✦ The Witcher – Lullaby in the Tavern ✦

The tavern hummed with its usual chaos. Laughter, the clinking of mugs, and the crackling of the hearth filled the air, mixing with the smell of spilled wine and smoke. Patrons shouted over each other, and a stray dog slept near the fire, twitching in its dreams.

Yet in the corner, sitting in shadow, Geralt of Rivia remained motionless. His pale eyes scanned the crowd, unfazed by the rowdy patrons, as if the noise simply passed through him. His dark coat, damp from rain, left a small puddle on the floor, reflecting the firelight. One hand rested near the hilt of his silver sword—out of habit rather than fear.

Amid the clamor, a soft sound cut through the chaos—a delicate melody, almost fragile. A young courtesan sat on a small stool near the hearth, her fingers deftly plucking the strings of a lute. Her voice was low, melodic, carrying a wistful note that made the rowdiest patrons pause for a moment.

Geralt’s gaze shifted toward her, not with curiosity, but with quiet acknowledgment. Unlike the drunken shouts, her music seemed to touch something deeper, threading through the din and settling into the corners of the tavern like a shadow of calm.

The courtesan’s eyes flicked up briefly, meeting his for a heartbeat. She smiled faintly, uncertain, before returning to her song. The notes floated through the room, a gentle rebellion against the chaos, and for a moment, the tavern felt less like a storm and more like a sanctuary