The Witcher: Part II
Geralt's Moral Dilemma
Using the power of magick, Geralt of Rivia flew across the night sky. He was like a bald eagle. And he was hunting for witches.
Then it occurred to him. He didn't know what a witch looked like or sounded like or smelled like. He decided he would land in a small village on the shore. He looked up at the sign at the entrance. "Muggleshaven Pop: 144"
The Witcher entered the town of Muggleshaven Pop. He wandered into one of the houses.
"Hi there," he said to the sleeping form on the ground. The young woman awoke and backed away, screaming.
"What are you doing in my house?" she said.
"Are you, by any chance, a witch?" asked Geralt.
"No... why would I be? I'm obviously human," replied she.
"Oh, sorry then. What do witches look like?" asked Geralt.
"They have green skin. Are you new around here or something?" But Geralt was already gone.
Green skin, thought Geralt. He launched off and started flying again.
The sun began to rise again, when he saw a glint of green. A witch? He landed and saw a cowering figure hiding behind a rock.
"Don't kill me," came a young voice. A boy, no older than 11, stepped out from behind the rock.
"You are a witch," said Geralt.
"All witches must die. Why do you not want to die?" The witch boy began to stutter.
"People don't don't want to die. That's just how they are." In that instant, Geralt acquired a sense of morality. His purpose was to kill witches, yet the witches did not want to die. It was a moral dilemma. The boy wandered away, while Geralt sat and pondered the purpose of his existence.
Geralt's existential crisis lasted seven days, as he sat at that rock contemplating the universe. The boy returned for Geralt after a week.
"You're still here?" he asked.
"Who am I?" asked Geralt. "What is my purpose?" And then Geralt used magick to summon forth a thunder cloud. "If I have no purpose, then what reason is there for me to continue to exist?"
And then Geralt summoned forth a bolt of lightning, causing a massive explosion. The witch boy used magic to shield himself from the blast. When the explosion had passed, the witch boy walked to the centre of the blast. There were some ashes. It looked as though Geralt's suicide had succeeded.
TO BE CONTINUED
IN
THE WITCHER: PART III
GERALT OF RIVIA AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE