Villain's POV: The Heroines Want Me!

Chapter 6: Chapter 6- Forests Never Forgive (Part 1)

Chapter 6- Forests Never Forgive (Part 1)

*One Year Later*

Time had moved swiftly ever since that night. Nothing had changed about Geralt, yet his words changed Rize’s perspective of the entire world and the ordeal he was in. He found himself taking things far more seriously and complaining less. He knew that even though he was truly exhausted and in so much pain, this was his ticket to survive what would happen in the future, and he wanted to hold onto it with everything he got.

At the same time, Rize slowly blended with the world, and the fact that he was not even from it faded to the back of his mind. Instead, he put his heart and soul into his training and studies. He practiced martial arts and weapons every single day of his life for hours on end.

In a matter of months, he mastered several martial arts techniques and reached a high level in swordsmanship. Geralt was naturally shocked at how rapid Rize’s growth was. Calling him a sponge was an understatement... The boy was a true genius, and he could tell that with time.

His ability to adapt and learn was unlike anything he had ever seen. So, naturally, he increased the intensity and the pace at which he was trying to execute his plans. The more intense it got, the more Rize thrived.

Their spars became far more complex with Rize learning how to ambush, counter, seek weak points, and attack with relentless speed and lethality, aiming for the weakest points in the human body.

He was slowly turning into a killing machine ready to shred through anything with horrifying efficiency.

Even Geralt felt subtly terrified of what kind of monster he was creating.

By the time it hit one year and one month since he started his training... Rize didn’t even recognize himself anymore. He was still growing, so his height and muscle mass increased considerably. His speed, strength, senses, and everything about him improved drastically.

He was slowly evolving, and he could see it.

Rize... was getting strong.

***

”So, what are we doing today, sir?” Rize asked as he stretched his limbs. Before, he would have to crank his neck to the max to look at Geralt, but now, he didn’t need to do it as much.

”There won’t be training today,” Geralt replied.

”Huh?” Rize was confused. ”No training? What? Am I getting my long-awaited vacation finally?”

”No. You will never need a vacation. Your first vacation will be in your grave.” Geralt replied coldly.

’This guy has no idea how to treat a kid, does he?’ Rize rolled his eyes. ”So, what are we doing then?”

”Very simple. We are going to start teaching you survival skills.” Geralt said.

”Survival skills?”

”As Her Highness’ escort, you must be aware and ready for all situations, and that includes being stranded in a forest. You must be ready to take the necessary measures and survive on your own.” Geralt explained. ”From now on, every month, I will drop you at random locations in the forest for an entire week, and your goal is to make it back to the cabin alive.”

”...”

”You will be granted minimal tools at first, but then, when you’re ready, you will have to get everything yourself.”

’This is wild. It took me a year to finally start learning how to survive?’ Rize scratched his head.

”I prepared the bag that you will need,” Geralt said as he pulled the bag from behind him and threw it to Rize. The boy took it confusedly and opened it. Inside, he found a few food rations, some tools to build a fire, a coat, and a compass. ’This is far from enough to survive for a week. He doesn’t want me to rely on what he gives me.’

”Now, put this on.” He said as he gave Rize a piece of cloth. ”Cover your eyes. I want you to rely on the compass to find your way back here.”

”Wait, how would I even know??” Rize asked.

”There are coordinates written on a piece of paper in the bag. Use them and the compass to figure out where you are and where you should go.”

”...”

”I told you not to relax too much. Your tasks will only get harder from here on out.”

Rize could see the serious look in Geralt’s eyes, and he could only sigh. ’Ten years, he said, right? No wonder Rize turned out to be that kind of person... I’m already transforming.’

Rize could feel that he was growing numb to pain and discomfort. It had become his default state most of the time, so he didn’t feel it anymore. So did his feelings, as they were not necessary, so he was slowly getting rid of them.

Rize didn’t know if that was a good or bad change, but he felt it happen, and he could not stop it even if he wanted to.

So, instead, he picked the cloth and wrapped it around his eyes, submerging them in darkness.

”Follow me,” Geralt said as he grabbed Rize’s arm and started pulling him to the area behind the cabin. There, he had a car parked in the shadows. Opening the door, he put Rize there.

Then, the boy felt the engine start and the car started moving. Cutting through the forest, it found an open path and took it. Rize could sense it, but he soon lost track of where they were, and since then, it became completely bleak.

”Aside from survival, you have bugs, and most importantly, predators to worry about. You have learned how to fight humans, but what you should learn is also how to fight beasts and abominations.”

”How do I learn that?”

”Trial and error. Monsters are different from humans in the sense that they’re unpredictable and very violent. They have no recognizable patterns, and they mostly use their instincts to fight. You need to learn how to fight the unknown and win.”

”Fight the unknown, huh?”

’I feel like I grew so much and my techniques have improved a lot. I can give it a good shot.’

After driving for what felt like hours, the car finally came to a halt, and the two got out. Then, Rize was led through the thick bushes of the forest for a while. He almost tripped several times, but he kept walking.

Eventually, Geralt stopped, and he looked back at Rize before he said.

”I’m leaving now. When you hear me disappear, take the cloth off. I will be waiting for you back at home.”

”Yes, sir.”

”Good luck, Rize. Make sure to survive.” Geralt said. ”It will be... unfortunate if you don’t.”

For a second, Rize could swear he heard some sort of emotion in Geralt’s voice, but it disappeared quickly. ’Is he actually... worried about me?’

Rize could not believe his ears. This man had never shown emotions before; even in the story, he rarely, if ever, does show them. The fact he sounded worried was shocking.

But before he could even say anything, he heard the man walk away and disappear into the distance. Rize waited a few more minutes just in case before he finally took the cloth off, and he saw that he was standing in the middle of nowhere... surrounded by giant trees to his left and right and a weird, almost eerie silence.

”Ok, so I’m all alone now... Not great.” He stretched his limbs before he checked the bag and pulled the compass out and checked it. ”This points north, huh? Aaand the coordinates...”

He pulled the piece of paper out and checked the numbers. ”Hmmm, yeah, fair enough... He also added my current location. So, he did plan this way before. That old man...”

Sighing, Rize put the bag on his back and then used the compass to choose a direction. ”We can only start walking, I guess... It’s already almost night, so I need to find a good spot for camping quickly.”

With that, Rize started walking through the trees. The weather was warm, but he knew it would drop to freezing temperatures at night. His young body could not handle that cold without proper shelter and clothes. Luckily, the coat was there to make it easier.

For the next hour or so, Rize walked through the forest searching for the perfect spot to camp for the night. The bugs kept buzzing around him and trying to bite him, but he remained focused.

The sun slowly disappeared behind the canopy, and the darkness slowly settled down.

”Hmm, I couldn’t find anything ideal, but this spot should do.”

Rize found an open area with a large tree that had a big hole dug into it. The tree was old and almost dead, so it worked perfectly. Gathering some leaves and branches, he created a wall on both sides of the tree to protect him from the wind. Then, he walked in and sat down.

”It’s pretty cozy all things considered.” He smiled faintly before he pulled some of the rations he got. He had dried jerky meat and some fruits. So, he ate a handful of both. Soon enough, the wind started whistling outside, and the temperatures dropped sharply.

From slightly warm to freezing. Rize wrapped the coat around him and nestled into a corner. ”Can I even sleep in this horrible weather?”

However, he underestimated his exhaustion from the long trip and soon enough, he fell asleep.

Unbeknownst to him, the very first lesson the forest would teach would come so soon... And in such an unexpected manner.