"Damn it."
"Again."
"Why isn't this working?!"
Triss rubbed her head in frustration, having failed again and again to create the potion. She had tried multiple times already. Just then, the door opened slowly. Triss turned her gaze toward the entrance and saw Geralt, holding a bowl of food.
"Eat and rest. You've been in this lab for days," he said in a calm but firm tone.
"No, I can't rest."
"Triss..."
She stood up abruptly, slamming her hands on the table, knocking over several potions.
"NO!" Triss shouted, her voice full of frustration. "Geralt, you don't understand... If I mess this up, Aiden will die!"
Geralt slowly placed the bowl on the table, his expression softening. He walked toward her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"When I saw Aiden almost fail the trial, I thought everything was lost," he murmured, his gaze drifting into the past. "I was crushed, you know. But... he survived. And do you know why?"
Triss turned her head to him, her eyes filled with tears.
"Because he trusts you. And so do I."
She closed her eyes, a wave of emotion flooding her heart. "Geralt, I... I've started to see him as my child. And the fear of failing is eating me alive."
Geralt sat beside her, placing his hand over hers.
"Triss," he said gently, "Aiden believes in you. And so do I. You're the best. You've always been the best. You won't fail, I know it."
Triss felt warmth spread through her, and despite the tears, she managed a faint smile. "You're right. If Aiden's life is at stake... I have to succeed."
She straightened up, wiping her tears quickly, and walked toward the table. "Thank you, Geralt. Thank you."
Geralt nodded, and without saying another word, he got up to give her space. He knew she needed this moment alone.
Triss turned her attention back to the potion. She crushed the ice roses, their delicate texture breaking under her fingers. Then she carefully picked up the wyvern gland, handling it with care. Each movement seemed calculated, as though her own life depended on it at that very moment.
"Alright, now... the fire," she murmured, lighting a small flame with her magic and guiding it carefully toward the alembic.
She gently poured the mixture into the alembic, her hands steady but trembling. The mechanism began to turn, and the flame stabilized. She had to keep the temperature constant—neither too low nor too high. This was where everything could be decided.
Triss focused on the flame, her concentration absolute, her mind allowing no thoughts other than the potion. She knew that if she failed now, everything would be lost. But she wasn't going to fail. Not this time.
She waited, every second feeling like an eternity, but she couldn't afford to falter.
----------------------------
[Left]
[Right foot forward, then attack]
[90° rotation, then attack toward the arm]
"Whew."
I quickly wiped the sweat from my forehead, then headed toward the barrel and dunked my head into it. When I pulled my head out, I saw Vesemir approaching me, his expression a mix of curiosity and amusement.
"I see you're still training."
"Yeah, I need to clear my head."
He sat down on a bench, arms crossed, watching my every move.
"You look like Geralt when he did this. Whenever he couldn't focus on something else, he'd grab his sword and train. It was his way of centering himself."
"Really?"
I grabbed a towel, poured some oil on it, and sat next to him, polishing my sword.
"Yeah. He used to say that training helped clear his thoughts, helped him put things in perspective."
"Mmh."
Vesemir looked at me more closely.
"You seem a bit distracted, Aiden."
I looked up, slightly irritated, and stared at the ground for a moment before answering.
"Sorry, Vesemir, but I'm not really in the right headspace for this right now."
"And is it because of the trial?"
"You didn't guess that already?"
He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my tone.
"Ah, I see... You young ones, you really love making a mountain out of a molehill. One trial, and suddenly it's the end of the world."
I stopped my movements and stood up abruptly, irritated.
"Yeah, we young ones are like that. Sorry for bothering you with my 'wise' concerns, Vesemir."
I started to walk away, but his voice stopped me dead in my tracks.
"Come back here, Aiden."
I turned around. Vesemir had lifted a wooden sword and threw it at me without hesitation.
"What are you doing?"
"A little training, nothing more."
"Vesemir, I really don't have time for this..."
Before I could finish my sentence, he interrupted me in a firm tone.
"An order, Aiden. Now."
I planted my sword into the ground, sighed, and grabbed the wooden sword before getting back into position. My muscles were starting to tighten with the effort.
"Let's see if Geralt taught you well."
I spotted an opening, decided to go for it, and charged, but in the blink of an eye, Vesemir disarmed me and sent me crashing to the ground with a quick, controlled movement.
"You know, you don't get as old as I am without picking up a few tricks."
I grunted, struggling to get back on my feet.
"Very funny."
I resumed my position, more focused this time, watching every move Vesemir made. I tried again, and again, but each time, he sent me crashing to the ground with ease. It was like a dance between us, but I was clearly outmatched.
"So, where's all that youthful fire gone?" he joked.
When the light of day began to fade, he set his wooden sword down and gave me an approving look.
"Mmh, it's time. When you've caught your breath, come to the dining room."
I watched him leave in silence.
"Vesemir!" I called.
He turned, looked at me for a moment, and gave a slight smile.
"Thanks... I needed that."
"Don't mention it. I don't mind a little discipline every now and then."
Left alone on the ground, I gazed up at the stars, the cold evening wind brushing against my skin. Maybe Vesemir had sensed it, but I was stressed. The herb trial was approaching. The pain. The fear of failure. And, worst of all, the fear of disappointing those who believed in me. I knew it all tied into something greater, but I was uncertain. Why was I here? What awaited me in this world?
I raised my hand toward the stars and murmured, almost to myself:
[Am I here because of destiny, or is it just chance that brought me here?]
"Aiden, hurry up, or Ciri will eat all the deer!"
"I'm coming!" I replied, quickening my pace.
I was pulled from my thoughts by Ciri's call, and despite everything, I smiled. Her concern about dinner was a welcome distraction in this moment of doubt.
-----------------------------
"Ciri, I hope you saved me some venison," I said jokingly.
"Of course I did, I couldn't possibly eat it all, you know that!" she replied, indignantly, standing up quickly and giving me a disappointed look.
As I entered the room, I saw Geralt cooking, while the others were already at the table. I grabbed the pitcher of water and sat down next to Ciri.
"Where's Triss?" I asked.
"She won't be joining us. She has to stay close to the potion," Geralt said, still focused on the food.
I was about to respond, but then I noticed someone else was missing.
"And Yen?"
"Yen got called back by the sorcerers for an urgent meeting."
"I see."
"And what about Gwent, Aiden?" Lambert asked, a smirk on his face.
"Sure, why not? I'm up for the challenge. How much are we betting?"
"10 crowns, easy."
"Uh... I don't have any crowns on me," I said, slightly embarrassed.
Vesemir, always prepared, tossed a pouch onto the table, tossing it with a wink.
"Here, I'm betting on you. But don't forget, if you lose, you owe me interest."
"Thanks, Vesemir."
"Old fox," Lambert muttered.
"What did you say, Lambert?" Vesemir asked, his tone feigning innocence.
"Nothing, just start the game, Aiden."
I picked the Northern Kingdoms, and Lambert chose Scoia'tael. The game began, and I focused on the cards in front of me, but I knew it wouldn't be an easy match.
After about 10 minutes of tense strategy, the game ended.
"Seriously? How did you beat me?!" Lambert exclaimed, stunned.
"Talent, Lambert, talent. Hand over the 10 crowns," I said, amused.
"Tch..." Lambert grumbled and handed me his pouch, but Vesemir, still sly, swiped it out of his hands.
"Reimbursement."
"I didn't say anything!" I protested, but his look said it all.
"No, but your look says everything," Vesemir laughed, and everyone joined in.
"You look like a dog that's been betrayed," Eskel teased lightly. "It's almost as pitiful as Lambert when he lost."
"Ha, ha, very funny, Eskel," Lambert replied with a pout. "You all mock me, but you're the one who loses every time."
The laughter continued, and for a moment, all the tension disappeared, until Eskel, always serious, asked a question.
"So, how did the training with Vesemir go?"
"Let's just say…"
"That you learned things you didn't know," Vesemir replied mysteriously.
"Or say that I always end up on the ground," I added, rolling my eyes.
"Alright, enough," Geralt interjected as he set the dish on the table. "Dinner's ready, and if you keep this up, Aiden will die of embarrassment before he even gets a bite."
"Geralt!" I protested, smiling.
"Ahaha!" Everyone burst out laughing, and the room filled with a light, joyful energy. But suddenly, the door to the lab slammed open, and Triss, exhausted, walked in.
"The potion is ready."
The tone in the room immediately shifted. Smiles faded, and a silent tension filled the air.
"Alright, it's time," Geralt said, his face now serious.
(I wrote this chapter because I think it is necessarily like any test or exam that we have to pass, we have a huge stress that arises and say that we become people that we should not disturb soon the witcher Aiden will be born)