Wolves in the Wilds-2

“Vesemir, I am hungry” I suddenly said, stopping the witcher in his tracks as his wide-eyed face turned towards me. The bundle of sticks in his hands fell to the ground as he rushed towards me and dropped to his knees, his yellow eyes looking at me strangely.

“Did you just say my name?” he asked, skepticism evident in his voice and expression both, after all, it isn’t every day you hear a three-year-old toddler speak a complete, correct sentence without a single tremble or pause. I made a show of looking around us, the courtyard of Kaer Morhen devoid of any other person except us.

“I did,” I nodded, making him blink in surprise, “and I want some chicken.”

Vesemir just stared at me in surprise, not even a hint of any emotion on his face as his chrome yellow eyes peered at me. I tilted my head to the side, my purple eyes staring at him in return before I asked, “What are you looking at?”

“Are you sure you are an elf?” Vesemir asked casually, even as I felt magical power gather in his hand and his presence in my Mental Map changed from blue to purple in an instant. And while he rested his hands were calmly upon the ground, I knew Vesemir was easily capable to sliding his sword out off its sheath and beheading me before I could even blink,

“Hundred percent,” I answered, “You were there when that nekker killed my mother, and I seem to possess the pointed ears of the Aen Seidhe.”

“So you do,” he responded and hummed for a moment, “But then will you please sate my curiosity when I ask why in the name of Melitele you are capable of speaking as a learned, adult man when you are around three years old.”

“I am three and a half” I frowned, feeling quite bad due to a simple error in my age based on my height.

“My apologies,” the witcher drawled, his eyes narrowing a tad, “the question still stands. My theory is that you are an elder vampire with a proclivity for illusions or polymorphy, and you are here to destroy the School of the Wolf from within. You have sixty seconds to prove me wrong.”

Oh. As Vesemir looked into my eyes with the threat already in the air, I saw the man who went on to become the Master of Wolf School, the Witcher who trained Geralt into the White Wolf, the Witcher who raised this school from the pits of destruction.

“Uh…I am really smart?” I hedged, and when Vesemir didn’t say anything in response, I took that as my cue to continue. “I also have a perfect recall, like I remember every day ever since I was born. So I picked up words and such every time someone spoke them, and over time I came to understand their meanings.” Technically it was Gamer’s mind which allowed me to have a perfect recall, but I couldn’t exactly tell that to Vesemir now could I?

“Oh?”

“Yes,” I nodded, my face betraying no emotion, something which didn’t really require Gamer's Mind anymore. Other than some anger and irritation, I had stopped feeling any sort of emotion a long time ago, the nekker having killed my metaphorical heart too when it had killed my mother in front of me. But I know that words alone wouldn’t keep Vesemir from beading me here and now if it meant that a potential threat to the school would be gone, and thus, I recounted one tae that was sure to get the witcher to believe my words.

“On our way back, you once stopped at the outskirts of Novigrad, where you hunted a Water Hag for a hundred crowns, and then when you thought I was asleep, you stuffed me in your bag and went to a whorehouse, where you spent the next four hours and fifty of the crowns you had earned. And regarding me being a vampire, well I have been in Dimeritium powder’s presence when Kiyan exploded that bomb a few months ago, that should have cancelled my illusions and polymorphy.”

“Hmm, I had forgotten about that, '' he said as he stood up, grabbing me by my collar and hauling me up to his shoulders, “Alright, you aren’t a vampire. Just a weird elf kid who is smart and has the personality of a dead brick.”

I blinked at the words, bemused by the sudden change in his behaviour when not even a minute ago he had been threatening me, and then the rest of the sentence registered with my brain, making me snort as I retorted, “You are a Witcher, you don’t get any room to talk about feelings and personality old man.”

“Just wait for a year more,” Vesermir said after a few moments, his voice oddly happy and chipper as he patted my knee, “I will tell you who is an old man when I am the one training you.”

Oh, I probably shouldn’t have done that.

“By the way, what is your name? You didn’t really like any that I was giving you.”

Ignoring the stab of pain as my mother’s gentle smile, covered in blood, flashed through my mind, I answered Vesemir’s question, “Rhaehal, my mother named me Rhaehal.”

We fell into silence after that, Vesemir walking through the walls of Kaer Morhen while I rode upon his shoulders, my hands fisted in his brown hair. “You are taking this much better than I had hoped.” I spoke after a few moments, causing him to snort as he nodded in the direction of Adeil, who watched me with a raised eyebrow as I talked to Vesemir.

“I have gotten use to your weirdness Rhaehal,” he returned, making me blink at the statement before he continued, “Besides, ever since the night when you nodded and scowled at the names I was speaking, I think a part of me had known that you were different than anyone else. However, thinking about the possibility and then witnessing it actually are two very different things, and that is the first lesson you need to learn as a potential Witcher.”

“Potential?”

“Yes,” Vsemire nodded as we came out into the pen, dozens of hens milling about his legs, “Sometimes they die in training, their bodies unable to keep up with the strain, sometimes the mutations are too much and they die that way. And quite a few simply go rabid due to the pan the body undergoes when the mutagens go to work and th-”

“Then they are killed.”

“Yes” Vesemir said as with a flick of his wrist, a small knife flew to our right, and despite having seen it many times, I couldn't help but gawk as in a single throw, he killed three birds, the edge of his knife passing over their necks without the man even looking at them!

“So, are you ready to be a Witcher? Usually we take in strays who have nothing else to live for, or from people who give away their children as a payment or in the Law of Surprise.”

I didn't even need to think of the answer, when for the past two years, all I had done was think upon the same question.

“Yes.”

Congratulations! You have completed the following achievements

Path decided: Witcher Route selected.

Rewards: 1000 EXP

Hidden Quest: Survive Vesemir’s Questioning completed!

Hidden Objective: Use the most correct reasoning Completed

Rewards: 400 EXP

Bonus Reward: Complete system available, User-Decided Quests available now.

Congratulations! You have levelled up, Level raised to Level 3!

Earn 90 EXP more to reach Level 4!

Huh?

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few hours later, I was back in my room, or the small storage room vesemir had turned into mine because I was too young to be left with other trainees. And in the solitude of my humble abode, I focused upon the ‘screen’ as I called it. A blue screen appeared in front of me, the options upon it written in sharp, white letters.

Status

Bestiary

Inventory

Map

Alchemy

Crafting

Skills

Quests

Character Sheet

As soon as I completed glossing over the list, the screen was replaced by another one, this one seeming to explain all about the various options of the main menu.

Status

Know your health, stamina and if you are suffering from any effects at any moment. Also shows your buffs, and active alchemical solutions, and the Toxicity of your blood.

Colour of the Health Bar: RED

Current Health Points(HP): 2000

Increase in Health Points per level: 200

Colour of Stamina Bar: WHITE

Current Stamina Points(SP): 100

Increase in Stamina Points per level: 10

Color of Magical Energy Bar: PURPLE

Current Magical Points: 25

Increase in Magical Points per Level: 2

Colour of Toxicity Bar: DARK GREEN

Current Toxicity Limit: 10

Increase in Toxicity Limit per level: 1

Colour of Effects and Buffs(If any are active): LIGHT GREEN

Bestiary

A Witcher’s first and foremost requirement, the Bestiary details the monsters that roam the world. From their coloration to their feeding habits, everything can be found and archived within this collection. Encounter monsters and creatures on the path and add their information to your own Bestiary, because Kaer Morhen doesn’t supply its Witcher’s with one once they set off on the Path.

Inventory

Stores and shows all of your possessions which you have decided to keep with you at all times. With a hundred percent safety guarantee, you can store anything and everything here from weapons to food to clothes.

Current Capacity:10 Kg

Increase in Capacity per level: 1Kg

Colour of Weapon Slots: RED

Colour of Food Slots: GREEN

Colour of Other Slots: WHITE

Map

A detailed Map of the area you have already visited and searched, or if you are lucky, found them  in various archives and maps strewn throughout the world.

Note: Archives and stray maps work only when more than 90 percent accurate and less than 15 percent damaged.

Colour of Enemies: RED

Colour of Allies/Possible-Allies: BLUE

Colour of Possible Hostiles/Possible Allies: PURPLE

For Legend, open MAP

Alchemy

The art of creating things from organic sources, Alchemy is a Witcher’s best friend after the Silver swords. Enabling you to fight monsters literal and human both, on even and sometimes greater footing. You can find Alchemical recipes all over the land. Be it potions, bombs, curatives or salves, each has a place in this list.

Colour of Offensive Alchemical Products: RED

Colour of Status-Affecting Alchemical Products: BLUE

Colour of Defensive Alchemical Products: BROWN

Toxicity per Potion(LVL-1): 20

Toxicity per Potion(LVL-2): 30

Toxicity per Potion(LVL-3): 45

Toxicity per Decoction(LVL-1): 60

Toxicity per Decoction(LVL-2): 90

Crafting

Collect Diagrams of Weapons, Armors and other miscellaneous items for the Craftsmen to create them for you. Divided into Tiers, these items can be found throughout the land, however, the diagrams must meet the following criteria for the armourers and weaponsmiths to forge them.

Weapons and Items:

Beginner Level Craftsman: More than 95% correct and undamaged, Common Class.

Journeyman Level Craftsman: More than 90% correct and undamaged, Uncommon Class.

Proficient Level Craftsman: More than 85% correct and undamaged, Rare Class.

Master Level Craftsman: More than 90% correct and undamaged, Special Class.

Grandmaster Level Craftsman: More than 98% Correct and undamaged, Legendary Class.

Weapons and Armors are segregated into 5 Tiers based on their qualities and abundance, and their diagrams and inventory slots are outlined in the following colours:

Common: Blue

Uncommon: Brown

Rare: Silver

Special: White

Legendary: Gold

I wonder if the Aerondight came in Special or Legendary Class, because as far as the games were concerned, that sword was majorly agreed to be the strongest. But who knew how the gods—because people definitely wasn't the right term for those who turned my post-death state into a game—who pushed me here might change the world. After all, if I already know the location of the word and how to obtain it…then how does it become challenging? Deciding to ponder upon the sword and its broken powers later, I turned towards the rest of the descriptions.

Skills

These show the proficiency you have in any art or skill. From cooking to massacring, the efficiency and mastery of your work is determined by your Skill level. Reaching from 0 to all the way to 100, these will help you stay alive in the wilds and between humans both.

Combat Skills’ Colour: RED

Defensive Skills’ Colour: BLUE

Life Skills’ Colour: GREEN

Other Skills’ Colour: WHITE

Quests

What is a good game or even a good life without a Quest? Quests give you rewards and Experience(EXP) which you use to level up and increase your capabilities. Some quests however, are available only due to certain prerequisite conditions being met, or even due to something as variable as how many clouds are present in the sky that day.So, keep an eye peeled out for those!

Storyline Quests(Non-avoidable): GOLD

Contracts: RED

Optional Quests: BLUE

Note: Some Quests may even reward you with items and other things like saddles and such.

Character Sheet

Displays your Biodata, Status, any active effects, your current weapons and armour, and any active Quests.

‘Character Sheet’ I thought immediately, and the screen in front of me got replaced by another one, this one seeming to encompass all my vision. A picture of me was present at its top, but the words written beneath it took more precedence, and thus, I began to read my biodata.

Name: Rhaehal Fiona

Race: Hybrid of Aen Seidhe and ?

As soon as my eyes registered the question mark after the and, A pop-up appeared in front of me, its surface shining a bright gold, the white writing on its seeming to thrum with electricity as I read the words or the first Storyline Quest I had received.

Quest Received: Who is your Daddy now?

After knowing you are a hybrid, you want to know who is your father or at the very least, what is the other half of your blood.

Rewards: 10000 EXP

5 Bonus Levels.

2 Rare Weapons.

1 Legendary Armour Set.

Bloodline Abilities.

Given the absurdly amazing rewards for this quest, I knew right away that the day when I would learn my father’s identity was far, far away. Putting it out of my mind for the time being, I mentally dismissed the screen and went back to the Character Sheet, continuing on from where I left off a few seconds ago.

Information:

Rhaehal is a 3 year, 7 months old Aen Seidhe and ? Hybrid. His mother, Iva Fiona raised him alone as she travelled with the mummers troupe, the Currents. She was killed in Temeria, some miles away from Vizima when a murder of Nekkers attacked their camp. However, Vesemir, a Witcher of the Wolf School was in the forest, and he managed to save a baby Rhaehal from dying by the Nekker which unfortunately, killed his mother just before the witcher’s arrival.

Vesemir brought him to the Keep of the Wolf School, Kaer Morhen, in the hopes of adding another Witcher to the ranks of the Monster Slayers. Now nearing four years of age, Rhaehal has decided to become a Witcher.

HP: 2000/2000

HP Regeneration: 10 per minute

SP: 100

SP Regeneration: 4 per minute

MP: 25 [Locked, Increase STR, WIS, INT to 5 each to Unlock]

TP: 0/10

Toxicity Lowering: 1 per minute

Occupation: None

Money: None

Inventory: 0/10

Location: Kaer Morhen

Stats:

STR- 1

VIT- 1

AGI- 1

INT- 8

WIS- 4

Points: 2

[Increase Stats on your own by spending Points, effects are immediate]

General Consensus[The Opinion of you in general by the people around you]:

Emotionless and Weird.

Quests:

Story- Who is Your Daddy now?

Optional: None

Contracts: None

Huh? I was Emotionless and Weird? I took a moment to think about my interactions with the Witcher and students here over the years…and I found that yes, my behaviour and mannerisms were emotionless and weird. Meh, I really didn’t give a single fuck about that, what with the Witcher’s themselves being called a dozen variations of Emotionless Monsters. As it stood, I had a head start on all of the initiates in the castle, my emotions already stripped from me before the mutations even got to work.

And it felt good to know that I was intelligent and wise…but damn I was weak. Gotta work on that. But I knew I would have to be in moderation, because over-straining my body could very well result in permanent growth problems further down the line for me, and considering the path of life I had chosen, that wasn’t an option. However, even as that trail of thought ended in my brain, another one took its place, namely, how did farmers and villagers, even though they were aided by mages, take down a whole school of Witchers. Even a witcher in training is superior to an active soldier in combat skills and physical fitness, and if even half of the Witcher alive in this castle were to be present in the future, there would still be no way that a rag-tag group of villagers could kill so many trained swordsmen.

As if waiting for me to think about it, a pop-up…well, popped into view, showing me the news quest.

Quest Received: Who's Gonna make it out Alive?[Optional]

Be at Kaer Morhen during the day when it is destroyed, and save as many Witchers from death as you can while killing each and every attacker to the last man, woman and child!

Rewards:

Wolf School’s continued survival

No Guilt for the rest of your life

1000 EXP

1 Bonus Level

1 Special Weapon

???

Start Quest?...

I thought my answer and Quest box flared a bright green before it disappeared, leaving behind the Character sheet. Not finding anything else on the CS, I mentally closed it with the reminder to check it once again tomorrow after some light training. Nothing too strenuous or demanding, just some jumps, lifting a small rock and things like that. However, as the display vanished, I found that it left something behind in my mind. Much like my mental map, which made me sense and perceive the area around me without really seeing anything, I could now feel my own body.

Specifically, I could feel my HP, SP and Toxicity, all of them just a thought away, which was undoubtedly better than the way I had been thinking they would manifest. Deciding to finally get to sleep, I used the Gamer’s Mind actively to calm my thoughts, and within a few seconds, I could feel myself falling asleep. As my vision blackened and my eyelids finally closed, I had one final thought, something which would pester me for years to come.

Should I have decided to interfere with the canon?