Disclaimer: The Witcher and every character aswell as location, that is not created by myself belongs to CD Projekt Red aswell as Andrzej Sapkowski, the original author of the books.

Reviews and ConCrits are always welcome!

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Chapter 3: A F(r)iendly Request

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The Witcher and his 'apprentice' walked towards the house of the Alderman, to ask him about the victims. On their way they were met by both fearful and angry looks, but also hopeful ones. Inside they asked about relatives and friends of the victims, which would lead to the next step before going after the monster itself.

The first one was a young woman, probably around Elron's age. She immediatly caught his eye, "Can I help you with something?" she asked, going through her fiery red hair.

"Are you Sarah? We would like to ask you some questions about Roland. We heard you were good friends with him." Kaleb said. There was a noticable change of tone, from the grunting cynical one to a more calm, empathetic tone as he saw the dried tear stains in her face.

"Well, wasn't everyone?"she replied rhetorically, "He was such a nice person, always friendly to everyone. Nobody here liked him, but it's true, we got along best. I've known since I can think." Sarah said.

"Could you please tell us what you remember of the night he... um.. of the night when he died?" the Witcher asked carefully. Even though he was talking more empathetic, he didn't sugarcoat the situation.

"He isn't dead!" the woman protested, "We didn't find his body, so that doesn't mean he is dead!"

"Alright, then, what do you remember of the night he vanished?" he corrected himself.

"Not much, he was over for dinner, we talked and afterwards he left. Nothing unusual..." the red haired woman explained.

Elron was unsure. Why would this have to do anything with the case?

"Sarah." Kaleb said, bending his knees a little to see eye to eye with her. He was indeed a tall man, at least 6,3ft, "If there is anything, no matter how unimportant it may seem, tell us."

The young woman sighed, "There was something... He seemed a bit.. disoriented and kept bumping into things. At first I thought he was drunk, but he was able to talk properly."

"Alright, that should be everything we need for now." Kaleb finally said, "If there's anything else you recall, tell us, please."

Before they could leave however, the young woman grabbed tightly onto the Witcher's armour, "Please, you have to save him! I know that he's still out there!" she begged desperately.

Kaleb took her hands, holding them tightly, "I give you my word as Witcher that we will bring him back."

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And with that they left, on their way to the next house, "What does this tell us, exactly? How is disorientation connected to the beast?" Elron asked.

"Fiends have three eyes," Kaleb began, "And with the third eye in the middle, they are able to emit hypnotic spells, they usually don't last for very long, but in the meantime you can't see jack shit, which also means disorientation. Given that he was able to see at least something, the fiend must've been far away. But that wouldn't explain why it hit exactly him that night."

"Also, do you think he's still alive?"

"Honestly, I doubt it, but I'm open to be taught otherwise."

Just then they heard someone calling for them from behind, "Oi,Witcher!" it turned out be a rather large man with a fat, pockmarked nose and brown hair. He was accompanied by three other men, and all of them were armed, which stood out from the rest of the villagers, who didn't carry any weapons with them.

"Your not welcome here, mutant." he said.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to stay for too long." Kaleb returned to his pissed off, gritty voice.

"That's correct, you have ten minutes." the man added.

"Ten? That seems awfully short to kill a fiend." Kaleb replied sarcastically, "Give me a day or two, that seems better. I mean, you don't want the people of your village to die... one by one.."

"No and that is exactly why I'm sending you away, mutant! Don't you think I wouldn't know about you and your habit of abducting children to turn them into the likes of you!"

"I don't need this." Kaleb grunted, "Come on, Elron." the Witcher turned around, making his leave, when suddenly someone threw a stone into his direction. However, it didn't hit, because the raven haired man was able to catch it just before it touched his head. He dropped it on the ground and continued his walk.

"Don't you run away from me, coward!" They heard footsteps approaching them quickly from behind, suddenly a strong hand grabbed Kaleb's shoulder, to stop him in his path, but before anyone had even fully realized the situation, the Witcher had turned around and was now holding a knife at the throat of his opponent, "You can't even imagine how gladly I'd kill you in front of everyone, but I'm holding back because I have more important things to do and I advise you to stay away from me if you don't want to fullfill my wish." the Witcher hissed before pushing the opponent back.

"You heard him!" Elron added provocatively.

"Shut up."

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After the last people were asked, and some... sexual requests were denied they returned to the footprint.

"Does that happen often?" Elron asked.

"What?"

"You know... with the women..."

"Oh... yes, I guess you could say it happens from time to time."

Elron thought about how none of the women even payed him a second look. Now, he wasn't the ugliest of men, his beard was a bit patchy and because of the travels he wasn't able to tend to it properly, but that was that. His hair was a bit outgrown, but it wasn't too wild, once he combed it. Maybe it were the scars? Or that Kaleb was much better build than him? For a moment he thought that it may be because of the eyes... But that would be ridiculous. The same eyes that struck fear into the hearts of men would woo the women? No, this couldn't be it.

"Okay," Kaleb rose up again, "Time to go."

"Go where?" Elron was thrown out of his thoughts.

"There." the Witcher pointed at a spot in the small forrest, where trees were torn down.

"You know, I have a theory." Elron said, "What if all those people who's bodies were never found are still alive and the hypnosis was to follow the fiend into it's lair."

"And what do you think would it do there?" Kaleb questioned rhetorically.

"I know, but a part of me wants to believe that they are still out there. You said it yourself, something's not right about this situation, with fiend suddenly appearing in a region like this."

The look on the black haired one's face told Elron that he was at least considering the opportunity eventhough he didn't comment on it. Just before they entered Kaleb stopped, putting his arm in front of his companion to stop him, "Wait," he said, "Don't you think this is a bit odd?"

"What do you mean?"

"Look at the trees, they don't grow around here. They only grow-"

"In thick forrests, right?"

"Exactly. Also look how they are torn down, you'd think the other trees would also be affected by a beast that size."

The Witcher got closer to the trees, inspecting them. The placement of them didn't look usual, not even taking to account that they aren't supposed to grow here,

"Go back to the village," Kaleb said, "I'll catch up with you after I'm done here."

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Curious as to what his companion was planning, but also knowing that protesting wouldn't help, Elron returned to the village. He tried his best to avoid those men from before as good as possible, not wanting to get in trouble. On his way he passed the blacksmith, he could see him working on his weapon as he slammed the hammer on a glowing piece of steel. Elron wondered what the silver edge was for.

The hours passed and still no sign of the Witcher, which worried the young man. He looked for the tavern and decided to wait there until his companion would arrive. He heard loud, drunken laughter and clanking of mugs. The four men from before were also there, getting drunk, while Sarah, who seemed to work as a sever, brought them new beverages. It suited the picture, the pretty face of the village working in a place like this. The look on her face expressed that she was still mourning, also she didn't seem entirely focused on her job.

Elron sat down on a lone place, rather secluded from the rest of the noise. Outside he saw the sun setting, was it already this late? How the time flies...

The tender voice of a young woman ripped him once more out of his melancholic thoughts. It was Sarah, asking what he could bring him.

But before Elron could reply, a male voice from another table shouted towards them, "Don't bother with 'im, lovely! 'e's but a mutant's boot licker, I'm sure lad's not drinkin' anythin'." followed by roudy laughter.

"Don't listen to them," Sarah sighed warmheartedly, "I've seen how they treated you and your friend earlier, and I hope you can excuse their behavior."

"Don't worry, I don't mind an insult or two." Elron smiled, "And I'll have a mead, thank you."

The young woman nodded before hurrying back to the counter.

For a brief moment, the ill-hearted looks of the four men met Elron's mischievious grin, when the young maid returned with Elron's order, "Here you go, sir." she said. Before she returned to her duties however, she asked a single question, "By the way, may I know your name?"

"Elron Farroe."

"Elron Farroe, I'll remember it." With a cute and lovely smile she returned to her duties.

It wasn't long before finally the Witcher returned, his face expressing nothing. Normally anyone would say that he looked annoyed or a bit angry, but that was just the way he usually looked, as Elron would often mistake. He sat down on the bench in front of him, "So, what did you find out?" Elron ask.

"Something much more worrying that I expected." Kaleb began, "One would never notice directly, but the two torn down trees are some kind of portal, to a thick forrest. I found that it leads to an unihabited island, known for it's dense forrests and therefore high count of monsters. Turns out one of the fiends escaped, or exits regularly to bring victims to his lair, given that they don't die during the assault."

"I'm excited for the twist of this story." Erlon commented.

The Witcher sighed and nodded agreeingly, "Those trees didn't grow there, no seeds were placed. Someone must've brought them there and created this portal. I must add, that whoever is responsible for this portal must be a quite powerful mage, or maybe it was a witch, I don't know."

"And you're saying that someone from the village is responsible for that?"

"I'm merely implying it." the Witcher replied in a sarcastic tone.

"I think this would explain why only specific people were picked. Now we only have to find a connection between the victims."

"Indeed, and I think that she can help us," Kaleb pointed at Sarah, who was currenlty asking some guests for their order.

"Sarah? Why do you think she could help us?" Elron wondered.

"She was Roland's best friend, wasn't she? I wonder how close they actually were."

"And who's your number one suspect?"

"As stereotypical for a story like this it may sound, but I think that our dear stone tosser over there has something to do with it. Way I heard it from the Alderman he's had his eyes on the young lady for quite a while."

"So," Elron continued, "He would hire someone powerful enough to not only conjure such a portal but also control fiends so that any contenders would vanish."

"Exactly." the Witcher sat himself in a more comfortable position, "But I've even better news. I've found the missing one." he had conspiciously raised his voice, so that the fire red haired woman would hear it. Immediatly she walked up to them, not showing that she overheard their conversation, "Oh, good evening, master Witcher, what can I bring you?" she asked.

"I'll have a mead and a smile on your face, young lady. Roland's back." the Witcher replied.

The woman contained herself not to burst in excitement about the news, but she couldn't help the few tears which built in her eyes – tears of joy this time, "Is it true, what you speak of, master Witcher?!" she gasped, "Where is he?"

"He's currently resting in the Alderman's house." The Witcher noticed the four men furiously raising from their seats and storming outside, "No I haven't." he added.

"I don't quite seem to follow...?"

"He's at your house, safe and sound. I've spoken loud enough to raise those brutes' attention, they're probably heading to his place now. I've had the Alderman send the villages doctor to tend to his wounds. I think you should go and see him now."

Hastily nodding, Sarah left the tavern, leaving an older woman behind the counter wondering, what's happened, "Where's the lass off to now?" she wondered.

Kaleb walked up to her, dropping a small pouch filled with coins, "This should cover it."

Outside Elron and Kaleb first walked to the Alderman's hut at the other end of the road. They could already see the men banging on his door.

"Why did you do that? Pay the woman to excuse the girl? I mean, that was more money that we would earn on this contract!"

The Witcher waited for a short moment to reply. Elron who stood behind him, saw a faint smile on his face, the first time as he recalled it, as he looked into the distance, towards the woman's house,

"Sometimes, some things are worth the expenses."

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