The snowstorm bit harder as they crossed into the outskirts of the village, wind howling like a dying wolf across the rooftops. Cain huddled into Geralt's chest, not out of fear but because it was the first warmth he'd known since waking.
The Witcher didn't speak again for some time. He moved with that same ghost-silent stride Cain remembered from the games and books, stepping over uneven stones and ducking under broken beams as if it were second nature.
They passed shuttered homes, firelight flickering weakly behind closed windows. No one opened their doors. No one dared to look outside. Not with monsters roaming the night.
Cain, still aching and cold, tried to lift his head.
"Where are we going?"
Geralt's voice rumbled low. "Inn. The one with a door still standing."
Cain shivered, then coughed. "You're really Geralt. Of Rivia."
"You know my name?"
Cain tensed.
Damn. Think, Jasen—Cain. You can't let anyone know you're not from this world. That kind of knowledge gets you burned at the stake around here... or dissected.
"I... I heard it. In a story. From a traveler." He cleared his throat, trying to sound smaller, younger. "Said you were a monster hunter."
Geralt glanced down at him, curious—but didn't press.
When they reached the inn, the sign above the door creaked in the wind. The Thorn and Mare, painted in faded green. Geralt didn't knock. He kicked the door once, hard.
It opened. Begrudgingly.
A thick-armed innkeep blinked at the sight of the White Wolf and the half-naked child in his arms.
"Found him half-dead in the alley," Geralt said simply. "He's staying the night."
The innkeep opened his mouth, closed it again, and nodded like a man very aware of who he was dealing with.
Within minutes, Cain found himself in a small room by the hearth, wrapped in an itchy wool blanket and drinking something hot and vaguely herbal. Geralt tossed a few coins on the table and leaned against the wall, watching him.
"I've got questions," the Witcher said flatly. "What's your name, boy?"
Cain hesitated. Jasen Smith was dead.
"...Cain," he said finally, his voice steady.
Geralt tilted his head. "Just Cain?"
Cain nodded. "That's all I know."
He wasn't lying. Everything else—his old home, his old body, his old world—felt like a fading photograph. Cain was who he was now. And he had a feeling that name would carry weight in this world, sooner or later.
Geralt narrowed his eyes, studying him again. "You're not normal."
Cain blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Eyes. Golden. Unnatural. Even for elves. And your ears..." He pointed. "Rounded, but slightly pointed at the tip. Half-elf."
Cain swallowed.
"So what are you doing alone in the middle of a monster-ridden alley?"
"I don't remember," Cain lied. "I just woke up there. Cold. Hungry. Scared. I—"
Geralt held up a hand.
"Save it. You're lucky I was nearby. That thing was a drowner—but bigger. Mutated. Maybe a relic from the swamps. You would've been torn in two."
Cain shivered. "You saved me."
"Yeah. I tend to do that."
Then the Witcher straightened, adjusting the worn wolf medallion around his neck. "Winter's deep. Roads are closed. I'm heading back north. Kaer Morhen. You come with me. Learn something useful. Or you stay here and hope the next monster doesn't find you."
Cain blinked up at him.
"Wait... You're offering to take me with you?"
"I don't like mysteries. And you're a walking one. I figure I keep an eye on you, maybe find some answers. Or maybe..."
He didn't finish. He didn't need to.
Cain understood. This was a test. A lifeline. A door cracked open.
He could say no, hide in some village, struggle to survive... or go with Geralt and begin the long road to becoming something more.
His system chimed again.
[New Quest Received!]"Wolf's Path" – Accept Geralt's Offer.
Objective: Travel with Geralt to Kaer Morhen.
Rewards:– +1 Stat Point– Codex Entry: Kaer Morhen– Item: "Worn Witcher Training Tunic"
Penalty: Missed opportunity. The road to power begins here.
Accept? [Y/N]
Cain smiled faintly. His hand twitched beneath the blanket. Y.
Later That Night...
The snow fell harder as they rode out of the village on horseback—Geralt in front, Cain tucked in a fur cloak behind him, eyes wide as the wilderness opened around them.
Cain's thoughts raced.
He had a second chance.
A path into Kaer Morhen itself.
A legendary Witcher at his side.
And deep inside him... something old. Dormant. Waiting to awaken.
Elder Blood.
The White Frost would come.
But before that, he would rise.
[Quest "Fangs in the Snow" – Complete!]
Rewards Granted:– 1 Rare Equipment Chest [Open? Y/N]– Codex Unlocked: Monster Biology
You have survived your first night in the Continent. You are no longer prey. The hunt begins.
Time to see what this new world holds
[You have chosen to open: Rare Equipment Chest]
Processing reward... assessing threat level… matching realm resonance…
Chest Opened. Contents Revealed:
Rare Equipment Chest: Rewards
[Item: "Hunter's Edge" – Dagger of the Forgotten Realms]
Type: Weapon – Dagger
Origin: Dungeons & Dragons – Forgotten Realms
Rarity: Rare
Damage: 1d4+1 (Piercing)
Effect:
Backstab – +50% bonus damage when attacking unaware or flanked enemies.
Lightweight – Can be thrown with high precision. Returns to wielder's hand within 5 seconds.
Silent Death – Muffles the sound of a killing blow if the target dies in one hit.
Flavor Text:"Forged in the shadows of Skullport, this blade whispers no death, and its kiss is felt before it's seen."
Compatibility:
Can be used without magical knowledge
Effective against humanoid and beast targets
Limited against high-tier monsters without oil or poison coating
[Codex Upgrade: "Monster Biology – Beginner Edition"]
Type: Knowledge – Codex Expansion
Effect:
Unlocks detailed entries for the following monster types:
Drowners
Ghouls
Rotfiends
Nekkers
Includes information on: Known weaknesses, Vital organs ,Hunting patterns
Ingredients harvested after kill
Flavor Text: "Knowledge is half the sword. The other half is not being eaten."
[Consumable: Potion of Minor Vitality (x1)]
Type: Healing Potion
Effect: Restores 50% health over 10 seconds, Grants slight resistance to cold for 5 minutes
Origin: Multiversal Synthesis – Custom Item
Flavor Text: "Even the smallest flame can hold back death's chill for a while."
System Message:These items have been added to your Inventory.Inventory can be accessed mentally or via [Status Window > Inventory]
Codex will auto-update with each new monster Cain encounters or defeats.
Inventory Updated.
Cain's Thoughts
"Dagger from the Forgotten Realms… damn. I used to run Rogue builds with stuff like this. It's not a Witcher blade, but it's light, fast, and deadly. Perfect for someone my size."
He held the dagger up when no one was watching, the metal blackened and lined with faint runes. It hummed softly in his palm, as if it remembered blood.
"The potion… basic, but useful. I won't waste it. And the Codex—hell yes. That's going to keep me alive."
He glanced toward Geralt's sleeping form beside the fire, the old Witcher already snoring lightly.
"This world's brutal, but I'm not starting from zero. I've got tools. I've got knowledge. And I've got time."
User Soul: Jasen Smith (Reincarnated)System Integration: Active – Soul-Bound Unique
🔹 Core Info
Name: Cain
Age: 8
Race: Half-Elf
Bloodline: [Elder Blood – Dormant]
Class: Unassigned
Title(s): None
Faction: None
Location: En route to Kaer Morhen
System Sync: 12%
🔹 AttributesStat Value Notes
Strength- 4-(Slightly above human child)
Dexterity-7-(High for age – agile, quick hands)
Constitution-5-(Normal baseline, untrained)
Intelligence-9-(Reincarnated knowledge boost)
Wisdom-8-(World awareness, tactical mind)
Charisma-6(Persuasive, young confidence)
Luck (Divine)?Unmeasurable – Divine Trait
Stat Points Available:+1(Unspent)(Earned from "Wolf's Path" quest)
🔹 Skills & Traits
Divine Luck (Passive – Unknown Tier):Increases rare item drop rate, survival chance, and lucky outcomes. Hidden thresholds.("Something watches over you...")
Survivor's Grit (Passive – Basic):Slight resistance to pain, cold, and fatigue. Upgrades with trauma and trials.
Multiversal Codex (Passive):Tracks monster data, weaknesses, and harvestables. Expands by study and combat.
Inventory Access (Mental – System Bound):Cain can mentally access, equip, or store items via the system.
🔹 Inventory
Equipped:
[Hunter's Edge – Rare Dagger](+Backstab, Silent Death, Auto-Return)
Backpack:
Potion of Minor Vitality (x1)(Restores health, grants cold resistance briefly)
Codex:
Monster Biology (Beginner Edition)
Entries: Drowner, Ghoul, Rotfiend, Nekker
Status: Auto-updating
🔹 Current Quests
Wolf's Path – Travel with Geralt to Kaer MorhenStatus: In Progress
The Path Begins(Hidden Triggered Quest) – Train as a WitcherStatus: Locked until Arrival
Interlude: Thoughts on the Path
The horse's gait was steady beneath him. Geralt hadn't said much since they left the village, and Cain didn't mind. The silence gave him time to breathe, to process.
To think.
The snowflakes drifted in lazy spirals around them, carried by wind and the slow descent into the wild north.
Cain pulled the fur cloak tighter around his small frame. Despite the cold, his golden eyes remained sharp—watching the world, absorbing it, assessing.
Inside, his mind was racing.
"System," he thought, directing his will inward. "Answer me directly: what do my stats actually mean in this world? How do I grow stronger... wisely?"
A faint chime echoed in his head, and then words scrolled across his vision like gentle whispers of knowledge:
Stat Points: Rare and valuable.
Can be used at any time.
Permanent once assigned.
Some thresholds unlock unique traits or hidden skills.
Strategic use is advised.
You currently hold: [+1 Unspent Stat Point]
Cain nodded slowly.
So it's like a D&D spread, but with real-world consequences.Dumping all points into Strength would make me strong—but not smart. Speed matters, but not if you drop from exhaustion. I need to be balanced, especially in the early game.
He looked down at his hands—small, child-like. Eight years old. Half-elf. I'm not strong now. But I will be.
Then he thought of the dagger—Hunter's Edge. A perfect weapon for someone fast and light, someone unnoticed. But it wouldn't save him forever.
Cain squinted.
"System," he asked again. "What about my item—Hunter's Edge. Will it still be useful when I grow? Will it scale?"
[Hunter's Edge – Scaling Trait Confirmed]
Blade will adapt to user's size and hand grip over time.Bonus abilities will evolve at milestone levels or through blood-based resonance.
Note: Dagger effectiveness will diminish against cursed, spectral, or armored monsters unless enhanced with oils or runes.
Cain exhaled.
So even items are evolving with me… That's good. Real good.
He glanced up at the sky. Gray clouds swirled above the treeline.
He didn't want to waste that stat point. Not yet. He remembered RPGs—when to hold resources, when to push.
Cain bit his lip. Thought it over carefully.
"System," he said finally, "I'll save the stat point. I'll spend it when I need it—when it could change life or death."
[Acknowledged. Stat Point saved for emergency use.]"One who waits with patience gains not only power, but wisdom."
Cain smiled faintly.
Smart decisions now would keep him alive long enough to make game-changing ones later.
He leaned slightly against Geralt's back, warming himself beneath the cloak.
His past life—Jasen Smith—was gone. But the skills, the wisdom, the lessons? Those were still here. Still his.
And now, with a dagger from another world, a Codex filling with secrets, and a future shaped by steel, snow, and sorcery...
Cain was ready.
He would not waste this second life.