Force of life

With the bout coming to an unexpected but amicable end, the group relocated inside Kaer Morhen proper. Atram commanded Albert to cook something light for their breakfast and insisted on tending to Lambert's wounds. Despite his initial reservations and protests, the grumpy witcher eventually relented and allowed him to treat his injuries. The witchers discovered that Atram's method of healing not only himself but another person as well, was nothing short of miraculous.

With a mere touch, he could discern the afflictions within a person's body and harness his manipulation of vital energy to mend them. It was a rare gift unmatched by anyone they had encountered, and Atram had honed his mutation to perfection through years of dedicated practice. As he tended to Lambert's wounds, the witcher couldn't help but marvel at the swiftness of his recovery, surpassing even the efficacy of their potions.

Following their fight, Lambert found himself with two broken ribs, one completely dislocated and fractured jaw, along with a damaged spine. However, after Atram treated his wounds, he found himself feeling better than he had in years. His body teemed with vitality, and even older injuries that hadn't fully healed seemed to be improving. 

"How?" was the solitary word that escaped his lips, his mind too overwhelmed and astonished to formulate a coherent sentence.

"You're all familiar with magic, correct? Well, what if I told you there's another energy that contrasts with magic? While magical energy serves as an external power source for everyone except sorcerers, what I'm tapping into is internal, residing deep within my... 'core'. In my world, we call it ki, or chi."

Seeing that his audience was unfamiliar with the term, he decided to provide further explanation. "Ki is a life force energy that permeates all living things. From a person to even a budding flower, traces of this energy can be found. Through rigorous training and discipline, individuals can learn to harness their ki, utilizing it to enhance their physical abilities, manipulate the environment, and, in my case, accelerate the body's healing process." He paused to take a sip of water from a nearby mug.

"Unlike magic, which relies on specific spellwork or incantations, ki is fluid and adaptable. It's also more natural, more 'pure' than magic. It's an energy that has resided within our bodies from the moment of our birth until our final breath. Ki is the essence that flows through us, connecting us to the world and, in a sense, enabling us to move, think, or feel." He concluded his explanation and glanced around 

Vesemir had his hands under his chin, listening attentively. What the old witcher was thinking remained open to interpretation. However, the glint in his eyes suggested he was at least somewhat intrigued. Eskel and Geralt watched their instructor intently, their complexities seemed even paler than they already were. Meanwhile, Lambert had risen and was practicing sword swings in the vast hall of the keep. His blade, although somewhat chipped from all the battering it had gone through, still gleamed in the dim light, making an impressive swooshing sound every time he swung it.

"Is that why I felt something intrusive in my body when you checked my injuries? That was your, uhm... ki?" Lambert asked, while he examined his sword from all angles.

"To put it simply, when I heal someone else, I extend my life force to the injured area to ascertain the exact nature of the ailment. By exploiting the phantom limb phenomenon, I restore the body to its initial perfect self."

"Interesting... You mean the sensation an amputee experiences of still having their missing limb?" Vesemir inquired, adopting an academic posture.

Atram nodded and smiled. "Yes, that's exactly it. After experiencing countless injuries to my body, I understood that an individual's perception of their own physique is crucial to their overall well-being. In other words, the body always 'opens itself' to me, as it yearns to be whole again, to be 'perfect'."

"That is... incredible. Unheard of, even." Vesemir exclaimed in awe.

"Well, it took me almost ten years to perfect that technique, and I must say you witchers are nothing to scoff at either. Enhanced immune system, better muscle and bone structure and density, superhuman senses, and permanent darkvision." Atram paused and shook his head. "It is such a shame that after all the trials you had to go through and the high mortality rate that the Trial of the Grasses had, they decided to make you infertile."

"We weren't supposed to have children," Geralt replied with a shrug. "Our lives are too dangerous and unpredictable to raise a family. Besides, we were taken in as children ourselves and trained to be emotionless killing machines. What kind of a parent we would be under these circumstances."

"That's such bullshit!" Unexpectedly, the one who shouted was Atram. "Dangerous lives, my foot. Do you know how many times I've seen soldiers march inside a village and begin to rape and kill indiscriminately, under their lord's name? Fathers watch helplessly as their young are taken to be sold as slaves at underground markets. You know what I did? I butchered them with my bare hands. Because I had that choice, because I could."

His gaze fell upon the witchers. "After my spar with Lambert, I can confidently say that you are amongst the best warriors I know. Where would a child be safer than at the side of a... 'killing machine'? Do you truly believe you wouldn't make good parents because of that? Because you think you lack emotions?"

He pointed a finger at Vesemir. "Master Vesemir tended to my wounds when I was in my most vulnerable state. He offered me a place to stay. Me, a stranger. What is that if not compassion?" Next, he turned his head towards Lambert. "Lambert may come off as brash and uncaring, but not hours ago he displayed his honor. When I was down, he could have finished me off. Instead, he waited for me to get back up!"

He took a deep breath to calm himself. The witchers looked at him with a mix of bewilderment and surprise. They were accustomed to being met with apathy and hate, constantly labeled as freaks and devil spawn. But this man, this stranger, had just defended them and shown them kindness. Such occurrences were rare in their line of work, and they didn't quite know how to process it.

As they stood there in silence, Atram continued to speak. "I'm sorry for lashing out like that; it was uncalled for. I get your point, and it seems you have made peace with it. But I stand by what I said. It would be a shame for you to be the last witchers ever. And by that, I don't mean just your profession or the means by which you attained your skills, but what you fundamentally represent in this world."

"Lad, although I appreciate your sentiment, it's not up to us to decide the fate of our kind. We must accept what comes our way and make the best of it. The world is changing; there are fewer monsters every year, and with that come new challenges." Vesemir said and crossed his arms.

"Old man, stop being so dramatic. There will never be a shortage of monsters. Especially now with all the wars going on. Do you know how many necrophages I've had to deal with in the past month alone?" Lambert retorted, rolling his eyes.

"Ghouls, and the like?" Atram chimed in.

"Ghouls, alghouls, devourers, foglets, drowners, the list goes on. All these monsters see a sudden rise in population during times of war." Lambert explained, his voice tinged with frustration. "It's not just the necrophages either. There are bandits and deserters roaming the countryside, taking advantage of the chaos.

Atram raised an eyebrow at that. "Don't you cremate your dead? In my world, it's customary to either cremate or bury them deep in the ground to avoid attracting monsters. Where there are dead, more will follow."

All the witchers groaned. "Try telling that to an illiterate peasant or an entitled prick who thinks that is just superstition and fairy tales." Geralt answered.

"I didn't know it was that bad."

"Worse even is the pay. If the monster parts weren't worth anything, we wouldn't be able to make a living," Lambert added.

"I see... I suppose you don't have dungeons here."

"Wasn't that what we overheard when we first saw you? Places that literally create monsters. How does that even work?" Lambert asked, genuinely curious.

"It's complicated. But basically, there are areas where magic is particularly strong. These areas can warp reality and create new monsters that vary depending on the surrounding landscape."

"And people actually go into these dungeons to hunt these monsters?" Geralt asked incredulously.

"Yes, it's a dangerous job, but it pays well. And not just anyone can go inside. You must first obtain permission from the local guild, and depending on your rank, you may be denied entry if you are two ranks below the dungeon's danger level. Even then, dungeons are unpredictable. Believe it or not, they are like living, breathing entities. You may have passed a tunnel only to find out there is a pitfall on the way back. Or you may encounter a group of monsters that are immune to your attacks."

Atram explained one of his favorite subjects. He could talk about monsters and dungeons for hours on end. And perhaps he might get a chance if the mood was right.

"How do you beat something that has immunity to a sword?" Lambert inquired.

Atram gave him a grin and showed him his fist. "Rock beats scissors. But in all seriousness, that is why you must have a diverse group of people. If physical damage doesn't make it, then burn the shit out of it. If it flies, shoot it with arrows. You catch my drift. By the way, how did you manage to pierce my stomach with your sword?"

It was Lambert's time to smirk. "Wouldn't you li-"

"He used hanged man's venom, a blade oil that should have poisoned you. But, well, it's you, so I guess it doesn't count," Eskel remarked, acknowledging Atram's absurdity.

"Poison, bombs, and magic? I'm starting to reconsider what I said about your honor," Atram quipped in a mockingly hurt tone.

Lambert withdrew his steel sword and gestured at the dents on his blade. "How was I supposed to injure you? It was as if I were fighting an earth elemental. My blade practically bounced off your skin!"

"Relax, I'm just messing with you. When I enhance my body with ki, few things can harm me. Besides, I didn't go all in on our spar. I didn't want to risk hurting you," Atram stretched his arms and cracked his neck, a satisfied grin on his face.

Lambert was about to say something, but Vesemir, who had been listening to their conversation, interjected. "Lad, be honest with me. Is ki control something that you could teach us? Or is it innate, like magic?"

"Hmmm, you are swordsmen to begin with, so we differ in that department. And as I said before, ki is not like magic. You don't learn it through books; you must feel it. The only thing I can do is point you in the right direction. However, with your level of martial expertise and discipline, I have no doubt that you will be able to grasp the basics in no time." He paused and looked at Eskel. "How about we treat that scar of yours?"

Eskel nodded and stood up, with Atram right behind him. " While I patch up the scar and whatever else needs fixing, you will try to close off all distractions and focus yourself inwards."

"Before you continue, we have a meditation stance in which we go into a lethargic trance to pass time. Maybe that will help." Vesemir noted as he watched attentively.

"Oh! That's excellent! Even in this state between sleep and wakefulness, it's crucial to remain aware of your surroundings. Breathe deeply through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth. Feel the air filling up your lungs and then leaving your body. Let go of any tension in your muscles and allow yourself to sink deeper into relaxation. Now, I will begin 'encasing' you in my ki. As Lambert said, you may feel an 'intrusion' as my energy surrounds you. Don't resist it; just let it flow through you."

Eskel sat on his knees and followed the instructions, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He could feel the energy wash over him, and he relaxed into the sensation. It was undeniably strange, like having someone inside his body, exploring every nook and cranny. Yet, it wasn't unpleasant; in fact, quite the opposite.

As the minutes passed, he found himself becoming more attuned to the subtle shifts in the energy flow. It was akin to learning a new language, one that spoke directly to his soul. Then he noticed it. There were two distinct types of energies inside his body. One was overwhelming, like an unstoppable avalanche or a majestic mountain capable of withstanding any storm. The other, more subtle, was overshadowed by the intensity of the first.

However, the second energy was more familiar to him. It reminded him of home. He was atop a hill. Overgrown vegetation surrounded it, and beneath it was an endless tapestry of green. He sat there, observing the crowns of the trees, feeling a sense of calm wash over him. The breeze was cool and refreshing, carrying with it the scent of wildflowers. A woman stood next to him as she gently brushed his hair and sang an old hiking tune about a hen.

Ma, why did you leave me? Was I not a good boy? The boy thought. His mother turned and gave him a warm smile, her eyes a soothing forest of love and compassion. "My son, my little Eskel. I never left you. Listen to the winds, feel the sun on your face, and hear the birds singing in the trees. They are all reminders of my love for you. Even though I am no longer physically with you, my spirit will forever be by your side. Forgive me for any pain I may have caused you, and know that you will always be in my heart. May our ancestral winds protect you. Always."

Eskel was jolted back to reality by a hand that felt like a boulder on his shoulders. He turned and saw Atram smiling at him. "Welcome back. How was it?"

Eskel swept away his tears and smiled back, his face no longer marred by scars. "It was intense. Personal." He replied, not knowing exactly how to describe it.

Atram nodded vigorously. "Then we are on the right path. Did you feel two energies inside your body?"

"Yes. One felt overwhelming and unmoving, while the other was calm and soothing, like a gentle breeze." 

Atram's eyes lit up with excitement. "That's it! You've tapped into your life force. With practice, you'll be able to control it and harness it at will."

Eskel shifted his body, sensing a surge of energy coursing through his veins. He had never felt so alive. Tilting his head upward to meet Atram's gaze, a wide, serene smile spread across his face. "Thank you," he stated simply, yet the words carried a depth of gratitude that Eskel couldn't fully express.

"You were already on the door's foothold; I just showed you how to get in." He replied and pointed at the long table behind him. "Now let's eat, before I eat Albert."