The Divine Hunter

The wind blew from the ocean to the land, and a heavy dark cloud floated across the sky, hovering just above Novigrad.

In the civilian area south of Nuocheng, there is a dark and narrow alley with walls covered with moss and sewage flowing on the ground.

A boy squatted in the corner, his thin body huddled tightly.

The cold wind of a winter morning whistled through the narrow alley, blowing his thick brown hair and rags with great force.

He was like a shivering little quail hiding in the reeds, pursing his parched and pale lips, and a flash of fear flashed in his cornflower-colored eyes.

Under the pressure of hunger and cold, the brain is unprecedentedly active.

He fell into the past again.

He used to have a happy family. His parents were in business in Nuocheng, and they lived by selling a spice brought from the Skellige Islands... The income exceeded 90% of the people of Nuocheng.

The family lived a warm and happy life.

But there were unforeseen circumstances. The ship returning from Skellige encountered a storm, and the goods purchased by his father and all his net worth sank into the boundless sea.

Then the nightmare began, one after another, the creditors came to collect debts, took away the expensive decorations of the home, and then the furniture and valuable clothes.

In the end, even the houses in the business district were forfeited by the dwarves of the Vivaldi Bank.

at no choice.

The frail mother rented a dilapidated small house in a slum area and supported herself by helping others do laundry.

She often lost sleep and wiped her tears in the dead of night.

Prolonged exposure to cold water and intense labor quickly turned her cough into pneumonia.

Because there was no money for treatment, he passed away in less than a year.

Monty could never forget the last scene—the mother was lingering in front of the sickbed, holding her hand, her lips trembling but she could not make a sound, and cold tears slid down her bloodless, withered cheeks.

Eight-year-old Monty began to wander the streets.

But in Nuocheng, even begging requires permission. Those beggars don't like his pampered, shameless, stuffy gourd-like personality.

He was chased from street to street, scurrying away like a bereaved puppy.

If you don't obey, you will be beaten and kicked.

In desperation, he went to the eternal fire to pray for mercy.

When my father was alive, their family donated a sum of money to Eternal Fire every year, praying for the selfless flame to clear the darkness ahead.

Bring light and hope.

But now it seems that the donation has not played the slightest role. After the priest of Eternal Fire only gave him a few meals of vegetable soup comparable to water, he hastily dismissed him.

In a group of homeless children, only the most fortunate few stay in the church.

He was wandering alone again, fainted from hunger, picking vegetables and leaves in the market, and scraping food from the rubbish heap, but after three months of this, he couldn't hold it any longer.

…

"Crash..."

The torrential rain poured down, and a gray curtain of rain fell on a dark and tattered canvas.

Monty tightened his body further.

The pupils dilated slightly, and the line of sight in front of him began to distort.

Several images vaguely appeared in my mind.

The corpse collector wearing a black and thick coat loaded a bony corpse with cornflower eyes onto a wheelbarrow and drove into the endless darkness.

Mother and father, who had been separated for a long time, were floating in the air not far away, and their almost transparent bodies hooked him.

"Father, mother... There are no good-hearted people in the world, except you."

No one was willing to lend a helping hand to him.

"not even one!"

There were tears in the corners of Monty's eyes, his vision darkened, and he lost consciousness.

…

His body seemed to float up and down in the sea, and the warm water waves brushed over his skin like a mother's caress, washing away the tiredness, stains, and freezing cold.

A ray of light appeared in the darkness.

The faint-hearted soul, grasping at the life-saving straw, rushed in towards the light with all his strength!

"Child, are you awake?"

"Um...Where am I? What's wrong with me?" The pupils shifted from dilated to focused, and Monty's eyes were no longer the stinky and dirty alleys and the roaring sky.

It's a solid ceiling that closes on all sides.

He could not remember how long he had not been in a sheltered house.

The surrounding wooden walls smelled of rotting and fermenting, but not a single speck of dust or cobwebs could be seen.

On the back, the tough and warm touch is definitely not the cold ground.

He was lying on a made bed.

"Child, you are unconscious in the alley." The low and gentle voice sounded again, and a completely unfamiliar face came up, "We brought you back."

Upright nose bridge, cheek vicissitudes.

A lightning-like scar runs vertically through the right face.

And his eyes, amber vertical pupils, without the slightest warmth, like beasts!

Monty opened his mouth and instinctively wanted to exclaim.

A purple triangular charm was suddenly reflected in the pupil.

For a moment, he saw the thick lips on that face move, as if a breeze was blowing through his heart.

Panic and nervousness disappeared inexplicably.

The mood became quiet and peaceful, as if returning to the homeland that had been left for a long time.

The same cheek with different colored pupils and lightning scars is no longer ferocious.

He suddenly realized something—

"You saved me?!"

"It's just a little effort... child," said the big man with a smile on his stiff cheeks, "don't worry, you are safe now, the fever has subsided, are you hungry?"

The big man turned around and brought a bowl of steaming broth to him from the cauldron on the dark table by the window.

The boy moved his nose, and the saliva in his mouth secreted wildly uncontrollably.

He took the bowl and ate it heartily.

Sweet carrots, soft potatoes, and meat.

He couldn't remember how long he hadn't had such delicious food.

For a long time, the moldy and spoiled stuff in the garbage heap was a luxury for him.

A large bowl of broth was swallowed completely, not even a drop of soup was left.

Monty sat on the head of the bed, stroking his slightly raised belly, taking a long sigh of relief, and reluctantly licking the stains off the corner of his mouth.

You Zi stared at the big iron pot on the table without blinking.

But he didn't speak.

He was afraid of angering each other.

"You've been hungry for too long, you have to temporarily control your appetite, otherwise it will damage your body. I suggest you eat so much first."

"you…"

"Call me Escal."

"Escal, I… my name is Monty… can you tell me, what is this place?"

Monty lowered his eyebrows and asked pleasingly, his eyes timid, for fear that this was a sweet dream, and a little louder would break it.

"Gao Wen's house, an orphanage." Before the man could answer, another voice came from behind him.

A group of men poured into the open door: bald, with scars on their faces, looking like an albino... Surrounding him

This group of people, of great build, than he had seen with his father when he was very young, the sailors on the deck were much stronger and had a unique temperament, unlike anyone Monty had ever seen.

Two pointed butts came out from behind his shoulders, causing him to panic inexplicably and shrinking his shoulders.

In the center is a dark golden pupil. The youngest-looking man has the sharpest eyes, like a fluttering hawk, hovering in the sky, overlooking the prey on the ground.

"Monty, welcome to Gawain's House..." The young man put his hands on his hips, smiled gently, and the stars twinkled in his eyes, "Congratulations to you at the same time, becoming the first resident of this orphanage!"

The boy muttered these words in a daze, and suddenly pursed his lips. He was chased away by the eternal fire not long ago, but he was easily admitted to the orphanage of his dreams after being unconscious.

As if fate played a joke on him, a beheading sword was placed behind his neck, and before the execution, the sharp blade was suddenly replaced with bread, and it was sent to his mouth thoughtfully.

Under the mixed joy and sorrow.

The thin body sat on the head of the bed, rubbing his eyes and sobbing.

"Woooo...why didn't you come earlier...woooo...Dad is dead...Mum is also dead..."

"Okay, little Monty, don't cry like a little girl, you're a man, aren't you?!"

"focus!"

Escal's huge fan-like palm lightly pressed on his shoulder, and he immediately sat upright like an electric shock, "Now listen, remember... These are the nanny and teachers of the Gawain House..."

"The one in the middle is Roy, and the big bald head next to it is Leto..."

Monty's hazy tears passed through his fingers as he timidly looked at the big men.

silent.

Happy to terrified.

He wanted to cry and laugh at the same time, but he couldn't understand why these uncles and elder brothers who looked different from ordinary people would help him?

Picking up a dirty, smelly kid from the trash and into such a warm, clean place.

Aren't you afraid that he will get the quilt dirty?

And the witchers exchanged glances.

A man covered in a cloak and a mask said softly,

"Little Monty, your fever has just subsided, and your body hasn't fully recovered yet. Rest in peace in your room today, wait for your spirits to recover, and start training tomorrow morning."

His pupils are like scarlet lightning, captivating.

"Can I stay in the room? Can I sleep in this bed?" Monty squeezed the soft quilt, surprise on his face.

"It's okay to sleep for as long as you want..." The white-haired uncle sighed, the light of memory flashed in the dark cat's eyes, what kind of experience would make this child so sensitive, "Stay in peace, put this place here. Make it your own home."

"Then... teachers, what do you mean by training?"

"Reading and reading, exercising, and maybe, depending on your choice, farming and raising livestock. These are the daily routines of the orphanage," Lambert stared at the boy who was hesitant to speak. Son, "What's the matter, kid, you don't want to?"

"I...but I have no money, no money to study!" Monty seemed to remember something, and said timidly, he was born in a wealthy family, and he also knew some common sense.

No matter where you are, learning knowledge has a price.

"Silly boy, are you getting your head confused by a fever? Gawain's House is an orphanage, not a private school. All services are free and open until you are nurtured into 'useful talents'!" Roy was meaningful say,

"I won't accept you even a single coin!"

"free?"

Roy smiled and nodded at him.

Children must not know that free things are the most expensive!

"Won't you drive me away?!"

"As long as you're obedient, don't make trouble unreasonably." Oakes said with narrowed eyes.

Monty immediately hugged the quilt tightly, trembling all over, with pale yellow hair swaying behind his shoulders, "I-I swear! I'll be obedient, please, teacher, uncle, let me stay here!"

"Don't let me go back and pick up the trash, woohoo..."

Serret gave his brother a stern look.

He winked at the crowd.

"Don't worry, he's scaring you... Just stay by yourself for a while tonight, be quiet."

Everyone left the room.

The boy stared at their backs, sat in a daze for a while, and then changed his posture, kneeling on the bed, looking at the lush alder forest and the blue sky through the open window next to him.

He took a deep breath of the muddy and grassy air.

After I started wandering, it was the first time I felt the world was so beautiful.

"Dad, Mom, Monty survived."

"Are they... well-meaning people?"

...

In the yard outside the door, a group of big men were secretly observing the scene in the house through the crack of the door.

"Brothers, how do you feel, how is this little guy's physique? Does he have the talent for a witcher?" Oakes asked.

"When he was in a coma, I touched the bones for him. There were a lot of skin injuries on his body, but they were not in the way. He is very resilient at a young age. As long as the supply of meat is guaranteed, he will recover quickly." Escal said , "The talent is reluctant, not good or bad... At least far worse than Roy."

"Since there are recruits to report, let's go get ready," Oaks said, glancing at the empty yard, his knuckles clacked, and he couldn't wait to say, "The stakes and dummies have to stand up!"

"How to arrange tomorrow."

"According to the plan, three brothers are left to teach."

"The rest will go to the villages around Nuocheng to continue looking for orphans. Your Excellency Gawain will send someone to cooperate with us."

"Don't fight alone, or be careful to be treated as adult traffickers by the villagers!"

"There is still a big problem, guys, Monty is the first day of the orphanage's opening, the first child, and he must be introduced into the way of the witcher as much as possible!" Owl emphasized, "This kid must be dealt with! "

According to the agreement between them and the collector, the training can only be carried out on the premise of the children's willingness.

They also disdain lying and cheating!

"He needs some guidance. We might scare the kids, let Carl play..." Roy pondered, "There is no generation gap between him and Monty, and it is most suitable for people of the same age to guide them!"

"Owl, in the future, your disciple will accompany the newcomers to train together and compete in a healthy way."

"Now, call him over, and I'll teach him a routine!"

…

"Hello, my name is Carl. I'm eight years old this year, are you?" The cat school apprentice quietly entered the room at the teacher's instigation, stretched out a hand of friendship towards his peers, and smiled shyly.

"I... my name is Monty, and I'm the same age as you." The boy hesitated for a while before speaking.

He looked at his sturdy companion with a half-headed head in front of him.

His eyes showed envy.

When they were in Nuocheng, many of the homeless children of the same age around them fought for their place in the eternal fire. Monty rarely sees such friendly peers, and he couldn't help but feel lively, "Are you also an orphan from the Gawain House?"

"To be precise, I came with my teacher. My teacher's name is Flius, the cool guy with sunglasses on."

"Is he your father too?" Monty asked enviously.

"No, he's my big hero!" Carl proudly held his head high, and his cheeks were as handsome as a girl with excited red light, "He avenged me and killed all the people who killed my parents!"

Monty's heart skipped a beat, murder?

Avenge your parents?

Inexplicably, a deep excitement surged out of my heart.

In this era, no matter what boy from an ordinary family, there is a dream of a knight, to travel the world with a sword, to meet noble ladies and famous ladies. "Your teacher is very good?"

"Humph," Carl said ostentatiously with a disdainful nose, "seven or eight men with big arms and round waists can't get close to him. Because he's a witcher, with the speed and reflexes of a cat, and the strength and stamina of a bear. "

"It's not the messy, bad pus-splattering mutants that idiots talk about. They specialize in killing unscrupulous villains and cannibalistic monsters, and they can easily cut off the heads of those who do bad things!"

Carl's voice became louder and louder, "I'm following my teacher to do penance, and I'll become a witcher in the future!"

After he finished speaking, he suddenly jumped up in front of the wooden bed, jumped and turned around, holding the air in his right hand, as if he was carrying a long sword, and poked forward, the circle formed by the tiger's mouth and the index finger gently touched the mask. Tee chest.

Made a very standard thrusting action.

It's as beautiful as dancing, showing the effect of hard work in recent times.

Monty seemed to be stabbed in the chest, dumbfounded.

A picture flashed in his mind, and he squatted on the ground with his head in his arms, and fists fell on him like a rainstorm.

If only I had this skill in the first place.

There was an impulse in my heart.

He licked his chapped lips, his cornflower-colored eyes were full of anticipation, and his voice trembled, "I, can I also be trained to become a witcher?"

"You have to think clearly, you have to suffer a lot to become a witcher and go through all kinds of cruel training." Carl's white face became more serious than ever before, his eyes glowing, "You must have enough perseverance and change your destiny. strong desire!"

"If you're a little tired and you're going to complain, then you can avoid it! It's better to follow the teacher to read and read, and learn the techniques of feeding chickens and growing vegetables." Carl raised his chin, "I will be a farmer in the field in the future. live a stable life."

Monty's jet-black nails gripped the quilt tightly, and his thin, dark cheeks were full of tangle.

Little boy has never made such a difficult decision.

Knowing that there is such a magical witcher, how could he be willing to go back and be a scumbag?

Young hearts are itching.

"Tomorrow morning, the first training will begin," Carl Wu rolled his eyes, and faced with the dullness of his seniors, he turned into a sly, "You should train again before making a decision."

"Of course I'll be training with you, and, soon, other friends will join the orphanage.

Carl worked hard for several months, and finally had someone to show off, and he looked excited.

"Le's work hard!"