After killing the werewolf, I skinned it to retrieve all the interesting ingredients from its body. During this process, I couldn't help but wonder why this werewolf was so close to the road. As I searched it further, I discovered it was wearing a collar with a moon-shaped medall
Using my abilities, I detected some magic in this collar. I realized its function was to absorb the moon's rays, meaning that as long as it wore the collar, someone could transform into a werewolf at
"Damn, where did this come from? Are you telling me there might be a group of people wearing this kind of collar
"I need to talk to Vesemir about this. He might have some information
After cutting off the werewolf's head to examine it later, I whistled to call Ganon, who came over and rubbed his head against me, asking for a pat.
"There, there, easy Ganon, it's over."
I mounted Ganon, and we galloped towards Kaer Morhen.
------
After three days of travel, I finally arrived at the gates of Kaer Morhen. A small smile appeared on my face because, after all, I was finally home. Although the place was on the verge of collapsing from old age, that's just how it is.
I led Ganon to the water troughs reserved for the horses and dismounted. But I noticed a small detail: there was no one in the courtyard, whereas normally someone would be here.
Grabbing my satchel and equipment, I headed towards the castle. However, as I advanced, I became increasingly sure that something was amiss because there was no sound. When I reached the door, my medallion vibrated strongly. Throwing my bag to the ground and drawing my sword, I opened the door to find Geralt, Lambert, Eskel, and Vesemir fighting monsters we had never seen before. On the ground, Yen was unconscious.
No time to think, I rushed to help Vesemir and Eskel, attacking the monster by surprise at the tendons, causing it to scream in pain. Vesemir took advantage of this moment to decapitate the monster. Without wasting time, we helped Geralt and Lambert to defeat the last monster.
"I come back, and I find monsters as a welcome gift. Very strange, your idea of a welcome."
Lambert walked up to me with a sly smile and said:
"You know how unique you are to us. That's why we prepared your birthday gift with these monsters. Are you satisfied?"
"Thanks, Lambert. Honestly, next time I'll try to bring you a striga as a gift. After all, I heard you had some success with those ladies," I replied, laughing.
After that, I saw Eskel approaching us with a smile.
"It's good to see you again, Aiden."
"You too, Eskel."
Perhaps noticing that we were relaxed, Vesemir said in an annoyed tone:
"Stop talking, it's not over."
As we turned our attention to someone resembling Ciri but who wasn't Ciri, I realized that my gaze had become much colder. As we surrounded this person, she stared at me with an interested look.
"Interesting, I've never seen anyone like you. You are unique."
"Who are you and why do you have Ciri?"
"I am what you call a demon, and I have the child of the ancient blood because I need her power. But you, you are strange. You possess the same magic as the child of the ancient blood, though in a weaker form. Moreover, you have a power that has normally disappeared for years."
"I don't care what you're saying. Don't do anything you might regret," I said, annoyed.
"Otherwise what? Are you going to attack her? I doubt it, given the look in your eyes," the demon replied with a mocking smile.
A silence fell, for although the demon was right, she couldn't do anything either. At least, that's what I thought until a portal opened and another monster even larger than the two emerged. Vesemir, Eskel, and Lambert rushed in, but I turned to Geralt, who kept looking at Ciri with a worried expression. He turned to me when I started to speak.
"Geralt, I might have a way to help Ciri."
"What way?"
"She and I are connected. I can't tell you how, but I think I can force Ciri's mind to expel the demon."
"How long will it take?"
"None, I just need you to cover me during the process."
"All right."
Geralt then ran toward Ciri, who was dodging with remarkable agility. But as she kept dodging, she completely forgot about me. Approaching from behind, I placed my hand on her head and forced the connection we had maintained for so long.
---------
"Where am I?"
The place I found myself in was filled with flames, with rusty swords lying on the ground and skeletons everywhere. However, snow was falling, and in the middle of this chaos, Ciri was crouched down, watching the scene. I rushed toward her and took her in my arms.
"Ciri, can you hear me?"
"Aiden?"
"Yes, yes!"
"Are you dead because of me?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Look around you. This spectacle is my fault. Because of my powers, the world is at war to possess me, and in the end, it destroys itself, and all of this is because of me," she said, crying, her eyes empty.
"Isn't it better if I disappear to avoid this disaster?"
Instead of answering her, I held Ciri tighter in my arms.
"Why do you say that? Aren't you the one who keeps talking about our promise?"
"But…"
"No 'buts,' Ciri. As you said, we are connected, and being connected means we are together against the world. In the face of our enemies, I am by your side to take them down. In moments of weakness, I am your shoulder to cry on. So, Ciri, don't wish to die. Stay with me, and together we will fulfill our own destiny, not the one that has been written."
Light slowly began to shine in her eyes, and she said in a weak voice:
"Will you really be with me forever?"
"Of course."
Then the hellish environment disappeared, and I found myself where I was before. I placed my hand on my head, as an immense pain struck me, but Geralt was supporting me from behind. Together, we saw Ciri rid herself of the demon's spirit and make the monster that was present vanish before she collapsed from exhaustion, followed by me, due to the mental strain.
-------
Waking up in my bed with a severe headache, I frantically looked around to see Ciri sleeping. Relieved, I saw Geralt enter; noticing me, he walked over while grabbing a chair along the way.
"How are you feeling?"
"I have a headache, but otherwise, I'm fine."
"I see."
"Geralt, where did the demon come from?"
"It's Yen."
"What?!" I said, shocked, because in the games, there was never any mention that Yennefer had used Ciri for her own ends.
"Yeah, Yen returned to the castle. At first, we thought she came back just to say hello and help Ciri, but it was too late when we realized she actually wanted to use her."
"But why?"
"Because she lost her powers, which made her vulnerable." Geralt sighed and looked down slightly, appearing dejected. "For her, it was everything. She had power and beauty, and it must have been unbearable for her to lose it."
"I see."
A silence settled in. I was indeed shocked. The only things I knew about Yen came from the games, so I thought she could never act this way. After all, we see a Yennefer who loves and wants to protect Ciri. But Geralt wouldn't lie about that, especially when it concerns Ciri, making me realize that the game is different from reality.
"And where is Yen?"
"I made her leave so she wouldn't come back. That's the last gift I gave her after what she did to Ciri."
"Thanks, Geralt. Even though I'm angry about what she did, I'm glad you didn't do anything," because I wouldn't lie—I was angry but also slightly relieved, because even though what she did is unforgivable, she is still a valuable ally.
"Don't worry. I did it for myself because I owed her and Triss, knowing she would be unhappy."
Geralt stood up and headed toward the door, then turned back to me with a smile and said before leaving, "Well, I'll let you rest, and I wish you a good return home."
Then Geralt left the room. As I settled back into my bed, I closed my eyes with a smile on my lips, finally enjoying a moment of rest.