Mercy?

The gargoyle runs towards them on all fours, similarly to the other one Reima had killed before entering the Painting. He decides to act as support for Priscilla, after all this is going to be her first real battle against a worthy opponent.

Priscilla's legs tense as she waits for the right moment to dodge, it gets close enough that she can feel the wind from it's charge and she steps to the side, dodging it's haphazard bite while swiping her Scythe across it's stony face. The weapon scrapes a long line into across it's animal like visage, blinding one of it's eyes, she remembers what Reima had said about taking advantages as they come and proceeds to move into it's newly made blind spot.

The gargoyle tries to keep her in sight but has to turn it's entire body due to missing an eye. She keeps moving forcing it to turn faster, eventually it stumbles over it's own leg and Prisclla dashes forwards while spinning and sweeping her scythe upwards, taking off a foot in a very well placed strike. It groans at her and tries to stands on it's stump leg, she continues to move into it's blind spot which enrages it. it rolls sideways intending to crush her, it's sudden movements surprised her enough that she's unable to dodge... She closes her eyes and waits for the impact...

BANG!... She doesn't feel it hit her, despite hearing the impact.

"Never close your eyes against an attacking opponent." She opens her eyes and sees Reima with a black substance covering his foot blocking the large body of the Gargoyle. He pushes it away slightly before kicking it a couple meters away from them.

Reima "Stop gawking, the battle's not finished." he states before silently retreating into the background.

She comes to her senses when she hears the Gargoyle begin to move towards her again. It torso is slightly crumbling due to Reima's kick but it isn't dead quite yet.

She sprints towards it with small quick steps and her scythe trailing behind her, preparing to strike.

The Gargoyle sees her approaching and sparks start appearing from it's mouth, it breaths in deeply before unleashing a stream of fire at her. Priscilla's eyes narrow as she hadn't been expecting this, she throws herself to the side, rolling once before continuing to sprint into it's blind spot. The gargoyle tries to direct the flames at her but can't turn fast enough due to it's stump leg.

She gets to the back of the creature and uses all of her momentum to swing her scythe at it's flailing tail. She cuts through it easily but continues to spin with the strike before attacking again at the base of it's wing. She cuts through it causing the Gargoyle to crumble on it's front while releasing a large groan, it lays there still... Priscilla approaches the front and sends a pitying look at it, she prepares to sever it's head to end it's suffering when it leaps at her in a last ditch attack... "Again" She thinks irritated that she'd fallen for another surprise attack. Luckily her ever present mentor crushes the things skull in a vicious stomp, it fades away into white particles only leaving the annoyed and slightly shamed Priscilla...

Reima rubs the back of his head. "Don't mind it... Showing mercy is a sign of compassion, just remember that our enemies don't deserve any. If we are fighting them, then it's probably that they are the aggressors, don't hold back or you give them a chance to hurt your loved ones or yourself." He comforts her, he used to have a similar mindset to her back in Kaer Morhen...

Flashback! Mentions of r.ape ahead, continue at thy own peril!

He was against killing, he had made it clear to Vesemir and Geralt that he thought people deserved a second chance... His determination was dashed when he was taken with Geralt on a contract, young women and children were being abducted and the villagers assumed it was a monster. They weren't wrong. When they'd tracked the "monsters" camp they had found the captured people... They were locked in cages, well most of them were. They looked around and heard terrible pleading screams coming from a large tent close to the cages. He had dashes into it not realising what this place was, inside the women... Children were being "assaulted" by men, they seemed to be nobles from nearby lands. One was sweating over a young girl, around eight years old... Reima was enraged, he had never been so angry before. How dare these people commit such horrific crimes? He drew the sword he'd been lent and started butchering every one he saw. When he was finally done with his slaughter Geralt tried to comfort him.

Geralt "I didn't want you to see this, Vesemir thought we should open your eyes before we send you out into the world... I'm sorry." Reima doesn't say anything in reply as he sobs into Geralt's chest, still covered in the blood of evil men.

Flashback end!

Needless to say, he doesn't think some people deserve second chances any longer. He had adopted Geralt's pragmatic attitude towards "Monsters", if killing one means stopping the suffering of many then it's worth it. Reima had realised suffering was everywhere, there was no real way to stop it aside from being god and taking away free will... But, he could help those he came across.