Chereads / Assassin in The Witcher / Chapter 98 - Family Game

Chapter 98 - Family Game

Jacob runs in the garden of his house. The garden is divided into three sections. There's a relaxation area with dark, white wood garden furniture. The second part is a planter for harvesting vegetables, while the last part is a play area for Jacob.

The play area contains a miniature wooden horse, a swing, a slide, and an Assassin's course. The course consists of an obstacle course, but in an Assassin's version, with tree climbing, a leap of faith into lots of hay, mannequin assassination, you shoot...

Jacob stands in front of Saibus and Yennefer, who looks at him.

"So, what do you want to play?" asks Saibus, looking at his nephew.

"We're playing tag," replies Jacob, excited to be playing with the two of them.

"Fine, but let me change my outfit." Yennefer then covers himself in magic, and a violet light envelops him before disappearing. Yennefer is now in black leather pants with a black top, too.

(Yennefer clothing)

"Well, now that I'm changed, do you want to play tag? Isn't that a bit unfair on Jacob?" questions Yennefer.

"No, don't forget that Jacob is a Blood, a real little assassin and a master in the making," replies Saibus.

"Yes, and if you succeed, you're entitled to a reward." Jacob waves his arms.

"Oh, there's a prize. And what's that?" declares Yennefer as she walks towards the playground with her nephew and husband.

"Chocolate with milk!" declares Jacob seriously, already preparing to win for his reward. At the same time, Yennefer is surprised by the reward and smiles at Jacob's cute expression.

"Fine, but we need to establish some rules before we get started."

"Rules?" interlocks Yennefer, looking at Saibus in surprise.

"What for?" complains Jacob.

"To prevent ruining the game, and you' 're not lucky to get your chocolate."

"Why?" not understanding why he can't get his treasure.

"Jacob, we're not just your aunt and uncle. Yennefer is a powerful magician, and I'm a Council member and a mage. We can easily complete the course. So we have to limit ourselves so you can at least see us beat you." instructed Saibus to Jacob.

"Oh, I forgot." smiled Jacob innocently.

"Here, the rules."

"Jacob has the right to use any means to catch us."

"Yennefer can only use simple spells."

"I'm not allowed any magic, and I can't stand in places inaccessible to you."

"Sounds good to me.

"Yes, yes, we can start." declares Jacob as he touches Yennefer's leg and takes off running.

"You're the cat!" he shouts, running as fast as he can.

Yennefer looks at Saibus, who is also looking at her. Yennefer reaches out to touch Saibus' shoulder, but Saibus steps to the side. Yennefer's arm is outstretched. The two continue to stare at each other. Yennefer takes a step with his arm still outstretched. Saibus takes a step backward. The two walk mechanically like this, accelerating gradually until Saibus turns and runs.

"Saibus, come back. Don't you want to take your wife in your arms?" asks Yennefer sensually.

"No, thanks, I'd rather have chocolate and milk." cheekily replies Saibus with a smirk that, unfortunately, or fortunately for him, Yennefer can't see.

"Saibus! How dare you! You're sleeping out of the room tonight."

"We'll see about that; so far, your threats have never come true." retorts Saibus, not taking his wife's threat seriously.

"Damned murderer," swears Yennefer.

"Easy on the words, there's a child among us," replies Saibus.

"Don't worry, uncle, mommy screams more than Auntie." Yennefer and Saibus turn to the right to see Jacob sitting on the house's roof.

"A real little Assassin. Leave some room for your uncle," Saibus sprinted towards the house.

"I don't think so." declares Yennefer, running towards Saibus. Roots emerge from the ground and hurl themselves at Saibus.

Saibus skillfully dodges the roots. Continuing towards his house, he quickly reaches it, pursued by Yennefer and the roots.

"Is that a novice spell?" asks Saibus as he climbs the house.

"Yes, an earth spell. The Prison of Talfryn. And this one is Ice Area." replies Yennefer as she creates an ice area on the house wall, making it slippery.

Saibus' hand slips, but he uses his experience to save himself from the roots, even though he feels a sudden temperature rise.

"Auntie, no!" A shout from Jacob lets him know that Yennefer is a sore loser.

SPIIIICHT

A screen of steam engulfs the area. Saibus jumps from his grip on the ground and feels a delicate hand rest on his shoulder.

"Are you trying to kill your husband?" asks Saibus.

"No, you know I'd never hurt you. You're my world. But as you know, I'm a terrible player. Besides, you didn't get anything from my little Aenye, " Yennefer smiles.

"Yes, lucky for you you didn't destroy the wall, or Trinity would have killed you."

"No, she wouldn't have done anything to me. Anyway, you would have taken the fireball and not the wall."

"You'll do anything to win."

"Always my darling." declares Yennefer as she walks away with the wind. The wind created by Yennefer then dissipates the steam. Saibus finds himself alone at the foot of the house while Yennefer runs towards the playground, and Jacob is still above the house, leaning over the roof, standing at the edge to observe what's going on.

Saibus raises his head and looks at Jacob. "Well, big boy, are you ready to run?"

"I'm waiting for you, Uncle." laughs Jacob as he turns around.

Saibus then climbs the house without hurrying. He reaches the top and sees Jacob running on the other side of the house. Saibus runs and jumps off the roof without worrying about the height. He lands on the ground with a roll, landing directly on his possessions and retaining some of his inertia. He pursues the little assassin towards the forest.

"You run fast for someone who's got all that paraphernalia on him," Saibus remarks to his fugitive.

"Dad taught me how to run in assassin's gear a few weeks ago. Since then, I've been training every day," replies Jacob, who is beginning to run out of breath.

Saibus gradually gains ground on Jacob, who takes shorter strides and has less endurance than a grown man. Jacob finally slows down and stops beside a tree.

"I...can't...run. More...breath." Jacob leans close to the tree and takes a deep breath.

Saibus approaches him and crouches down. "Are you okay? Do you want to take a break?

"No. I..catch..my..breath...and you run away," Jacob replies, gradually recovering his breath.

"Yes, sir. You ran long enough at full speed, though. Good for you.

"Thank you. Run, I'm coming."

Saibus obeyed his nephew's indication and ran toward the house so as not to stray too far. Jacob trots after him so as not to strain and have to stop again. Saibus circles in the forest near the house, with Jacob in pursuit and Yennefer cheering him on.

Time goes by, and Jacob has been chasing Saibus for ten minutes. The latter has gone to a branch of a small tree. "Darling, you're cheating; Jacob can't go up there," says Yennefer.

"No, I know he can climb that branch. I'm training him on the course," Saibus replies confidently.

Yennefer then looks at Jacob. "Do you want to touch me and have me take him down?" she asks.

"No, thanks, Auntie. I can ride, but I won't. I'd rather make him come to me." replies Jacob, smiling at Yennefer.

He then pulls out several wooden throwing knives. "You're not going to throw knives at me? Would you hurt your favorite uncle?" asks Saibus with false sadness.

"Don't worry, uncle, they're fake; they won't hurt you. And I remind you that you're my ONLY uncle." declares Jacob, throwing his knives in a horizontal line.

Saibus looks at the throwing knives and leaps into the air. He catches them so he doesn't have to search for them in the forest. He lands on the branch in his original position. "I can dodge high up if you block my right and left."

Jacob has a grim look on his face. He didn't think his plan would fail. "Don't make that face; you can try again." Saibus throws the knives at Jacob's foot. The knives sink into the ground. Jacob picks them up.

He takes something from his bag, a small piece of flower. He hangs a flower on each knife as Saibus and Yennefer look on questioningly.

"Little bear, what do you want to do with these flowers?" she whispers after casting an anti-noise spell.

"It's a surprise," replies Jacob with a smile. "Auntie, why do I see Uncle complaining but can't hear him?"

"I've placed an anti-listening zone around us."

"Isn't that against the rules?"

"No, because it's your uncle who suffices the spell. Besides, a magician always breaks the rules, " Yennefer shrugs.

The barrier disappears after Yennefer's words. "Will you teach me how to do that?"

"I don't know. Not everyone can use chaos. We'll have to check that you can first, and then we'll see if your mother will let me teach you magic."

"Oooh, I hope I can do the same cool stuff as Mom, Uncle, and you."

"Don't worry, it's not for a while. Forget it for now. You've got to get your uncle down first. He's always complaining about me cheating.

"Yes, you're cheating; we said no advanced spell for you."

"It's not an advanced spell for me. I can do this as simply as breathing."

"You're playing with words, Yen.

"No, you're the one explaining your rules correctly."

Saibus grabs a wooden knife during his argument with Yennefer. "Stop fighting. It's only allowed for children," says Jacob, throwing the four knives in his hands—one on each side of Saibus, top, right, left, face.

"Good strategy, you learned what I told you, but..." Saibus leans back and drops head first. The knives pass just inches from his body. He does a half-turn in the air to land on his feet. But as he falls, a scream comes from behind his back. He hears and feels death coming at him.

He sees Jacob already racing towards him. Glancing at his back, a black plumage comes into view. A black feather with a red eye hurtles towards him with no sign of slowing down.

Saibus is in free fall. He sees the two threats. He can act... He has time to react... but... why... he's made rules... Will he defy them... Under normal circumstances, the answer would be yes. But not when playing with his nephew. He lets himself be touched by the kamikaze bird. The bird destabilizes him and sends him tumbling forward towards Jacob. He lands on the ground, taking the strength to fall to his knees.

Tap

He feels a little tap on his head. He sees Jacob smiling at him, with Yennefer behind him and a raven on his right shoulder.

"Well done, Jacob, you and Odin deserve a reward." declares Saibus, which makes Jacob jump for joy.

"CHOCOLATE"

(image Odin)