05 Velen 1226
Twilight means a lot in this world. From the physical real to the imaginary intangible. Light from sunset to man's sunset. Before he is embraced by death in its eternal kiss. A sunset that countless fear. Even the most courageous beings are terrified of it. Paradoxically, the most powerful are terrified. They are terrified of the truth. Whatever their power, strength, influence, or wealth, they will always be weaker than it. Life is not eternal, unlike death. Death waits for you; it takes time but will always wait for you, for it has the greatest enemy of the living at its command. It controls the order of things. She is the mistress of Time. A patient mistress, even when the living, uses deception to stay alive. Nothing escapes her grip. Nothing in the universe is immortal, not even her. For when life disappears, death follows.
At twilight, a man escapes death's embrace after long, painful caresses. She finally breaks her bond with this man. This broken bond again opens her eyes to the world in which he lives. A world where he is saved from the still life. Opening his eyes in a wood-colored room. A virtually empty room. A room composed only of a bed and a window allowing natural light to illuminate the room. This weak sunlight covers the man's face. The man wakes up slowly to the sunlight. The first thing he sees is a wooden ceiling. Turning his gaze to his right and left, seeing only one window from which he can see the sunset, the man tries to sit up. He manages to do so, albeit with difficulty and grunts in pain.
"Confronting an ancient Leshen with only a few guards was not a good idea... I must thank my flame for allowing me to live on today." declares the man, touching the cross he wears around his neck. He caresses it and brings it to his lips before releasing it.
The man settles as gently as possible into a comfortable position. He stares at the wall in front of him, deep in thought. Not knowing how long he's thinking about things only he knows, he's interrupted by the door opening. In the doorframe, a man dressed in simple clothes enters.
"Once again, you almost died, and once again, I saved your life. I don't know what you'd do without me."
"I'll live with my two dead brothers, and we'll watch your adventures while we drink," the man on the bed replied.
"That's a good idea after death, although I think you've got more on your mind than spying on my life," the incoming man declares with a smile. He steps forward and stands beside the bed.
"So, Robert, not too burnt this time?"
"No, you managed to control your fire, which is what I'd expect from someone like you, Saibus. I have to worry more when you don't control your magic. And it's great to be reminded that the left side of my body has burn marks.
"It is always a pleasure to point out how much you resemble both a Zerrikanian and the palest of bourgeois," Saibus wryly replies.
"Yes, yes, I know, laugh at me." sighs Robert, looking away.
The two don't pursue the conversation and settle into a silence that is eventually broken by Saibus.
"Are you going to tell me why you didn't follow the plan?" questions Saibus.
Robert continues to stare out the window for thirty seconds before answering.
"You think I decided to leave without waiting for you and the rest of the soldiers out of arrogance, vanity, or haste? If you think that, you're a bit right. I thought that with the soldiers I knew and trained, we could finish off the monster quickly and rid the village of its nightmare," says Robert, clearly angry.
But his anger falls as soon as it rises. It gives way only to grief and mourning. Saibus neither interrupts the speech nor speaks in his moment of silence.
Robert quickly destroyed a moment of silence.
"But you must believe that I was wrong and overestimated my abilities and squad's."
"Surely, you wanted to demonstrate something I don't have, chivalry."
"Perhaps."
Saibus looks at Robert, who has his eyes on the end of the sun, then finally exits the room, only to be stopped by Robert.
"Thank you... for saving me once again... Know that I am eternally indebted to you and that you have the gratitude of his majesty Heribert.
"You know very well that I'm not doing this to get a king's vane parole, especially if he's called the Querelleur," Saibus finished as he left the room.
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06 Velen 1226
It's been a day since the village of "Bois le Près" was freed from the Ancient Leshen who had been terrorizing them. However, he wouldn't have done anything to their town if their hunter and others hadn't encroached on his territory. A message was sent to the king, who decorated Robert for his feat. The dead soldiers are being repatriated in a funeral caravan for burial. Although he protests against the messenger coming to bring him the news of his decoration for an act he didn't commit, Robert knows that these words won't change anything. However, he'll always try to tell them to his liege. But these things have nothing to do with our Assassin, who is already far from the kingdom of Redania.
Our Assassin is in an inn in the kingdom of Cintra, in the town of Âttre, called the "Auberge Enflammés." Saibus is chatting with a woman seated at his table.
"Maryanne, I won't help you make your case to the Council. If you want help, you must do what you did before. Talk to the Elders. The only thing I can do is vote for your project. But I'm not taking the word of the other Elders."
"Well, well, I knew you were going to say that. At least I would have tried to go faster," replies Maryanne, slightly depressed.
"You know your project will surely come to fruition, so why the long face?"
"Because it's long," says Maryanne, discouraged.
"Yes, Council discussions can be long, but they are necessary." retorts Saibus.
"Yes, yes, Mr. Elder. Well, I'll leave you to it. Unlike an Elder, I've got work to do." scoffs Maryanne.
"That's right, do so, young archaeologist. I've had enough of you," Saibus assures her humorously. With these humorous words, Maryanne leaves the table and the tavern. Thanks to a soundproofing spell before Maryanne's arrival, Saibus can then enjoy the silence he has installed.
Taking advantage of the calm and comforting silence, Saibus sips his glass of Champagne, a Grand Cru, "Milly-Champagne." Accompanied by long minutes of solitude, Saibus enjoys a quiet moment before returning to work.
A job that resumes faster than expected and with more incredible difficulty. A difficulty is provided by a man who decides to approach Saibus's table and sit down. A man of regular, unimportant appearance, with the look of a peasant from the countryside. He wears a dark brown hat with a corselet, leather pants, and leather boots. He always carries a wooden spoon, utility belt, and a strange, rounded dagger.
"Good evening, Saibus Di Vine. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance at last," the man smiles. Saibus lifts his eyes from his glass and looks at the man. But as soon as he sets eyes on him, the Assassin freezes. Sitting at the Assassin's table is the Devil of this world.
Gaunter de Meuré or Gaunter O'Dimm, aka GOD.