Reincarnation ➵ The Witcher

xlviii.

An ounce of familiarity fled through Edith; the joyful melody of the next song playing upon her emotions like the bard playing his instrument. Dejavu hit her immensely, and her own thoughts were strangled by images of the past, images that held an unfamiliar place within her heart.

The tavern contained a happy atmosphere, and for once, Edith herself was happy despite the bracelet adorning her wrist like a death sentence. The villagers were all drunk, too drunk to question her at all during this afternoon with the sun still high in the sky. Even her mother had a bright smile across her face; an evident blush, too, no doubt from the ale she'd been supplied with. This one moment Edith felt included; wanted, despite the usual constant feeling of being outcasted from the rest of them, hell, even her own mother at the best of times - not that she could blame her either, because she was a freak. A nature's abomination. She was now classified as an adult, and despite others insisting her mother shipped her off into an arranged marriage, she had refused every time. Edith still noticed the fear present in her mother's eyes when anyone attempted to tread too close, or when she fiddled with her bracelet a little too long for her liking as if she expected Edith to explode like she had done many times before the jewellery in casing her in a protective jail.

Edith had easily noticed the new presence in the tavern, which was easily picked up by the other occupants. His body was shrouded in a cloak, a cloak that screamed mystery yet asserted dominance. Often, she'd notice others throwing glances towards the man situated at a lonesome table but all seemed too afraid to approach, and Edith counted as one of those beings. She was always taught by her mother to never speak unless spoken to, and this situation didn't act any different. Still, this did little to prevent her from gazing at the man curiously, especially drawn to the silver blade hanging across his back like a triumphant gift.

A nudge to her side broke her out of her stupor, her mother gazing down almost reprimandingly, "It's rude to stare, Edith." Her words were slurred, almost unrecognizable underneath all of the alcohol, but the woman continued anyway, "I have told you this before."

"Yes, mother." Edith began with manners that were almost ingrained into her being, 'You have to act like a proper woman,' her mother would always say, and often, Edith just wanted to scream a big 'fuck you' at being what society expected was proper, "I apologize, it's just.. I haven't seen that man before. Is he new to the village?"

Her mother snarled at the question, bringing the pint of ale to her lips once again as her eyes attempted to draw daggers into the strange man's back, "'New?!' Don't make me laugh, Edith. Only a fool would let a Witcher live within 30 metres of them. Any luck and he'd probably skin you alive in your sleep."

Edith felt confusion swim through her. She had never heard of a Witcher before, hell, she'd hardly heard of a lot of things with how tightly the village council held onto knowledge of the outside world. And this specimen, well, creature, was a knowledge that she didn't contain. Her mother continued to watch her warily, and noticing Edith's confusion, she specified in her alcohol induced state.

"That man is no man. His name is Geralt of Rivia, and as rumours go, he's merciless."

Edith snapped herself out of her thoughts, a faintness engulfing her figure almost immediately. She was sure her face was a pale white, almost akin to a ghost. Her gaze searched for Geralt's, noticing he was too busy stuck in conversation with the Queen and her daughter, and strangely enough, she was glad. A sudden pit of fear entered Edith's stomach, a feeling she didn't know where it appeared from, but the only thing Edith could recognize as she was staring at her ashen haired companion was that he was keeping something from her. Hiding something. And she was more than sure it had something to do with the strange visions she kept on having.

Her mind was no longer attuned to her surroundings, instead of hearing the melody of the music, she heard white background noise fade into the drumming of her heartbeat echoing in her ears. What was Geralt hiding?

Yay an update! Finally!