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Jaskier runs up beside Geralt as he leaves the shop where he was able to turn in the werewolf to the man who initially called him into town. It was clear that he wanted to say something by the way that he was rushing to stay in Geralt's line of sight. The Witcher sighs, stopping on the corner and looking at the bard with his arms crossed. "What Jaskier?" He raises an eyebrow to his charismatic partner.
The bard stops in front of Geralt, a look of determination on his face. "We should go find them." He states, making Geralt roll his eyes, ready to leave. "No Geralt, I'm serious. We should go find the Phantom." He's giddy, shifting between his two feet.
Geralt starts walking again to his horse. "The Phantom's not real Jaskier." He insists, shaking his head while petting Roach's neck. The horse huffs, nudging the Witcher with its nose. "Even if it was, I have no reason to hunt it." Jaskier shakes his head, standing in front of Geralt and the horse.
He holds his hands up meeting Geralt's eyes. "But if it is real and we find it, think about what'll happen. Geralt we'll be famous." A low growl leaves Geralt as he eyes up the bard. "At least give it a chance." He pouts, his head tilting to the side a bit. "That man said he saw it, it took down the werewolf Geralt." He drops his arms to his sides with a sigh.
Geralt's mind's drawn back to the scent in the woods, it had also been imprinted on a part of the wolf. It almost called to him to follow, to search for the source. He wouldn't admit it to himself that he's beyond curious about it. He shifts on top of Roach, weighing his options before letting out an annoyed groan that had Jaskier scared that he was pestering too much. "Fine." He says, shocking the bard.
Jaskier's eyes go wide in surprise. "Really?" He smiles, crossing his arms. "See? I knew you'd come around Geralt." He smirks at his victory, taking the lead towards the gates of the town "Come now Geralt, the truth is out there. This will make an excellent song. The Witcher and the Bard discover the truth behind the Phantom." Jaskier could go one talking for hours and not even get tired of it or of his voice. Geralt is not Jaskier.
Geralt rolls his eyes, following the bard with his horse. "Jaskier." Geralt calls out to him, getting him to stop right away. "You talk too much." He simply says, passing Jaskier and heading back into the forest and towards the clearing. Behind him, Jaskier gaps out in fake pain, hand over his chest in shock. Geralt was always straight forward with him but it still got him even the littlest bit behind all the joking of his normal personality.
Jaskier walks beside Roach and Geralt, shaking his head. "That hurt you know." Geralt rolls his eyes before putting his attention on the surrounding forest. The faint smell comes back in waves as they get closer, though it was fading. "So." Jaskier trails off, looking around the clearing. "Where do we go from here?" He questions, hands folded behind him under his lute. Geralt takes in a deep breath before guiding Roach in the direction that the "Phantom" had gone in.
Geralt hums as the scent gets stronger as they pass the treeline on the other side of the clearing. "This way." He gunts, patting Roach's neck as they go. Jaskier doesn't ask, knowing to not question Geralt when the Witcher's tracking someone or something. "What's your plan if the Phantom's real?" Geralt raises an eyebrow to the bard, who holds a confused look on his face.
Jaskier clears his throat, confidence covering his face now. "Well, I say that we. That's right, we." He smiles at his friend. "Turn them in for the biggest coin, people will pay big for this thing Geralt." He nods as though he's convinced himself about it. "Of course you'll have to trap it yourself cause you won't even let me touch Roach." He states, earning a hum from the Witcher as he sits up straight on the back of the horse.
Jaskier was right about one thing, if it comes down to it, Geralt's gonna have to fight the "phantom" should they actually find it. The appeal of removing a threat so great, real or not, was enough to drive him through Jaskier's crazy plan. "Whatever you say Jaskier." Geralt mumbles as they near another village the scent was strong and lead the pair to a store where an older man stands behind the counter.
The man looks up at the odd pair while he cleans the countertop. "Welcome gentlemen. How may I help you?" He leans over the counter, watching the two. Jaskier looks to be lost in his own little world as he looks at the collections and items that are placed around the room. The Witcher walks right up to the man, who doesn't seem the least bit concerned with who Geralt is. In fact, he seems to be beyond curious about the mutant in his shop.
Geralt glances around. "We're looking for someone." He explains, picking his words carefully. "Probably sold you werewolf teeth." The man's eye twitches for a moment. "Eyes like snow, the smell of mint." Geralt eyes up the man for any sign of the man knowing their mystery creature.
While Geralt integrates the man, Jaskier pokes around the items on the shelves and walls. This jar sits on the shelf, filled with some kind of green liquid. Reaching his hand up, Jaskier pokes the jar and jumps when a hand of some kind presses against the surface of it. "Don't touch that." The merchant scolds, causing Geralt to look at Jaskier with an annoyed look. Jaskier mouths "sorry" before turning and looking at something else. "Anyway, no I'm sorry I don't know anything like that." The merchant insists. "If you're not going to buy anything I'm afraid I have to ask you to leave."
Geralt hums before turning around and walking to the door, pulling Jaskier by the collar of his shirt. "Sorry to have bothered you!" Jaskier calls out as he and Geralt leave the shop. There's a strong tug that almost has Jaskier trip over his own two feet when Geralt lets go of his shirt. "Sorry." He apologizes as he follows Geralt through the town. Geralt just hums, taking long strides down the street. Jaskier walks silently behind Geralt until a rustle in the ally to his right caught his attention. Geralt doesn't seem to notice as he tries to get his focus back on the scent when the gentle wind starts to pick up.
Jaskier shakily walks into the ally, eyes locked on the fallen figure of a man. A rat stands in front of the body, eating and tearing at the pale and blue face. Upon noticing the bard, the rat scurries off in fear of the larger mammal. The body that was being eaten has this large wound in it, looking like a stab wound. Jaskier shivers a bit, looking around before crouching down.
"Geralt?" He calls out, "I think I found something!" Geralt appears, walking towards Jaskier and the body. The man reeks of ale and rats, but he was stained with the scent of mint and berries. Golden eyes drift along the body, landing on the wound that had him puzzled. Perhaps the "Phantom" wasn't a monster like the myth states. The wound appeared to be nothing else but a stab wound from some kind of dagger or knife. What surprises him is when goosebumps rise on his arm from a feeling in the air he knew all too well. Whoever did this is much closer than he and Jaskier think if he can still feel what's in the air.
Geralt stands up, looking up and down the ally. "Come Jaskier." He voices, walking down the rest of the ally. Jaskier hesitates before standing up and following Geralt as he strides to his horse once more. It was faded, but there was a second set of horse hooves heading off where the pull was, this time he could feel the stronger pull in the air than the scent as he mounts Roach. Magic.
