Witcher: The Half Elf

Wayne pondered the complex circumstances surrounding the fallen sorcerers and the events of his month-long unconsciousness. He listened intently as Raani explained the situation with her usual calm tone.

"Are you referring to the human spellcasters who were corrupted by otherworldly forces?" Raani asked, her voice devoid of emotion.

Wayne nodded, his thoughts drifting to the darker moments of his madness. He couldn't help but wonder how much of his wild, uncontrolled actions had been witnessed by Raani. He felt a twinge of embarrassment at the thought, recalling the many indulgences he had allowed himself over the past month.

"They are not dead," Raani continued. "After I escorted your companions out of the mist, I quickly returned to your side. By then, your will had fallen into slumber, and your body, saturated with the evil power of the otherworldly demon, was acting purely on subconscious instincts. You were in a state of madness, fighting and killing indiscriminately."

"But strangely," she added, "the twelve spellcasters seemed to have a connection to the dark magic in your body. Instead of opposing you, they submitted to your influence, accepting you as their master. They even joined you in attacking the monsters that plagued the mountain range."

Raani's puppet paused briefly, then continued. "In your madness, however, you exhibited behavior that was unexpectedly... deliberate. You released one of the female spellcasters, ordering her to leave the area. The remaining eleven were directed to lock themselves inside a nearby cave under your command."

Wayne was both relieved and surprised by this revelation. He had expected his subconscious mind to indulge in wild, destructive acts. Yet, contrary to his fears, his actions during that time seemed oddly restrained. Even in his madness, he had spared the lives of the sorcerers and ordered their containment rather than destruction.

"That said," Raani concluded, "a month has passed. I cannot guarantee that the sorcerers are still alive or whether they remain under your control."

Wayne nodded thoughtfully. The situation was less dire than he had anticipated, but it was far from resolved. While the sorcerers survival was not his immediate concern, their potential hostility or lingering connection to the dark forces complicated the matter.

Even if Wayne had the ability to revisit the site of the space crack, doing so would be unwise. As the primary gateway for the otherworldly invasion, the area was undoubtedly heavily guarded by now, with layers of security—both visible and hidden—monitoring every movement. To return would only invite unnecessary trouble and scrutiny.

As for the fallen sorcerers still confined near the crack, Wayne felt little concern for their fate. These individuals were once renowned sorcerers. If they succumbed to starvation or other hardships, it would only highlight their lack of resourcefulness and resilience.

In Wayne's mind, their survival was not a priority. More pressing matters demanded his attention: Geralt's recovery, finding a solution to the dark power within himself, and managing the responsibilities of the Witcher Order. Compared to these critical concerns, the warlocks' fates were of little consequence.

Another month passed quickly, bringing significant developments. Among them, Geralt's condition took center stage. His injuries had been grave, keeping him in a coma for nearly two weeks before he finally regained consciousness.

Fortunately, Margarita, a sorceress of exceptional skill and deep knowledge of healing magic, played a pivotal role in his recovery. Her expertise far surpassed that of the herbalists, hedge witches, and so-called healers scattered across the countryside.

After Margarita reported the events in the mist to the Brotherhood, she immediately turned her attention to performing life-saving surgery on Geralt.

After an intense, day-long treatment, the results were mixed.

The White Wolf's life was saved, but the severe injuries to his internal organs meant he would require long-term care and treatment over the next one or two years. During this time, he would be unable to engage in any demanding battles. He was effectively rendered a "medicine jar," requiring constant care, or a "fragile seedling," easily prone to setbacks.

Fortunately, witcher physiology, with its enhanced resilience and regenerative abilities, worked in his favor. Although Geralt's injuries were critical, as long as he committed to proper treatment, he could eventually recover fully. While there would likely be some lingering effects, they would not bar him from resuming his role as a witcher. It would, however, be a long road to full recovery.

Wayne's intervention proved crucial. The rare and powerful healing potion he had used—worth a fortune in gold—had stabilized Geralt long enough to receive proper medical attention. Without it, even in a well-equipped treatment room, the famed White Wolf might not have survived.

This close call reminded Wayne just how precarious Geralt's survival had been. The legendary White wolf had narrowly avoided becoming yet another tale of heroism sung by bards, his life cut short.

When Wayne visited Geralt, he found his friend awake, albeit weakened. Ever the stoic, Geralt expressed his gratitude for Wayne's efforts, particularly for saving Yennefer, though both maintained the unspoken understanding of shared secrets between comrades.

Yennefer, meanwhile, remained at Geralt's side, tending to him with an uncharacteristic tenderness. This ordeal had been a revelation for her. She had witnessed firsthand Geralt's unwavering courage and willingness to risk his life for her during their harrowing battle against the fallen warriors. His actions had reaffirmed his worth as a partner—a man more reliable than the so-called knights who paraded their honor but lacked true conviction.

However, when Wayne found a moment alone with Yennefer and asked about her memories of the mist, her answers left him disappointed.

Yennefer had no recollection of how she escaped the mist or was rescued. The Brotherhood's examination revealed that her memory had been affected by the alien energy's corruption. She retained no knowledge of her actions under the influence or her subsequent liberation.

Wayne also learned from Keira that the Brotherhood had no concrete understanding of what had transpired in the mist. They were unaware of the presence of a demon king from another world and the pivotal role Wayne had played in neutralizing the threat.

The Brotherhood's preliminary reports indicated staggering losses. Over thirty young, elite sorcerers were unaccounted for, with more than a thousand mercenaries confirmed dead. Additionally, five fallen sorcerers were confirmed killed in the chaos.

The situation was further complicated by the disappearance of prominent sorcerers, including Sabina, Síle de Tansarville, and Fringilla Vigo—all of whom held significant political and magical influence in the Northern Kingdoms. Even Kaduin, a member of the Supreme Council, had been lost. Possessed by Baal, his body had been reshaped by hellish magic, only to collapse into untraceable blood, leaving no remains.

While Wayne had hoped his deeds might remain unnoticed, he was relieved to find that the Brotherhood did not connect him to the resolution of the mist's crisis. Though Keira and a few others close to him knew of his role in saving Yennefer, his involvement with the defeat of Baal had gone unacknowledged.

This anonymity was a blessing. Fame often brought complications, and Wayne had no desire to be dragged into the Brotherhood's ongoing chaos or become a target of envy and suspicion.

The situation in Kaedwen and the Northern Kingdoms remained dire. The mist had dissipated following the closure of the space rift, but its remnants—fallen humans and monstrous creatures—had spread across the region. Without the mist's unifying influence, these threats had scattered, sowing chaos far and wide.

The Brotherhood, stretched thin from the loss of key members, struggled to address the crisis. The organization faced mounting pressure, both from within its ranks and from the Northern monarchies it was obligated to assist.

With resources severely depleted and internal disputes rising, the Brotherhood's effectiveness waned, leaving much of the North vulnerable to the fallout.

Two months after the incident, Wayne found himself largely unbothered by further inquiries. Only those closest to him seemed aware of his deeper involvement, and even they refrained from probing too deeply.