Elder Blood Witcher

For the last session of the day Eskel decided to have them sparring to get some real experience, Reima was partnered with Arie due to them being at a similar level.

Arie stood at 4.3 feet tall with blonde hair and an average physique, Reima would guess that he is around 8 years old.

They stood opposite each other wooden swords in-hand.

Reima "You ready?"

Arie "Definitely" He grins and flourishes his weapon.

Eskel "Begin."

Arie runs towards Reima executing a stabbing thrust, Reima backs away pushing his opponents blade away to the side. Arie continues his momentum and performs a spinning slash, seeing this Reima dashes forward and crashes into Arie mid-spin, splaying him across the floor. He tries to get up but has a wooden sword pointed at his neck.

Eskel "Enough."

Reima helps Arie get up not bothering to comment on his growing face.

Eskel looks at Arie and asks "Why do you think you lost?"

Arie "I wasn't fast enough at performing the technique."

Eksel "Wrong. Tell me, where did you learn to spin during combat?"

Arie "I watched Master Aubry do it during a combat practice."

Eskel "... Tell me, do you know the purpose of spinning used by us?"

Arie shakes his head. "I assumed it was to perform more powerful attacks."

Eskel "That is one of the uses but the main reason that we incorporate spins while fighting is to observe the surroundings... For instance, if you were fighting a group of Ghouls and need to quickly check the other's actions. These techniques are only used by Witchers because of their enhanced reflexes, sight, and speed... And they only work in one on one duels against normal humans or foes that are significantly slower."

Aries eyes light up in realisation and Reima nods his head finally understanding why Geralt kept twirling in Witcher 3, "I thought it just looked cool..."

Eskel smirks and chuckles, "That too... Alright, let's continue."

2 Months later

During the time Reima was training and being subjugated to a horrific diet it seems some recruits couldn't keep up... One recruit died of an overdose of toxins, grey veins covered his body and face causing him to evacuate his stomach and bowels. He died a slow and agonising death. We held a vigil due to our lost comrade. One recruit tried to escape due to him feeling like he would starve to death, he was cut down before he even left the keep. Another recruit tried to steal food but was caught and denied even the herbs and mushrooms for a week, he didn't last and died in his sleep.

During the two months Reima started to train his teleportation abilities and Haki during breaks, he managed to flash a few feet at a time but was exhausted after 20 minutes of this. He was also able to cover a single finger in Armament haki, not a huge achievement but it's still progress. His solitary breaks were noticed by the other recruits and the Witchers but they assumed he was mourning his lost brothers.

He didn't slack with his Witcher training either, learning just about every technique they could teach him. Obviously learning them is only half the battle due to it not being muscle memory yet, and that only comes with extended use and experience. Vesemir's lectures had become much more specific talking about what herbs did what and how you could tell what monster is which, along with how to slay them.

Reima honestly didn't think there was all that much to learn about the hundreds of variations of monsters that roam around. An example of this being the Wights and the extinct species of spotted Wight Geralt encounters during his travels, variants like this are everywhere and Vesemir is teaching us even the extinct and unheard-of species so we are prepared.

Other than that Reima got to know his friends and brothers a little more, learning where they come from, their dreams and ambitions... Their regrets. Reima knew it was unlikely all of them would survive but he hoped that they would pull through.

Another thing to note is the diet and activities we are being forced through, this is the first trial and I have no idea how most of us are still standing. The amount of calories we are consuming is far far less than the calories we are burning, Vesemir said it's something to do with nature but I don't entirely buy that.

During our time in Kaer Morhen the Witchers sometimes leave to take contracts to keep the populace happy, sometimes they take one or two recruits to watch a real confrontation. Arie and Reima were taken by Geralt, he ended up laying a trap for what he assumed was a Night wraith. Recently bandits had kidnapped a newly wed woman and had raped and murdered her, along with the times of the attacks and states of the bodies, Geralt had concluded it to be a Night wraith.

The skeletal looking maidenhead floated from the local graveyard towards a wood cutters shack which housed a small family.

Geralt "Stay back while I deal with her, keep your silver swords in hand just in case she slips past."

They both nod in affirmation as the Wraith triggers Geralts Yrden, he leaps out with surprising speed towards the Night wraith who tries to blink away but can't due to the trap. It lashing out with sharp claws but it's arm ends up being sliced causing it to cry out in pain due to the Spectre oil applied to Geralts blade. He lashes out again with a powerful swipe towards it's neck decapitating it.

Arie and Reima look on in awe at the ease Geralt dispatched the creature with.

"Are all monsters that easy to deal with?" Arie asks

Geralt "With proper preparation and a good plan most creatures are easy prey... The only time you should find yourself in is unexpected threats or powerful being like Elder Vampires or Djinn's."

Reima "Have you ever fought either of them?"

Geralt "No and if you ever meet an Elder Vampire you should run as far as you can without looking back... Even if you manage to slay one by some sort of miracle, it will come back and tear you apart. Vampires are some of the most difficult creatures Witchers can come across. Not only because some are immortal but because they entrench themselves in society becoming influential and untouchable."

"Understood Master" Arie and Reima nod at Geralt's words and follow him to collect the contract fee.