The pond that marks the start of the Trial of the mountains was a small walk from the fortress of Kaer Morhen. Geralt walked ahead, and Ciri followed just behind him, her steps lighter, quicker, barely containing the energy inside her. Sebastian walked alongside, silent and observant, his gaze moving across the terrain.
The further they went, the thicker the mist became, it crept low at first… then rose, curling around trees, swallowing the path in pale grey.
Geralt slowed down.
"Do I need to repeat myself," he said without turning, "or did both of you understand what you're meant to do?"
Sebastian answered first, calm as ever. "I got it. All clear."
Ciri nodded immediately, even if he couldn't see her. "Same here."
Geralt grunted faintly.
"Good," he said.
He took a few more steps, then stopped.
"Because we're here."
The mist parted just enough to reveal it.
A pond, still and dark, its surface barely disturbed, reflecting nothing but the pale sky above. The fog was thick over the water, obscuring the far side completely.
Near the edge, half-buried, lay the remains of a small wooden boat, broken, rotting, long abandoned.
Sebastian's eyes moved over everything, taking it all in.
"A bit too foggy for my taste," he muttered.
Geralt's gaze remained fixed on the water.
"You might run into foglets once you cross," he said. "They like places like this."
Ciri rolled her shoulders slightly, loosening herself.
"We'll avoid them," she said. "Don't worry."
She glanced at him, a cocky grin forming.
"You trained us well."
Geralt looked at her and for a moment, he said nothing.
Then his expression hardened just slightly, in concern.
"I'm trusting you with this," he said.
His voice was serious.
"But I'll ask you one last time... Once you start, there's no turning back."
His eyes moved between them.
"You don't have to do this. There's nothing waiting for you on the other side except a dangerous trial that we could do later together, safely, you can walk away now."
Ciri didn't even hesitate.
"No chance!" she said.
Her voice was firm.
"I'm doing this."
She glanced sideways at Sebastian.
"Together of crouse."
Sebastian met Geralt's gaze, steady as ever.
"You already know my answer, Geralt."
Geralt held his eyes for a second longer… then exhaled.
A quiet, resigned breath.
"I tried..." he muttered. "Well, I'll be here."
He stepped aside slightly, giving them space.
"You can start."
Ciri didn't wait another second.
"Alright!"
She rushed forward, then leapt.
The water broke around her in a sharp splash, the cold biting instantly, but she didn't falter. She began swimming, fast and determined.
A few strokes in, she turned her head back, her voice carrying faintly through the fog.
"Try to keep up, Seb!"
A grin in her tone.
"Wouldn't want you getting lost out here!"
Geralt shook his head slightly, watching her disappear further into the mist.
"This girl…" he muttered under his breath.
He was not amused.
Sebastian stood at the edge for a moment longer, staring at the water.
Still silent.
'Swimming…'
A faint breath left him.
'Funny…'
'There was a time I thought I wouldn't be able to swim at all.. Because of the origins of my powers...'
A memory crossed his mind
Then, he smiled.
'Good thing I tested that theory a long time ago.'
He stepped forward, and jumped.
The cold hit him instantly, but his movements didn't falter. He surfaced smoothly, already pushing forward, cutting through the water with controlled strokes.
'That weakness doesn't apply in this world.'
His eyes locked onto the faint silhouette ahead of him.
"Ciri!" he called out. "Slow down."
He picked up his pace.
"Stay close! Don't be an idiot!"
Her laughter echoed faintly through the fog, light and completely unbothered.
"You're just slow!" she shot back. "Thought witchers were faster than this!"
Sebastian exhaled, amused despite himself.
"Keep talking," he muttered under his breath, pushing harder through the water.
On the shore, Geralt stood alone watching them go.
The fog swallowed them both, their shapes fading until there was nothing left but ripples on the surface… and silence.
He remained there for a long moment.
Then he sighed.
"Yeah…" he muttered to himself.
His gaze lingered on the water.
"I'm definitely following them."
Geralt didn't like it. He didn't like how quickly they disappeared, didn't like how easily Ciri had leapt in and he didn't like how calm Sebastian had been about it.
Behind him, there was a faint distortion in the air.
Then the soft, familiar sound of boots on frost.
"Did they leave already?"
Yennefer's voice came as smoothly as ever,
Geralt didn't turn.
"They did," he said.
"And she's treating it like a game." he added.
There was a hint of irritation in his voice and concern.
Yennefer stepped up beside him, her gaze drifting toward the pond. The fog reflected faintly in her violet eyes.
"Let her," she said calmly.
Geralt finally glanced at her.
"I know what this place is to you," she continued. "What it represents."
Her voice softened, just slightly.
"You've told me enough similar stories."
Her gaze moved slowly across the water.
"Cold, fear and pain. Boys thrown into something they never chose."
A faint exhale.
"So many didn't make it."
Geralt said nothing.
Yennefer finally turned her head, meeting his eyes.
"And yet," she said, "it made you what you are."
A small pause followed, then her expression sharpened.
"Don't misunderstand me," she added. "I still think it was cruel. Pointless, even. Those boys could have been spared."
Her gaze flicked briefly toward the distant mountains.
"They weren't given a choice."
Then she looked back toward the pond.
"But Ciri and Sebastian chose this, that's the difference."
Then she turned back to him fully, and lifted a finger, pointing it straight at his chest.
"And you," she said.
Geralt raised a brow slightly.
"You're going to follow them, Now." she continued. "Make sure they don't die doing something reckless."
Geralt's lips twitched faintly.
"Do you really have to..."
Yennefer ignored that.
"Hold on!"
Before he could respond, her hand moved quick.
She spoke a quiet incantation under her breath.
Then it settled over him.
Geralt blinked once.
Looked down at his hands, gone.
His body, completely invisible.
He flexed his fingers slightly, watching nothing move.
"Handy," he muttered.
Yennefer crossed her arms, satisfied.
"It is," she said.
Then her expression turned serious again.
"Don't get too close to them."
Geralt glanced at her.
"Sebastian's already a Witcher," she explained. "He might not see you, but he could feel something off."
She stepped a little closer, her voice lowering.
"And if you interfere…"
A slight tilt of her head.
"The spell breaks."
Geralt nodded once. "Figures."
Yennefer held his gaze.
"So you'll only step in if they're in real danger," she said. "And not because Ciri decided to show off. Not because you don't like how they're doing things.."
"Don't spoil this for them.." she added.
Geralt exhaled quietly.
"I was planning on doing that anyway."
Yennefer didn't look convinced.
Her finger lifted again, this time in clear warning.
"I mean it!"
Geralt gave her a flat look.
"I get it," he said. "Jeez, Yen."
She held his gaze for another moment… then finally stepped back.
Satisfied for now.
Geralt turned his attention back to the pond and without another word, he stepped forward.
/-\
If you Like this story! Check out my other stories! Shadow Monarch: In One Piece / Shadow Monarch in DC
&
If you wish to read more or simply support me than check out my pat-reon / FrenzyAren"
You can Get Access to More Chapters Ahead of Release on All of My Stories!