10th Birthday! (Finale) (page 10)

Ciri and I make it back to Kaer Morhen before noon. We spend a lot of time together before we separate to do our own thing. She heads to Geralt and Vesemir while I head to Yennefer as she is talking to a person I've never met before.

I make my way over to her, and the person she is talking to looks very pretty. The red hair stands out in a good way. I wonder if they are friends or something. I stop as I stand next to Yen. I notice the lady with red hair looks at me and speaks.

He smiles as she leans down, so we are eye to eye. "Well, you must be Cera. Yen has told me so much about you. I heard that you have a talent for magic." I didn't know that Yen talked about me to her friends. I'm still struggling with normal magic. However, the magic in Lara's diary is easier to do.

She is waiting for a response with a slightly raised eyebrow. "Yeah, I can do some elven magic, but I really suck at normal magic that Yen uses." She chuckles to herself. I'm betting she is a sorceress just like Yen. I wonder if all sorceresses are beautiful. She looks at Yen with a small smirk and pats the top of my head. Her soft hands are really nice.

Yen sees this, and I watch her roll her eyes. The nice and pretty lady decides to run her fingernails through my white hair, and I become like jelly. Yen clears her throat violently. "What does he mean by normal magic?" She quickly changes the conversation as her fingers leave my hair. I straight up and look between them.

Yen puts her hands on her hips and faces the red-haired lady. "Cera has been learning elven magic from Lara Dorren's diary. It seems to be more acceptable to his magic power." The red-haired beauty raises her eyebrows slightly. I look at Yen, and she decides it's finally time to introduce me to the lady.

She takes a small breath. "Cera, this is Triss Merigold. She is a sorceress, just like me. She specializes in fire magic." So my guess that she's a sorceress was right, I can't really say I know much about Yen's friends, but I'm glad that I met one of them.

The fact that she specializes in fire magic is really cool. Fire is one of the strongest forces of nature, after all. "That's really cool, Triss! I bet you can do cool magic just like Yen!" She gives me a look like Yen sometimes gives—a look I used to get from my mother.

Yen decides to put an end to the conversation. Seeing as it's dragging out longer than she'd like it to. "Now, Cera, don't go bothering her with questions you aren't ready to be answered." Well, that went as expected. Yen has always kept secrets from me, but I never really cared. If she wanted me to know, then she would have told me.

~~~(Couple hours later)~~~

~~~(POV: Cera)~~~

Pretty soon, a bunch of people I don't know has arrived at my birthday party. Most of them look like nobles or magic users. The main party is happening soon. I don't know why this has been such a big party. Ciri's or mine in the past have never been to this scale.

I walk over to the table Ciri is at. I sit down and look at her with tired eyes, saying hello to so many people was hard. Remembering their names was harder. They're all nice folk, though.

I relax and then hear a question from Ciri. "So turns out Yen wanted this to be a big thing for you..." She is in a downtrodden and jealous mood. I would be too if this were her party instead of mine. I don't want to know why this is happening. It kind of feels like a precursor to something bad.

Ciri looks at me. Expecting an answer. "I had no idea this was going to happen... I thought this was going to be one of our regular party's. Next year I'll make sure that you have one even bigger!" I'm trying to bring out her happy side.

It seemed to have worked a little, and we begin to talk about other things. "How long do you think we'll keep training here in Kaer Morhen?"I ask her a question that I've come to think about a lot. It's been a long 4 years in terms of training. I'm sure both of us are better than most soldiers and bandits with blades now.

She looks over at Geralt and Vesemir's table. I follow suit and see how happy they are. "I don't know... It's up to Vesemir when we're done with training. He has no signs of slowing down with us... So I'll say he has plenty more to teach us." Well, she isn't wrong when she says that. Vesemir has been training me harder than ever. I can't really complain since it has only benefited me.

As we are still talking, Geralt and Yen come and sit with us. This is the longest I have seen them together since I was 7. They seem happy, but they are also looking as if there is some bad news. We all talk and have a good laugh. I'm glad my birthday can bring everyone together like this. I'm beyond happy the more I think about my new family.

~~~(An hour after the party)~~~

~~~(POV: Cera)~~~

It's night now, and everyone has departed except for the residents of Kaer Morhen and the two sorceresses. They group up in front of Ciri and me. They look really sad. I have a terrible feeling about what's about to happen.

I watch as Yen slowly approaches us and kneels in front of me. "Cera, we need to talk about something really important..." She is waiting for me to respond, but I can't stop the dreadful feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I brace myself and prepare for news I know I'm not going to like. "What is it... I'm sure you can handle any threats to your life..." I fear that she or someone close to us might be in danger and that she might have to leave for a long time.

She looks into my deep green and blue eyes with her violet ones. "This isn't about me, Cera... This is about you..." She has a slow and sad voice. About me... I'm not in any danger, and I know that Yen can hide me from those soldiers.

That means it's something else. Something that I wouldn't know about. "Did I do something wrong..." I can't stop a little pain from coming through. She's making it seem this is going to be the worst news of my life. She has a look as if her heart has been ripped. Her tears are welling in the corner of her eyes.

Whatever I did... It must have been bad... "I'm sorry for whatever I did..." I hope to make her feel better and make up for any wrongdoing I have committed. After I said that, it seems the situation gets worse.

She dries her tears and answers me. "You didn't do a single thing wrong, Cera. I just have news that will upset you..." She pauses and looks like she is hesitating in what she needs to say.

Then I hear Vesemir. "The longer you wait, the more it's going to hurt." I've never heard Vesemir say something like that before. My gut feeling is getting worse and worse.

She comes clean with what she's hiding. "Cera, your power is growing too fast and strong... You can't remain at Kaer Morhen anymore..." My heart drops, and I immediately look at Ciri and see she is in a state of mild shock. I feel like I'm floating right now. I don't want to leave Ciri...

I was about to voice my opposition, but Ciri beats me to it. "That's not fair!!! How can you just take him away like that!!!" She is nearly screaming, but her tears and shaky voice make that hard.

I look at Yen and see the look my mother used to give me when there was bad news. "I know it's not fair, Ciri, but this is the safest thing for Cera and you right now... You can hate me if you wish, but I must protect both of you... Even if I have to tear you guys apart..." She informs us without a shred of weakness in her voice. Ciri looks totally defeated.

I hear a voice I haven't heard in a very long time. One that I heard only a day before my parent's died. "My, that does seem unfair... If I knew it would have been a discussion like this, I would have shown up earlier!" I look over towards the direction of the voice as I hear slight excitement in it. I see Gaunter O'Dimm, after all these years... How did he know I was here?

Before I could say anything, Yen quickly gets in front of me. "What are you doing here, Demon?! Why have you come?!" Yen rarely gets mad like this, and I feel that she is truly desperate here. Something I've never felt from her.

Gaunter O'Dimm smiles and looks at me with open arms. As if meeting an old friend after a long time apart. "I heard it was Cera's 10th birthday in Vizima!! I was always sad about what happened to his parents... I then remembered little Cera owes me for something that I gave him! I figured now would be the time to collect." Gaunter has excitement and eagerness in his voice. He's excited about something. I don't know what's going on, but I feel as though destiny has come knocking at my door.