Geralt opened his eyes haphazardly, only to notice graceful black eyes set on his face, or on his mustache to be precise.
He place Arnold on the side as he raised himself up with the help of his sword placed as a cane. He noticed continuous pain in his shoulder, noticing the wound on his shoulder had hue of white and purple instead of usual red
But ignored it as he knew he could do nothing about that.
Picked up Arnold and bound to his chest, He marched forward, deeper into the forest.
Stumbling, resorting to his sword he continued his journey in the wild, amidst the darkness of dawn.
Normally he would have not continued even with his health in pink or with a party, but he could see it.
It was marching forward, coming to him
What he could not ignore or postpone.
.
.
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Son
I will soon be leaving you
I will place you in good hands,
Acquaintances of mine, far from war.
.
They were there when I had been in your situation, and I would say that it was nearly the same , just that I think you would become better than me.
.
.
You know, I was hailed as a dragon slayer and I earned the position of Captain of royal knights through that, despite being a commoner.
Heck I even competed a marquis for the position and won.
Ha-
.
Geralt sighed as he continued on his path...
.
But truth is far from what is known to all.
Neither I slayed the dragon, nor I was commoner.
When Your highness the king of aldia, commanded us to put an end to the life of the dragon child residing in highlands of west which was terrorizing the area, I joined the expedition.
I was prideful man then, but now I see it, I was desperate instead.
Desperate for recognition and approval."
A small cry same out of the his chest area, he looked down on the resting face.
"uwaa''
"You hungry ?
Geralt glanced to his sides but dark prevailed in the forest with little to none traces of moon light, seeping in-between the tall trees.
Snow covered the path, making it hard to march
It was nice enough that there was no snowfall so the worst had not come.
Marching , listening hoots of owls, Geralt was relieved as moon light revealed something of color amongst the white and dark.
He closed the distance between him and what looked like an apple, red stuck to the tree.
"Will he able to eat an apple at this age?" Geralt thought for a moment but proceeded to rub his hands in the snow and plucked the apple.
He then squeezed it and aimed its juice to fall in Arnold's mouth, giggled as he tasted sweetness.
He then picked up another and squeezed its pulp in Arnold's mouth. Then ate one and collected a couple of apples to his side pocket
And continued to march forward.
.
.
So I joined the expedition as a new recruit to slay the dragon.
The then royal knight took the lead and we marched to its lair.
But it was not what we expected to be.
It was not at all an infant dragon.
What we found was an old dragon powered up to his peak at the end of his life.
We were not welcomed and the dragon attacked us with dragon breathes repeatedly, ultimately exhausting itself.
The dragon successfully killed four hundred and ninety eight members of tits enemies, I was lucky enough to be left with my life as its flames could not reach all the way back.
When its last breathe stopped, I was the only one to make out of there alive
People hailed me dragon slayer as the last remaining and lead of the expedition died with the dragon.
Celebrated I was , wed to the princess of the kingdom, a child no more than 15.
Drunk on my fake victory I used my Excalibur a little earlier than when I should have.
Followed with being promoted I enjoyed my short life in which I reached where I am now
or where I was yesterday.
.
The King had no scarcity of enemies, other territories aside,
The internal strife deepened insecurities and complaints due to elevation of status of first prince who was dying as crown prince.
The result of accumulation of complaints finally reached the threshold for what was need by the duke to complete his wishes.
.
.
.
Arnold you are not a half royal child, you are a royal child with blood of someone who I respect, and someone who I detest.
.
Geralt stumbled while walking but he smiled as he noticed the destination he had set for his kid on horizon.
His borrowed time was coming to an end.
But he smiled and turned to his right to see the sun at its dawn.
He climbed down, and reached to wooden fences at the back of a house, jumped across it and knocked on the backdoor.
A middle aged man, rather old came out after a span of seconds.
Perplexed by what he saw, frightened even.
It was rather normal reaction to what Geralt had expected as nobody would except someone stained to blood to his toe in the morning.
nom num'
Relaxed expression covered his face as he was greeted with a familiar face, holding a child wrapped by red colored cloth drapes.
He guided the man, brought a chair and rushed to go out when the hand stopped him from going out.
"Let me go Geralt, there's an imperial doctor in the village, let him bring him in."
"He is named Arnold, I named him. Birth was on... 12th of july I think, in Empire's calendar.
"They will capture me and this child, Ron and I do not want this child to suffer the same from which I ran, so stop and listen."
Geralt huffed at each lofty word, took and break, unbounded the cloth and passed his child to the man sitting across.
"Ron raise him, he is my child and I can not leave him to anyone else.
Geralt waited to see the expression on Ron's face but was devoid of worries when he saw a happy face rather that of sadness or anguish.
"Leave it to me. Brothers for life was it?
Do not worry for him, He will be my son for life.
I will be departing, you are not gonna stop me?
"Will you stop if I ask you to?
. . .
I am dying and I can not afford even a grave, to rest is just impossible for me."
Geralt stood up and proceeded to collect his belongings.
He ruffled up Arnolds's hair and marched towards the door.
.
For him to live in peace, I have to die somewhere where my last cry can reach to those who fear me."
And he left leaving a pouch and his kid
Ron followed him to the door, and then shouted as he remembered something.
.
"Whos the mother?
"He is motherless to my knowledge.
I will be taking your horse, left some coins on the table.
.
He looked back at Ron
"Thanks for taking him in,
And thanks for taking me in."
neigh !!
Geralt left the village on the horse and Ron retired to his home.
He called for his family.
An old woman, young couple and 3 children came together.
All but the old woman were surprised when they saw Ron holding a child.
"Who is that father?' asked the young man
"Yeah I called for this actually,
This will be your brother, Vincent."
The old woman smiled as she took Arnold from the old man into her arms.
What a cute child.
"Brother? He is an infant father. How could he-
"This would be your brother, Vincent" repeated he
.
What's his name Ron?
His name is Arnold, Arcadia.
.
.
Arnold " resonated a voice full of love.
.
.
.
.
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In a barber's salon men were chatting about events regarding yesterday.
"Man I never thought the Knight king will have a fall this disgraceful.
Yeah but he deserved it, I mean he taxed his brothers territory out of a personal grudge, that was not appropriate.
.
Ha- I thought prince Jeffery will be new King with support of the Duke, its a shame he died"
"Alas, he was killed by his father. The King's greed to retain throne made him enemy to his own family.
.
"Hey, the royal knight captain death marched to the royal palace, alone in the morning!
"A brave man, should have made an oath to the right side.
"I think it was due to his child, not out of loyalty for the king, I heard the Kings descendants were being wiped out of the land, ensuring there is no one to rebel. "
Aldia just lost its best defender !.
.
.
.
.
.
Duke Drinlord was crowned the King of Aldia as he was the last royal blood remaining.
Arnold now was safe, joined a family residing in a north eastern village of New Aesir Empire, one of the 3 Empires on Velliria.
Geralt died during his march on Royal castle of Aldia
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World as we know
3 empires- Aesir, xx, xx
12 kingdoms- Aldia ,xx ,xx ,xx ,xx....
1 republic- xx
1 dominion-xx