Lavandula

Hidden Paths

The Sun sat low on the horizon, colouring the sky in right red. Eskel looked out of the window, letting the last sun rays land on his face. He had spent the whole day meditating and preparing for a battle that might not even come. One needs to be prepared. Always.

***

Svetlana felt nervous as she was putting on her brown coat and watched the sun set low on the horizon throw window curtains. The sun rays were tricky and even though the arranged meeting with Eskel took place after the sun "went to sleep", there was still change she would get burns.

Would the Witcher think she is cursed as some say she was? No, why would he? She is not cursed, she is not a monster and someone who spent his whole life fighting the genuine monsters wouldn't mistake her a human for someone what is not. That's the logical conclusion and the most likely outcome yet she still felt unease when she put her keys into the pocket and left her room.

***

Eskel way waiting outside the main entrance into the dorms, Svetlana watched him kick a stone from the street into the grass, her nervousness not leaving her. Wint the hood over her head and hold-in breath approached the Wicher with a greeting on her lips.
"Hello Eskel, have you waited for long?"

"No, I just came. Shall we go?" It took him a moment to recognise her, her green sweater was replaced by a heavy coat and the hood over her head did not make her recognition any easier. Yet he still could smell a sweat light hint of lavender when she walked to him.

"Yeah, follow me, please." and Eskel followed Svetlana to what seemed like an abandoned house. To his surprise, they did not go in throw the main door but went for a small wooden door in the back of the house.
Svetlana started giving an explanation before Eskel even had a chance to ask for one. "This city is built on elven ruins. Not many people know about them and they are hard to access. But on those ruins and just underneath the city, there are secret tunnels made for defence and offence reasons." She led him deeper and deeper and unlocked two doors in the process.

"And how do you know about them? About all of this?" she could hear the tone of disbelief and wonderment in his voice. That was a better reaction then she expected.
"How to put it. I have a condition that makes my skin extremely sensitive to the sun. It burns like fire and, I like fire burns as the next guy. So, the head of the university showed me these so I would be able to get around the city when the shining orb is out. This coat helps but it has its downsides."

"The Dean must be a good man, letting you use these."

"He is, but I still think he would not be so generous If not for my step-father." He wanted to know what her step-father had to do or who he was, but the tone in which Svetlana said it stopped him from asking. And he would he need to know? What for? It was just a stupid thought that crossed his mind, nothing more.

***

How many times has she used this passage? Maybe ten times in total? Svetlana had no particular use of this one, it led to the outskirts and ended below the fortification walls and as much as she was thankful for these tunnels, she did not enjoy her trips throw them.

Viola, on the other hand, had perfect use of this particular passage. She was amazed by its charms which made no sense to Svetlana.

But where was the harm in helping a friend in need? If this -moist, dark and dusty at the same time-place would do the trick - who was she to judge.

"This was her writing room... at least for this semester," said Svetlana and looked around kinda lost in a moment. "Don't know why, but this place spoke to her, but when she would feel frustrated when was used about her work not going how she wished... she would lock herself here and do her Magic."

The flickering of the candle's flame that Svetlana was holding shined on a stock of paper, books and a quill laying in a spilt ink, some burnt out candles with its wax drippings hardened on the desk.

Even though this little room looked like a dungeon all those little things were put here with a thought in mind and were able to make this place almost cosy.

This space was quite small so Svetlana had to step out to let Eskel look around the table, into a cabinet and on the walls which had plenty of semi filled papers. Svetlana had Eskel do his job and turned her eyes away from the space now full of things her friend would never need again. She didn't want to watch.

***

"Thank you for your help." They were finally out of those tunnels. They were confined and reeked of mould and Eskel gracefully filled his lungs with fresh air, happy to get the smell out of his system.

"No need to thank me. I wanted to help." Svetlanas voice sounded genuine and somewhat shaken.

"Did you find anything helpful?" the moon provided enough light for them as they walked back to the dorms with this small conversation that had many possibilities in where it was actually heading.

"Can't say I did not. Her diary gave me an idea of where to look next."

"What's your plan now?"

"I might go to the outskirts, just to be sure nothing lurks there and then maybe get dinner... you?" Her question caught him unprepared. It was as if she was hoping for an answer she could get a hold on.

"I was thinking about a glass of beer!" said Svetlana loudly and with forced excitement. Like she was going to give her best in presenting this idea as the best idea ever. "Let me show you the best beer this city has to offer, and on our way there you will be able to check the city. How about that? How does that sound?" She hoped her words do not sound pleading because that's how they sounded in her head. She did not want to be left alone and the idea of a glass of beer with someone sounded so calming and Eskel seemed like a good company for a glass or two.

To say he was surprised would be an understatement. But why not? Having a company sounded nice and he would lie if he would say it did not gladden him.
So he smiled and nodded. "...Good? ... good!"

"It's settled then!" Svetlana smiled, her excitement not forced this time.

***

"The Floating Duck. Are you sure this is the place?" Eskel had a hard time coming in terms with the fact that this young student that studied law as she told him on their way here would even enter this establishment. The inn looked worn out, old and overall not in a good shape. Next to the entrance laid a drunk man with his pants down, visibly comfortable. He visited many

"Yes, don't judge a book by its cover. I promised you the best beer in town and If I lie let it be known that Svetlana Slavnikovska of Gelibor Gondich van der Etonia has to eat her hat." She was presenting this inn with so much confidence it fueled his interest even more. The discovery that her name was long enough that man could be hung on it was just a cherry on top.

"Is that really your name? All of it?" It sounded Nilfgardian yet the rest of her being screamed anything but that.

"Well, I might have forgotten something. It's so hellishly and unnecessarily long," replied Svetlana with a grin on her face, returning a smile Eskel was giving her. His scared lip was lifted up by that, exposing his teeth. They were human as teeth can be and Svetlana felt strangely amused and enlightened by it.

"You are right about that." his smile faded away as he noticed her looking at his face.

"I am right about the beer too." Svetlana noticed the change in his posture and quickly look him in the eyes that had little to human as possible in visual aspect and smiled with the smile that said that everything is alright.

"Let me be the judge on that." this night could be fun, he thought to himself as he watched Svetlana's face lit up even more.

"As you wish. Shall we go in then?" Yes, we should.