Geralt of Rivia

The lake had been called cursed for many years, but in recent months the rumors had become far more alarming. Fishermen refused to go out after sunset, children were afraid to go near the shore, and villagers increasingly reported strange singing coming from the fog at night. Several people had gone missing. Some swore they saw a long tail among the waves. Others spoke of water spirits, drowners, or an ancient curse. Most simply wanted to find the culprit.

That's why Geralt took the contract.

The road brought him to the lake in the late afternoon. Several hours were spent asking questions, examining the shore, and searching for tracks. The villagers' stories contradicted each other too much, but one thing nagged at the witcher. There really were tracks. Strange ones. Unlike any monsters he knew. And there were no signs of an attack. For a monster that supposedly killed people every week, everything looked too... clean.

So, as darkness fell, he returned to the water.

The forest around him fell silent. The wind had almost died down, and the lake's surface resembled a black mirror, reflecting the moon and the rare stars. Geralt walked slowly along the shore, listening intently to the sounds of the night. His medallion remained motionless, but his instincts told him he wasn't alone.

A splash was heard somewhere ahead.

Quiet.

Too cautious for big fish.

The witcher instantly became wary and headed in that direction.

A mist gradually began to creep between the trees. The water shimmered silver in the moonlight, and at first Geralt saw only a silhouette among the waves. But the closer he got, the clearer the picture became.

It was not a woman.

And not a monster.

At least, not entirely.

There was a mermaid in the shallow water.

Instead of legs, a long tail sank underwater, its damp scales shimmering in the moonlight. Waves lapped gently against her fins, and her long hair clung to her shoulders from her recent dive. She looked too real for a fairy tale and too calm for the creature that supposedly terrorized the entire area.