11 years later (Page 13)

I'm 21 now. I just finished the last contract for Gaunter. I have said contract target over my shoulder. They call him Jork the Vast on account of his massive fortune. I never, in my wildest dreams, thought this is what a deal with the devil means. My body has an assortment of scars. Each one has a story too. I'm lucky that my face and genitals haven't had the same treatment as my body. The only thing on my face is the brand. Nothing debilitating, but the wounds healing did make this journey longer. I'm also quite tall now. I'm a little above 6'2, just like my dad... I'm supposed to meet Gaunter at a shrine dedicated to the forest gods. I'm glad to say that I'm almost finished with this.

I finished what was in Lara's diary too. I learned everything she had written in there. I have new offensive magic. The thing that's developed the most is my control over my power. I can now suppress it on my own. I can still be tracked if I teleport long distances, though. Even Gaunter taught me a thing about magic. However, the amalgamations in trying to put it into practice were improbable. I still have the knowledge, which is worth something.

I have done a lot of regrettable things in my journey with the merchant, the devil... I killed a lot of innocent people that got in the way. Something I never wanted to do. Both figuratively and literally, he lied about that part. I've done so much wrong, and I'm sure that I'll have to pay for it at some point. I even got a nickname for my brutal deeds. The majority of the populous calls me Emerald Death on account of my Elder Blood. Gotta say, sounds narcissistic and egotistical, but I didn't come up with it.

I'm approaching my destination with my captive tied up on my shoulder. Gaunter wants to deal with him personally. I walk up the mountain and see the shrine. Everything is calm and quiet. The birds are chirping and the wind blowing on this lovely early spring day. It's getting warmer, but it's a little nippy right now. I stop and throw the man down. He grunts but makes no other noise.

I sit down and lean against a tree across from the man as I contemplate my life to this point as I wait for Gaunter. Another hour passes, and I find that the man is now struggling to talk.

I'm tired of the constant groaning, so I take off his gag. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM!? YOU'LL REGRET THIS, I PROMISE ON MY MOTHERS GRAVE!!!" Geez, taking off the gag was a bad idea. I've heard this a bunch of times.

No one was strong enough to make me regret it. "It's not me you gotta worry about, Jork. I'm still pretty pissed about what you said, though." Making fun of another man's mother is enough to warrant death.

He's even unluckier since Gaunter wants him. "What does that even mean!?! Who do you work for, anyway??!" Man, this guy is loud and dumb. Well, it'll all be over soon.

Another few minutes of this shit is tolerable. "Gaunter O'Dimm has some business with you, Jork. I simply bring him what he want's. After you, I get what I wanted after a long journey. So in the end, you'll die for a good cause." The look on his face when I said Gaunter's name pretty much sums it up.

He crawls on his chest to get closer and cries near my boots. A pitiful display, really. "PLEASE, RELEASE ME!! I'LL GIVE YOU ANYTHING!!" He has nothing that I'd ever want. After some more begging, I hear Gaunter's voice.

His light footsteps echos up the hill, and Jork begins to panic even more. "Now, now, Jork. I hate it when someone tries to run away from me without paying their debts." I've been with this monster for years now. If you can call him, even call him a monster—companion for 11 years now. I've gotten used to him. I'll admit, everything wasn't all bad. Take away the godlike supernatural powers and evilness, and you got a great conversationalist.

Jork stops struggling and tries to move away from Gaunter little by little. "Master O'Dimm, if I knew it was you..." He chokes on his own words. He can't even come up with an excuse. Gaunter uses his powers to undo the binds, and the man gets up slowly.

Gaunter adopts a sinister expression with a malevolent grin. "By all means, finish. You aren't going anywhere anytime soon..." Talk about foreboding. I stay out of the way when this happens. I never felt any pity for these men. No reason to step in and help them. He actually looks at me too. You won't find any help here.

He looks at Gaunter as he stands up now that his binds are undone. "Please, Master O'Dimm... Have mercy on my soul..." Wow, now he's on his hands and knees begging. At least die on your feet like a man. Well, I guess getting your soul taken by Gaunter is worse than death.

You brought this on yourself, though. "You forget, Jork. You sold me your soul for the vast power and wealth you now have. It's time to pay the piper." He walks to the man with purpose and digs his hands into his chest. After the first 4 times, it doesn't gross me out anymore.

He grins and squints his eyes as the black smoke exits Jork and enters Gaunter. "Your soul belongs to me now." All that's left is a skeleton. It falls to the ground in a mess. Gaunter holds his skull as he turns to me. He has a calm and solemn look on his face.

He places the skull behind his back, and he brings his hands back out empty. He used magic to send it to wherever he keeps them. His collection. "It seems you have held up your end of the deal, Cera... Now it's time for me to hold up mine after all these years..." He waves his hand, and the brand is removed in cold heat.

I definitely feel different now, like no one is watching me anymore. "I still remember what you wanted. Has that changed, by chance?" I've never heard him speak in such a tone. I guess I did a good enough job. My wish, however, has not changed.

I will get my vengeance against the Aen Elle. "No, I only want to know how to stop the wild hunt." I came to learn the identity of my enemies a few years back. I know Gaunter will know what I need to do. He is far more powerful than me.

His knowledge is endless too. He even has the ability to look into the future. "I should've known better. You never wavered with that wish. The love of a child for his parents is an extraordinary thing." He looks off into the vast valley as he says that.

He takes a breath to start talking. "I can't see your future, Cera. However, I know who can help you with your goal. You'll need to search for an elf that has betrayed the Aen Elle called Avallac'h. He'll be the one that will make your wish a success. You'll also run into some other friends along the way. The elf is already helping Ciri. You'll succeed if you meet up with him. A place to look would be Velen in two weeks. I can't see any further into the future regarding you than that. It's a place called Crows Perch. You'll meet Ciri there." Now that's a surprise. Even the Aen Elle are imperfect. I didn't know Gaunter couldn't see my future, yet he acts as he does. You can't take what he says at face value. I'll get to see Ciri too.

I hope she is okay after all this time. I wonder if she resents me for leaving as I did... "Thank you. I now have a path to follow. I never thought this is what my life would turn out to be..." I confess to the man I have spent the last 11 years traveling with.

He looks at me with a calculating look. "I will grant you one more wish, Cera. I think you have earned that much." I never thought the devil would be the generous type... Something that I should be cautious about here. Something that'll be useful in my journey.

I think I have something in mind that'll help me. A little bland for a wish, but it'll do the job. "I haven't made many selfish requests in my life. I need a sword that'll never get dull or break and will cut through anything." That is what my with is, a weapon that'll always be useful to me.

Gaunter smiles as this is the first time he's seen me make a selfish request. From anyone likely, who knows how long he's been watching me. "A splendid wish indeed. I have just the blade for you." He waves his hands, and a sword appears with a cloud of thick smoke. One of ornate design, and it has a sheath with it.

He steps back as I pick up the sword and give it a few test swings. "I'll give you well wishes on your journey, Cera. This one is now over." It really is over. I feel joy spread through me—years and years of fighting and killing. Never to rest and take a break.

Now I'm free. I hold out my hand. "And I thank you for keeping your end of the deal. I wish you well on your journeys as well, Gaunter." We shake hands, and he walks away. Soon he is out of sight, and I'm left alone with the skeleton of Jork.

I take a seat next to the skeleton, and I sigh. "You should have made better choices. The things you did are what attracted him. You only have yourself to blame..." I'm projecting myself onto the bones of Jork. But I'm free... What a feeling!!!

~~~(POV Yen)~~~

I've never stopped looking for Cera, but I've given up hope he's alive or safe. I don't know how many nights I've cried myself to sleep from losing him... 11 years is a long time to be missing...

I hear the bedroom door open, and a servant comes through the door. "The Emperor will see you now." Duty calls. I haven't spoken to Emhyr since Cera was taken. After a few years, Ciri split up from Geralt, and we don't know where she is. Geralt and I are estranged again after all these events. I approach the room and enter. He's grown older, it seems.

No point in dilly-dallying. I perform the proper bow. "Emperor, what is it you require of me?" I speak in a tone of sincerity and confidence. You can't act like a fool in front of royalty like this.

He waves his hand to the rest of the people in the room. "Everyone leave us. I wish to speak to the sorceress, alone." Everyone quickly leaves, and I look at him as he gets up and walks to the painting of Ciri.

His demeanor changes, and I can see him slough slightly as he looks at the painting. "Do you know why I have called you here, Yennefer?" I haven't heard him call me that in a long time.

It seems we are dropping the formalities. "No, Emhyr, I don't know why, but if I had a guess, it's something to do with Cirilla." Not bothering to waste any more time. He stays quiet for a while and speaks in a worried voice.

He turns and nods his head in confirmation of my guess. "My daughter, Cirilla, has returned. My spies have confirmed reports of her traveling in Valen, Novigrad, and Skeillge. I need you to find her and bring her to me." That's the best news I have heard in a long time.

Cirilla is extremely important to me. I helped raise the girl in Kaer Morhen. "I won't bother you with pointless questions. I'll start putting out feelers and use location magic to find her. If that doesn't work, then you'll have to call in a tracker." His stock face doesn't change as he looks me dead in the eyes.

He turns away and walks back to his desk. "How long do you need?" He's asking as a father and not as an Emperor.

I doubt his intentions are as pure as he's making them out to be. "Give me a couple of weeks. If I can't find her by then, we have other options to use." I'll admit, this is putting a fire under me. To find the girl I helped raise. She helped fill the great hole in my heart that Cera left. He motions for me to leave. No more talking. I head to my room with my magical items and begin searching.