12 days remaining before the end of winter...
That potion was very potent, more potent than any potion I've ever made. It's a shame that I had to use the relic of my grandfather, though.
My family ordered me to rest. Saying that I should only leave the farm if I have an imperative reason to do it.
So I took yesterday off just to rest. I also made a couple of annotations in my notebook to think about my next steps.
Now, I'm washed up and refreshed. Ready to face most things, including a witch.
Fern told me that a witch was waiting for me at the inn. I should go there as soon as possible.
My wounds are almost recovered, and it's unlikely that they will leave scars. I'm not exactly afraid of having scars, but scars make your body weaker. And some scars are more ugly than impressive.
That witch had a reason to see me, and I could ask her a couple of questions myself, regarding that stuff about the inner soul.
I considered asking my family about the inner soul. But, I don't want them to think that I'm not only reckless but crazy as well.
I ride towards town. It's been a while since the last time I've been at the inn. I usually only go there if someone hires me as a guard, and that usually only happens during festivals or in a busy season, like summer and spring.
I leave my horse outside the inn, and I enter.
I take a look around, there are not many people here. Which is reasonable, people don't usually travel in winter. So, most of the people who are here are native to Nutaarvik.
I do as Fern told me and take a look at the common room, but I don't see anyone "witchlike". After another look, I still don't see her, so I go to the innkeeper.
The innkeeper is lying lazily on a chair. He doesn't bother pretending to be busy.
"I'm looking for someone," I say cryptically.
"Ailanthus, right? I'm afraid I can't maintain the people's trust in my establishment if I divulge information."
What? But Fern told me that he'll tell me if I ask.
Seeing my stunned look, he continues. "Not freely, at least." He shows me his open hand as if expecting me to give him something.
I see. He wants a bribe. I take a silver coin and put it on his open hand.
"This will do. Who are you looking for?"
"A witch, I've been told, she rented a room here."
"Yep, she is here." He nods.
"Currently?"
He shows me his open hand again. I gave him another silver coin.
"She is currently in room number four."
"Thanks," I say, and start heading upstairs.
"Don't cause trouble, ye'hear?"
I nod and head to door number four. Even though most people are illiterate, knowing basic math is common knowledge.
I knock at the door three times. After some time, the door opens.
A beautiful witch with grey hair and purple eyes received me.
"Who are you?" She asks.
"I'm Ailanthus, were you looking for me by any chance?"
She looks surprised. "Ailanthus, you are Ailanthus?"
"That's what I said."
"I was expecting you to be more 'sturdy".
"I'll try to take that as a compliment."
She laughs politely. "You should." She then invites me to come inside.
I reluctantly enter her room. Trying to see if she supposes any threat.
"Would you like something to drink?"
"Sure, why not?"
She points at the only chair in the room. "Please take a seat."
I point the chair towards her bed and sit.
After some time, she hands me a glass of water.
I take some sips.
She sits on her bed and looks at me from head to toe. As if trying to analyze me.
"Do you know why I was looking for you?"
"No, Fern just told me that I should see you."
"I have no idea who Fern is. I assume she is one of the people I asked about you?"
"She is."
She shrugs. "Whatever, that's irrelevant." She crosses her legs before continuing. "I was looking for you for a very specific reason; I saw you in one of my visions. A vision weirder than most, and that's saying something." She smiles. "In my vision, you were talking to a reincarnator." She waits to see my reaction.
I frown. "What do you mean by a reincarnator? They don't exist."
"I, too, dismissed reincarnation as just fantasy, but it looks like reincarnators do exist."
"That's impossible. What proof do you have?"
"I'm afraid I don't have any proof. It's up to you to believe me or not."
Reincarnators; there are many tales about the first emperor of our empire, and one of them says that the first emperor was a reincarnator. However, there was never any proof of this, and many people, including myself, consider this to be impossible.
"How could the soul of someone be reincarnated in another body? How could they keep their memories and personality in a different body? How would their brain get to develop? The more you think about it, the more stupid it gets."
"I see that you like to use your head." She looks outside the window. "Most people don't think too much about it. They just think that such magic is too complicated to exist."
I raise one of my eyebrows.
"I have no idea of how it's possible, maybe one day you get to ask a god about it, who knows? What I do know is that in my vision, you were talking to a reincarnator, and that reincarnator in question could be able to change our empire."
"What do you mean?"
"That reincarnator comes from another world. She could have some valuable knowledge or maybe know magic that we do not. If our empire obtains a unique power, we could prosper more easily."
"What can you tell me about this reincarnator?"
"Not much, I only know that it's a woman and that she comes from another world."
"And you think that I'm destined to meet her or something?"
"Pretty much, I've come here looking for you to advise you to become her friend and convince her to aid our empire."
I frown. "And why should I do that?"
The witch didn't expect me to say that.