"Damn it, the commission fell through again!" Back at his makeshift camp in the wilderness, Gaetan angrily kicked the iron pot he used for cooking. A few seconds later, he picked up the dented pot with a pang of regret and placed it back on the fire.
He'd spent nearly a week in Beauclair gathering information and scouting locations for the assassination. He'd even spent the previous night outside the palace walls. Now, he was famished and the mission had failed. It was truly unfortunate.
Not only was there no payment for a failed assassination, but the mage was surely now on high alert, making it difficult to continue the mission. Gaetan would have to lie low in the wilderness for a while and rely on hunting to survive.
He sighed, pulling out a piece of dried meat from his belt pouch and a slice of cheap rye bread from his backpack, preparing to cook them in the pot.
Suddenly, a slightly teasing voice reached his ears.
"Is that what you're planning to eat tonight, brother?"
"How about I treat you to a meal in the city?"
Hearing the voice so close, Gaetan instinctively rolled to the ground, dropping the dried meat and bread somewhere in the process.
Drawing his dagger, Gaetan cautiously scanned the area from where the voice had originated. He spotted a handsome, well-dressed half-elf youth sitting on a rock near the fire, observing him with an amused smile.
Gaetan was familiar with half-elves; there had been many in the witcher schools.
He was startled to see the distinctive vertical pupils of a witcher in the young man's eyes and asked, "Who are you? Why are you here?"
Wayne's smile didn't waver. "I followed you all the way from Beauclair Palace. Initially, I wanted to capture and interrogate you."
"However, seeing how miserable your life seems, and that you're a witcher like me, I thought we could have a chat instead."
"Followed me? From Beauclair Palace?" Gaetan gave him a disbelieving look. He brandished his dagger. Seeing that Wayne appeared young and unarmed, he decided to strike first and capture him before questioning his motives.
With this in mind, Gaetan lunged towards Wayne. The Cat School specialized in agility and speed, relying on their swiftness to catch their targets off guard.
Unfortunately, this time he faced Wayne, whose strength, speed, and reflexes far surpassed his own. Gaetan, while fast, wasn't particularly strong.
Wayne effortlessly caught Gaetan's dagger-wielding hand and twisted it sharply, dislocating the joint. With his left palm against Gaetan's chest, he unleashed a sudden Aard sign, sending the witcher flying several meters into the fire. Gaetan clutched his chest and vomited.
Wayne didn't press the attack. He simply sat on the rock, observing Gaetan with a mocking expression.
When the Cat School witcher finished vomiting, he cradled his dislocated right hand with his left and looked up at Wayne. The initial surprise was gone from his eyes, replaced by wariness and concern.
The other man was clearly much stronger. Now injured, escape seemed unlikely. Gaetan didn't know what Wayne intended to do with him.
Wayne, reading his thoughts, said calmly, "Don't worry, we're both witchers. While I could earn a hefty bounty by capturing you and handing you over to Beauclair's court, I won't do that."
"I'm Wayne of the Wolf School. I heard there was a Cat School witcher planning something in Beauclair, so I waited here specifically to talk to you."
"By the way, what's your name?"
Gaetan gritted his teeth, snapping his wrist back into place. He found a rock near the fire and sat down, looking at Wayne with a serious expression.
"I'm Gaetan of the Cat School."
"Since you're not here to capture me, then Wayne of the Wolf School, what's your purpose in seeking me out?"
Hearing the name, Wayne remembered who it was.
This was the Cat School witcher from The Witcher 3 who had helped the Redanian Free Company eliminate a leshen, only to be nearly killed in a cowardly ambush by them. In retaliation, he'd massacred the village in a fit of rage.
Judging from this incident alone, Gaetan wasn't a good person, but he wasn't irredeemable either. At least, his initial intentions were good; he'd wanted to help the villagers.
This thought flashed through Wayne's mind. He looked at Gaetan's guarded expression and said, "I simply want to obtain some information about the Cat School from you."
"By the way, Gaetan, are you currently employed? I have a well-paying commission."
"You won't need to kill anyone, and the reward is quite generous, enough for you to live comfortably."
"Of course, you can refuse. But if you do, I'll apprehend you and bring you to Kaer Morhen, our Wolf School's keep."
"Don't worry, I won't harm you. I just want to learn some news about the Cat School. You know, the different schools haven't communicated in a long time."
Gaetan looked suspicious, but the situation was out of his control. After thinking for a moment, he said, "You need to tell me what kind of commission it is first."
Faced with Gaetan's question, Wayne paused. The commission he'd mentioned had been a spur-of-the-moment offer. Now that he thought about it, he didn't actually have a specific task for Gaetan.
An idea struck Wayne, and he said, "Don't worry, it's a simple job. I'm posing as a tobacco merchant and plan to open a shop in Beauclair. I just need a bodyguard."
"Come back to the city with me and rest for two days. Once my shop opens, you can start working."
"Judging by your current state, you're probably short on funds. I'll pay you an advance."
Gaetan was taken aback. Bodyguarding, especially for a shop, was not something a Cat School witcher typically did. However, it was a simple job, and the worst enemies he'd face were likely just thugs.
The mention of an advance payment excited Gaetan. His pockets were empty, and living in the city was certainly more comfortable than camping in the wilderness.
As for whether to escape or make other plans later, he could decide that when the time came.
...
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