A special witcher

"Where am I?" I murmured, my throat dry, as I looked around. Darkness surrounded me, heavy and suffocating. A faint light, coming from the moon, seeped through a crack in the rock, casting strange shadows on the stone walls. The air was icy, saturated with moisture, and the scent of ancient earth lingered in the cave.

I tried to stand up, but my legs trembled, and my movements were clumsy, hesitant. A strange weakness seemed to hold me back, as if my own body was fighting against me. I caught my breath, leaning against a rough wall, then slowly moved forward. Each step echoed in the silence, amplified by the sound of water droplets falling onto the stone.

A sudden noise startled me. In front of me, the wall trembled, then, with a low rumble, it slowly opened, revealing a passage. Torches mounted on the walls lit up one by one, illuminating a winding path. The flickering light danced across inscriptions carved into the stone. Intrigued, I moved closer and ran my fingers over the engravings.

Scenes of battle were depicted: silhouettes fought amidst flames, surrounded by monstrous creatures. At the center of one of the murals, five figures seemed to unite to face a black, immense being whose features were indistinct, almost swallowed by shadow.

A wave of chills ran through me. These images seemed so ancient and yet… they exuded an oppressive energy, as if whispering a truth to me.

I continued forward cautiously. The torches faintly lit the walls around me, but my strength was draining with every step. My legs threatened to give out. I didn't know where I was or how I had gotten here.

Finally, I reached a vast chamber. At the center, on a stone altar, rested a shimmering orb shaped like a flower. Its soft glow lit the room, pushing back the darkness. I was drawn to it, irresistibly. My fingers brushed the orb's smooth surface, and a strange warmth spread through my body.

"At last, you're here, Zireael."

I turned around abruptly. A woman stood near the altar. She had long blonde hair cascading in waves around her shoulders and striking green eyes that shone with an unfathomable wisdom. She smiled at me, a calm, almost benevolent smile.

"Who is Zireael? And who are you?" I asked, wary, stepping back slightly.

The woman placed a finger on her chin, pondering for a moment, then nodded as if she had just remembered something.

"Ah, of course. You still don't know. In that case, I'll call you Cirilla," she said with an amused smile.

She approached the altar and gently placed her hands on the orb with an almost maternal tenderness. "This orb contains my power. I suppose you've already seen someone wield a similar force."

I furrowed my brow, trying to understand. A power like this… Who among those I know could possess such strength?

The witchers? No, it's not the same energy.

Triss? No, despite her immense destructive power. Even Yennefer or Saccabus didn't emit this kind of aura.

Then, an answer came to me. Only one person could…

"Aiden," I murmured, almost involuntarily.

The woman smiled, as if she could read my thoughts. "Yes. Aiden is my husband's champion and has carried a fraction of his power since birth."

I swallowed hard, trying to collect my thoughts. "His power of ice belongs to your husband, is that it?"

She nodded. "Indeed. But what he possesses is only a spark, a tiny piece of my husband's true power. And you too, Cirilla, are destined for a far greater role."

I remained silent, unsettled. Then, with a sigh, I asked, "Who are you?"

She looked at me, her green eyes glowing softly in the light of the orb. "I am Tuilë, goddess of life and nature. And you, Cirilla, are destined to become my champion."

"Your champion?" I repeated, struggling to hide my disbelief. "And if I accept, will I be able to see Aiden again?"

Tuilë's smile softened, almost sad. "Not yet. You must remain in this world and learn. You are no longer in your world, Cirilla. While fleeing the witches, you instinctively used your power to teleport here, to my sanctuary."

My heart sank. "Then… I'm alone?"

She placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You are not alone, Cirilla. Your path is still long, but I will be here to guide you. Take this orb, and when you're ready to accept your role, swallow it. On that day, your destiny will change forever."

Tuilë stepped away, opening a passage in the wall. Beyond it, a magnificent landscape stretched as far as the eye could see: snow-capped mountains, lush forests, and a sky so clear it seemed unreal.

"Welcome to Skyrim, Cirilla," she said before disappearing.

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Arriving at the contract room with Carl, I approached the man behind the counter. When he looked up at me, he seemed surprised and glanced at Carl before standing up hurriedly. After a brief exchange, he led us to a small room off to the side where we could speak in private.

Once inside, he quickly pulled Carl into his arms, hugging him tightly. Then he turned to me, relief written all over his face.

"Thank you, witcher!"

I shook my head and replied calmly, "No need. I just want my reward."

The man nodded and went to retrieve a pouch, which he handed to me. "Here, this is the reward offered by the duchess for this contract. Would you mind if I said it was you who solved this issue? I know some witchers prefer to remain anonymous, especially when dealing with powerful people."

I thought for a moment. Sylvanna's request came to mind, and I chose to reply, "I don't mind. Do as you wish."

With that settled, I left the room and headed toward the inn.

Outside the inn, I noticed Sylvanna in conversation with a man. Intrigued, I slowed my pace, straining to hear. A few words reached me: "festival" and "identify the targets." These terms immediately raised my suspicions.

When she saw me, Sylvanna broke off the conversation and dismissed the man with a firm tone. He nodded, gave me a slight bow, and quickly disappeared into the alleyways.

I approached Sylvanna, who greeted me with a charming smile. Without hiding my curiosity, I asked, "What was that about?"

She adopted a teasing tone and replied, "Nothing, witcher. Haven't you ever been taught not to meddle in a lady's secrets?"

I fixed her with a cold stare and retorted calmly, "I have, but when it concerns me, I prefer to be informed."

She sighed before responding in a more neutral tone, "Don't worry, it doesn't concern you directly. At least… not personally." Without giving me time to reply, she abruptly changed the subject. "Come on. I'll take care of your wounds."

She headed toward the inn without another word. I cast a wary glance toward the direction the man had gone, then followed her inside.

In the room, Sylvanna had already prepared a basin of clear water and some bandages. She gestured for me to sit on a stool near the table.

"What are you waiting for? Take off your shirt," she said assertively.

I sighed and replied, "I can handle it myself." But before I could do anything, she stepped closer to help me remove my shirt. I gently took her hands to stop her, then eventually complied, carefully taking off my shirt on my own.

A faint gasp escaped her lips, which drew my attention. She quickly averted her eyes, clearing her throat awkwardly, before regaining her composure and moving behind me.

I felt her slender fingers brush against my skin as she examined my wounds. Her touch was gentle yet precise, and an involuntary shiver ran down my spine before I regained control of my emotions.

"What was the monster like?" she asked, her voice suddenly calm and steady, very different from her usual tone.

"Different from anything I've ever seen," I replied, trying to keep my tone just as calm. "No bestiary mentions a creature like this. I suspect it was a curse rather than a monster from the Conjunction."

Sylvanna continued cleaning my wounds in silence, then, in an almost guilty tone, she murmured, "I'm sorry… It's my fault you got hurt."

She paused, her hands trembling slightly. I could tell she genuinely felt bad.

Surprised, I placed my hand over hers and gently replied, "You've got nothing to apologize for. I did this willingly. It's my job to deal with monsters, and sooner or later, someone would've had to take care of this one. So don't worry about it."

I withdrew my hand after speaking, but to my surprise, she grabbed my fingers again and held them lightly.

"Can I hold your hand a little longer?" she murmured.

I sighed but eventually nodded. A comfortable silence settled between us until she whispered in a barely audible voice, "Thank you, Aiden."

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Watching Aiden sleep, I couldn't help but think back on the weeks I'd spent by his side. At first, I saw him as nothing more than a piece on the chessboard of my revenge. A weapon I could wield to achieve my goal: punishing my sister for abandoning me and destroying those knights who had ruined my life.

But little by little, something had changed.

I watched him, his features relaxed in sleep, and I couldn't deny what I felt now. Even though he wasn't much of a talker, his actions spoke for him. In every fight, he took the blows for me, always putting himself on the front line. When I was nothing more than support—or even bait—he stayed close, ready to intervene and protect me. And he did it all without expecting anything in return.

I smiled as I remembered the moment I told him about my past. I had braced myself to see his expression change, to find that familiar look of disgust I knew so well. But instead, the next morning, he looked at me with the same calm intensity and said, "My view of you won't change. As long as you don't commit any crimes, I'll be here to protect you and help you."

Those words had shaken something in me. They touched a part of my heart I thought had been dead for a long time. A part of me that, deep down, I knew shouldn't exist. I wanted…

What did I want?

I wanted him to reject me. I wanted him to judge me and put an end to this feeling growing inside me, this strange and terrifying warmth. But he hadn't done any of that.

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to push these thoughts away. But a tear rolled down my cheek. Then another. I wiped them away quickly, but it was no use. "Aiden, I'm sorry," I murmured, my voice trembling. "I'm sorry for breaking my promise."

Wiping away the tears that had appeared, I dried them and said, "Aiden, I'm sorry for breaking my promise not to commit any crimes, and for destroying the image you have of me."

I knew he still believed in me. He thought I could take revenge without succumbing to hatred, without causing more suffering. But he was wrong. That idea of clean revenge, without bloodshed, was nothing more than an illusion. He'd figure that out sooner or later. And on that day, he'd walk away. He'd leave, like everyone else before him.

So…

Forgive me, Aiden.

You, the first love I never thought I'd find in my miserable life.

Me, Syanna… I've fallen in love with you.

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(First time I'm introducing a romance in this story, I hope it's good ^^)