Emotionless Witchers

Geralt had just finished a job contracted by a local village due to some harpies harassing them from a nest in the nearby mountain. It's around 11 pm and the sun had already set, as he enters the keep and ties Roach up in the stable he spots his Apprentice Reima meditating on a balcony overlooking the courtyard. Geralt still feels conflicted about even having a protege, let alone one as unique as Reima, he picks up anything taught to him extremely quickly and has tremendous magical capabilities. Vesemir had said he reminds him of Geralt when he was younger, the white hair only increasing the number of comparisons.

Reima seemed like a normal kid most of the time but acts far more mature than usual for someone his age, sometimes when they talk he slips a word that Geralt doesn't understand... Phone, Computer, Internet, things he speaks of with such familiarity that it can't be a slip of the tongue. There are also things he shouldn't know as a nine yearold like sex and how prostitution works, even those who suffer abuse don't have such an intricate knowledge of such adult matters.

He continues climbing the stairs to the balcony as he thinks. Another thing to note is that his story when he first met him doesn't add up, he didn't have any bruises or marks you would expect of someone being chased and not worrying about their surroundings. Furthermore when he went back to check where he could have come from he didn't see any marks, footprints or tracks leading to the tree he had fallen out of... The only examples of things like that he had previously heard of were results of magic, more specifically, teleportation.

Some times Geralt follows Reima when he takes breaks, he cautiously checks his surroundings for spies or intruders just like we taught him, but he hasn't mastered it just yet.

The things Reima does surprises and astounds Geralt, magic that shouldn't be possible without a catalyst or even prior preparation used with relative ease. Blinking from one spot to another in quick blue/green flashes while practising sword techniques makes him wonder about his origins, is he a spy from another country? A genius student from the nearby college? Why become a Witcher with such talent? Geralt intends to answer some of these questions tonight.

Geralt opens the door leading to the balcony and spots Reima meditating while surrounded by candles, the flames of which seem to be drawn to him as if a breeze is directing them towards him.

He steps over them and gets on his knees while waiting for Reima to notice him, he had noticed that Reima seemed to take meditation seriously, maybe even more seriously than veteran Witchers... With the magical power that he had previously displayed Geralt would focus on meditation aswell.

After an hour Reima lifts his head as if breaking from a trance, giving a long breath as if he had been holding it he turns his head to Geralt, "Afternoon Master."

Geralt "Nice night isn't it?"

Reima "It is... But do I have to remind you I'm not a sorceress so you can cut the chat up lines."

There it is again, an foreign phrase, the same common language but concise and abrupt.

Geralt "You should listen carefully then, you could learn a thing or two about talking to women."

Reima "You forgot I am but a nine yearold? I won't have to worry about that any time soon."

Geralt "The age of consent is 15, not that much longer before you start looking at girls... The mutagens generally make Witchers more... lascivious."

Reima "From personal experience I assume?" He says giving Geralt a pointed look.

Geralt "I used to be young as well... Still am, Yen can attest to that."

A brief silence deafens them until Geralt speaks.

Geralt "When we first met... You weren't being chased were you?"

...

Reima who had thought he was hiding the suspect parts of his story so well managed to keep a stoic face. "No..." Geralt waits for more but He doesn't elaborate.

Geralt "Must have been difficult to teleport to there from the college." He states with confidence.

Reima looking confused replies, "College? No... I was dropped there by an ass hole with a big heart."

Geralt wants to know more about said ass hole but decides not to pry, "You have impressive magical abilities, where did you learn them?"

He almost jumps when he hears that, Reima was sure he had done his training in secret... Geralt must have followed him or used some sort of Scrying artefact like that pedo 3rd Hokage. "Ah, you saw that? Well, I'm self taught... I was normal until recently but I discovered the ability to shift myself around and teleport just by willing it. I'm also able to harden parts of my body or weapons to be temporarily almost indestructible."

Geralt "Hmm, Impressive, abilities like that are uncommon those with talent number even fewer. There is something I want to know though, why did you want to come with me and risk your life to be a Witcher?"

...

Reima lets out a breath, "Well, to be honest. You kind of inspired me to seek such a path, Geralt."

Geralt raises an eyebrow and feels himself still, "Really? Why?"

Reima "Well, everyone knows stories about the White Wolf, most positive but I know how people view Witchers. People despise Witchers despite you doing a job no one else is capable of and barely being paid enough to cover materials you used... Even with the tales of the White one they treat you like trash yet they hide behind you and bed when a true threat reveals itself. Your a good person Geralt, I can respect someone who will shoulder others responsibilities and take action. I want to be someone like that, even if I have to crawl through miles of mud or punish those guilty of crimes no human should be capable of." Throughout his monologue Geralt listened quietly and started reflected on his past actions, finding most to be positive and overall improving lives his posture straightens.

Geralt "You know, It's weird for someone to actually acknowledge the things I do for once... It feels.. Warm?" Speaking on such a subject is uncomfortable but strangely feels natural to do for the duo.

They both sit in silence for a while, enjoying the breeze until the candles burn out. They both decide it's time to get some rest, but before Geralt leaves Reima calls out.

Reima "I would appreciate what we talked about to remain between us..."

Geralt nods "Same here, I hear about this from Lambert and you're gonna be hanging from your feet by the keep." He gives a joke/warning and stalks off.