Vyr’s Journey Through The Multiverse - Chapter 45

“Yall need my help or are you good?” Vyr asked, seeing as Geralt was getting tired of her shenanigans.

“Are you actually offering or just saying that,” Geralt asked, knowing that if she came along, it would defeat the point of separating the group in the first place.

“If you need help, old man, I’ll always come and fight your battles for you.” Vyr said clearly, making fun of geralt.

“Ha. Ha.” Geralt said dryly, getting a shoulder shrug in response.

“Hey, I offered. What’s going on over there anyway?” Vyr sipped from her bottle as she looked over at Geralt.

“Just the usual,” Trey answered from somewhere off screen as he watched Weiss try to untie Bea, “A couple of vampires, a few missing people. Nothing we can’t handle. Though, now I guess we have a different vamp to find.

“Well, tell me if you need me. For now it smells like ozone, meaning either a storm is coming or magic is afoot. One way or the other I need to get back to the fort, plus I gotta find something to do with this one too. So much shit to do, so little time.” she said as she nudged the bird that dive bombed her with foot, getting a squawk in return. She almost always had something needing to be done. Plan after plan, after plan.

“Will do. Now,” Geralt started as he turned towards Bea, “what can you tell me about this supposed other vampire?”

As they began discussion about the group’s next steps, Ruby went to a far corner of the room to talk to Vyr in private. Weiss wasn’t far behind though.

“Magic smells like ozone?” Weiss asks when they are out of earshot.

“Yep. All magic except fire magics smell like ozone. Fire magic smells like cotton candy when you swirl it slowly.” The camera flickered to face Vyr’s outstretched had and a small spark lit up the frame. It started spinning slowly, it’s movements matching those of Vyr’s wrist.

Weiss ended up rolling her eyes and Vyr swore she could hear her mutter ‘show-off’ and walking towards the other group where things made more sense. Not that supernatural mercenaries that hunted supernatural creatures with magic swords made much sense to her anyway. The thought of just sliding into bed and passing out instead of dealing with everything occured to Weiss, but her sense of duty quickly squashed the thought.

After Weiss rejoined the other group Ruby was finally “alone” with vyr. The time apart and meeting some characters from Vyr’s past had left Ruby with more than a few questions. And while it was awkward to talk about Ruby felt like she needed answers,the sooner she got them,the better.

“Umm…” Ruby’s only problem was that she didn’t know how to go about getting them.

Vyr could easily tell that Ruby was struggling to put her questions into words, which wasn’t really surprising considering Ruby was a “talk really fast” person, rather than a “formulate actual sentences’ ‘ person. Yes, she and Ruby had started dating and yes they spent almost every minute of the day with each other, but as much as she’d hoped, Vyr didn’t know Ruby as well as she’d like. Nor did Ruby know every detail about Vyr’s life.

Having Ruby meet the people and non people she used to hang around was showing Ruby a whole new perspective of Vyr. A very different side of Vyr, one that she had never seen before. It was only natural, the way Vyr was with Ruby and the people Ruby knew, was drastically different than the way she acted with anyone else.

Seeing that Ruby really wanted to talk, Vyr sat down where she had been drinking before. The rain really didn’t bother Vyr if it made Ruby feel better to talk. And if it really was magic that she had smelled? Well, that could wait too.

Seeing Vyr sitting back down and waiting to talk to her comforted Ruby more than if Vyr had said anything. She took a little longer to organize her thoughts before saying, “Bea told us some things.”

Vyr could tell ruby purposely left her statement open ended so that she would have to fill in the rest. Not playing into the simple trap Vyr simply said “I’m sure she did,” her teasing smile making a reappearance.

Knowing Vyr would just wait her out, Ruby cut to the chase ” Is it true you have done, THAT, together?”

As much as Vyr wanted to tease Ruby some more, she knew this wasn’t the time.

“We have,” she said simply.

“Oh.” Ruby seemed to deflate a bit.

Vyr couldn’t help but sigh at the state Ruby was in. “Listen Ruby,” she started to explain, “I know that kind of stuff has a ton of importance back on Remnant, but here, it doesn’t mean that much. Do you want to know what my mother told me when I asked her about choosing ‘partners’?”

Vyr almost laughed at the curious look in Ruby’s eyes, ” Yennifer actually told me to look at their beds to decide my first time! She said if they had no bed then they were out. If they had a dirty bed then they were out too. When it came down to those with a messy or clean bed then I should pick the one I felt the best about.”

Seeing Vyr laughing at the memory and hearing the story, Ruby couldn’t help the small giggles that escaped her. While it wasn’t exactly what she wanted to hear, it did help calm the doubts that had been growing within her. Ruby went to ask about something else but was interrupted by Geralt cursing loud enough that even Vyr could hear him.

While Vyr was clearing away Ruby’s worries and misunderstandings, Geralt had been extracting information from Bea on what she knew of their new contract target.

Before they could ask what happened Geralt told them, “Ok then. Pack up. We’re gone.”

Geralt and Trey started to repack what little they had left lying around as Bea and Weiss questioned why they were leaving.

Walking over to the others to see what the problem was, Geralt stated in an annoyed voice, “We are leaving.”

“What, why?” Ruby asked, confused.

“We can’t help, so we are leaving.” Geralt said sternly.

“What do you mean we can’t help? What about the people?” Weiss asked.

“Look, we can come back later, but for now we need to leave. We are under prepared and out matched,” Trey explained seeing as Geralt was done with the conversation.

“What is it?” Vyr asked, having heard through the phone.

“Mula,” Geralt grunted and finished gathering his things. Hearing this vyr could only kiss her teeth and nod.

“What’s that?” Ruby asked lost as to why they needed to leave.

“Higher vampire, kinda like Bea. It’s not as bad as a true vamp, but it’s not good either,” Vyr explained.

“Why can’t we just kill it? Isn’t that what you all do?” Weiss asked for getting foul looks from everyone aside from ruby, Bea included.

“You need to understand something, Weiss. We may be monster hunters but we aren’t stupid. This isn’t some beowolf. It’s not so simple to find and kill it. With every hunt, no matter how small, Witchers put their lives on the line. Every contract could be the last and you just don’t know it yet,” Vyr said seriously

“You say that like hunters and huntress don’t do the same.” Weiss said in a huff.

“They do,” Vyr sighed, “but news flash, Weiss. You’re not even a hunter. YOU struggled with a boarbatusk in a classroom.” Vyr said with a bit of venom in her voice. Just because Weiss was mellowing out didn’t mean Vyr suddenly would be all friendly. Honestly, Vyr was starting to get tired of her naivety. Ruby is the same way, but you know what they say “when you’re in love you see everything with rose glasses”.

“What’s a boarbatusk?” Bea cut in, getting a nod from Trey as he wanted to know as well.

“A boar with a fair bit more strength. Not really dangerous if you’ve ever hunted boar. Plus it’s super weak against blows to its underside,” Vyr explained before continuing “look I’m not saying Grimm aren’t dangerous but they just don’t compare to what you’ll find here. Things here work differently. Here let me give you an example. Ruby, do you remember what I said was the most important part of a hunt?”

“Yeah? You said preperation makes the difference between a hunt and a suicide mission,” Ruby answered not expecting to be targeted all of a sudden.

“Good. Let me ask you something else. Do you remember why I said witchers have two swords?”

“Oh! Umm… Because one is for people and the other is for monsters. Right?”

“Correct again. The steel is for man and beast, and silver is for monsters. Now think about how those two questions are connected,” Vyr said with a small grin.

Ruby, seeing Vyr’s smile, knew she was trying to teach her something but couldn’t tell what. Thinking back over the questions she quickly figured out what Vyr meant. She couldn’t help but hang her head at the screen and said “I get it now.”

“Get what?” Weiss asked.

“Witchers use enchanted silver for monsters because that’s what hurts them. Steel isn’t nearly as effective,” Trey answered before looking at Vyr and saying, “I ȧssume it’s different where they live.”

Vyr nodded and replied, “anything can be used to kill grim. Even sticks and stones.”

“That’s not fair! Where was I supposed to get magic silver?” Ruby pouted.

“Me! Duh~.” Vyr said laughing.

“So even if we were to stay and fight-” Weiss started before getting cut off by Geralt, “we are leaving.”

“Right, but even if we were to stay we wouldn’t be able to fight in any way that was effective,” Weiss finished.

“No you should stay,” Vyr said as if she wasn’t just telling them it was a bad idea.

“Explain,” Geralt said with a sigh, as much as he wanted to tell Vyr off he knew she wouldn’t play around with witcher’s lives on the line. She probably had some plan in mind already.

“Ruby, on your saddle there is a large rolled up leather blanket, in it are some spare silver swords. You’ll have to make do, they’re all I had on hand,” Vyr explained. Ruby nodded with an expression of realization, she had been wondering why Vyr put that there. She had asked Geralt about it and he explained it was for winter travel, but the temperature rose quickly after they left the mountains on the first day, she never had a reason to use it.

“Just because they are armed properly now doesn’t change the fact we aren’t equipped for this. We didn’t pack for a higher vampire, I was lucky enough to have some spare oil still usable,” Trey stated, getting an approving grunt from geralt.

“Yes but you can make it. Since Buffy is there it’s safe to say this Mula is her target, so she’ll help.”

“I will?” Bea asked.

“Yes, you will. I’ll owe you one.” Vyr said seriously.

“Make it two.” Bea bargained knowing she had the advantage.

“One and I’ll forget about the dagger you stole from me.” Vyr countered.

“That dagger is mine. You gave it to me when we met.” Bea argued.

“Me throwing a dagger at your head is not me giving you a knife. That dagger was a gift from Geralt. I’m being nice and not shanking you with it. One, and then I’ll owe you one, and let you hold onto the dagger for a while, but you’d better be taking care of it,” Vyr said threateningly.

Bea knew she wasn’t joking and nodded not wanting to push Vyr to far. She did consider Vyr a friend after all. Geralt meanwhile was thinking about the knife, he remembered punishing Vyr for losing that knife. He had put a lot of effort in getting it made specifically and specially for her at a good smith. He must have punished her for a month after she lost it. It was one of the few bad memories he had with Vyr.

“Fine, so we’re staying. Where do we go from here? Bea was, and still is, our only lead.” Trey says before continuing “I hope you have an idea of something we can use.”

“Careful Trey. At this rate you might make full sentences, your new norm,” Vyr teases that he had stopped the one or two word replies.

Trey sends a scathing look at Vyr as Bea says, “I’m no witcher but Vyr did teach me a thing or two. As far as I could tell, the shitstain has been on a bender like no other.”

“Shitstain?” Geralt says coming back from his thoughts feeling slightly guilty about how he handled things.

“Look witcher. I’m no saint, and I don’t pretend to be. I don’t abstain from the thirst, but I don’t mutilate the bodies when I’m done either. That waste of blood might as well be feral after all it’s done.”

“Wait, you can abstain from drinking blood? I thought you were a vampire? Don’t you need blood to live?” Weiss asked while ruby looked unsettled at the thought.

“Not all Vampires need blood to live. Most higher vamps can live without the consumption of blood. It is something like alcohol to those that do drink it.” Trey sighed and answers, thinking ‘at this rate we might as well hold a class’.

“Why are you hunting this Mula anyway?” Geralt asks, trying to piece together this story.

“Hey I gotta go~. I can’t wait for y’all to make it back! Best of luck! Buh Bye~!” Vyr says quickly before ending the call. She looked around and sighed in relief thinking ‘I’m so screwed when they get back. Welp, good luck future me! You are gonna need it.’ She quickly gathered her things before heading back down the mountain, a bird in one hand, and a smoke in the other.

Back with those in Ard Carraigh, None of them were fooled by Vyr’s hasty retreat. So they all turned to the original recipient of the question.

“She really didn’t say anything about me huh?” Bea asked slightly hurt at the thought and implications behind it.

“If it means anything Vyr rarely talks about any of her “relationships”. Especially if they are more unique.” Trey says while shrugging as if he is used to it.

“I need you to swear you won’t repeat what i’m about to say.” Bea suddenly says in a pressing tone. This was the most serious that anyone here had seen here. Not even when Geralt was threatening her with death.

The witchers were obviously cautious of swearing to something but eventually came around. Normally they would shy away from such an oath. Oaths themselves weren’t something to be taken lightly. When it comes to swearing an oath, words in common or elderspeach, sorcerer or surf, all have a power of their own.

When everyone had sworn, Bea began to explain. She wasn’t some Bruxa that just runs around hunting other vampires for fun. She was actually an enforcer for the ancient clan Ammurun. When the worlds collided and the conjunction of spheres happened. Three major clans of vampires came to this world. The Ammurun, the Tdet, and the Gharasham, after they arrived the three clans decided to explore and make their own territories in this new world. The Ammurun clan went to the far off western continent, while the Tdet went east over the blue mountains, and the Gharasham clan made this section of the world their home. Bea’s “job” was to maintain relatively peaceful relations with the other clans as well as maintain communications between them. Mainly in dealing with the Gharasham clan. She was just one of a handful who did so.

The Mula that was killing people here was originally from the western continent and had come here after being on the run from the Ammurun clan. Bea was and still is under orders to capture or kill the mula.

This was to help keep the peace between clans as an unannounced former Ammurun vampire killing in Gharasham territory was bound to piss someone off. Much less when said vampire is mutilating those it drinks from.

Bea explains that the mutilation of a body is looked down on from other higher vampires due to it being something that lower vampires normally do. The act of lowering oneself in such a way is frowned upon heavily. The fact that someone is coming from elsewhere and doing it is just insulting and provocative. The whole reason the mula had been chased out of the western continent was because they were doing the same thing there.

“That’s great and all, but unless you have some way to tell where this mula is. We still need to track it,” Geralt says gruffly. Sure he had taken a more lenient approach to nonhumans he’s met on the “path,” but vampires were scarcely in the few exceptions he made. The thought of a vampire system of power and governance wasn’t one he wanted to dwell on.

Bea could only shrug, Her method relied on waiting near likely suspects until she got lucky. More often than not it would take weeks to months. This time, it had already been two months since she started.

Seeing that Bea didn’t have anything, Geralt sighed once more before saying, “Then we’re back where we started. Get some rest, we’ll head out at sundown. I don’t care what you do till then, but I recommend getting a meal in.”

“Do you mean me as well?” Bea asked cheekily, only to get a harsh glare as Geralt departed the room. She laughed seeing Ruby and Weiss blanch when they figured out her implied meaning.

Trey sat down and started setting up a simple portable alchemy kit. If they were going to hunt this mula he wanted to be fully prepared. Plus he wanted to keep an eye on Bea. Sure Vyr had vouched for her, but you never could be too careful.

As the girls were talking, Trey started to brew new potions and went over the things Bea had told them. He took most of it with a grain of salt, but if even half of it was true then he needed to record it. Who knows how this could help in the future.

Yeah he swore not to repeat what Bea said but Yeenefer had taught him that wording is important in magic. Just because he can’t repeat it, doesn’t mean he can’t write it down somewhere, or even multiple places. As long as he does not intentionally spread it, he should be relatively fine.. Sure, it was playing with fire, but this information could change a lot of things.