"Where am I?" This question had tormented me for so long. After I saw that man gesture toward me, I had woken up here, in a dark place where no sound resonated, where there was no presence at all. I felt oppressed, as if the shadows themselves were closing in around me.
Then, suddenly, I found two ropes: one white and the other black. The black rope seemed to absorb the white one or, rather, copy it. Along with its dark color, it shimmered with white reflections, as if it were struggling to merge with it. Intrigued, I approached the ropes. The closer I got, the more I noticed other ropes a violet one and another black one that were circling slowly around the first two, as if waiting to be accepted, to be integrated.
As I reached out toward them, a piercing cry shattered the silence. I looked up and saw an eagle soaring above me. Slowly, it descended until it was at my level. Its imposing size took my breath away; the eagle stood several inches taller than me. Just before I could ask it where I was, a swallow landed gently on my head, rubbing its head against me as if seeking affection. It had a strange softness, a reminder of something important but buried.
Soon after, a crow landed on my left shoulder. I looked at it, curious, but it pecked at my face, as if testing my endurance. When it saw I didn't react, it turned away, proud and distant. Suddenly, I felt a brushing at my leg and discovered a black cat gazing at me with enigmatic eyes. It leapt nimbly onto my right shoulder and rubbed its head against mine, purring softly.
Amused by the scene, I petted each animal in turn. The crow gently nudged my left shoulder, urging me to pet it, while the swallow cooed joyfully.
But the eagle, majestic and solemn, shattered the moment of peace with a powerful cry. The swallow flew to perch on its head while the cat and the crow watched the eagle seriously. Sensing the "party" was over, I gathered my courage and asked the question burning on my lips: "Where am I?"
In response, the eagle pointed to a white area that was spreading gradually, invading the darkness around me. A shiver ran down my spine.
"Isn't it getting colder here?" I asked, more to myself than to them. As if my words had triggered something, the temperature dropped sharply, and I felt more than cold. Something troubling… oppressive.
"Death?" I murmured, incredulous. "Is that possible?"
The eagle fixed the white area with a penetrating gaze, and the swallow settled beside it. In an instant, the eagle charged toward the white area, the swallow following closely behind, while the cat and the crow watched them leave, their expressions worried.
As soon as the birds reached the white area, an explosion echoed, and I felt myself pulled into a whirlwind of sensations. The last thing I remembered was the eagle's cry, resonating in the void.
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While Aiden was being drawn away, no one noticed that the black-and-white rope was beginning to frost over.
What did it mean?
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I woke up with a start. Placing my hand on my face to catch my breath, I noticed that instead of being warm, my breath was icy. This strange phenomenon vanished instantly, leaving no trace.
"A nightmare?"
A voice answered me, making me jump again. I tried to sit up, ready to defend myself, but a sharp pain in my lower abdomen forced me to stay seated.
"Don't move. You're injured."
"Why… why did you save us?"
"You mean Ciri hasn't told you about me?"
"No."
The figure stepped closer and pulled back his hood, revealing a face marked by battles and time. His piercing, almost inhuman yellow eyes shone under white hair tied back in a ponytail, with a few loose strands adding to his wild appearance. His face bore the signs of a hard life, yet it emanated a calm, deep wisdom. This was Geralt of Rivia, the White Wolf, just as Ciri had described him.
My eyes widened as I recognized him, though his presence felt even more imposing in real life.
"Geralt?"
He nodded, giving a slight smirk. "Looks like you know me."
"Yes… Ciri told me about a man with white hair. She said you were her destiny."
He gave a slight smile, both tender and sad. "It's not 'was.' It still is."
He looked at me for a moment before asking, "How do you feel?"
"I'm in pain… but I'll survive."
He fixed his gaze on me, an amused glint in his eyes. "That's a good sign. Better than having her drooling on me."
I turned my head and saw Ciri asleep, her head resting on my shoulder, with a thin line of drool escaping her lips.
"Classic Ciri," I murmured, a fond smile on my face.
Geralt smiled too. "It seems you two get along well. Maybe you have some stories about her to share with me?" His voice was hesitant, but there was genuine curiosity in his words. I had expected a distant, hardened Geralt, but here he was, simply Geralt the one who cared for her above all else.
So, I told him about Ciri's childhood, our first meeting, and all the moments we'd shared.
After a long silence, he studied me, his gaze growing more serious. "Aiden… where do you want to go now?"
"What?"
"She's no longer a princess, you know. She's just… Ciri."
I lowered my eyes to her, holding her a bit closer. "I understand what you mean, but I don't think I could leave her."
Geralt nodded, a rare, faint smile crossing his face as he looked at me. He studied me for a moment, as if assessing something in me. Then, in a softer voice, I said, "Please… teach me to fight."
His face darkened slightly, his eyes taking on a sharper intensity. "It's not that simple. Only witchers from the School of the..."
I cut him off, more determined than ever. "Please… make me a witcher of the School of the Wolf."
His gaze became sharp, almost intimidating, and he replied in a deep voice. "Do you know what you're asking?"
"Unbearable pain from the potions. A life of solitude, being feared and seen as a monster…"
I clenched my fists, holding his gaze. "I know I'll never fully understand, but I need strength beyond that of a human. Becoming a werewolf? I'd lose my mind. A mage? I doubt I even have the potential. Serving a king? I've already served a queen, and that was enough for me. Please, I just want to be strong enough to protect the people who matter to me."
Geralt looked at me for a long time, as if he were trying to see into my intentions, to gauge the depth of my resolve. He looked away for a moment, his expression pensive, as if lost in memories. After a silence that felt endless, he finally spoke.
"We'll see on the road. I'll test you, and if you're not up to it, don't even think about mentioning the Trial of the Grasses. Understood?"
"Yes."
"Good. Now, rest. Tomorrow, we have a long journey ahead."
I lay back down, holding Ciri a little closer.
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As the boy fell asleep, Geralt closed his eyes and slipped into a familiar meditation, troubled by new thoughts. Something about Aiden intrigued him, a strange, almost indefinable strength. Was it a promise of potential or just a glimmer of naïveté?
He sighed, focusing to bring peace to his mind. But the question lingered.
"A rough diamond, maybe…" he murmured to himself. But could he really guide Aiden toward such a daunting destiny?
He let silence fill his thoughts, calming them little by little until he reached complete meditation.