Elder Blood Witcher

Remia despite being very weak and exhausted helped set up the second funeral of the day for Erik, the Witchers were unable to detach his grafted flesh from the rack so they decided to wrap them both up in cloth.

They held the funeral over the ashes of the previous one and Vesemir gave a similar speech that was more directed at Erik's personality and origins. After the two days of loss and death Reima felt that his tear ducts were dried out, unable to squeeze out another tear from his sore eyes. Arie stood at his side, the only people left out of the large group were the two of them.

After all was said and done Reima dragged his body back into his room and collapsed on his bed.

The next morning felt different when compared to all others, the feeling of loss still present but stifled by the brightness and detail of the world around him. Colours looked like they were more colourful and light looked brighter, he went to grab for the single hand held mirror in the room to inspect the changes to his body and came face to face with deep bright green eyes with a slit replacing the pupil. Cats eyes are adapted to low light conditions so it's reasonable for this to be a mutation of choice for monster hunters. Reima just stared at himself in the mirror, his white skin seemed much paler than before almost resembling his white hair, his bright green eyes contrasted nicely against everything else and reminded him of Ciri's. No doubt they would be mistaken as siblings, whether or not Reima is happy at this revelation is another unanswerable question.

He hears someone shuffling out of bed and turns towards Arie, His blonde hair didn't change but the yellow cat eyes staring back at him did.

Reima points the mirror at Arie who's eyes light up in excitement, "We're almost there." He grins.

Reima "I doubt an exhausting couple of days and significant body modification will get us out of practise, plus I feel like I could lift a truck."

Arie "A truck?"

Reima "Never mind that, lets go fight!" He drags him off to the courtyard where an amused Eskel waits.

Eskel "Alright kids, settle down. I know you're excited to get started but we should probably start with some warming up."

He tells us to follow him as he jogs around the outskirts of Kaer Morhen, after 10 minutes he starts to speed up and eventually reach the sprinting speed of a normal person. Reima and Arie haven't even broken a sweat and continue following him until he leads them both back to the court yard where Geralt is now waiting.

Eskel "Ok, good that you two don't seem to have any problems. Now that you have the strength and speed of a Witcher you will be apprenticed by one of us each to give you the skills of a Witcher."

Geralt "Vesemir decided it was best we chose our apprentices instead of them being assigned, I agree with him. Unlike in other jobs a bond between a Master and Apprentice is almost sacred to Witchers, we give you our backs and we ask that you don't slip a knife in while we are turned."

Eskel "I have a similar background to you Arie and have decided to take you on as my Apprentice, if you don't object?"

Arie "No Sir, I would be honoured!"

Eskel "Alright, no ass kissing... Call me Eskel, being called master makes me feel old." Arie nods at his words.

Reima "And me?"

Geralt "Well, Lambert wanted to take you on but we decided one loud mouth was enough for now. I offer you a place as my Apprentice, my reputation is bad around most parts so it may follow you if you accept. Well?"

Reima "I couldn't ask for a better Master."

Geralt "You could, whether or not you receive one is another matter." He pats Reima on the back towards a rack of real swords, unlike the wooden ones they had been using to spar with until now.

Reima "Do I finally get a sword? Cool."

Geralt "Take a pick of the steel ones here, try the length and weight of them, finding a good match is as hard as forging them. Take in mind you will rapidly grow in height from here on so find one that won't be too short for you in a year or two."

Reima nods, "What about a silver sword? I was lent one by Vesemir when we went with you on a contract"

Geralt "The silver sword is what makes a Witcher, you will be given one once you graduate and retrieve your medallion. They will be custom made to suit you, so you won't be disappointed.

Geralt "Now, due to you and Arie being much further ahead in technique and knowledge than we thought possible we have accelerated your training schedules. Ofcourse we can change them back if your not up for it?"

Reima gives a wide grin at Geralt "Ill beat you eventually old man, count on it."

Geralt just takes a sword from the rack and drops into a stance, "You're decades too early to try my Apprentice." Reima takes a similar stance and tries to run at Geralt before dropping to the floor in a pathetic mess surrounded by the Yrden sign.

Reima "No fair that's cheating!"

Geralt's lips upturn slightly. "Us Witcher are such Scheming swine! I can barely control myself from these cursed tactics." He says in the famous White Wolf monotone sarcasm.

Reima bickers with Geralt while attempting to get in a strike and failing spectacularly.

And so Master and Apprentice begin the long road of mastery.