How We Were Forged
8/23/1910, Kaer Morhen, Wales
The boys that had been gathered all looked around, all of them having been acquired from Mages because of their Squib nature or brought in by orphanages that were run by Squibs, Mages, or a Human in the know, as they had all looked, some scared, others nervous, a man had approached the group now, “So then, this is the latest batch.” he said with a look now, that made them all look towards him now.
Geralt had watched as he looked at them all, “For those of you who are Dh’oine– human only.” he said towards them now and that made the majority look towards him with confusion, “Well, to make it short and simple, magic is real, monsters are real, and you have been chosen to become Witchers here in the School of The Wolf.” he continued towards them now which made the boys there get spooked.
Eskel, one of the other boys there, had glared while Geralt stayed quiet, “Some of you may be scared of the idea, some of you may think this is a lie, but it’s not, and here’s the proof.” she said towards them before doing a harsh whistle now towards them, making some of the boys flinch as there was a pop and a strange creature that the human boys had started to scream now.
“Oh, calm down! Tenky here is harmless.” he said towards them, making the Squibs look at them with some curiosity now as he spoke, “This is a House Elf, one of the several who manage Kaer Morhen, and what we do is slay monsters.” he told them now which made the kids look at him with some surprise now as he went and looked to a shorter man, “Sword.” he said as the man tossed the blade to him.
He took it before doing a few swings that he had practiced, the blade a shining silver, glowing with writing now, making The Squibs and the humans look towards it with fascination, watching now before he had made a sign with his other hand now, causing a burst of fire to appear above their heads, making the older men there scoff and laugh right now before he looked to them.
“We are Witchers, it’s our job to protect both The Mage Community and humanity from the monsters, both unhuman and human.” he told them now as the men all looked at the man with the same expression, surprised by the sight right now as they had seen that there was a sigh now, “This occupation has the highest fatality rate out of any other occupation in the Mages community.” he continued to tell them.
“The chance of any of you growing old and dying in your bed? The last one was… Hey, Sven! When was the last Witcher to die in his bed?” he asked and hearing that, the short one armed man had stroked his beard, “Haven’t the foggiest,” he said before looking at a red head that had a headband, “Oi, Luka! Any idea?” he asked of the man, making him shake his head.
“Maybe ask Barmin?” he asked, making the man scoff at that before looking to the others, “Before any of you bother to even BEGIN becoming a Witcher, you have a chance, your only chance to leave, the process that we will put you through kills one in ten, it will be brutal, it will be painful, but when you emerge…” he said nod as a large man had walked out now.
“You will be a part of a brotherhood.” the large man said with a scottish lilt, as if a statue of an ancient warrior had been brought to life, “You will have our blades and we will have yours, we keep the peace, and we will die for it as warriors, not cowering like rats.” he snapped now, walking over now to glare into each of their eyes, “So, will you be warriors? Or will you be rats?” he asked.
Hearing that, the kids had all looked towards each other, some of them going to leave now, flinching or spooked while Eskel and Geralt had just glared at the new man while the other had smiled towards the group and how they had seemed to be satisfied with the numbers, “Alright then, The Choice has been made, we can begin tour .” the first man told them now as he directed them now to a room inside.
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8/23/1912, The Trial Chamber, Kaer Morhen
Geralt and Eskel and the other boys had been throwing up their guts, the mixtures that they had been given was making them sick, they had been crying as their bodies felt like they were being melted and then were being remolded now and it was making the now and it made some of the boys start to cough blood as the man that had brought them into there gave a look now.
“Well then, it looks like none of you are dead yet, good.” he told them all, making the children look at him now, “We could use all The Witchers we can get with everything going on.” he told the group of boys, making them start to look towards him, some of them screaming towards him, some of them begging for relief towards it all while he had sighed towards them right now.
“The Path that you will be taking will be as brutal as this, mayhaps even worse.” he said towards them, “The first part that we are putting you through will, change you, prepare you for the next part.” he said to them, going to look to leave before he turned back to them, “Looks like I might lose the bet.” he muttered, leaving them there and angering the boys that were there.
They had been enraged, the boys, they had wanted to attack him, they had wanted to survive and each of them wanted get stronger so that they could ruin his little bet or whatever it was as the boys had each started to get a second wind, Geralt one of them as he grabbed his next meal and started to eat some more with gusto and anger right now as they each followed suit.
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9/1/1912, The Trial of Grasses, Kaer Morhen
The boys had all been strapped to tables now, each of them was secured and as they had looked at The Wizards and Witches who were preparing the operation, the man who had been enraging them every step of the way had looked towards them, “Well then, it looks like this might be the last time I see all of you.” he said with a cocky grin they all learned to hate.
“It looks like we won’t have to worry about filling up all the rooms with you brats.” he told them all which made some of them glare, the mutagens they had been put through making them more hostile and angry towards their taskmaster and as he had went to pop open his flask, he looked towards each and every one, “If you think you can beat me after this, I’ll be waiting.” he promised.
That made some of the boys furious at his words but Geralt and Eskel? They had seen what he was doing, he was trying to make them angry, anger got shit done, and as Geralt saw them prepare the injections, he promised himself that he was going to come out of this stronger, that he would become a Witcher and when he walked out of this, he and the man would share a drink with Eskel.
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9/8/1912, The Circle of Elements, Kaer Morhen
They had all survived, going through the caverns, they had passed the skeleton of Old Speartip, killed when they had modernized the trials, showing them the dangers of being a Witcher, The Cost that they had been going through since The 10th Century and as they started to climb upwards, surviving a few ‘dangers’ that they put them through though they were obviously just tests to see the effectiveness.
As each of them went and started to climb upwards to The Circle of Elements, it was what one would call a magic nexus where the older Witchers had been watching with grins while on the tree that grew in the center, there were their medallions, each of them having the wolf that their school was named for, looking them over, the man that was Grandmaster had walked over, clapping to them.
Each of the boys that had gone through all of the Trials, all of the pain, had looked towards them all, the man that had heckled them, the man that had been enraging them and the man that taught them every trick that he knew so that they would come back strong, had been smiling the widest out of anyone there, “Congratulations, little brothers.” The Grandmaster had told them.
“You have all proven yourself Witchers, now there is only one last task.” he told them all, going and pointing towards the medallions, “Take your medallion, and make it yours.” he told them all now, causing each boy to look, thinking that it might have been a trap, a lie, but as they looked at the prick, he smiled back, “Go on, you all earned it.” he said to them now and hearing that, Geralt was the first to move.
“Thank you, Vesemir.” he said to the older man as he looked upwards towards them all before there was a ringing, one that made him focus on one in particular, as he took the medallion, plucking it off the tree, Eskel and the others had followed suit, each of them going and starting to collect their own, all of them looking the items in question over before they each went to meditate.
As they all sat, all started to close their eyes, they had begun to feel it, like a Wolf that was inside them, it looked towards them, it approached them, and as each had opened their eyes to the world, feeling anew, they had known that there was a truth to themselves now, “I am Geralt Rivia.” The young, now ashen haired boy had thought to himself, “I am a Witcher.”
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12/19/1914, Aretuza, Grande Terra(French)
Janka Vengerberg, from Lauterbourg, Grand Est, had been walking the halls of The Tower Aretuza, The Granddaughter of an Aen Seidhe, she had been born with a hunchback, she had been ridiculed, hated all her life by everyone, even her own father despised her, but as the young Witch had walked through the halls, The Rectoress, Tissaia De Vries and Giltine, The Artist Sorcerer, saw them.
They had been approaching the duo right now, She had bowed her head towards them both now which was when Giltine smiled but Tissaia had given her a look, “Well then, Piglet, are you prepared for tomorrow?” she had asked, making Janka nod towards that, “Yes, Rectoress, I’m ready.” she said towards her, “Whatever I’ll be going through… I’ll be ready.” she said, desperate for what The Change offered.
Giltine had smiled towards her, “Just remember, child, we must make sure to take the time you need, the quicker that we perform it, the more that you will lose.” The Artist had told her, making Janka nod towards that, she had been told what the process would do, how they would break her apart and then rebuild her back into her, the ideal version of her at least, “But there is something you must know, Piglet.” Tissaia said.
Janka had looked at her with confusion, having not heard anything after the change like that, “You can remain here in Aretuza, sequestered here to focus solely on the research of Magic, becoming more powerful with the assistance of your sisters.” she told Janka, the woman seeming to know something as she had spoken, “Or are you can instead go to whatever school you desire for your Fourth Year and beyond.”
That made Janka look at her with some surprise and was unsure on what to say at that, “Leave?” she asked, shocked at the proposition presented before Tissaia had offered her some documents, “Leave and gain more then just magic, gain connections, gain power, and with it, you will have as much power as a member of a Royal House, maybe even more.” she told her.
She had looked at her Wand, Poplar wood with a unicorn hair core, 9 ½ and hard flexibility, she remembered when the wand was put in her hands, how she was told she would amount to nothing by her father and how her mother was too scared to help her, it made the girl take a breath, wanting to scream, wanting to burn down everything that was around her before Tissaia had found her now.
She had learned power, learned how to be a sorceress, how she had enough power to prove that no one would be able to call her hideous or a freak without consequences, she had magical power, and now, after they gave her her beauty, they were going to give her a shot at political power, it made the Quarter–Elf take a breath before speaking, “I’ll do it.” she told them, “Where should I go?” she asked and hearing that, Tissaia smiled, “We were thinking Hogwarts.”
That made Janka think, she heard of Hogwarts, of the Houses that were there and as they created some sort of House system, creating connections and it made Janka nod, “I will!” She had said towards them now and hearing that, the pair of them smiled towards that, “Then you shall arrive at The Art Room tonight.” Tissaia had told her, making Janka smile at that before nodding vigorously.
As they left Janka alone, she went and started to walk back to her quarters now and as they went to move, the young Witch, soon to be a Sorceress, had started to take deep breaths now before she went headed towards her dorm, Triss Merigold, The Chestnut haired girl who had joined and been a friend towards her now, “What’s the matter?” she asked and hearing that, Janka smiled.
“I’m going to be leaving for Hogwarts.” she said and hearing that, Triss paused, looking towards her, “Beauxbatons for me.” She told her friend now, making the other girl look towards her now, “Then it looks like this will be our last year together.” Janka told her, the pair of them smiling at the moment before they had seen that there was a newspaper which had been left nearby, showing images.
It was of The School of The Cat, the new Grandmaster, Cassius had been selected by the leader of their organization, “When you go through the Change,” Triss said to her, “What will you keep?” she asked of her, people always tried to keep something, to remember what they were, their identity, their skin, a certain abnormality, Janka wanted to remove everything, every part that–
Janka looked towards her face and as she saw the one thing that was never broken, never deformed, they were so unique and they gave her comfort in the past before everything, before she had created a portal that had brought her to an Elder Artifact, her eyes had felt like they had seen everything, that there was a power behind them that had opened her mind to her power.
“My eyes,” she told her friend, “I’ll keep my eyes.” she told Triss who smiled back towards her, glad for her now as The girl had looked at a catalog of clothes, something for her to wear when she had finished The Change, wanting herself not to be in rags but to be a force of nature and as she looked at one outfit that appeared to be as black as night, the young girl knew it would be perfect.
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12/20/1914, The Art Room, Aretuza
Janka had looked at The Art Room, seeing everything that was there before her, Giltine had smiled towards The girl, “Well then, please change into the gown and we will begin.” he told her, turning as she went to change her clothing to be ready now, taking a breath, the woman had went to do as much behind the curtain, taking off everything that was once Janka and placing the gown on.
It was loose and perfect for her change as the young woman had went to lie down on the table now, “Remember, we must take this slow, or else there could be severe changes, the likes of which could damage vital organs, such as your womb.” he told her, hearing that, Janka had nodded, “What do you wish to remain?” he asked of her, making her look up to the ceiling, having taken a deep breath.
“Keep my eyes, they’re the only thing I want to stay the same.” she told him now, thinking on everything before the man nodded, “Deep breaths, and remember, the pain will bring forth your true self.” he said now and hearing that, Janka had nodded as she started to feel the first affects of The Change, trying to hold in her screams before her bones and flesh started to feel like they were melting from the inside out.
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1/1/1915, Aretuza, Grande Terra
She had woken up, feeling… she felt alive, she felt stronger and not in pain anymore as she started to get up, looking around before she gasped, almost screaming at the sight of something, a beautiful girl who was in Triss’ bed– “Wait, that’s not where her bed is.” She thought, taking a breath as she went and started to get up now, smiling at the sight, she started to laugh.
“Heh… hehe…” she said with a smile now as the girl started to unsteadily approach the mirror now, going and pressing her hand to it with a grin that was almost manic, she was perfect, she was beautiful as her lilac eyes, her raven locks like a mass that almost enveloped her face completely, “Well then, Piglet.” Tissaia said to her now, making the girl look towards her now.
“What should we call you?” The Sorceress asked and hearing that, the girl had looked to her, supporting herself on the glass before smiling, “Yennefer.” she told her, “Yennefer Vengerberg.” she said to her Rectoress, making her smile back towards the girl, “Very well then, Piglet, then let us show the world Yennefer Vengerberg and why the world will fear her.” she finished.
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9/1/1915, The Great Hall, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Yen had looked towards the first years that had been gathered, the tables cheering every time that they had a new student join their fold when there was a new names, “Vengerberg, Yennefer.” the teacher, Matilda Weasley said, making the boys look towards her, but she didn’t care, she had strutted forward, the robes billowing as the young woman had went to approach the stool.
“Can you please sit down? The hat shall help decide what house you shall be a part of.” Matilda said towards her, the girl nodding, happy at that as she waited, taking a breath now as she heard it, “Now then, let’s see what we have… you’re no Hufflepuff. And Gryffindor? You’d have them all wrapped around your finger before getting bored.” the hat that was on her head told her.
“I can see two ways for you to go, a thirst for knowledge and a thirst for power… a Slytherin or a Ravenclaw… which side would you fall?” The Hat asked and hearing that, Yen took a deep breath, “I already have what I want… but I’d like to learn, see if there’s more?” she whispered, nervous at how she was confiding this to the hat, “Perfect, the House you will be in is… RAVENCLAW!”
That caused the kids in blue start to cheer for her, making Yen smile towards that table as the kids had started help her sit, the boys and a few of the girls had been smiling a little wider and getting closer to her, the attention made her smile now as the Fourteen Year Old had been glad at it all, wishing that she was like this before, that Janka had never been born.
Leaning forward, she had made sure that the English Accent she practiced was perfect and posh the moment she spoke, “So the, will anyone be kind enough to give me a tour of our beautiful school?” she had asked and hearing that, the students that were there started to raise their hands, “Me! Me!” Was all heard and it made Yennefer revel in the attention there.
The Sorceress had all of these others there, but she also recalled that thing one of the Seers in Aretuza had told, she told her that she would love a Wolf and a Swallow, that she would burn worlds for them, and they would complete her, “I wonder how two animals will do that and not a family?” She thought to herself while looking at everyone there and wondering how she would grow here instead of Aretuza now.
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5/21/1985, The Ministry of Magic, London
Ciri was looking at the stuffed animal that was in her lap, Kelpie was one of the last things that her mother and grandmother had given her and now– now they were gone and now she had to wait for her Papà to pick her up, “Cirilla?” a voice said, making her look to see that it was a Toscana, her raven hair cut short and wearing dark men’s robes just like her Nonna did.
“I’m your Papà’s second cousin, Silvia Anna.” she said to her, “But you can call me Syanna.” she said and hearing that, Ciri started to get confused, “Where’s Papà? Why isn’t he here?” she asked, making Syanna sigh, “He is, he’s just talking to your guardians.” he said and hearing that, Ciri was confused by that, “Guardians?” she asked, “But I thought I was going to live with Papà?”
That made Syanna look towards her, “That– that’s something that Emhyr needs to do, he needs to protect you.” She told her as Ciri looked towards her Papà and two individuals, one of them was a beautiful woman in black and white with raven locks and beautiful violet eyes, but there was a man that looked like he was rippling with muscles, his hair was shaved except for the ponytail that he had.
He had a large scar that was over his left eye, but those eyes? They had reminded her of Cat eyes, it made the girl fascinated towards the sight of both when she saw Papà walking towards her, but he had no smile, no warmth, “Papà?” she asked, making the man wince towards that before he spoke again, “You will be living with Geralt Rivia from now on.” he told her, making Ciri confused.
“Papà?” she asked, looking towards him, “If you have anything you wish to tell me, have it done through Sylvia Anna.” he said before going to leave, at least before stopping and looking towards her again, “I will miss you, Cirilla.” Emhyr said towards the little girl, crouching to give her a tight hug before standing up again and leaving her there, confusing the girl at why her Papà would be so cold.
“Ciri?” a voice said, making her look to see that it was the man in question, his amber eyes had looked towards her with a nervous but kind smile, making Ciri wonder why he was nervous, “I’m Geralt Rivia, your mother and grandmother appointed me your guardian and–” “Why is my Papà leaving?” she asked, making the man unsure what to say when the woman that was there had smiled towards her.
“Because he wants to protect you, but he also wanted to leave you with people that can protect you.” the woman said which made Ciri look towards her with some curiosity, “My name’s Yennefer Vengerberg, and this is Geralt Rivia.” she said towards the girl now, “Gerlt here lives in a big castle with a ton of children and knights that are able to fight Dragon and Giants.” she said and hearing that, Ciri looked amazed.
Seeing the interest she had, Geralt had spoken now, “We can stay at Yennefer’s until you–” “Can we see the Castle?” she asked of them, making the Sorceress and Witcher share a look before they had chuckled towards the moment, “Yen?” he asked, making the Sorceress give a look towards him, “I thought you hated Portals?” she asked of him, making Ciri look at them both with fascination.
“We can Apparate there?” Ciri had asked and hearing that, Yen had chuckled, “Apparating is for the usual Witch or Wizard, but PORTALS, they’re a completely different animal.” she told her now, making Ciri even more curious as Syanna looked towards her, “If you ever have a letter to give your Papà or anything at all, just let me know, okay?” she said to the little girl.
That made her smile towards her new Aunt Syanna, “I will, Aunt Syanna!” she said, making the raven haired woman smile towards her now, “I’m happy to hear that, Ciri.” she said, going to kiss her head now, making the woman smile towards her now, “Now then, shall we, Ciri?” she asked, making her pout, “Can Kelpie come?” she asked, showing her stuffed animal towards the both.
“If Roach is allowed then I’m sure that Kelpie will be too.” Geralt said as he pulled out a stuffed wolf that looked like he was properly cared for, seeing that, Ciri had smiled towards the man, liking that he kept his stuffed toy with him, “Can you say hi, Roach?” he asked, “Hello there, little girl.” A voice said and hearing that, the girl was amazed that she could talk at all, “My name’s Roach.”
“You’re wolfy can talk?” she asked with wonder on her face while Yen smiled, liking the thought of that as the woman had finished up now, creating a door that looked like it was made from a tornado there, “THIS is a portal.” Yennefer had told her and hearing that, Ciri was amazed at the sight, walking towards it with happiness now as she went to walk through it with no fear, laughing as she felt the pull.
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5/21/1985, Kaer Morhen, Wales
The three of them had appeared in the courtyard and that was where they saw three older men smiling towards them now, the one that was as large as a Ten Year Old or so with one arm had smiled as he went and walked over, “We got a new recruit?” he asked, making the girl look towards him and then at the man and woman, “Don’t tell me, another Deidre?” the red haired man with a bandana had asked.
That made Ciri look towards the couple with confusion while the woman had went to her side, “Well then, how about we go and find your room? Would you like to share with the other children here?” she asked, making the gray haired man raise an eyebrow, “And how do YOU know about the children’s quarters?” he asked which made Geralt cough, appearing to blush for some reason.
“I swear, you two are like rabbits in heat.” the little man said towards him, confusing Ciri, “What happens to Bunnies in hot places?” she asked, making the older men there realize their mistake with Yennefer scoffing, “I swear, with how you three act, it’s no wonder you Witchers are so… friendly.” she said with a smirk towards them, making Cir look towards them, confused while Geralt chuckled.
As Yennefer and now Geralt had led her towards a large room, boys and girls of varying ages all around, some with eyes like Geralt and others like her, “Everyone, this is Ciri, she’ll be living with us for a while, would anyone want to help her around Kaer Morhen?” Geralt asked and hearing that, an older girl and a boy her age had approached, “Vigo, Deidre, Ciri. Ciri, Vigo and Deidre.” Geralt said.
“Hi!” Deidre had said now, going to offer her hand, her eyes not like the older kids, but the large puppies by her seemed to smile when she smiled and cocked their heads like her, “This is Beann’shie and D’yaebl.” the girl, Deidre had said which was when Ciri saw that her eyes had almost looked like Black Suns, “It’s a little scary here at night, but Tenky and the other House Elves make things nice.” she said.
Ciri looked at the couple and then towards the kids, the boy looking as shy as she felt, it made her a bit more relieved by it all as the girl had been taken away from them and towards the new life that she was going to be living in now, glad for the comfort of them and everything as Yennefer and Geralt had both looked towards the retreating little girl right now.
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7/24/1991, Kaer Morhen, Wales
The kids were going through the routine on the obstacle course now, the eight kids had all been the same age now and were enjoying themselves when The Grandmaster had spoken, “Oi, pups!” he shouted towards them now, making Ciri and the Seven others all look towards him now, Ciri Raven, Gracie Hunter, Silas Jackbuck, Vigo Fenrin, Angelice, Ryder, Sofia and Zain Wolfe all stopped.
The group had all paused at the points they were on, curious as each of them had leapt off, all of them looking towards him, Five of them amber eyed like commonly found amongst their people but The twins and Ciri who had beautiful emerald eyes that were looking at their collective Uncle curiously, “As you all know, Dumbledore has been coming around recently.” he told the group.
They all started to mutter, having heard of the wizard, he was no Witcher, but those that had been born in Mage Families knew of him, “And we have decided that the Eight of you will be going to Hogwarts.” he said now and hearing that, the kids were all confused, “Why?” Gracie had asked with confusion, none of the others had been sent to Hogwarts, but they were? It was odd to say the least.
Vesemir sighed, “The Ministry had decided that we need to give you pups a ‘proper education’.” he told them, none of the kids liked that, how The Mages thought that they were somehow better than their teachers… “But honestly, it’s not a terrible plan.” Vesemir said, causing the eight children to look towards him with confusion, “This would be a great way to make some new connections.” he explained.
“You can meet people there, show them not all of us are the monsters hiding under their beds.” he joked, “Or in their closets!” Silas had shouted, making the other kids lighten up now with the joke as their Uncle Vesemir spoke, “Five of you are going to be exclusively doing Witcher training at Hogwarts, Remus will be there on the first trip since he drew the short straw.” he explained.
That made Graie give a shout of joy her father figure would be there when Zain spoke, “Wait… who isn’t?” The younger of the twins had asked, making Vesemir look towards Ciri and The Twins, all of the kids surprised with Angelice scowling towards Ciri now, but she had been excited as Remus, Geralt, Yennefer and the mentors of all of The children had started to walk towards them now with a smile.
“We’ll be heading to Diagon Alley next week, My Ugly One.” Yennefer said, making Ciri grin at how her mother figure and father figure would be taking her, “And it looks like you’ll be going to my old stomping grounds.” Yennefer said and hearing that, She had gotten excited, wanting to be as great as a her Da as Geralt, but also a Witch like her Maman? That was a dream come true.
Turning back to her little pack of Witchers, she had ran over to Vigo, her partner and hugged him tightly, “We’re going to show all of them you don’t mess with Witchers!” she told him excited now, making Vigo return the hug now, there was no telling how many would hate them or how many would like them, but all of them were ready to take to the path, and none of them would stop any one of them.