Ding! Mission Triggered: [Rescue Yennefer] (Master-Level Quest)
Faced with Geralt's plea, his eyes dim but filled with determination, Wayne couldn't refuse. A deep sense of responsibility weighed on him as he nodded firmly.
"Don't worry, Geralt. I'll bring Yennefer back," he reassured him. "Rest now and focus on recuperating. Don't push yourself."
As if reassured by Wayne's promise, Geralt exhaled softly, his grip loosening, and fell unconscious again. His battered body bore the toll of his relentless efforts to protect Yennefer. Stab wounds riddled his torso, and fresh cuts marred his neck and face. The fight had nearly claimed his life.
Without Wayne's intervention, Geralt's condition would have been fatal. The world's crude medical practices wouldn't have sufficed. Even with the advanced healing potion from Azeroth, the damage to Geralt's internal organs, fractured bones, and nerve systems was extensive. Long-term treatment under a skilled healer would be needed to restore him fully; otherwise, the White Wolf risked permanent impairment.
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A few minutes later, Wayne carried Geralt on his back and led a visibly shaken Jaskier back to Keira and the others. The bard's report made the two sorceresses pale with shock.
"Yennefer and Síle de Tansarville were captured by the fallen?" Margarita's voice trembled slightly. "How is this possible?"
Keira clenched her fists. "This bounty competition—it must be a trap."
Margarita nodded gravely. "There's no other explanation. How else could the fallen, corrupted by the power of another world, organize so swiftly and capture elite sorcerers scattered across the North? And to draw them willingly into such a dangerous fog... It reeks of a calculated conspiracy."
Keira's eyes darkened. "If they only wanted information about this world, why capture so many of us? There must be a deeper motive we don't yet understand."
Margarita's expression grew heavier as she considered the grim implications. Yennefer and Síle were among the most formidable sorceresses in the Brotherhood. If even they were overpowered, it was likely that less experienced sorcerers had no chance of evading capture.
The gravity of the situation struck Keira deeply. She realized how fortunate she was to have Wayne's protection. Without his extraordinary skills and power, she, Margarita, and the others might have already fallen into the enemy's hands.
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While the sorceresses discussed the broader implications of the conspiracy, Wayne's focus was elsewhere. Thoughts of grand world-shaking events didn't concern him. After all, such matters were meant for the powerful sorcerers and rulers of the world. Wayne, a witcher by trade, knew his role—to fight, survive, and honor his promises.
Wayne had just learned from Jaskier that Yennefer had been abducted by a group of more than a hundred fallen warriors in a wasteland roughly ten kilometers from their current location. The attack had taken place about two hours ago. The mercenary company of over fifty, hired by Yennefer and Síle de Tansarville, had been completely wiped out.
A fallen sorecere led the enemy forces, using waves of cannon fodder, fearless of death, to neutralize the powerful spells cast by Yennefer and Síle. Their defenses collapsed under the relentless assault.
Despite Geralt's desperate efforts to protect Yennefer, he had been unable to prevent her capture. If not for Jaskier's quick thinking—seizing the opportunity to mount a horse and fleeing with the injured White Wolf—the entire group might have been annihilated.
Now, Wayne faced a pressing dilemma. On one hand, he had promised Geralt to rescue Yennefer. Time was critical, and he needed to move quickly before the fallen forces disappeared without a trace. On the other hand, Keira, Margarita, and the others remained in the fog, surrounded by the ever-looming threat of fallen warriors hunting for sorcerers. If Wayne left rashly, he would be abandoning them to a perilous fate, something he could not bring himself to do.
The mist itself was an obstacle. Its otherworldly energy disrupted portals and flight, leaving walking as the only option for escape. At their current pace, it would take at least a day for the group to reach safety.
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After deliberating for a few minutes, Wayne excused himself from the group. Finding a secluded spot where he wouldn't be noticed, he turned to the doll of Raani, who floated serenely nearby, her attention fixed on Kael'thas' magical tome.
"Raani," Wayne said tentatively, "can you protect my friends for one day? Just ensure they make it out of the fog safely."
Raani's doll turned in mid-air, her sapphire-like eyes gazing at Wayne. She tilted her head slightly and asked, her voice calm but tinged with curiosity, "Are they also your friends? Have you made a contract with them to never betray them?"
Wayne quickly shook his head, realizing the misunderstanding. "No, you've got it wrong," he clarified.
"The friendship I spoke of with you is different from what I have with them. Our bond will last for a thousand years, ten thousand years, maybe even forever. But they are mortal—our connection is fleeting, destined to last only a brief moment in my life."
He paused, his tone softening. "I just want to honor the obligations of a friend while I can. In your world, haven't you encountered beings weaker than yourself, ones you wished to protect even if only for a short time?"
Raani fell silent, her gaze steady and unreadable as she turned another page of the book in her hands. After a few moments, she replied lightly, her tone as calm as ever, "Is that so?"
"Yes, I can help you protect them for a day," Raani replied, her tone calm and composed. "I will return to you after they are safely out of this fog filled with malevolent energy."
Hearing this, Wayne felt a rare warmth in his heart. Raani, who typically exuded an air of aloof arrogance, had offered to assist him without attaching any conditions. It felt like his efforts to cultivate their bond had borne fruit.
Still, Wayne understood the importance of reciprocity. Though Raani had declined payment, he couldn't allow himself to accept her favor without offering something in return.
"Thank you, Raani," Wayne said sincerely. "If the opportunity arises in the future, I'll take you to explore other worlds with me."
Raani's expression remained serene as she turned another page of her book. "I have no immediate plans to visit other worlds. The knowledge contained within this tome is sufficient to occupy my studies for quite some time," she replied. "But if I have other needs in the future, I will not hesitate to tell you."
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With Raani's promise, Wayne's mind was finally at ease. He could now focus on rescuing Yennefer without the added burden of worrying about Keira, Margarita, and the rest of the group.
Wayne held deep trust in Raani's abilities. While he wasn't certain of her current power level or whether she had mastered any advanced runes or significant magical spells, her innate magical talent and intellect were enough to surpass most individuals in the Witcher's world with ease.
After briefing Margarita and the others, Wayne assured them sincerely and solemnly that they would have a powerful mage secretly protecting them on their journey. He emphasized that they had nothing to fear as long as they continued carefully.
Though the group harbored doubts about the existence of this mysterious protector, Keira, Letho, Margarita, and the others ultimately chose to trust Wayne's word. They expressed their support for his decision and prepared to continue their journey, bringing the injured and unconscious Geralt, as well as the newly rejoined Dandelion.
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Once the group had set off, Wayne wasted no time. With Raani ensuring their safety, he could now focus entirely on finding Yennefer. He mounted his spectral steed, Udis, and galloped toward the location marked on Jaskier's map.
Relieved of the need to protect Keira and the others, Wayne's movements became unrestrained, and his spirit lifted. Wielding the mighty Sword, he cut down mutated beasts and otherworldly abominations that crossed his path with ease, as if slicing through paper.
Udis proved to be an invaluable companion. Its speed far exceeded that of an ordinary warhorse, even rivaling a modern vehicle on flat terrain. The spectral mount navigated rough and uneven ground effortlessly, maintaining its breakneck pace.
In just five minutes, Wayne had crossed the ten-kilometer stretch and arrived at the location where Yennefer had been taken.
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