Witcher's Atelier

Time flies, and summer is coming to an end unknowingly.

On this rainy morning, near the coastal village of "Loften" on the island of Skellige Indasfair.

A sorceress with black hair and a black off-shoulder dress stood alone on the rocky shore with an umbrella, looking into the distance in the sea breeze.

She is Yennefer of Fangerburg, who is visiting the archipelago to search for the whereabouts of her adopted daughter Ciri. Although they are not related by blood, Yennefer truly loves Ciri as her own child.

The connection between the two of them is very simple: the sorceress who cannot have children pours all her motherly love into her adopted daughter; Ciri, who lost her mother at a young age, also returns all her love for her mother to Yennefer.

As for the reason why the sorceress appeared in the local area, it was because of the news that the village of "Loften" on the island was attacked by unknown people not long ago, and the residents suffered heavy casualties.

She suspected that the incident was caused by the killing of Ciri during the "Wild Hunt" hunting, so she came here to wait for the child's father. Geralt of Rivia came to join them and jointly investigate.

The early morning rain and sea breeze quietly blew away the warmth of Yennefer's body.

She pursed her lips, thinking about the outcome of the war in the North, worrying about the future of the spellcaster, worrying about the Wild Hunt's intentions against Ciri, and Ciri's younger brother Victor, the unfathomable boy from another world.

...

Some time passed.

The sun was shining and the drizzle stopped. A man and a woman approached the rocky shore, both of them fully armed.

The woman wore plate armor and carried a long-handled heavy hammer, but she walked effortlessly and as if nothing had happened; the man wore leather armor with white hair and carried two half-handled swords on his back.

When they were at a considerable distance, to avoid misunderstandings from the sorceress, the armored girl slowed down and let the witcher step over the gravel to approach the other party first.

"I'm here, Yennefer."

"Oh! Geralt, you finally showed up... I was almost frostbitten waiting."

"Sorry I ran into some trouble on the way."

"Ha! I'm not surprised. Witchers are synonymous with trouble and always get involved in all kinds of accidents.

Let's get started! Who is this woman?"

The broad-shouldered and heroic battle priest, her armor and weapons gleaming with a bright aura, the grace of the goddess Freya is fully displayed on her.

Geralt coughed twice, "This is the eldest princess of Indasfair Island, Swani. Zinda. I was blocked as soon as I got off the boat, and she asked to accompany us throughout the search."

Yennefer raised her thick eyebrows and squinted her eyes to look at the other party, "Oh... There is such a good thing? So is it companionship or surveillance?"

Swani slammed the long-handled hammer on the ground and smiled coolly, "Yennefer of Vangerburg. Unwelcome guest, based on your actions in Keldra, it is natural to monitor you, and it is not excessive to blast you out of the island!

But, for Victor Corleone's face, I am here to provide help, at least for now!"

The corners of her mouth rose up, and the sorceress was about to retort, but then she thought that having Swani around would indeed save a lot of trouble... For the sake of her daughter, she blinked and chose to default.

...

Leaving the seaside, the three of them soon arrived at the village of Lovteng, and the chaotic scene inside was clearly visible from outside the gate.

Some people were cleaning up the environment, some were curled up and crying, and more people were in the square, forming a circle and praying loudly.

"We are here. The flattened huts and countless brand new graves must be this place." Yennefer said briskly.

Geralt said in a low voice, "They seem to be holding a memorial service. Maybe we are not here at the right time?"

"The Wild Hunt always brings death. It is not appropriate to inquire about their news at any time; on the contrary, it is appropriate at any time. Daughter of Freya, what do you think?"

In response to the sorceress's inquiry, Swani shrugged her shoulders, "Believe me, the people of the Sindar family want to know the truth of the attack more than you do. But now is not the right time, stranger.

Respect our customs, and we will respect you too. I suggest that you two find a place to wait for half an hour to let the memorial service end.

Then if you trust me, I will organize the elders and well-informed women to make the inquiry more efficient."

The battle priest's neither humble nor arrogant statement was very convincing. Geralt shook his head and had no opinion. He looked at Yennefer and asked her to make the decision. After thinking for two seconds, the sorceress nodded in agreement.

So they separated temporarily.

Watching Swani walk away and join the crowd praying in the square, the witcher lowered his voice, "It's really surprising, I thought you never listened to others."

The sorceress rolled her eyes and squinted, "How is it possible... I have always been keen on good communication, but your opinions are never worth adopting."

"Tsk! You can be more difficult to get along with."

"You're right. But you just love me like this, don't you?"

"......."

Without going to the square to disturb, the sorceress and the witcher searched for clues near the village.

...

In a blink of an eye, it was noon. In a house that did not collapse, Swani. Zinda accompanied three women into the house.

Everyone sat down as host and guest, and the oldest woman spoke first, "Travelers from afar, I have heard from Swani about your purpose, just ask whatever you want to know!"

Yennefer, who spoke on behalf of the group, was very graceful, "Dear sisters, thank you for taking the time at this sad moment.

First of all, I want to know, are the villains who attacked the village really the Wild Hunt?"

"It's true... but many people don't believe it, and I don't think you believe it either." The younger lady answered first.

"Did you see the knights riding skeleton horses with frost on their armor?"

The older woman replied solemnly: "Yes, the situation was like the apocalypse described in the poem. They rushed to our shore on a large ship made of dead people's nails.

Lev shouted for everyone to hide the children.

Then they approached and cut his neck. Lev wanted to speak, but only hissing leaks were left... I tried to find someone to help, to save Lev, but there were corpses everywhere, so many. Jolly, Ingvar and little Nike... They were all dead."

Muffled sobs sounded in the house, from the other two women.

"Which direction did the Wild Hunt leave?" Yennefer asked.

"Riding horses made of ice and bones, they went to the seaside and crossed the canyon-"

"--Enough, I think we can stop here," Swani interrupted softly, "There is no need to evoke their pain. Aren't you two here to find Ciri?"

Glancing at the battle priest, the sorceress did not argue.

White Wolf. Geralt bowed slightly, "It's like this, we are looking for a young woman with gray hair, her name is Ciri, with gray hair and green eyes."

"We don't have the person you described here..." The middle-aged woman shook her head and denied it, "She may be buried here, but I don't remember burying a young woman with gray hair, or maybe I forgot, there are too many people buried these days."

The middle-aged woman is the manager of the village of Lovten. She said she hadn't seen it, which almost meant that Ciri really didn't appear. Then when the old woman also shook her head to indicate that she had no impression, Yennefer covered her face with her hands in annoyance.

Fortunately, at this moment, the young woman gestured at the corner of her eyes unconfidently, "The person named Ciri you mentioned, does she have a scar on her cheek?"

The sorceress was immediately refreshed, "Yes! Yes! That's her, do you know her whereabouts?"

"No! I don't know where she is. I just saw her once before the attack. She was talking to the 'coward' in the stable at that time."

"Coward!?...May his soul not rest in peace." The middle-aged woman cursed in a low voice.

Ignoring the middle-aged woman's murmur, Yennefer asked the young lady, "Dear, do you remember anything else? Anything is fine."

"I... just remember that she looked very tired... very tired. And her hair was wet."

"Great, now we know she had taken a bath. Please continue."

"I'm sorry, maybe Skellige--"

"--a coward." The middle-aged woman raised her voice to correct.

"Uh... sorry... it's a coward. I'm sorry that's all I know, maybe he can tell you more."

"Doesn't the coward you're talking about have a name?" Geralt asked gently.

"Originally, there was one, but the elders kicked him out of the family tree," the young woman explained, "Now this person is equivalent to non-existence. The sacred law forbids anyone to touch him, talk to him... or even mention his name."

"How did he end up like this?"

"When the Wild Hunt attacked, he cowardly rode away on horseback! Many people saw it."

It is well known that in the Skellige Islands, honor is more important than life. People who lose their honor have no value in survival. If they run away while defending their homes, they will naturally be deprived of everything.

Geralt nodded to show his understanding, "I see. But since he is the only clue, even if it violates your customs, we still want to talk to him."

"I have no objection, but he can't speak anymore," the middle-aged woman explained with disdain, "The shameful fugitive was abandoned on the seashore, and his body was left to be pecked by seagulls and crows!"

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