Dawn was just breaking, a pale band of white appearing on the eastern horizon. At Fislo Castle, the cold wind swept up a few withered yellow leaves, and the air hung heavy with parting. Maya stood at the castle gates, clutching a thick woolen cloak, her eyes never leaving Yavi. Her eyes brimmed with tears, but she fought to keep them from falling. Only her faintly trembling lips betrayed her reluctance and worry.
Yavi stood beside Kharkov with a small bundle on his back, looking somewhat ill at ease. He looked up at his mother, then down at the tips of his shoes, his voice so soft it was barely audible. "Mother... I have to go."
Maya hurried forward, draped the cloak over Yavi's shoulders, and carefully fastened its ties. Her fingers gently brushed his cheek, her voice tender but slightly choked. "Yavi, the weather is getting cold. Make sure you dress warmly, and don't catch a chill. I wove this cloak myself. Take it with you, and it'll be as though I'm right beside you."
Yavi lowered his head, feeling the warmth of the cloak, his eyes reddening slightly. "Mother, I will. Take care of yourself too, and don't worry too much about me."
Maya forced a faint smile and reached out to ruffle Yavi's hair. "Silly child, how could I not worry about you? You've never been away from home in your life, and now you're suddenly going so far away... You must listen to Kharkov, take good care of yourself, eat on time, and don't wear yourself out."
Yavi nodded, his voice a little choked. "Mother, I will. Don't worry. I'll become strong, then come back to protect everyone."
Maya could no longer hold back her tears. She hugged Yavi tightly, as though trying to pass all her warmth and love to him. "Yavi, wherever you go, remember that your mother will always love you. When you come back, I'll be sure to make your favorite honey cake."
Herbert stood to one side, watching the scene with a complicated expression. He stepped forward and gently patted Maya's shoulder, his voice low but firm. "Maya, let Yavi go. This is his path. We have to believe in him."
Maya released Yavi, wiped her tears, and tried to calm herself. She looked at Kharkov, a hint of pleading in her voice. "Kharkov, I'm entrusting Yavi to you. Please take good care of him."
Kharkov nodded solemnly. "Lady Maya, rest assured. I'll do everything I can to protect Yavi and teach him until he can stand on his own."
Jace and Mel stepped forward as well. Jace patted Yavi's shoulder, a trace of reluctance in his voice. "Yavi, by the time you come back, I'll be stronger too. Then we'll protect Fislo together."
Mel clasped Yavi's hand tightly, her eyes full of tears. "Yavi, you must come back safely. We'll miss you."
Yavi looked at his family, his heart full of reluctance to leave, but he knew he had to be strong. He took a deep breath and nodded. "Father, Mother, big brother, big sister, take care of yourselves too. When I come back, we'll go look at Fislo's night sky together again."
Kharkov glanced at the sky and said quietly, "It's about time. We should set off."
The two of them then climbed onto the wagon. Kharkov drove it through the gates and slowly away. Sitting in the back, Yavi kept watching his family grow more distant, and at last his tears flowed unchecked. During their farewell, he had fought to keep himself from crying, but now he no longer needed to hold back.
Kharkov did not turn to look at Yavi or offer any words of comfort. He simply kept moving forward.
Maya remained where she stood, watching their retreating figures gradually disappear, tears blurring her vision once more. She murmured softly, "Yavi, come back safely..."
The cold wind still blew, but Maya knew that no matter how far Yavi traveled, her love would always be with him until he returned.
Though Yavi was young and had never traveled far from home, he showed an exceptional ability to adapt to the changing surroundings and endure the fatigue of travel along the way. He did not complain endlessly as ordinary children would, and this made Kharkov take notice.
Over the next few days, Kharkov spent all his time traveling except when he let the horses rest and eat. Since the wagon could not take the smaller paths, they had to follow the main roads, which took a little more time. Meanwhile, Yavi gazed at the scenery outside from the wagon, utterly bored, asking a few questions now and then. But Kharkov was not a man of many words to begin with, so he simply ignored most of them...
After roughly seven days of nonstop travel, Kharkov and Yavi finally reached Kaedwen in their wagon. Kharkov did not linger, however. After buying a few supplies in a village they passed through, the two pressed on toward Kaer Morhen without pause.
They then traveled through Kaedwen for another eight or nine days before finally approaching the Blue Mountains on its easternmost edge. Kaer Morhen stood at this edge of the civilized world, long forgotten by the world, and few people knew the way to the castle.
After half a month of nonstop travel, Yavi and Kharkov finally reached the foot of Kaer Morhen. The wagon could go no farther along the road ahead, so they left the covered wagon beneath an abandoned watchtower at the foot of the mountain and rode toward Kaer Morhen. Though Kaer Morhen was right before their eyes, they still spent half a day on horseback before reaching the castle's drawbridge.
Once the witchers inside the castle recognized Kharkov, they immediately lowered the drawbridge and opened the gates. Two capable-looking witchers then came toward them.
"Master Kharkov, long time no see! Did everything go smoothly on your visit home to see your family?"
One of them, a bald witcher, slowly approached. His gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, and the scars on his face looked particularly fearsome.
Kharkov smiled faintly. "Irgo, you're the same as ever, looking fierce no matter who you meet."
"Ah, it's not like I want to. I can't help being born with a fierce face. But you know me-I'm ugly, but I'm gentle." With that, he gave a slightly sleazy smile.
His antics sent Kharkov and the other witcher into hearty laughter. The mood instantly lightened, and the weariness of the journey vanished in that moment.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries with the two, Kharkov led Yavi into Kaer Morhen. Kharkov did not introduce Yavi to them, and neither of them asked much about his bringing a child back.