8 Aftermath

Vesemir and the other Witchers sit at a table drinking the alcohol Lambert had been brewing, a sullen atmosphere hanging overthem.

Lambert "I can't believe it happened again..." he states breaking the silence. "I thought our trials were horrible and pointless but this... This was a massacre, and you let it happen, Vesemir."

No one stopped Lambert disrespecting Vesemir due to similar thoughts running through their heads.

Eskel takes a large swig of his drink, "There are always casualties during the trials Lambert, the only difference this time are the number."

Lambert "Almost all of them dying during the trial of the grasses is FUCKING INSANE! The survivors have atleast two more trials and you think they won't also die?" He stands up and looks at the end of the table at Vesemir.

Lambert "Are you really going to make them continue after what just happened!?!"

Vesemir "You and I both know that once you begin the trial of the grasses you must complete the trial of the dreams or they will slowly lose control of their bodies." He slumps in his seat nursing his mug.

Lambert drops into his seat. "So that's it then huh? Anything to continue the school? If you ask me, the time of Witchers is over. The people hate us and the lords hunt us even despite the monsters ravaging their lands."

...

Vesemir "I hesitate to say but I agree... This will be the last time we will create Witcher, I vow it."

Lambert "That's great, I bet those dead kids will appreciate it!"

Geralt "Enough, Lambert... We are all partly responsible for this."

Aubry "Aye... For our lost brothers, a toast" He raises his mug followed by the other Witchers.

Aubry "Let this tragedy never happen again. And those involved rest in peace."

They continue drinking in relative silence throughout the night.

Reima after the trial was allowed to spend his time as he wished, he spent it getting used to the increase speed and reflexes produced by the concoction he had drank. He tries to take his mind off of his fallen comrades and the look Reidun had given him before the trial... He had never experienced loss like this before and is unsure what to do about it, for now he tries to focus on other things until he can rationalise it better.

"Feels like I have been moving through custard til now." Reima's says waving his hands in front of him.

He sits and starts to meditate, he remembers what the Druid had said about being a source and is unsure about what it means. He also confirmed that he is capable of magic, when he uses the elder blood abilities like blinking which is what he named from short teleportation, he can feel the magic acting within his body.

Reima remembers that most other sorcerers need a catalyst to cast spells like Yennefer in the Witcher 3 intro, her necklace lights up when she casts something. Also during the same intro she makes use of a crystal crow skull to summon a deadly creature.

As opposed to this Reima feels magic flowing freely just waiting to jump out at any second. He would try practising the Signs but is weary of being blown up, once he learns them Reima decides he will try to cross examine how they work to create something else...

Another thing to note, perhaps due to his increased reflexes observation Haki is more... Fluid? Easier to utilise may be the better way to describe it. Reima feels he might be over analysing the changes he had experienced but decides to leave it alone.

Reima goes back to see how the others are holding up.

He approaches the room where Erik is lying face down in his bed still somewhat distraught at the recent events.

Erik "They killed most of us! They said some wouldn't survive but that was far from the truth!"

Reima "They did."

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Erik rubs his eyes and looks at his last remaining friend, "Hey, we should run... We are faster now, they won't catch us! If we stay here we will die like the others, like Theun and Jacob, Emerens and.."

Reima "They would kill us both and you know that, the only way out now is to become a Witcher."

Erik "But they're Monsters! You saw what they did to the others, they butchered them like animals!"

He looks down at his hands "Why did they die and I survive."

Reima "You were lucky, if you want to make their sacrifice worth something you should strive to survive."

Erik looks up at Reima "Yeah... Your right, We'll come out of this alive... We have to..."

Reima leaves Erik to his contemplation and goes to search for Arie, he hasn't heard a peep from him since the trial and is unsure how he's feeling.

Down in the courtyard Arie is twirling and pirouetting with a sword in hand striking a training dummy. His body slick with sweat and steaming in the chilled air.

"Arie!" Reima calls out to get his attention, Arie almost jumps as he turns towards him sword still in position.

Arie "Reima... It's good that your alive." He almost whispers.

Reima "You wanna talk about it?" He sits on a stump and waiting patiently.

..

Arie sits next to him and stick the sword in the ground.

Arie "You know, I thought it would all be fun and games when we arrived at Kaer Morhen. It was fun, fighting you and gaining skill alongside the others. It was only when the first person died after a month that I realised this wasn't going to end pleasantly..."

Arie "I wasn't all that close with the others, the only person I really talk to is you Reima... We are the same and I can respect that, but even seeing a stranger die like that is horrible, let alone an acquaintance."

Reima nods and continues listening.

Arie "I heard that the other trials aren't as deadly as the previous so maybe we will live to see next year."

Reima "We will, next year all three of us will be Witcher apprentices with skills to match. You have my word."

Arie smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes, "Want to test out the changes?"

Reima nods, "Sure."