Chapter Two: Witch Hunter
“Call me sister.”
Vichina lay on the hay, so beautiful that no dirt could tarnish her, her face like the most dazzling jewel. Gregory couldn’t help but walk over, but he quickly stepped back as if scalded.
“Yes… Vichina… sister.”
“Will you betray me, little brother?”
“Betray?” Gregory jumped: “What are you saying?”
“Alright, come here, let’s make a vow.”
Gregory approached, extending his pinky finger.
Vichina let out a light laugh, brushing her hair behind her ear. She gently touched Gregory’s head and placed a soft kiss on his forehead.
Gregory felt a cooling sensation on his forehead, followed by a wave of tingling spreading through his limbs. His body trembled, and his face flushed.
This was the agreement.
Vichina asked, “By the way, do you know where there are wild boars nearby?”
After answering Vichina’s question, Gregory didn’t know how he walked out of the stable. A pleasant light laughter floated from behind the stable. On his way home, he glanced back at the stable from time to time, where a beautiful big sister who treated him well resided, known only to him.
This was his own unique beauty.
In an instant, a sense of responsibility filled Gregory’s heart. He held his head high and felt like a knight from the bard’s song, brave and fearless, fighting for the favor of a maiden.
Section Two: The Overbearing Witch Hunter
Not long after the birds in the woods were startled into flight, a strange group of weary travelers arrived in the village. Leading them was an old soldier of the Empire, wearing a tattered leather hat, his expression cold, with a longsword at his waist and bags full of things. Following closely was a Bartonian dressed in blue-gray, wielding a spear.
The unexpected guests, fully armed, called themselves witch hunters, their demeanor unfriendly.
Upon hearing their name, most villagers displayed fear, as if they had contracted some evil plague. Mothers hurriedly brought their children playing outside into the house, their expressions full of vigilance and wariness.
In the name of your great knight lord! The witch hunter waved a parchment sealed with wax. “You are suspicious! We have unlimited authority to pursue an evil witch.”
He squinted and looked around, saying, “Um… sir, you must be mistaken? This seems just to be an ordinary travel permit?”
“Smack!”
The witch hunter slammed the permit on the table. The Empire soldier stood up, raising his massive sword.
I see you are hiding heresy! The witch hunter squinted at the curious villagers gathered outside, “Several of you are mutators who would be hanged even in the Empire. Tell me, if I were to tell your lord that you might be hiding heresy and consorting with beastmen… who would he believe?”
A young man picked up a pitchfork and shouted, “The lord wouldn’t believe the nonsense of you outsiders!”
An elder stopped the young man, feeling that the knight lord was rough and ignorant in managing the village. Everyone preferred to solve it themselves and not disturb the knight lord.
It is my old eyes that have made a mistake. Please put that paper away, esteemed witch hunter.
Very well. The witch hunter said, “In order to investigate the witch, the painter you previously arranged has provided us with this drawing. Do you recognize this painting?”
What a beautiful woman, she must be a great painter.
This is the evil witch, the daughter of a merchant, who repeatedly obstructs the investigation, ignoring her daughter’s corruption.
The witch hunter said, “Guess what his fate will be?”
What, what?
All burned alive for harboring an abomination. The witch hunter declared, “She can dry up rivers and lift a wild boar! Her hair is red and spread out. Pay attention! If you don’t want your poor little village to perish, then cooperate well with me.”
Yes, yes…
Almost the entire village was summoned, and the witch hunter intimidated them again.
Witch?
Gregory thought of Vichina.
Is it her? But she’s not a bad person, she smiles so gently.
You! Startled out of his reverie, Gregory looked up to see the witch hunter pointing at him, “Are you the shepherd boy?”
Yes, yes… my lord.
Look up, meet my gaze! The witch hunter took out the drawing and almost pressed it to Gregory’s face, whispering, “Have you seen her?”
In that moment, Gregory couldn’t recognize the person in the painting. Vichina was so beautiful, she would smile, and she was gentle when holding the black sheep. The person in the painting seemed too vague.
He didn’t know who it was.
The witch hunter stared intently into Gregory’s eyes: “Vichina.”
Gregory’s legs went weak with fright, and he stared blankly at the witch hunter.
You know where she is! The witch hunter suddenly shouted, and many people turned to look; someone whispered, “He’s said that six times now.”
Gregory didn’t know, his legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.
The witch hunter grabbed Gregory by the collar, leaning in close, growling, “You’ve seen her!”
Gregory was on the verge of tears, “No!”
You know where she is!
I, I don’t
know!
Hmph, someone has already told me that the shepherd boy has seen her quietly
meeting with a red-haired woman.
Gregory was completely panicked.
If you don’t tell me,
I’ll recognize your unnatural name and kill your whole family!
The witch hunter threatened: I’ll tie you up
and throw you into the fire, burned alive!
His parents also urged:
Hurry up and say it.
Gregory decided to tell what he knew.
He almost wanted to give up Vichina, but he remembered the kiss on his forehead.
She lived in the birdhouse that only he knew about, he had promised himself that he would protect sister Vichina like a knight.
He cried out, “I don’t know, I don’t know anything, boohoo.”
Indeed. The witch hunter released his grip, allowing Gregory to sit on the ground.
The Empire soldier came over with the giant sword, asking, “What’s going on?”
Just scaring a child,” the witch hunter said, “If the witch truly came to this village, the shepherd boy is most likely to discover it. Though he showed no reaction when seeing the painting, what if?”
In the midst of his tears, Gregory nervously gripped the dirt beneath him.
“Alright, I wonder if the food is ready? Old man.”
The witch hunter turned around, tossing a gold coin: “We will rest here for a while, then leave.”
The elder nodded and bowed: “Yes, esteemed witch hunter.”
Gregory cursed under his breath: “Bandit.”
Then, he remembered who was in the stable. She was waiting for him to nurse her wounds, having just found some herbs to treat herself yesterday and was resting. If those bandits found her…
Gregory was frantic. Fortunately, he was a shepherd, tasked with herding sheep. His family had given him two days’ rations and told him to take care of the sheep. Gregory left the village with his slingshot, intending to find sister Vichina directly.
The thought that she might be burned alive, such a beautiful sister, burned alive, made him unable to help but urge a few sheep to bleat.
They sounded like laughter.
Gregory suddenly remembered his own cries and thought of the cunning bandit-like witch hunter. No, he is definitely watching me; I can’t carelessly go looking for sister Vichina.
What to do?
In the distance, a lead sheep, attracted to the grass, strayed from the flock to nibble at it, it would get lost and eventually die in the forest.
Gregory skillfully picked up a stone and placed it in the slingshot, swinging it once, the stone accurately hit the stray sheep, bringing it back to the herd.
He looked at the slingshot in his hand and suddenly had an idea. The clothes he wore were handed down by his older brother, with patches on them; if they got torn, he would definitely be scolded by the shepherd. But he tore off a piece, biting his finger, and scribbled the character “run” on the torn cloth.
Fortunately, a monk in the small chapel in the village had taught him some writing.
Gregory pretended to use the slingshot, organizing the sheep back in line. As he passed the dilapidated stable, he vigorously swung the slingshot, which flew through the roof of the stable and landed inside. He deeply inhaled the aged smell of the stable, his tears thinking of all being spilled on the red hair from the morning.
Half later.
Gregory returned from tending the sheep, with bloodshot eyes from lack of sleep, constantly worried about red-haired sister Vichina in his nightmares, always hearing about her being surrounded by the witch hunter and bad men, curling up among those bad men, calling his name, only to be thrown onto the pyre and burned alive.
I wonder if the witch hunters have left? I can’t go to the stable just yet; I must first make sure the witch hunters have left.
As Gregory thought this, he counted his steps: 551, 550, 549, until 400 steps, and he would see the stable.
But he wouldn’t look back; he must first reach the village and find out if the witch hunters had left.
Yet if he did that, he would have to drive the sheep into the sheepfold, do various chores and housework, and when he finally regained his freedom, it would already be the second day of herding sheep again.
He would have to wait an extra day and an afternoon before seeing sister Vichina.
Gregory felt anxious, but resolutely made his choice.
404, 403,
402, 401, 400, he reached the grass field where the stable stood.
In the stable stood the red-haired woman, her mature figure graceful, holding a little lamb in one hand, she lifted her head and smiled at him.
It was sister Vichina.
Gregory couldn’t help but rush toward her, running to the flock, dropping the worries in his heart. Vichina set down the little lamb, opened her arms to him, and Gregory plunged into her embrace, holding her tightly.
Sister Vichina.
Gregory couldn’t hold back his tears: “You, you, boohoo.”
Men shouldn’t cry.
Vichina stroked his head: “But you are still a child, so adorable. Go ahead and cry in my arms.”
She said this as she tightly embraced Gregory.
The fragrance from her nose felt like feathers touching his heart; he felt himself merging with his tears, melting away in Vichina’s arms.
Thank you.
After a long time, they separated, and Vichina said: “You are the best person I’ve met along this journey.”
I, did I help sister Vichina?
Of course, I did. When I saw the stones you brought, Vichina smiled: “Have you kissed another girl?”
Ah? I haven’t kissed anyone.
Vichina bent down, before Gregory could react, kissed him on the lips. Gregory’s face turned pale, and then he heard Vichina’s light laughter: “Now you have kissed.”
