A/N: So being my first fanfic of The Witcher which is based on that scene in Blood and Wine DLC, I am doing that formula called 5 + 1 as to explore the theme which is a Japanese concept called Nakama,which means your friends became close like family,which I feel in the books,especially their friendship,so it is my way to explore that!
I hope you guys enjoyed it as I wanted to do my best of this scene.
So mild spoilers of the story and Baptism of Fire book!
Chapter 1-Regrets
Curiosity-Regis cannot comprehend that human concept, and yet he admired about it. That lingering thought in his mind, Dettlaf , Regis thought quietly, he is too naive,his anger blinding his reasoning perhaps extended mortality as a higher vampire do not soften him in that cruel world, as he runs wild with the insecurities in his heart. That situation proves to be critical, Geralt on the hunt for the beast of Beauclair for the contract of the duchess Anna Henrietta . Geralt is always known for his deep analysis on the crime surroundings,picking through details as if he witnessed the crime itself,but when he interrogated him on the ring,he wished not to speak, it is all too much for him. After all, he is still on the heels of recovering from that melt when rescuing Cirilla-Geralt's ward in Strygga castle assault.
Well, that is a witcher's job,not caring about the mortality of its persons they made contact,choosing what could be the lesser evil for themselves and the person who gave the contract. Regis thought quietly,after all, it was like the first encounter they met,he did not expect himself to be thrown out in that wild adventure in rescuing his ward Cirilla ,a particular moment when he defies an elder accusing young girls of witchcraft, a castle assault, trappings in prison. All that wildness,different from the senseless drunken orgies he beseeches in his younger years, different from the solitary life of a healer/surgeon in Dilligen that not even the mortals even notice his vampire state. Though there are doubts lingering in their minds,mostly from Milva and Dandelion ,but he was generally accepted by the hansa for his medical ,even to the skeptical Geralt all his years,as dictated by the society,that a friendship of two races, to be sworn, enemies. However, it proves to be surprising that Geralt could trust a man that could possibly kill him,with all of his life. A man of a few words broke with a smile and a hug from a dear friend.
As Regis fiddled the ring from the mutilated hand quietly, memories of that humanist flooded back after these years, humans are indeed kind and respectful not feared. A different time,when vampires settled on mortal land, before the Conjunction of Spheres. When they are still figuring out on how humans behave and their idiosyncratic mannerisms. That same gaze to that humanist is similar to Dettlaf when he passed that cold castle, recognizing a familiar face, his body lifeless,pitying that wet smear in the castle. It was tumultuous,as Regis recalled that he faced much hardship,as he stumbled from the deep injuries from the assault. Agony filled his bones,as he tried to get up from his spartan bed,Dettalf gripping his lifeless body,his cries of pain and agony as he tried to regenerate his body. True he faced many years of constantly dying,including that unfortunate incident when he stabbed countless times,but he is grateful,as by mortal terms,brothers bound by blood.
That ring as he slipped on Dethaff's finger,a flashback of a different time,for someone who lived a long time,witnessing the experiments of Covinarius' on tissue regeneration . It was perhaps intriguing to Geralt,who hear through faded manuscripts of it. He recalled another time before the Conjunction of Spheres, a kind man,unlike the prejudiced veil of today's society with humans and elder races calling out for the blood of the vampires. Regis could recall his humanness of that man unheard of centuries ago,to be treated as respect which shocked the morals then. That same gaze as he slipped that ring to Dethaff and placed his palm on his finger "What the hell is this-" Regis barely looked,he seen that confusion in his eyes,he gave a small smile "you know you could have left me in the pile,but you do the latter-",he glanced at the ring, it is very beautiful and wonderful,with sinuous swirls around the band echoing of their tribe. "I could recall that humanist,you have that same gaze when you try to save my back-" Dethaff bit his lip bit slightly,seeing the calmness in Regis. "I am in debt of your kindness-."
"But I cannot take that-" Dethaff protested slightly. Regis gave a gentle laugh "I believe in you and trust me I hope you can keep these ideals, my good friend."
Now it is all gone,Regis knew that he must not dwell in the past. He must focus on saving his friend's sanity,he must abandon sentimentality for a reason,of course, he worries about Detalaff,lost in the murky mortal world but he must help Geralt,not purely for old times' sake,but for a contract that he is assigned to. He slowly placed that ring on that table,it slowly shined at candlelight,speaking of a different time, and perhaps what matters to save Detalaff from the damnation and the cruelty to the human world.
Coming out of the crypt,the air seems calm if not warm, somehow he do enjoy that cliche of vampires living in cold crypts,that serenity of names of Toussaint citizens wishing to dictate their lives with rather humorous epitaphs like dictating their obsession of Gwent or some warning of not listening to their wise words of their mother,the overshot grasses shrouded the eroded gravestones. Regis smiled at seeing the raven landing at one of the crypts. "Hello, my fellow brother- , " his voice calming to the bird that it slowly crawled itself to Regis and landed on his glove. it cawed quietly in anticipation of his master's call. That slow smile in his face. For he found serenity in the most unlikely sources,ignoring the regrets in his heart.
"I have a little task for you, my little fellow-"
