap ass poetry to sink on me? I hate to say it if it didn't impress me before. It sure as shit isn't going to work again!" Ah Rose, such a classy, charming personality. Sailors could learn a thing or two from her. Deciding actions would speak louder than words. I took her by the wrist and led her toward the door. "Let go of me!" She tried to pull free, but I wasn't having it.

I yanked hard and pulled her close to me. "For once in your life, shut up and listen!" Our faces were inches from each other as I looked her dead in the eyes. "I'd think you'd appreciate someone setting you free from this shitty lot in life!" I snapped. The struggling stopped with those words.

"Wait…What?" Her delicate snow-white eyebrows knitted together. A mixture of confusion and disbelief on her face. "I'm…I'm free?" I didn't miss the way she said free. Now besides confusion and disbelief. There was hope. Inwardly I cheered. Maybe she wasn't so jaded after all. Rose and I were a lot more alike than we wanted to admit. We were both broken people, hiding our insecurities and anxieties behind a mask. For me, it was all sarcastic quips. Rose acted like a bitch and just pushed people away.

"Well…technically I bought your papers from the madame. I'm your master now." She bristled at this. "But I want to help you learn some skills, so you'll be able to take care of yourself. After that, I'll give you something you haven't had in a long time…a choice. You can do whatever you want. You can stay and travel with me. You can leave to start over fresh. That would be my final gift to you."

"But why? Why would someone like you want to help a worthless nobody like me?" Remember how I said at the beginning that this was the story of how I tried to pick up the shattered pieces of her soul and put them back together? Time has shown me that Rose always felt like her life was so terrible, she was destined to remain that way until she died. I wanted her to see that wasn't the case. Only one problem, she was so insecure she didn't want to take that first step when someone offered it to her.

I've heard it from all directions that I wasted my time on a worthless cause. Rose was a hopeless case, should have just left her in the first village I stopped in, lather, rinse, repeat. You know what? From a rational viewpoint…yeah it was a worthless cause. But when it came to her, all my reason went out the window. Because I loved her, and I hated myself for abandoning her when she needed me most.

"Hey, Ezra!" Oh right…the other issue I needed to settle before I left Vizima. A part of me couldn't help but take some pleasure at the irritation Rodger was showing. I had ignored him twice already, and he wasn't liking the supposed disrespect. Fianna was singing louder than ever. A part of me wondered if she was doing that on purpose.

I gave Rodger a barely passing gaze. While I may regret unloading on Alisha now. I will never regret putting that lying, no-good sack of filth in his place! Looking to Rose, a crooked smirk on my face. "Because you are somebody to me, Rose. That's all the reason you need to understand for the moment. Now, how about I give you an extra gift? Do you want to see me verbally shit-stomp your worthless old man?"

Rose cocked her head slightly, before giving Rodger a contemptuous scowl before her lips twitched upwards into what could be called a slight smile. It was a predatory one. "Okay, maybe you're not such a useless panty shit after all!" Progress IS progress! With Rose at my side, I marched up to my so-called teacher.

"Finally!" Rodger grunted, draped in the booth like he was king of the underworld. Literally the underworld, the man who rules the sewers, if the stench was any indication. "Here comes the conquering hero! You're the man about town Ezra! I mean, seriously. Taking down the legendary Wolf Queen and stopping a possible Gehenna Crisis? I'm surprised King Foltest hasn't made you a knight for this! And it was all thanks to my genius teaching skills! Remember that I was the one who taught you everything you know." He sat up a little straighter, his bearing more pompous. "Of course, you know what this means: we gotta celebrate! Get some good booze, even better chicks, and get totally shitfaced!"

Hammer and Anvil both let out a cheer of affirmation. Rose looked unimpressed as Rodger continued. "Of course, I'm fresh out of cash, and I know you got a nice big fat payday from the rich folk at the castle. So I'm sure you're willing to cover the expenses for the night?" Rose and I looked at each other, then at Rodger. And we both laughed. For me, it was like when I laughed at Alisha, but even more, mocking because Rodger deserved every bit of it he got! "What's so funny? Did I say something that amusing?"

"Yeah, you did." Oh, this would be so satisfying! "I hate to break it to you Rodg, but I'm flat-ass broke too! Because I spent all that money on her." My thumb twitched to Rose, her hands on her hip and looking smug. "But I can get you your thirty pieces of silver, for all the lies you've been feeding me! For all the pain and misery, you've caused others! You worthless sack of shit!" If there was a way to preserve the look on Rodger's face, I would do it right there! It was now official. I was done with the disgraced pirate forever! Hammer looked uneasily to his boss. Anvil was just a fleshy statue. The hamster that ran on the wheel in his head was on an extended smoke break.

I kept a close watch on Rodger's expression. Yeah, my words were not what he wanted to hear. The way his eyes bulged out, how the skin around his eyes tensed. And his fingers curled against the table. I had finally seen through his lies and was now laying it all at his feet. "You want to say that again, you little shit?" His voice was low, I could tell it was taking all of his self-control not to unleash his rage at me as he did with Indigo. Because he knew that I could defend myself and I would. "After all, I did for you, this is how you pay me back?"

"Yeah, this is how I pay you back. Let me remind you of a few things, Rodger. Genius teaching skills? Wow, how many brain cells have you killed with all the booze you've knocked back over the years? As I recall, most of our training sessions were spent with you sprawled out on the grass piss-ass drunk! Wow, not a lot has changed. You never taught me a single fucking thing! The twins provided me with books about the Archadean style, that's how I learned it! Not that it amounts to much. The only person I acknowledge as my sword teacher is Naaman!"

This was turning out to be way more fun than I expected! Exposing Rodger for the tremendous fraud he was! Plus, I was only getting started. "You never had any intention of helping me at all, did you? The only reason you saw fit to train me, and I use that term quite loosely might I add, is because you knew once I started making a name for myself, then you could take credit for it all." Rodger leaned forward, nostrils flaring in ever-growing fury, hand clearly wanting to for a sword that wasn't there. "Not to mention you were going to use me to regrow your arm once I had figured out a way to do it. As pissed off as I am at you. At the same time, all I can feel…is pity." Now that was the truly gratifying part. A man like Rodger could take hate and contempt being thrown at them. It happened every day. But being pitied, that right there is a true sting.

I then looked to Rose, who was loving every minute of this. "Now that I think about it. You really are a sad excuse of a man…and a father. I mean let's face it, what kind of parent abandons his daughter and lets her get turned out? I guess all the alcohol really screwed up your mind if you don't even recognize your little girl. Who would have thought she would end up in the same whorehouse you decided to cower in? Wow, the world is a small place." I looked to Fianna on stage. She winked, giving a playful wave. "The lady said it best. Go Fuck Yourself, You Whoreson, Because You're Done Fucking With Me!" The die had been cast and I was making my stand here and now.

I then looked over to Rose. She seemed quite satisfied with the result if the shit-eating grin showing off her pearly whites was any indication. "So, what did you think of that whole little spiel? Too over the top?"

Rose shrugged, ignoring her father's ever-growing rage. Man, I forgot that the veins on his neck and forehead throbbed the angrier he got. "Meh, I'd give it…a 6. Maybe a 6.5 out of 10. But I'll add an extra half-point for the line at the end. That's the one song from that doofy bard I actually like!"

The tension in Rodger's stance faded. He sat back in the booth, and he looked resigned. Maybe even tired…to anyone who didn't know him well. He let out a quiet sigh. "It's such a pity that things ended this way. I offer my knowledge to you, and this is the thanks I get. Well, it seems you need to be disciplined." There it is the nasty edge to his voice. "Hammer, Anvil. You know what to do." With a snap of his fingers, the loyal lapdogs rise to serve their master. The stench of all their puke and piss rolling from them. I pushed Rose behind me to keep her safe.

Hammer looked slightly apologetic. "Sorry kid, I've got nothing against you, but it's the captain's orders." His face hardened as he cracked his knuckles. "And the crew always obeys their captain!" Anvil just grunted, a miracle that the few neurons in his brain knew how to fire properly. Rose looked nervous but I just flashed her a quick smile. These two morons spent all their days drunk off their asses, too used to roughing up equally drunk patrons and the girls. But I wasn't either of those things. I would prevail against them, and I would leave with Rose. I settled into a basic unarmed combat stance.

In truth there I could feel something different about myself since I woke up. For some reason, I just felt stronger than I did before. Hammer swung at me with a sloppy hook punch, but I deftly avoided it. Smacking him with an uppercut into his ribs. I saw Anvil try to tackle me, but it was child's play to evade the big dumb idiot. I paid him back by snap-kicking him in the side, and followed by a back fist straight into his ugly, scarred mug. "That's for fucking up my plan in the swamp with your dumb ass chanting! It was a good plan too!" I had wanted to tell him off for that for so long.

The fight was starting to draw attention from the stage. Hammer tried getting me over the head with a liquor bottle, but I blocked his arm, elbowing him in the face without even looking. I could hear Fianna squeal in delight. I'll admit the appeal of being a hero and impressing the ladies was a nice perk. Even a couple of the working girls, Indigo included, seemed to look on in approval. At least someone appreciated me fighting off the brutes. Finally, the king brute got off his throne, one thing about Rodger is that he could turn the dial from drunk to full-on sober in an instant.

But I wasn't about to let him have an inch. In fact, I had a quick way to take him out of the equation fast. I palmed a single Crown, imbuing it with as much telekinetic force as I could muster. Holding it between two fingers, I flicked it right at Rodger's forehead! The impact could be heard throughout the entire brothel. It was so great the disgraced pirate was sent flying straight into the bar itself. The bar is made of hard Kovirian maple…ouch. Out like a light. I looked to Rose, arms folded, pink eyes glowing with equal satisfaction. But then remembered even with Rodger out, Hammer and Anvil were still present…but not for much longer.

I saw Hammer try and get me in a chokehold, but I was able to grab onto his arm, redirecting his weight and flipping him on the floor, square on his back. His eyes widened in terror as I stood over him. A truly menacing smile on my face, my foot cocked back. "W-wait a minute kid!" He didn't get the chance to finish his statement as I kicked him in the temple, sending him on an extended trip to dreamland.

Anvil grimaced as always, reaching out to grab me. I just smirked, ducking under his huge arms, a mix of muscle and flab. Taking his back, I brought my hands up, delivering twin knife hands to his armpits. A little something Erik had taught me as a way to quickly incapacitate unruly patrons after I started working there. He began stumbling about, and I went in for one last knock-out right cross. And then it happened. I felt this shift in my mana. It wasn't much, but I could feel as if I was going…faster than it! Time slowed down for me as I saw my fist sail right at the big shield bearer's scarred jaw.

But then my mana flexed and surged on contact. The results were potent, to say the least. Anvil was sent flying into the wall at high speed, a wall made of very solid brick I might add. He slammed into it with such force it left a very large human-shaped indentation in that brick. He slumped to the ground, knocked cleanout. His mouth-foaming down his unshaven chin. Truthfully, it was a massive improvement. I had sprung forward with a mana-empowered sprint. Before I knew it, my fist had laid down the final blow. The brick completely shattered into shards of stone on contact. And then I realized something. I had actually missed him entirely! I knew this because there was an equally large dent beside Anvil's head, in the shape of a fist. I then looked to Rose, looking plain dumbstruck for a full two seconds. A record for my favorite foul-mouthed flower girl.

She asked in shock, mouth agape. "What the fuck was that and how long have you been able to do it?"

"Uh." Because truthfully, I was just as clueless! Luckily, I didn't have to wait long for an answer. My hand got warm, and I heard a clear ding.

"Unarmed Enchanted Fighting Technique Level One Achieved. Parallel Fist Technique unlocked!" A monotone feminine voice spoke. The entire Datura had been rendered timidly silent by my display of martial prowess. I was silently hoping for any kind of distraction at that moment. And good old Erik was all too willing to oblige. He came in with a case of beer in hand. He then caught sight of Rodger, still embedded in the bar. Hammer and Anvil both crashed out on the floor.

"What happened here?" He asked, I could hear the anger and panic in his voice. Of course, everyone pointed to me. But I didn't quail under his glare as I ever so slightly inched over to Rose, taking her hand in mine. I gave her a look, hoping the silent message got through to her. "Ezra, what did you do?"

I let out an awkward laugh. "I'll be happy to tell you everything, Erik. Just not here. Because I'm not sure how long these three are going to be coughing Zs. So if I were you…I'D START LEGGING IT!" And with that I took off running out the door, holding onto Rose. I heard Erik begin cussing in Elvish, Redanian, and even Nilfgaardian and he was soon running behind me.

"I didn't know you could speak Nilfgaardian!" I remarked as we continued jogging.

"Dad insisted Felecia and I learn if we decided to travel! And this is really not the time to begin discussing how many languages I can speak!" Poor Erik, as much as he hated Rodger and the guys. He really didn't want to be in habit of stirring up trouble. But let's face it, I'm kind of a trouble magnet. He really had no other choice but to kick back and enjoy the ride. The three of us made for Erik's flat and temporary safety. The three of us ran in, only to find Felecia, Kyana, and Laura present, sitting on the sofa.

"What's up with you guys?" Kyana asked, noting all of us were out of breath. Her eyes narrowed slightly when her gaze fell on Rose.

"Oh, nothing much. Ezra just knocked out Rodger, Hammer, and Anvil!"

"What?" all three women said at once.

Rose chortled, patting me on the shoulder proudly. "It's true, he sent the one-armed wonder straight into the bar headfirst, kicked the guy with the oversized hammer in the head, and knocked the fat scarred tub of lard so hard he left a dent in a solid brick wall!" She grinned wide, something resembling a twinkle fondness in her bright eyes. "It certainly made my day to be sure!"

"So glad to know, but we are officially now in deep shit! Once those three wake up, Rodger is going to be on the warpath! He will not stop until we are all dead! It's probably a really good idea for us to get out of town!" Erik's panic was growing by the second. The poor guy started hyperventilating. I thought he was a few breaths away from passing out. Only for Felecia to suddenly hug her brother. She looked up at him with adoring eyes. She stroked Erik's face, and he calmed down visibly.

"It's okay, brother. We already have a plan. Lady Merigold suggested we head to Novigrad. That would be a good place to disappear for a while, don't you think?"

Erik considered this for a couple of seconds, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "It is the largest city in the Land of Forests. A huge trade hub, so people are moving in and out of all the time. Not to mention the regional headquarters of the Guild is located there." He smiled, returning Felecia's earlier gesture by brushing his fingers along her cheek. Something Felecia lit up at, placing an affectionate hand on his shoulder in return. "Yeah, Novigrad would be a great place to get a fresh start." His face grew serious, his hawkish features growing sharper. "We'll leave at nightfall. I'd hoped to avoid a fight with Rodger, but who am I kidding?" He shook his head with a weary groan. "It can never be simple, can it?"

"Oh, grow a freaking spine already, you virgin!" Rose snapped, jabbing a finger at Erik. "If you ask me that fucking bastard is long overdue for a reckoning! This dummy here has shown that my old man and his lackeys are nothing. It should be child's play to finally kick his ass into the shithole grave he dug for himself." She looked at me, unimpressed. "This is really the company you keep? I think you need to rethink your choice of friends."

"And just who put you in charge?" Kyana cut in. Her gaze was cutting, but I wasn't budging. "Ezra, why is she here?" Rose just haughtily leered.

"Oh, it's my little friend from the alley. You didn't hear? Your boy toy here bought me my freedom. So I guess we're going to be hanging out together, Woodland Slut." Rose folded her arms, that smirk growing into a mocking Cheshire Cat smile. Kyana's eyebrow twitched, her hand reaching down to her belt for the fancy new steel axe she had bought to replace the one lost during the battle with Potema. That or she was going to sic Farram on her. Either would have probably torn Rose to shreds at that point in time. Both Lamperouge siblings had differing reactions to this little piece of news.

"So you finally bought her huh?" Erik gave Rose a quick appraisal before shifting a dubious expression my way. "You sure you didn't waste your money? I'm sure there were better ways to spend a payoff from the king than buying the freedom of some whiny little prostitute."

"Really?" Felecia grit out, displeased. "You spent all that money on her? Why?"

Rose answered for me, making a haughty dismissive gesture as she took a confident step forward. You would assume she was the queen of this run-down hovel. "Perhaps he wanted me for his own little fuck toy. He hasn't been able to keep his eyes off me since he stumbled in the door a month a half ago." She rolled her eyes while letting out a melodramatic sigh. "Seriously, flowers, candy, and really bad poetry from that tone-deaf bard! It hasn't stopped. And if I must spend the rest of my days listening to it, then I would have taken my chances back at the Datura." Rose then zeroed in on a certain part of Felecia and Erik's anatomy: their ears. It was always their ears with her. "And if that wasn't enough…" Rose bellyached, making a face like she had been force-fed a whole glass of curdled milk. "I gotta deal with elves as fuckin' well? This just gets better and better. Wish I had packed some fairy repellant 'cause this motherfucker has gotta be infested with the cheeky little cunts."

Now Kyana and both of the Lamperouge siblings were about ready to murder her. Thankfully Laura stepped in to play peacemaker, raising a placating hand. "Please, let's not fight. I know her words and mannerisms are…creative in the crudest sense of the word. But if she is a friend, then we should welcome her as such. I'm sure Ezra can explain himself." All of a sudden, I didn't quite like the way she was looking at me. The disappointment was all there in her eyes. Clearly, there was something she took issue with. Little did I know she didn't mean Rose. "You can explain all of this now, can you, Ezra? Because there are quite a few things you've kept from us."

"Yes, explain!" Felecia hissed, still smarting from Rose's jab.

"I did it because she's my friend!" I finally declared, staring them all down defiantly. "I've known Rose from childhood. When my family was living in Rulid Village." I bowed my head slightly; the survivor's guilt rose its ugly head to make me feel like fuck once more. "We were hiding from the Order and there was…an incident that forced us on the run, and I had to leave her behind. That's been one of the biggest regrets of my life. I never imagined running into her here in Vizima. But now that I have, I can finally make things right." None of my comrades looked too convinced. But I was determined to sell them on it. "Look, guys, Rose can be useful. Naaman taught her some basic swordsmanship and she even has magic potential. My mom said so herself, even if Rose thinks books are for eggheads."

Despite my rather impassioned speech. Everyone was still dubious about it. Even Rose herself joined in, letting out a frustrated noise. "Wow, you really are fucking delusional, aren't you, dummy? I've never met you in my whole entire shitty life! I'm just a hooker from about town who's looking for a cheap fuck, so do yourself a favor and-" She didn't get any further than that as I grabbed her arms and pulled her close to me. Rose flinched a little, half expecting me to hit her, but I did something much more.

"Will you stop acting dumb Rose, because I'm getting fucking sick of it! You are Rose from Rulid Village where you grew up with Alice Zuberg and Eugeo!" Now that got her attention. Recognition flashed on that face alabaster face of hers. Just for a minute, her mask of indifference slipped, and I knew she recalled those simpler times all too well. "Yeah, you remember them, don't you? The times we spent sitting together under Gigas Cedar. The picnics the four of us shared. You remember that day as clearly as I do! Our trip into the Northern Mountains, seeing the Dark Territory? Alice's little…indiscretion?"

She was at a loss for words, so I continued. "I remember when the Integrity Knight appeared to take Alice to Centoria. You charged at him with the Dragonbone Axe that Eugeo used for his work in cutting down the Gigas Cedar. Half the village dogpiled you because they were too cowed to do anything because of their precious Taboo Index. Name one common whore who had that kind of courage. It's permanently burned into my heart as deeply as the flames I wield in my soul. I'm sorry for leaving you back then, Rose. Please, just let me help you!"

Rose refused to meet my gaze. I knew she remembered. The sadness in her eyes, the yearning for those simpler days in them. I'm sure she had those days on playback every moment she was at her most miserable. Every time a John plowed her, I'm certain all she thought of was us just to escape. It was true for me as well. My mind always wandered back to those halcyon days any time I wanted to escape the guilt, my grief, and my moments of deepest despair…

"Okay, so you helped out a childhood friend. Glorious day for our little Rosie Rose. That still doesn't convince me why we need her." Erik said, completely deadpan. He ignored the hostile glare thrown at him by Rose. I was really getting irritated at him. Erik was always a dour guy, but now he was just being a straight-up asshole. As I held Rose's hand, something pinged in the back of my mind. Not to mention my hand started getting warm. I realized it had to do with my crest. As if it were reacted to something…something in Rose. I couldn't believe it.

"Fine, you want proof of why it's a good idea to keep her around? Watch this!" I held up Rose's hand in mine, small flames popping off my hand. Rose's eyes widened, but before she could say anything, those flames began drifting onto her hand, and to everyone's disbelief, the flames twisted and elongated, becoming lightning bolts that ran down the length of her pale arms. Everyone's heads twisted at the crack of thunder, despite it being a perfectly cloudless day.

The voice from earlier spoke up. "Maiden and Sovereign contact confirmed, Crest unlocked and awakened," I smirked as Rose's new crest materialized over her hand. A silvery-white construct in the form of a translucent blue rose within a runic circle, a series of other runes and glyphs dancing around it. She could only look in awe at what she had. Everyone else too.

"S-she has a crest?" Erik really didn't want to imagine it, shaking his head in disbelief as he pawed at his aching head. "Now I know why Rodger always had booze everywhere. Sometimes you just want to drink your brain empty!"

"The fuck is this thing?" Rose seemed scared of it. Her eyes were wide in confusion, trying to desperately shake it off but it wouldn't budge. "Where in the nine hells of fucking Gehenna did it come from?"

"You've always had it," I explained gently, revealing my own crest. The two shimmered, resonating with each other showing fiery crimson, and luminescent blue respectively. "As have I. Somehow I could sense it dormant inside you." My eyes curiously shot to Felecia. The only one who was more knowledgeable about magic was always you. Comes with being the daughter of an Aen Saevherne, I suppose. "Tell me, Felecia, does having a crest mean you can instinctively sense others and know how to awaken them?"

Felecia shook her head, palming her chin in consideration with a small quizzical tilt of her head. It was cute as hell to me even though I knew it was serious time. "I don't think so. It hasn't been in anything I've read. Although I do know that there are instances where crests have been paired with each other. And if that's the case, all it takes is a small mana transfer and they awaken. That being said, if the Crests of the Sovereign and Maiden are paired together, it's probably for a good reason." She glanced to her brother, her petite shoulders slumping in defeat. "I hate to say it, Erik. But it may be that she's going to be with us for a while."

There was no hiding the sheer and utter defeat in both Erik and Felecia's faces, nor hiding the smug triumph Rose exuded. "So apparently this thing means I'm special. I'll say it to you in plain talk, it means fucking know your place."

"Oh, don't act like you have any authority here." Kyana cut in sharply, baring her teeth at Rose in a contemptuous sneer. Before folding her arms at me and I could tell something was about to go down. "Ezra, before you guys crashed in the door. The three of us were discussing something. It actually has to do with your crest." My stomach dropped. Kyana was angry, just disappointed, and even sad. "It's the fact you never told us about this in the first place."

"She's right. Apparently, Uncle Ioran knew, the Twins knew, so did Michael, and Eclair but you never thought to tell me or Kyana?" Felecia sounded even gloomier, the hurt evident in her eyes. Looks like I have some explaining to do right now. I decided the direct approach, a simple apology was best.

"I'm sorry I never brought it up to either of you girls. Ioran felt it was best to keep the information as compartmentalized as possible. We did it to protect both of you. In case the Order came after you and if they broke you, made you talk." I shrugged, now that didn't sound like an apology. I bowed my head, giving them my best-wounded puppy look. If it worked on the Twins, it would work on the girls. "Do I really need to say more? Besides, you heard what the Crest of the Sovereign represents from Alisha herself. You heard about the whole Thronebreaker mess." I looked intently at the swirling heart over my hand with a deep scowl. My little personal curse wouldn't leave me until the day I died. "The fewer people who knew about it. The better."

This seemed to placate the girls some. Felecia came up to hug me, resting her chin against my chest, looking up at me with those charmingly big aquamarine eyes. Any ice in them prior was replaced with comforting warmth. "Okay, I can understand not wanting to drag us into the huge mess your life has been since childhood, but we've known each other long enough that certainly you could have confided it to us eventually?"

"Come on Felecia," I shook my head, feeling a migraine coming on. Most of this was new to me. And I just wanted to not pursue the discussion further. "What time would have been realistic enough to discuss this with you? When were we going to be able to get together so I could bring it up in casual conversation? The answer is no time. Again, I'm sorry I never told you or Kyana about my crest potential. It's over and done with. Just thinking about it gives me a headache."

"May I cut in here?" Laura asked helpfully. "I'll be the first to admit I know nothing about magic. This whole talk of crests, and prophecies simply put, goes completely over my head." She pressed a finger to her temple giving it a little rub. Good to know I wasn't the only one who felt the topic itself was head-splitting. "But it does make me realize something about the true extent of your prowess with the blade. You were holding back when we first sparred with each other, didn't you?" She narrowed her eyes on me accusingly, a disapproving frown on her lips. I returned it via puzzled knitting of my eyebrows. Really Laura? Our whole world is about to come apart and you're upset over the fact I wasn't using my full strength in our duel? Wow, talk about having skewed priorities.

Nonetheless, I decided to humor Laura, she normally knows what she's talking about. "Now, from what Felecia and Kyana have told me, this whole Thronebreaker story paints you effectively as the harbinger of doom for all mankind." She made a gesture as if dusting the notion of it from her shoulder. Laura wasn't a scholar like any mage, but she knew bullshit when she saw it. "Personally, I don't see you as being the champion of Gehenna. My father taught me that you can learn a lot about people from exchanging blows with them. I felt an earnestness in your technique, a genuine streak of honor there." Well, that was better than I thought it would be.

"That being said, I could also tell you don't really have much respect for the blade." There was an edge of steel to her voice now. She looked me deadly seriously in the eye as if I was a junior disciple in need of discipline. Let's face it, I wouldn't have minded if she put me in detention there and then. I was simply a bad boy in need of correction. I have Noa for that now so don't worry if I need to be put in my place.

"To you, it's just a common tool, no more important than a hammer or a screwdriver. I'll be honest, that really doesn't sit well with me." I felt myself shrink before those amber-hued eyes. As the daughter of one of the most acclaimed swordsmen in the world, it would be something she took deadly seriously. Little did I know that she was about to ask me something that would shake my very world. "In the Arseid School, our swords are our pride, it holds our very spirit. It's meant to be used for a purpose. So let me ask you, what purpose do you swing your blade?"

Damn, now that's what you call an armor-piercing question. Certainly, cut me right to the bone, and even to my very soul. Because the truth is, Laura was right on every account. To me, my swords were just tools to achieve my ambition. A means to an end in order to get what I wanted. Rodger's philosophy at work I suppose. I suppose it comes with being trained by a thieving pirate.

Ezra paused for a few seconds. "I'll admit, those words stuck with me in a way I didn't expect it to." He looked to his faithful swords, propped up against the table next to him. "She certainly did make me reconsider what it means to wield them. It's a debt I'm not sure I'll ever be able to repay it." He tapped his fingers on the heavy wooden table. "It would only be a matter of time before Rodger came looking for payback, so it was decided that we had to start making preparations to depart. We split up to buy supplies, and agreed to meet back at Erik's flat at five o'clock. we'd hole up there, wait until dark and slip out."

"Of course, we weren't going to have it easy." Felecia chimed in, watching as Mikhail inhaled another piece of meat. "We did inevitably confront Rodger and his goon squad. And believe me, while it wasn't as crazy as the battle with Potema. It was still a very intense fight with an unexpected finish."

"Before we get to that, I'd like to indulge in some more speculation," Ezra said. "Because there are events that occurred none of us were present for that played into what happened on the bridge leading out of town. I'd just like to maybe consider what happened. Especially what happened to the Datura after Rose and Indigo were finished with the place. Or maybe you'd like to shed some light on it, girls?" Felecia and Kyana shrunk back slightly. Neither of the girls said anything, so Ezra resumed.

The supply run took us less time than I thought. It was about three weeks from Vizima to Novigrad on foot. It was of the utmost importance we got food and water for everyone. Laura had decided to visit her father one last time, so she wasn't present. Once that was done. We were all hunkered down in the flat, just waiting for nightfall so we could slip out. I had decided to crash on the bed for a while and get some rest. The day's events had wiped me out and I wanted to be fresh to make our escape. Unfortunately, there was no longer any buffer between Rose and everybody else.

"So, this is what I have to look forward to with my newfound freedom." She sighed, looking out the window, before looking back to the Lamperouge siblings and Kyana, all shooting daggers at her. "Being on the run with an idiot, two wannabe pseudo elves." She bit out that last part, staring at Erik and Felecia, noting the visible sign of their mixed heritage. "And a girl who likes hanging out in jungles with a stretched-out asshole. Lucky me. I should have taken my chances with the pirates who do nothing but get drunk and shit themselves."

"Wow, the apple didn't just land right next to the tree, it hit every branch on the way down. You are certainly your father's daughter. Maybe we should you give an eyepatch, embrace your pirate heritage?" Felecia's retort was icy. "My brother and I may be half-elves but at least our parents loved and cared for us. My father was never a deadbeat, always drunk on his ass, and my mother would never sink so low as to turn me out and I'd be relegated to sucking dicks for a few petty crowns in order to get my next meal."

Rose let out an unladylike snort, turning to face Felecia with a disdainful glare. "Oh, trust me, don't knock it until you've tried it! I'm sure there's at least some poor, lonely guy who'd love to have you sitting on their face. Your cousin would have done well too. I can tell she's the type who loves taking it up the ass." She stuck her nose up in the air, looking like a conceited queen of the slums. "The dummy himself said it, he set me free because we knew each other as children. It's self-evident who's going to be sharing his bed. Let's face it girlies. You lost out."

"Oh, that is it! You like getting pounded so much! I'll pound you for real!" Felecia stood up, baring her perfect dice-shaped teeth at Rose. Not possessing canines is an observable elvish trait if you've ever seen Judy bear a grin at you. Felecia was ready to knock every one of them out of Rose's face and sell them to somebody who absolutely valued them more. Trust me, there is absolutely a market for it. And it's not the tooth fairy who buys them.

Then, her demeanor shifted. A wicked Cheshire smile manifested on her face. A wonderfully horrible thing to witness. That's when you know you are fucked in her eyes. "I think you've forgotten something, girly. Ezra may have bought your papers from the madame, but you're not totally free yet. You still belong to him…you're still his slave." Rose's smugness evaporated quickly at the implication, turning a pallid deathly white. "Which means if he wanted to, then you could be branded with a slave seal! That might teach you some manners!"

Kyana mirrored her cousin's look, her teeth glinting like knives in the evening sun. "That's true. Erik, do you have any ink around here we could use?" The elder Lamperouge sibling just idly pointed to the small writing desk next to the bed where I was sleeping. Rose's panic grew even more as Kyana, and Felecia loomed over her. "You do know the incantation for the slave seal enchantment, right?" Kyana asked, slowly, and very much with no sense of warmth. To which the elf girl just nodded, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Okay then, I'll hold her down, you can apply it!"

"Hey! This is your family! Do something!" Rose said to Erik, panicked. Erik merely folded his arms in apathy, gifting her a cavalier smirk from his perch on a nearby stool. He leaned forward in his seat, placing a hand on his knee. His finger tapped on it idly.

"Oh, now you want my help? I hate to break it to you, but I think what my sister and cousin are saying is the most sense anyone has made all day. Let's face it, between Crests, prophecies, and the possible ending of the world. This sounds outright pleasant." His eyes narrowed dangerously on precious Rose, cutting her down with the cold steel of his words. "Need I remind you that I tried to stand up for you, and Indigo, plus every other girl back at the Datura, but you all shit on my good intentions. You won't get any sympathy from me at all."

Of everyone in our future party that Rose had managed to draw the ire of, Erik had taken the worst of it. "Since you grew up under poor conditions," he continued harshly. "I'll put it in simple terms for somebody as slow-witted as you: It's not my job to defend you anymore. You're Ezra's property, so it's on him to keep you out of trouble. If you die in a fight, then I'll stand by him while he grieves. He is my little brother and that's what I do. But there is no connection between us besides you belonging to Ezra. So act like property, do what you're told, and be seen and not heard. Let's face it, the only reason you're here is to take a pounding. Not to mention you smell like yesterday's sushi."

"I couldn't have put it better myself, brother. That crest is wasted on a piece of trash like her. And yeah, she does have the air of rotten fish." Felecia casually observed as Kyana handed her the bottle of ink. There was a dangerous glint in her gem-like eyes aquamarine eyes. There was no pretense of joy despite her drawl. "Do yourself a favor and hold still. It's not that painful, or so I've heard."

"Hey, dummy! Wake the fuck up!" Rose cried to me, shaking me quite violently. But there was no response, I was dead to the world. Metaphorically speaking, of course. Felecia shook her head, her explanation taking on a coldly clinical tone.

"Don't bother, I put a sleeping spell on him so he wouldn't be able to butt in. If we're really going to be stuck with the likes of you. Then we're going ensure that you're as least of a problem as possible!" Rose finally had enough, bolting out of her chair, pushing past Kyana, and running out the door. It's hard to tell where she went after that. The Datura wasn't an option anymore, so I imagine she just ran until she found an alley to cower in, curled up in a ball. Don't know how long she stayed there. But then she had a run-in with an old friend.

"Rose?" She looked up and found Indigo, wearing her usual casual attire of a black leather sleeveless top and tight black pants. The dark elf girl knelt to lay a hand on Rose's shoulder. "What are you doing here? I thought you were enjoying your new life of freedom with Ezra." Rose looked like she wanted to cry, but hid it behind her normal mask of bitchiness.

"It was all a total lie. Just like everything else in my shit-filled life! It was even worse than every time someone blew their load into me. I really thought I had a chance with him." Rose growled, looking up into Indigo's eyes. Her pink eyes wavered, tears stinging the edge of them. There was no controlling it any longer. Her voice turned hollow, there was no hiding the hurt in it. "It looks like we're going to have to go through with our original plan after all. I hope you know what you're doing. Can't be any worse than my prior company!" Indigo chuckled, running a hand through Rose's hair.

"Oh, don't you worry your pretty little head anymore." Indigo quietly comforted Rose with the soothing voice of a mother. One might wonder if she was indeed older than she indeed looked. I always wondered if she had a family before slavers turned her into a fuckable slab of meat. "We pull this off we'll have everything we ever wanted. We will live like queens, and never be anyone's bitches ever again! Just let your dear big sister Indigo take care of everything. We'll get our payback on everyone, and take what we rightfully deserve. We're family, and that's what we do for each other." She smiled, holding her hand out. "You with me?" It took Rose all of a few seconds to decide. Reaching out to take her fellow prostitute's hand and being pulled to her feet.

"YES!" Indigo let out a small cry of joy, still, there was no happiness in her smile. It was all viciously calculating. It was the first indication that their coup would not be a bloodless one. "Then let's leave our shit-filled memories past, and we'll start by reducing the Blooming Datura to nothing but ashes!"

Felecia and Kyana bowed their heads ashamedly at the slight glare Ezra sent their way. But he quickly put it aside with a gesture. They shared a long look before he continued further. It was long in the past and there was no further point in dwelling on it. "Of course, what Indigo and Rose did was only part of the setup. What Rodger did still surprises me to this day."

After waking up, all three of the former pirates were relegated to just sulking in their personal booth. Rodger was livid, thanks to Ezra's beatdown whatever the last modicum of respect he had around the Datura was effectively gone. Anvil just continued with his art. While Hammer looked on uneasily at his captain. "Uh, another drink Boss?" He nervously slid a bottle of brandy to Rodger.

He reached out for it but relented. "Why bother?" Hammer knew Rodger was in a bad mood if he didn't want to get shitfaced. "That ungrateful little shit! I taught him my technique, and shared with him the most intimate details of my life all for him to spit at me in the face?" He clenched his fist before banging it on the table. Which both Hammer, and Anvil visibly winced at. "I helped the kid get strong and this is how he repays me? Casting me aside at the first chance he could get! After I promised him I'd help him find his worthless harlot of a mother too!"

"Yeah, but we really didn't do anything about his mom, Boss." Hammer cringed, ready to dodge in case a liquor bottle came down on his head. "You said you were networking, but all we did was sit around and get hammered as we thought up different ideas. We could have actually done something and kept both the kid and the Fox's son on our side."

"Every plan starts with brainstorming! That's how it works!" Rodger snapped. Anvil let out a sound that was between a snort and a grunt, even with a bit of a laugh thrown in for good measure. "Ha, see even this fat moron gets it!"

Hammer just rolled his eyes. He might have been loyal to Rodger; didn't mean he would sass him back if he had the chance. "No, that grunt meant that Anvil was shitting his pants. Believe me, I've changed them plenty of times I know what the different sounds he makes really are." He let out a growl, throwing up his hands in surrender. "Damn it I miss the days when he was able to think and change himself. It's bad enough when I have to clean his ass, it's even worse when I actually try to bathe him!" He waved his hand in front of his face in a vain attempt to rid himself of the stench.

"Moving on from Anvil's hygienic issues. All the kid had to do was heal my damn arm, and then we could have gone to Novigrad like I said." Rodger finally picked up the bottle to steady his nerve, taking a long chug until it was half gone. His hand shook as he held the bottle. The tremors of miserable fear ran through him, or maybe it was the years of alcohol and drug abuse at work. It was a wonder he could even handle a blade anymore thanks to the tremors. Age and addiction were beginning to run their course.

"Uh, but who do we know in Novigrad again?" Hammer did have a few extra brain cells, but it was rare when all of them fired simultaneously.

Rodger barked out a noise of displeasure, folding his arms as he thought. Thinking as always was never his strong suit. "I can't recall his name exactly. He was a big fat guy that would put Anvil to shame. He was bald as one of the girl's cunts. And real bad attitude! The sarcastic dick!" The light went off in his head, he banged his fist on the table with realization. "Ah, Sigi! Sigi Reuven! He'll have the deets we need!"

"But…doesn't he hate us, Cap'n? I mean, all of our contacts hate us. That's why we ain't in the guild anymore. Or the army anymore. Or with any organization no more. I think if we followed orders more. We would be sitting prettier than in this shithole. You'd still have your arm and Anvil would have his wits about him." Rodger glared at his first mate, but Hammer wouldn't back down. "I mean let's face it, you provoked that white-haired guy with two swords on Thanned. He made us look like a joke. Now that I think about it, what the kid did to us is kind of like that. We got trounced."

"Who the fuck gives a shit your opinion?" Rodger snapped, leaning forward on the table with his one arm. The threat of him reaching over to slam his head into the table was present. "The kid is dead to me now. He went off against us totally unprovoked. And even turned my own flesh and blood against me! I'll grind that little punk into the dirt!"

"Well…you did kind of let Rose get turned out. I mean, we were always off marauding, and let's face it, how much money did you actually send back to Rulid? Of course, Tamara was going to do something like this. I think that's what pissed him off more than anything else." Hammer didn't get much further before Rodger smashed his fist on the table again. Was there anything more he was capable of by this point? Hammer put up both of his hands in defense. "Hey, I'm just stating the facts boss! The bottom line is we're in a bad way. If we're going to get ours back, then we need to come up with some kind of plan." Anvil let out a muted snort of approval.

"It's a good thing planning is one of my strong suits. I'll figure out something, I always do after all." Rodger leaned back, once again taking the bottle in his hand. "It just needs a little time to percolate. You can't rush genius after all."

"I see you haven't lost your touch at all, Rodg." They jumped at the sight of Ronan melting out of the shadows. The bottle clanked on the table, and spilled out among the mess of plates of rotten food, and shitty art. He took a seat next to Rodger, looking rather ridiculous in his all-black attire, his face covered up still. "You may be a genius…a genius of procrastination. How long would you have sat here? Another day? A few weeks? A couple of months? All the while just drinking more and more. That's why you got the shaft from everyone, Rodger. You just take too long to make decisions. That's the reason why you've been consigned to this dump." He looked around, noting the uneasy looks the patrons were giving him. He leaned in, putting an arm around Rodger. There was no friendliness in his voice only cold contempt. "You're in denial, Rodger and unless someone comes along to kick you in the ass, nothing will change."

All three of them were about to get up and start a fight. But then something stopped them. It wasn't magic that froze all three of them to their seats. Just a primal sense of terror as another figure melted from the shadows. A cloak the deepest shade of crimson blood red covering his features. His face was covered by a gaunt mask forged of cold, cast iron. It resembled a hawkish skull, with some elven traces on top of it. What caught Rodger's attention the most was the new arrival's eyes, shining through the holes of the mask. A deep crystalline blue in color. This…person was a void in reality itself, an icy shadow that mocked life by taking the form of man.

"W-Who the fuck are you?" Rodger asked, eyes wide with fear. "What the fuck are you?" But the cloaked figure said nothing, his eyes shining in contempt. As if he were above the pitiful excuse of a mortal. Ronan bowed his head in deepest reverence and spoke for him, making a sweeping grand gesture.

"This is my master, the King of Worms. He has kindly offered to restore to you everything you've lost, Rodger. A chance at redemption. Provided you do something for us as well." It was a testament to the authority the King of Worms commanded to make someone like Ronan speak without his usual smarminess. "You want revenge on your errant student for snubbing your kindness. We want revenge on him for foiling our plans. In exchange, you will be given power beyond measure, the strength of ages. What do you say?" The crimson-colored being reached into the folds of his cloak, slamming something down on the table with the telltale sound of wet meat hitting wood. Hammer gasped in horrified surprise, and Anvil's eyes widened as he grunted in fear.

Rodger did both, as his legs gave out and he sank back down into his seat. He was looking at an arm, a human left arm, blood still leaking out the end. Despite not being magically inclined. Rodger had enough sense to know there was something wrong with it. Hammer and Anvil could sense it too. Written all over both their faces. Hammer tried to say something, but he was choking on his words. The arm was cursed by the darkest of magics, but at the same time, power was there. Ezra's words from earlier still rang in his head, how he had been humiliated in front of everyone. All he had to do was take it.

Ronan loved every minute of it. He let out a cruel, mocking chuckle. "I see you're still a little reluctant. So let me sweeten the deal for you." He reached into his vest pocket, producing a small flask that he forcefully put down next to the arm with a firm clank. "Just as the arm is my master's boon to you. This little decoction is mine, think of it as the gravy for the meat if you will. Utilizing both of them together means you'll be able to reduce that Ezra kid into a bloody paste, leave his body broken, and rape all of his little girlfriends before finally ripping his beating heart out of his chest!"

He put his hand on Rodger's shoulder, the one that ended in a stump. He ran a gentle finger down the empty length of the empty sleeve. "I'll tell you this much, Rodger. Don't confuse this as a deal that you refuse easily." His voice dripped a vile oil that matched the implied sinister smile he wore under his mask. "The burden of this power, the mission of taking revenge on everyone's behalf isn't something you can walk away from so easily." He sighed dramatically. "It is a dark destiny we all can't avoid having foisted on our backs."

"So we enter the calm before the storm. It makes a feel a little nostalgic, to be honest." Yuri remarked, all too familiar with such scenarios. It all seemed like so long ago when he left the capital to retrieve a simple water Blastia for the people in the lower quarter of the capital, only to get caught up in the craziest adventure he could imagine. "This is where the real start of your adventure kicked off isn't it, Ezra?"

"All too true." The Witcher stated, savoring the taste of the meat. Even as it clashed against the bitterness those particular memories up for him. "I figured we were in deep enough as is with roughing up the pirates who just sit and get drunk. But Rose wasn't going to just leave things like that. She always had to make a statement."

I woke up feeling amazingly rejuvenated. Nothing like a good rest to get your mind sharp. The sun was setting. The skies were already painted the colors of twilight. Another hour or so and we could depart. I entered the living room. I found Erik, Felecia, and Kyana all sitting around sulking. "You guys all look so enthusiastic. Laura hasn't come back yet?"

"She went to speak with her father," Erik replied with a shake of the head, making some final checks on his weapon. "I think she wanted to consult Viscount Arseid about what we should do when we reach Novigrad. She better get back soon. Otherwise, we're in deep shit."

It was then I finally noticed the conspicuous absence of a certain person I was trying to keep alive. "Guys, where is Rose?" I looked around desperately. My sense of was panic building. All my danger senses started pinging when Felecia suddenly became very interested in a spot on the ceiling. Kyana was suddenly checking her axe, and Erik just rolled his eyes. "Erik, I'm serious, where did she go?" I said with a bit more authority.

"Maybe she went to fuck a three-balled cat. I'm sure she'd find one of those easy enough." He muttered under his breath. It pains me to say this, but this marked the beginning of an ever-growing rift between Erik and I. On top of all the other issues, the poor guy had sacculated over the years. My obsession with Rose was just more than he could handle. I was about to give him a piece of my mind when the noise of shouting people came in from the open window, and…the smell of smoke and burning wood.

Felecia and I both went to the window to see what the ruckus was. Several townspeople were running down the street, yelling and pointing. Our gaze followed and my heart froze. A thick black cloud of smoke was rising in the ever-darkening sky, and I knew EXACTLY what the source of that smoke was. "We have to go now!" I barked at the others, practically kicking the door open. All three of my compatriots struggled to keep up and I came to a dead stop in front of the Blooming Datura, awash in flames.

Several of the girls were clinging onto each other, weeping at the destruction. The skimpy negligees they were wearing seemed singed by the flames when they escaped. And their faces were blackened from the ash and smoke. A part of me wanted to feel sorry for them, but at the same time, I didn't feel anything at all. All I could think of was Rose's safety. I just went up to one of the more senior girls. "What happened here?" I asked as the flames continued to leap and climb into the sky, The girl just stood, riveted she looked at what had been her livelihood, still shaken. So I took hold of her shoulders. "What happened here? Was Rose involved in this?"

The prostitute, Lily, finally regained her composure. "Y-yes. Along with that elven bitch, Indigo!" She hissed, letting out a choked sob. Clearly, neither of the girls had made many friends during their tenure at the Datura. "The two of them just barged in, demanding to the madame she hand over all of the inn's earnings. Of course, she refused that, and then Indigo stabbed her almost two dozen times. While Rose went upstairs to get the money. She started pouring liquor all over the place and told us to get out unless we didn't want to end up burned to a crisp."

Ugh, of all the ways things could have gone to shit! Apparently, my closest friends had driven off the girl who I strived so hard to rescue, and she had turned around and committed grand theft. Adding on that, Rose was also an accessory to murder and arson! "How long ago did this happen?" I had, hoping they didn't have too much of a head start on us. I just had to find her.

"About five minutes, give or take," Lily said, her face twisted with hatred through the tears that began to fall. I'm sure she was hoping I would take Rose out in revenge. The ugly, ironic truth is that I wouldn't until much, much farther in the future.

I quickly returned to the others. My displeasure was visible on my face. "It looks like we're going to need to step up our timetable a little bit. You guys may not like my decision. But Rose is someone important to me. So you are going to help me find her, no matter how you feel! We'll meet at the Maribor Gate in ten minutes! If I find Rose, I'm leaving without you." Felecia cried my name. Erik let out a grunt, mustering up a retort. I saw the disdain on Kyana's face. I didn't stay to hear any protests. I turned on my heel and bolted for the Temple Quarter, using my enhanced senses to pick up any trace of the girls' trail. "Oh, Rose," I said to no one in particular. "Why do you always have to make such reckless decisions?" A question I would ask myself many times in the future.

(At the same time, Vizima back alleys)

Rose and Indigo were hurrying to make it to the Maribor Gate as well. "Hey, you can slow down a fucking bit?" Rose whined. She was still high on the rush from the robbery itself. There was a…satisfaction to seeing the fear of all those skanks and their flaccid dicked patrons when they barged in demanding the money, they knew was upstairs in that horse-faced bitch's office. It would be a simple matter to rustle the keys from her.

Of course, she wasn't expecting her partner in crime to just flat out stab the madame in the throat…and then in the chest and the shoulders and pretty much all over her upper torso, before ripping the iron key from the chain around her neck. She had gone upstairs while Indigo 'took care of loose ends' as she put it. Rose's eyes widened at the huge sack of money when she opened the safe. Indigo's comment about living like princesses suddenly made a whole lot more sense.

Rose snatched the bag and ran downstairs, finding the Datura empty as Indigo was pouring booze all over the place. The dark elf girl smirked, chirping. "Such a good girl." She held up a flaming torch, her eyes wide with insanity. "I think it's time to close out this phase of our lives, by burning it all to the ground!" She offered it to Rose with a playful gesture. "How about you do the honors, dear?"

No prompting was needed. Rose eagerly accepted it. She looked around the Datura before taking one last look at the torch. "This place can bloom in Gehenna!" She declared, chucking the torch at the bar, causing a miniature firestorm to blossom out, quickly incinerating the chintzy lace curtains before spreading to the cheap-looking silken hangings all over the place. The alcohol doing its job better than they had expected. Before they knew it half the brothel was ablaze, and it wouldn't be long before the Blooming Datura was nothing but burned timbers and ash on the wind. It would all just be a memory now. They could start anew.

The girls legged it out of the quickly growing inferno, taking off down a side alley, a good thing because the city guard was already on the move. Which brought them to the present. The girls stuck their heads out of the alley. Finding the gate out of town right in front of them. Leaning up against the tall, stony walls was another dark elf. A burly male who was clad in simple leather armor. His biceps were nearly the size of his head. An elven greatsword was strapped to his back. "There's my man." Indigo sounded eager, licking her lips. She took Rose's hand, tugging at her. "Come on, girl. We're almost home free!" Everything seemed so perfect.

"Rose!" I called out to her as the four of us skirted around a corner. She looked less than enthused to see me, or rather my compatriots. The threats Felecia and Kyana made earlier were still quite vivid in her mind. "Rose, I'm glad you're okay." I went to approach her, only for her to slip behind Indigo's male companion, or should I say, sugar daddy? Just slightly reluctant to do so.

"You stay the fuck away from me! You don't care about me at all, you and those fucking asshats you hang out with!" I looked over at my shoulder to the Lamperouge siblings and Kyana. The trio glared so hard back at her that I was expecting arrows to shoot out of their eyes. "They wanted to put a fucking slave brand on me! You were really going to allow them to do that just because I shared my opinion!" I wheeled about fully at them with those words. A slave seal is no joke. It causes intense pain if the slave acts out against their master. Rose may have lost out when it came to booksmarts, but she could be a manipulative little cunt when she had to!

"You were going to collar her with a seal?" The anger kindled the flames inside me. I never thought such fury would be directed against people I cared about so much. But still, it was enough for me to take my focus off Rose, as she and her elven cohorts broke for freedom, running past the surprised guard. "Rose, please stop!" I called out, but they weren't listening.

We chased them out of the gate hoping we didn't lose them…or we would have if not for a final obstacle on the bridge. The drunken pirates stood there, Hammer and Anvil wielding their namesake weapons, both looking quite resigned. Unlike his minions, Rodger looked positively ecstatic, hand in the pocket of his threadbare coat. My senses were screaming at me something was wrong until I looked a little closer. Noting that two cutlasses hung from his belt, one on either hip.

He almost seemed like his old self. Until he stepped forward. The swagger in his step was far more exaggerated than normal. Not to mention the near-insane grin he wore. I could tell straight up there was something off about him. "Hello, Ezra!" Madness tinged his voice. "It wasn't enough you told me off and sent me into the bar? Now you're planning on leaving without saying goodbye. Clearly, I've failed you as a teacher, so that just means…" His grin became wider, showing yellowed, rotting teeth. "YOU HAVE TO BE PUNISHED!"

Rose wasn't sure what to make of this new development. Neither did Indigo or her boyfriend. The latter just gave the usual sneer of smug superiority that most elves wore. "Hey, why don't you get out of the way, you worthless bum?" That was as far as he got before Rodger suddenly vanished, appearing right in front of him. That insane grin grew wider, before gripping the elf's jaw and ripping it off with his bare hand, spraying blood all over his face as he laughed!

Indigo screamed at the sight of her sugar daddy flailing about, blood gushing from the orifice, his tongue impotently hanging out, but that was just the start. The laughing just grew as Rodger drew one of his cutlasses, impaling it right through the roof of the elf's mouth. "Oh yeah! I've forgotten what this felt like!" He said, bisecting the elf's skull. Fresh blood and gore spattered all over the bridge as the elf fell with a sickening thud. "The thrill of the kill! The bloodshed! This is what I lived for!" He threw back his coat, revealing his restored left arm.

"You sick fuck…" was all Rose could say to her father. Only for Indigo to wrap her arm around her neck in a chokehold while holding her dagger out in a vain attempt to threaten us. Not that any of us cared.

"Stay back! I'll kill her!" Indigo was clearly panicked at seeing her beau dead. She was trying to be threatening, but it was clear how terrified she was given her arm shook so much. "If any of you so much as twitch I'll start peeling the flesh from her very bones!" Most of the people there could have cared less about the dear Rose beside me. We were all too dumbstruck at the fact Rodger now had a full set of working limbs again.

Rodger flexed his fingers, clearly overjoyed at being able to do something so simple. Erik already had his steel greatsword out, brown eyes hardened. Felecia flicked Sword Breaker out of its sheath in a reverse grip. Kyana was already pulling the heavy saw-toothed blade from Farram's back. The faithful war hound growled menacingly. I just looked at my former master impassively, before drawing my steel sword. "I've been meaning to thrash you for a while," I said, darkly. "But humor me, Rodge. How did you do it? How did you get your arm back?"

Rodger just rolled his neck. "I don't need to explain myself when you're all going to die right here!" Another bout of sadistic laughter followed as he brandished both cutlasses. It was then I noticed something about his eyes. An inhuman red glow began to flicker there. "Now I'm going to remind all of you little shits just why I'm called Rodger Two-Hand!" Letting out a berserker roar he charged at us, Hammer and Anvil reluctantly following behind.

He came straight at me, the bloodlust within him personified by the red glow in his eyes. Both blades were razor-sharp. I was able to deflect the first strike, but winced as the second cutlass grazed the leather bracers I wore on my wrists. If I had been a couple of inches to the right, then I would have lost a hand. "How does it feel, Ezra?" He drew out my name. "You never saw me at my peak! When I was your age, I could devastate whole squads of men!"

"So, it just means you've had plenty of experience at killing those who could barely put up a fight?" I shot back, trying to get Rodger across the shoulder. But the old pirate was faster. I batted aside his left sword before using my telekinesis to knock him off balance. I ducked under his right sword and delivered a powerful elbow to his gut. "If I've learned what your biggest skill is, you're a really good liar! That whole thing about your little brother, I bet you never even had a brother. Just said that to make me feel sorry for you!"

He caught my sword between his own. I threw another powerful telekinetic burst that sent him flying back, but Rodger was quick to land on his feet. The pirate clanged his swords together, and both took on the red hue of a sword skill. I recognized it as the Skull Crosser, one of Rodger's signature techniques. I wasn't bothered, he wasn't the only one who had Sword Skills.

Assuming the stance, the steel blade also turned red, and I rushed him, priming a Sharp Nail. Rodger swung his left cutlass diagonally to the left, which I parried with my swing from the bottom right to the top left. He then came at me with his right blade in a horizontal arc, right to left, which I parried with the second swing going in the opposite direction. He then came at me with a double swing, I managed to parry the sword coming at me from the top right going down to the left. Rodger's second blade did manage to get me across the left shoulder, blood spraying out. Ignoring the pain, I cocked my foot back, kicking Rodger square in the nads.

"You feeling that one?!" I exclaimed as he doubled over, gasping in pain. Launching a stream of flames at Rodger while simultaneously healing my own wounds. I was never so grateful for Devola and Popola teaching me that particular spell. But then Rodger suddenly popped up, those eyes burning such an angry red. The twisted smile flashed with teeth. "Apparently not." I observed dryly. "Perhaps you are as formidable as you claim to be. In that case, I'll just need to heat things up!" I conjured up a pair of Chaos Fireballs, launching them at Rodger. Who cleaved through the molten balls of rock, but that was just a feint. Channeling the flames to my blade, I launched the strongest Vorpal Strike I could muster.

The tip of my blade slashed across the deranged pirate's face, and down his torso. Rodger stumbled to his knee, his hand going up to his face. The flames had cauterized the wound. He glared at me with unrelenting hatred and madness. "You and your precious fucking fire! Fine then, you're not the only one with extra power!" He reached into the pocket of his coat, pulling out a small, unassuming bottle. "It's time to take this to the next level!" He knocked it back in two chugs, a testament to his skill as a drinker I suppose. Whatever concoction he had knocked back was already taking effect. His normally lean features began to swell outward, his clothes becoming tighter by the second before his coat exploded outward in scraps of fabric.

Rodger's laughter grew more and more violent and bestial…as his skin turned bone white, black stripes running down the length of his torso. His eyes became bloodshot, the pupils lengthening, taking on serpentine features. The red glow in his eyes became ever brighter as the irises turned a deep blood red, the sclera turning the darkest black. The veins in his muscles bulged out, just barely able to contain the new strength he now wielded. The strength I had wielded in my battle with Potema when I had used the Mad Cobra. "NoW wE CAn HAvE SomE FUUNN!" Rodger's voice sounded as distorted as the Dremora we fought earlier. "I HoPE yOU cAN WitHsTANd ThIS, EZZRA!"

Anyone else would have pissed their pants at this point. I probably would have but having faced the full might of the dark tempest that was Potema the Wolf Queen. Rodger's twisted form was nothing. I simply squared my shoulders, gazing square into those ugly red eyes of his. "Ioran said it best." I simply unsheathed Imperial Fang, settling into a dual-wielding stance. "Evil always shows its true form!" Rodger had turned into a monster. Witchers existed to slay monsters, so this was just me doing my job. As I continued whacking my former master like a cheap piñata, my comrades were dealing with Tweedle Dumbass and Tweedle Fuckhead.

Hammer and Anvil had proved they were a fairly effective team, working to cover each other as they had in the swamp and beneath the villa. Thankfully without the ridiculous chant to their god. It was evident the two really did not like the change that had come over their captain, but they were duty-bound to serve him regardless. Anvil's expression was forever frozen in that twisted grimace, yet it was clear he wasn't having as much fun as he normally did, trying to ram his shield at Kyana, who expertly backflipped over the dumb idiot. Farram managed to get him on his meaty leg, causing him to let out a raspy, wordless cry.

Farram caused him to drop his shield down. Kyana took this chance, bringing her sawtooth blade down across Anvil's chest. She then used her magic to send a column of dirt and rock straight into his jaw. Stunned and bleeding, but not knocked out. He growled and whipped the side of his shield at her, only for Farram to jump in front of it to protect his mistress. This sent the loyal war hound crashing across the stone bridge, whimpering. That made her angry. She flung a knife at Anvil, plugging him in the shoulder before pulling it out in a rush of blood. "That's for my dog, you bastard!" She whipped around to kick the scarred lummox in the temple, making him collapse to the floor like a puppet with his strings cut. "And that's for the creepy looks, you perv!"

Meanwhile, Erik and Felecia were fending off Hammer, the big guy was really swinging that massive cudgel around like it was nothing. A testament to his immense strength. However, the Lamperouge siblings weren't phased in the slightest. I took moment to grin at the way Erik picked up Felecia in his free arm, hurling her at the hammer-wielding pirate. Felecia flung a thin, flat disk of whirling water. Making me think of a vortex. What caught my attention the most was how it left a shallow but precise divot in the stones of the bridge.

Hammer may have not been as smart as Rodger, but he was way more intelligent than Anvil. He saw the spinning flat whirlpool approaching and jumped to the side, it kept going through the wall, leaving a thin crevice. She grinned and winked at me. "New spell I've been working on. Aqua Disk! It's moving at such speeds it could slice you in half!" While I have little to no knowledge of water magic. I'm definitely asking her to teach me that!

A second Aqua Disk was sent out but this time, Hammer was ready, taking his giant weapon and slamming it on its side, sending it spinning end over end into the sky. He leapt up and hit it again, causing a small rainbow to form as we all got an impromptu shower. Erik came in with a Cyclone, spinning rapidly, but Hammer tanked it, swinging at the Lamperouge siblings.

Felecia ducked underneath Hammer's strike before blasting him in the face with a jet of water. This was the opening Erik needed. He swung upward with his greatsword, only for Hammer to use his mammoth cudgel to block the blade. Before ramming the hammerhead into his gut. Erik choked as he stumbled back onto the cobblestone of the bridge.

Hammer looked somewhat apologetic as he stood over Erik, his mighty weapon held overhead. "Sorry kid, nothing against you." He said, ready to crush Erik's head like a melon. Felecia sprang to her older brother's aid. Parrying the hammer strike and delivering a killer blow with the jagged edge of her Sword Breaker across Hammer's face. Yellow electricity sparked along the length of her hand as she took hold of the shaft. Hammer's eyes widened at the wicked grin on the half-elf girl.

"How about you get shocked?!" She hissed, and with that, a couple of thousand volts of electrical power traveled into the shaft. It was almost comical how Hammer twitched and convulsed about, unable to let go of the hammer because of the flow of shock magic. Before Felecia delivered a magically reinforced uppercut to his jaw, sending him tumbling head over ass and crashing to the ground. Unconscious and slightly on the crispy side. Both of Rodger's minions were down for the count.

Rodger's swings were becoming more erratic and ferocious. I was holding my own against him. But between the power provided by the arm and the variant of the Mad Cobra he had ingested. I was starting to lose ground against him when he deflected Imperial Fang. His left-hand blade was coming right at my head to slice it in half. When I heard barking and saw a brown mass latch onto it. Farram bit down hard, causing an inhuman screech to erupt from Rodger's lips. But that was the opening Kyana needed to take his back and rake the saw blade downward, blood gushing out.

Erik and Felecia attacked next, Felecia charged up her brother's blade and her own with lightning and ice respectively. All I could see was a blast of icy wind and a mass of surging yellow lightning bolts hit Rodger from both sides. Being both frozen and temporarily paralyzed barely seemed to wind him. Not to mention I could see the various wounds I had inflicted on him were beginning to close up. Clearly, this variant of the Mad Cobra also provided a fairly potent healing factor on top of it.

All four of us surrounded Rodger who looked around at us, contempt in his flaming serpentine eyes for everything we stood for. "Hope you don't mind us cutting in, Ezra. I know you want to be the one to put him down for good. But you're not the only one who has business with him!" Erik snarled, lightning still arcing off his greatsword. "We all want our pound of flesh for all the bullshit Rodger's caused us over the years!" There is no greater feeling than a sense of unity toward a common goal. Which for us meant making sure Rodger Two-Hand didn't walk off that bridge alive!

I'm not sure what Rose's feelings were at that exact moment, of course given that Indigo was choking her at the time. It was probably just to get free. Indigo was still panicked at the turn of events, riveted by the battle between us and Rodger's crew. Escape was obviously her first thought but who wanted to wade in the middle of the melee going on? Indigo's hesitation proved to be her downfall as Rose found her own wits and performed one of the basic, instinctual attacks any human could perform…she bit deep into the elf's dusky flesh. This caused her captor to scream, loosening her grip. Rose stomped on Indigo's foot, elbowing her in the face.

"You white-haired bitch!" The dagger swung, just barely catching Rose's sleeve. "This is all your fault!" Rose stumbled back, trying to avoid being sliced to ribbons by her former compatriot. "The entire plan was perfect until you showed up! You and your stupid boyfriend and that shithole of a father of yours!" There was murder in Indigo's eyes. "So I guess I'll just settle for killing you!" Rose rolled under Indigo's mad slashes, causing neat slash marks in her clothes.

"Damn it, if I only had power!" Rose cursed, wanting nothing more than to see this crazy bitch die. Her hand started tingling. She looked down to her left hand, seeing a familiar silver glow, as light blue sparks danced on her fingertips. Following her instincts, she raised her hand, causing a huge lightning bolt to whip out, hitting the crazed dark elf square in the chest. Indigo screamed in agony as the pulses tore through her body. Unlike with Hammer, there was nothing funny as she violently convulsed and writhed, beginning to rise off the ground.

Rose brought her other hand up, giving double the voltage to her former friend. The wild lightning's intensity grew further until finally, Indigo rocketed into the sky, her body rag dolled through the air before landing in the moat surrounding Vizima. She made a great splash with a resulting spout of water the height of a two-story house. If she wasn't dead from the lightning, then her hitting the water at the speed she did would have definitely been the finishing blow.

A part of her could only gape in astonishment at seeing the bolts arc off her hands. "So this is what power is like," Rose whispered in surprise, loving the feeling running through her. She cackled, quite excited now. "I think I could get used to this!" She looked to where we were squaring off against Rodger still. Her hands clenched at the sight of the monstrosity that her father had become. "No way am I missing out on teaching my old man some respect!" With no weapon besides her bare fists, Rose wasn't about to get in the middle of the clash of steel.

She stuck to the fringe of the battlefield. Trying to recount that feeling from just a few minutes before. Rose took aim at Rodger, but the maddened pirate…creature was faster, the bolt missed and nearly Kyana. It whipped into the stonework of the bridge, shattering it to rubble. The resulting hole sizzled and smoked furiously. "Watch where you're aiming those things!" She hollered, visibly flinching in surprise. Rose just flashed a fake smile back. Perhaps there was an extra bonus to this! But for now, she had to focus on hitting Rodger.

Our now five-on-one assault against Rodger was starting to bear fruit. I knew that potion's effects had to wear out eventually. All we had to do was keep beating down on him and it would leave him weakened, although if the red eyes were any indication, he would still have plenty of fight left in him. The air reeked of falling rain as Rose sent another lightning bolt that just barely avoided me, taking a chunk out of the stones. She was getting more accurate with them, but I was going to see about getting her some extra training when we got out of this alive.

"Ezra, remember what you and Leona did when we fought against Sybille for the first time?" He held up his sword, a grin flashing along his lips which I returned. We had both completely forgotten about our past differences in the heat of battle. "It's X-Strike time!" Ah yes, the X-Strike. It was one of my favorite maneuvers taught to us by Ioran and Mark. They could perform it like it was second nature. Erik and I charged our respective sword skills, green and red energy trailing behind us respectively as we came at Rodger from his left and right. One of Rose's lightning bolts finally connected with a resounding crack, catching her deadbeat fuckwad of a father square in the ass. Rodger's left cutlass whipped out to strike at Kyana who tried to come in with her saw blade. Our resident forest girl caught it on the flat side of her weapon.

Farram, having recovered from the fight with Anvil, surged in bodychecking Rodger in the side. Rose blasted Rodger again, this time joined by Felecia. The twin bolts of blue lightning hit the crazed man-beast front and back. But unlike with Hammer or Indigo, he barely registered the electric fury ripping through him. He simply flexed his arms and let out a roar, causing the lightning magic to dissipate, he primed another Skull Crosser, rushing right at Felecia, who stood defiantly.

Erik wasn't going to let him have an inch. He came in from the left, kicking Rodger in the head, following it up with a solid punch to his floating ribs. His mighty claymore swung downward, being caught by the crossed pirate swords Rodger held over his head. He swung downwards, wrenching the sword from Erik's hands, grabbing him by the throat. That's how the eldest child of the Crimson Fox found himself staring right into a pair of blazing serpentine red eyes. Not to mention getting the full-on blast of his rotting body odor.

"YoU ThINK I'M gOiNg tO Be fELled So EAsIly?" He sneered, tossing Erik to the ground before kicking him in the side a couple of times, causing him to grunt in pain as he flew across the floor with the second strike. Rose threw another lightning bolt at him, which he batted aside with one of his swords with pure force alone. It arced ineffectually into the sky with a loud crack, "aND Don'T tHiNK I'Ve fORgoTTeN AbOUT yOu! I'lL TaKE yoU oVer mY kNee SoOn EnOUgh!" His cutlasses took on a black hue as he cackled more. "aHAhaHAhaHAhahaHAHA! i'Ve BeeN SAVing tHis liTTle move foR a LoNg TImE noW! MeET tHE-!" That was about as far as he got when his whole body seized, arms twitching as he dropped his right-hand cutlass. "N-nO! noT Now!" He struggled to keep to his feet, the veins on his body surging. And his were muscles visibly spasming. "WhAT ThE…fUcK?"

I smirked a little bit because I knew exactly what was happening. The effects of the potion were wearing off. Let me tell you one as potent as the Mad Cobra always leaves you feeling half-dead, and that's someone with the blood of a Witcher. Imagine what a normal human, albeit one buoyed by whatever malady had overtaken him, would feel? Rodger thrashed about; the pain contorted his face into a mask of suffering. The stripes faded as his skin reverted to its usual shade. The serpentine features in his eyes also receded, but the brilliant red glow as still present. It was then we could a light clapping. We looked around before a dark form dropped from the city walls.

"Beautiful, just beautiful." Ronan had shown up, and he seemed absolutely delighted at the turn of events. "I have to admit, this is truly the greatest gift I could give myself! Turning master against his student, shattering bonds that were once so treasured. I live for this shit! I must give my master credit, when he comes up with a plan, he doesn't do anything by half! The Red-Eye disease is transmitted so quickly, and this genius here was desperate enough to slap an arm on him that was riddled with it! This is a lesson your master should have learned; enemies of the King of Worms always end up food for his pets. Men, Women, and Whores alike!"

His gaze flittered between me and Rose. "What are you two chuckle fuck assheads waiting for? The Mamba's Rage potion I gave him is about worn off. He's weak and vulnerable. Deliver the coup de grace." He walked over to where Rodger's cutlass was laying. 'You'll be doing the whole of Midgard a huge favor for that little service. Especially you, Rotema." He then kicked it to Rose, who clumsily caught it. "I know there's no one else who deserves the honor than the daughter he neglected for so long."

"RONAN, YOU FUCKING TRAITOR! I'LL CARVE YOU TO PIECES!" Rodger roared, lunging at the masked agent. Even as his body was falling apart, he willed himself to strike down the man who screwed him over. But it just so happened that Rose and I were in his path. I just had to look to Rose for a second, who nodded. We moved in perfect synchronicity. Our blades gleamed with mana as we delivered a picture-perfect double Vertical swing that relieved Rodger of both his arms, which splattered blood across the bridge, and his second blade, which spiraled off into the water below. Ronan put the exclamation point on it by taking his oversized boomerang sword, cleaving off Rodger's legs, leaving him limbless, blood gushing out onto the cobblestones. Forget Roger Two-Hand. He was Rodger No-Limbs now!

"Boss!" We turned to see Hammer and Anvil, just regained consciousness. Both utterly were horrified. Neither of them ever thought their captain could be felled. But it had happened. We all stood over him. If Rodger wasn't pathetic before, now he was truly a pitiful sight to behold. I noticed the red in his eyes fade away entirely. He looked like how he did when I first walked into the Datura all those weeks ago, but now even more of a broken shell of a wretch. We all surrounded him, just taking in the sight. He looked at both Rose and I and seemed genuinely saddened.

"Rosie." It was a herculean effort to just move his lips. "Oh, I can't believe it's come to this. I never wanted it to be this way. I just wanted to be myself again. To be someone that people respected. My precious daughter. Can you ever forgive me?" Rose knelt down as if to give her father some final words. She then hawked back and spat right in his face. Well, who saw that coming from a mile away? Oh wait, I did. Ronan thought it was funny if the way he was slapping his knee was any indication.

"Fuck you, old man! This is all your fault, and you know it! You should have been protecting me, but instead, you were always off pillaging, fucking, getting drunk, or high. Really it was probably a combination of all of that shit! If you had used your head instead of your cock, then you wouldn't be lying here dying. Would you, Daddy?" She said that last part mockingly. "You're not my father…just the fucking sperm donor. I'm sure the old lady will be happy to see you, she died not long after I was sold to Horseface so you can do it down there!"

She kicked Rodger in the side, eliciting more laughter from Ronan and silent tears from her father. "I'm fucking done with you and so is everyone else. Your corpse can rot in an open hole in the ground, and your soul can rot in Gehenna. You were an absolute waste of space, so spend the rest of eternity knowing that your little girl won't be a whore the rest of her life!" Rose spat on him one more time, and kicked him in the side once more for good measure. Ronan clapped madly, which just made Rose more irritated. "What are you so goddamn happy for?" She asked as he came up.

"Oh, I'm sorry, but I can't help if I want an encore!" He was barely containing his glee, placing a hand on his heart. "My dear Rotema, you said exactly what I have been feeling. I couldn't have put it better myself! Truth is, this was never about you guys. It was all about him!" He pointed at Rodger, his purple eyes alight with disdain. "Your loving father was my target from the very beginning! He really should have been a little more cautious about picking the monkey's paw." He picked up the disembodied arms, waving them around animatedly. His disembodied limbs came down, pointing directly at Rodger with both index fingers jutting out for emphasis. "Because that's what this was Rodger buddy! You of all people should know there's a price for power! Because it's delicious. THIS! IS! EXACTLY! WHAT! I! WANTED!"

He cackled more, whipping the arms around wildly. "Who says revenge is best-served cold? Fuck that! It's blazing hot, spicy ghost pepper levels of motherfucking inferno irony! Five alarms dangerous and ready to serve from the greatest depths of Gehenna itself for all your family, friends, and allies of choice! Eat hardy bitches!" Ronan threw his arms up, sending Rodger's right arm into the river below with a hardy splash. It is highly ironic that the hands that harassed Indigo on a daily basis would end up in the drink with her.

Rose just looked at him for a long moment, before realization dawned on her. Her expression twisted in rage. "Who the fucking shit asked your opinion! Could you stay out of this heartfelt moment, you fuck!" Ronan just cackled once more in response. Rose dismissively gestured towards her torso of a father. "With my deadbeat, piece of shit old man!" Rodger flailed about on the ground, letting out a pained tearful cry.

I stepped in front of Rose, wielding both swords. I leveled one at Ronan. Rose joined me without hesitation, mirroring my gesture. Somehow, we both shared a smile as we glanced at each other. "Yeah! Considering you're the one who set up this whole mess, you'll be joining him soon enough! Right guys?!" I said as Erik and the rest of the crew, and even Hammer and Anvil stepped up to join me. Maybe those two dumb lummoxes had their uses after all. Ronan looked around, despite his face being hidden by that stupid hood it was clear the smugness was fading. He was outnumbered and he knew it.

He managed a weak chuckle. "Well, it looks like I'm in a bit of a bind here. But one thing I pride myself is on being an escape artist." He pulled out a knife and began carving weird symbols into Rodger's arm. "And we escape artists always have an extra trick or two up our sleeves!" He hopped onto the bridge rail, sending us a devilishly playful wink. "Hey, Rodger! Let me introduce you to my pet! Be careful, though!" He chucked the limb, so it landed in the puddle of blood that was Rodger's lifeblood. "He has no gag reflex!" The limb started glowing red, and I saw a magic circle form, with Rodger in the middle. My eyes widened in terror.

"Crap, that's a demon summoning circle! Haul it now!" None of us needed any further encouragement. All of us retreated from the immediate area, leaving Rodger to his fate. An earsplitting bellowing sounded that I can best describe as the cross between a dragon and an elephant shattered the air as Ronan's 'pet' came through the veil between realities. The poor sky pirate could only scream in terror as he was caught up in the wide reptilian jaws of a demonic crocodilian, long claws able to rend a soul to pieces with little effort. "That's a Daedroth!" I shouted; my eyes were riveted on what happened next.

"Boss!" Hammer screamed, desperately reaching out for his captain.

"HELP ME!" Were Rodger's last words before the disembodied torso was flipped into the air and crushed by the pressure of the beast's jaws clamping together, ending the life and legacy of the once-mighty sky pirate. Ronan had used the distraction to make his escape. His lips twisted into a grin behind the tight leather mask, giving a two-finger salute before diving backward into the water with an impressive acrobatic flip. I'd give it a 4.5 out of 10. What can I say? I'm a critic. Especially of demented fucks who attempt to murder me repeatedly.

Rose went to chase after him with her father's cutlass in hand, clearly, incensed she'd didn't get to deliver the death blow herself. But I yanked her by the arm to keep her from meeting her dad's fate. The Daedroth nearly shredded her to pieces with its dark claws if not for that.

Hammer and Anvil both showed their true worth when they looked at each other in abject terror. They dropped their weapons and scrambled back into the city, screaming bloody murder. At least Hammer did, Anvil just let out a low whining sound. "Well, they were useful for all of two seconds!" Erik groaned, not amazed at their cowardice in the slightest. "But I shouldn't be surprised, the two of them are just cowards without Rodger around!" I threw up a telekinetic barrier to keep us safe. The monster beat on it while bellowing the whole time. I winced at every hit, straining to keep it from collapsing on us as my barrier cracked underneath the force of its terribly mighty blows.

I couldn't help but wince at the sight of what used to be my teacher, now just a puddle of blood on the stones. All the while the beast continued to beat on the barrier. The oversized demonic crocodile was a truly gruesome sight to behold up close. Intriguing in its own disturbing way. "I think it's safe to say he's not coming back from that!" Felecia remarked, not sad to see him gone. "There's no spell that could stick him back together after that."

"Uh, can we discuss this when we're not in danger of becoming gator chow ourselves?" I grunted forcing all my mental discipline in trying to keep us from dying. "This crest is impressive, but I can't keep this up forever. I'm not an archmage like my mom or Triss or Keira!" It looked pretty bleak for us. But luckily, we didn't have to wait for our backup to come. What can I say about performers? They love making a big entrance. A pair of brightly colored wagons rolled up. I could hear the sound of a lute strumming on the air. Dandelion sat shotgun on the first wagon, holding a lute in his hands. He strummed his lute in a grand gesture, sending out a pleasant noise into the evening. It was the one pleasant thing to my ears all this nasty evening.

"Greetings young adventurers!" He announced heroically, "fear not, for the heroes have arrived to relieve you of these filthy vermin!" I couldn't help but grin at Dandelion's sudden appearance. This was why he was one of the best Bards in all of Midgard. A boomerang with tassels arced through the air, catching the monster in the snout, it cut into its scaled hide with a spray of dark ichor. The beast raged with an indignant howl. I looked and saw Noa and Fianna approaching, the rest of the Scattered Feathers at their backs, all armed to the teeth.

The former dressed in a stripped-down version of her attire from earlier, minus the skirt and stockings and the lacy extensions on her sleeves. She deftly caught the boomerang from the air, tapping it on the shoulder. Fianna herself was in a red tunic under a black long-sleeved jacket and white pants, a pair of ornate steel daggers clenched in each hand. "Hope you don't mind us crashing the party?" She flashed a smile and winked at me. Then, she saw the monster and whistled shrilly. "Ooh, a Daedroth? I haven't slain one of those in a long time! I hear croc meat is quite tasty!"

The creature turned around to face the new arrivals. Fianna just smirked, looking just as hungry as she did when pursuing whatever cute girl caught her fancy. Noa's face carried its usual mix of dour seriousness, but there was a cold gleam in her eye that wasn't present when I met her earlier in the day. These were the eyes of a trained killer. Noa continued marching forward while Fianna hung back when two of the instrumentalists came up with bows. I heard her say to the driver. "Keep that weapon handy. I'll play it by ear for right now!" Before she brandished her knives with a smarmy grin and darted into the fray.

Noa opened the fight by bringing her left hand up, the index and middle finger extended, and chopping downwards to the left. A crackling black sphere of energy formed over the monster's head, all the while a slowly expanding circle of darkness appeared on the ground, causing cracks all along the pavement. Her eyes blazing in concentration, Noa brought up her other hand, mirroring the gesture, touching her fingertips together just in front of her eyes, rotating them counterclockwise. The ball exploded out in all directions, and the Daedroth's bellowing halted as it was slammed into the bed of the bridge, cracks staring out in every way.

The Gator Demon grunted as it tried to stand up, but Noa was quicker on the draw, clapping her hands together while interlacing her fingers. This caused a massive dark circle of energy to rise up from the ground, holding the Daedroth in place. It roared again, angry reddish-orange flames belching out from the depths of its ugly gullet. Noa didn't blink, slamming her fists together and the circle of energy crushed the beast in. She brandished her boomerang, tossing it at the monster once more.

I couldn't help but whistle in surprise. "So, she uses gravity magic?" Felecia looked at me questioningly. "That's a hard bit of spellwork to learn. Almost as much as the Chaos Pyromancy, I learned from the Twins." But Noa wasn't done showing off just yet. The boomerang cracked the Daedroth in the snout once more. The girl ran straight at the beast, springboarding off its giant snout to catch it. She tugged on the solid tassels, revealing a pair of short, single-edged swords. The weapons emanated a brilliant yellow glow and Noa slashed four times in quick succession, cutting across the monster's head and nose. "Go, Fianna!" She cried.

And go she did! Fianna didn't have any magic, but really she didn't need it. Just her blades and her own natural athleticism. For starters, Fianna was a speed demon! Literally ran circles around the oversized dragon wannabe, while striking whenever she could. When the Daedroth tried snapping at her, she backflipped out of the way. Before lunging forward to strike the monster right in the jaw where Noa had earlier. Yeah, that hurt a bit! She wore a sneer Rose would be proud of. "Try this on for size!" Her blades took on an emerald hue, repeatedly stabbing the monster leaving after images that faded into an illusion each time the devil attempted to strike at her. "Thousand Blades!"

The roar of agony from the beast said enough about the intensity of Fianna's technique. But the demon was quick to recover. Those ugly, blackened claws just nearly missing her jacket. Noa clapped her hands together again, the gravity circle pressing in on the beast. I was looking right into the depths of the Daedroth's jaws, seeing the familiar sign of fire gathering. Having recovered my strength some. I decided it was time to interject myself in the fight, Imperial Fang in hand. But it wasn't fire or telekinesis I would utilize here. I pointed two fingers at the ground, causing a slight tremor as I stomped my foot to the ground with authority.

A clenched fist of rock and dirt erupted through the bridge, decking the Daedroth right on the schnoz! I let my fang of silver taste blood, stabbing deep into the monster's scaly hide, just above its right leg before I swept upward in a vertical butterfly kick, getting him right under the chin. While still in midair, I swung Imperial Fang twice, the enchanted silver managing to get past the highly magic-resistant scales to the flesh below. But this was just the beginning. Lightning crackled on Imperial Fang as I swung four times to create an eight-pointed star, and swung upwards. "Bolt Tempest!" I cried as I was carried up in the sky by the strength of my magically enhanced jump.

In a second, I was struck by genius. I drew my steel blade, drawing all the lightning into myself, reading for the blow that would finish this! "TEMPEST DRAGON ROAR!" My voice echoed off the walls of Vizima as the golden projection of a dragon's head formed around me as I swung both my blades at the same time, cleaving the Daedroth's head clean from its body, I landed in a crouch, looking over my shoulder to where the demon's corpse was already beginning to turn to ash and fade away. I could feel the fires inside the depths of my soul burn in triumph.

I saw Fianna looking at me with those hungry eyes. "Now that was sex incarnate!" She cried, and I couldn't help but think she was right. I hadn't just defeated Rodger; I had brought down a Daedric crocodile. I could feel its soul broken down into its constituent atoms, creating crimson magic particles in the air. A huge gust of wind exploded out in all directions as the Daedroth's soul became fuel for my crest and a part of my being. The air crackled with mana as my entire body was aglow with pure power! I felt like I had conquered the entire world in a single moment.

The sheer power was pure ecstasy! Even after being slathered in blood, and caked in dirt and grime, I was totally revitalized! The High King, Georg, and the rest of the Order were just ants to crush under my foot…To be honest I think I had let my new power go to my head just a little bit. However, can you blame me for being a little power-drunk at that moment? Especially after the affirmation of a total sex pot like Fianna? The acknowledgment of a beautiful woman is just the capper on the high. I just stood there; arms outstretched while still looking like I crawled through a year's worth of shit.

Felecia nervously stepped forward, eying me with great concern. "Uh, Ezra, are you okay?" She asked cautiously, worry coloring her voice. I just turned to face her. My eyes slightly glazed over as I reached up to brush her cheek. "Oh, my sweet little half-elf cutie." Her cheeks flushed up, as I raised Imperial Fang to the sky as it glinted in the moonlit evening. I felt the spring-wafted breeze against my face. Everything simply felt…right. And I was on top of the entire world. "All I'm feeling right now is the pleasantness of this world… Throughout the heavens and earth… I alone…am the honored one!" I posed with my blade dramatically. Wow, I think I hung around Dandelion TOO much! That or it was all the demons I inexplicably chowed down on!

We could hear the sound of the guards approaching, their armor clattering with every step. Our little fracas with the pirates and later Ronan's demonic pet certainly drew more attention than we expected. Everyone was starting to get nervous. "I believe it's time to hit the dusty trail children!" Dandelion called out, desperately tugging at his ascot. Despite the clear spring breeze, he was beginning to sweat. "I know their type all too well, they get off on putting hapless artists like us behind bars just for expressing ourselves!" Erik and Kyana needed no further prompting, hopping into the back of the second wagon. "Quickly Young Ezra! We can't stay here!" Dandelion pleaded with me, to where I was still basking in my own greatness.

Felecia tugged on my sleeve. "Ezra, please, we have to go or we're going to end up in King Foltest's dungeon!" But I was rooted to my place on the bridge, my arms STILL outstretched. According to her, my eyes were blazing with mana at that moment. The Daedroth was the final push beyond my endurance for all that mana. I stabbed Imperial Fang into the ground in defiance of all sense, and reason.

"But my sweet ocean flower. You're wrong! Your King is right here! Forget Foltest! Forget Potema! Forget Hawthorne! Fuck Emhyr even! I'll turn his own flames upon him, and burn him to cinders on the barrows of my enemies as we waltz among the ashes of the old order! They aren't the true rulers of this realm! Cast your false lords aside into the deepest pit! I am the one who sits on the throne of this grand nation!" I threw back my head and looked to the skies with my arms outstretched. I saw the moon, and the stars glistening above us. All I felt was the desire to make the universe itself all mine. That was right, they all belonged to me as the goddess intended! "Embrace me, people of Vizima, Temeria, and all the lands beyond! I AM the one! Only my pleasure and displeasure exist in all the heavens! Ego eimi! I am the truly Great I Am!" It would probably have been badass if I didn't look like such a psycho while reciting it.

WHAP! Cue Rose wrenching Imperial Fang from where I had impaled it into the ground and smacking me over the head with it. "Are you quite finished, dummy?" She asked spitefully, pushing the sword back into my hands. "Because some of us actually like our freedom and don't want it to end so quickly!" I winced as the energy inside me died down. The sting of the blow and the warm feeling of blood against my brow was what brought me from heaven crashing all the way back down to earth! At least it wasn't any lower. She grabbed me by the arm and dragged me into the wagon, Felecia right behind us. "So let's get the fuck out of here while we still have our asses!"

Fianna hopped up next to Dandelion while Noa took the reins. A snap and we departed just as the guard arrived to see what had caused all the carnage. Really glad I wasn't going to have to foot the bill on that one. Let's face it, the bridge had been torn up considerably by all the magic slung around, and let's face it, how difficult is it to get blood out of those stones? Vizima was now behind us and Novigrad was ahead. I was that much closer to finding my mother. The end of one arc had come and now the new one would begin.