Future and Past

Chapter 353

Night had covered Kaer Morhen when Lambert and Roy made their return, and a crescent moon ascended into the air.

Just as Lambert predicted, a goat was hung over the open fire, but the other Wolves already had dinner and went back to their rooms. He didn't even get to see them. They're still avoiding me.

"We got what we came for, kid. Don't push your luck." Letho was leaning on the fireplace.

Roy shook his head. If he couldn't change the Wolves' passivity, this alliance would be useless.

***

I got to Lambert. This plan works, and I'm going through with it. He went straight to the highest floor of the main castle and knocked on Geralt's door.

The moment Geralt saw who it was, resignation filled his eyes.

"Good evening, Geralt. We need to talk." A toothy grin hung on Roy's lips.

Geralt forced a smile. "Don't you think it's a bit late? Can't this wait until tomorrow?"

Roy stopped the door from closing by putting a foot down. "But you might go fishing tomorrow or hiking through the Blue Mountains the next," Roy teased before pushing Geralt into his bedroom. "I'll cut to the chase. Don't hide from me. I'm not Yennefer."

"Can you not bring her up? We've broken up for years," Geralt muttered under his breath.

"But you still think about her a lot." Roy sat down on the only chair around.

Geralt's room was starker than he imagined. There was only a wooden bed with a beast hide on it, a crate of clothes before the bed, a clothesline, and… nothing. Man, this place is big enough for two swordsmen to spar. "Odd. Where's the unicorn? Where's the white unicorn?"

"What is up with you? You keep talking about weird stuff." Geralt plopped down onto the bed and stared at the moon outside the window. "There's no virgin in Kaer Morhen. Unicorns don't come around."

Roy nodded. Ah, so Geralt and Yennefer haven't experimented that far yet. Sooner or later they're gonna fuck on a unicorn, the clouds… "Just take it as advice."

He stopped smiling and continued solemnly. "Geralt, what do you think about the brotherhood? Are you joining?"

"I thought Lambert told you clearly." Geralt shook his head. "The alliance we have is perfect, and now we're about to talk about the details. We'll find some time every year to gather somewhere and talk about how the year went for us. And we'll help each other out if need be. That's an easier partnership. A brotherhood is going to be a big organization, and running one isn't as easy as you think. Rules and regulations, for example. Have you come up with a rulebook? Found someone to manage the whole thing? Who's going to handle all the menial tasks like food, lodging, remuneration, and jobs? Witchers aren't great managers," Geralt said seriously.

"So you have thought about it. Someone else will handle the menial tasks if you don't want to. And we won't force our members to do anything, or Lambert wouldn't have joined." Roy smiled.

"Lambert agreed?" Geralt was really resigned at that point. I'm disappointed.

"Yep. He'll come to Novigrad with us once the first month is up."

"I knew I couldn't rely on him. We reached an agreement, and he promised he'd make you forget about the idea, but now he took your side?" Geralt growled and massaged his temples. A sigh escaped his lips. "Lambert is still young and playful. He probably just wants to see Novigrad. It's a big city, after all. Sooner or later, he's going to get bored, so take his word with a grain of salt."

"I don't think so. Lambert is showing promise," Roy said. "He'll prove that joining the brotherhood is the right choice. And don't you care about the calamity that's going to happen ten years down the road? How are you going to deal with it without any help?"

Geralt looked even more somber at that point. "Are you sure you didn't make a mistake? I don't think Kaer Morhen has anything left to steal."

"Except for the witchers themselves. Poison, heat, and extreme climate resistance. Best test subjects. And the recipe for your Trial is priceless for some people. Will you give them the recipe in exchange for the castle's safety? Or will you convince Vesemir to leave this place?"

Roy stared at Geralt intently. He knew what the answer would be. Sticklers to tradition until the very end, the Wolves would refuse to give in even if that was the last thing they did.

"Your precognition is more powerful than I thought, Roy. That was… very specific. Is the recipe why we'll be attacked again?"

Geralt believed Roy's precognition a little. He was considering joining Roy's brotherhood and having all the witcher schools band up, including the never-seen-before Manticore School. He wondered if their brotherhood could fight back the evil forces and change their future. And we have a talented witcher who's also a clairvoyant on our side.

Roy noticed his conviction wavering, and he went all in. "There's another reason for the sacking of Kaer Morhen."

"What is it?"

"It's about your Unexpected Child."

Geralt cocked his eyebrow. He was reminded of a beautiful, tomboyish, grey-haired girl who had a loud voice and even louder movements. "How so?"

"Remember Ciri, the daughter of Pavetta and Duny? Princess of Cintra? Have you visited her lately?"

"I'm just a lowly, rude witcher." Geralt shook his head. "I have no right to disturb Her Highness. Even if I were to see her, Calanthe would think I was trying to do something to Ciri, and she'd have my head."

***

"That's how you always are. Ciri, Yennefer, you treat them the same." What is this, some sort of romance drama with the protagonist being a bad communicator? Roy continued loudly, "You can't assume that! Go there and ask what they think! Find out if they want to see you or if they're leading you on a chase."

"Get to the point, Roy," Geralt muttered.

"I've seen Ciri's future as well. We've gone through Brokilon and ran into Eithné. She told us who Ciri really is. Do you remember what she said?"

"She possesses Elder Blood," Geralt said. Gales charged into the room, billowing the tattered curtains. Black clouds obscured the crescent moon, dimming its light.

"Elder Blood is a lot more precious than the Trial recipe," Roy said. "Powerful forces have set their sights on her, and they will not stop until Ciri is in their hands. You couldn't deny Destiny anymore, so you stepped in. In the end, Ciri brought danger and devastation to Kaer Morhen."

"Impossible. She's the heir to a kingdom," Geralt argued. "With Cintra's royalty and Skellige's rulers protecting her, none can harm Ciri. She doesn't need a witcher's protection."

***

Roy smiled but didn't elaborate.

Geralt wondered why the young witcher didn't answer, and then he realized something. He might be a traditional witcher who stuck to the creed of neutrality, but that didn't mean he was cut off from the news. Throughout his travels in Brugge and Cintra, he heard rumors about Nilfgaardian troops setting up camp not far from Amell. If they kept advancing northward, eventually the troops would be invading Cintra's land. It was obvious that the south wanted to conquer the north at this point.

And then he was reminded of something else. Back in Brokilon, Frexinet the nymph breeder castigated Ciri for ruining Cintra and Verden's alliance by running away. He berated her for weakening Cintra's forces.

***

"She needs a witcher's protection because the ruler of the kingdom that's supposed to protect her is…"

Geralt was shocked. The night breeze blew down his neck, and sweat glistened his skin. He looked at Roy again, but this time with conflicting emotions. The alleged prophet easily told him about the direction a future war would take place. This is unreal.

"Would you turn a blind eye if Ciri were in danger?"

Geralt asked himself that and shook his head. And if he were to step in, Vesemir, Eskel, and Lambert would help out as well, even if they might bite his head off for putting the school in danger. It's very possible we'd drag Kaer Morhen into danger if that happened.

"You know how powerful the Law of Surprise is, Geralt," Roy said. "Even if you distance yourself from Ciri, Destiny will still send her your way. You'll have to face this enemy together. If there's still only the four of you by then, you stand no chance against the enemy, not even with our help. We'll all die."

Roy took a deep breath and kept his eyes on the White Wolf. "If you still won't change and join the brotherhood, if you won't try to bolster our strength, you'll be powerless to change Kaer Morhen or Ciri's fate."

"Gods be damned, are you a demon? Do you have to be that direct?" Geralt shot up and paced around angrily. He roared, "Even if I join the brotherhood, what then? You think a small group of witchers can fight back against a whole army?"

"At least it's better than doing nothing and dying." Roy stared back into Geralt's eyes without fear or fervor. "Join us and train the newbies up. At least we have a chance at changing things. We're not letting our comrades sacrifice themselves needlessly. Everyone's gonna have a shot at happiness."

***

"Come, Geralt." Roy extended his hand. "Come to Novigrad and fight for a better tomorrow for witchers."

"You're a fucking devil," Geralt muttered. He held his hand out and paused for a moment before shaking Roy's hands. The young witcher thought Geralt's palm was sweaty. "Don't make me regret this, and I'm not handling the menial tasks."

"Don't worry. I'm not about to let an amateur mess the management up. And we have a deal. That sure was a long talk." Roy turned around and went for the door. "I think you'll need time to sort this out."

The enemies who are out for the Trial recipe and Elder Blood. The war between Cintra and Nilfgaard. Geralt will need some time to process that.

Geralt's face was red, and his hair was drenched with sweat. He needed to process the whole thing, but just like a man who was drunk on wine, Geralt was drunk on information. He wanted to know more.

Geralt stopped him. "Roy, can you see anything you want through your precognition?"

Roy shook his head, smiling. "No. I told you it's very random."

"Then how did you know so much about me and Kaer Morhen?" Geralt peered at the young witcher.

Because you're the goddamn protagonist, Roy thought to himself. "Because I've come into contact with you guys more, so it's easier to see things related to you."

"Is that so?" Geralt's breathing stopped for a moment. He plopped down onto his bed and clasped his fingers. "I have a question about a particular person," he asked nervously.

"Ask away, but my ability is still a very random one." Roy shook his head regrettably. "I might be unable to give you an answer."

The look on Geralt's face changed a few times, and eventually, he spoke.

"Do you know how I arrived at Kaer Morhen, Roy? It wasn't because of the Law of Surprise."

Oh, I know what he's gonna ask. C'mon, memories, give me something.

Geralt took a deep breath and smiled bitterly. "A woman gave me to Vesemir. To be precise, my mother abandoned me when I was a child. She left me at the gates of Kaer Morhen, and Vesemir took me in. Showed me the ways of the witchers. Unbelievable, don't you think? Under most circumstances, mothers would beg witchers not to take their children away, but not mine. She seemed horrified by me."

"Maybe she had a reason," Roy said. Yeah, bad consolation.

Geralt ignored that and muttered to himself, "I kept wondering if I would run into the woman who left me here. If we did meet, I wonder how she would react to me being a witcher. I kept thinking about the things I should say to her, the questions I should ask. Like why she abandoned me." Geralt was tearing up a little. "I waited for almost eighty years, but Destiny never reunited us. All I got from Vesemir was her name—Visenna. She's a druid and sorceress. I want to know where she is right now. Can your premonition help, Roy?" Geralt stared at Roy with hope.

"I need a minute." Roy closed his eyes and pretended to 'glimpse' into the past. For a moment, the White Wolf's nervous breathing was the only sound in the room.

According to the original timeline, Geralt would meet his mother two years later when he sustained some serious injuries. She would heal him and leave without saying a word. Geralt failed to get the answers he wanted. Wonder if that would change if I step in.

"I see her. She's pale and gaunt, the polar opposite of you." Roy shook his head. "Like most druids, she's traveling the world and taking up the mantle of a healer. But she's a nomad who travels from place to place. I can't find her."

Geralt's gaze turned downward.

"But I also see something else. It's about your past." Roy took a deep breath and explained why Visenna abandoned Geralt. "A white-haired man saw a hallucination right before his death. He saw a man killing hordes of monsters, and that man called himself Geralt of Rivia."

Geralt snapped out of his misery feeling surprised. I don't remember seeing a man like that. When did that happen?

"The man, Korin the human warrior, told his wife—Visenna the sorceress—about the things he saw. Their unborn child shall be named Geralt of Rivia, and he prophesied that Geralt was a witcher born with feline eyes. Thinking of it as Destiny's guidance, Visenna honored her husband's dying wish and sent her son to Kaer Morhen to be raised by witchers." Roy kept staring at Geralt. "With Destiny's help, the child named Geralt passed the Trial and became a Wolf. Eventually, he would form a bond with the heir to the Elder Blood through the Law of Surprise. Duettaean aef cirran Certme Gleddyv (The sword of Destiny has two edges)," Roy said. It was something Eithné told him before. And then he finished it. "Yn esseth (And you are one of it)."

"You will change the world."

A long silence ensued. Geralt was sorting out his thoughts. His lips were pursed, his look solemn and confused. "So Visenna didn't abandon me. I was taken to Kaer Morhen because of the hallucination of my dying father, Korin?"

"Perhaps it was not a hallucination." Roy smiled. "But if that makes you feel better, you're free to see the whole event in that light."

"If you want to know more, then you'll have to wait." Roy paused. "But we'll talk after we return to Novigrad."