As the morning sun hit my face, I groaned and reluctantly rose from my bed.
It's been a week since the massacre in Carsten; a brief distance from Oxenfurt City. A fiend had attacked and killed everyone, including my family. I was out in the Academy that day researching entries and recipes since I was an alchemist and studied herbology. When I retired home that evening, I found everyone dead. The village demolished. My entire life fell apart before my eyes.
In order to get over what had happened, I relocated to Novigrad City to a home by Portside Gate, directly outside the City itself. I used to be a normal woman with the ideal life. I had a husband, two outstanding children, a charming home, the kindest of friends. Yet now... now I feel like a nobody with nothing.
Getting up off the bed, I glanced throughout my new home. I had only been here for nine days and already there were herbs and alchemy scrolls stacked everywhere. Since I couldn't afford any furniture, I accumulated books I didn't require into a table and a cubby so I could store some items off the floor. My furnace was the neatest thing here since I used it for everything; preparing meals, alchemy, heat. I wasn't daft enough to put books and other flammable objects on there since it could cause a fire. My bed roll fit flawlessly in the far right corner. Being 5'7 has its advantages sometimes.
I changed into a long black skirt with a dark purple blouse and my apron. I decided today I'll do some farming out in the garden and some light dusting around my home. Heading out, my neighbour confronted me. "Yer new here ain't cha, Lass?"
"That I am." I responded.
"What's yer name girl?"
"Kelliana. And I'm not a girl. I'm a lady. I have children and a loving husband."
"Kelliana, aye? Where's this husband yer talking about?"
I kept silent at his question so he continued, "Well listen 'ere Darlin', you're not in them rich parts of the country anymore. You oughta learn not to be a smart ass and you'll get through just fine. If not, you's gonna have a hard time 'ere, princess."
"And who are you to threaten me considering you can't even speak proper English?" I challenged.
"Tch," He pulled his face back in a scowl and in a blink of an eye, his knuckles made contact with my cheek making me topple over onto the ground with a thud. "Don't ever speak like that to me again girl or yer gonna get yerself dead." He spat and walked away.
I was too dumbfounded to comprehend what had just happened. "By the Eternal Flame, what did I get myself into?" With a sigh, I stood up and rubbed the blood from my lip then the dirt from my apron. I went round to the back of my hut to begin caring for the crops. I purchased this home precisely for the fact the prior landlord was also an herbalist so there were herbs already growing in the back.
After some time, I began cleaning. I started inside with some light organising and sweeping then went outside to finish.
By the time I completed everything, it was dark out. I leaned the tools up against the fence of my front yard and went inside. I took my apron off setting it in front of the door and took my dark hair out of its messy bun. It tumbled down my back and over my shoulders in relaxed curls. I grabbed an alchemy text from off the floor and began reading its contents. After studying a few chapters and recording some notes and several recipes, I settled it back down onto the floor and went to sleep. I wasn't able to concentrate on my book due to earlier's dispute with that strange man.
The next week played out the same - wake up, eat breakfast, tend to the crops, eat lunch, clean, eat dinner, study and then lastly, sleep. I hadn't spoken a word to a single soul here since that man came up to me. I sell the occasional herb to a traveller but that's it with my socialising.
One morning, a beautiful woman with ginger hair pulled back into a bun with sparkling amber eyes and a slight scar running down her cheek addressed me. "Kelliana, right? You don't happen to sell any herbs, do you?"
My first thought was, 'She's not from here due to her accent and her sentence structure. She's much different than that man.' "Herbs?" I questioned.
"Yes, I saw you were producing some in your field," She motioned to the patch of land, "Do you have any to trade?"
"Oh, of course, please come in. You're not from here are you?" I asked her as she walked inside.
"No, I'm from Arinbjorn - over in Skellige. You're the new girl from Oxenfurt, right?"
"Carsten actually, a bit outside of the city. Please, sit while I gather what I have."
"Thank you," she sat at the table made of books then continued, "What made you travel here, Kelliana?"
"Well, truth be told, my old village was attacked by a terrible monster. Everyone died including my husband and children. I came here to start anew. What about yourself? Why come to the continent?"
"You have my condolences. I will be true with you since you have told me your deepest burdens. Well, I suppose long story short, my father is Crach an Craite of Kaer Trolde and I ran away from there to escape the life you get when your father is ruler and such. I wish not to be part of that lifestyle anymore."
I turned around, mouth and eyes wide, "You're Cerys an Craite!? It's such an honour to meet you! I've studied all about you and your family back at the Academy! My children would die to-!" Blinking back some tears, I continued more softly, "They would have been so thrilled to meet you."
She nodded sympathetically, "I'm sorry for the loss of your family and village. I was also not expecting such a reaction. As of now, you're the only one who knows of my real status. To everyone here in Novigrad, I am known as Sera of Arinbjorn."
"Well, Sera of Arinbjorn, your secret is safe with me. You are the first person I have had a discussion with within the week I've been here. I don't care for many of the people in this village." I said with a slight giggle as I brought the last of my wares over to the table.
"I couldn't agree more. So, what are the prices?"
"Prices? Oh, Ten coppers a bit."
She picked what she needed then handed me 2 crowns, which is the equivalent to 200 coppers. "Here you are, thank you and take care. We will surely speak again soon."
I nodded and saw her out. "Wow. The Cerys an Craite of Kaer Trolde is living here and I chatted with her. My daughters would have been overflowing with joy at this."
Shutting the door after her, I went back to my bed. I laid down and took in all the noises and scents around me. There were cows mooing, hogs squealing, children laughing and talking, light rain was rapping on the roof and forming puddles on the dirt road outside. There was the occasional "G'day Master," from one villager to a wandering man.
The smells were overwhelming. There was wet dirt infused with a mild scent of citrus from the herbs outside my windowpane. Smoke from the smouldering wood made its way gradually through the house from the furnace. It contrasted oddly with the smell of wet wood and animal faeces from the enclosures outside.
I was pulled out of my trance by a hard knock on the front door. 'Cerys?' I thought out loud, 'Hmm, perhaps she forgot something.' With a slight huff, I rose from the floor and proceeded to the door.
"Oh? Hello sir," I addressed the mysterious looking man standing in front of me. He had long white hair and beard, golden cat-like eyes and a large scar over his right eye travelling down his cheek. He was wearing armour with a wolf's head medallion around his neck. I gasped excitedly, "You're a Witcher aren't you!?"
"Er, yes. My name is Geralt of Rivia. I have a few questions regarding Carsten and the monster that dwells there." The Witcher answered.
My heart sank to my stomach. Apprehensively I motioned him inside, "Oh, come in Master Witcher. Have a seat at the table." He nodded silently and walked in, his wolf's head medallion clanging lightly on his armour. As he walked passed, I noticed his two swords dyed with blood accompanying a crossbow. 'That's so amazing. How on earth does he carry that all day?' I thought to myself with a slight smirk on my face.
I sat down across from him and blurted out, "How did you get that scar on your eye?" He narrowed his eyes at me and furrowed his brow. Once I realised what I said, I quickly countered with "I'm so sorry. I-I didn't mean to ask that. Wh-What would you like to know about Carsten?"
He cleared his throat then in his monotone voice started, "I'd been travelling through Novigrad to Oxenfurt when I came across an abandoned settlement. A man from the city had told me of your survival from an assault by a monster and said to come here to talk with you about it."
"Where would you like me to begin, Master Witcher?"
"The very beginning, if you would."
"Okay, well, I would always spend most of the day at the Academy studying alchemy and such. The day was no different at first.
"I woke up early, said goodbye to my husband Alistair, and two daughters Alyss and Marie, then travelled into the city towards the Academy. Once the sun had begun to set, I gathered my belongings and travelled home. A woman I was close with in the city offered me a drink at the local tavern. We stopped by for a while before I left for good that night." I hesitated to proceed as tears began to well in my eyes; I tried to blink them away. I never had to speak of this before and I wasn't expecting to; especially this much in detail. Alas, here I am, helping a Witcher perform his Contract on the fiend that remains in my former village.
With a trembling voice I continued, "Leaving the city, there were cries and screams and people running - people from the city, not the village. I assumed it was highwaymen at worse stealing from us again… But oh was I wrong… I ran the remaining distance and when I arrived… Bodies… Bodies and blood… Lots of blood… Everywhere. The smell of death permeated the air. I ran home and found my entire family massacred. A beast, a massive beast with horns was… It was feeding on my friends… People I knew for 10 years. My friend from youth was penetrated through the gut and hanging from its horn. I was so frightened that I ran into my home and buried myself under the sheets. I heard the beast's heavy strides and it's breathing right outside the window. I was convinced I was going to be killed but it suddenly took off in some other direction after making this blood-curdling roar, taking down whatever structures and trees were in its way.
"Once I knew it was gone, I went outside and over to my family. I ached to go after the whoreson but I knew I couldn't. What could an herbalist possibly do? I fled instead after accumulating all I was able to… Master Witcher, I beg of you, please allow me to assist you in avenging my friends and my family." By the time I concluded, tears were flowing down my face but I was also filled with a strange sense of determination.
"I'm a Witcher. A qualified killer. I will avenge them for you." He responded.
"Please! Let me help you! I want to be able to assist you on your journey. I may be just an herbalist to you, but I have contacts; I could help you across the lands. I know how people act towards you.. Please, Master Witcher!" I pressed him.
"No. I'll be back if I require anything else from you."
Defeated, I slowly stood and escorted him to the door. He turned to face me in the doorway and spoke, "Say hello to Cerys from me." Startled, I gazed up at him, eyes wide. "She's a companion of mine, of course I know she lives here. Also, I overheard you call her name before you answered the door."
"Oh.. Right, of course.." I couldn't bring myself to look at him. I just wanted so badly to help him.
He sighed dejectedly. "Talk to Cerys. Tell her about the contract. If she does what I think she will, join me at The Nowhere Inn - inside the City. I will be there until tomorrow evening. Take care."
I stared at his retreating back, fifteen questions rushing through my head all at once; none of which will be solved by the muscular man walking away.
Alrighty then, well that was Chapter One of this new idea I had. My amazing English 111 Professor thought I should upload it since I submitted it as an essay. I changed a few things around but in the end, I'm happy with how it turned out. I hope you all agree with me! If you have any advice or any ideas for a future chapter, let me know in the reviews. Thanks for reading!
-LadyGreyBergamot-