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Quick Fic 18
Once & Always
The weather was clear and the path beautiful. He took a deep breath and put his hand on his throat. Just to be sure everything was still here.
He couldn’t believe that he was betrayed by someone he trusted, a Witcher who saw seasons and decades pass ; saw people dying, families grieving and still… still hurt people, people he knew and knew not.
After what was (probably, he didn’t have any way to measure time here) half a day, he decided to stop and to take a break. Not that he was tired. He didn’t felt anything since waking up here: no tiredness, no hunger, no thirst.
He knew very well what that meant: he passed away. He didn’t even died like he wanted! He should have died a glorious death! Under the claws of a vicious beast! Saving one of his friends! Life was so unfair!
He stopped and looked around. The sound of a river became stronger and he decided to take a look. Indeed, there was a river and it looked so inviting that he decided to take a dip.
He got out of his clothes quickly and, like a child, run to the water and put his foot into the warm water. Unfortunately, the water was a little bit deeper than he estimated and he fell, head first, into the sparkling stream.
When he got his head out, he laughed high and bright.
“You are really like a child, you know?”
He looked around and found the source of the voice. It was her. Blonde hair and blue eyes and a wicked smile.
“I didn’t thought I was going to see you here.
- And where I would be? We are linked you and I. Even if only by the Witcher we shared.
- Fortunately, or not, we shared more than a Witcher.
- Ah! Memories. I wish we had more time together.
- You are too good for the likes of me.
- Don’t sell yourself short. You are worth more than you believe.”
He got out of the water in the middle of the conversation, his state of undress not bothering any of them. And once the silence was predominant again, she joined him.
She sat right next to him, played with his wet hair and he braided hers. He remembered when he did the same for his little sister. They stay like that for a while.
“Let’s keep going. I want to see if there is an end to this wonderful path.
- As my Lady commands!”
Laughing, she hit the arm he presented to her but, ultimately, linked them together. They talked about their childhood, about the people they loved as a family member or as romantic interest.
The kept walking and talking. Sometimes, they saw a deer, a fox or a rabbit. A family of wild boars crossed just in front of them. One of the piglets, curious little thing, came to them and got petted. The mother was looking at them, not in a hurry or in any sort of anger. When the baby boar got their fill, he left with their family.
They took the opportunity to do something they normally couldn’t. They looked at the flora and fauna, each one adding their own knowledge. He added to her already vast knowledge what he knew about Witcher’s Alchemy, Weaponry and Bestiary. She taught him languages he didn’t knew.
They used the long and the never-ending road to strengthen their friendship and, when they arrived at the crossroad, they didn’t want to be separated.
“I’m attracted to the right.
- And me to the left. I will miss you, my dear, dear friend.
- And I, you. I hope we can met, wherever we are going next.
- Maybe a new life, wouldn’t it be exciting?
- Maybe. But I don’t know how to be something else.
- And? Who said you couldn’t be you once again?
- And you? Are you going to be you again ?
- I hope I will be born a boy, if reincarnation it’s what waiting for us. That would make things so easier.
- Not sure, expectations can be hard for boys. Especially first born.
- I want… I want to love freely! I want to travel the Continent and help Witchers any way I can ! I want to bring joy and happiness. I want to get old and rest my aching bones in a little house by the coast. With someone I love and who love me back and who can put his work on pause, just for me. Just because I asked. And you? What do you want for this new life?
- What I want? I want someone who can be a bastard, take bullshit from no one. Not even me. Especially not me. But I want someone who value family and friends, who can bent their morals, at least a bit, for his precious people. I want someone who can stay by my side for a very long time. Who is not put off by my quirks. I want a family. A real one. One where people don’t stab you in the back for their own profit.”
She took his hand in hers and then opened her arms to hug him fiercely.
“You have so much love to give. Don’t let anyone take that from you, do you hear me.”
He smiled. He was happy to have experienced this path with her. Their time together in the living world was cut too short. And that was a shame because they had a blast.
“You are a godsend. I’m pretty sure Witchers will be in good hands with you. I know I was. Oh! No, please, no, don’t cry! We’re going to see each other again! I’m sure!”
She dried her tears on her sleeve.
“I’m sure we will! The Gods can’t be so cruel to part us forever! I will be looking for you Luka.
- And I will be waiting for you, Illyana.”
With a last hug, they parted.
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Ten years after the Sack of Kaer Morhen
1175
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“ Let Mama go!!”
The bruxa didn’t even bother with the child, she was going to eat him too anyway. So she didn’t even bother to push him away when he got on her back and tried to get her face away from his mother. She didn’t saw the silver brooch in form of a quill in his hand. He stabbed her in her eyes.
The beast screamed, making the child fall and was promptly beheaded by a witcher.
“ You did good kid.
- I didn’t save Mama.
- I’m sorry, boy. Do you have other family?
- No. Just my stupid aunt. It’s because of her that we were here. Can I become a witcher?
- If it is what you want. I’m Guxart, of the Cat School.
- I’m Aiden.”
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Fifty-Seven years
after the Sack of Kaer Morhen
1222
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- Isn’t he beautiful, husband? He got my mother brown curly hair. And his eyes are so blue. I know all babies were born with blue eyes but surely, not this bright?
- I do hope he will have blue eyes. We didn’t have blue eyes in the family since Great-Grand-mother Illyana.
- She was one of King Dagread Council Member, wasn’t she?
- Yes, until a Witcher came along and charmed her!
- Hush! No need to talk about them around the baby. Do you have a name for him already?
- Yes, strong names for a strong heir. Welcome to this world, Julian Alfred Pankratz.
The baby smiled and closed his eyes. The last thing that happened before he fall asleep was a sweet taste in his mouth. He didn't know that it was the sweet taste of honey cake.