Pov Geralt: I stand at the banister and look out over the courtyard of Kaer Morhen. My student and foster son Aydan is training downstairs with his best friend Zet. After we reached Kaer Morhen, Aydan has grown from a half-dead foundling into a handsome young man with gentle features and a slender but powerful physique. A loud laugh rings out from the courtyard and I turn my attention back to Aydan and Zet. The two roll through the dust laughing as they try to knock the gun out of the other's hand. "It's strange that those two still have emotions after the mutation," Coën's voice, a younger sorcerer, comes from behind me. "Hmm," is my only reply as I continue to look at Aydan and Zet. "I mean," Coën continues, "actually, sorcerers are emotionless, but these two very obviously still have emotions. Do you think there was a mistake in the mutation?" I look at Coën. "Even if there was a mistake, there's nothing to change. And as long as they don't have a problem with it, it's all good," I reply. Then I walk down the stairs into the courtyard.

When Aydan spots me, he lets go of Zet, stands up and runs to me. Then he hugs me tightly. "Are we going monster hunting tomorrow?" he asks. Eventually he lets go of me and starts hopping on the spot. "That's what we agreed," I reply with a slight smile on my face. "Where are we going?", Aydan continues to ask. He seems very excited but I can understand. After all, tomorrow he is going monster hunting for the first time. The plan is that we ride towards the blue mountains, because there are the most monsters there. "Can you not be hyper for once?", Coën inquires to Aydan. The smile on Aydan's face disappears abruptly. There are few things he hates, but if you criticise his good mood he gets angry very quickly. "I don't know, do you have a problem with my mood?" he hisses irritably. "Yes- I mean no, it's very tiring when you're always in such a good mood," Coën explains, fixing Aydan with his different coloured eyes. One thing I know, Coën doesn't mean any harm but he is in a very bad mood today. He probably doesn't need Aydan's hyperactivity.

"My mood is like this," Aydan says in a surprisingly calm voice. I don't buy the smile on his face, though. Zet steps up and puts a hand on Aydan's shoulder. "Don't get upset Aydan. We should probably go," he says gently. "No," Aydan replies with a strained smile, "I'll go." With the words he taps his, non-existent cap and makes an ironic bow. "Good day, mister," Aydan says to Zet, more coolly than is strictly necessary, and leaves. Under Aydan's sudden distancing, Zet flinches and looks uncertainly at me. "It's normal after the mutation," I say, shrugging. Zet looks confused and runs after Aydan. I can't help but smile. The two are more different than ice and fire. While Zet is an even-tempered, quiet, calm, patient and level-headed young man, Aydan is impulsive, reckless, impatient, cheerful, adventurous and a risk-taker. "Do you really want to go monster hunting with Aydan?" inquires Coën. The sceptical yet slightly mocking undertone in his voice silences me for a moment. "Do you have a problem with that?!", I snarl at him, annoyed. "No, of course not," the young sorcerer replies. His face is completely expressionless and I wouldn't know he was lying if his right eye wasn't twitching. "I see," is all I say. Then I turn around and go in search of Aydan.

Sorry, the chapter is not very long again 🥲. I always have to get into writing at the beginning of a story, so it could be that the chapter is written a bit bumpy. I would be happy if you tell me what you think 🙃.