Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of the witcher. Those are property of Mr Sapkowski and I using Netflix series canon mixed with the books and my twisted version of the lore.

The devil of Posada - Part 3

Past

###

Geralt's first stop was at Posada's gaz station. There was a small garage next to it. He needed a estimation of the price of the repairs on his car. If he could manage to drive without his front lights, this was against the law. And the broken glasses were way to obvious. He didn't want to be arrested on the road for nothing.

The price was rapidly going up to a hundred orens for each light. Torque had crushed them badly and the entire headlight had been damaged. Fortunately he had replacement bulbs ready and could spare some fifty orens on the total price, but this was a very not wanted unexpected expense.

The garage and the gaz station were managed but an old couple and their children. All of them were afraid of him. They were probably not very familiar with witchers and like most people they just knew they were monsters killing other monsters. But if you didn't believe in monsters, the mutation was seen as the result of devious practices and their job as legalised psychopath behaviours. He probably was in that category for them.

While the garagist was repairing his lights, Geralt went to the bathroom to wash a bit and change his shirt. He was keeping the sweaty one from the night for the next encounter with Torque though. Keeping the same odour as much as he could was part of his approach.

He got his car back in no time and went to the only museum of Posada after that. This was a small building on the front but it seemed bigger and have more additional spaces in the back. The guide tour lady that welcomed him had a nervous reaction crossing his golden eyes but she was polite and as soon as he showed some interest for the history of the whole region, she became enthusiastic.

- "Visitor as interested as you are are very rare, sir witcher." She said after giving him the main tour, stopping in front of a maquette representing the whole valley.

- "Please call me Geralt." He told her. "So, all this region was elven, you are telling me."

- "Yes, but this is way before the Dark Age. Dol Blathana, literally, the Valley of Flowers, translated in our language, was a big elven place. The valley has always been very fertile, due to its position." She was waving that the reliefs on the maquette. "We have a microclimate formed by the way winds reacts in that area. The cold air from the North is blocked by the aspiration of the warmer flux from the South. Of course we have a lot of snow and cold winters but the Sprint is way warner here that elsewhere at the same latitude. And with the help of the abundant rivers descending from the mountains, agriculture flourished. We kept from the elves the flowers. Well I guess we don't do it the same way, because this is a touristic attraction and a real business for our small town, and the ancient elves were known for a more organic way to interact with nature." She smiled suddenly. "I am sorry if i speak too much. But those kind of details don't interest much our visitor. You know elves... this kind of things..."

- "It's ok. I am here to learn the most I can." He smiled back. "Do you know what happened to the elves living here ?"

- "Not really. I guess the first humans made them go, like everywhere else. This is from a time we don't know much about."

- "Do you have archives, I could consult ?"

- "Yes... this is a very unusual demand."

- "Not forbidden ?"

- "No, not at all, the archives of Posada are public. But I never met someone wanted to see them before, except some students or historians. I am pleasantly surprised. Is this common for witchers to do this ?"

- "It depends on the hunt to be fair."

- "Oh you're the witcher that the town master has commissioned to get the devil."

- "Yeah."

They went together in the library area that was clearly public as she mentioned. There were lines of book shelves and, in the back of the room, a computer.

- "Our documents have been numerised and are available on the museum internal site and and a part is on the national online archives. There is a search engine you can use." She looked at him quizzically. "What are you searching for exactly ?"

- "Humans have a short lifespan and memory. They have a tendancy to forget the warnings of the past. I want to know if that devil appeared before and when."

- "Facinating ! Do you believe that it is some sort of messenger ?"

- "Monsters are often more complex and intelligent creatures than what people think. Some are dangerous, other not."

Geralt sat at the computer's desk and put his hat on the table. Following the first instructions of the lady, he began to make his researchs. She stayed with him, fascinated by what he was finding. There was not much tourists today and she could waste her time with him. She knew a lot about the region's history but what he was searching was the small story hidden in the big.

The first search of the description of the devil was already good. He found ten appearance in five centuries. Every time, there was some important events happening shortly after. About weeks later. Fires, floods... But this was just natural events and the testimonies were just people afraid of the creature, speaking of a devil but there was no harm. To be fair this was probably another sylvan, as they didn't live that long, but it means that they were somehow feeling catastrophes. From this first search, Torque was apparently the first to actually doing something different.

He began to look for elven history and that took some times. The old documents were partially translated from the modern history, reflecting the Dark Age effect, but he found some interesting occurrences. The elves seemed to have a stronger connection with the creature. And it was progressively apparering that the sylvans were helping preventing bad harvests. Elven agriculture was quite different than human's and it was much more of collecting what nature was offering rather than actually transforming the lands and mass production. Geralt began to suspect that Posada's sylvans were ancestrally helping the elves with there plantations, hence Torque was doing the same now for the wild elves. But it was more active and a bit agressive. Without a doubt the human's expansion was the cause.

But Geralt didn't stop here. He went further searching for the local elven history from before the Dark Age. Most of what he found was extremely damaged and fragmented. Partial transcriptions of burnt books. Damaged photos of ruins and old structures, with writings on it, dark monolithes. What was left of the paintings of the region were showing the same. Geralt sighed. Searching before the Dark Age was very hard. Always...

The Dark Age had seen all form of art and culture almost totally destroyed and the Continent kinda rebooted, raising back from ignorance and violence. The most complete archives were in Redania, Cintra and Nilfgaard. But most of what Geralt knew was oral transmission from witchers to witchers.

If not killed they could live centuries and they were part of the living memory as all the long living creatures. But even them hadn't saved all of what was destroyed. Geralt's knowledge was specific and monsters oriented mostly. He had a good memory for what came after the Dark Age and a pretty nice vision of human history from the Conjunction of the Spheres to now, but the other races' cultures had been severely damaged and he had those same blind spot as everyone.

He found some old texts too in the mix of the visual artefacts of the past. Geralt's elder was just enough to recognise some pieces but not the whole thing. One of them caught his attention. The words "wolf's blizzard" and "watch the signs" were resonating strangely in him.

- "Can you read this ?" He asked to the guide who was looking at the screen with him.

- "No, unfortunately. " She replied. "I can read and translate modern elve only. I am specialised in post Dark Age history."

- "Ok." He looked at the picture again. "You confirm me that this is public stuff."

- "Yes. Do you want to print this ?"

- "Yes please."

She did and Geralt stopped his investigations of the past. The elven text was a bonus. A bonus he will use. But he had enough informations on Posada's sylvans to understand Torque and try to communicate a bit more. But the wild elves were another problem. A problem that maybe the singer of the motel's restaurant could unlock. But this was a risky game from every angle. For the elves if the young man was untrustworthy. For the young man if the introduction of a human in the equation was badly received.

###

He came to the restaurant early that night. The Reavers were gone. The place was calmer and the ambiance was more intimate. There were some couples, clearly in vacations. Some usual customers at the bar and many more free tables. Geralt ordered a full meal this time. He wanted to stay longer. He wanted to observe without attracting more attention. The singer was installing his amplification system on the small stage and tuning his harp.

But the part of no catching attention was very soon a failure. Jaskier spotted him almost right away, even in the corner he chose. He didn't stop what he was doing but smiled and eyed him more than once. Geralt was not at ease. There was something seductive about him that felt out of place and disturbing. The witcher hoped he could speak with him without this part coming in between. The young man had to understand that this was not a game of chicken.

The concert began on time. There was a good variety of songs. But Jaskier stayed at the harp. Geralt had his meals, and purposely ate slowly every course. He was at the main dish when the young decided to take a break on his set. He went to the bar, ordered a beer and he came to his table right away.

- "So, you did come back. And I see that you seem to enjoy my performance. This must be very cold by now." The young man said looking at his plate, standing next to his table, his hand on his hips. Nothing discreet at all.

- "Please, take a seat. I'm not very comfortable with catching attention like that."

The singer raised an eyebrow and sat in front of him.

- "Well if you don't want to catch attention, don't do what you are doing then." He giggled.

- "I wanted to speak with you, seriously."

- "Seriously ?"

- "Yeah, like if you believe I am interested in you by any other mean than my work, you are wrong. So don't play that game of seduction with me. Also I have seen you the other day with the waitress, so you already have your love affair. Don't try to catch me in your net."

Geralt's voice was not much more than a whisper but the words slapped hard. The young man was good at keep composure but he clearly took the blow here. But this needed to be done, to assure some concrete discussion.

- "So what can I be of use to a witcher ?"

Strange choice of words, Geralt thought. He didn't like to be pushed that hard apparently.

- "Communication."

- "What ?"

- "Do you know elder ?"

- "Of course I know elder." The young man rolled his eyes.

- "I am not playing."

- "Neither do I. I speak the three elven languages. Modern, elder and nilfgaardian. I read and can translate dwarven also. Do you want my CV there ?"

He was not taking this very smoothly. He was clearly annoyed now. He was on a defensive position and his body was on a retreat posture. One more push and Geralt was sure to lose him. He had to pick his interest back.

- "Why did you want to go to the hunt with me, last night ?" Asked Geralt, trying a different approach all of a sudden. It seemed to work. Jaskier was caught off guard. But that seem to be the thing that reignited his curiosity. He answered with some spark in his eyes.

- "Inspiration."

- "But monster hunting is no material for poetry."

- "That is for me to judge." He took a sip of his pint, licking the foom away. "You see there's something really engaging with monsters." His crystal eyes were soft but resolute.

- "And what is that ?"

- "Legends. Dreams."

- "You should say nightmares." Geralt scoffed.

- "Nightmares are dreams, we have to learn from them. Sure it is scary but often what is scary is just not knowing. And knowing what we don't understand opens the mind."

Geralt was surprisingly pleased with this part of the conversation. He stared at the young man. Well young was sure but it was very hard to say what was his real age. He had some youth embedded to his core. Like very a childlist thing. But in the same time, his body was the one of a man for sure. And his way of talking was somewhere in the middle. He had things to say and construct thoughts, when not focused on trying to seduce him. He needed to know more of him and his way of thinking.

- "So after the spring, what are you planning to do ?" Geralt asked, drinking his own beer.

Jaskier imitated him. This was both a nervous natural respond from him, imitating to keep composure and a sign of connection.

- "Take the road."

- "Posada doesn't suit you ?" He was trying to dig the nervous response part.

- "It does but for a time, like everywhere else. The only place I am happy is the road. But if the road feeds my mind, it doesn't for my belly." Jaskier laughed this time, showing some relaxation. "I am not a hunter like you. I can't stay on the road too long. I need money. So I stay for a while somewhere. Entertain people. Make money. And then go again. That's an easy life. I have my social medias to try some publicity and optimize the incomes. But I am too new for the moment. I need a big song. To buzz. And maybe I could sell the other stuff I already made."

- "You have written songs."

- "Yeah, you can find them online. Just search 'Jaskier the bard' on Nomee's app or site if you don't have." As he was not reacting to the information, the man just added. "I bet you don't have a computer but even hunters have phones and internet, right ?"

- "Yeah we have." Geralt was amused. "What is it, this name you have ? Sounds weird."

- "I chose it because I like flowers. It means buttercup in elder. Also, this was the stage name of an artist before the Dark Age. Not much of his work is left, except some unconventional poetry." He was a bit dreamy.

- "You know what is before the Dark Edge ? That's very rare to hear people randomly talk about this." Geralt was very curious about what that boy really knew.

- "I know what I can know. The Dark Age is what it is. But knowledge is accessible for what has been saved from this. You can find them for free or almost. I mean I don't talk about conspiracy theories on the net. I talk about archives, in museums or libraries. I have read a lot, you know." He cleared his throat. "People just don't care anymore."

- "Interesting… Being that young and living in the past."

Geralt pushed on purpose this time. He knew he could. Jaskier raised an eyebrow.

- "I don't live in the past, witcher." He emphasized the word. "I choose to remember and have respect for the invisible things. Before we go extinct maybe there is one more move to play."

This was interesting. He was the kind of live you life to the fullest then.

- "We ?" He tried.

- "Those who don't belong here… and struggle to find their place." Again that spark in his eyes.

Geralt hid his surprise, but that caught him off guard. Without him noticing, Jaskier had reversed the places and had analysed him, finding what they had in common in a blink of an eye. He was very perceptive and probably extremely empathetic. If he really had those language skill he said he had, it could be a game changer.

- "Jaskier !" Scream the bartender. "Music !"

The singer sighed and smiled.

- "I guess, I won't stay the whole season in Posada." He drank half the pint in one go and got up. "Yeah yeah ! I'm coming !" He said very loudly.

- "I wish to continue this conversation with you, after if you'd like."

- "Why not... parking after the service ?" Geralt nodded. "Are we sure that there is no flirting there ?" The young man had a crooked smile.

- "We are sure." Geralt couldn't help but smile though. "And can I remind you that you already have an affair. Witcher are no material for young men that flirt with nice waitresses." Jaskier laughed.

- "You are afraid for my love relationship now ? This is cute. She is the bartender's daughter, by the way. He doesn't know for us. And clearly he wouldn't appreciate what we are doing." He was whispering. "He is at the bar tonight, so for now I am a good boy and I am free to parking meetings." He blinked.

- "I see..."

Geralt was very much not interested in those details about the waitress and they were back at the beginning with the filrty thing. This was Jaskier's thing apparently. He had to go with it but state the boundaries clearly.

- "By the way, if you want my full CV. Search of Julian Alfred Pankratz." The young man seemed to almost spit the name in disgust.

- "Is that your real name ?"

- "Jaskier is my name. The other one is who I was... but I bet you would find what you need to know about me with this. And after you did, we can forget him."

- "Jaskier !"

- "Fucking hell…" A crispated smile now. "See you later, buddy."

- "Yeah…"

Geralt was confused. He looked at the young man hopping like a deer between the tables and jumping back on stage. He sat by the piano this time and made a small speech to get back the attention of the audience. Then he just went for a round of joyful love songs in the country style, changing the ambiance completely.

Geralt looked at the table. Two beers. To him it was a strange sight. Both remind him home with is brother and how much he was alone in the human world. He looked at the chair where Jaskier was a minute before. Where he stood a delicate perfume of flowers floated in the air, progressively replaced by ordinary musc and food odors of this place. This was strange. He could smell the sweat from this man when he was near but his brain was just registering flowers. As if he wanted to associate the two.

Posada, Dol Blathana, the valley of flowers, and that young singer named after a dead poet of the old times, speaking many languages most would just ignored because they were not human's. He shook his head. Why would he want to remember him specifically that way ?

He finished his beer, leaving the glass next to the half emptied one of the young man and left the restaurant. He took a deep breath, appreciating the calm of the night. He went directly for his car and waited.

He took his phone and connected on the Internet. Ignoring the notifications, he searched Julian Alfred Pankratz as suggested and gasped in surprise.

- "What the hell ?"

Every article was about a genius boy that obtained in one year all the diplomas of the seven liberal arts of Oxenfurt's academy. He read one that interviewed the boy. The photo couldn't lie, this was Jaskier. The first shock was his age. His birth date was written. He had the diplomas at sixteen, entering his seventeenth year and was now just twenty. He seemed a bit older. Like he had lived already several lives. But this was just a kid. A genius kid.

But then curiosity was stronger and he opened Nomee. He wouldn't have revealed to the flirty singer that he was on it too, even if he was using it only to get some missions. A bunch of posts about nature and cryptids popped. He searched for "Jaskier the bard" and found him easily. The musician had just about a hundred followers. There were a lot of posts, very few likes and comments. The last were photos of Posada. He was taking selfies in the flowers, trying to appear in his best look. He had that big smile on his face and some seductive poses. Geralt was not interested in that. That was just the surface of that boy. He scrolled down rapidly. There was nothing more than that here. He scrolled back up and noticed there was a link in his bio for the music. He clicked.

There were a few songs there. He selected the first. This was just harp and voice. This was not elven but the style was not common either. Some fusion of genres. Geralt found himself staring at his phone screen listening to that man's voice, singing about a life he wasn't sure he had lived but seemed so real.

A new notification of his witchers chat group got him out of his dreamy state. Vesemir was answering to his private messages.

The old man was mostly warning him. Dealing with wild elves was very risky. That he already knew. The last bit was the most interesting thing. Sylvans were monsters relative with fauns that were easier to approach by humans. They were way older but they could share some similarities in their core.

Geralt smiled. Fauns liked music a lot. What if sylvans too ? Every piece of the puzzle seemed to match for the moment.

Note :

Nomee for "know me". I know that's bad. But I had to find a name for a seemingly Instagram social media lol. And that was fun to imagine what Geralt and Jaskier's Insta could look like haha.

Also I am trying to setup Jaskier's dark past there. And I aged him a little bit for the start.