Hansel and Gretel and The Wild Hunt: The Awakening (Ep. 1)

The Awakening

There they were fighting what they thought to be the last battle against the witches on the Hillside of Augsburn. With the Blood moon's grace, the witches gained powerful abilities. Murielle, the dark witch, fought the witch hunters. Hansel with his shotgun, Gretel with her dual crossbows, and Benjamin, Ben for short, with a rifle. Together, they popped off the witches' heads. The ground was almost fully painted in red. There was only one last blood to spill and it's their leader's, Murielle. Murielle stabbed Hansel in the guts but he survived. She proved herself a real threat to the witch hunters but she was lost and died in fury and anger with the edge of a spade struck her neck. Her soul was still sought for revenge.

After they cut off Murielle's head and delivered it to the townspeople, they traveled to another place. Hansel and Gretel left Augsburn to Benjamin's care. The journey continued to another realm of witches.

Deep in the woods, Hansel and Gretel found a cave and they took shelter there. The dusk's dim light was beautiful reminding Hansel of Mina, the white witch that saved him from Murielle's death grip. The hues of purple and orange covered the sky. They lit a campfire inside and waited up for the night.

"You know, it's quite boring that we wait this long night," said Gretel to her brother. "Alright what do you want?" Asked Hansel. "I am thinking of exploring a bit," said Gretel. "Go get yourself some sleep sis, we don't know what will happen next and I'm gonna need your sharp eye to cover my back. And before you ask more, no cave exploring" forbade Hansel. "You're no fun," said Gretel disappointed.

The sunrise approached Hansel's closed eyes, then he woke up after a while. He didn't see the presence of his sister. Panicked, he then followed her boots trails leading into the dark cave before him. "Damn it, when would she even listen to me?" Hansel then pursued her into the cave. He lit up his lantern and found a small pond. "The water looks fresh and I'm kinda thirsty" Spontaneously he drank from the pond. Then, a strange fog surrounds the pond. "Refreshing, back on the trail, I guess." After a few steps away from the pond, he looked at something. "Wait is that? Mina? How could you" Suddenly, there was a figure across the pond standing and looking towards him. He was surprised. He was caught in that figure's charm, although in his mind, Hansel knew that Mina's dead. Hansel took across the pond to see her beauty even more. "How could you be alive? I saw Murielle slit your throat" He wondered. Not a moment after that, a blade slashed the figure's neck cutting off the head and sprouting blood until the pond turns red. "She wasn't the person you thought. Foglets are known to read its prey's mind and bring back the bitter memories." A voice echoed from the dark. "Who the hell are you!? Show me your face!" said Hansel in fury. "Just look at the body, will you? It's a monster living in a cave and ponds like that are just their baits. And how do I know this? It's because I'm a witcher. Name's Eskel" Eskel said while offering his hands to greet Hansel. Hansel was still confused about what just happened and he rejected the witcher's hand. "New in the lands, eh? Anyway, what are you doing here?"Eskel asked. "I was just-... looking for my sister? I-I believe she explored the cave and I'm worried" answered Hansel shocked and terrified looking at the dead monster body. Seems his trauma of getting stabbed and near-death experience left him a horrible memory. "Look at me when I'm talking with ya!" Eskel yelled. "I should take my medication" Hansel was still pretty shocked. "Well, then why don't we do it outside" Eskel suggested. Both of them came out of the cave and met Gretel. "You're too late for breakfast, brother" she looked at shivering Hansel. "Troll's blood! What happens to you!?" asked her in panic. "I butchered a foglet's head right in front of his face, no wonder he would get so terrified. Blood splashed right into his face." Said Eskel. "What do you mean by foglet?" asked Gretel curious. "I'll tell you later, right now, it's your brother that needs your concern" Hansel Gretel and Eskel then share their side stories on how would they wound up in that godforsaken cave. "So, where were you earlier?" Hansel curious. "I was hunting rabbits for breakfast. I'll make you guys some rabbit hunches wait a moment, will ya?" Offered Gretel. They continued sharing stories. "You know, I must thank you. The food really sates my appetite." Eskel said his gratitude. "Sure! Always glad to share with another traveler on the road." Gretel answered gladly. "Anyway, the sun rising up, we have to keep moving," said Hansel. "I can guide you to the nearest port down in Velen. From there you can take the boat straight to Aedirn" offered Eskel. "Wait, how could you know we're heading to Aedirn?" wondered Hansel. "I couldn't reject my witcher senses and I saw red marks pointing to Aedirn."Wow, you are a monster material my friend cause you know, abnormal abilities, no offense or do take offense, I'm good either way" Hansel said while looking away cynically. "Umm... Please forgive my brother, he has a behavioral disorder something syndrome." Asked Gretel "Cut the drama. Listen, I am not mad, not even insulted. I know I just ripped off your most precious memory, but if I didn't, you'd lose your head. And you don't have to say sorry" said Eskel. What!? How could you say that!? Me? Apologize? Never!" said Hansel. "Alright then, I AM sorry," said Eskel. Gretel laughed so hard watching the guys fighting their arguments. "Boy, I never saw her so happy recently," said Hansel to Eskel and staring at him. "Don't look at me, this was your doing." Gretel laughed along the way and the other laughed watching Gretel laughed.

They reached the hanged men's tree. It was named so since there were many men executed and there was no land for the grave. The bodies were now ravens' and rats' food. "Come, we're almost there" Eskel hurried. "So this is Velen, no man's land." Hansel and Gretel felt amazed. "We are going to stay in that inn for a night. It's almost dusk. Monster prowls aggressively during the nights" stated Eskel. They arrived at the village but nobody's home. Eskel used his witcher senses and found some clues that there had been a battle here. Not long after, the sound of troopers marching from the north and south heard. The ground was shaking. There were voices of stumping horseshoes galloped from both sides. Then, the Battle of Velen was started. Hansel, Gretel, and Eskel couldn't avoid the battle. They'd bang and slash anyone who stood before them. They weren't fighting for anyone but themselves. The safety of each other's back became their top priority. As the path to that safety became closer, the northern bled more and losing the battle. Velen remained on the southern empire's influence.

"Everyone's okay?" Hansel asked "Just need some air and water. That was the most ferocious battle I've ever been in" Gretel confirmed. "Yes, it was. But not noble. It was ridiculous. A battle in a village? Are you kidding me?" Eskel rejected. Everyone went out silent. "Eskel I." "Not a word, Gretel" cut Eskel. Eskel sighed and suggested the group to make camp in the woods. The next morning Eskel had to talk with the witch hunters. "Listen, witches are not so dangerous in here. Humans, maybe, since you've witnessed the people around here. But the most dangerous here are the monsters. I can't stay with you forever. You can't penetrate their limbs with steel arrows and hand cannon except for one material. Silver. It is the most effective element. Just perfect for monsters."Eskel explained. "Is there anywhere we could craft some?" Asked Hansel "There is only one place left. We will go to the Blue Mountains and visit my dear uncle Vesemir" Answered Eskel "Where exactly? I couldn't find anything on the map except Kaer Morhen" Asked Gretel. "That's the one, It is the school of witchers," said Eskel. "Wait school of witchers? Why do I have a feeling that we have to pay someone's school fee?" mocked Hansel. Eskel answered "Yes. Your school fee" Then Gretel asked excited "We're gonna be witchers?" Eskel nodded. "Alright then show us the way master witcher," said Gretel. "What? Hey, wait up!" said Hansel "Come on brother you're falling behind" yelled Gretel.

And their journey began as monster slayers when they reached the castle door of Kaer Morhen. Inside they met the master of all witchers, Vesemir. Since witchers are only men, Gretel did only the training to at least have the fighting skills while Hansel achieved and succeed in the final test. His eyes turned amber and he was given a witcher's mark, the medallion of witchers. With it, he could summon spells that he couldn't make before. He awakened as the new-born witcher. The journey ahead would be his both challenge and the teacher and his sister would stand loyal at his side. Eskel stayed in the school and hunting wyverns around, so he was out of the group. Now it's time for the brother-sister to rise, It's time for the witch hunters to be awakened.