Polyanna: A Witcher's Mage

17 | Of Truths & Snowball Fights

Amber eyes bored into hers as Geralt waited for an explanation. He watched as Euphemiya nervously twiddled with her dress as she searched for the words.

"Just say whatever comes to mind," Geralt said before he started to get too impatient. He instantly realized his mistake when Euphemiya fell victim to her usual word vomit.

"I was kicked out of Aretuza because I killed a lot of people because I couldn't control my powers. Even Vesemir doesn't know but my guardian at Aretuza didn't tell him and I don't know why she didn't tell him and I haven't seen her since and I couldn't find her either after all these years so I-I can't ask her either. I also killed a lot of people in Novigrad, but that was also a complete accident! I was punched in the face by a guard and that really hurt and then they set me on-on a pyre and then they set it on fire and my emotions just got the best of me and there was lightning and fire and then it started to rain and the spectators were squashed by the rain except for me but I don't know why," she swallowed heavily before she continued. "Then-then I teleported to you and you know what happened from there but long before that I began to have strange dreams about wooden spoons and mirrors and I got really confused, but in Skellige I met a man named Gaunter O'Dimm - you know him - and he said I needed to control my powers so he gave me a choice: learn to control my powers or he'd kill me, which is not much of a choice but I had to pick one. So since then I've been honing my powers and I think I've been doing really well but Gaunter thinks I can do much better and now that I think of it I'm not sure I classify as a mage because Gaunter isn't one, or at least I don't think he is because he does a lot of other things that normal mages, or even advanced mages, can't do! He can move time and he can walk in the air and he can grant wishes and he can create other worlds and-and he's teaching me all those things and it's actually so overwhelming and-" she brushed away a tear and opened her mouth again but Geralt decided to take the opportunity of her taking a breath.

"Right, right," he said, still processing all that was thrown at him in a matter of seconds. "Breathe," he added, partly for her wellbeing but also to add some time to think for himself.

Euphemiya breathed in and out slowly, anxiously awaiting his reaction. She couldn't believe what she revealed to him. Was there something left to tell him? She didn't think so.

His eyebrows furrowed together. "Why'd you never tell me this?"

She swallowed heavily. "Um, I never told anyone. I came close a couple of times but I-I was... I was too worried of what you would think of me."

"Oh." He seemed surprised by that revelation. "I don't think any differently of you. I'm surprised, but I'm no saint either; no one in this castle is."

Euphemia smiled lightly, feeling as though a burden had been lifted from her back.

"Your past is your past, nothing to change of it," he paused briefly. "O'Dimm, though... that's a whole 'nother story. Bad news, really bad news. Can't get involved with him anymore, for your own safety."

Euphemiya nodded and covered her cheeks with her palms. "I know, I know, but you know what he said; he'll kill me if I don't learn how to control myself."

Geralt's teeth clenched together. "I'll take him on, I've done it before."

Euphemiya leaned forward and took his hand in hers, squeezing it tightly. "This isn't the same. He didn't approach you for a debt; he demanded something of me and if I refuse I..." she trailed off, both of them knowing what would follow. She swallowed back the knot in her throat. "Besides, I think this is good! If I learn how to control myself then Gaunter is satisfied. Truly, he won't do anything. Why would he?"

"He's the devil," Geralt growled angrily, completely dismayed by the idea of Euphemiya interacting with that monster.

He had promised Geralt he'd be back, and he targeted the most precious thing in Geralt's life. His mage. Euphemiya.