Chapter 184: The Answers
[TL: Asuka]
[PR: Ash]
Geralt spent the night in the dingy shack and bade everyone goodbye the next morning. He seldom had bad sleep, but that morning, he came out with dark circles under his eyes, and it looked like he had a lot on his mind.
“You should look at yourself in a mirror, Geralt. You look like the cobbler next door, and that’s saying something. Listen to me and get some sleep. A night isn’t enough to make a decision.” Roy smiled. “You should stay in Cintra for a little bit longer. The alcohol is strong enough, and the women are beautiful. Auckes is always happy to take you on a tour, and you can take your time to think about my suggestion.”
“No, I had enough time.” Geralt shook his head. His eyes were bloodshot from the lack of sleep. The White Wolf spent the whole night thinking about Roy’s plan. “I am sober enough, and I have made my decision. I am very certain that only young witchers like you can come up with such a crazy plan.”
“You aren’t too old yourself, Geralt. You know how long we can live. You’re still a young man yourself.” Roy thumped Geralt’s chest.
“Enough, you little bastard. Stop talking.” Geralt ruffled his unkempt hair, and he had a frustrated look on his face. I must have been crazy to come to Cintra with you. I was just going to play a few rounds of Gwent and get to know some new friends, but you just had to talk about rebuilding Kaer Morhen and forming a brotherhood. Now that’s all I can think of, but I can’t give you my answer just yet.”
Even until that point, Geralt still thought of Roy’s plan as a ridiculous dream, though he was sure his mentor was willing to make some new friends. Geralt thought he had to consult Vesemir and tell him about this plan. The White Wolf said, “This is an important decision to make. I have to return to Kaer Morhen and gather all the witchers’ opinions. As for our decision…”
“What about it?”
“If I’m lucky, Vesemir, Lambert, and Eskel will return earlier than scheduled, and I can give you our decision this winter.” Geralt paused. “Honestly, kid, don’t hold your breath. They won’t agree to this, unless they’re somehow all mad.”
“How are you supposed to tell us your decision? We’re tramps. We might not be in Cintra then.” Roy ignored the last part of what Geralt said.
“Before the year is over, you must find a man named Jaskier in Novigrad. He’s either in a brothel, inn, or the opera house. I will tell him about the decision we made, and he shall relay it to you.”
“Jaskier of Novigrad?” Roy was reminded of a handsome bard with a little mustache who loved to brag. “Very well, then.”
He extended his hand to Geralt. The White Wolf glared at him, but eventually, he reluctantly shook Roy’s hand. “Honestly, I wish I never knew you. You’re hopeless, kid,” he said. “Take my advice and give up on that idea. It will never work. If you keep this up, you’ll be the butt of the bards’ jokes.”
“If you never try, you never know. I’m still young. I can afford a failure or two,” Roy said confidently, though he was also nervous as well. Even so, the witchers must change. He would be the one to enact it if nobody would, even if he would become the butt of someone else’s joke. He knew his plan was just an impossible dream at the moment, but he was fine with leaving an impression on the witchers. At least he would be more convincing if he brought it up again. “But if it works, I’m sure all of you will be proud. After all, you would have witnessed the beginning of an era.”
“Fine. I shall be watching, then.” Geralt shook his head and sighed quietly. “I hope you can surprise me.” He waved his hand at them. “Letho, Auckes, Serrit, I must bring the dryad queen’s reply to Venzlav of Brugge. If I stay here any longer, that madman will be after my head. We shall meet again, my friends.”
The veteran witchers waved him goodbye, but they looked tense.
Roy said, “I’ll be waiting for the good news, Geralt! And don’t forget to meet up with Ciri!”
Geralt left, and he mumbled, “I must be mad. Mad…”
***
Roy looked at the brightening sky and waved his fist. “Alright, the butterfly has flapped its wings. Let’s see if it will work up a storm. Don’t let me down, White Wolf.”
“Kid, the pact you made with the White Wolf has nothing to do with me, Serrit, and Auckes,” Letho said solemnly. “You will have to travel to Novigrad alone.” He blamed himself. “The blame is on me. I’ve been too lenient with you. That’s why you came up with that stupid idea. I will have to change the regimen to temper that arrogance of yours.”
Roy’s heart sank. Well, here it comes. “But I thought you didn’t object.”
“Nor did we agree.” For the first time, Auckes looked stern. “Roy, I’ll just think of what you said last night as the ramblings of a drunk fool. Never say that again, you hear?”
“I—”
“You young men and your nonsensical ideas.” Serrit bore down on Roy’s neck with his arms, dragging the young witcher down to earth. “But I understand. We were young once.”
“Alright, stop dreaming, kid. There’s only us here, so let’s talk.” Letho stopped his comrades’ shenanigans and went into the house. “You said you’d bring a friend back before you left. Were you talking about the White Wolf? Witchers almost never let anyone know where they are, or where they will be heading. How’d you know where he was?” Letho asked. “Are you a seer? And all those weird things you have been doing for the last six months…You need to explain yourself.”
The witchers crossed their arms and stared at Roy.
Roy took a deep breath. “I have promised to tell you about my secret, because I am one of you. But can you keep this a secret for me?” he pleaded.
“You want us to make an oath, boy?”
“No, you don’t have to.” Roy pursed his lips and rubbed his cheeks. A long while later, he looked up. There was hesitation in his eyes, but eventually, he said, “Have you ever heard of the Elder Blood?”
Letho and Auckes looked confused, but Serrit looked grim. “I have heard of that,” he said. “In a prophecy foretold by Ithlinne, the elven seer. ‘It is the blood of all things holy; it is the blood of all things accursed. It is the blood of the executioner; it is the blood of the great savior. It is the blood of life; it is the blood of death,” Serrit said. “Some ancient elves are born with powerful magic, spatial abilities, and prophetic powers. Those powers grow with age, and eventually, the elf becomes a sage. Legend says that they have the Elder Blood coursing within them. But what does that have to do with you, kid?”
“I think you might have guessed it. All your questions have one answer.” Roy sighed. “Elder Blood.”
Roy came up with that answer after he racked his brain over it. The existence of Elder Blood could explain his spatial abilities and premonition powers. Those powers would be exposed in future battles alongside the witchers, or to be precise, Letho had noticed it a while ago. Instead of hiding it, he would tell the witchers and gain their trust.
“If I’m understanding this correctly, kid, you’re saying that you, a farmer’s child from an Aedirn village, have Elder Blood? The bloodline only elves possess?” Letho asked.
“Unbelievable, yes, but I can prove it right away.” Roy had mixed feelings about what was to happen, but instead of explaining himself, he led the witchers out of the house.
The sun was shining warmly. Four witchers stood in the courtyard, and the young witcher in black leather armor grasped the air. The veteran witchers thought nothing would happen at first, but then a hand crossbow appeared in the young witcher’s hand.
Letho could remain calm, but Auckes and Serrit looked shocked. They thought, Does he have a spatial ring as well?
But the moment they had that thought, they heard the sound of Roy shooting a bolt into the air. Their pendants started to vibrate as they caught the magical energy that was lingering in the air, and a ripple started spreading from where Roy was standing.
What happened next shocked them, for the young witcher with the crossbow disappeared into thin air.
“What the hell?” Auckes licked his lips and looked around him. When he shifted his gaze to the stable standing at the end of the courtyard, he saw the young witcher standing there. He caressed Wilt’s mane and raised his hand crossbow for the witchers to see.
“Was that an illusion?” Auckes mumbled to himself.
But then, Roy shot another bolt, and he disappeared from the stable only to reappear beside a dumbfounded Auckes. And he patted the old witcher’s shoulder. “This is one of Elder Blood’s powers, teleportation. Now do you believe me?”
The witchers were silent.
***
The veteran witchers took Roy back into the dim house and backed him into a corner to interrogate him.
“You did not have teleportation powers until now.” Letho was sure of that. He and Roy had gone through a few life-and-death battles before they came to Cintra, but not once did Roy teleport them out of danger. “Did you just awaken the power recently?”
“Yes. To be exact, one of my ancestors had an elven bloodline,” Roy lied. “Ingesting the Child of the Sun strengthened the bloodline and its ability.”
Letho was convinced. He was there from the start, and he noticed a lot of weird things Roy did back in Smiack. Is this because of his Elder Blood?
“Recently, according to a premonition, I would meet the White Wolf in Brokilon, and the Waters of Oblivion I drank would stabilize the spatial abilities I have. And that’s how I got my teleportation powers.” Roy sighed. “It’s a pity my bloodline is too diluted. Casting teleportation costs a lot of mana every time, and I can’t do it too many times.”
“That is already powerful enough.” Auckes grinned, his eyes filled with excitement and a little envy. “It’s better than Master Ivar’s Evil Eye. And I’m happy that you told us such a secret, Roy. Aside from you, I’m sure there will be no witcher with the same abilities.” Auckes had believed the explanation, and he started to think for Roy. “But the Elder Blood is a big thing. If someone else finds out about your powers, tell them you got it from the mutation. And tell me more about short-distance teleportation. How does it feel? Compared to a portal, of course. And what kind of limitations does it have?”
“Auckes, do not ask any questions you shouldn’t,” Letho chided, then he turned to Roy again. “That might not be too far-fetched, kid. But you mentioned prophetic powers and the ability to look into the past as well.”
“Yes. I can catch glimpses of the past and the future sometimes.” Roy paused for a moment. “Do you remember why I insisted on leaving with you guys back in Kaer?”
The witchers thought back to the village, and when they realized what Roy was talking about, they were shocked.
“I see you have realized. I was injured by a horse and fell into a deep sleep, but that awakened my Elder Blood. I did nothing but space out for a while because of the sheer amount of information I got from the awakening. Then I caught a glimpse of the village’s destruction by the army’s hands in the future. I wanted to be your disciple to change the future of me and my family, but you guys thought I was weird. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Moore and Susie.”
“You told me you had a dream about it.” Serrit licked his lips. “So you weren’t kidding?”
“Of course not. But it’s a pity I can’t control my prophetic powers. It only activates occasionally. Roy had a solemn look on his face, and he emphasized, “I even saw the future of our school. Rebuilding it alone will only destroy it faster. So that’s why I brought up the brotherhood.”
He almost wanted to tell them that the Nilfgaardian king would send them to assassinate the royalty in the northern kingdoms. He wanted to tell them that a witch killed Serrit, Geralt killed Auckes, while Letho lived his life as a fugitive, for he had a bounty on his head.
They would never realize the dream of rebuilding the school, but since Roy had joined them, he would change their fates.
“You have no proof. I can make up prophecies if that’s all it takes.” Letho wasn’t convinced. “Be specific. What did you see with your powers? I want things that have happened but aren’t public knowledge yet.”
“I saw all the secret operations you guys did in Mahakam, Aldersburg, Ellander, Vizima, and Cintra.”
“How much do you know?”
“Most of it,” Roy answered calmly. “Tracking down the Wild Hunt is not your only goal in Cintra, nor is reviving the school. You have been spying on the northern kingdoms for Nilfgaard to prepare for the war they will wage.”
“I told you that this kid is too smart to be fooled, Letho. So what should we do now?” Auckes clenched his fists. “I can’t let him tell anyone about this. Might as well end him right here, right now.”
“Shut up, you! You’re acting like a wench now!” Serrit smacked him back into his place. “If you know all about this, then there is no need to hide. A pity Letho’s efforts have gone to waste. He wanted you to be nothing but a witcher.”
“Is that so?” Roy looked at Letho, who was quiet, and his gaze turned gentle. “Letho, you know that’s impossible. It’s an era of change and revolution. Nobody can stay out of it. Nobody. As a part of the school, I have the right to take part in all of its operations.”
“Including being a spy?”
“Stop working as a spy,” Roy argued. “And don’t put your hopes in the southern empire. Emhyr var Emreis is not to be trusted.”
“I can understand your hatred for Nilfgaard. You are a northerner after all, though there are plenty who worship Emhyr here.” Letho explained, “But you got one thing wrong. Our employer is not the emperor himself. We ‘lowly’ witchers aren’t worthy of his audience. Our employer is just a minor team leader in the intelligence division. He’s not worth mentioning.” Letho told him honestly, “Our mission is over. We have sent them all the information related to the north. And as reward for our work, the Nilfgaardian army has given us a chance to rest. At the very least, they will not attack Gorthur Gvaed for a few years.” He sighed. “The broken fortress can still stand for a while.” Letho looked at Roy solemnly. “You noticing our operation doesn’t mean you have proven the powers of the Elder Blood. I think you’re smart enough to deduce that yourself. You still need to prove yourself.”
If the boy whom he was raising to be a witcher did have Elder Blood, the power to cross dimensions, the power to see the future, and that godly regenerative ability he saw in Smiack, then Letho knew he would replace Ivar Evil-Eye in the near future as the most powerful witcher in Viper School history. He is the hope of the school’s revival.
“Very well, then, if that is what you wish. I will prove that I have the power to see the past and the future.” Roy walked around the table and pleaded, “But do please support my proposition. Head to Kaer Morhen this winter and meet up with the Wolf School. Make an alliance if possible.”
“And build a brotherhood of witchers.” Letho looked at Roy as if he were crazy. “Why are you so sure that the witchers over at Wolf School will agree? Did you have a premonition?”
“No, but at least I have to try. My suggestion isn’t going to get in the way of the school’s revival. In fact, it’s an even bigger plan than that,” Roy argued.
The witchers still did not relent just yet. “If you can prove that you do have the powers of prophecy, then we shall accompany you to Novigrad and await the Wolf School’s decision. If they are mad enough to accept your request, then we shall head to Kaer Morhen and make some new friends, crazy as it sounds. But don’t bring that ‘brotherhood’ of yours up. You can do that once you defeat me, Auckes, and Serrit and become the school’s leader.”
“And now.” Letho extended his arm and opened his palm, telling Roy to prove himself.
“Through the river of time, I caught a glimpse of treasure hidden underwater. It lies in a secluded place, where the treasure of witchers past dwells. Therein lies the blueprints of weapons and equipment of every witcher school.” Roy pretended to look like he was glimpsing into the void, and he had a spaced out look on his face. “The quality of these items rival those of the dwarves and gnomes.”
He promised to give all the school’s witchers good equipment, and it was time to get Letho a good sword. It was also so that he could prove himself.
“That’s right. No mention of the brotherhood. So what are you waiting for, Roy? Draw the map!” Auckes hollered in excitement. “And then we’ll get a blacksmith to make all of them for us! I’m sick of weapons that chip right after I attack a drowner once. A drowner! I need a better one!”
“Calm down, Auckes.” Roy suddenly put his hand on the table, showing the back of it, and he gave the witchers a look.
“What are you doing?”
“Finding the blueprints is a big thing.” Roy grinned toothily. “We should have a little ritual before we embark on this quest. Now put your hands on mine.”
Auckes, ever the optimist, placed his hand on Roy’s. Serrit, after a little hesitation, put his hand on Auckes’. And finally, it was Letho’s turn. “You have better make sure this isn’t for nothing, kid.”
They put their hands together, and on that day, the Viper School finally settled their internal dispute. In nothing but a little dingy shack in Cintra.
***
End of arc.
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