POV Aiden A few weeks after Queen Calanthe’s escapade at the warehouse where I’d been held with Ciri, my request to become Ciri’s servant had been granted a way, at least, to have some kind of anchor in this foreign world.
Because yes, I’d finally accepted that I wasn’t really in my own world anymore.
After all, watching Mousesack cast spells to make trees grow, or taking in the technology level of this medieval era, I understood more and more that I must have fallen into one of those fantasy worlds you hear about in video games or whatever else.
For now, having taken up my duties as the princess’s servant, I’d been taught proper court manners.
Ciri openly mocked me whenever I still couldn’t manage a proper bow, or didn’t know how to eat “the right way.” Justice had eventually been served, though: I’d deliberately left her alone to face her governess, despite her best abandoned-puppy look.
She had only herself to blame for mocking me her governess was an elderly woman, and terrifyingly strict, to put it politely.
A few days earlier, I’d also made a particular request to the queen, during an audience.
— Flashback POV Calanthe I studied the young man kneeling before me in the throne room.
Honestly, I wasn’t even sure myself yet whether I wanted him at my granddaughter’s side.
That damned destiny already tying her to that witcher irritates me to no end; I couldn’t help thinking it was destiny itself smirking at me again, sending this young man my way.
But even with my doubts, I couldn’t let my paranoia about fate alone decide his future.
I spoke calmly, seated on my throne: “I’m listening, Aiden.
Mousesack tells me your studies in potion-making, and in general, are going well but he also said you had something to ask me.” Aiden nodded, lifted his gaze slightly, and said respectfully: “Your Majesty, I would like, if possible, to be trained with a sword.” I studied him in silence for a moment, then simply said: “Why?
You could live your whole life without ever fighting.
My granddaughter is already well protected by our guards why would you need protection too, given your position?” Aiden nodded, but answered sincerely: “I know that, Your Majesty, and I truly appreciate that Her Highness Ciri gives me so much importance, but…” I saw him lower his head slightly, then answer in a tone so direct it caught me off guard especially when he raised his eyes to meet mine again.
For a moment, he reminded me of my late husband, the day he told me he would defend Cintra against Nilfgaard.
“But I want to be able to fight, to protect what I want to protect, and never again find myself in that state of weakness starving, unable to defend myself.
Her Highness is right: if I have to die one day, it’s better to die with a sword in hand than to beg my enemies for mercy.” I studied him after those words.
Honestly, he kept surprising me.
He couldn’t have been more than two or three years older than Ciri still just a child.
It’s in moments like these that I regret we don’t live in a world where children’s innocence could simply be allowed to last.
I sighed and said: “Very well.
You’ll be trained as a soldier, but you’ll continue to fulfill your duties as my granddaughter’s servant, and continue assisting Mousesack he speaks very highly of you.” End of flashback — POV Aiden Remembering that, I sighed softly as I finished my potion a mix of ghoul glands and wolfsbane, meant for a wound-healing balm following Mousesack’s recipe book laid open beside me.
Then his voice came from behind me, in that teasing, uncle-like tone he often used: “Brooding like an old man now, are you?
Keep that up and you’ll grow a beard like mine before your time.” I laughed lightly, finished the potion, and turned to face him: “No, I’ll be fine, Mousesack.
I think I’ll manage I’ve still got plenty of years ahead of me, unlike you, right?” He laughed in turn and examined the potion: “Teasing me about my age, you little brat?
Anyway, your potion’s not half bad.
You let it simmer a bit too long and the fire wasn’t hot enough, but it’s not bad at all.” I sighed, a little frustrated, and Mousesack ruffled my hair, saying: “Stop sighing, you sound like an old man.” Then he stepped away for a moment, picked up a sword wrapped in cloth, and came back toward me.
“I know you’re starting training with the soldiers this afternoon, so I made you a little gift.” I froze, feeling the weight of the sword in my hand a one-handed blade and said, uncertain: “Mousesack, you didn’t have to…” But he cut me off with a smile: “Don’t thank me, I mean it, it’s my pleasure.” Then, more softly: “Honestly, I’d have preferred you stay a simple assistant, live a peaceful life at Ciri’s side.
But we live in dark times, unfortunately, and if this sword and this training can help you survive and protect Ciri, then that will be thanks enough.” I looked at him I knew he meant it and fastened the sword to my waist, saying with conviction: “I promise to protect Ciri.” He laughed softly: “That’s good, but protect your own life too, all right?
There are people who care about you now, Aiden.
Goodbyes are easy to say farewells never are.” A few hours later, under pouring rain, I kept working through sword drills alongside the other soldiers, paying no mind to the wind or the downpour.
I was entirely focused on the swing of the blade.
My hand ached terribly and I was exhausted after the laps around the field, when Commander Albert shouted: “Halt, recruits!
Real combat drill pick up the blunted swords.
Aiden, get over here!” I froze for a moment I’d only just started training today then nodded and ran to grab a blunted sword before taking my place in front of the commander.
He had an imposing build and a scar on his chin; he was from Ard Skellig, an island to the north, and, from what I’d heard, a sworn brother-in-arms of the queen’s late husband.
Commander Albert took his stance; I did the same.
Without warning, he struck with his sword.
I tried to parry, but between the strength of a boy who, just weeks earlier, had been nothing but skin and bones, and the strength I had now, there was no contest: I ended up flat on the ground, the blow landing on my arms, my body driven into the mud.
I spat out the dirt that had gotten into my mouth, my body caked in mud, and the commander, unmoved, simply said: “Get up.” Paying no attention to the other soldiers’ stares, or to the queen watching from her study window, alongside Mousesack and Ciri the latter having snuck out to watch me, wanting to intervene, held back just in time by Mousesack.
— POV Ciri Sneaking out through my bedroom window, I landed in the laundry room, eager to see Aiden!
We’d soon be able to train together in secret.
But when I opened the door, I froze, finding Mousesack there, an amused smile on his face.
“Sneaking out again?
The queen won’t be pleased.” I pouted: “I don’t care about Grandma!
You’re not going to stop me from watching Aiden train!” He shrugged: “I’m not stopping you I’m coming with you.” Surprised, I’d expected him to force me back to my room for my sewing lesson or whatever else.
A little embarrassed, I simply said: “Then follow me!” Arriving at the training grounds, I saw the soldiers practicing in the pouring rain, Aiden among them.
I pointed at him: “Mousesack, look!” He nodded, but his gaze drifted instead toward the other soldiers, and he sighed.
I couldn’t understand why he was sighing like that.
I kept watching Aiden until the drill with the commander began and when I saw him violently thrown to the ground, into the mud, I wanted to rush forward, shouting: “Let go of…” But Uncle Mousesack stopped me: “No, Ciri.” I glared at him, furious: “But you can clearly see it’s a massacre!
He just started!” He shook his head: “No.
Albert isn’t like that.
But he’s seen, same as I have, the looks on the other soldiers’ faces.” I didn’t understand, and looked at the other soldiers myself all I saw was contempt and jealousy, but I couldn’t figure out why.
He was just a child, after all… As if he’d heard my thoughts, Uncle Mousesack went on, his eyes still fixed on the fight as Aiden got back up: “To become one of the queen’s soldiers, you have to go through countless trials and years of experience.
And here comes a simple child, asking to be trained, and getting it right away.
A lot of them see that as favoritism as unfair.” I looked at him, furious: “But he saved my life!” He looked at me gently: “For many of them, that’s not enough.
They see it as a child’s whim.
It’s up to Aiden to prove his determination that’s exactly what Albert is trying to show the other soldiers.
And besides, Ciri trust Aiden.
Even if it doesn’t always show, that boy isn’t simple either.” — POV Aiden I spat blood after the sixth fall, my face pressed into the dirt.
I was filthy from head to toe, and the other soldiers’ contemptuous stares hurt worse than the blows themselves.
As I tried to get up, the commander said coldly: “Stay down.
Soldiering isn’t for you, kid.” He was already moving to restart the drill with the others.
I was still lying in the filthy mud, under the pounding rain.
And what if it was true?
Was I just a fool for thinking I could be some kind of hero?
I laughed bitterly.
You think you’re a hero just because you saved Ciri once?
I looked at the commander and, without quite knowing why, I smiled, then flung a handful of dirt in his face.
The whole courtyard froze.
The commander stared at me.
I got back up, wincing in pain, and said: “I don’t care what you think, you bastard!” An even heavier silence fell over the yard, the other soldiers frozen like silent spectators.
I didn’t care.
I dragged my sword toward me, picked it up, and said: “I don’t care if you look down on me!
I don’t care if I have to fall a thousand times!
You’re right I’m not a soldier.
But I will become one.
And I’ll prove to every last one of you sons of bitches that even a kid can do better than you!” I sprinted at him, sword ready.
Honestly, I was completely lost in the fight itself, letting pure instinct guide my movements.
The commander knocked my sword aside with a powerful strike but that wasn’t really my plan.
The instant he thought I’d try to parry again, I deliberately let go of my weapon, slid under his guard through the mud, and snatched the knife strapped to his leg on the way.
Once behind him, I lunged, trying to stab him between the shoulder blades.
But he spun around sharply and sent me flying with a kick.
I still had time to throw the knife, which grazed his cheek and drew blood.
Then I felt darkness take me, right as a blow landed on my chest.
— POV Albert Without quite realizing it, I was smiling as I felt the blood trickle under my fingers, along my cheek.
A kid had just managed what no soldier in training ever had: made me bleed.
I saw the princess dash across the mud, her dress soaked, rushing toward Aiden.
Mousesack arrived a moment later and lifted the boy up with a spell, then nodded in my direction with a smile as if to thank me.
I understood he’d realized what I’d done.
Honestly, I didn’t enjoy handling it that way, but it was necessary.
It had also been the queen’s request ironically, she wanted him to forget his own heroics from the rescue.
After all, arrogance is common enough in the young after they pull off something heroic.
But this kid… he had real talent.
And that look in his eyes, burning with determination I was going to genuinely enjoy training him.
I turned to the other soldiers, all frozen in place, and said coldly: “What are you all still standing around for, you bunch of cowards?
A kid just outdid you all by making me bleed how does it feel, being outclassed by a child?
Back to training, now!” The soldiers resumed their drills with the blunted swords.
I hoped it would at least wake them up, and that they’d remember a child, even a young one, could prove dangerous.
As I sighed, rubbing my back, I froze: my tunic had been sliced open, a thin trickle of blood seeping through.
That kid had managed, in a split second, to drive his knife slightly into my back, despite what was probably a broken arm and even after that, he’d still had the strength to throw it.
Brilliant.