Chapter Text
The Dyphne Forest, July 20th, 1267
The duo sat huddled around a campfire, both of them wrapped in a Deerskin they bought from a desperate fur trader. The Florins that Drago had stuffed in his sole were sufficient enough. Northern Patriotism vanished with the rattle of a few coins. They had made phenomenal time, tomorrow they were set to cross into Northern Aedirn. Their goal was the fortress city of Gulet. Drago broke the silent staring contest with the fire.
"Draya, can you tell me about your home?"
She was too mesmerized by the fire to hear him.
"DRAYA!"
The trance was snapped in an instant.
"Whaddya want?"
Drago spoke again.
"I would like to know about your life...in the Northern Realms."
Draya let out a sigh, what on the Continent could this Nilfgaardian sop want to know about her home? Her people were well in the process of being enslaved by Nilfgaardian Drivers. As has happened with every land conquered by them.
"What the hell could you want to know about...this?"
Draya undid her plait, gesturing for Drago to ask away.
"Well, er, when I was in Academy, I was told that our rival was Oxenfurt. Have you ever been there? I want to go to Oxenfurt somed-"
Draya was trying to get the mud and soot out of her hair, she interrupted irritably.
"Never been, farthest north I've ever been was Ban Gleán."
"Oh! Can you tell me about Kaedwen?"
Draya had never seen someone so enthusiastic to learn about the Northern Realms, she indulged Drago.
"Ban Gleán is a beautiful city, you should see it at night. The whole city adheres to the tradition of 'Vac'ren Va'."
"Vac'ren Va...we do that in Gheso too. Though only when imperial legions march through."
"It was invented in Ban Gleán, long ago an elven brigade was gonna pass through the city. The Garrison Commander at the time hatched a plan for an ambush. All the lights in the city were extinguished. The Kaedweni lay in ambush for an attack, the Elves were prepared for an attack at any moment. However, it was said the night sky was so beautiful that both sides dropped their weapons. Simply looking at the night sky instead. When morning came, both sides honorably departed from each other. The name was adopted when an Elf called the night sky 'Vac'ren Va'. Lights Out in common tongue. We adhere to it, so long as the Garrison approves of it."
Drago was infatuated with the history that Draya told. Noticing this, she went on to tell of the city.
"I was raised in Ban Gleán after my parents died. My Uncle was a blacksmith in the Merchant Quarter. I'll never forget my first night when he brought me to the roof and we watched Vac'ren Va. It's something I'll never forget, Drago. He lost his son a year past, in a military training accident. When we were sitting on that roof, the pains of the past were gone. I forgot about my dead parents, all I could see was the stars. The next year was the best year of my life, 1261. I was enrolled in school, but the exciting part of the day was when my Uncle would finish working. No matter how exhausted he seemed. My smile would always make his day. We'd cook dinner, or go for walks. July was my favorite month, the summer nights would bring the city to a halt. We'd eat with haste to watch the sunset, and then it was Vac'ren Va."
Her tone turned serious instantaneously.
"Drago...If you ever go to Ban Gleán, I'm coming with you."
"Yes, of course. You should get some sleep."
"But it's-"
"You need some rest, I can stay up. Trust me."
Draya didn't argue, she gladly nestled into her Deerskin blanket. Drago could've asked her why she would leave behind such a life, but he loved her too much to put her through that.