"Geralt, do you have any idea what could have happened here?"
I asked the question because Geralt had been inspecting the surroundings for several minutes, and Ciri and I were following him, a bit worried.
"No, but we need to go see my friend. Maybe he'll know something."
We turned back toward Roach and headed in the direction of a hill where an imposing mansion stood, its massive silhouette outlined against the swirling snow. As we arrived, I was struck by its sinister appearance: dark windows, shutters banging in the wind… it looked like a haunted house straight out of a nightmare.
Ciri glanced at the mansion, moving closer to me. "Do you think… do you think there are ghosts here?"
I shrugged. But even I felt an odd chill down my spine, as if the mansion was watching us.
"Geralt, are you really sure your friend is still… alive?" I murmured.
Geralt gave a small smile. "Yes. But you'll see why the mansion looks like this."
As soon as he finished speaking, the windows and doors of the mansion started banging violently, then fell into complete silence. We stood frozen until the door creaked open ominously. A shadow burst from inside, so fast that I didn't even have time to see what it was. Geralt was knocked to the ground, but with a swift motion, he managed to flip the creature over and pinned it down, ready to strike.
"Wait, Geralt, it's me!" cried the creature.
Geralt froze, before murmuring in surprise, "Nivellen?"
"Yes, it's me."
Geralt released him, looking intrigued. Before us stood a massive creature, part man, part beast, with prominent fangs, pointed ears, and a fur-covered face. Despite his beastly features, his eyes sparkled with kind mischief, and his smile was oddly reassuring.
Geralt stared at him. "You've changed."
Nivellen burst out laughing, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "That's one way to put it! But you've changed too, haven't you? I've never seen you with two children! So put down that sword and come have a bite to eat."
Geralt got back to his feet and offered his hand to help Nivellen up, which he accepted with a broad smile.
"Come on in, I'll explain everything!" Nivellen exclaimed as he guided us into the mansion.
I helped Ciri down from Roach and led her to an improvised stable to tie up the horse. She took the opportunity to ask me a question.
"I thought witchers killed all monsters?"
I thought for a moment. "Not always. Geralt once told me that witchers are more than just monster hunters. Maybe it has something to do with Nivellen."
Once Roach was settled, we followed Geralt and Nivellen into a large, dimly lit room. Looking around, I noticed that everything seemed abandoned: cobwebs filled the corners, a thick layer of dust covered the furniture, and the wallpaper peeled in places, as if the mansion had been frozen in time.
Nivellen spotted us and opened his arms wide, welcoming us with an exuberant smile, a striking contrast to the eerie ambiance of the place.
"Ah, finally some guests!" he shouted joyfully. "Tell me, what are your names, little ones?"
I exchanged a glance with Geralt, who nodded to reassure me.
"Aiden," I replied.
"Ciri," she said shyly.
"Oh, very pretty names!" Nivellen then turned to Ciri, a warm smile on his face. "And you, young lady, would you like a nice hot bath?"
Ciri's eyes lit up. "Yes, that would be awesome!"
Geralt, in a firm tone, cut off her excitement. "No, we'll be leaving as soon as the storm passes."
I shot him an amused look and stepped toward the window. "Geralt, I wouldn't mind a hot bath myself." Pointing to the snow still falling, I added, "And it looks like this storm isn't going to stop anytime soon."
Geralt finally nodded. "Alright, fine."
"Perfect!" Nivellen exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "BATHTUB!"
As if by magic, a bathtub appeared in the room, filled with steaming water. Ciri, stunned, rushed forward, excitement evident in her eyes. Meanwhile, Nivellen invited me to follow him into another room.
"Come, Aiden, your bathtub is ready too, just next door."
Before following him, I turned to Ciri. "Ciri, if you need anything, just shout, okay?"
She nodded with a smile. "Okay!"
I followed Nivellen into another room where, as promised, a bathtub awaited me. Upon entering, Nivellen shot a teasing glance at Geralt. "You smell a bit, my friend. Maybe a bath wouldn't hurt you for once?"
Geralt, unfazed, replied without hesitation, "That's part of my charm."
The doors closed behind me. Once alone, I stripped off my sword and clothes before settling into the hot water. The warmth enveloped me, relaxing each tired muscle, and I let out a sigh of relief. For the first time in a long while, I felt truly comfortable, as if I had found an unexpected refuge in the midst of this strange dwelling.
---------------------------
"They're not a danger, are they, Nivellen?" Geralt asked in a calm tone.
Nivellen smiled, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Don't worry, Geralt. I may have changed in appearance, but I'm still the same at heart." He raised his hand, and sparks danced between his fingers. "Let's just say I've picked up a few new tricks along the way."
Geralt raised an eyebrow, slightly amused. "Looks like I'll need a good wine cellar to hear all about it."
Nivellen burst into a laugh, almost theatrical. "Ah, my friend, don't worry! I have everything you need. Besides, a good story always deserves a good drink, wouldn't you agree?"
Geralt let out a wry smile. Despite the strangeness of the place and the imposing presence of his host, he knew he could trust Nivellen.
---------------------------
"Mmmh, new clothes?"
As soon as I spoke, a black leather hunter's outfit made of animal skin appeared before me. Putting on the supple leather, I felt a surge of confidence. It was as if this outfit gave me a new identity, that of a hunter ready to face the unknown.
I headed toward the dining room, feeling revitalized.
"Aiden, I see you're enjoying your clothes," Geralt remarked with a nod.
"Yes, thank you!" I replied, smiling brightly.
I sat down next to Geralt, and just then, the door swung open wide to let in Ciri, who was wearing a white dress that almost shimmered in the light.
"Wow, you look amazing!" I said, unable to hide my admiration.
Nivellen, noticing her arrival, couldn't help but comment, "I see that looks good on you."
"Yes, thank you very much!" she replied, her eyes sparkling with joy.
"Don't worry, now let's eat," Nivellen said, waving his hand.
Suddenly, with a theatrical gesture, Nivellen snapped his fingers, and beautifully presented dishes appeared on the table, filled with delicious food. The intoxicating aroma of roasted rabbit, fresh bread, and grilled vegetables filled the room, making our mouths water. Ciri dove into the food, while I started to eat too, but more slowly than she did, savoring every bite. The warmth of the crackling fire added a comforting ambiance to the moment.
Nivellen turned to us, a curious smile on his lips. "Do you know how we met?"
"No, Geralt doesn't talk much, even with Aiden," Ciri replied, looking interested.
"I'll explain it all from the beginning," Nivellen announced as he settled in comfortably. He took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as if he were reliving old memories. "It was a night like this, full of mysteries… but sometimes, it's best to start at the beginning."
As we settled in to listen to his story, I felt absorbed by the atmosphere. The crackling of the fire and the smell of the food warmed the room, creating the perfect setting for a good story. All eyes were on Nivellen, ready to discover what he had to say.
------------------
After dinner, we went to our rooms, but insomnia drove me outside to see Roach. As soon as I stepped out, I noticed footprints leading toward the village. Crouching down to get a better look, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning around, I saw Geralt studying me.
"What did you see?"
"Footprints heading toward the village. But I don't understand why we're all alone. The village seemed deserted, and no one has been here recently."
"Well, don't stay out too long; it's cold." Geralt turned away and went back to the manor.
A question nagged at me. I scanned the manor and realized there might be someone we hadn't seen. I approached Roach, grabbed my silver sword, and headed toward the village, following the tracks.
Suddenly, the footprints stopped, as if they had vanished. "Why?" I murmured, confused.
"Wait!" I looked up at the sky and understood. I rushed back toward the manor, muttering, "It's flying."
As I entered the courtyard, I saw Geralt being thrown back by a piercing scream. I positioned myself in front of Ciri, but the monster looked at me with sad eyes.
"I don't want to hurt her, I'm…" But it dodged a sword strike from Geralt behind it. The creature's scream echoed in my ears, but Geralt raised a shield to protect Ciri.
Taking advantage of the moment, I turned to her. "Ciri, go to Roach. Geralt and I will handle this."
Ciri ran toward Roach while I rushed toward Geralt, who had pushed the monster back with a spell.
"Geralt, the monster is flying!" But at that moment, wings appeared, and the creature began to rise into the air.
"Don't worry, and focus," he said calmly.
I took a deep breath, listening to the beat of my heart. Hearing the wings beat closer, I dodged its first attack by swinging my sword at its foot. It managed to avoid it, but Geralt took the opportunity to strike its wing.
The creature continued to fly with difficulty, circling around us before charging at us again. Geralt heard it and swung his sword. In a burst of adrenaline, I ran toward the fountain, using the ledge to leap directly at it and cut its right wing. It then landed near Ciri, who seized the chance to take it hostage.
"Leave us alone, or I'll slit her throat!"
"Let her go, or you'll regret it!" Geralt rushed forward, and I followed closely behind him. Just as it was about to strike, a spear pierced its chest.
"Forgive me, my love," it murmured, as a horrible scene unfolded before our eyes. The monster began to move forward, repeating over and over, "I love you, you belong to me."
But as it was about to attack Geralt, he beheaded it. Cries of despair echoed from Nivellen. Then, a voice resonated in our heads: "He'll come after you one day."
Nivellen's screams faded as his appearance transformed back into a human.
"The curse has been lifted; you are saved."
"Saved in what? I am alone; nothing matters to me anymore."
"That was…"
But before Geralt could continue, Ciri interrupted him. "Neither of you is right. The only thing that matters is that she loved you." She then walked over to me and hugged me. "Please take me to Roach."
"Alright." With Ciri still attached to me, I began to make my way toward the stable.
-------------------------------
We were outside, waiting for the storm to pass. Ciri was sleeping next to me, and seeing Geralt lost in his thoughts made me feel the need to ask him a question. However, the words were stuck in my throat, as if they were afraid to come out. Strangely, Geralt sensed my hesitation and turned to me.
"You seem troubled, Aiden. What's on your mind?"
I took a deep breath. "Is it really necessary to kill all monsters?"
A heavy silence settled between us. I felt a knot in my stomach, a mix of curiosity and anxiety. Finally, Geralt broke the silence, his intense gaze fixed on me.
"Witchers aren't just killers. We are the barrier between monsters and humans. It's up to us to make difficult choices."
"But if that's the case, why didn't you let her live?" I asked, my heart tightening.
Geralt lowered his head slightly, thinking. "Because she took human lives. Once that line is crossed, there's often no going back."
I nodded, even though I couldn't help feeling a mix of frustration and confusion. "I understand... but it doesn't seem fair. What tells us that all monsters are evil?"
Geralt turned to me, his eyes showing a glimmer of understanding. "That's precisely the question every witcher must learn to ask, Aiden. The truth is often more complex than it seems. Sometimes, danger doesn't come from appearance, but from actions."
"So, what should we do?" I asked.
"Prepare yourself to make complicated choices throughout your life," he replied seriously. "Because the path of a witcher is strewn with difficult decisions. But remember, what matters is your judgment. Follow what feels right to you, even if it's not easy."
I felt comforted by his words, but uncertainty lingered. "Okay, I'll try to remember that."
"Get some sleep," Geralt said, pulling me from my thoughts. "We'll need all our energy for what lies ahead."
I lay back down next to Ciri, but my thoughts remained focused on the question of what is right or wrong. A question that would never find an answer, as everyone has a different perspective on morality. I remembered the nights spent in the hospital, where I would have given anything to choose my own path. Life outside had its own challenges, and I knew I was ready to face them, no matter how complex they were.