[TL: Asuka]

[PR: Ash]

Night had fallen, silencing the slums of Novigrad. Aside from the stars above the sky, no light was seen anywhere. Roy was perched on the rooftop, staring at the gleaming light in the business district across the canal. He was swinging his blade with one hand, playing with a small ball of fire with the other, making it dance around his fingers like it was magic. No, it was literally magic.

A powerful air current zipped through the air above him. The darkness of the night shrouded a griffin the size of a calf, flying happily.

Roy heard sounds of footsteps. He quickly sent a telepathic message to Gryphon, and the griffin flew into the distance, disappearing into the night.

A woman in short clothing climbed up the ladder leading to the building. She came and sat down beside Roy, dangling her legs over the edge of the roof. "Wiley's thugs aren't going to do anything tonight, it seems." Kantilla pulled her sideburns back. Her usually handsome, tattooed face was looking gentle under the moonlight. She had a look of concern in her eyes as well. "You should go down and get some rest, Roy. Talk to your family. I'll take over."

It had been a year since he was separated from his family. Kantilla thought he should have a lot to talk about with them, but reality was quite different. He didn't talk too much with his parents or brother. Most of the time, he was just listening to his parents and answering their questions. When Mino started crying for no reason and distracted Susie and Moore, Roy took the chance and hopped onto the roof.

"Thanks for the concern, but I'm fine. I just want to get some fresh air." Roy felt her almost sticking to him, and he dangled his legs as well.

He was conflicted when he saw his parents. In fact, he was a little nervous after not seeing them for so long, especially when his father was talking to him in an almost ingratiating manner. He felt a little sad about it, so he ran to the rooftop.

But now that he got his fresh air, he realized that he needed to make sure his family could live peaceful, happy lives, even if he wasn't a part of their lives.

"We're now in Novigrad, Kantilla. What next? Will you go and work for a local troupe? Go back to your old job?" The witchers and Kantilla had gotten along well since they left La Valette's place. They didn't hold back on banter or drinking while they were on the journey. It was like they were friends.

Still, Roy thought it would be weird taking a lady along with him all the time, and journeys would always come to an end. Everyone had their own paths to take.

"Are you in a hurry to chase me off?" She shot him a glare and huddled even closer. She could kiss him if she just got in even a little bit closer.

He could feel her breath on his face, and it tickled him. "I won't chase a friend off. You can stay as long as you like." Roy turned around and pretended to heave a sigh. "But you saw what happened. The first day we got here, and we already got on the bad side of the local gang. All because of my personal matters. I can't drag you into this."

"Zerrikanians are no deserters. We're not scared of battle." She puffed her chest. "If those cowards try anything stupid, they will answer to my blades." She tensed up and unsheathed the short sword behind her boots, then she swung it around.

"But this battle has nothing to do with you."

"Did you forget how you saved my and Eveline's life in La Valette's dungeon?" She pursed her lips and looked at the witcher. There was resolve in her eyes. "I owe you my life, and I'm not leaving until the debt is repaid."

"So how are you going to repay the debt?" Roy was a little miffed. Why do I feel like I owe her something?

"It's a suggestion, but I can be your mercenary and work for free. I'll do whatever you say. That's the best idea." She held his right arm to her chest and licked her lips, her eyes shining. "Or you can turn me into a witcher. Auckes told me about it. If I take the potion, I have a chance of being a witcher."

"What kind of stupid idea is that? Darn you, Auckes," Roy muttered under his breath. "That's nonsense. Women can't be witchers. At least for the Viper School, that's the case. And you're an older woman. Taking the Trial of the Grasses is suicide Don't get mad. You're older compared to literal children."

"What a shame." She hung her head low and sighed.

"Just stay in Novigrad and take care of my family, especially when I'm gone."

"Of course. I promise no harm will come to them. I'll protect them until my very last breath." Kantilla noticed him relenting, and her eyes glinted cheekily. She hugged him tighter and leaned against his shoulder, trying to move in even closer to him.

There was nothing but the sound of the breeze brushing through the night. Roy and Kantilla sat side by side on the rooftop, letting the wind blow across them. Their legs were dangling over the edge of the roof.

It was a moment of peace and quiet for both of them, but for some reason, Roy felt nervous. He kept having to look over his shoulder, worried that a portal might open up behind him, then a woman in red would hop out and turn him into a mouse before flushing him down the sewers.

***

Someone suddenly coughed behind them, and Roy leapt up into the air. He turned around, prepared to explain everything to Lytta, but then he heaved a sigh of relief, half amused and half annoyed.

Standing right behind them was Felix. His arms were crossed, and he was wearing sunglasses as usual. The witcher was watching them, as if he knew what was going on.

"Can you stop showing up all of a sudden, Felix?" Roy said. "At least make some noise. Give us some warning."

"You practiced Cat School swordplay. You know stealth is its core. And work habits are hard to shake, especially when you're an assassin. I've trained for decades. I can't change my habits." He took his glasses off and gave him an apologetic look. "But I didn't mean to interrupt your dat"

"No, you were not interrupting us." Roy changed the subject. "Why do you want to see me all of a sudden? Where's Carl?"

"The boy is asleep." Felix crouched down on Roy's left, looking like a cat licking its fur. "I'm here to tell you something. Auckes, Serrit, and Letho already know about this. Carl and I are going to leave in a few days. Novigrad is a nice place. We can get anything we need here, and there are no pesky aristocrats to deal with either." Felix stared across the darkness, setting his sights on the island where Eternal Fire's HQ were located. "It's time for the next phase of his training. Three months of it, and the kid's going to take the potions thatll prepare him for the real trial. Then it's time for the real deal."

A moment of silence fell upon them.

After going on the journey along with them for months, Felix had left a deep impression on Roy. He was a man who looked apathetic, but just like Letho, he had no idea how to express himself. The man was a more practical witcher who preferred actions over words. Roy was getting used to them working together. It felt a little sad knowing they were going to leave soon.

He did think about inviting Felix with them to Kaer Morhen if the Wolf School okayed their idea, but with how infamous the Cat School was, bringing him together would be disrespectful to the Wolf School.

Kantilla looked a little melancholic too. She quietly went behind Roy and rested her chin on his shoulder, staring at Felix.

"When are you guys leaving?"

"Once we're done with the trouble here. Tell me whenever you're ready to go."

"You noticed."

"Your face was literally spelling murder earlier. Even a blind man could feel that." Felix's face fell. "I'd do the same if I were in your place. Anyone who tries to attack Carl will die."

"Sure, I'll tell you when the time comes."

"I talked to Moore. The third house beside this shack is still empty, and the rent's pretty affordable. Carl and I are gonna move in."

"Are you serious?" He comes all the way to tell me he's gonna leave the team, and now he's renting a house right beside my dad's place? We're practically neighbors now. We can meet up anytime we want. Is this a joke? But then he realized something. Is he doing this so he can keep Moore safe? He thought that was plausible.

Roy was moved, and a little vexed that Felix wouldn't just tell him about it. He thumped the veteran witcher's chest.

Felix raised his eyebrow and tensed up, holding down his urge to retaliate.

"Have you collected all the ingredients you need for the Trial? It's not easy to find all the stuff you need." A pause later, he said, "Tell me if you need anything. We'll find a way through it."

"I do need a few regular mutagens, but that's no big deal. I can get those in a bit. The Cat School's recipe isn't as complex as the other schools'." The light in his eyes dimmed a little. "It's incomplete, so to speak."

Roy had heard about it. Even in its early days, the Trial of the Cat School had a hidden risk associated with it. Even if the aspirants were to make it through the trial, they would still suffer complications related to the mind. Those people would lose all their emotions, succumb to their madness, or lose all their intelligence. Still, the recipe had an effect unique to it: it could turn elves and women into witchers.

Roy thought about it for a while, then he said, "No matter the school, you'll still have to get a professional to help out and mitigate the side effects as much as you can. And you'll have to do it before the Trial. Do you know any sorcerers who can help?"

Felix didn't answer. He had no one like that. The guy was a lone wolf. Or Cat in this case. Yes, he had a few lovers, and he did kill a lot of sorcerers, but he had no one among them whom he could call a friend.

"If you don't mind, I think I can get someone for you, but that's an if. How does an experienced sorceress sound?" Roy was coming up with a little scheme now. "She helped me with my trial back in Ellander's temple of Melitele."

Felix was a little moved. "Mate, if you can pull that off, I'll owe you big time."

Roy smiled. I was counting on that.