In the high heavens hung a silvery moon, cold night winds howling across the cave's passage and spreading through the main chamber.
Triss held her shoulders and shivered.
Roy produced a black blanket out of nowhere and covered her with it. Then he gave her a smile.
My, isn't he caring? The only people who would do that were men who called themselves noble. Men who wore posh clothes and put on a civilized act but who were actually nothing but perverts underneath.
But a witcher doing this was something she never experienced before. A surge of warmth coursed through her body, and something welled in her eyes.
"This might sound unbelievable, but my coming to this cave is no coincidence," Roy said seriously. "Have you heard of the mutation witchers have to go through? Every witcher gains different abilities from that mutation, and the one I gained is the power to glimpse into the future. I felt where the vampire was hiding, and I knew I would rescue an important figure if I killed it. So I came prepared and killed that bastard. But imagine my surprise when the one I saved turned out to be a lovely lady like you," he praised.
"You felt all of this happening?" Triss stared into his eyes and pursed her lips. Obviously, she didn't believe him at all. "Are you sure you're a witcher and not a seer?" She grinned. "You have a sense of humor."
"Remember what I said earlier? Destiny guided me here. It led me to this very cave, but you don't seem convinced." Roy stared at her face.
"So Destiny heard my prayers and sent you to my rescue? So this is fated to happen?" she whispered, staring at the ground. Is he confessing to me?
"I believe you require more convincing. Pardon me, but I need to put on a demonstration. I shall show you how I can glimpse at your fate through the fog of time." Roy stepped forward and held her hand in his. And then he closed his eyes.
Triss tensed up, her other hand still clutching her hair as tightly as possible. A crimson hue painted her whole face, but delight welled within her.
And then surprise took over her. She felt the light of magic shining in the air, and chaos energy was starting to swim around. The witcher seemed to be performing a special kind of magic somehow.
Gryphon was lying on a big tree outside the cave. It felt a surge of mana coming from its master, but it purred. Huh? No orders this time? That's odd. Confusion filled its eyes.
"You are allergic to magic potions, aren't you?" Roy stopped casting the spell. He wore a look only doctors would when they were diagnosing their patients.
"How did you know?" Shock overwhelmed her. She felt herself snapping out of a stupor and ignored her earlier embarrassment. She was sure the only people who knew that were the teachers who taught her back at the academy, and her best friends. So how did he find out? Is he actually telling the truth? He can see the future?
"I glimpsed into a future encounter of yours. You were lying in a carriage, surrounded by dwarves and humans. One of them was a little girl with ashen hair. You were sick, and your talisman was lost. You couldn’t consume any magic potions and almost died." Roy's hold tightened like he wanted to merge with her. "And I saw something else."
Triss kept staring at Roy.
"Triss, you will be joining our organization in the future." Roy raised his voice and put on a big smile like he was welcoming an old friend. "You will be working with me in Novigrad. Yes. You will be one of the best researchers in our organization."
"What kind of organization?"
"The brotherhood of witchers. It's an organization we established in Novigrad. Our goal is to improve the living conditions of witchers."
Triss paused for a moment. What's the deal with this organization? And he's making a weird face. He's nervous. He was lying.
For a moment, she snapped out of her fantasy and pointed out what Roy wanted to do. "So everything you said was bait for me to join the brotherhood?" She pursed her lips, trying to see through Roy. Triss held his hand, anxiety welling within her. "Is this the request you want?"
"This is not just a request, but also your future." Roy admitted it right away. He made it sound like what he saw had happened and not something that was just in the distant future.
Triss took a deep breath. There was hesitation on her face. From the day she joined her brotherhood, she vowed to never be a double agent. Before she was clear about the deal with the brotherhood of witchers, she would never join them.
Roy noticed her hesitation, and he sighed in silence. Gotta amp up the persuasion.
Once more, he closed his eyes and moved his hand further up her arm. Slowly, he said, "Your future forks into two paths. If you do not travel to Novigrad, then you shall be embroiled in a crisis. A war, so to speak. A bloody war."
Triss' heart skipped a beat.
"A war between Nilfgaard and the Northern Realms," Roy said vaguely. "Your fate is uncertain as of yet. Perhaps you might die, or perhaps you might live with dire consequences. Your body and mind will be scarred, forever unhealed."
"I'll be dragged into a war?" If this were in the past, Triss would only see this as a mere joke. But not after she saw the journal. Not after she read about part of the Nilfgaardian might and discovered the ambition of Emhyr.
If Cintra were to fall, then Nilfgaard would certainly make their way further up north. She could imagine them crossing Sodden Hill, the crucial landmark that connected Yaruga, Lyria, Rivia, and Temeria. If that were to pass, a battle would certainly break out there.
***
She sorted her thoughts out, and it threw her in a dilemma. If what Roy said was true, all the more reason not to join the brotherhood. Running from a war was not her style. Just like how she stupidly meddled in this hunt, she too would join the war to fight back against the Nilfgaardian invaders.
***
"If the south were to invade, would your organization lend a hand to the people?" She stared at Roy with solemnity in her eyes.
"That, I cannot decide. Our members must vote on it." It was regrettable, but Roy did not wish to lie. "Humans have waged wars for centuries, and yet most witchers remain neutral. Do you get what I say?"
Triss hung her head low, and she said nothing more.
"Perhaps we might help the victims," he added. "War brings death, plague, destruction, and famine. Without their parents, the homeless children will be nothing but food for the monsters. The brotherhood will do its best to balance the destruction wrought by war."
So they still won't join the war? "Thank you for your help and the reminder, then." Triss looked at him. The weird sense of excitement within her was slowly fading away. A hint of disappointment and guilt filled her eyes. "Sorry, but I cannot join the brotherhood. I need to stay in Vizima." She was reluctant to refuse him, but she had to. "I've joined Temeria's royal council alongside Keira and Fercart. One of our jobs is to prevent wars from happening. And if push comes to shove, how to defend ourselves. War looms over us like a vulture waiting to peck at the corpses of the fallen. And this journal proves a disaster is upon us.
"The brotherhood might be able to stay out of this and set out on an adventure of charity after the war, but to me, this coming disaster is a matter of life and death. I am a part of the royal council and the brotherhood. I have no choice but to see this through." She said, "I shall stay and watch how the war unfolds. I will witness how Nilfgaard will attack us. If they fight under the banner of injustice, then I shall charge into battle alongside the Temerian forces."
A pregnant pause hung in the air, shadows dancing on the walls.
Roy heaved a sigh, but for some reason, he was relieved. "You are an honorable woman, Lady Triss. I might have exaggerated some parts of the prophecy, but they are not false, for the most part. Should you join the battle, only great pain awaits you. Have you made up your mind about it?"
She held her talisman tightly. The silence was answer enough for Roy.
"I knew you'd refuse the proposal." He stared into her eyes like she was an old friend. "It wouldn't be you otherwise."
Unlike most people, Triss was kind, strong, and almost naive. "Then that brings this business to an end, lady." Roy straightened his cape out and shifted his gaze to the cave's exit. "I should see Kalkstein and finish the request now. And you should return to your comrades. They must be worried sick."
"No, don't leave!" She suddenly grabbed his arm, her nails almost digging into his flesh. "I still haven't given you your reward!" she said hurriedly.
"No need for reward." Take it as a little assistance for the righteous lady who loves the Northern Realms with all her heart. Killing the higher vampire was the biggest reward he could hope for. At least he could complete Kalkstein’s request now.
"I-I don't like owing anyone any favors," she said.
"Then let's make a promise. Once you've done your duty of sacrificing for this kingdom and its people, you can come to Novigrad. If you still feel like it after the war, you can come to us. Our doors are always open for you."
Triss' lips trembled. She had a feeling if she refused this offer, then this would be the last time she would see Roy. The sorceress clenched her lips. "If that day comes, then I shall travel to Novigrad."
"Very well. See you then, Triss. Take care and don't run around like you did today. Your luck will eventually run out."
"How should we stay in touch, then?"
"We will meet when the time is right." Roy hesitated for a moment, and he said, "Or whenever you come to Novigrad."
"Oh, I have an idea!" Triss weaved a complex gesture with both hands, and her talisman shone with magic. She waved her hand and produced a beautiful diamond-shaped crystal.
With anticipation and diffidence, she said, "Take it. We can stay in touch through a telescope."
Roy froze. Hey, this looks familiar.
But before he could say no, Triss mustered her courage and stuffed the crystal in his hand. At the same time, she gave him a tight hug.
Triss felt soft and supple, and her hair smelled like roses. And he felt her pecking him on his lips. It made him freeze for a moment.
Before he could say anything, he saw a portal appearing in thin air. "Call me, Roy! You must!" Her hair swayed as she ran into the portal like a fawn.
The portal disappeared, and Roy stared at the crystal. "First things first, Coral must not know of this crystal. And second of all, Triss, you should have opened a portal for me as well. Vizima is miles away from this place."
***
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