The Witcher: Black and White
Nightwraith
6 Months Later…
Under the guidance of Sonfrith, the band of Witchers, Marvo, Wigro, Arnley, Evyn, and Salac had been on the road south for six months. On the road they had all chosen their titles. Their new titles were Marvo of Claremont, Wigro of Vizima, Arnley of Thurn, Salac of Lyria, and Evyn of Rivia. Evyn was obviously the least creative of the group.
Of course they were weary of the journey but between Kaer Morhen and the Nilfgaardian Empire's territory was plenty of towns, inns, taverns, games of gwent, and of course wenches.
Marvo's comrades had indulged in the sexual acts with stray women but he had not. Not that he had pledged celibacy, but he saw no honor in bedding whores, only someone who truly loved him would he bed. But on this particular night, they were in neither tavern or inn but along the roadside. While their horses grazed on the grass surrounding them, the Witchers rested.
All except Marvo, who had volunteered to watch the horses. It was midnight, and they were in a field. Perfect kill for a nightwraith. As the moon floated directly above his head, Marvo heard a loud wail. From the tall grass of the hay field, the glowing figure of a woman's corpse elevated. She darted her rotted head around and saw the six horses.
The nightwraith levitated towards the horses and Marvo of Claremont took off towards the creature. He was there in a matter of moments and his silver sword was out in front of him. The nightwraith turned in his direction and gave a ear shattering shriek. Marvo shielded his ears to little success. The nightwraith advanced and Marvo instinctively let down a Yrden. The purple orbs appeared all around him in a circle and the nightwraith became trapped in it.
Marvo slashed at the nightwraith's midsection which only succeeded in pissing it off. With Yrden still activated, Marvo swung again. This time at the monster's head. Before the blow landed, Yrden fizzled away and the nightwraith was engulfed in a billow of mist and was gone.
Marvo stood his ground, his senses still searching for any sign of the nightwraith. Suddenly, the billow appeared again and out from it came the nightwraith. Marvo spun around and drove his sword down it's agape mouth. The creature went limp and burst into a greenish flame before disappearing.
The Witcher sheathed his sword and took a sigh of relief. He was ultimately glad he was still awake, although he was confident someone had heard the commotion. When he returned to the campsite, Sonfrith was the only one awake, standing, staring into the smolders of the fire.
"Nightwraith, was it?" he asked as Marvo reached the campsite.
"It was. It's gone now." Marvo replied.
"Ah, but did you find an item binding it's soul to this field?" Sonfrith said as he turned from the pile of burned logs.
Marvo sighed again. "No, I did not."
Sonfrith made a gruff noise. "I thought you'd read every volume of Vesemir's bestiaries."
"I did, I must've forgotten that detail." Marvo said defensively.
"'Must've forgotten?!" Sonfrith said, the annoyance in his voice rising. He took long bold steps towards Marvo until they were inches from each other . "Witchers don't forget things! They slay creatures with efficiency, not flailing your silver sword willy nilly. Stupid cunt." he muttered as he returned to his spot by the fire.
Marvo knew the Cat of Cintra hated him but for what, he didn't know. All he knew was that the nightwraith would return the next night. But by then, they'd be gone.
/
Marvo awoke the next morning to find everyone else already saddling their horses. They hadn't bothered to wake him up. Marvo jumped to his feet and grabbed the saddle that was lying beside him.
Marvo ran to his mount and began putting the saddle on it. "Why didn't someone wake me?" he asked the nearest Witcher.
Evyn spoke up. "Sonfrith told us you battled a nightwraith last night. So, whilst you slept, we scoured the field and found the object binding the spirit."
"And? What was it?" Marvo asked.
"A locket with the image of the woman and a husband or betrothed." Evyn replied.
"Ah, probably murdered by the man and left to roam the field till we came along." Marvo said.
Evyn finished saddling the horse and turned back to the group. Turning to Marvo again he said one last thing. "I heard Sonfrith scolding you in the night. What was that about?"
Marvo waved his hand. "I just overlooked a detail about the wraith. It wasn't really important."
"You forgot to look for the object, did you not?" Evyn questioned.
"Maybe." Marvo shrugged.
"Hmm." Evyn said before once again turning off towards the group.
Marvo soon finished saddling the brown mare he took from the Kaer Morhen stables and made his way over to the other Witchers, including Sonfrith, who was kneeling on the ground as if he was meditating, but Marvo knew he was not.
When Sonfrith saw Marvo approaching, he gave him a crude look. Marvo still did not understand why he was the target of Sonfrith's constant supply of anger. Sonfrith stood up and addressed the group.
"It is time you all head off in separate directions." Sonfrith said. "We've been on the road half a year and the Knights of Roshytta are no closer to finding us in this part of the Continent. It's safe to assume that you can no go about doing your contracts as actual Witchers. So, say your goodbyes. Most likely some of you will be dead soon enough." he finished, giving Marvo one last look.
Sonfrith turned from the group, mounted his horse and took off towards the north. Probably heading back towards Kaer Morhen. Marvo, Wigro, Arnley, Evyn, and Salac exchanged their goodbyes like they were told and they all mounted and rode off in separate directions.
Marvo didn't know where his comrades were going but he himself was heading farther south to Vengerberg in hopes of finding contracts. He rode the entire day, rested the entire night and was up and riding before the sun rose. After three days travel, he arrived in the capital of Aedern, Vengerberg.
Vengerberg wasn't in King Radovid's domain so he; a Witcher, was as welcome here as could ever be. Geralt had told Marvo in his youth that his greatest love; Yennefer, lived in the city as the youngest member of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers.
As the young Witcher rode into the bustling city, he noticed people relatively ignorant to his presence. This was a far cry to the north whereas if a Witcher happened upon a town or city, everyone knew in a matter of moments. Soon, Marvo came across a notice board. A common occurrence in settlements that allowed inhabitants to post notices, announcements, and what he was especially looking for, contracts.
Marvo dismounted his horse beside the notice board and quickly scanned the pieces of paper tacked to it. Most of it was garbage. A newborn here, a rise in tax there. Only one caught his eye. A short letter telling of a noble on the outskirts of the city with a creature trapped in his cellar with the want to rid himself of it. Marvo smirked and tore the paper from the board.