The next morning I woke up in a daze. The sounds around me were louder then normal. The smells around me were stronger, and what didn't help was my body was in a lot of pain. For some reason I didn't feel like complaining, I mean what would be the point.
I know from personal experience pain disappears, and my body will adapt to the new changes overtime to the point I wouldn't notice the changes after a while. Was this because of my Cold Blooded ability?
Probably but for now, I should see how my stats have changed.
[Status Window]
Name: Cain
Age: 8
Race: Half-Elf (Mutated)
Class:
Trait: Bloodline: [Elder Blood – Slumbering]
Strength: 7→ 9
Dexterity: 9→ 11
Constitution: 6 → 11
Intelligence: 9
Wisdom: 10
Charisma: 8
Luck:??
Stat Points: 6
Ability Points: 2
Abilities & Skills:
Mind's Eye. Level 1
Cold-Blooded
Inventory:
x1 Hunter's Edge
x1 Potion of Minor Vitality
x2 Common Equipment Chest
x1 Rare Equipment Chest
So some of my stats went up by two because of the mutations. Okay that's not bad, I wonder what will happen when I absorb greater mutagens. Or how my body will handle more mutations like in the Blood and Wine DLC from the games?
I wanted to open the chests I received from the quest, but I knew I should save them for a time when I might need them. Plus I didn't know if my chest rewards were fixed, or were fixed with RNG(Random Number Generator) mechanics? I don't know which would be better but my mysterious luck stat, might be more than just for show.
I looked around to see Callum in the next cot over from me. He was still out of it. I wonder if I can split the potion I have between the two of us?
No. I should definitely wait to use that. Especially for something like the Trial of Mountains, who knows what's out there.
Later Calum woke up, with a surprising burst of energy. "Wow that hurt like hell. I'm so hungry and thirsty."
He then saw he bucket of water next to his cot. The kid picked it up, and drank it in four gulps. "Ahhh, that was refreshing, they were nice enough to put some squeezed citrus and salt in it. Man I'm so sore, but hopefully the trial of dreams is easier than this."
I just stared at Callum in surprise. This kid is really odd. He just went through something so painful and traumatic, but he's just acting like it was nothing. I wonder if this kid is good at repressing his trauma, or he just has a positive disposition. The latter would be scarier... anyone who can smile through hell of any kind, is a truly dangerous person in my book.
"How do you feel Cain?"
I smirked slightly. "No better or worse then you man." Callum looked around the room. "Are we the only survivors?"
I nodded. "Yeah we made it, the others unfortunately weren't as lucky."
Callum didn't say anything at first. Then he sat up, and put his hands together in a prayer motion. He was quite for a moment. "Okay hopeful their souls found peace in the next life."
"What god did you pray to?" I asked.
Callum with his emerald green cat eye's just smiled. "All of them, I'm not religious or anything though. It's just something I saw my mom doing, from time to time with people died in our village. Hopefully their lives are better next time. They won't have to worry about going hungry, and they have parent's that love and want them."
I nodded. "Well said."
That's when Vesimir came into the room with the druid following behind him. The druid looked more upset then the last time I saw him.
"Good you two are up. How are you both feeling?"
Me and Callum looked at each other for a moment. "I'm hungry." Callum said cheerfully.
Vesimir chuckled. "Good to see your still the same Callum. Don't worry we will get you boys some food soon. How about you Cain, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine sir. I would like a hot bath as soon as possible. I smell worse then a horses ass."
Vesimir nodded. "We can take care of that to."
That's when the druid coughed next to Vesimir to get his attention. "Witcher I would like to get the trial of the dream over as soon as possible. After that do not ever contact me again, I do not ever want to be part of the monstrous process again." The druid said aggressively.
Vesemir nodded. "Right, I understand. Boys. I'm sorry but your stuff is gonna have to wait for a little bit longer. It's probably good that we are doing this now anyway."
"Aww man I was hoping you feed me before you threw us back into the fire, but oh well nothing I can do about that." Callum sounding somewhat calm and disappointed, but he had a small smile on his face.
That's when when I received a notification from the System:
[New Quest Received]: "Trial of Dreams"
Objective: Partake in the trial of dreams and pass.
Reward: +1 to all stats. 1 Common Equipment Chest.
Penalty: Death or Eternal Sleep
[Accept/Decline]
So another quest? It's not like I can deny the quests that have to do with the trials. Once the Trial of grasses is taken, I must take the trial of dreams next, or I would lose my mind and die. I mentally clicked (Accept)
"let's get this over with then." I said coldly. I felt calmer then I ever been in my life. I guess cold blooded ability helps me out significantly. When this is all over I'm gonna open those chest and see what all this pain was for.
Vesemir nodded.
Callum and I were led outside. We were placed on stone tables. The field was surrounded by wilderness and lighted torches. The druid was standing adjacent to us. He was mixing ingredients in a mortars and pestle. I could smell the ingredient's, and it smelled putrid.
The druid poured the paste into cups and handed them to Vesimir. "Drink this boys and be ready for the journey you will go on."
As Callum and I drank the concoction, the druid began to chant around me.
Then the world bled into fog. My mind began to unravel, then reformed in a field of white snow and forgotten stars. I stood in the snow, under the stars. I was whole again, beneath a sky that pulsed like a heartbeat. In the horizon I heard a voice.
"Cain…"
A woman's voice. Ageless and vast. Filled me with hope and peace. "Your journey begins… Our blood remembers. Our time will come again."
I turned, but saw only white mist. Inside their were multiple green eyes, but I couldn't make out their figures. But further back I saw them. A bright pair of golden eyes.
"Who are you?" I asked.
A figure appeared from the mist. The only one I could recognize decently. A woman with silver-white hair and golden eyes like his. Her skin shimmered brown and sun kissed.
"You are of my line. You are the last root… and soon, the first to bloom." She said
Then I awoke gasping, but something inside me was… different now.
I received a ping from the system:
[Quest Complete]
"Trial of Dreams": Objective: Partake in the trial of dreams and pass.
Reward: +1 to all stats. 1 Common Equipment Chest.
After that me and Callum proceeded to sleep the whole night and the entire next day. I woke up to find some soup next to my cot, But Callum, wasn't anywhere to be found. I probably got own room, which I can't complain about. It gives me the privacy to open my chest in peace.
I opened my System with eagerness.
[Status Window]
Name: Cain
Age: 8
Race: Half-Elf (Mutated)
Class:
Trait: Bloodline: [Elder Blood – Slumbering]
Strength: 9 → 10
Dexterity: 11→ 12
Constitution: 11→ 12
Intelligence: 9 → 10
Wisdom: 10 → 11
Charisma: 8 → 9
Luck:??
Stat Points: 6
Ability Points: 2
Abilities & Skills:
Mind's Eye. Level 1
Cold-Blooded
Inventory:
x1 Hunter's Edge
x1 Potion of Minor Vitality
x3 Common Equipment Chest
x1 Rare Equipment Chest
I then clicked open on all my chest's.
[Cat School Tunic – Common]
Type: Light Armor (Clothing)
Effect: Provides minimal defense, designed for agility. Slightly increases dodge effectiveness.
[Cat School Trousers – Common]
Type: Light Armor (Clothing)
Effect: Reinforced for movement. Provides comfort during prolonged hunts.
[Cat School Boots – Common]
Type: Light Armor (Clothing)
Effect: Silent movement — +5% bonus to stealth.
[Cat School Hooded Cloak – Rare]
Type: Light Armor (Clothing)
Effect: Provides concealment in low light. +10% bonus to stealth at night.
[Raw Monster Material: Nekker Claws (x2)]
Common alchemy ingredient. Used in basic oils.
[Raw Monster Material: Drowner Tongues (x2)]
Common alchemy material for potions.
[Raw Monster Material: Ghoul Blood (x1 vial)]
Common reagent for bombs and decoctions.
[Raw Monster Material: Fiend Heart (x1)]
Rare alchemy component. Used for advanced mutagen crafting.
[Gem: Amethyst (x3)]
Can be sold or infused into a runestone.
[Gem: Diamond (x1)]
Rare stone, radiates strong magical potential.
[Runestone: Minor Glyph of Quen]
Effect: Enhances shield strength by +5%.
[ Elven Moon shadow Blade]
Type: Weapon (Shortsword)
Rarity: Rare
Effect: +1 damage vs. night creatures (vampires, wraiths, specters).
Glows faintly under moonlight, alerting wielder to nearby ethereal presences.
Wow now this is definitely a good hall. I was definitely surprised by the Cat school gear. I wonder if the system is trying to get me into a dexterity build? Not to mention the the gems. I guess instead of giving me money, which would probably break the economic currency of this world. Giving me gems I could either pick for money or their magical properties is a balance choice.
Getting monster materials, I can use for Witcher potions and other equipment is nice. And the Elven weapon is nice. I don't think that there is a weapon like this in the world. Probably anything close is weapons the Lady of the Lake makes.
I pulled out the equipment form my inventory, but there was a big problem. No of the equipment looked like it fitted me, and the sword was to heavy for me to wield. I guess have to wait to get older.
I think the system is trying to point down a certain route, but I wonder why? Another question is who was that woman in my dream. I know it was a hallucination, brought on from the Trial, but it felt to real at the same time.