The Witcher: My Own Path

Incandescent sparks of red-hot iron fly in all directions every time I strike with the heavy blacksmith's hammer, and the burning particles that fly off with each blow settle on my bare skin, burning me gently, and though I don't know how many times I see and feel it, I still enjoy it. My dad was a blacksmith just like as his own was. This little forge in the outskirts is my heritage, my legacy, it's in my blood, but that's not what I want for my little son. My little Tyr is going to be something special; I can feel it! From the first day I held him, he didn't cry, and his little eyes looked around as if he was aware of his surroundings. I know it's impossible, but that's what I felt at the time. I dreamed with my wife Kamila that we would send him to Oxenfurt, that he would be a great scholar, wealthy, maybe even a nobleman one day. But all these dreams were ruined when that… BITCH! …as soon as she felt better after giving birth, she took all our savings and ran away to Novigrad with some fucking musician. AGH! …what a fool I was not to notice. I was so focused on working for us, for our future child, for their future, that I didn't notice that she stopped loving me and even planned to steal everything I saved and leave. Maybe it's all my fault and I could forgive her, but she abandoned not only me, but also our son and I can't forgive that! Never!

However, there is no point in dwelling on the past, I just had to start all over again. I still have my forge, and it's time for my son to grow up, and I'm not that old, because I'm only thirty-four. The strength in these arms will last me at least ten more, just in time for Tyr to be old enough to go to the academy.

Taking the still hot yet sculpted iron from the anvil, he placed it in a bucket of water to cool it down. He wiped his sweaty forehead with his hand and looked around, admiring the surrounding trees and meadows and the people working in the fields; he smiled because the area was always pleasant to see at this time of year.

The sound of the door closing caught my attention and I saw my son walking towards me. I wonder what he was doing for so long, but he probably took a nap after breakfast. I smile at him and go back to work, the number of tools to forge this week is extremely hefty, and if I want to get more orders like this in the future, I need to show that I can be depended on, so I can't delay any longer.

I take the red-hot iron out of the furnace and put it on the anvil, I don't think twice, I start working. Just with the corner of my eye, I see Tyr sitting on an old tree stump that serves as a seat and watching me, ''Hahaha!'' I laugh inwardly and wonder, how long he can sit still before he gets bored and starts disturbing, as small children are known to do.

(Two hours later…)

''Oh, I'm surprised you sat still so long without complaining, son, are you interested in my job?

''Yes, dad.'' he replied, nodding his head and smiling broadly.

''When I grow up, I want to be like you.''

''Haha!'' I laughed out loud. …if only he knew how much I don't want him to be like me, even though I really like what I do, what parent wouldn't want a better future for their child? Well, maybe just that traitorous wench... agh.

''Dad, can I ask you something?''

His question and serious face broke me out of my momentary thoughts.

''sure, feel free to ask.''

He reached behind his shirt and pulled out my dad's old book.

''What is this?''

''It's a book, son.''

''What does this book do and what are these strange signs?''

''Books are used to accumulate knowledge and these signs are letters through which this knowledge is recorded.''

''but why?''

''When wise people come up with something and don't want to forget about it or when they want to leave this knowledge to their children, they write it down with these signs.''

''So, if you play a fun game with me and it's fun, so as not to forget about it, I can write it down and always remember it?

''Hahaha, exactly that!''

''Dad, will you teach me these signs so that I will always remember how we play?''

''Ahhh… I... I can't, son.''

''What? Why?''

''because your dad doesn't know how…''

My heart almost broke when I saw the disappointment on my son's tiny face, is this what our lives are supposed to be like?!

I remember asking my dad for my first toy, a small wooden sword, or sweets, or when I got older, I wanted some money. After a while, I stopped asking for anything because I knew it was pointless. I was furious with him and our relationship deteriorated significantly. As I grew up and started my own family, I realized how the world really worked, that I no longer had a protective umbrella over my head that protected me from everything the world threw at me. …How much did my father have to deny himself so that I would always have warm clothes and a full belly? By the time I realized that, it was too late, my dad got sick and passed. It took me a long time to recover and I blamed myself for being a bad son, but was it really so? I just didn't understand, and Dad didn't try to explain it to me, but would it have made any difference? I don't want to test this theory on my own son, I don't want to repeat it.

I crouched down slowly, raised my hand and lightly rubbed his hair, smiling broadly.

''Do you want to see something really cool?'' I see his eyes light up with curiosity.

I picked him up and put him on my shoulders.

''Let's go, I'll show you.''

We passed our house and went onto the main road, we passed several cottages and people working in the fields or farms, and after about a kilometer, a majestic view appeared behind the trees. Even though we were at least five hundred meters away from our destination, the walls still seemed high and stretched as far as the eye could see, and everything seemed to be floating on a huge lake with rivers branching out like arms.

''Wow.'' I heard Tyr call out.

''What a great house! Dad, dad, just look! What a great house!''

I laughed out loud.

''It's not just one house, but a whole city, its name is Vizima and it is the capital of the kingdom of Temeria, but you are right, the largest and highest house is a castle and our Majesty's reigning king lives in it.

''King?''

''Yes, the king rules all of Temeria and all the people who live here, his name is Foltest.''

''Dad, dad, can I also be a king and live in such a big house?''

''Hahaha, I don't know, son. But when you get older, you'll definitely find out, but you know what I know?''

''What, dad? tell me!''

''There are people in this big city who can write letters and can teach you this, this and many other things.

''Really?!''

''Mhm.''

''hurrah!''

''Ahahahaha!''