Luisa and the Witcher

With the pleasantries out of the way, they sat down to drink tea.

"I would love to guide her on all she needs to know, we can start tomorrow," Maximilian said.

"Are you free tomorrow?" Zeke asked.

"Yes, by noon," Maximilian replied.

After they were done talking and drinking tea, Maximilian and his daughter accompanied Zeke and Luisa to their carriage. They got into the carriage and the coachman started to ride it immediately.

"Thank you," Luisa appreciated. Zeke just nodded.

They continued to ride until they got to the place, where they visited last time when she was here, where they had bought the clothes and visited that fortune teller.

The name of the place was valley of valor.

They came to a stop at a store, the coachman opened the carriage door for them. Luisa saw that they didn't go to lady De'laurae's this time. The store had a simple sign board which read 'Attire store'.

Clothes, bags and shoes were displayed through the transparent front glass wall on stools for the bags and shoes, while mannequins for the clothes.

They entered into the store and a vampire lady came to welcome them.

"Good day master Zeke, how may I help you?" the woman said.

'He must be a regular in this valley for everyone to know him,' Luisa thought.

"Some thing simple for her," Zeke started.

The lady's eyes fell on Luisa. Her eyes scanned the girl, she looked about fourteen to fifteen years old. She had the same eye color and medallion as master Zeke.

Was she a witcher? Impossible, a girl at her age, a witcher? The woman shook it off as she saw that the girl was an elf, maybe that were the natural color of her eyes but what about the medallion?

"She must be your rumored elf god daughter," the woman asked.

"Wow, rumors are really like wild fire. She is a protege witcher under me, so she's kind of like a god daughter to me," Zeke replied and both Luisa and the woman looked at him.

"S-She's a witcher. That's pretty unique. I've never seen or heard of a female witcher before," the woman responded.

"Hmm... well we are not here to discuss what you've seen or heard or haven't before," Zeke added, matter of fact.

"Apologies master Zeke...(Turns to Luisa) do you have any thing of interest?" the woman got down to business.

"I'll like to have similar things to what I'm wearing right now," Luisa answered.

"Okay." the woman replied.

"Add two gowns to it with a night gown as well," Zeke butted in.

"You know I don't feel comfortable in gowns," Luisa protested.

"Better get comfortable because you're going to need it at some point," Zeke replied.

"I'm a witcher, not some Cinderella," she argued with her chin up.

"Being a witcher doesn't mean you're no longer a lady. I remember the first time I gave you those boys clothes, the look on your chubby face," Zeke recalled with a small grin. "Hmm, I think you hit your head. I was never chubby and those clothes were so ordinary...we almost looked like prisoners. But these...(Twirls once) are the perfect female trousers," Luisa pointed out.

"No they're not, I have seen better." Zeke replied and Luisa shoulders dropped.

The woman felt like she was watching a live play unfold before her eyes, she tried to hold her laughter, so she wouldn't offend master Zeke.

At the end, Luisa surrendered and accepted the gowns. Once they were done, they went to have lunch as it was already noon.

They as usual sat down and ordered their meals, and it was brought to them after a short while. Luisa placed her palms on her cheeks and grinned at Zeke.

"Why are you grinning like someone who's about to perform something dubious?" he responded.

"Nothing, you've been really nice than usual to me these days. Ha, I see..." she trailed off.

"See what?" Zeke asked.

"You've started to fancy me, haven't you? Now, it's my turn to be narcissistic," she replied and continued grinning. Zeke flicked her forehead so harshly this time.

"Ouch!" she reacted. That actually hurt.

"Days have passed without you being engaged with something, now your head is in the clouds. Thinking about it, it's been long since you were last punished," he smirked devilishly at her.

"So?" Luisa instinctively gulped. She knew what that sardonic look meant.

"So, enjoy your meal. It might be your last," he said so seriously, a killer look in his eyes. "U-Uh...W-What?" Luisa stuttered and he let out a throaty laugh.

"You are very gullible, Luisa. Makes me to wonder if you are really that feisty and inquisitive girl facade you put on in front of others," Zeke responded.

'You are the only one privileged to see this side of me,' Luisa thought.

It was true, with Zeke she feels free to let her guard down, he was the only person she has grown to trust, even from the very first day they met, despite him being a stranger and cold to her.

"I'm not gullible, you're just too good an actor," she replied.

"No, I meant half of that," he continued and Luisa's brows creased.

'What does he mean?' she asked herself but they continued their meal in silence, only bringing up random topics at some points.

Once they were done, they went to where the carriage was parked, the coachman waiting for them. They got into the carriage finally heading for Zeke's house, or so Luisa thought.

At a certain point on the way when they were surrounded by forest, Zeke tapped on the small window towards the coachman.

"Yes, master Zeke?" the coachman responded as he continued to ride.

"Stop the carriage," Zeke ordered and Luisa looked at him puzzled. The coachman did as he was told.

"Is something wrong, master?" the coachman asked. But Zeke ignored him and opened the carriage door.

"Come out, shortie," Zeke instructed and Luisa complied without a protest.

"Take the carriage to the mansion. We'll come back on foot after checking out something," Zeke informed his coachman.

"O-Okay, master Zeke," the coachman responded and journeyed on.

"What are you up to?" Luisa asked.

"We're going for a hunt," he answered and started walking into the forest.

Luisa looked at the empty road, there were no carriages or horses or even people on foot in sight. She sighed before she entered as well.

"What are we hunting for?" Luisa asked when she caught up with him.

"Any real beast in sight," he replied.

"Hunger for meat or pleasure?" she inquired.

"The latter" He answered. Of course it wasn't for meat, he could afford any meat, at any time and at any price.

They continued to walk deeper into the forest. "Walk quieter shortie. Your protege lessons have already begun. A real hunter doesn't make a sound, so that it won't scare his prey away," Zeke began and Luisa nodded. They started to walk quieter.

"How long are we going to continue to walk, I don't see or hear any prey in sight," Luisa whined.

"I can feel and smell one, use those senses," Zeke told.

"How are we going to kill the animal even if we see one? We don't have any weapon," Luisa pointed out.

"You talk too much. Even if you are not armed and equipped, always remember that you are a weapon of your own. A witcher must always be mindful and on guard no matter the place or situation," Zeke responded.

"I don't still smell or feel any thing," Luisa continued.

"Hmm...That's strange. My senses must be stronger than yours. I do smell one," Zeke said and began to climb a tall tree.

"What are you doing? Are you a monkey?" Luisa responded.

He sat on a thick branch when he got to the top, he inclined his right leg and place his right hand on his right knee. His other leg dangled on the tree branch as he placed his left palm on the branch.

"We need to lure the beast out of its hiding place," Zeke told.

"How?" Luisa asked.

"With bait!" he replied.

"Okay, where do we get one?" she asked.

"(Huffs)...You're the bait," he replied and finally Luisa could actually feel and hear something.

She heard a low growl until a big wolf came into view. She hasn't seen a wolf this big and angry in her life before. She began to move backwards as the wolf began to approach. Her back hit a tree bark, it was too late to climb a tree now, she will have to fight it.

"Uh...Zeke, your prey is here now," she announced, though it was obvious.

"Actually, it's yours," he replied and she looked at him.

"Is this the punishment?" she asked.

"Yes... and no. I want to see how you'll handle this situation on your own. A day like this must come and I might not be there to help.

"You need to learn how to handle killing and survival situations like this. C'mon, go for it...i know your capabilities, I won't allow you to fight something you can't beat," Zeke answered.

The wolf launched at her immediately but Luisa was fast and dodged the attack. The animal snarled and leaped to tear her apart again.

Before it got to her, she picked up a stick and pressed it against the animal's neck, but the weight of the animal made her to go down on one knee. She struggled to prevent the animal from biting off her neck. With all her strength, she pushed the animal away sending it to fly backwards hitting a tree.

"It would have been much easier if I had my bow and arrow," she complained and Zeke chuckled.

"Battles aren't always easy, that's why we lose them at times," he highlighted.

"Should I help out?" he offered.

"Like you said, I'm a witcher who's going to hunt down monsters someday and you are not always going to be there. I need to learn how to fight my battles alone," Luisa replied, breaking the stick in her hand as the animal started to get up. It rushed towards her and she stabbed it in it's left eye.

"Ahhh! My eye," Luisa heard the animal yelp.

Shocked, she staggered backwards and tripped on a fallen tree.

"You..." she heard it say again as it turned towards her again with an injured eye.

"What's wrong, Luisa?" Zeke asked noticing the flabbergasted look on her face.

"D-Did you hear the animal talk?" she asked.

"Talk? Does snarls and growls count? Get up! You're just waiting to be killed," he urged her, a little worried now.

She can't believe this. S-She could actually hear and understand this thing.

...