Chapter 84
Not far from the castle, in a cabin where the Witcher, the mage, and the child with Elder Blood resided, Ciri was dreaming. In her dream, Gray appeared—his raven-colored hair cascading down his face as he gazed into the night sky, his tall, imposing figure the epitome of an ideal man. Ciri awoke with a start, her heart racing, and hurriedly freshened herself, ensuring she looked her best before running out of the cabin. Geralt stirred as she passed, but before he could act, Yennefer's hand caught his arm. "Leave her be," she whispered. "She's in love, and the more you try to hold her, the more she'll resist." Geralt hesitated, then nodded, returning to his bed as Ciri dashed into the night.
Ciri reached the clearing where Gray stood, his gaze fixed on the night sky. She smiled softly and said, "The moon is beautiful, isn't it?" Gray did not respond, his focus unwavering. For a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to imagine a world where Gray's heart wasn't already occupied—perhaps, in that world, she might have had a chance. Suddenly, moonlight illuminated the sprout, and with the dew's magical essence spilling from the air, the sprout blossomed into a pale white lily. Its petals shimmered like liquid moonlight, drawing a gasp of awe from Ciri. "Amazing... is this what you were waiting for?" she asked. Again, Gray remained silent as he extracted the herb, turned, and began walking back toward the castle.
Ciri hesitated before asking, "Can I look at the castle, just for a moment?" Gray paused briefly but continued walking without a word, a reaction that brought a small smile to her face. The Sin of Solace appeared beside her, smirking. "Oh, a cold heart cracking, like a thousand-year-old glacier melted by global warming," he quipped. Then, glancing at Ciri, he muttered, "And she's definitely hot." But the moment he realized her age, he recoiled. "Oh shit, she's a minor," he stammered, retreating. Gray ignored them both as they entered the castle, leaving Ciri to explore on her own.
Inside, Ciri wandered through the icy halls, her breath visible in the cold air. Every room seemed like a masterpiece—elegantly carved ice furniture reflected moonlight, creating a mesmerizing glow. She ran her fingers over the smooth, cold surfaces of the chairs, tables, and even an intricately designed bed. "This is beautiful," she whispered to herself, her voice echoing softly. She marveled at the chandeliers made of frozen crystals that hung from the ceilings, their delicate shapes refracting light into dazzling rainbows. Her steps carried her through the library, where shelves of books, perfectly preserved in ice, stretched toward the ceiling. She murmured in awe, "How long has this been here?"
Her exploration took her to grand dining halls, silent corridors, and an observatory with a domed glass ceiling, allowing an uninterrupted view of the starry sky. Every room captivated her, but there was one she dared not enter—the chamber where the dew condensed. Hunger clawed at her as she stood outside, drawn by the potent magic radiating from within. Yet, she resisted, her gaze falling on Gray, who sat in an icy chair near the entrance, his eyes scanning a worn notebook. She watched him for a moment, marveling at his unwavering focus, before she decided to call it a night. "Like Yen said, I will crack him, one blow at a time," she smirked to herself as the Sin of Solace appeared beside Gray, who smiled. "She really thinks she is slick," he muttered, but again, Gray ignored them and continued reading.
The very next day, Ciri was there again, this time with her sword. As Gray cleaned up a magical herb he had just picked, its white blossoms contrasting with its black roots, Ciri began retelling a story of how she fought a Kikimora. She described the beast in vivid detail, gesturing with her sword as she demonstrated her movements and strikes. Gray, meanwhile, paid her only half his attention, focusing instead on carefully extracting the herb's essence. Ciri's voice carried a mix of pride and excitement as she continued her tale, her expressive tone a sharp contrast to Gray's detached demeanor.
Wrapping up her story, Ciri said, "So yeah, Yennefer wants me to go to Aretuza and learn magic, but I feel like my true calling is being a Witcher—slaying monsters and living with Geralt." She sat down, glancing at Gray before asking, "What about you? How do you navigate being a sorcerer and a swordsman?" She asked the question almost rhetorically, not expecting an answer. To her surprise, Gray replied, "I was a wizard before I was a swordsman, so I don't understand your struggle." His tone was flat, emotionless, and detached. Ciri blinked, caught off guard, before saying, "So you went to school for wizards?"