Yn POV

Its been a few hours since Garmelie guided us to the vestige, most of the time he would just vanish without any trace when we're facing any monsters since they're targeting Vax who's wearing the vestige. Right now we're resting from exhaustion after slaying a monster recently.

Vex: (Groan.) Can't they ever give us a break?

YN: Its all thanks to Vax wearing the vestige.

Vax: Hey!

YN: Oh relax, you're quite popular in this realm.

Vax: Very funny

Percy: Well, above all the creature we've encounter in this realm, the slime monster was the deadliest so far.

YN: Seriously? What about that deer from last time?

Flashback, 3rd POV

They continue travel through the realm after fighting against the plants.

Keyleth: Can't believe these plants rarely help. At this point I can use it well with my magic. (Goans.) Not to mentioned most creatures can be dangerous.

Percy: Its probably because we're in their territory zone.

YN: So meaning that their behavior could be less dangerous. Though they can't be all that bad, like that deer over there.

They see a normal deer walking by and notice them.

Keyleth: (Smiles.) Aw, its so cute.

Suddenly it stand up in two feet and reveal its hand as it approaches them.

Vax: Uh, that's not normal deer-

Without hesitation, YN grabs a large rock and hits the deer's head. Once it was down, he pins the down and brutally killing it with the rock while yelling until the deer's head was crush flat.

YN: Demon! (Hits.) Spawn! (Hits.) Of hell! (Hits.) I cast you! (Hits.) To oblivion! (Hits.)

YN stands up heavily breathing and they all were shock to see what just happened. Before they could say anything, YN uses Igni to burn the deer to ashes.

Vex: Uh...was that necessary?

YN: That was a demon hidden behind the skin of innocent....

Flash back ends

Percy: You beat up a deer to death.

YN: Correction: I beat up a demon to death. I had no choice but to banished him out of the world of living.

Vax: With a rock.

YN: (Smiles.) With a rock.

Vex: Either way, its gone. Its getting dark and we're tired. we can't press on.

Keyleth: Garmelie did mentioned that the lake isn't far from here before he vanished.

Vax: Still, we should rest. There's no telling what's in the lake.

YN: You guys get some rest, I'll be on a look out.

They all nod before they set up for the night.

Time skip to nightfall, Keyleth POV

I woke up with YN's cloak in the middle of the night, hearing a metal scraping and I notice it was YN who is still up while sharpening his sword. I couldn't sleep more, so I decided to get up before sit next to him. Before I could say anything, YN spoke without looking.

YN: Trouble sleeping?

Keyleth: Oh, uh, Yeah. Maybe because you making noise with your sword sharpening.

YN: Oh. (Stops sharpening.) Sorry about that.

Keyleth: No, its fine. Just thought you needed company, since you know, you haven't slept.

YN: Its not that easy for me to sleep.

Keyleth: Let me guess, witchers don't sleep because they hunt monsters in the night?

YN: Yeah but not my main reason, but yes. Since our sight can see well in the dark and the brightness. 

Keyleth: You have enhance senses. Pretty neat

YN: I mean I didn't go to school of wolves for nothing.

We both chuckle quietly without waking anyone. Soon I wanted to ask him out of curiosity.

Keyleth: So what exactly is your main reason, is it because nightmares.

YN: (Sigh.)...You could say that. Its just complicated to explain.

Keyleth: I can stay up to hear it.

YN: ...All right....But, its not gonna be easy to believe.

Keyleth: You can try me.

YN: Well, um....first off, do you know of re-

Suddenly we hear something in the bushes as YN gets up with his sword before standing in front of me. He gesture to be silent as I nod and grabbed my staff before we got closer to this bush. Once we got close enough, YN pulls the bush and prepare to stab, but it was then reveal Garmelie drawing in his book before he notice us.

YN: Oh, its you. (Put his sword away.) What are you doing?

Garmelie: Oh, nothing. Just minding ma own business till you showed up. (Smiles.) But you two make a good couples sitting together. This will be my fine art.

YN and I both look at each other before we look away while blushing.

YN: Um. (Fake yawn.) Actually, I'm kinda, uh, sleepy right now.

Keyleth: Oh, uh, same here. Let's just go.

Garmelie POV

I watch them leave and they sleep far distance from each other while she still held on to his cloak to say warm. Oh to see a young couple sitting together under the stars. A fine art I will make one day.

Time skip to morning, 3rd POV

After a good night rest, they continue onward to their next destination by following the floating river while Keyleth yawn from staying up.

Vax: Didn't get enough sleep, Keyleth?

Keyleth: Oh, no, I'm fine. Um, Totally fine.

Vax: Oh, okay.

Percy: How close are we to the lake?

Garmelie: Oh, trust Garmelie. We are nearly there but the dangers of the lake lies ahead.

YN: What should we expect once we arrive?

Garmelie: Garmelie can't answer that for you. However, he can say this: Brute force is always too loud to answer.

Soon they arrive to the hills and they climb their way up. Once they've reach up, they were amazed to see a massive lake. The Lake of Stranded.

Vex: Whoa...

Keyleth: Its beautiful...

Percy: Incredible... I've never thought to see the lake in person.

YN: Try not to dwell on it for too long, we need to know where the vestige exactly lies.

Vax: Its at the center of the lake.

Vex: You can feel it?

Vax: Yes.

YN: Garmelie, what should we-

YN turn around but only to see he's gone.

Percy: (Sigh.) Of course...

Vax: Well, what are we waiting for? Let's just go get it.

Percy: Wait, hold on. There wasn't much I've read about this lake, but I know enough that once you enter, there's no going back.

Vax: How would you know?

They see a bird landed and swim on the lake, but it was suddenly pulled down into the lake as they were shock to see it.

Percy: Well, now we do. There has to be another way.

YN: Agree, we look around the lake to see if there's anything that can help.

Vax: This'll go faster if we split up. Vex, go with YN. Keyleth, with Percy. I'll go scout farther alone, since I'm faster. If anything goes wrong, give a call out name.

Keyleth: Oh, how bout chenga?

Vex: Sounds fine. Let's go.

They all nod before splitting up.

Short time skip, YN POV

Its only been half hour since we split up to find some clues yet still nothing so far. I still couldn't help if I was ready to tell my friends about my dark past or not. I've never thought of it until Osysa mentioned it, I'm surprised she knows more than I thought. I was then interrupted by Vex speaking up.

Vex: Doing all right?

YN: Huh? Oh, yeah. Just um, hard to find some clues over here. How bout you?

Vex: Well, I'm still alive. (Smirk.) There's that.

YN: (Chuckles.) Yeah...least your lucky to have a better second chance.

Vex: (Tilt her head.) Better second chance? What do you mean?

YN: Stop.

Vex: No, I want to know-

YN: (Interrupt.) Stop. (Sniff.) There's something here.

My medallion vibrated and I look around. I draw my sword out as Vex grabs her bow and arrow ready before we went back to back to find the creature. Soon something came out of the shade, revealing itself to be a giant creature.

Vex saw it and she pull her arrow ready, but the creature notice it and it growls. I quickly pull out my elixir before drinking it.

Vex: Urgh, where's Percy when you need him?

YN: Don't let you're guard down, it could be tough as it look.

Vex nods before she summons Trinket as he growls towards the creature. But the creature charges at us like a bull while Vex shoots her arrows at it. But the creature's hides are too thick and tough for the arrows.

YN: Vex, move!

Vex quickly moves as well as Trinket before I use Igni to burn the creature, but it didn't stop as it knock me back with its head. If it weren't for the elixir, that would've been like a truck hitting me with full speed.

Vex: YN!

YN: I'm fine, focus on the creature!

Vex nods before she ride on Trinket and uses her enchanted arrows. The creature charged at her, but I quickly use Aard to push it to misdirect hitting Vex and Trinket. But the creature didn't give up easily as it quickly retaliates and hits Trinket with its tail.

Vex: Trinket!

Luckily Trinket's armor protected him from any wounds. Vex quickly shoots multiple enchanted arrows at it as it backs away from the explosion. I quickly join in and uses Igni to push it back. But then the creature body begins to glow as it roars loudly.

YN: Uh, I think we made it angry.

Vex: Don't we always make things angry?

It charges at us but Trinket grabs and hold the creature with his strength. Soon the creature overpowers him before knocking him back.

Vex: Stay down!

Vex shoots arrow at it, but it uses its tail to knock her back before it charges at me with its claws.

Vex: (Grunts.) Chenga...

I quickly dodge it and use Yrden to slow the creature down. But it quickly breaks the spell before it charges at me. I quickly dodge and grab its horn in a perfect timing. Soon it jumps a lot aggressively trying to shake me off.

It successfully throws me across the area and I roll when I landed. The elixir begins to wear off as I struggle to stand up while using my sword for support. I don't get it, my magic doesn't affect him the moment he glows. There has to be something we're missing.

Garmelie: Garmelie can't answer that for you. However, he can say this: Brute force is always too loud to answer.

Brute force isn't the answer, unless... Just then I saw the creature prepares and charge at me. So I did what I believe it would work.

Fuck this...

3rd POV

Vex gets back up with Trinkets help and she notice the creature is close to crush him.

Vex: YN, move!

But he didn't do it. Instead, he out his sword away and calmly kneels before it. She was about to use her arrows one more time, but the creature suddenly stops by a few feet away from him and notice that YN is kneeling. The others arrive just in time for the fight to ends.

Vax: (Worried.) Sister, are you okay?

Vex: I'm fine, hurt, but I'll live.

Keyleth: What the is that?

Percy: I've never seen a creature like that before. But it could be the guardian of the vestige.

Back with YN, he slowly gets up before approaching towards the creature with caution.

YN: I'm sorry we attacked you, but we seek your help.

The creature gently kneels down, offering him to mount and guide him to the vestige. YN gladly accepts it as they move to where the others are.

YN: (Smiles.) Hey guys!

Vax: You can understand that creature?

YN: When Garmelie said that brute force isn't the answer, I put the pieces together and I realize this creature was trying to listen to us, but we were too loud for him to listen.

Vex: That creature attacked us first!

YN: Technically speaking, we attacked first. He was defending himself and must've been forcing us to speak normal than louder.

Keyleth: So what now?

Before YN could answer, the creature walk toward the lake. YN was about to get off but he realize that this creature can resist magic a lot. In other words, he trusts the creature.

YN POV

As soon as it touches the water, the lake didn't pull us down, instead, it allowed us to enter as it recognize the guardian. I takes a deep breath before entering the lake, I open my eyes to see something small is glowing as the creature approaches it. Once we're close, it digs down until the glowing object floats up.

    The glowing object faded and it reveals to be the vestige, aka, The Ironbreaker.

I grab it and look at it, amazed that its actually made out of rock.

YN: Wow....

I accidentally open my mouth to speak as the oxygen escape. I immediately close my mouth and was about to drown, but thankfully the creature heads back to the surface. Once we were out of the water, I coughs out water before hopping off the creature and my friends approaches.

Keyleth: (Relief.) You're alive!

Percy: What happened?

Vax: Did you find the vestige?

YN: (Coughs water.) I'm fine, I'm fine. (Smiles.) Also, I got it.

I show them the vestige and they were amazed by it.

Percy: Amazing, but what does it do?

YN: Only one way to find out.

I walk away from my friends so that they won't get hurt. Once I'm in the safe distance, I put the ring on. The ring glows and it created a spear.

YN: Whoa....

Percy: So that's the Ironbreaker.

Vax: Only question is.

Keyleth: What does it do?

We were trying to figure it out until the creature roar to get out attention and it looks at a stone pillar. Then I realize what its trying to say.

YN: I think I know what to do.

I step in front of my friends before pointing at the pillar to aim and I throw the spear at it. As soon as it hits the stone, half of the spear vanished while the rest is stuck on the stone. I send summoned another one and we were all surprise.

Percy: So it creates many spears as you want.

YN: (Smirk.) Now this is a fine weapon.

I tap the ground with the staff hard and the other spear that I threw exploded. This caught us all surprised and speechless until we hear a familiar voice.

Garmelie: (Excited.) Well done! Oh this was totally worth for Garmelie to watch the whole thing. And that you bonding with the Graphorn is the best part!

Keyleth: (Confused.) Graphorn?

Garmelie: The creature of course. It looks to be happy to bond with you of course. Now, Garmelie will guide you all to your next destination.

Vex: The Shademurk.

Garmelie nods and chuckles before leaving. Vex puts trinket back in the medallion before we follow Garmelie, but I notice the Graphorn who had nothing else to do after it gave us the Ironbreaker. Soon I have an idea as I approach the creature.

YN: Hey buddy?

Graphorn: Growls.

YN: Uh, I mean, girl?

She nods and I sigh before speaking.

YN: Would you like to join us, it may be dangerous, but what's adventure without danger? That is if you like to join.

She happily nods as Vex approaches.

Vex: How are we going let her join us when we're not in danger all the time.

YN: I don't know. Wait, what about that medallion you used for trinket?

Vex: Huh, that could work. At least she'll give Trinket come company.

YN: (Nods.) Good. Now, what should I name you...?

Time skip, 3rd POV

They continue to follow Garmelie who's leading them to the next vestige while humming. Soon they saw an entire city where it made the twins surprise.

Vax: How?

Garmelie: Ooh, a city. Garmelie had forgotten about this little hamlet.

YN: From a distance view, sure does look. little.

Percy smack his head.

Keyleth: That's pretty weird, even for this place.

Percy: (To Garmelie.) I thought you were guiding us to the Shademurk.

Garmelie: Oh, yes. One day it just appeared out of nowhere. Pop! Alas, we'll have to pass through it to reach your bog.

Keyleth: That's city almost looks elven.

Vax: That's because it is.

YN: You know of it?

Vex: Its Syngorn.

Percy: (Curious.) You've been there before?

Vax: We lived there.

Vex: (Sad face.) With our father...