Sara's eyes continued to grow wider as he listed off the next things. "You mean, you'll actually try and make me fall off?!" Well, it was a challenge, and while she knew she would fall if that's what Jarek really wanted to do, she doubted it. Well, if all it took to master this balancing act was to walk across the beam a thousand times, that's what she'd do. She wanted to understand more of witchers, and while she couldn't go through everything they did, this was a start. Plus, Jarek did have a point about magic-resistant monsters.

She turned around, and walked to the other end of the beam, smiling as she faced him again. "I'm getting better at this!"

"You mean, you'll actually try and make me fall off?!"

"Of course," Jarek said, a little surprise in his voice. "You won't learn to fall without injuring yourself otherwise. And unless you break something you'll get right back up here immediately, lest the fear set in too. Don't get afraid of something that will happen anyway, don't think of it. Just try and slap the ground with your hand when you fall and it will take the force out of it." Of course it would still hurt and likely wind her but it took the most damaging force.

"I'm getting better at this!"

"I hope so," he said with a teasing grin, "I don't want to be wasting my time here after all."

He watched as she crossed several more times then as she was walking away from him, he leapt lightly down on the ground, rolling and coming to stand again in time to see her face when she turned around and she realized he wasn't there. Without him to steady the beam it would feel more unstable and unpredictable with the intermittent winter wind blowing but he believed she would be able to get used to it. It might be boring and mind-numbing to walk back and forth across the beam, even to run if she felt confident enough, but it had to be completely instinctual to allow her mind to focus on other things.

When Sara turned around, she was surprised to see open air where Jarek had been standing just a few moments ago. She hadn't felt the log shift or hear him land at all! She turned toward him on the ground, unable to think of something witty to say. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Even with the biting winter breeze, she felt confidant enough that she could do this. Besides, Jarek did have a point about magic-resistant monsters... although Sara didn't want to believe there actually was such a thing.

She took a cautious step forward, sure that at any moment the log was going to swing wildly out of control and send her toppling to her death on the hard ground below. When it didn't, Sara felt a great amount of satisfaction. She wasn't dead yet! After a few more steps, the wind made the log twitch, but Sara caught herself and felt another rush of accomplished happiness.

For several hours she did this, back and forth, back and forth, with Jarek even swinging the log a few times, trying to knock her off. She almost fell a few times when Jarek tried to distract her from her balancing by telling jokes. That was cheating, and she told him so, only to be rebuked with a vicious swing of the log while he laughed like a madman. As the afternoon wore on, Sara began to get tired and having no breakfast that morning, her stomach was starting to grumble and growl.

"Jarek, would you care to join me for lunch? I'm starved." Sara lept off the log like Jarek had shown her, and landed almost as lightly as he had. Being part-Elf, she figured she had an innate ability to be stealthy. As they walked back into the castle, and towards the dining room, Sara spotted Gawel. She pointed him out to Jarek. "Look! Gawel's out. I wonder how Iwan is doing... I'll be right back."

"Gawel!" She nearly ran up to him she was so excited to see him. "How's Iwan? Is he... uh, alright?"

The final morning had come. Gawel thought he probably dreaded it as much as Iwan did. If Iwan dreaded it at all that is. The boy was staring straight up at the ceiling, mostly unresponsive, though if Gawel left his side his eyes would search him out and watch him until he returned. If nothing else at least he knew that he was here, and would be here. He hadn't slept a wink that night. He had tried to prepare himself, to steel himself for the worst and to distance himself from the boy but despite his best efforts he just couldn't. A foolish action or not, it was Gawel who brought Iwan here. He didn't really believe in destiny as Vesimir did, if Iwan died here today it was because Gawel brought him here. He had thought he had been doing a good thing, bringing another potential witcher to be trained. Only now did he fully appreciate the long term repurcussions of his actions that Vesimir had tried to tell him about.

The door to the laboratorium opened and footsteps were heard coming down the stairs before the flickering glow of the torchlight could be seen, and then, finally, the figures who would either complete the transformation of this boy into a trainee witcher, or kill him.

“It is time,” Vesimir said and Gawel was mildly surprised to feel Iwan's hand in his tighten in response to the words.

Gawel looked to Vesimir briefly, asking him to wait a moment with his eyes before he bent down to whisper in Iwan's ear. “Iwan,” he said, to get his attention. The boy didn't give any indication he had heard but Gawel kept going anyway. “I'm right here with you and will remain so. Be strong, this is the last of it. Pull through this and you can be a witcher. Then when you've finished your training we can travel the world together. Even if you can't hold out any longer though, be at peace knowing that this is how it was meant to be, and that I will see you soon enough.” A single tear slid down Iwan's cheek, though his face showed no other emotion, and his hand tightened again, not loosening this time and Gawel straigtened and looked to Vesimir, giving him a nod. The only way for this to end was for them to start, so best they start.

The next few hours were harrowing. Even through the leather gag they gave Iwan to bite down on his screams were terrible and several times he seemed to slip. Vesimir seemed willing to keep trying though rather than give him a lethal dose. As it was, Iwan's final day of mutations was far longer than most but he proved to be far more resilliant than any gave him credit for. After so long of extended excruciating pain, normally the child's heart would give out as the final escape from the pain. And several times Iwan's seemed to flutter as though wanting to do the same but, be it by some will power or just sheer luck, it might pause before it resumed again. Each time it was a little weaker but it always picked up again.

Until finally there were no more alterations to do, no more magic to perform. The boy was considered not strong enough to try any of the experamental mutations on so, even though he was unconscious he was released to go, so to speak.

“I'm glad I was wrong,” Vesimir said quietly after the mage had left and the two of them set about undoing the binds that held Iwan's body in place and cleaning him of sweat and, in some areas, blood. “It's not often that I am, but in this case, I am glad.”

“As am I,” Gawain said tiredly. He felt as though he had just gone through his own mutation all over again, maybe without most of the physical pain but definitely with the exhaustion and the mental ache.

The bonds undone and his body cleaned, Gawel picked Iwan up and held him to his chest, already noting how much heavier her was with the changes wrought in his body.

“Take him to bed and get him settled. Then you be sure to go to the kitchens and eat before going to bed,” Vesimir said. Gawel opened his eyes to argue, to say that all he was interested in was sleep and eating could wait but Vesimir, knowing his student too well, cut him off by adding, “That's an order.”

Gawel hesitated only a moment before inclining his head in acceptance. After all, he had stayed up this long, what was another hour?

He turned to lead the way up and out of the laboratorium before he remembered something. “Vesimir?” he started. “Iwan has a necklace, he kept it from his mother when he left. I promised him that if he died I would wear it always, so that there would be proof he was alive through my memories and that necklace. And I also made him promise that should he survive he would wear it instead of hiding it.”

“Gawel...” Vesimir started but Gawel cut him off.

“I know, it's forbidden. But it's not as though he will remember anything anyway. I could tell that, even he could tell that after the first day. He couldn't even be sure it was from his mother after that. And then by today I'm not even sure he was certain who I was, just that I was a source of strength and comfort. It will be safe, and better that he wear it that it become lost at Kaer Morhen, or he throws it out now, forgetting the value of it.”

“The mind never truly forgets,” Vesimir said softly, something he said often though usually more in relation to training. “Very well, I shall not mention it. He can wear it but he should keep it beneath his shirt. If I allow one person to wear a keep sake openly there will be a hoard of boys clamouring to do the same.”

Gawel couldn't help but smirk at that image. The great and mighty Vesimir, overcome by jealous children. Gods he was tired!

They made their way upstairs and Gawel found Iwan's necklace and took both to his new room, getting him settled and facening the necklace around his neck before pulling the blankets up high. He would sleep for hours before even stirring and likely at least two days after that. Plenty of time for Gawel to catch up on sleep.

*

Sara was progressing incredibly well, Jarek had to admit. It had to be her elven blood, he reasoned. Not even he had mastered this apparatus so quickly and he had been considered a natural at it. As with all witchers though, he didn't really praise her skills, just acknowledging that she was ready for the next stage when she was, and continuing with it. He had gotten to the point where he was deliberately shaking and moving the beam but he wasn't really trying to make her fall yet. He thought it probably better to ask for some pointers on how to teach a girl to fall before going that far. Still, he was suitably impressed such that by the time mid afternoon rolled around and he thought he was probably growing hungry, he felt confident enough in how she had progressed to stop.

"Jarek, would you care to join me for lunch? I'm starved."

“I think I would like that,” he replied and he smiled at how she had immitated him jumping off.

Following her inside, he looked up when she spoke again.

"Look! Gawel's out. I wonder how Iwan is doing... I'll be right back."

Jarek's eyes spotted his friend and instantly he broke into a smile. Gawel looked like hell, utterly exhausted and clearly somewhat haunted by whatever it was that had gone on down there, but he wasn't grieving. That meant Iwan ha lived and provided he didn't die of after-shock in the next few days, something that was rare but had happened on occasion, then he would heal and everything would be alright. Oh there were always risks while training, just because he had gotten through the mutations didn't mean he wouldn't die during training, but at least he had passed the biggest hurdle.

He let them rush ahead and, being able to spot the dark rings under Gawel's eyes from where he stood, went straight to the kitchens to get their meals ready including Gawel's so that he didn't have to.

*

"Gawel!"

Gawel looked up when his name was called and for a moment it was as though he didn't recognise Sara. She had been pushed out of his mind lately in order to focus entirely on Iwan and he was a little surprised to feel a warm feeling in his gut stir at seeing her.

"How's Iwan? Is he... uh, alright?"

“He is sleeping,” he replied. “He lives for now. Vesimir was wrong.” He thought it would probably take some time for that to sink in but for now he had to eat something, then he could sleep.

*

Vesimir had seen the exchange and smiled. He still remembered his promise to Adi but thought it best to wait till Gawel was rested and more himself, less absent minded. He approached the two and said, “Gawel, I believe I saw Jarek getting you some food. Go eat it, then you can rest.” Gawel nodded absently and headed off in that direction almost as in a dream, the exhaustion finally catching up to him.

Vesimir then turned to Sara and said, “Sara, my dear, I have a favour to ask of you.” A hand that had been resting behind his back came out and in it were two candles. “After he's asleep, could you light these candles either side of his bed for me? They are nothing harmful, I assure you, just a little concoction to get him to sleep soundly and not to dream. And it smells nice. He would be far to proud himself to light them so I haven't even bothered asking, but I need rest as well and would rather not have to wait until he falls asleep.”

“He is sleeping. He lives for now. Vesimir was wrong.”

Sara beamed, her excitement bubbling up in her stomach and threating to explode out of her with a mighty squeal of pure joy. She thought that just perhaps her face would split in half because of how wide her smile is. Knowing how tired Gawel was, he didn't even sound completely himself yet, she resisted the urge to bounce up and down while hugging him. Somehow she didn't think that that would be met very well.

"That's wonderful! Better than wonderful, fantastic!" Sara was just about to slip her arm through Gawel's when Vesimir came out of the woodwork and sent Gawel off in search of Jarek and food. No doubt that he needed that, and a few days worth of sleep, but Sara was still a little disappointed that she couldn't walk with him.

“Sara, my dear, I have a favour to ask of you.”

Vesimir explained about the candles as he gave them to her. Being an herbalist, Sara knew all about these candles and knew that they were perfect for Gawel. "Of course. And I think I owe you an apology... Addie told me what a bad idea it was to try and help. I just couldn't comprehend the idea of destiny and fate. I wanted to help Iwan and Gawel..."

Sensing that her eyes were on the verge of tearing, and slipping the candles into a pocket hidden in the folds of her dress, she turned and made her way to the kitchens, where she hoped Gawel was still awake and not face down in his food. Although that would be a funny sight to see...

"Of course. And I think I owe you an apology... Addie told me what a bad idea it was to try and help. I just couldn't comprehend the idea of destiny and fate. I wanted to help Iwan and Gawel..."

Vesimir nodded seriously, accepting her appology. "Destiny is somethig that is taught to witchers at a very young age. Even before they are brought here often, if they are a child surprise, their parents teach it to them to better help them understand what is happening when they are brought here. On the few times a child is left for us, we start teaching them about it as soon as possible. Sometimes I forget that not everyone has that same education, though I am surprised that Addie didn't teach you the same things... Ah well." He smiled then and said. "Well, those should help him sleep and then when he's rested and everything I'll drag Adrianna out for a walk and leave you two lovebirds alone to chat, alright?" he said with a wink before going to help himself to some food as well. Granted he hadn't been pushing himself as Gawel had but each mutation still took its toll on him.

Gawel didn't even bother going to the kitchen he just sat down at the table and was staring rather blankly when Jarek set a plate of food down. Really Gawel didn't feel hungry but, obediently, he brought some to his mouth, chewed a little and swallowed, going through the motions but not really tasting or enjoying any of it.

She heard his words, but couldn't bring a response to her lips. Addie had taught her all about fate and destiny, telling her that it was destiny that brought Sara's parents together, and it was her destiny to become a powerful sorceress. Told like that, Sara had believed every word, and had even rejoiced in the idea of being a grand sorceress like Adrianna... But seeing the toll it took on everyone in Kaer Morhen, especially Gawel, Sara couldn't believe that it was Iwan's fate to die so young and in so much pain. It wasn't fair, for anyone. Not that she would dare tell that to Vesimir's face.

So instead she made her way to the kitchens and sat down across from Gawel, watching him as he stared blankly at the food on his plate, his mouth barely opening wide enough for the fork to deposit the food. Sara began to pick at her own plate, but with a little more relish in the delicious food. After a few moments, Sara couldn't stand the silence any longer. "Gawel..." She sighed. This wasn't the place, or the time, for them to talk. He needed rest, and it would probably be best to wait a while to continue their earlier discussion. "Let's get you to bed." She stood up, and moved around the table, gently wrapping her arm through his and escorting him to his room.

Gawel looked up when his name was spoken but he didn't really respond. Jarek, on the other hand was watching and couldn't help but snicker at his friend as though it were all a big joke. He had seen Gawel like this before, all it took was a solid night's sleep, a huge meal in the morning and he was back to his nomal self. And likely now he knew Iwan had a good chance to make it as a witcher he would be even better. Well as good a chance as he could get anyway.

"Let's get you to bed."

"Ok," Gawel said as he allowed himself to be pulled up and led away, meek as a lamb while Jarek tried oh so hard not to laugh too loudly. Oh he was going to have some fun with all this now!

Gawel, meanwhile, was oblivious to Jarek having a good time at his expense as he absently followed Sara up to his room. Once inside he sort of stared at the bed before moving over to it and practically falling into it, not even undressing or taking his shoes off. He was already half asleep now that the stress of Iwan's mutations was over and Gawel didn't feel obliged to stay awake for him. He looked up at Sara and smiled. "Thank you," he mumbled. "I do love you you know," he finished before his eyelids closed and he fell asleep.

Sara watches, in something akin to sympathy, as Gawel flopped onto the bed, his eyes closed before he hit the pillow. She pulled the candles out of her pocket and placed them beside the bed, opting to light them just before she left. She was about to start untying his boots when his eyes flickered open and met hers.

"I do love you you know."

His eyes closed again, and his breathing evened out almost immediately, telling her he was sound asleep. Her eyes, still focused on his face, welled up, and her heart was close to fluttering out of her chest. It was hard to breathe, and she felt as if she were going to float right on up and crack her head on the ceiling. Sara reached out and brushed a lock of hair off his forehead, trying to contain herself from crying or shouting out with joy. "I love you very much too, Gawel."

Finally forcing her eyes off of his handsome face, Sara unlaced his boots and slipped them off, moving his feet onto the bed, and pulling the blanket over his sleeping form. She lit the candles with a sharp exhale, smiling at the trick Addie had taught her on her birthday one year. Still smiling, her eyes centered back onto Gawel. "Oh so very, very much." She placed a soft kiss on his cheek before exiting his room, not bothering to brush away the joyful tears that filled her eyes.

Jarek had finished off his late lunch, and Gawel's too. He started on Sara's but despite having the same bottomless pit stomach as his counterparts he found three full meals was perhaps a little excessive. He got up then followed where Sara went. Gawel was likely fast asleep by now so while Sara was welcome to stay with him while he slept it wouldn't be particularly entertaining. Seeing her come out with tears streaking down her face though, he frowned.

"Did he say something to you?" he asked, annoyed to think that Gawel would yet again make her cry, practically asleep on his feet or not.

*

Vesimir ate his own lunch before going to Iwan's room to check on the boy. He was still laying under the blankets exactly as Gawel had placed him, not having moved an inch. Vesimir frowned. Normally by now he should have at least rolled over into a more comfortable position. But then again, his mutations had taught the man that this boy was anything but ordinary. He looked over his limbs first, checking that nothing too drastic had changed. He then lifted up a lid and an eyebrow rose at what he saw. His eyes had changed to become golden. Unusual but not unheard of. Lifting the other eye though gave him pause as it did not match its partner. Instead it was a bright almost neon blue. Lifting a lip he saw the boy's teeth were still normal size, if somewhat sharper and pointier than before.

Stepping away from the boy he left the bedroom to allow him to sleep in peace, heading to his own room though his rest would be anything but restful.

"Did he say something to you?"

Sara was startled, not expecting Jarek to be standing right there. She swiped at her eyes self consciously and thought about lying, but figured he'd find out the truth sooner or later. "Well, yes he did, but before you get mad at him, these as odd as it sounds are happy tears." She explained about what had just occurred and couldn't stop smiling. "I'm just so... so happy! I know that it may just be exhaustion setting in, and that there is the possibility of him taking back what he said, but still. There has to be at least a little truth to it, right?"

Jarek gritted his teeth when Sara said that but relaxed a little when she said they were happy tears. Then when she explained what he had said, he smirked. "Yeah that's Gawel. And don't worry about him taking it back. He might, but that would only be because he was embarrassed. Anything he says in that state is like anything he would say when he was drunk, the truth that he's too afraid to say sober." He frowned then and added, "Then again, there was that time he professed his undying love to me... but that was exhaustion and alcohol so that's different, surely."

*

Vesimir was pacing in his room before he even realized it, before he paused, took a deep breath and settled himself. He still had work to do today, boys to train.

Going to his clothes chest, he pulled out some fresh training clothes and was getting undressed when he heard a familiar pop behind him. Despite his world-wise ways, a slight blush still coloured his aged cheeks. "Addie, haven't you ever heard of knocking?" he demanded, perhaps a little more irritable than he normally was even if he didn't rush to get changed.

Sara stared for just a moment as her brain registered his last remark, then she broke into laughter. "As if I haven't done enough crying already since I've been here!" She hugged Jarek and whispered, "Thank you. You really are a fantastic friend." Pulling away, she cleared her throat. "So... You didn't eat all my food did you?"

*

"I am sensing with my awesome powers of observation that you are in a bad mood." Addie walked over and sat on Vesimir's bed. "What's the matter? It's not like you to snap at me."

Jarek's eyes widened in surprise when he was hugged, and not only that but called a fantastic friend. He wasn't so sure he deserved to be called that but if Sara thought of him like that, then there it was.

"So... You didn't eat all my food did you?"

"Well... not all of it. But who knows if the others haven't finished it off. You snooze you lose," he said with a chuckle. As it was there was still some of her food left, though a couple of the younger boys were eyeing it. Not as though there wasn't a lot of food but the fact was this was already served up and they didn't have to go get it.

After she had finished, Jarek led her out. "Come on," he said. "I think I should introduce you to the killer. After all, fitness, strength, and agility are needed to properly manage any kind of weapon." He wondered if she would remember Gawel mentioning running the killer with Iwan when she first met the boy. If not she was probably in for a bit of a surprise.

*

"What's the matter? It's not like you to snap at me."

Vesimir sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap," he said, first and foremost. "Tired I guess."

He finished dressing as he spoke. "No, that's not it. Iwan, despite all odds, survived the mutations. Though I don't doubt you are already aware of that, there's little you don't know. However he hasn't come out of it unscathed and as of yet Gawel doesn't know about it."

He paused as he pulled a shirt over his head and sat on a chair to explain things to Addie, maybe in the hopes of clearing his head, before he went out to train lest he take out his frustration on the boys.

"You remember Ricardo? The lively little boy with black hair?" he asked. He had gone through his mutations late one winter while Addie had been here. Jarek and Gawel were only just new arrivals at the time so it was unlikely they would remember him. "He seemed to come through the mutations fine even though he also had shown difficulties. Both his eyes had changed, his teeth had nearly become fangs, his nails hardened to claws. When he woke he seemed alright, if a little distant before he changed and became increasingly violent and unpredictable, more and more like a witcher. It's a fine line we walk between avoiding becoming a monster and retaining too much humanity, I know this. And as it was I couldn't allow him to be released into the world as he was. He would destroy everything so I had to kill him." What he didn't mention was the fact that he still had nightmares of that little boy who was no more than fourteen when Vesimir had taken the sword to him. And how he had looked at him with fearful, completely human eyes just as the sword struck his neck. It had been a quick death, Vesimir had seen to that at least, but it still haunted him. And it was one of many.

"Well, I checked on Iwan and he has similar changes, though not so extreme. His teeth are sharper, but not fang-like, his nails are normal. His eyes, though, are odd, one golden and one his normal blue, albiet stronger like all of our eyes." He shook his head. "I just hope that the differences mean he wont go mad like Ricardo did. If he does... well I'll have no choice but to kill him as well, though I know Gawel would never forgive me for it. I suppose all I can do is watch him but still, it worries me."

Sara shrugged. "Gawel mentioned it before, even told me a few stories of when you and him would run the course." She then stopped. "Wait. You don't really think I could run it? And not die?" She caught up to Jarek who hadn't stopped walking. "But I... um..." She was still trying to come up with a plausible excuse as to why she couldn't do the killer when Jarek stopped and she realized they were at what could be referred to as the starting line.

"If I die, it's your fault."


*


"Kill him?" Addie paused and let that sink in. "Kill him." Blinking a few times, her mind struggled to understand what Vesimir was implying. "You mean, Iwan barely survived the mutations, and now, if he's insane, you'll have to kill him?"

If she wasn't already sitting, Addie was sure her knees would have given out on her. "But these... changes, isn't that a good thing? I thought that that was one of the points of these mutations, to make witchers less... human."

Jarek nodded when Sara mentioned Gawel telling her stories of them having to run it. They had been fairly lucky. Between them after the mutations they only had three broken bones from the course. The unlucky ones tumbled off cliffs or broke their necks or fell on a spike that would plunge through them. But Jarek intended to run with Sara to show her the course and while he wouldn't be telling or showing her how to bypass the challenges he would be there should she fall and injure herself. The worst injuries happened when they weren't supervised, which was most of the time.

He stopped at the beginning and rose an eyebrow at her, waiting for her to come up with some kind of reason not to run.

"If I die, it's your fault."

Jarek grinned at that. "Well no it will be your fault for not managing to do something properly. I'll be running with you though, to show you the way. You are old to be starting this but we'll see how we go," he said before leading off at a jog along the trail, taking it easy since he had to gauge how fit Sara was before he set a proper challenging pace.

*

"You mean, Iwan barely survived the mutations, and now, if he's insane, you'll have to kill him?"

Vesimir nodded seriously, then gave a small smile and said quietly, "Not all of the child deaths that occur here are through training and failed mutations in the laboratorium. Most are, but not all."

"But these... changes, isn't that a good thing? I thought that that was one of the points of these mutations, to make witchers less... human."

"Yes, it is," he acknowledged. "But the temperament and mindset have to be right as well. We are stronger than all humans, stronger than most monsters and if we are any good at our trade we will even give the likes of you sorceresses a run for your money. How skilled we are varies, of course, but suppose one who showed particular skill developed a hatred for humans? If I were to let him leave Kaer Morhen it would be likely that instead of helping and protecting humans, he would go on a rampage, killing them. Then it would be up to other witchers to take him down. Problem is, one of the most common results of the mutation is apathy towards humans and their problems. Not many witchers would want to involve themselves. Better for everyone if they don't leave here, so I kill them." Vesimir's voice was flat as he said this. He remembered every single death he had caused, and he had a long memory. Each of them wore on him but each of them were needed, he knew that. The problem with this one, should it eventuate, is that one of his more talented witchers had attached himself to the boy and who knew how he would react should he find out that Vesimir killed him.

Sara began to jog after Jarek, catching up to him easily. That was one thing she thanked her Elven roots for: increased stamina. "Good point, but it'll still be your fault." She winked. "Gawel was never specific about the course... what are some of the things I'll face? Or are you going to be mean and wait until I fall into the spiked pit?"

As terrified as she was about running this, it did help to tease Jarek. At least that was something.


*


Addie shook her head. "I will pray to every single god in existence that you don't have to do this. The consequences, especially where Gawel is concerned, may be worse than we fear." Addie didn't usually have the gift of foresight, but there was something in the back of her mind that told her more havoc would be unleashed, and more lives lost if Vesimir was forced to kill Iwan. And it wouldn't be Iwan's doing.

She shook her head again. "So... besides contemplating killing your favorite students first child, how are you my love?"

"Gawel was never specific about the course... what are some of the things I'll face? Or are you going to be mean and wait until I fall into the spiked pit?"

Jarek waved off her concerns even as he picked up the pace a little more; if she was still talking in a normal, conversational tone then she wasn't running fast enough. Of course, he didn't want her to be pushing so hard that she couldn't speak at all, if she did that she would have no chance of running its entire length.

"It starts off easy," he said. Of course, easy was a matter of opinion but to start off it was just like a rough, track, jumping over logs, ducking under branches, leaping across small ditches.Of course all these even could cause injury if taken the wrong way but they were unlikely to kill you. "The rest... well. You'll see when you get there," he said with a coy smile.

It wasn't long now in fact. There was a rather deep ravine and plunged into it was a series of logs. The nearer ones had small square platforms on them, the last two didn't. There was a sluggish river at the bottom of the ravine so if she fell she would be wet and maybe a little sore but unharmed. Albiet cold as this time of year the water was close to freezing.

Jarek didn't even pause as he lept across, one foot landing lightly before leaping to the next and within a moment he was on the other side. It would give Sara an idea of what she was supposed to do if she had been watching, though it wasn't like this particular one wasn't obvious. He then turned back to watch her.

*

"So... besides contemplating killing your favorite students first child, how are you my love?"

"Tired," he replied instantly with a smile. He moved over to Addie and took her in his arms, wanting to feel the comfort of someone close who would always support him and what he had to do. "But there are boys to train who have gotten out of having me teach them for the past few days."

He pulled away briefly and said, "I was thinking. The older trainees probably should get some working knowledge of what mages are capable of, and how we can work around them. We have the mage who lives in the laboratorium but he hates people and most of the time wont come out of there. Would you consider giving a talk, maybe a demonstration? Sara could help if she wants to, though we should probably wait for Gawel to wake up. No doubt if he's going to be travelling with your girl he should have more of a theoretical knowledge of what she's capable of."

As Jarek continued increasing the pace until she was unable to speak without breathing in between words, she kept sweeping her eyes around the track, knowing that Jarek wouldn't give away what was coming until it was time to react. A calm settled over Sara as they ran and she fell into her step. She loved to run, and didn't realize just how much she had missed it. The wind sweeping through her long hair, bouncing against her back; the rhythm of her steps coinciding with her heart beat.

"I love - running - don't - you?" She asked, curious if this was a part of training that Jarek had enjoyed with Gawel.


*


"A demonstration? That sounds like a wonderful idea. Do I get to turn Jarek into an ice cube again?" She laughed. It was always fun doing that, just because he usually deserved it.

"You're mad. Bloody elves, oh beg pardon half elves," he complained, though it was with a smile to let Sara know he meant know offence. But he had noticed in the time he had left Kaer Morhen that the elves seemed to have more stamina than it looked like they did and Sara, even being half elven, seemed to have inherited that.

"No," he replied. "I hate running, always have. But when you run this trail every day of your adolescence you soon grow used to it. Though I did enjoy being the best at overcoming the obstacles," he added with a grin.

As they ran they came across several more obstacles, some natural, others man-altered and some completely man-made. Vesimir insisted that they were there even as long ago as when he was first brought to Kaer Morhen and who knows how long ago that was. Jarek had his doubts that they were all that old; countless trainees couldn't have made their way through them without some alterations but then altering them wasn't something Vesimir denied and he knew first hand that if a short cut was discovered and exploited too often then Vesimir would change the course to make that way impassable. Or at least a lot more difficult.

It took them until the sun was touching the horizon to finish the course, longer than the average witcher but surprisingly faster than Jarek would have expected for someone unfamiliar with the track and the obstacles. They stopped at a river and Jarek paused uncertain.

"Normally at this point we would all strip naked and plunge into the icy river, challenge each other to who can stay under longer. But... I get the feeling that would probably be inappropriate with you. And your teacher would likely turn me into an icicle again. And Gawel will punch me again. So maybe we should just head back to the keep for a proper bath," he suggested.

*

Vesimir chuckled at how eager Addrianna seemed to be to turn Jarek into an iceblock. Again. Not that he didn't doubt the boy had done something to deserve it, he was always into mischief, didn't matter how old he got.

"I don't think so," he said, having a little sympathy for his student. "Though I'm sure you'll think of something."

*

Come evening Gawel finally stirred. At first he was confused; he normally never slept during the day. But then he remembered. Iwan had survived. Grinning to himself he stretched in bed before rolling out of it. He dressed in some fresh clothes and ran a comb through his hair. He grimaced a little at his smell but he couldn't bare the thought of going down to the river to wash and the only decent indoor bath was in Sara's room. With that thought was the memory that Vesimir had wanted him to talk to Sara and confront his feelings towards her. He grimaced at the thought; that certainly wasn't something he relished the thought of doing. Well, he had faced way more scary things than an upset sorceress if he couldn't properly articulate what he felt so surely he could manage. Surely.

He went first to check on Iwan, but he was still sleeping so he let him be before going down to hunt for some food.

"Oh darn." Addie sighed dramatically. "I guess I will just have to settle for him relaying his moments as the living ice cube." She chuckled. "Now come to bed and let me help you get some rest."

*

Sara came to the end of the trail, and was surprised to find herself panting a bit. "That, was great fun. And you said you don't like to run." She winked, then her cheeks gave way to a blush as he mentioned the river.

"Yeah... I like the sound of the second idea better. I'll meet you in the kitchens." With that, she followed him inside, then ran up the stairs to her room. She shut and locked the door and poured water into the copper tub that sat behind the fire. Without waiting for the water to warm over the fire, like most people would have to, she twirled her finger in it and before long steam was rising from the surface. She disrobed quickly, and sunk into the luscious warmth of the water.

Even though she really wanted to relax and enjoy the bath, she washed herself quickly, and redressed, this time in her usual pale blue dress that Gawel had first met her in. She braided her hair and draped it over her shoulder, a simple style, but that worked for now.

She made her way to the kitchens to find Jarek when she saw Gawel. Resisting the urge to run to him and leap into his arms, she merely smiled brightly and cheerily shouted, "Gawel!"

Gawel couldn't help but chuckle at Sara as she ran towards him calling his name, much like he thought a puppy might act. He couldn't help but eye how she looked in the dress and it seemed that after sleeping, all his appetites had returned.

"Good to see you, and to see that Jarek has been looking after you," he said, shooting a look over her shoulder to Jarek as he sketched a courtly bow, making Gawel roll his eyes at him.

"I'm starving, I don't even remember if I ate anything before I fell asleep. In fact I don't think I really remember anything much, all kinda like a dream..." he shook his head and ran his hands through his hair, dismissing it as unimportant.

"Come on," he said walking towards the dining hall. He paused as he entered to find not to many people there yet, a few apprentices who looked up curiously at the new arrivals before going back to their own meals. The only full witchers now was Randen and his friends. But then Gawel shrugged. He had long since stopped avoiding his childhood rival and he wasn't about to start now, even if the glare he gave them was particularly threatening this time.

He moved to go past them to get some food when the larger man stood up and stepped between them, a couple of his friends moving to back him.

"So I heard your little runt pet survived," he said.

Gawel felt his adrenalin rise at the intended barb in the words and he strove to keep his voice calm. "Yes," he said. "He survived and is resting now. He'll begin his full witcher training when he wakes up."

Randen scoffed at that. "Full witcher training. Brats like that aren't real witchers and never will be. He should never have survived the mutations. They are supposed to weed out the weak from the strong." Randen paused, then continued. "Which only means one thing. He must have had help. I would wager that you secretly gave him the antidotes when Vesimir wasn't around. And likely that bitch of a witch who's always sniffing after your cock had a hand in it too, healing him and boosting his energy and moral."

A low growl was the only warning Gawel gave before he charged at the other witcher, tackling him to the ground in a flurry of punches and kicks, dirty fighting with none of the finesse to it, except both of them were witchers with the added strength and speed that made them what they were.

*

Jarek, sure that Sara would likely want to jump in to protect or maybe even stop Gawel, reached an arm out to stop her, taking a step or two back and pulling her back with him. He was well aware that a few steps distance would stop her from interfering if she had a mind to but he hoped that the act would be enough to stop her from acting rashly. "Stay out of it," he said to her in a hushed tone. "If you get involved they'll have every excuse necessary to kick you out, and likely Gawel with you since he wont let you leave alone."

((I can continue with Vesimir coming in to break up the fight if you want or that can be my next post, depending if you have enough to respond to))

((I always have enough to respond to your posts :D ))


Sara was glad that Gawel was in much better spirits, and couldn't help smiling as he wolfed down his food, just like before. She was about to start conversation between the three of them when another of the witchers broke in with terrible insults. As Gawel leapt from his chair, Sara felt a hand at her arm, gentle but firm, and as she looked back at Jarek, he shook his head pulling her back. EVen if he hadn't said anything, she would have understood the motion. It had been very difficult to watch Gawel go after the monster back in that village alone, and this seemed even more difficult.

She kept her eyes on them, as much as she could see in the blurring fists and feet. Several insults came to mind that she wished to yell, but she kept her mouth firmly shut. Jarek made an excellent point, and she didn't wish to get Gawel in trouble. Well, more trouble than he was bound to get in for fighting.

"Where is Vesimir? Shouldn't someone fetch him?"

"He'll come," Jarek said. "He knows everything that goes on in this castle." In truth he had seen one of the apprentices go scurrying out and the same boy just returned now, a little pink in the cheeks which made Jarek smirk at the thought that he had likely interrupted the old man enjoying himself with Sara's teacher.

And sure enough he came through the doors looking pretty pissed but not at all surprised. He paused for a moment, watching the fight. Both Gawel and Randen seemed oblivious to their former teacher watching. They had managed to drag each back up to their feet and were going at it in earnest. At least until Randen noticed Gawel's current fatal weakness, how he favoured his left leg. His eyes lighting up he flicked out a sharp kick that landed resoundingly against his exposed, inner-upper thigh. Gawel let out a cry of pain and fell to the floor as the leg gave out from under him and Randen went to push his advantage before Vesimir decided that the fight had gone on long enough and charged in himself. He swung a fist at Randen, knocking him one way and launched a kick at Gawel, sending him the other. Neither were light strikes, but they were measured enough not to cause injury.

"Enough," he growled. "You're acting like children. Don't think you're too old to be sent out to the blocks for a few days if I catch you fighting again."

Gawel, after catching the breath that had been knocked out of him, pulled himself to his feet, now obviously favouring his sore leg. As Randen stalked off back to his meal, Vesimir turned to Gawel and said, "You need to train. Meet me in the training courts after you've eaten." He looked to Jarek and added, "You too."

Jarek's eyebrows shot up in surprise as Vesimir left and he had Gawel exchanged startled glances. Yes, Gawel knew that he needed training and he needed help for someone to spot where he was exposing his weakened leg so that he can effectively learn to counter it, but why was Jarek wanted? He hadn't been involved in the fight and, at least that Gawel knew and judging by the man's own surprised reaction, he didn't have any injuries he had to learn to over-come.

Well, he thought as he shrugged it off and went back to their own meal, they would find out soon enough. "I hate that guy. It's idiots like that that give us all a bad name," Gawel growled as he attacked his food with a new-found vigor.

"I hate that guy. It's idiots like that that give us all a bad name,"

Sara nodded, not sure what to say. She would have loved to barbecue that arrogant man, burn him to nothing more than a pile of ashes. Startled by her own venomous thoughts, Sara returned to her meal, but barely tasting it.

"Would either of you mind if I watched the two of you train? I'm sure it'd help me." She directed the last statement towards Jarek, since he was the one training her. Besides the educational value she would get out of watching the two of them, it would be entertaining to watch, considering the way Gawel talked about them being equally matched and pummeling each other until neither could stand.