That evening, Wayne's culinary skills once again garnered high praise from the sorceresses. They shared a pleasant dinner, filled with lively conversation and delicious food.
Afterward, Wayne brought out Gwent, intending to teach Margarita. To his surprise, the gentle headmistress was already a skilled player, eager to challenge the witcher. On his lucky day, defeating Wayne in Gwent was a tall order, but he deliberately held back, ensuring everyone enjoyed the game.
In the following days, Headmistress Margarita's healing magic proved its worth. Injuries that would have been considered difficult by others were mere trifles for her. Triss recovered quickly under her care.
Perhaps due to her extended break and her sorceress's ambition, Triss returned to her duties as a royal advisor soon after her recovery. Wayne, who had been keeping her company, was now free. Yennefer, too, bid farewell, dragging a disheveled Geralt out of a brothel without even a proper goodbye.
With his companions gone, Wayne's life didn't become easier. In fact, it became rather complicated.
The source of Wayne's confusion was the Deathclaw egg nearing hatching. Unlike a direwolf pup, the Deathclaw was a colossal creature, similar in size and growth rate to a tyrannosaurus rex. In the witcher's world, it would be a completely new species. Raising it at home, as he had done with the direwolf, would undoubtedly cause panic among the populace and attract unwanted attention once it reached maturity.
Taming this creature would require Wayne's constant presence, utilizing his animal taming skills and ensuring a steady supply of fresh meat to build a bond through feeding and training. This would demand a significant investment of time.
The problem was, it was already late March of 1251. According to the timeline, Queen Calanthe of Cintra, Ciri's grandmother, would soon be hosting a betrothal feast for her daughter, Princess Pavetta – Ciri's mother.
Wayne was keen to attend this event. Not only would it be a chance to witness the future Nilfgaardian emperor, Emhyr var Emreis, in his younger years, but also to witness Princess Pavetta's awakening as a Source sorceress, inadvertently binding her unborn child, Ciri, to Geralt through the Law of Surprise. This was the catalyst for the main plot of the Witcher saga, the beginning of the intertwined destinies of Geralt and his Child of Surprise, Ciri.
Unfortunately, the Deathclaw cub would be a significant asset in future battles. It was impractical to lug it around the Continent, risking exposure and complications.
After a few days of deliberation, Wayne finally decided to embark on a journey to Middle-earth for a period of secluded training. This would not only serve as preparation for future adventures there but also allow him to focus on raising the Deathclaw cub into a valuable ally. It would also provide an opportunity for him to hone his own abilities. Since awakening his Elder Blood, he had been indulging in the pleasures of life, neglecting his training. Improving was like sailing against the current; one had to keep moving forward to avoid being swept away.
Middle-earth offered a unique advantage compared to the Continent: the flow of time there was only one-fifth that of the witcher's world. This meant that Wayne could spend two or three years in Middle-earth, and only about six months would have passed upon his return. He wouldn't even miss the winter.
While he would miss witnessing the events surrounding Geralt and Ciri's parents, he trusted that without his interference, the story would unfold as intended, culminating in the birth of Ciri, the Child of Surprise.
...
Middle-earth, The Shire.
Bilbo Baggins woke to a bright morning. After washing up, he went to his well-stocked pantry, gathered ingredients, and prepared a hearty breakfast in the kitchen. He then took his meal to the large dining table and enjoyed a feast of sausage, cheese, potato salad, and a steaming bowl of onion and beef soup.
Following his usual routine, he opened the door and checked the mailbox for any new letters.
Suddenly, fourteen-year-old Hamfast Gamgee, the village postman, sprinted past Bilbo's house barefoot, carrying a large toolbox. He was the son of Gaffer Gamgee, the village carpenter.
Intrigued, Bilbo stopped the young hobbit and asked, "What's the rush, young Hamfast? Has someone in the market invented a new delicacy? Or is there a new pipe-weed in stock?"
Hamfast's face beamed with excitement. "No, Mr. Bilbo, a giant of a man has come to the market! He's offering a gold bar to hire twenty hobbit lads to help him build a house across the river. My father wants to work there too. I hear the pay is double the usual wage, and everyone's rushing to get the job!"
He continued, barely taking a breath, "The man is enormous! I'm barely half his height! I've never seen anyone so tall! He plans to live by the forest across the river and is hosting a party for the whole village tonight. He's buying all sorts of food and drink, and everyone's helping him set up in the clearing across the river. It's going to be the most exciting thing to happen in ages! I've got to hurry and join in the fun!"
"Oh, and he has the cutest white wolf cub with him! My sister Rosie is smitten and keeps asking me to get her one just like it!" The young hobbit's words tumbled out in a rush. He gave Bilbo a quick bow and then continued his sprint towards the market.
Bilbo was astonished. The Shire was a peaceful haven for Hobbits, where life followed a predictable rhythm. Outsiders rarely visited, let alone someone described as a "giant."
Curiosity piqued, he put his letters away, grabbed his pipe, and headed barefoot towards the market. He had lived in the Shire nearly his entire life, and the last time he had seen someone so tall was decades ago, when he had accompanied his mother, Belladonna Took, to a human town.