章節 609: Services

Within a dingy bar in Novigrad two finely dressed people were arguing with each other, much to the amusement of the feckless patrons.

Priscilla "We have to leave, can you not see the signs? Everyone else has already fled, yet you wish to stay here? Will you do the same as the city burns!?!"

Dandelion "You're being overly dramatic! Sure the Witch hunters seem more aggressive nowadays but I'm sure the storm's end is in sight."

Priscilla "I don't understand you! Why do you feel the need to remain here? Do you expect Geralt to come and rescue you when you're in trouble again?" she asks, causing Dandelion to frown.

Dandelion "Hey! I would never expect Geralt to use his valuable time to rescue me... It's just a hobby of his you see... Anyway, don't you see what we have here? This place could be magnificent if we put enough coin into it, my very own cabaret!"

Priscilla growls and pulls out a stack of papers, Dandelions eye almost bulging out of their sockets as he sees what they are.

Dandelion "Oi-wowowow! How did you get those!" he quickly asks.

Priscilla smirks, "You sleep like a corpse, it isn't hard to take a gander at your mail. Look, we don't have to leave permanently, but it isn't safe right now... We can go visit Kaer Morhen, like Zoltan keeps saying in his letters."

Dandelion crosses his arms and looks conflicted, Priscilla continues to sweeten the deal. "We'll meet everyone again, even those two that Geralt had been looking for." she says pointedly, not daring to utter their names due to them being sought after, well, at least for Ciri.

Dandelion finally cracks, "Fine! But once we've had our fun I want to come back here and make this the greatest establishment in the city, with your help." he says smugly.

Priscilla quickly nods, "Ok. But we must be leaving swiftly, tomorrow morning." she states.

Elsewhere :

Reima was sitting in a bakery with Solaire, both sipping some Spider Cider courtesy of Muffet who was the owner of the establishment.

Solaire "I must say, I wasn't expecting any of these... Spider Products be very appetising."

Reima shrugs, "Muffet calls them Spider Donuts, Spider Tea and more just for the branding... And the fact that spiders make them, it'd be rather disgusting and cannibalistic if they added real spiders to them." he says with a laugh.

While they converse Risryn walks in looking for someone, eventually spotting Reima and walking over.

Solaire "Jolly good day miss Risryn!" he greets happily, Risryn nodding at him in return.

Reima "You looking for someone?" he asks, dreading his break being interrupted.

Risryn "I would like to discuss a coup-"

Muffet walks over, her three pairs of arms all carrying some kind of confectionery. "Excuse me, this is a bakery, it'd be rude if you didn't buy something first before making yourself at home." she says, giving a gentle smile to Risryn.

Reima "Cut the act Muffet, you're the most stingy person I've ever met... I'll take a another Spider Cider for Risryn." he says with a sigh.

Risryn nods at the Humanoid spider and sits at their table, "Thank you for the drink." she says, slowly grasping her mask and gracefully taking it off.

Solaire "It's a shame you have to hide your face Miss Risryn, works of art should see the sun, and in turn be seen." he compliments."

Risryn ignores Solaire as Muffet sets down her drink in-front of her, Reima flicking a Remi into one of her free hands. "I wish to discuss the construction atop the mountain with you."

...

Reima "Something wrong with the Chaos Covenenats new building?" he asks, confused.

Risryn shakes her head, "No, I just wish to create one for the training of new Prospects... On the otherwise of the mountain top."

...

Reima "Why? Why does it need to be atop a mountain and why do you need to train more Prospects?" he asks, the limited amount of masks preventing the creation of anymore.

Risryn "As I'm sure you already know, some Prospects wish to permanently rid themselves of their masks. Having spent centuries wearing my own, I can understand the sentiment, this, however, would mean we'd have vacant masks available for use."

Reima slowly nods, "Uh huh... And where's the mountain come into this?"

Risryn "As much as I don't like to admit it, the Guides knew how to train Prospects, the place where we'd first embark on the journey would be below the mountain where the shrine sat. We'd be forced to climb the treacherous path without food, nor water. We'd also be stripped of our clothing, forcing us to travel the freezing path naked and vulnerable."

Reima "Sounds like a good way of finding who's determined to succeed and whose not."

Risryn nods, "It is, though only twenty percent reach the top, forty percent giving up and the other twenty dying on the mountain. Becoming frozen monuments to those that'd failed." she says gravely, remembering the horrified expressions on the bodies as she walked past them.

Reima "And you wish to recreate this brutal method of training?" he asks, the look on her face not making the suggestion very appealing.

Risryn "Yes, and no. The mountain isn't as high or perilous as the one the Guides had used, nor the weather as cold. This would prevent casualties while also allowing those worthy of the mask to succeed. Plus, I wish to have special training equipment made to assist in the new Prospects tutelage... Eventually, I'd like to give up my own mask." she says with a sad smile.

Solaire "What's stopping you? Ichor has the strength to defend itself even without your might, you've struggled enough from what I've heard and seen... Perhaps you are owed the rest?" he asks.

Risryn shakes her head, finishing her drink and putting her mask back on, "I wish I could, but my duties to the Prospects and this city are not finished. Nor is my promise to you, Reima." she says, standing up. "So what is your final decision? Will you allow my venture?"

Reima nods, "Yeah, but try not to force anyone into taking up the masks. I know you won't but it's an important responsibility that could go to some peoples heads." he says, waving at her as she leaves.

Solaire and Reima spend a couple more minutes relaxing, before getting up to leave...

Muffet stops them in the door though, "Might this servent receive a tip for her excellent service?" she says with a grin.

Reima shakes his head and chuckles, "Yeah, I'll be sure to tip you when I see this "Excellent service""

Solaire however tosses a Remi at her, "The food was delicious, thank you Miss Muffet." he says before leaving.