The cold stung like betrayal. Not the metaphorical kind, Jasen had felt enough of that in his old life. No, this was primal, glacial pain: the air so sharp it cut the skin, the snow grinding like glass beneath his bare feet. He gasped, his breath frosting instantly in the frigid air, lungs spasming like they were drowning.
Then he remembered, he had died. He didn't remember how. Just flashes. A light. A pressure in his chest. Maybe a car? But none of that mattered now.
Because Jasen was no longer in his world. No longer in the 21st century at least. Now he was small, and naked, and brown-skinned, his skin that shimmered faintly against the moonlight. His limbs trembled not just from cold but weakness, and youth. His hands were tiny and weak.
The first real detail that broke through the confusion were his eyes. Not from looking, he couldn't see them, but he felt them. Like a pair of beacons set into his skull, glowing with heat even in this frozen alley.
Gold. Not hazel, not brown, not even amber. They were gold, with bright and unnatural glow. A witch's fire, caught behind pupils. He stumbled forward, barefoot on cobblestone slick with slush and gods-knew-what else. The narrow alley reeked of rot, smoke, and something metallic. Like blood and spoiled meat.
I was in some medieval shithole of a town. Great that doesn't help me narrow down where the hell I 'am. Then I saw something. I couldn't tell its silhouette blotting out the firelight spilling from a crooked tavern window. It stood at least eight feet tall, hunched, with spindly limbs and a batlike face split with fangs like broken blades.
Its eyes glowed red. Then I noticed something in it's mouth. It was eating someone. I backed up fast and slipped and fell into a pile of slush and trash.
The thing snapped its head toward me, nose twitching, claws clicking against the stone as it turned. A single string of viscera hung from its maw like a ribbon. My new heart tried to jump through my ribs. "Oh... shit." I couldn't move, this tiny body of mine was frozen in fear.
Then the beast lunged towards me. Then a silver blur cleaved through its neck, blood fountaining like wine into the snow. The body thudded beside Cain with a wet, meaty slap, spraying filth across his skin. Then the creature died.
Standing above the corpse was a man in black leather armor, snow melting against his shoulders, white hair loose around a pale face marked with cat-like eyes. No way is that the white wolf. Geralt of Rivia.
I blinked. "No..." he muttered, heart still thundering. "No way... This... This can't be real." Geralt looked down at me with a half-scowl, half-curious tilt of his head. "You alright, boy?"
I opened his mouth to speak, but before I could say anything a little blue window blinked into existence before him, floating in the air like a hologram:
[Status Window Unlocked]
Name: Cain
Age: 8
Race: Half-Elf
Class: ???
Trait: Bloodline: [Elder Blood – Dormant]
Strength: 4
Dexterity: 7
Constitution: 5
Intelligence: 9
Wisdom: 8
Charisma: 6
Luck:???
Skill Points: 0
[New Quest Received]
"Rebirth in the Snow" : Objective: Stay alive and out of danger until dawn.
Reward: 1 Rare Equipment Chest– Beginner Codex: Monster Biology
Penalty for Failure: Death
Accept? [Y/N]
My mouth was open, as I was stunned by seeing the status screen Infront of me. While Geralt still stand in front of me raised an eyebrow. "You hit your head, boy?"
I closed my mouth, and slammed my eyes shut. Then I took a deep breath. Okay calm down Jasen. Think and analyze. First you're not dreaming. You're not high. And you're definitely not hallucinating. This is all very real, and very painful.
The status screen say's my name is Cain, and that I'm eight years old. Ok, I can work with that. I also have Elder Blood to? I can't tell if I'm blessed by whatever God sent me here or, if I'm gonna be screwed over later.
I still can't believe I'm in the fucking Witcher universe. And that's Geralt of goddamn Rivia. First I need to get my bearing's, and follow the quest's objective and survive. No way I want to die again. Not that I remember the first time. I just know I don't want to die cold, and naked in the middle of a shitty town or forest. By the way, why the fuck was I naked when I woke up here?
Never mind I need to focus. I will accept the quest and stick by Geralt he is my best chance to survive the night. I will have to make it up as I go from there.
I opened my eyes, and mentally accepted the quest "Y." The window vanished with a soft chime.
Geralt knelt down beside me. " You okay kid, and where are your clothes?" I blinked. My teeth chattered. "I... I don't know. I just... woke up here. I don't remember anything but my name and age."
Geralt just studied me with the weariness of a man who'd seen too many strange things in his time. "No parents, clothes, shoes, or memories"
"No sir." I said hoping he believes me. I wasn't technically lying either. Then I tried to sit up, but winced as the pain finally hit, frostbite nipping at my limbs, and hunger gnawing at my stomach. With something sticky and warm seeping from a gash on my leg.
I don't know when the last time this body ate. Plus now I have a bleeding gash on my leg. And I'm freezing. If this was a game, I feel like I started on nightmare mode, with all these disadvantages.
Geralt muttered something under his breath. Then sighed. "Get up kid. I can't leave you here or you'll die before morning." I exhaled my breath. Great I don't have to convince him to take me with him. Geralt took out of cloth, and paste like substance from his side pouch. "This is gonna sting but it will stop you from getting a infection, so bear with it."
He applied the paste to my gash which stunned, but then sent a warm sensation through my body. Then he wrapped the wound. Geralt then went into the near by tavern. He told me to wait right at the door. I nodded. There's no way I wanted to go into a tavern, in this child's body completely naked.
It wouldn't be a good look for me or Geralt. I don't know how lower his reputation could get as a Witcher. With a naked child next to him. He might end up getting killed by the town. A few minutes later he came out with, some children's clothes and a blanket.
He handed them to me. "Here put these on , it will be way better then being out here naked in the cold. "Thank you sir, how much did this cost you?"
"Just call me Geralt, that's my name. I don't care for that sir, or lord crap. And don't worry about it. The lady that owns the tavern grandson just out grew those clothes. So your lucky, she didn't get rid of them yet. No coat unfortunately, so make due with the blanket."
Then he handed me a steaming potato." Here eat this, it will help warm you up. we are gonna collect my reward, and call it a night. After that I will figure out what to do with you.
I smiled. "Ok, thank you Geralt." Great now I have some clothes and food. My luck is starting to improve. We reached Geralt's horse Roach, and placed the monster's head on the saddle hook. Then he placed me up next. He stayed standing and started leading Roach and me while he was walking.
A few minutes later. We arrived by the entrance of the town. Where a elderly man stood by a guard, and a small fire. The elderly man and Geralt spoke. "Ah mister Witcher, I take it your hunt went well? were you able to find the beast that was killing my townsmen.
"Yes, I slayed the monster. You were dealing with a vampire known as a Katakana. I was lucky to find it when I did. Normally they are dangerous and hard to deal since they hide well. But he was attacking this kid." Geralt gesture towards me.
"The kid doesn't remember anything, Do you know him or his parent's? The elderly man pulled up a torch to look closer at me.
"I know every man, woman, and child in this village, but I have never seen this one before. No elf's reside in this tiny village. I have also never seen anybody with the same color of this boy's skin, hair or eye's."
Geralt grunted in what seemed like he was deep thought. He looked at me for a split second, then looked back to the older man. "Never mind then I will take my payment and go."
The elderly man nodded, and brought out a decent sized bag full of coins. "Two hundred crowns as promised." Geralt nodded grabbed the bag of coins. Then hopped on Roach. Then we rode off, out of the village.