HIM & I || The Witcher

IV. SLEEP

Ciri was more focused on the subject than I was. The nightmare had haunted me yet again last night and I barely got any sleep. It was a miracle that I could stand up and call my magic at the same time. Somehow, I managed to battle through the morning.

It had been Geralt's turn to stand guard at the main gate, so the princess and I were training alone in an empty room next to the laboratory. The feeling of succeeding from yesterday hadn't worn off and Ciri was eager to learn more. And she got the hang of things very quickly, it wouldn't take long for her to learn everything.

Which made questions appear in my mind. Why does she learn that quickly? It took me years to form one decent sign. Ciri was already a master at Vindur after just two training sessions. Was it because of her powers? Whenever she called her chaos, mine felt it like an echo from afar. I've never experienced anything that strong before, not this kind of magic. Skjaldmærs her age learned to manage our signs, but it would take years for them to summon them quickly to defend themselves. Ciri had rushed through this process unlike anything else. It was very impressive what she could do, and I bet with myself that she would master all four signs after a week. She would be able to do spells like a skilled sorceress in a short period of time as well. The girl left every single question unanswered. There was something about her that I couldn't see just yet ...

„How's it going?" Geralt's voice made me jump and because of him, I got distracted, not paying attention to what my student was doing. Ciri had formed Axii and I was able to doge the blast of energy in the last second. Geralt jumped to the side, staring at his child of surprise. „I see you've learned something new."

„She's making good progress." I stood up straight again. My head was spinning, I had moved too fast. „She can call the wind with ease and I wanted to see if she can also call Ax-" I wanted to walk closer to Ciri but suddenly my vision got blurry and I stopped myself in the middle of my sentence. I felt myself letting go and the Darkness was slowly coming closer, making me stumble to the side.

Geralt prevented me from falling to the ground. He grabbed me by the waist and pulled me back on my feet. „Careful."

I grabbed his arm for stability and closed my eyes for a few seconds, concentrating on the magic rushing through my body not to fall into unconsciousness. The fire answered when I called, and it made my heart pump more blood to keep me steady.

„Sorry, I can't see straight. It'll pass in a minute-" But instead of pulling me back into reality, the fire showed me a face in front of my inner eye. His facial features were tightened and he screamed out in worry but I couldn't hear his call. Quickly, I opened my eyes again and he was gone.

„Are you okay?" Ciri asked concerned.

I let go off Geralt. „I'm fine."

The Witcher was still holding me, he wasn't sure if I was able to stand by myself. „You should lay down, Visma."

„No, we need to continue. I'm alright. Ciri's doing such a good job."

„You can't teach Ciri if you can't stay on your feet. How many hours did you sleep?"

„I said, I'm fine, Geralt." I stood up straight, making him let go off me. „We can carry on."

„And I asked how many hours did you sleep."

He wouldn't let it go. And he was a smart man, he already suspected something was off yesterday. „Maybe two?"

„Two?" Ciri called out. „You need to rest!"

„I can't sleep!" I said harsher than intended. „Nightmares are haunting me, I haven't slept a night since weeks!"

„That explains why your body is too weak to heal the wound." Geralt reached for me but I took a step backwards. „Come on, let's get you to bed."

I opened my mouth to go off on him about calling me weak and trying to tell me what to do but Ciri gently put her hand on my shoulder. „He just means well. And I think you should really get some rest as well."

„What about your training?"

„We'll continue when you're feeling better," the princess smiled at me. „Until then, I'll just practise fighting with the Witchers, don't worry about it. I can put Vindur to use and try Axii, too."

„Alright," I said with a unsure nod. „Maybe an hour won't do so much harm." I raised my finger as Geralt approached me again. „I'm not too weak to walk!"

He just rolled his eyes, knowing he had bruised my Skjaldmær pride. But I would get over it and he knew that as well. „Okay, then lead the way."

I managed to climb the stairs up to my room but with every step I took towards my bed, I could feel the tiredness resting on my shoulders. I wanted to sleep so badly but I knew I couldn't. Whenever I would close my eyes, I would see him again and live through the horror once more.

Geralt followed me into my room and handed me another bottle with a blue potion as I sat down on my bed. „Drink that, it will help you to sleep. It clears the mind, you won't dream of anything and sleep for the rest of the day."

I didn't even hesitate, I chugged the brew down and gave him the bottle back to him. „I hope this works. Thank you."

„It will, trust me."

„If I would get coin for every time somebody has told me that ..." I mumbled, removing my shoes and laying down comfortably in my bed. „I would be richer than all kings and queens on the continent."

„But I'm not somebody that makes empty promises," Geralt replied, grabbed the blanket and pulled it over my body before sitting down at the edge of the bed. „Or am I?"

„So far, you haven't." I laid my head on the pillow, looking over to him. „But people can always change ... Didn't you want to train with Ciri?"

„She went outside to Coen, I'll join them as soon as you sleep."

„So, you'll stay here until I'm asleep?"

„That is the plan."

„I hope you brought time with you."

„The potion works faster than you think," he chuckled. „It's the secret ingrediency that makes you sleepy. A rare plant that only grows ..."

I didn't hear when the plant grew, I was already drifting off to sleep.