The Witcher: Elder Blood

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***

We reached the town in silence, diluted by the clatter of hooves against the wet ground. To our misfortune, it was raining, and we had to hide under our cloaks as the horses carried us towards the town.

I wanted to be in a warm and dry room, to have a normal meal and just to rest in a normal bed by local standards.

I think Detmold had similar plans, but there was nothing to say about our unwilling travelling companion. It was difficult for me to describe her condition, for she followed us quietly all the way, and her face, when I glanced at her, expressed nothing but sadness for the dead. Her state could not be called complete melancholy.

She didn't hold her own, though. Was she playing the part of a fantasy medievalist? Or is she herself more resilient to the loss of loved ones? Or maybe she wasn't as familiar with them, except for that woman named Alka, whose musical instrument Galantea had taken with her, thoroughly cleaned of blood? Questions to which I could not give a definite answer. And I didn't want to answer them, we helped her and she'll get on with it.

The group of people Galanthea was travelling with didn't have much in the way of valuables, so we packed everything in the available bags on the horses, attaching most of it to her horse.

I thought about fixing their wagon, but given the two broken wheels, the small size and, importantly, the time it would take to get to the city and back, I dismissed the idea. Not worth the effort and expense. In any case, for the caravan we would need a big and good wagon, not a wreck that could hold only bags with clothes and food.

Drenched in the drizzle, we piled into an inn on the outskirts of Ard Carraig. I knew the place, having stayed there for a day with Vesemir.

- My fingers are freezing, I'm going to the fireplace,' Detmold shook off the water in front of the door and strode towards the hearth.

Galanthea was wearing a long cloak, which was clearly not the right size, but better than our clothes to protect us from the rain.

I decided to order us some warm, freshly cooked food, offering it to the girl at the same time:

- Will you have dinner with us? - When she nodded in the affirmative, I went to the counter to order.

The inn we had visited had game, but the variety was poor, only pork was served. As a side dish we had a choice of millet porridge and fried potatoes with onions. Considering the low prices, one could not call the evening menu meagre. Vesemir certainly knew the best places to eat, he was a witcher for a reason, and he had to be constantly on the lookout for orders, trying to save money at the same time.

Detmold, warmed by the fireplace, was already waiting for me at the table, looking around the inn, and Galanthea, who was watching me with one hand resting on her chin, the other clutching a musical instrument in her lap.

- I think we should get to know each other better now that we've decided to share a meal,' I decided to pass the time by talking. - My name is Eren Yeager. My friend and companion in one person is called Detmold.

- From Pont Vanis, but I'll introduce myself as Ban Arda from now on. It's more respectable,' the boy added.

- Yeah, we graduated from the Magic Academy in Ban Ard, and we were just setting sail before we met you on the motorway,' he added, 'by this time we had three portions of pork with roast potatoes, two mugs of mead for Detmold and me, and a mug of juice for Galanthea. - Now it's your turn,' I said, distributing the order and turning to the previously silent maiden.

- Galanthea is from Gelibol, in the foothills of the Pustil Mountains in northern Redania,' she paused for a long sip of apple juice. - I was raised by my aunt until a travelling theatre passed by our town. I always liked bardic singing, so I was able to apply to be Alka's apprentice,' the memories of the dead woman brought sadness back to her face. - It had only been a month since that day, such a short month.....

Detmold and I looked at each other awkwardly, not knowing what to say. Apparently, my friend was more confident in the words of support he could say, so without thinking long, he revealed the first thing that popped into his head:

- Ahem, well, don't worry, it'll get better. My grandfather was taken away by a griffin when he was still a little boy, he used to go hunting a lot, but he was unlucky. At first I was sad too, but then I forgot about it, it got easier, and you knew them only for a month.

His statement made me rub my forehead, looking down. I didn't want to continue this conversation.

- Okay, let's eat, we all need to rest. Tomorrow you'll think about what happened.

In an awkward silence we finished our dinner together, then, taking all our things with us, we went to our rooms. Detmold and I shared a room with two beds, while Galanthea had a separate room, which I didn't have to pay for, but she inherited a heavy bag of coins. She shared part of it with us, or rather half of the whole sum. Two hundred and thirty-six marks for help with the Ghouls had a pleasant effect on our financial condition.

***

Galantea kept her gaze on Eren until he had gone out the door of his room. Not wanting to be alone in the first floor corridor, she walked lightly into her room. The girl carefully placed the ribs on the bedside table, and, making a half-turn, walked to the closed window.

On the window sill was a small pot with a flower that was beginning to wither, but as soon as she was near the window, the flower seemed to come back to life, to regain its 'freshness', as if it had bloomed again. She ran her fingers along the bright green stem while she used her other hand to swing open the window doors.

The rain was nearing its end, the sun long gone into the sunset.

Only one phrase escaped her lips, dissolving into the silence of the night, the crackle of trees sprouting nearby and the howl of the wind:

- Sometimes, in the search for gold, a diamond falls into our hands.

For a moment it might have seemed as if nature itself answered her with an increased swaying of the branches.

- Have I the right to pass by? - she asked, looking at the pot with the flower that had increased in size. - The man clearly would not let go of fate's precious gift.

Galantea, without another word, quietly closes the window and goes to bed. The next day, nothing spoke of her fleeting behaviour, in front of her new acquaintances she acted like a quiet teenager dreaming of becoming a bard.

***

Along the corridors of the Arethusa Academy, a young girl walked with a straight posture, her black hair twisted into tight curls that swayed in time with her movement. She wore the usual attire found on every female student at the academy.

A bluish dress with a deep neckline. Her breasts were covered by a white shirt up to her collarbone, and down the centre of the dress there was a yellowish line along which the dress itself was tied, something like a corset.

The girl climbed the wide staircase, walked along the even wider corridors, and soon found herself at the door of the Rector of Arethusa. Knocking a few times, she caught the attention of the person inside, to which the door opened on its own.

- Good morning, Yennifer. Do you have everything ready for the prom tomorrow? - Tissaya de Vries continued to read through the papers on the table as her ward, who had successfully graduated from the academy, approached her with undisguised indignation.

Jennyfer had undergone a special operation to correct her defects and make her more attractive. In this way, she got rid of her congenital body problems, but in return she lost the ability to conceive a child. Most sorceresses go through such an operation, but there are always exceptions, not everyone needs such changes.

- Why did King Wyrfuryl change his mind about inviting me to court? You promised I could serve one of the kings after graduation. I have surpassed all the students for that! - she couldn't help herself at the end of her tirade.

- Enough! You had every chance to become a court mage in Aedirn. But all that was blown the moment the elves in your line became public,' the adult sorceress rose from her chair, walked round the wide table and stood opposite Jennyfer. - Virfuryl hates elves, and a quarter of elven blood in you is enough for him not to even consider your candidacy. Who have you told about this? - Tyssaia looked into the surprised eyes of her best student. - Of course, I had no doubt, your first mate is Eastredd, isn't he? Foolish girl, he was studying under Stregobor, another intolerant elf.

She had a grudge against one of her few friends, of which there were only two: the Covirian wizard Istredd, who had met him in Tor Lara, one of the most powerful places of concentration of magical power on the Continent, during rare lessons there; the other was Sabrina Glewissing, her relationship with her was controversial, sometimes the wizard herself could not decide whether they were friends or rivals in studies.

- What am I supposed to do now? - Jennyfer asked quietly.

- Nothing, get ready for the ball. The matter with Virfuril is over, he decided to take Fringilla Vigo for himself. Not without the influence of her uncle and her very origin,' Tissaya added, deciding to ease her mentee's frustrations: - Not everyone gets to serve the court as soon as they graduate. They are a minority, you know that very well.

- Then... Can I go to Wengerberg? - She wanted to see her family, especially her mother. And if she had to make her life the same way most wizards did, she thought she should choose her hometown.

- You can do it, it's up to you, Yennifer. You won't have any problems in the future to join one of the kings if you want to, just gain experience. And know this,' the Rector added before the young sorceress left. - You are always welcome in Arethusa, I am sure you will succeed in becoming a teacher.

Yennifer nodded at Tissai's words, then left the office.