It’s the new year, and I’m already launching into some Witcher tales. I hope 2021 is an improvement for us all.
This story was originally going to star Caligarus, but maybe I’ll do a near death by cliff fall for all three.
Zvonimir & Caligarus. Content warning for vomiting.
Zvonimir was unlucky. That had to be it.
That fickle intangibility that humans so often blamed their misfortune on. That complicated thing that both relied on one's actions and acted completely in spite of it. That thing that Zvonimir had never believed in once had to be the reason behind the sudden downturn in his life.
The sky drifted further away as Zvonimir fell. He thought back to the research that brought him here and the contract that would now go unfulfilled — the warnings that would never delivered. And once his mind settled on Caligarus and Avitamis, a small wry smile curled his lips. Perhaps, if he was lucky, those two would find him bent and broken. They would recover his sword and his spells, and they would give him an honourable burial. Perhaps, perhaps... But it might have been too much to ask.
As he fell, he could feel the venom still making its way through his body. It burned around the entry wound near his stomach. In fact, that very spot felt as if he had been branded. Even breathing now brought notthing but a shred of misery. Maybe his luck would turn back in his favour and he would be unconscious before his body hit the ground. His eyes began to drift closed but only snapped open once a sharp whistle sounded through the air. It was harsh and almost unnatural. Zvonimir had little time to ponder on it. A wide shadow passed over him, and his eyes trailed to follow it. Only... they didn't stop moving. His eyes rolled to the back of his head as the pain hit a fever pitch. The toxicity in his body was too high, and he could feel the clutches of faintness easing towards him.
A new pain joined soon. Sharp talons pierced his back and into his organs. It was enough to jolt him back into the world. Blood spilled from his mouth and down towards the jagged rocks. The massive creature sank a foot when new weight jointed. Dizzily, Zvonimir attempted to lift his head. He was only successful when a hand cupped his cheek and turned his attention.
"Cali....garus...?"
"You look worse than usual," came the grim attempt at humour.
Caligarus thumbed down Zvonimir's bottom lid before shaking their head. They made a motion with their hand, and Zvonimir felt the effects of Axii flow over his mind. However he could have met his end, at least he knew a moment of peace before all went dark.
-----
When he awoke, it was to the sound of hushed voices. One was Caligarus' usual drawl, but the other was punchy and elegant. Zvonimir attempted to open his eyes. Which was a trial onto itself. He attempted to let out a faint noise to let them know he was awake, but the sound died in his throat. His entire body felt heavy, useless. The Axii couldn't have been that strong, certainly not.
"I believe your friend is awake," said the eloquent voice.
Measured, heavy footsteps, and suddenly, Caligarus was cupping Zvonimir's neck. "His pulse is steady at least. Finally." They turned away. "I can't thank you enough."
"I'm sure you could manage. My, my. I do have my hands full with you Witchers."
"Perhaps you could open your own practice. You'd make a killing."
The other speaker laughed, and it was reassuring. Zvonimir felt it in his chest, and it lessened the pressure in his mind only a little.
"Cagli..." He attempted, but his tongue was heavy. The word slurred in his mouth.
Caligarus shook their head before lowering him back down onto the bed. "You need more rest."
"Buh..." It was useless, but Zvonimir's instinct told him to resist whatever this was. Had he been drugged? Charmed?
His hand slid down the length of Caligarus' arm, and it was all too easy for him to succumb to the rest that overtook him. His eyes filled with darkness for the briefest second. He was out immediately after.
-----
Rising the second time was far easier. In fact, he felt completely energised! He placed a hand on his head and sat up without trouble. All of his arm had been stripped and cleaned. The pieces had been stacked and prepared for him on a nearby bench. At the furthest end of the bench sat Caligarus, who had been scraping down a root of ginger.
"Where are we, Caligarus?"
The Ox Witcher halted their task; their eyes swung over to Zvonimir, gaze intense. He licked his lips without thinking. Dry and flecked with blood. He made a face before looking towards the ground. He raised his hand to touch his lips and saw that his entire left hand had been bandaged.
"What...?"
"And here, I thought I was going to be regaled with the tale of what happened to you," Caligarus explained. They bent forward to grab a few stray pieces of ginger. They dropped the root scraps into a basket before grabbing it and standing. "I've never seen you come out so terribly."
"The- the Ekhidna, did you...?"
"We found her," Caligarus added, "and you."
We. Zvonimir looked around and then scented the air. There was no sign of the other person still around, but there was the lingering smell of herbs. Powerful, that... He looked to Caligarus, and they extended to him a two-toned potion. It was red mixing with honey yellow. Smelling it brought no offense, but even still, he shot a reluctant look to Caligarus.
"I'm not going to poison you. I need you alive."
"Funny. You typically don't need anything of me, but."
Zvonimir stopped the token protest before downing the potion in a single pull. He was almost immediately winded. His sinuses cleared up at the same time his breath was taken away. He reached out, and Caligarus knelt down in front of him. He gripped his hand on their armoured shoulder and held on as tight as he could as a literal nerve-wracking pain built up. It charged up from the soles of his feet to the roots of his hair. He sucked in a pained breath as he started to shake.
"Shit..."
"He warned me it would be powerful, but it's going to purge all the poison from you."
"Oh, it's going to do more than—" Zvonimir seized as the sudden gag nearly blinded him.
Caligarus, quick with their senses, began to pull him to his feet. He went without issue. Walking didn't bring any further discomfort, but the second heave of his body made him feel even more lightheaded. By the time they were near a pile of dead leaves and weeds, Zvonimir was ready to unburden his body of both toxin and organ. He dropped down to his hands and knees and gave up all that his body wanted to expel. Caligarus was kind enough to kneel down and tie his hair back.
Zvonimir heard the dying whimper of something and prayed to every force and being that it was him. When he opened his eyes, he saw something bruised coloured and writhing in his sick. He regarded it with a flat, teary stare.
"A parasite," he breathed. "Joy."
"Do you remember what else you fought?" Caligarus asked as they produced a tiny hemp bag from their side.
Zvonimir watched almost disdainfully as they collected the thing and dropped it into the bag. "What are you planning on doing with that?"
"Consider it payment for saving your life." Caligarus tucked away the bag before sighing and dropping their hands to their thigh. They looked over to Zvonimir. "That's what I've been told to say."
"By. Whom?"
"The one who did the saving. Truly, in this case. I merely hauled your almost corpse to a safe location." They reached out to grab onto him and help him stand once again.
Zvonimir felt weak in the legs and empty in the stomach, but otherwise, he felt perfectly fine for someone who just wretched several generations of eating. Caligarus pulled them away from the dry brush before setting it all ablaze with Igni.
"Who was here earlier, Cali?" Zvonimir asked as they headed back to the small domicile.
"A friend. Someone who I had great fortune of running into while I was out." They looked to him from the corner of their eye. "And you haven't answered me yet."
Zvonimir took in a deep breath, ready to fire the sentiment back at them, but he knew that it would be no use. Fighting Caligarus about their vagueness and mystery had about as much purpose as yelling at a tree for growing its bark. He waited until he was sitting again before finally explaining,
"I went there because I was told that fishermen and such had been attacked by a terrible she-beast. Based on their testimonies, I had been prepared for a fight with a siren and maybe, perhaps, an Ekhidna. But there was something in the forest."
"A cursed one?"
"Perhaps, I never saw it. No matter what I did, it struck with such a savage ferocity that by the time I saw the Ekhidna, I." Zvonimir stopped short and frowned deeply. He wasn't so detached from humanity that he didn't know what shame was. He licked the inside of his cheek, his gaze unfocusing as he thought to the first moment he saw the Ekhidna. "I was already dead."
The air between them went dead. He nodded his head slowly before closing his eyes and balling his hand into a fist. He thumped it down against his thigh. A harsh sigh escaped through his nose. When he opened his eyes again, he stared at Caligarus both annoyed and focused.
"Tell me you finished the thing."
Caligarus nodded somberly. "It would have been easier with help, but I knew you needed to be tended to." They leaned against the small counter and crossed their arms. "So, no hint at all?"
"None. Unfortunately."
"That is unfortunate, hmm." Caligarus looked at the wall ahead of them. "And I didn't see anything when I returned... I did collect on the contract, however. There were two going at once for this thing, and I managed to talk your clients into believing that you were no coward nor were you dead."
They dug into their pocket and held out his Griffin medallion. Zvonimir felt at his neck and realised that he was truly naked without it. He accepted the pendant and set to work refastening it around his neck. Caligarus continued,
"Seeing to the beast that did this to you would have been a suitable step in my revenge, but for now, I'll stay to cursing it blindly." They pushed away from the counter then. They moved to a small table by the window and put together something modest to eat.
"That beast that grabbed me when I fell..."
Caligarus was quiet for a beat. "A Royal wyvern," they explained.
Zvonimir stared at their back, incredulous at the idea. "You—! You tamed such a beast?"
"Tamed would be a stretch. I merely offered it a trade." Zvonimir turned. They crossed the room before setting the bread and meat in Zvonimir's lap. The plate was chipped and a speck of dust had hardened on the edge. He missed the details for he was still staring up at his companion. "Some beasts can be haggled with. It's usually far easier if you know what they're after."
"And what... did you offer it?"
"Its territory back. It and the Ekhidna were rivals for that spot." They spoke with an air of confidence and certainty. Even still, Zvonimir thought they were mad. "Anything else, however, I wouldn't know."
"Oh, of course." Zvonimir began to eat.
Seeing this, Caligarus fetched their waterskin for him and turned towards the door. "I'll be back before the afternoon. I've yet another trade to make."
"Are you going to meet this 'friend' of yours?"
Caligarus paused at the door and looked over their shoulder. "I am."
Pointless to ask, he reminded himself before readying another bite of his food. "Tell this friend I said 'thank you.'"
"I will along any other long-winded vows of gratitude you wish to make."
"Sod off..."
Caligarus smirked before heading out the doors with a slight wave. Zvonimir watched their retreated back, frustrated that he couldn't go along to unravel this mystery himself. Once they turned the corner and exited his vision, he shifted his focus to the brush still burning in his line of sight. Maybe his luck was mending little by little. Of course, he had to pay in blood before that happened. He ate with a burdened air of gratitude. Well, if that was the case, at least he was still alive to pay that debt. One more day bought, one more ounce spilled. Such was the life of a Witcher.
Original list here, and I’m tracking my progress here.
Day 7: Caligarus: “yes I did, what about it?”.
The kikimore chittered and writhed before hastily retreating back into their burrows. Caligarus stood with their back straight, the carnage behind them. They turned their head slightly to the right to look over the shoulder and watched as the kikimore left. As they waited, they could feel the swamp water creeping over their boots. The mud slowly followed, dirtying the tip of their sword as they went, threatening to cake into the fine details of their boots. Still, they didn't move.
It was only when the last of the kikimore retreated that they heard a new sound: the metallic clanking of plate mail. They turned their head again, this time to face the incoming guards. Caligarus' brows quirked up a bit. Their nostrils flared. It was going to rain; the scent of it was on the horizon.
The foremost guard wasn't important, not at all, but he was scowling. In an impressive display of acrobatics and control, he kicked a leg over the horse. His other foot stayed in the stirrup, leaving him to stand next to the horse as it rode along. He gave the horse's reins a sharp tug, and the creature whinnied in displeasure. The man dropped to his feet and stormed over towards Caligarus. There was another horse riding up behind them, but Caligarus was focused on the angry man before them.
He gestured to the armoured bodies behind the witcher. His expression was enfuriated. "Did you do this!?" he shouted, venom in his words, hatred in his breath.
Caligarus feigned perking up before regarding the corpses behind them lazily. With a slow nod, they said, "Yes, I did." They paused and looked back to the guard. He unsheathed his sword. He didn't stop. "What about it?"
They knew it wasn't what he wanted to hear, but truthfully, they had enough of men drunk on their own power. They knew that it was part of the job, that humans were bound to go wild from their own authority more often than not. But sometimes, that truth got to them. Dug under their skin.
The man attacked with a cry. He swung his sword deftly with one hand. Caligarus rebounded his strike with a wide arc of their own. They gripped the hilt with both hands as the guard did his. The two swords clashed; the man was gritting his teeth in an attempt to hold back most of his rage.
"I'll kill you," he promised. "I knew Witchers were nothing but evil."
"Me?" Caligarus laughed in his face. They stepped to the side and pirouetted. They slashed their sword down against the length of his armour. They didn't want to kill. Not yet, if they didn't have to, but they were stalling for time.
The guard surprised them. He staggered forward a step, but then he spun backwards. His strike went wide, and Caligarus' dodge was nothing more than a twitch of their own instinct. Had they been clumsier, that could have really done some damage. They danced backwards, allowing the man to regain himself before taking him head-on again. He mixed his slashes with well-timed jabs. While none of the strikes landed, they served their purpose to interrupt Caligarus' rhythm.
The second horse — a third horse — soon joined the first. One of the mounts snorted. Wet footsteps soon drew closer. Caligarus could barely hear it over the vibrating clang of metal.
"Carac," the new voice ordered. "Enough."
The one named Carac stopped with a jerk. He bared his teeth at Caligarus in a hateful grimace. The witcher merely met him with a cold stare. Begrudgingly, the guard pulled away. Caligarus nodded to him and took a step back. They regarded the two new figures that soon joined them.
Once more, the bodies were indicated. "Did you do this?"
A short nod. "I did."
"On what grounds?"
"They were behind the attacks. The illnesses that struck a nearby hamlet was their doing as well."
"Have you any proof?"
Caligarus jerked their chin behind the newcomers. "My bag is there on the ground. Might have gotten buried in the struggle."
The more impressive of the pair, clearly the head of one position or another, nodded to the silent figure behind him. Once that guard was off, he looked back to Caligarus. "We don't take very well to justice being doled out on our behalf, Master Witcher. For your sake, I hope that your story holds true."
"I've no reason to lie. No interest. I was hired to kill monsters and so I did."
The man gave a huff and lifted his chin slightly. "So you did," he said, a touch of disbelief in his voice.
"Sir," came the raspy, almost disused voice. The third guard joined their group, and he held out the open bag.
Caligarus waited as the three of them looked at the contents within. Carac, the infuriated guard that Caligarus had been fighting, paled. The superior only nodded his head. "I see."
They must make them tough around here. Finally, a man who seemed worthy of his power. He gave a motion with his hand, and the bag was sealed.
"I stand by what I said, Master Witcher, but your services are to be highly lauded."
"Thank you."
"We will leave these bodies here and retrieve them in some time. We've some affairs to settle on our end."
"Understood."
"For you, I see to your pay myself, but I'm afraid I must expel you from our noble city. You are not to return until these bodies are buried and then some summers after."
"And if someone has need for a Witcher? ... Sir."
"Then I pray to god that you do not cross my sight." He nodded to his subordinate once again, and he was off to retrieve Caligarus' pay. After the coin had been once more counted and changed hands, the superior continued, "I will let you go first. We will not follow your trail."
"All the better." Caligarus looked around to the three guards before giving the faintest smile to Carac. With a turn of their head, they sheathed their sword and stalked towards the road. Faintly, they could hear aggravated chittering. They made a motion with their left hand, and the chittering subsided, heading once more underground. "Take care."
Original list here, and I’m tracking my progress here.
Day 4: Caligarus + Zvonimir: “that didn’t stop you before”.
Caligarus watched as Zvonimir paced back and forth. He had an open tome in his left hand; the fingers of his right hand were tightly wound in his hair. He was muttering to himself in Elder Speech, trying to decipher an old spell. When that failed, he switched languages, and then again when that one didn't work. The tome sparked to life and then snapped closed. Zvonimir startled to a stop as the tome tumbled out of his hand. He stared at it for a moment before laughing in disbelief.
"The caster is from Zerikannia," he replied triumphantly, both hands raking nervously through his hair.
Caligarus lifted up. "That's in...?"
"The Northern Realms." Zvonimir smoothed his hands down to the back of his neck. Caligarus looked up to the ceiling and hummed. "If I can get the cipher that goes to this tome, we have access to a treasure trove of magic." He turned to look at Caligarus, his eyes wide, intent. "We could change the futures of witchers as we know it."
"You could. I'd just help."
"If you wanted to." A silence hung between them. Zvonimir began walking over towards Caligarus. "You should want to."
He leaned closer towards his companion, placing one hand on the arm rest and the other on the back of the chaise lounge. Caligarus sat up right, but they met his eyes evenly.
"And why's that."
"Because this could put us on even ground with the others. Even if we secret ourselves away, we have more resources to protect yourselves."
"More reason for civilians to campaign against us and call us freaks."
"They started this path for us. We're just working with what we have. Besides." Zvonimir backed away and loomed over his companion. "It's not as if we'll use it against them."
Caligarus stared up at Zvonimir quietly for a few seconds. "And what if the sorcer, sorceress — whoever — objects?"
Zvonimir laughed. Whatever intensity was building within him began to leave. "That didn't stop you before."
Caligarus hummed and shrugged lazily. "You're right." They stood up. "This'll be better than any contract we pick up on the way."
Zvonimir smiled and backed away, going to sweep up the book. "We'll pick up horses on the way so we don't lose our steeds. I'll save a teleport for our return trip."
"Is your teleport, hm, functional at this point?"
"It'll get us close enough," Zvonimir said vaguely as he exited the room. "Get your affairs in order and meet me outside."
Caligarus watched and then laughed lowly. "This ought to be interesting."-
This prompt popped up on my dash, and I had to jump into it. Poor Zvonimir. He’s actually a lot of fun to mess with.
Caligarus & Zvonimir & Avitamis
Hearing the soft footsteps approaching the table, both Avitamis and Caligarus looked up from their plates. Caligarus smiled, all teeth and clear amusement. Avitatmis wasn't as overt; her smile was more reserved, smaller, but the smug delight was there as well. Zvonimir groaned before stepping over the bench and plopping down next to Caligarus. He dug his fingers into his hair, his elbows on either side of the plate in front of him.
"You look like shit," Caligarus said kindly.
Zvonimir curled forward, shoulders hunched. "Please don't talk so loud..." He let out another miserable groan. Avitamis shook her head, clicking their tongue sympathetically. Caligarus rolled their eyes before reaching over to rub Zvonimir's back. "What did I do last night?"
There was a pause. Caligarus and Avitamis shared a look. A silent conversation. Avitamis' lips twitched up in a corner. She shrugged lazily with her left shoulder. Caligarus licked their teeth slowly before huffing out a quiet laugh.
"Aha. Well. Do you want the long version or the short version?"
Zvonimir pulled his hands down and looked up at Caligarus warily. "...Which will I survive, Caligarus?"
"Neither," Avitamis interjected, her voice soft and sweet. She held her fork loosely between her middle finger and thumb. "But the long version is funnier."
Caligarus patted Zvonimir on the back heavily before pulling their hand away. "Don't worry about it right now. Just eat. Come. Avita caught us something."
It said something about his current state that Zvonimir didn't ask what exactly the catch was or how long they had already been down here. In fact, he didn't reply at all beyond a tortured grimace before setting his attention on his food. The meat was cooked just right; the fruits seemed fresh, though not from this immediate area. Zvonimir ate slowly at first, but with each bite, he realised he had a powerful hunger. He sank forward and commited the taste of food to his memory. It was all that mattered: the savoury flavours, the sweet juices. He chugged his water without a second thought; he ate without pause.
Caligarus refilled his cup with water; Avitamis got up to retrieve the cutting board of meat and the bowl of fresh fruit. Zvonimir continued on a ravenous tear, and it was then that the other two witchers noticed the curious change in their companion. Their pupils dilated, seeing the flash of fang and the textured tongue that licked at his lips. They looked at each other again, trying to find acknowledgement in each other's eyes about what they saw. Their attention was torn away when Zvonimir pulled back with an uncomfortable groan. He had the back of his hand placed against his mouth. His plate was empty save the sauce and fruit stems left behind.
Caligarus hesitated a moment before reaching out to rub the smaller man's back. "Please don't get sick. You need your dignity."
Zvonimir muttered something profane in Elder Speech. Caligarus raised a brow, hearing their name while Avitamis gave a soft whistle in response. Zvonimir placed his free hand flat against the table and started to stand.
"Augh. I need to rest."
Avitamis stood quickly and walked around the table. "Let us help you then."
Caligarus rose as well and helped keep Zvonimir steady as he stepped over the bench. "You two go ahead. I'll clean up here."
"How domestic," Zvonimir mumbled before lurching with a heave. Caligarus immediately held him steady while Avitamis swooped in to carry his weight. "By Melitele... what did I do."
"We'll tell you in a minute, won't we?" Caligarus spoke as they ruffled Zvonimir's hair.
Avitamis gave a sympathetic hum before rubbing his back. With that, they pulled away from Caligarus, and Avitamis began guiding Zvonimir away from the table. He walked with his eyes closed, completely relying on Avitamis for guidance. She moved slowly, giving him enough time to gather himself.
"Where to, sickly?"
Zvonimir snorted and opened his eyes, staring off forward. After a few seconds, he said, "Over there, on the chaise lounge."
Avitamis laughed gently. "That dusty thing?"
"The chaise, Avitamis. Not the judgement."
Another laugh. "Yes, sir."
Avitamis deposited Zvonimir onto an emerald green chaise lounge. He curled onto himself immediately, but the groan of relief he gave pushed away any concern Avitamis may have had. Instead, she let out a long sigh and then sank down to the floor in front of the chaise. She leaned her back against it and stared up at the ceiling. After a few minutes, Caligarus walked over and sat down across from Avitamis.
"So. How're you feeling?"
Zvonimir opened his eyes and glared through squinted eyes. "Like death reborn. Well then? Out with it."
Caligarus looked over to Avitamis and smiled. "He really wants to know."
Avitamis shrugged and let out a dramatic sigh. "Let me know if I need to dig a grave."
Zvonimir paled and sat up quickly. "Huh!?"
Avitamis leaned her head back. "Because you're clearly going to die of embarrassment."
Zvonimir bristled visibly, and Caligarus leaned forward. They braced their elbows on their thighs. "You remember how you told us your spell would have the best results only if you have a clear mind?"
Hesitation. "Yes...?"
"Let's just say we learned a lot about you last night," added Avitamis, gaze returning to the ceiling.
"I can't say what was on your mind, but I think you were feeling... hm. How to say politely?"
Zvonimir moved quickly, standing up on top of the chaise lounge with balled fists. His face was turning a fine shade of red. The other two witchers watched him from the floor.
"Zvoni—" Caligarus began, but before he could add much to the thought, Zvonimir's were already moving.
The Elder Speech was hasty but fluent. Flickers of green and white smoke filled the air, and after the incantation, Zvonimir was gone. Avitamis squinted her eyes and waved a hand through the air to dismiss the smoke.
"He's going to have to come back sometime," Caligarus said.
"I'm going to go take a contract and head back home. I'll see you two in some days," Avitamis replied, standing up.
"Safe travels. Take Seelie with you just to be safe."
"Will do." With that, Avitamis headed towards the armory to grab her equipment.
Caligarus let out a big yawn and stretched out on the floor. They placed their hands behind their head. It was only a matter of time before Zvonimir faced their inevitable embarrassment, but at least they were down on so he could endure it with some sense of privacy.
Taken from this list of bed sharing prompts.
Zvonimir x Caligarus.
"Well, this is rather indecent, isn't it?"
"Hm?"
Caligarus paused and turned back to look at Zvonimir, who was still standing in the doorway. Zvonimir had a scowl on his face as he surveyed their room. When his answer wasn't forthcoming, Caligarus decided to take a look around for themself.
The room was beautifully decorated with all the pomp and lavishness that high society demanded. There was a small corner dedicated to a modest alchemy table and a wall high bookcase filled with text. At the very center of the room was a large fur rug and a smattering of golden petals. That was curious, but Caligarus stowed away their curiosity for now. Continuing, they set their eyes on a tall bed thick with covers and pillows. A glass door led out to the balcony, and on the adjacent wall were pictures and small dressers, upon which were set a variety of flowers in vases. Caligarus' right brow cocked up sharply, and they looked back to Zvonimir again. He was already staring at them, and upon seeing their silent bemusement, he clicked his tongue and stepped into the room.
"There's only one bed. Surely, they think better of us."
Caligarus turned their head, watching their companion step further into the room and drop his bag onto the bed. Zvonimir placed his hands on his hips, looking around more critically before shaking his head sharply.
"Shame on them, shame on this."
"What's wrong with the setup?" Caligarus stepped backwards to close the door. Afterward, they closed the distance between them and the other witcher. "It's just a bed."
"Just a—" Zvonimir turned his head and stared at Caligarus incredulously. "Just a bed. That's the problem, you see! Do they think we Witchers lack modesty or a need for privacy? It's rather forward of them to assume I would want to share a room with you." He paused and turned his head away; he fanned away any questions with two sharp flicks of his hand. "Not that there's anything wrong with you. You're fine enough."
"Then why the fuss? I'm not sure how you Griffins play, but at my keep, there was no shame in sharing a bed or space with our fellows. After all we've endured to get to this point, it's a trifle thing, isn't it?"
Zvonimir was silent for a long while. Caligarus set their bag down onto the floor and turned lazily to sit down on the bed. They looked up at Zvonimir as he sighed slowly.
They added, "I promise I'll stay on my side of the bed."
"....Fine, I guess," he conceded finally. "We just shouldn't do anything untoward while together lest they find evidence."
Caligarus smiled lazily, the tips of their teeth peeking through a part between their lips. "Bashful, are you? Or are you already thinking lewd things?" When Zvonimir snapped towards them suddenly, they raised their hands in surrender, but they laughed jovially all the same. "I jest; I jest, of course." They lowered their hands to the bed and leaned their weight back. "I've no other plans than to use this bed to rest. So long as you don't mind me returning at a late hour, that is. You'll hardly know I'm even here."
Zvonimir frowned for a different reason entirely this time. "And why would you be out late?"
"Please." Caligarus tipped their head and huffed a brief laugh. "As if you're the only one who has plans here." They drew in a small breath and let it out in a carefree sigh. "But don't worry. I won't interfere with your machinations. I've my own business to attend to."
Zvonimir stared at Caligarus for a long while before stepping closer to the witcher. He reached out and idly fiddled with their medallion. His gloved thumb traced the geometric snout of the ox before sliding up to the shapely horns. He hummed before tapping against the ox's forehead. He flicked his gaze up to Caligarus'. He tucked the witcher's medallion under their tunic.
"Don't get in trouble," was all he said finally as he pulled away. He began removing his gloves. "And don't make a mess."
"Aye, aye." Caligarus looked down to the ground, their head tipping the other direction.
"And keep an eye on the time. Dinner starts at sundown."
Caligarus raised a hand lazily. "Will do." They pulled up to their feet with a soft huff of effort. They nudged their bag underneath the bed with a foot before heading towards the bedroom door once again. "I'm off then."
"See you in a bit."
Caligarus hummed in acknowledgement as they exited. The door clicked behind them, and Zvonimir glanced the way they left. He waited in the silence before looking over his shoulder towards the bed. He warmed at the thought of them sharing an intimate space. He loosely covered his mouth with one hand and looked away, feeling as bashful as Caligarus had teased.
"Fool," he muttered under his breath before continuing to undress down to his second layer. He couldn't think on this any further. He had things he needed to do and prepare for.
In spite of all that, he wasn't ready for that night.
The hours passed in a haze of conversation for Zvonimir and combat for Caligarus. When it was time for dinner, Caligarus arrived ten minutes late, having needed to clean up well enough and change clothes to appear in polite company. The guests at the dinner table eyed them curiously as they strode through the door. Zvonimir kept a stern expression, but his shoulders relaxed slowly, belying his relief in seeing his companion. Caligarus looked around at everyone as they walked to their seat. They bowed shallowly.
"Apologies for my lateness. Business dragged on longer than I would have liked."
"You're still on time for the first course," a nobleman said, though his tone was... needling and accusatory when he stated it.
Caligarus withdrew their chair and took a seat next to Zvonimir. Under the table, they reached out to squeeze his thigh. To the nobleman, Caligarus gave a slow smile. It would have been handsome were it not for the edge of viciousness.
"Thank you for your care. I'll start eating now."
And it was good, the food. The company was middling as always. Zvonimir spoke confidently and often in broad strokes when people asked about their witcherly natures. It wasn't pertinent to the conversation at hand, but the nobles seemed so curious about the fact that they had two witchers from two different parts of the continent here together. There was scandal in the air, or so they assumed. Caligarus wiped their mouth and politely spoke up,
"Having two Witchers is a rarity indeed, and thus it should state the severity of your problem."
Some of the nobles paled. One or two politely cleared their throats. Zvonimir shot the other witcher a grateful look before continuing his speech. By the end of it all, it was hard to say whether the nobles had some newfound respect for the pair or if they found them more of a novelty. Caligarus hardly cared either way. They just wanted to head to their bedroom. The two witchers walked alone to their room, and once the door opened, Caligarus began to undress. Zvonimir startled and hurried his companion inside. He hurriedly shut the door behind them. Caligarus seemed unbothered.
"Finally. I can take a bath."
"I thought you already took one!"
Caligarus rolled their eyes tiredly. "A better one. A longer one. I still feel blood in every crease and on my thighs. I managed to wash away the worst of it all, but what remains is turning, augh, tacky. Help me with this, will you? Being tired is making me useless."
A sharp sigh. Caligarus stepped closer to help remove the garment that was keeping Caligarus restricted. He eyed the broad plane of his companion's back. He watched as they unbuttoned the tunic that remained, and his eyes widened slightly as the muscles were bared before him. When Caligarus bent down to remove their trousers, though, he snapped to life.
"Really! Here?"
Caligarus made a noise upon feeling a slap against their back. "Has being alone made you virginal? What are you complaining for?"
They quickly and easily stripped naked before gathering up their clothes and armour. Zvonimir all too quickly shoved the piece he held towards them when they turned. He pointedly kept his eyes up towards the ceiling. Caligarus watched him before laughing lowly, warmly. Zvonimir quickly glared at them, cheeks burning.
"Perhaps so..." they mused to themself. "I'll be more mindful then." With that, they turned towards the shared bathroom. "Forgive me if I take a while. I'll clean my armour and then myself. Do what you need before retiring."
"I will!" Zvonimir snapped, a bit too defensively.
He plucked nervously at his clothes before starting to undress as well. He took his time and dressed down until he was just in his small clothes. He cleaned up their shared space, though there was little for him to do. In the end, he kept himself busy by examining the flowers on the dressers. The petals looked thick, waxy almost, but they were real, surprisingly. He stroked one petal and then another. His thoughts ran away with him until he felt compelled to jot them down.
He lost himself in his notes, first about the flowers and then about the space around them. He wrote extensively about the local flora and fauna he had seen and compared them to others he had catalogued in his book. Before long, he was in front of the alchemy set, twiddling a lock of his hair around a finger. He only looked up when he heard footsteps in the room again.
Caligarus appeared now, drying off their hair and walking almost blindly towards the bed. They were in thin pants now — their chosen attire for sleeping, Zvonimir reckoned.
"My armour is drying, but it should be out of your way." They pulled the towel back and looked to Zvonimir, whose eyes suddenly snapped up to meet theirs. They smirked. "When you're ready."
"When I'm... Ah. Yes!" He shut his field book suddenly and stood up with entirely too much urgency.
He and Caligarus held each other's gaze. Caligarus laughed softly. "Careful now. Don't want you to have an accident."
"Hold your tongue for once, would you? I'm going now. Don't get into the bed wet."
Caligarus hummed in a way that was low, almost guttural. It was a noise Zvonimir hadn't heard humans, or whatever their kind constituted as, make before. He paused out of curiosity, but then he continued forward into the bathroom. He relaxed when he finally got into the bath, and Caligarus did do their part to dry as much as they could. Before they entered the bed, though, they grabbed Zvonimir's field book and took it with them. They flicked idly through the pages, marveling at the graphs drawn and the very studious notes scribbled down. Far better than anything they've ever written themself but nothing that escaped their understanding. They sank down against the mound of pillows as they read. When they heard Zvonimir's footsteps approaching, they didn't look away.
"Taking my things now?"
"It was out in the open. I just wanted to read your notes."
"... And?"
"They're fascinating." Caligarus gave an idle shrug of their shoulder. "But what else can I expect from the School of the Griffin?"
Zvonimir sniffed haughtily and asked, "Do they not read and write at your keep?"
Caligarus laughed. "Not often. Not like this. We know enough to be literate, but our methods are more... bestial, I suppose, than this." They closed the notebook and handed it over to Zvonimir, who took it protectively. "We rely on our witcher kin to be more civil."
The two looked at each other. Zvonimir noted how relaxed Caligarus was, how low and slow their voice was, how each word was starting to become more of a purr. He turned away, willing himself to calm, as he set the book down on the bedside table.
"Even the Cat?" Zvonimir asked sharply, diverting his feelings.
Caligarus laughed and placed their hands behind their head. "Even the Cat in a sense." They closed their eyes then and let out a steady sigh through their nose.
Zvonimir watched them before shaking his head. "Won't even help turn out the lights?"
Caligarus' lips quirked up, and they freed their right hand. With a lazy motion of their hand, they used Aard to blow out all the candle lights. Zvonimir clapped daintily with an indifferent expression on their face. Caligarus chuckled softly before placing their hand behind their head once more. Giving into his own tiredness, Zvonimir slid underneath the covers himself. He made himself comfortable and turned his back to his companion. He very nearly fell asleep at that moment, but then he felt a shift behind him. Caligarus rolled towards him and placed a hand on his hip. Zvonimir couldn't stop himself from shuddering in time.
"Do keep your musings to a minimum," Caligarus teased. "I'd like to sleep."
Zvonimir groaned in his embarrassment as Caligarus turned away. "Must you torment me then?" he muttered to himself. He then added louder, "Didn't someone promise to stay on their side?"
Caligarus laughed and rolled away, their back facing Zvonimir's. "It's in my nature and apologies—I’ll do better throughout the night. Good night, Zvoni."
Zvonimir rolled his eyes behind his lids and shook his head. "Good night, Cali."
❝Fate changes, Witcher, and we’re the ones to change it.❞
CALIGARUS | AUROCH SCHOOL
146 years • They/them • Brugge
You couldn’t sway me with sweet words or coin. When I fight, I fight like a beast, and I fight for no one.
Caligarus is a beast tamer and a proud one at that. They do not dally so much in the affairs of human or monster lives. But even with this thinking, they do take on their own fair share of contracts if not for an excuse to travel the world. They’ve had their share of unlikely companions, some of whom have come the form of feral wolves or endrega, and do their best to avoid paths that draw attention.
