Just a Witcher 3 fanfic

Arivan meets the witch

(Arivan found out from the notes that a witch lives in midcopse. Likely the same one Ciri seems to have encountered)

(While Geralt goes to find the bloody baron and look for clues to find Ciri, Arivan looks for the witch to see if she knows anything)

(Arivan hops off his horse and ties it to a post on the entrance to midcopse. He then uses his emhanced hearing to listen to a conversation nearby. He can make out some words from the vibration in the air)

Woman: So, gonna try to charm him? Did the witch give-?

Woman 2: Aye, she did indeed. Didn't ask much for it, either

Woman: Maybe I should pay her a visit. How d'ye get there?

Woman 2: Path past the pond -- follow it till you reach a lone rock. Round that and head right off into the woods. Then keep straight. You'll know you went the right way when you pass an abandoned cart

Arivan: Pond. Rock. Abandoned cart. Got it

(As Arivan is walking down the trail, he gets ambushed by a group of small goblin-like creatures)

Arivan: Nekkers

(The nekkers try to run at Arivan, but he hits them with an aard sign, throwing them backwards. Then he hits a couple of them with crossbow bolts)

(After Arivan burns a few nekkers with an igni sign, a nekker jumps at Arivan, only for him to punch it and knock it into a stump, killing it from impact)

(Arivan draws his sword and slices through the last few nekkers. They're all dead, so he continues on his path)

Arivan: I must be getting closer

(A little further down the trail, he sees some peasants gathered in front of a woman's house, likely the witch. He overhears that her name is Keira)

Man: Miss Keira... Cow's a-wheezin', won't rise from the barn floor. Pus streams from her snout

Keira: Do I look like a dairy maid to you?

Woman: No, miss, but you know things. 'Tis our last cow, none other left in the village...

Man: Rest died of hunger, or soldiers lead 'em off. Oh... we're as good as dead without her

Keira: I shall give you herbs. Mix them with water drawn from the spring at midnight, then make the cow drink them. But first you must clean out your barn. Thoroughly, is that clear?

Woman: Thank you, miss! A thousand thanks!

Keira: Enough! I've had my fill for the day. Go home!

(Keira walks into her house and shuts the door behind her, clearly stressed)

Woman: She's in a foul mood. We'd best come back on the morrow

Woman: Watch what you say. She's quick to ire, apt to take revenge

Man: Bitch is in a proper fury. Needs a man!

(Rolling his eyes at the obnoxious comment from the peasant nearby, Arivan walks over to Keira's house)

(Not wanting to just barge in, he knocks on the door and waits for a response. But there is none)

(Arivan listens for footsteps or breathing inside of the house and hears nothing, so he steps inside of it and looks around for clues to where Keira might have gone)

Arivan: Hmmm. Nobody's home. Candles, books, herbs, pretty much what you'd expect

(Arivan looks around and finds an inscribed skull, and his witcher medallion vibrates)