Saving a Merchant of Mirror's (Page 2)

(5 years later)

~~~(POV of Alexander)~~~

The port in Novigrad sure is busy with this war going on. I come up here once a year to acquire services of the mage's to reinforce the ward on my hut. I have a lot more to protect now that my son is always running off on an adventure. Cera (pronounced sir-uh) is so full of life. He has brought so much happiness to Lillian and me. The mage said he would be up to our house in seven days. He had to gather some help since he is rather new with wards.

I begin my trek out of Novigrad and headed south to our little forest. It would be 4 days by walking, 2 if I had a horse. I heard that there had been a lot of monsters since the war started. I know that the house is hidden and protected, but I need to help raise Little Cera. I missed out on a lot the first 2 years because of traveling to support our family. I've been here the last two since I started farming instead.

I should've known that this was a great option. I didn't have time to pursue it, thanks to the demand for food with an extra mouth to feed. I got lucking and bought some cheap healthy crops. Planting them in our land was easy. Keeping them healthy was a little hard, but we succeeded. Now we can just eat our crops and food instead of buying them.

(2 day's into the trip home.)

I hear a lot of angry-sounding beasts up ahead. Looks like a merchant cart with glass all over the place. "HELP!!! SOMEONE!!! ANYONE!!!" I hear a voice call out, definitely male by the sound of it. I pull out my sword and run-up to the action. It's a bald man in brown and yellow clothes. This must be the one calling for help. Necrophages seem to be the ones that attacked this man.

I slay a couple of them really fast and get back to back with the man. "How unlucky do you have to be to attract so many Necrophages?!" I quickly assess the situation and adjust my pose. Fighting necrophages isn't easy, and a normal man will have a hard time killing one by himself.

I hear the labored breaths of the man. He is in a very tough spot. "A story to tell if we survive this!!" They must be attracted by all the dead soldiers from the battle's going around.

I've never seen so many rotting corpses. "Right you are, friend!! Let's finish these off fast before they wise up!!!" I quickly focus my attention on the battle. Hopefully, this guy can hold his own in a fight this dangerous.

We proceed to fight more than 10 Necrophages. Blood and guts are everywhere. It surprises me sometimes something like these can come from humans.

After 20 minutes of careful combat, we manage to kill the last one. "Are you alright, merchant?" After long battles, it can be hard to think straight, especially after fighting monsters. I check on the merchant. He doesn't have any visible wounds anywhere. He is rather unharmed. It looks like he can fight.

He stands up straight and dusts off his dirty clothes. The battle was long and hard, so both of us are covered in grime. "Ahhh, I give my thanks to you, kind sir. May I ask what the name of my savior is?" He sounds more composed now that the fighting is done. He asks me for my name. He seems like a nice enough man. He has great manners too.

I take a breath preparing my answer. I wouldn't mind knowing the name of the person I saved either. It's rare events like this occur for someone like me. "My name is Alexander Amavet. If you don't mind me asking as well, can I have yours?" From what I can put together with the information at hand, he has wealth. His demeanor says so.

He smiles and puts the tips of his fingers together, and holds them right out in front of his stomach. "Why, of course, I am Gaunter O'Dimm, a merchant of mirrors. I have had a string of bad luck as of late. Traveling in these war-torn land's wasn't the best of idea's it seems." My thoughts about him having money are wrong. It won't be the last time I'm wrong about something either. I'm not the brightest man around.

I smile at the man. He has risked life and limb to make a living. That's admirable enough. I would do the same thing. "We do what we must to provide for ourselves and the ones we love. No matter how dangerous." I repeat my favorite quote. It's one of the few I actually know. We aren't far from my home, and this man look's like he could use a place to stay on his journey south.

He relaxes slightly at the less formal shift in the conversation. He is definitely a merchant. "Spoken like a loving father and caring husband. I can tell that you are in a hurry so I won't keep you. Thanks again, Alexander. I won't forget this kind deed." Gaunter O'Dimm turns towards his ruined cart, looking to salvage whatever he can.

I can't just leave his out here, not after those necrophages. Who knows how many more are out there. I take a quick breath and prepare to speak. "Wait!! It seems as though you won't be able to travel with your cart any more. You can come with me if you wish. My home is a day's walk from here. You can rest before you continue where you are going." I don't feel right inside abandoning a man to the cruelties of the world. It isn't right. He also seems like an honest and humble man. Helping doesn't extend to only one deed, and I'm not stopping here.

He turns back around and sighs slightly. He realizes the situation he is in too. "I would be blind, deaf, and dumb if I don't take your offer, my friend. It seems as if fate had us meet. I do hate to intrude and hassle, but I don't seem to have any other choice." Gaunter O'Dimm walks away from his cart and stands in front of me. He gives a light nod in thanks.

He should get whatever belongings he has left after that attack. I doubt he has much of anything left, though. "Well, pack up whatever's left, and we will head south," I wait for Mr. O'Dimm to gather the things he needs, and soon we head on the day-long journey and talk about our lives and past. Gaunter O'Dimm is quite the merchant, it seems. He has been to so many places and talked to so many people.

~~~(1 day later back at home)~~~

We approach my home after we walk through the protective ward. It's the best investment I made besides the crops. "My love, I'm back, and I've brought a guest that will be staying for the next day and night," My wife open the door as we approach and holds out her hand for a handshake with Gaunter,

They shake hands, and Lillian turns her attention to me. "Well, isn't that lovely? It's been a few years since we had a guest." She is radiating happy energy at my return. I'm always disappointed when I have to leave my family. It's the worst feeling in the world, but I don't do it as often anymore.

I take off my overcoat and place it on the coat rack. While we don't have much, we have what we need. "Yes, I helped him fight off some Necrophages after they attacked his carriage," I tell the story of our strange and uncommon meeting. My wife looks at me, worried, and quickly checks me for any injuries. I make her stop by gently peeling her hands off me. She turns away in annoyance now that she knows I'm not hurt.

I've told Gaunter all about my wife, how we met, and how we fell in love. "Ahh, this must be the Lillian you told me all about," I remember that I forgot to tell him about my son. My son has always been special, especially when it comes to learning. He picks up things he reads extremely fast. He isn't too good with a sword. I plan to change that. I can't have him perish because I couldn't teach him how to save himself.

I hear the footsteps of little feet rush from one of the rooms in our little shack. "Daddy!! Daddy!! Your home!!!" I hear the small voice of my son call out to me. After Cera was born, everything changed. Life has been a dream every day.

I pick him up and hold him in my arms. "How has my little man been doing without me around, huh?" I haven't seen him for a good week, so I'm happy to have this moment with him. He is excited to tell me something, that's for sure. I can't help taking pride in my son. He is everything a father could want and ask for.

He smiles with happiness as he prepares to explain. "I've been practicing just like you taught me!" I taught him how to hold and swing a sword. His mother has been teaching him how to read and write.

She should give herself more credit. After studying, she is better at reading and writing than me now. "Well, I'm glad that you have been listening to me. I can't help but wonder if you grew again, son?" Every time I see him after coming home, he looks taller and gets bigger. I hear Gaunter next to me ask a question.

Gaunter is very smart. I think he and Cera will get along great. He can tell him things I can't about the world. "Well, who is this young one? You seem to have forgotten to mention anything about him on our journey here." I was so focused on getting home to my family safe that I neglected to talk about my son.

Being here is way more important than being out there. Without them, I'd have no reason to continue living. "Ahh yes, this is my son, Cera Riannon Dorren Amavet. He is our only child. Pardon the long name, but Lillian insisted that he have the whole family's name." Gaunter O'Dimm smiles and holds out his hand for a handshake. Cera reaches up and shakes his hand, doing his best to be polite. We excluded Fiona since that name is Lillian's middle, maiden name.

Unbeknownst to everyone, said man gives a slightly more than knowing smile.

Too subtle to catch, too sly to notice. One that a demon would give when it finally found its target. "Come, dinner will be ready shortly." The mages will be here the day after tomorrow. I don't have to worry about the wards at the moment. They're still holding.

They'll hold just fine till the mages arrive. "I'm truly sorry for bothering you both. I'll never forget this debt. You have my word." Gaunter nods his head in gratitude, and I reciprocate. I wish I ran into more people as nice as Gaunter. I know that Cera is eager to hear about my time in Novigrad, so I shouldn't keep him waiting.