"Aiden, are you ready?" Vesemir asked, fixing me with a serious gaze.
"Yes," I replied, my voice sounding more confident than I actually felt.
He nodded slowly. "Good. You're about to face the Trial of the Elements."
I frowned, intrigued. "And what exactly does that involve?"
Vesemir remained silent for a moment, his eyes lingering on the cave entrance that seemed to call to me. "The Trial of the Elements allows you to gain the power necessary to master the witcher signs. But it's not without danger."
The Trial of the Circle of Elements is about recovering the elemental power needed to control the signs.
The Trial of the Hunt requires you to retrieve a wyvern gland on your own, relying solely on your knowledge and strength.
But the most fearsome is the Psychological Trial. It's the most important and the one where most aspirants fail. It puts you into a trance state using herbs, forcing you to confront your deepest fears. If you lose control or exaggerate your reaction, it can result in cardiac arrest. What makes it even more dangerous is that you don't even realize what's happening to you.
For now, I was beginning with the first trial: recovering the power of the Circle of Elements. Based on what I'd learned in The Witcher 3, there could be a cyclops inside the cave. But I didn't know if it had been there long or not. That's why I turned to Vesemir, the only one accompanying me, to ask him.
I glanced at the cave, its heavy shadow stretching out before me. My heart beat faster. I knew the coming days would be grueling.
"According to the writings, there might be a cyclops in this cave," I said, turning my gaze back to Vesemir. "Is that true?"
A faint smile crossed his lips, but his expression remained steady. "Unfortunately, I can't tell you. This trial is meant to test your courage, determination, and intelligence."
I sighed, a mix of frustration and apprehension rising in me. "Alright."
Turning toward the cave, I took a deep breath before moving forward, each step seeming to pull me further into the unknown.
"Good luck, Aiden," Vesemir called after me, his voice calm and almost comforting. "May the path of the witcher guide you."
I didn't look back. The cold of the cave wrapped around me, and the darkness swallowed me whole.
--------------------
"It's damp."
An observation perhaps mundane, but for me, it was crucial. The slippery ground and the dripping walls of the cave were going to make movement difficult. This wasn't like a game where everything is simple and fast. Here, in reality, every step required maximum concentration.
The silence was almost deafening. Aside from the sound of water droplets hitting the rocks, there was nothing. No wind, no life... nothing. And yet, the oppressive atmosphere seemed to weigh heavily on my shoulders.
As I scanned the cave, a faint sound reached me: slow, deep breathing. Something alive.
I moved forward cautiously, each step measured, avoiding puddles that might betray my presence. The closer I got, the louder the breathing became, echoing off the cave walls.
And then I saw it.
A cyclops, massive, sleeping in the center of a small alcove. Its thick skin looked like cracked stone, and a faintly glowing seal shone on its forehead.
[I have no chance against him,] I thought, my breath catching for a moment.
I crouched behind a rock, trying to come up with a solution. Fighting it was out of the question. One hit from this giant, and I'd be reduced to a bloody pulp. Even the strongest witchers avoid cyclopes. Their strength is titanic, and they instinctively protect their one weakness: their eye. When they guard it, they charge relentlessly, and their attacks are impossible to block.
No, fighting wasn't an option.
I scanned the cave, searching for an exit. A faint breeze brushed my face. [Air. That means there's a way out to the left.]
Taking a deep breath, I rose and carefully moved in that direction, making sure not to make a sound. Each step felt like an eternity, but eventually, I reached the opening and left the cave without triggering an alarm.
I dropped to my knees, catching my breath.
"I have to admit, that was close," I murmured, still trembling. "Power or not, I knew I didn't stand a chance."
Ahead of me, a winding path led up to the altar of the elements. But as I climbed, an enormous rock crashed down beside me, raising a cloud of dust.
I looked up.
Stone trolls, furious at having missed me, were already throwing another barrage.
I started running, dodging their projectiles while trying to think of a plan. I couldn't take them on directly. [Maybe you think I'm weak, but trust me, reality is nothing like the game.]
When I reached the top, I faced the trolls. They were running toward me, ready to crush me. I raised my hands in surrender and shouted:
"Stop! Stop! I don't want to fight!"
The trolls stopped abruptly, surprised. They exchanged confused looks, scratching their heads as if trying to figure out what had just happened.
"Meat talk?" one of them asked, frowning.
"Yes, I talk," I said, nodding, hoping they would listen to me.
"Why meat talk? Meat run, meat scream, not talk," added another troll, shaking its head in confusion.
"I'm not here to fight," I insisted, keeping my hands visible.
The trolls looked at each other again. "Not fight? Not fight?"
One of the trolls shrugged and said, "Funny meat."
Sighing in relief, I pointed toward the altar in the distance. "I just need to go there, that's all."
"No!" roared a larger troll, crossing its arms like a child throwing a tantrum. "There troll territory. Meat not go!"
"I understand," I said calmly. "That's why I'm asking for your permission."
"Permi... what?" the first troll asked, confused.
"Permission," I repeated.
"Permission? Meat use big words. Troll not understand."
I tried to think of an alternative. "Alright, let's call it... a trade. I can pass, and I'll give you something in return."
The trolls exchanged glances, their faces lighting up at the idea.
"Meat give things? Meat give rocks?" one of them asked excitedly.
"Yes, rocks!" another added, nearly bouncing on the spot.
"Rocks," muttered the third troll, suddenly very serious.
"Fine," I said. "I'll get some rocks."
I climbed down a bit and gathered five random stones, then returned to them and held out my collection.
"Rocks!" they cried in unison, their faces beaming with joy.
"Can I pass now?" I asked, hoping it would be enough.
One of the trolls frowned, holding a stone in its massive hand. "Meat give rocks, but... weapon too."
"What? My sword?"
"Yes, sword. Meat give sword, troll happy," it said, nodding enthusiastically.
I gritted my teeth. Giving them my weapon put me in danger, but I didn't have another choice. Hesitating, I handed over my sword.
The trolls jumped with glee. "Meat friend troll now. Meat can pass!"
Taking advantage of their distraction as they played with the rocks and my sword, I quickly made my way to the altar.
When I arrived at the altar, I sat cross-legged and closed my eyes, calming my breathing. I emptied my mind, focusing on the energy around me.
A light breeze began to swirl around me, a strange but soothing sensation. Then, as if an invisible door opened, knowledge flowed into me: the witcher signs. One by one, they etched themselves into my mind. But suddenly, a different energy, cold as ice, coursed through me.
[Hrívë Estel,] I thought instinctively.
I opened my eyes, surprised. This sign... I'd never heard of it before. And yet, there it was, etched into me as if it had always been a part of me.
[Could this be because of my powers?]
I returned to the trolls to retrieve my sword, taking advantage of their distraction with the rocks, and then retraced my steps out of the cave, carefully avoiding the sleeping cyclops.
At the cave's entrance, Vesemir was waiting, a faint smile on his face.
"Well done."
"Thanks. But, Vesemir... do you know what Hrívë Estel means?"
He furrowed his brow slightly. "Mmh, no. Why?"
"Along with the usual signs, I received this one."
"I see. Maybe we'll find something about it in the few books we have left. But for now, let's head back. I don't want Lambert cooking. We'll hunt a deer before returning, and I'll train you on the signs."
"Alright, Vesemir."
We headed back to the keep, two deer in tow, ready for the next round of training.