14 On my way to Velen

I made my way off the mountain and purchased a horse to travel faster. I don't want to teleport because the wild hunt will find me. I am sure they haven't given up on looking for me. Since they couldn't find me as easily, they went after Ciri. I haven't seen her in 11 years, I still care about her very much. The love I felt for her is fleeting though. All these years have twisted my mind on what I can have in this life. Love is not one of the things I can have.

I have been on the road for awhile now. I am in the swamp lands of Velen as of late, Gaunter had many stories about the creatures here. I am a week early, so this means I just have to wait for her. I can see a town up ahead, I'd bet money that is Crow's Perch. It's the only place around. I make my way up to the bridge and see two armed soldiers.

"Hold it right there. What business do you have in Crow's Perch?" I don't have business per say. I am just waiting for an old friend.

"I am here to meet someone. Does that cause any issues for you?" It shouldn't, nobody should care why I'm here. He eyes my single steel sword. Ahh I guess the bloody sword and clothes will cause that.

"Go speak to the Baron. You look like you take care of problems." I guess I have to earn my stay. I am not looking forward to what he has to say. I pass them on my horse and make my way up to the long house.

"Hold, state your business with the Baron." I am getting sick of this real fast. However, I have to play nice if I want my plan to work.

"I was told to come see the Baron. I am guessing he is in need of problem solving?" That should make this go faster.

"You would be right in saying that. A cockatrice has been causing a lot of problems, you also look very familiar." I guess the white hair and nice looking face can't be hidden. I get off my horse and make my way to the gate.

"Depends, I am pretty good at killing things, not so much on finding them. If your Baron knows where it is, then I will be happy to take care of it." It would be nice to slay monsters instead of humans for a change.

"Alright, go speak to him. OPEN THE GATE!!" I guess it's time to meet this Baron. I am escorted to the house.

"Just follow the main hall to the left and you will reach him." I walk the distance and hear a man talking to another.

"This cockatrice is causing of all kinds of shit. We need you to hold off on looking for them and get us a professional." I stand in the door way and see the people talking. They stop their conversation and look at me.

"It seems I have a solution walking in right now." The man in reddish armor says. I have a bad feeling about this. The other man leaves, he takes a gander at me and scoffs. Well fuck you too. I look to the man and he motions to approach.

"You know me?" My reputation has reached this far it seems. He sits down and puts a hand on his chin.

"Aye, that I do. Your the Emerald Death, you have an evil and magic-like fighting style. White hair, tall, and devilishly handsome." Never thought I could be so well known. This could cause problems in the future.

"I don't know you however?" I want to hurry this up. The sooner I meet up with Ciri the sooner I get to meet up with Avallac'h.

"I am Philip Strenger, others know me as the Bloody Baron." Everyone has a gimmick now days don't they.

"I heard that you are having problems with a cockatrice. I may be inclined to help." I want to keep this vague to hear his best offer.

"How does coin sound?" I am not short on coin. Now I have the advantage in these negotiations. I need a place to stay while I wait for Ciri.

"Sounds all good and just, but I need something else that you can give." Now I just need him to say I have it before I even ask.

"What is it?" He says in an annoyed voice. I have exactly what I need now.

"I need housing until a friend arrives. That is all I want." No need to complicate things and ask for something ridiculous.

"Well, why didn't you say so. A simple request.*WHISTLE* Guard prepare this man a room. He is going to be here awhile." I guess that solves that problem. Now time for the cockatrice.

"So this cockatrice, where was the last place it attacked?" The last place it attacked can hold a clue on where it is living.

"A village south of here, killed a good number of people before it left. Are you going now?" I guess the sooner this gets done. The better for him.

"Yes, I wish to walk as well. Riding horse back has given me the need to travel by foot." No sense in becoming sterile like Yen and Geralt. I might end up needing it.

"So be it. When you return, your room will be ready for you. I hope you can deal with this. I never caught your name however." I guess Emerald Death isn't a proper name now is it. Keeping my identity a secret was easy. My looks and magic however proved impossible.

"My name is Cera Dorren. You can just call me Cera." I hate spouting the long name. I decided to cut it down for the sake of my own sanity.

"Pleasure to meet you Cera. I hope your reputation precedes you." Is that a challenge? I am sure I can kill the cockatrice, but tracking it to its lair will be something that depends on the information I get. I don't have witcher senses like Geralt. Vesemir did teach me how to diagnose cause of death however.

I take off into the night and make my way to the southern village. I arrive after about an hour of walking. A lot of the huts are completely destroyed. I see some people are grieving and crying. I walk over to a women and ask her all the questions I need to know. Like how big it is, what was it after, and which direction it headed in. It went east to the caves, go figure, cockatrices love dark and wet places to sleep.

I take a rest until sunrise and make my way there, that information will make this go so much faster. If it gets away I can track it in the daylight. Trying that at night would be a mistake. I see the cave and look for signs of an animal. There are corpses and bodies everywhere. This is definitely the place, you can smell it too. Why would a single cockatrice need so much food.

I take a look around the cave and notice smaller prints. Great, it had offspring. Seems they have left already though. They will definitely cause problems later. I need to focus on why I am here though. I can hear snoring and the occasional growl. Its asleep for sure. I don't think I can get close enough to deal a killing blow without being noticed. Teleportation or not, they are fast and nimble creatures. Disabling its wing however, that I can do fast.

I quietly draw my sword and teleport on top of its right wing. I give a mighty swing and nearly cut the damn thing off. I did enough damage so it can't fly now. Its quickly screeching and hollering in pain. It is attacking me, but my teleportation is keeping me way ahead of the fight. I make my next assault with a spell I learned from Lara Dorrens diary. She called it reality quake. I perform the same technique as the green lightning struck it in the chest. Quite a tough monster, its dying now, the blood loss from the wing is surely helping. That would have killed a normal man.

I cut off its head as proof and exit the cave. I have to inform the Baron about the offspring. They will cause a lot of problems in the future. I make my way back to the village and they have an empty hearted celebration at the death of their villages mass murderer. I take a carriage back to the Baron and enter the gate's with the beasts head in tow.