Elder Blood Witcher - 792 True Judgement!

Unfortunately for the Vampire, Hurtelt’s body has been completely loaded up with Black Blood potion… Tearing the man apart did nothing but splatter the entirety of his body’s content of blood onto him, making Hurtelt more like a suicide bombing than one would expect.

Almost immediately Vasile’s body began to smoke, large blisters forming on the Vampires skin as some of his flash literally melted off as a result. This could completely stop the raging beast however, Vasile continuing to slowly walk towards them with it’s claws ready to strike…

*THUD!*

Ciaran suddenly leaps through the air and delivers a hard kick to the Vampires face, usually this wouldn’t do all that much, but he’d already been tweaked by Hurtelt’s suicide attack. Her foot sank into the burnt and disfigured flesh on Vasiles head, the abrupt sharp pain causing the beast to rear back and scream in agony, the sound of which almost bursting everyone’s eardrums.

Dythi and Margarita had already stepped through the portal, not leaving anything to chance. Ciaran scowls at Vasile as she stands next to the portal.

Ciaran “I promised I would kill you, and I intend to see it through to the end… Goodbye, for now.” she says ominously before hopping in the portal, it closing behind her with expert timing.

Vasile leaps at the empty space where his target had been, his senses still blurred from the black blood… One thing was for sure however, his target had escaped…

“NOOOOOOOOOO! RETURN HER! RETUUURRN HEEERRRR! I WILLLLLL ENNNNNNDD YOU MORTALLLLLSSSSSSS!” he roars, shaking the very foundations of the mansion.

Sitting within his office, Roisin scowls at the walls vibrating due to his fellow Elder’s wails of anger and despair. “Fool, this is the last time I allow such insolence!” he exclaims, standing and leaving for the basement.

Ciaran passes through the portal and stumbles slightly as she steps out into some sort of ruins? Stone rubble surrounded her along with burnt patches and ash. She glances around and spots Tildanird, Etredi, Dythi, Zudite, and Margarita…

Zudite “Hurtelt… He… Sacrificed himself for us.” he says with a forlorn look…

Etredi immediately goes pale, tears beginning to stream down her face as she futilely attempts to wipe them away. “W-what? N-no… He’s around here somewhere r-right? Even without hands he’ll be alright… I can feed him…” she says, clearly in denial.

Dythi shakes his head, “I saw it with my own eyes… He gave his life to save ours.”

Etredi “No! You’re lying, he’d never do that… He hates us!” she exclaims.

Tildanird “There, there…” he says, trying to comfort her.

Zudite slowly nods, sniffling slightly but still managing to retain his composure, “I’m Zudite, he’s Dythi, Etredi, and Tildanird… The one who’s no longer with us was called Hurtelt.”

Ciaran nods, “I thank you all for assisting us… This Hurtelt, he was a Witcher?” she asks, receiving affirmations from them. “If it makes you feel any better, there has never been a Witcher who has died of old age… In one way or another, they’ll all meet their end at blade, claw, or maw… Atleast this way, Hurtelt managed to preserve your lives.”

…

Dythi nods, “I see… That settles my mind, if slightly. I’d rather have him still with us though…”

Ciaran “Unfortunately, this is the way of war… You will lose comrades, there is no doubt about that. It’s whether you survive long enough to see the end of it which is what really matters.”

Zudite “Miss Margarita… Is something wrong?” he asks, having not heard her for a while, glancing over at her staring wide eyes at the ruins.

Margarita slowly and robotically turns, “I know where this is now…” she mutters, fear clear in her voice.

Dythi “Are we still in-danger?” he asks warily.

Margarita nods, “You… Could say that… This, was… Aretuza, the former home for myself and dozens of young magic users.” she says, walking over to the side of the small island they were standing upon and looking over the cliff, seeing more rubble of the former institution peppering the ocean.

Ciaran frowns, “Is this not deep within Nilfgaardian territory?” she quickly asks.

Margarita nods, “It is.”

Zudite “Ha-hang on, do you have something against Nilfgaard? I don’t think it matters much anymore since the Vampires have destroyed mostly everything.”

Ciaran “My countries relations with Nilfgaard are hostile at best, if the Vampires haven’t wiped them out yet, they may try to capture me, and you in association.

Dythi “Hm, it’s probably fine, I doubt any country could defend against the Vampires, let alone a divided Empire like Nilfgaard.”

“STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM! YOU’VE ENTERED PROHIBITED TERRITORY VIA UNREGISTERED PORTAL USE!” a voice shouts from the bridge connecting the small island to the continent.

The others look over and spot a man wearing black and gold armour with around seventy soldiers behind him…

Immediately Margarita starts channeling another portal, only to find it fizzle and fail to cast.

“WE’VE ALREADY SET UP WARDS UPON YOUR ARRIVAL, YOU’LL NOT ESCAPE THE JUDGEMENT OF THE LAW!”

Dythi “We’ve done nothing wrong though!” he shouts, dropping his weapons in resignation.

“YOU’VE TRESSPASSED ON RESTRICTED PROPERTY, NOW GET TO YOUR KNEES OR I’LL NEED TO APPREHEND YOU PERSONALLY!” he continues to shout.

Etredi “Just leave us alone, you don’t know what we’ve had to go through to get here, and you still want to punish us!”

“SILENCE LITTLE GIRL, WE’LL RETURN YOU TO YOUR PARENTS AFTER WE’VE DEALT WITH THESE CRIMINALS!”

Etredi “I’M NOT A CHILD! I’M FOURTEEEEEEN!” She shouts.

…

Everyone goes silent, not believing this girl who looks under the age of ten would really be fourteen.

“LYING TO AN OFFICER OF THE LAW IS ILLEGAL, TAKE HER IN TOO!” he commands as the soldiers start advancing on them.