Of Monsters and Men

Reima "Err... Nice to meet you Nerissa?"

Her frown softens back into her placid expression. "I was watching you two." she states.

...

Reima "Ok?"

Ciri "I'm sorry for kicking you, should we take you back to your parents?"

The young girl shakes her head, "This is my parents land, I doubt you'd last long if they find you."

Reima shrugs, "I highly doubt that... What are you?"

Nerissa "Is it not obvious? I, am a Vampire."

Ciri immediately back up and draws her steel sword, despite it not really being effective against monster without Oil. Reima just continues to observe, he had met many "Monstrous" individuals in the past... He even "Bonded" with Quelaag and so if he immediately attacked this girl he'd just be a hypocrite. "Are you a threatening us?"

She shakes her head, "No, I'm just warning you for your own good. It'd be a shame if you were torn apart, I quite enjoyed watching you fight."

Ciri "Are there many vampires in these lands?" she asks, still prepared to strike the girl down.

Nerissa "Not that I know of, the community tries to avoid Britain... For obvious reasons."

Reima "I'd a thought Scotland would suit vampires fine, afterall sunlight would never breach this desolate hellscape..." His joke seems to fly over both of their heads as the tension stays thick enough to cut with a butter knife.

Ciri "I didn't know vampires could transform?"

Nerissa walks around, her bare feet crunching the sticks beneath them, "Most can, it's just not something we like to advertise... It'd be bad for my family if people started butchering black furred animals again."

Reima "Your family?"

Nerissa blinks, "I've said too much..."

A voice calls out from somewhere, "Rissa!? Where are you?" the voice continues to shout for her and seems to gradually get closer.

Nerissa "I think it'd be best if you left, perhaps you could visit again?" she asks semi-hopefully, it wasn't everyday someone met a vampire and didn't immediately flee or attack.

Ciri "No, I think we-" she starts but Reima interrupts "Maybe, just don't tell your folks if we do turn up again... Or do? My friend and I haven't killed something in a while now..."

The young girl nods, disregarding his comment and runs deeper into the forest.

Once the duo return to their Inn Ciri immediately scowls at him, "Return? Are you mad? The one monster Geralt told me to fear was Vampires and you wish to make acquaintances with one!?"

Reima "The vampires in this world are different from the ones you know, significantly weaker... If they weren't why hasn't the world been conquered already?"

Ciri "Because they don't interfere with mortals?"

Reima "Ah, you see that's where you're wrong..." he opens the history book, "I see you've been slacking on this worlds history. Look here, Vampires have been at war with Werewolves, Muggles and Wizards for so long records further back don't exist, in-fact there were rumours that they were about to ally with Voldemort before his demise at the hands of Harry Potter."

Ciri "Ok, but I still don't understand why you wish to converse with one."

Reima would tell her his real reason, of-course it's because she's a cute fluff but he reckons that wouldn't work. "I need to find out more information about them, just in case they try to ally with Voldermort when he returns."

Ciri "I thought you said he was dead?"

Reima "Yeah, but in the future he'll be revived... I'm hoping to use the upcoming tournament to wipe out him and his allies in a single blow, this is the reason we have to stay in this world."

Ciri "And how do you know of this?"

He shrugs, "Visions, visions."

Ciri "Right... But I still don't agree with you talking to Vampires!"

Reima sighs, "Look Ciri, I'm sure Geralt's told you this before but not all monsters are evil. Do you think Vampires drink blood because they want to? Sure some might but some may just want to be normal and live peacefully." This quiets her and Reima realises it's quite late at night. "Just keep it in mind... Remember to meditate before you sleep, good night Ciri."

She mutters a "Night" as he shuts the door behind him, thoughts of there previous talk and old conversations with Geralt run through her mind. Geralt was always very philosophical when it came to the "Path" and monsters themselves, he'd talk about why Witcher's didn't hunt Dragons and the many monsters he'd let go because they were harmless. She'd disagreed with him back then partly due to her being a hot-head and wanting to constantly fight but after this talk with Reima she couldn't see anything wrong with the argument. Afterall most of the populous considered Witchers themselves monstrous, as well as Witches, elves and anything not human... Especially after that Eternal Flame religion starting becoming more popular. If she continued with her previous thoughts then what separated her from those bigoted peasants burning magic users alive?... Perhaps she should reevaluate her opinions on "monsters" and men.

Due to the many thoughts running through her mind she found it incredibly difficult to enter a meditative trance and ended up not sleeping until it was late into the night.