As the sun shined over the training field, a loud thud could be heard in the distance.
"THUDD"
"Oooww, Son of a whore that hurt." I said my back hitting the stone ground of the Kaer Morhen's training grounds. And standing over me was Geralt with a sword in his hand. "Vesemir keeps telling you to stay light on your feet, no do you see why?"
I swear he sounds so smug sometimes. I stood getting into my fighting stance, and prepare for the next attack. "I'm not that little kid you found naked in the alley Geralt."
Then I launched my attack. I lunged with a quick slash at Geralt. He parried and sidestep my attack, then countered me with a side slash. I parried and side swiped the slash, and exchanged two more slash, parry counters between me and Geralt. Then as Geralt came in for his next strike, a downward slash. I ready my sword for a parry then counter.
That's when I fucked up, Geralt tricked me. His slash was a feint. Geralt in a fluid, almost water like movement, maneuvered his sword past mine, which was in a blocking stance. He brought the blade to my leg, and he was ready to sweep my leg like he's been doing all morning. But this time right as I felt his blade touch my calve. I managed to parry his sword at the last second, in a fluid motion that made a ting sound.
I smiled looking at Geralt, but before I could say anything. Geralt with inhuman speed, used that parry and counterstruck my other side. But this time he hit me three times in one fluid motion. First my ribs, which made me clench my side. Then he tapped my sword hand and disarmed, and then he struck my other calve, swept my leg. He sent me to the ground with a loud thud, for the 20th time today.
"Son of a whore" I muttered.
"No son of a sorceress," Geralt said. "Not bad Cain, you improved, and it only took you every morning for three years."
Yeah yeah I know Geralt, compared to him I'm not even close to being skilled or strong, Not yet anyway. Three years have passed since I came to Kaer Morhen. I been training my ass off with Callum, who is said to be the best apprentice out of the both of us, well talent wise.
"Come on Cain your done for the morning, I trust you can do some self studying, and help Callum so he doesn't shirk his studies, while Vesemir is away?" Geralt said offering me hand up.
I took his hand standing up. "Yeah I can do that, are you sure you trust me?"
Geralt nodded. "I do, I think next to Vesemir your probably the second most knowledgeable person in Kaer Morhen. You even managed to learn the Heliotrope sign on your own. You may not be as gifted as Callum in swordsmanship, but he is a exception."
Yeah no kidding, after we turned ten the kid beats in majority of our sparring sessions. I'm hoping I can get a draw half the time. He's the reason I can't complete some of my Daily Quests.
"Ok Geralt I will go grab Callum after Coen is down kicking his ass."
Geralt smirk. "No kidding Coen takes pride his mentoring of Callum."
Yup if mentoring is another word for beating the shit out of a kid. What's more fucked up is Callum smiled throughout the entire experience, sometimes it's very off putting to, how much Callum.
Over the years when winter ended, and the Witcher's can head back out to do jobs, from time to time Vesemir took us out with him. We never really did any real fighting. He made observe how he would interact with clients, and teach us about the Witcher's codex, and how to track our target's, and how to investigate to find out what type of creature we were dealing with.
"The Witcher's Codex" is a collection of moral and practical teachings, often presented through stories and poems, that guide Witchers in their behavior and conduct. Key tenets are treating others with courtesy, acting honorably (not using poison or fighting unfairly), and fulfilling promises made to others.
From time to time, Vesemir would have me and Callum prepare oils, bombs, and other concoctions. The most we did was drop bombs into a Nekkers nest and killed the ones that came out. It was good experience, and the quest rewards over the years were good. Then when winter hit we came back to Kaer Morhen when winter came. I found out hat the money Vesemir made the mission was the money he used to feed and train Callum and I. The other Witchers chipped in what they could as well. But the main contributor was Vesemir's crowns.
From what I remember from the games and books. Witchers were typically poor and live a nomadic, hand-to-mouth type of life. Things like scarcity of monsters and high cost of living on the road. Or feared and disliked by the people so some clients frequently haggle over payment, or even refuse to pay once the monster is dead.
Sad to say Witchers are good at their jobs, so good that monsters are rarer, and when the people stop fearing the monster's they will fear the Witcher's. It's only a matter of time until another massacre happens again. I will have to in the future, work on improving the Witcher's reputation. I need to do this mainly for my sake as much as theirs. We all can't be Geralt from the games.
I started to notice the older I got the less daily quest I received. That's why I was even more frustrated, when Callum was the reason I didn't complete most of them. I know it wasn't his fault, it was because I wasn't as good as him in some things. But I could still receive quest if certain conditions were met.
I noticed it when I traveled with Geralt for a few months, not just missions, but encounters with bandits, and the occasional monster gave me something called a sudden quest. I haven't completely discovered how sudden quest work, and the system hasn't explained it. I can figure it out later.
I then walked up to Call and Coen while they were still sparring. Coen was beating Callum with a flurry of sword strikes. Callum was blocking and parry, longer then I was with Geralt. Then Coen managed to feint past Callum's defense, and disarm him. Then with his sword Coen sept at Callum's leg, but Callum managed to flip dodging the attack and grab his sword off the ground. The two were getting ready to go another round.
"Come on Callum call it here, Geralt said we need to go study." Then Callum turned to me with sweat dripping down his face, just for Coen to send him to the ground with a sword strike.
"Ooww, ooww," Callum said rubbing his face. "What the hell Coen we called the match why did you attack me?"
Coen just grunted looking down at Callum. "No I didn't call the match. Geralt is in charge of your training, but your with me right now, and I told you. The duel isn't done until you either disarm me or you're on the ground. Never take your eye off your opponent, that's the thing Vesemir taught you boys."
Then Coen smirk looking at Callum "Since your ass is on the ground, now you are done." Then Coen walked away.
I helped Callum up. "You ok?"
"Yeah I'm fine, and he's right, if he was a monster I would be dead. How about you, any luck with Geralt?"
I shook my head." No I'm still getting my ass kicked by him, but he's says I'm improving."
Callum nodded. "Yeah, you have improved a lot. I remember when Vesimir said you have no talent for the sword." Callum chuckled. " Then he said your a hard worker, so give it fifty years, if you survive that long, you might be a passable swordsman," Callum said laughing.
I smirked. "Give me five years at most, I will be one of the best swordsman's on the continent"
Callum nodded. "That's the spirit. Alright let's go study, and grab a bit to eat, I'm starving.
After we finished reviewing some monsterology, and writing report about it. Which is something I'm known for doing well. I started to help budget the ingredients an money at Kaer Morhen. Some of the others hated my new idea's like. Hunting animals and selling meat by the near by villages, or not buy alcohol. They really hated that idea the most.
I even made a suggestions of recruiting a blacksmith and craftsman to help teach an maintain our equipment when we return. Vesemir thought that would be a great idea but, said that would be hard to pay the smith and craftsman. Not to mention after the massacre, that wiped out the majority of the witchers decades back. Vesemir wanted to keep Kaer Morhen location a secret. I told him to give me some time to figure out the details, but be open to some new changes.
The fire crackled in the great hall of as me and Callum sat near the table as Eskle finished cooking breakfast.. , the scent of bland stew and hard bread wafted across the long table where I and Callum sat.
I stabbed at the bread with my knife, chewing mechanically. I tried not to grimace, but gods, this food was flavorless.
"I'd trade some of my quest rewards for some spices I thought bitterly. A real pepper. Maybe even some Old Bay. Anything besides salt and over-boiled roots and cooked meats.
My modern-day palette never adapted and rebelled every morning against this food. Every meal was a reminder I wasn't home anymore. But Callum? Callum devoured the food like it was a banquet.
"You gonna eat that?" Callum asked, nodding at Cain's untouched second slice.
I blinked, then slid it over. "Go ahead."
Callum tore into it. "You always so generous?"
"You're always so hungry."
I then checked my status window.
[Status Window]
Name: Cain Age: 11
Race: Half-Elf (Mutated)
Class:
Trait: Bloodline: [Elder Blood – Slumbering]
Strength: 16
Dexterity: 18
Constitution: 17
Intelligence: 16
Wisdom: 16
Charisma: 15
Luck:??
Stat Points: 8
Ability Points: 4
Abilities & Skills:
Mind's Eye
Cold-Blooded
Swordsmanship Level 2
Meditation
Sign (Magic):
Aard – Level 2
Igni – Level 2
Yrden – Level 2
Quen –Level 2
Axii – Level 2
Heliotrope – Level 1
Inventory:
Elven Moon shadow Blade
Hunter's Edge
Cat School Tunic
Cat School Trousers
Cat School Boots
Cat School Hooded Cloak
Nekker Claws (6)
Drowner Tongues (4)
Ghoul Blood (4 vials)
Fiend Heart (x1)
Amethyst (3)
Diamond (1)
1 Potion of Minor Vitality
10 Common Equipment Chests
6 Rare Equipment Chests
Okay I my stats aren't half, if I used my stat points to increase my current stats something tells me I would stand a better chance at fighting Callum. But I want to save them for an emergency. I don't want to invest in the wrong build for me. Should I open my chest now or later?
Doesn't matter right now, I need to focus getting some good food, and getting more quest's.
I chewed the inside of his cheek thoughtfully. A moment later, he spoke.
"I was thinking. We could ask Geralt to show us the trails. The local game, herbs, edible roots. I've had enough of flavorless stew."
Callum paused mid-bite. "You want to hunt?"
I nodded. "I want better food, I can cook it, if I need to. We know how to kill and beat monster's, but I refuse another day of this crappy flavorless food."
That's when Eskel coughed. I looked at him nervously. "No offense, Eskel, I apricate your meals. I just want to treat everyone to some better cooking.
"Fine then, if you think you can do better, I won't stop you. I just hope your skills can back up your mouths words." Eskel said.
That afternoon, I approached Geralt. He was sharpening his steel sword by the fire, one leg propped on the bench.
"We'd like to learn how to hunt, Can you please teach us?" I said. "Game, herbs, whatever you can show us."
Geralt looked up with a raised brow. "We?"
"Callum and I."
Geralt stared at us for a moment. "Why not ask Lambert or Eskel, why me?"
"Cain made a bet with Eskel that he could make some better food," Callum said
Geralt slowly nodded. "Kaer Morhen stew's not good enough?"
I shrugged. "I could probably do better."
Geralt's eyes narrowed slightly. "Can you actually cook?"
I hesitated a second too long.
"Enough to make everyone here to beg me to cook at the meals from now on."
Geralt smirked. "You sure you didn't lose your memory from taste trauma?"
I gave a flat look. "I don't know anything about who I was. But I know good food when I don't taste it."
That seemed to amuse Geralt more than it should.
"Fine," he said, rising up. "Tomorrow morning. First light. You two are coming with me. And if you complain once about the cold or mud, I'm leaving you in a wolf den."
i smirked. "Deal."
Then I recieved a notification from the system:
[New Quest: "The Hunt"]: Objective: Hunt local game and forage herbs with Geralt. Bonus Objective: Cook a full meal for Kaer Morhen using found ingredients.
Reward: +1 Random Stat Point. 1 Common Equipment Chest
Failure: No rewards, and loss of potential future chain quests
[Accept/Decline]
[New Quest: "WitcherChef"]: Objective: Cook a meal for the Wolf School Witcher's, that everyone will love (0/6).
Reward: +2 Charisma Points. +1 Wisdom Point. 1 Common Equipment Chest.
Failure: No rewards, and loss of potential future chain quests
[Accept/Decline]
I smirked., and click (Accept) to both. It was time to get some real food.
The next morning, frost still clung to the stones when Cain, Callum, and Geralt set off from Kaer Morhen into the mountains. Geralt led the way in silence, his stride sure-footed as ever. Snow muffled our steps as we entered the dense treeline.
My breath curled like smoke in the crisp mountain air. I looked around, my eyes narrowing on disturbed tracks in the snow. Geralt stopped and knelt beside me and Callum.
"Deer," he murmured. "Two. One wounded. We'll follow that one. Easier target, but be careful it might also be huted by another predator."
Two possible prey for the price of one. Perfect.
We tracked in silence for miles, Geralt was teaching us how to read the terrain, tufts of hair on bark, the subtle bend of grass under snow, claw marks half-covered by last night's wind.
Callum whispered, "It's really no different then hunting monster."
Geralt didn't look back. "Correct your just changing what your looking for somewhat. Just know the difference between being the hunter and not the hunted, being led to a trap"
I focused, letting my mutation-enhanced vision study the surroundings. A faint trail of disturbed snow led to a broken thicket.
"This way," I said.
Geralt grunted in approval. "Good just like that."
The wounded deer had bedded down in a hollow between two fallen trees. It looked up, panicked, but too weak to flee.
Geralt handed Cain the bow. "Show me."
I nodded, steadied my breathing, aimed, then paused.
"Don't wait," Geralt said. "The longer it suffers, the more waste you make."
I fired. The arrow struck clean through the skull. The deer didn't make a sound. Just slumped.
Callum blinked. "Nice shot."
"Efficient," Geralt said. "Field dressing's next. Don't look away."
I knelt. The task wasn't pleasant, but I remembered how to do it. I worked in silence, my hands steady, every cut purposeful.
"Good Vesemir taught you well" Geralt said.
I only nodded. "He did."
With the deer secured, we began gathering herbs. Geralt taught us how to identify beggartick, verbena, mugwort, and wolf's parsley, pointing out which ones aided digestion or soothed muscle pain.
Callum accidentally brushed against a fire nettle and cursed.
"Lesson learned," Geralt said without sympathy.
I pocketed several roots and berries, scanning the area.
[Codex Updated]
Common healing herbs identified
+10% potion crafting success (minor blends)
Afterward, we came upon a place of power. Then the system pings.
[Place of Power discovered] : Sign(Igni)
Effect: Meditating at a place of power will permanently increase Igni sign proficiency the first time. After that, only short buffs will be applied to Igni's power for 24 hours.
Bonus: Absorb the place of power magic. +1 Ability Point, increase Igni sign proficiency.
Effect: This location will case to be a Place of Power.
A place of power, just like in the games. I remembered how Vesemir explained them to us.
"Aye, lad, listen close."
Places of Power are natural wells where the Chaos, raw magical energy, leaks into our world. They appear where ley lines cross, or where something ancient and powerful once happened, a ritual, a death, a curse.
Some form naturally over centuries, cracks in the fabric of the world bleeding magic into the land. Others are forged, battles drenched in blood, sorcerers' experiments, or sacred elven rites can twist the land into one. Over time, the energy pools and leaves a permanent scar.
A Witcher standing at a Place of Power can draw from it, gaining a temporary boost to their Signs. Meditation there can speed recovery or heighten one's sensitivity to magic. Some even leave behind glyphs, fragments of the energy, which strengthen a Witcher's connection to a particular Sign.
Why They Matter:
For mages, they're research sites. For Witchers, they're tools, but dangerous ones. Draw too greedily, and the Place might lash back, or worse, twist you. Balance, restraint, and respect for the land, that's how you use a Place of Power without it using you.
Wow so I can improve my Sign proficiency permanently by finding places of power. I could also absorb the location's magic completely and gain an ability point. But if I do this place will lose its power. I won't do that to the Witcher's they lost enough. I should do this at another secluded location. I wonder if I can find one for Heliotrope?
"Come on boys , let's meditate her for a while, it will warm us up and give us some more energy for the hike back" .sat in a small clearing, the wind whispering through the branches. Geralt pulled his hood low and crossed his legs in meditation.
I and Callum followed suit.
For a moment, everything quieted. Cain's body relaxed, but his mind remained alert. Images flickered in the darkness. I let the rhythm of his breathing slow his heartbeat, tuning into the world, the smell of pine, the distant sound of a falcon, the lingering warmth of the deer's blood still on my gloves.