Chapter 24

"Aiden, don't you get nervous?"

"Of course I am Ciri, but you know I must succeed in this challenge."

In fact, this is my last and most important test, this is the test that is known to be the toughest, because this test highlights our deepest fears, because a witcher shouldn't be scared and always have a cool head.

"You two are here."

"Yen"

Yen approached us, but stopped to look at Ciri smiling.

"Ciri, don't you think some courtesy is required when you see someone in the morning?"

"Hello Yen"

"Ciri, did you forget our gamble?"

Ciri bites her lips, but she murmurs.

"Hello, big sister."

"I prefer."

Then Yen turned his face toward me, and anxious eyes stared at me.

"Are you well?"

"Yes, are you concerned for me, Yen?"

"Sure, I'm concerned about you, because I need you for the promise we made."

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Remembering the promise, indeed, when I woke up from my kind of coma, the others thought they almost had to celebrate so they took out the bottles and it quickly ended with people drunk, I was out getting some air even though it was winter, Cause I don't know, but the flakes were soothing, but a drunk Yen had come to join me.

"Yennefer"

"No need to call me Yennefer call me Yen."

"Mmh" I looked back at the sky with the flakes falling

"Aiden, is that it?"

"Yes"

"You didn't want to ask me a question after all, you just looked at me while others were drinking."

"I have a question."

"Go ahead, I'm listening" After saying those words Yen walked down the stairs and sat cross-legged, looking straight at me in the eyes

"Geralt told me a little bit about your relationship, but I'd like to hear your story because maybe because I only saw the good side of Geralt, I don't think he hurt you."

"That's just it, I thought you fell in love with me."

"What?! No!"

"Haha, no need to get mad, I'm teasing you"

"So you want to know, fine."

"You see, long before I became a witch, I lived in a village where I was a monster to the other inhabitants, with my back bent, and my jaws badly placed."

"But even with all that, I still loved my parents even if he made me live like an animal, at that time I was very naive, I thought my father would notice his mistake and have I brought home."

"But the straw that broke the camel's back was when my father sold me out, and from that moment on, I knew that the feeling of loving his parents and in return, he would give it back to me was impossible."

"But then I tasted love from a wizard, I thought he loved me for who I was, but that was wrong and it broke me to the point that I understood I had to do everything myself."

"I sacrificed the opportunity to give birth in exchange for a better appearance."

"Give birth?"

"Yes, if you prefer, it's because we put an old oven spell on you that blocks any possibility of giving birth."

"Well, after that only a few adventures until I meet Geralt"

"Back then, I was doing everything I could to give birth and almost got myself killed."

"I should thank Geralt for saving me, but I can't."

"Because you see Aiden, you're not the only one who's afraid, but I'm afraid to give my trust and someone will eventually spit out my trust"

After saying these words, silence ensued with me and Yen as we looked at each other then I don't know by what momentum, I smiled at him and said these words.

"What about a promise of magic?"

"What?"

"You know, the kinds of contracts mages make."

"Yes, I know, but what promise?"

"A promise of mutual help and mutual trust"

"Off"

"Wait, don't laugh!"

"Sorry, you're cute, but not just trying to suggest to show you're a good person."

Then Yen got up and stretched out before he looked at me with a smile.

"I intend to remind you of that promise" Then Yen waved to me to say goodbye leaving me alone in the cold, even if it was strangely less cold.

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"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten."

"Good"

"What promise?"

"Nothing a little girl can understand"

"Hey!"

Letting the two bicker, I went to the place where Vesemir and Geralt were waiting, arriving both turned to me and Geralt spoke.

"Ready?"

"Yes"

"Well lie down"

I lay down on the bed and then Geralt took bits and tied me to prevent me from moving during the event then Triss comes with a bowl of plants, and she sat down on the bed and placed her hand on my hair, caressing them.

"You know we can turn back."

"Yes, but that's what I want."

"Fine, but promise me you'll come back."

"Promised"

Then Triss poured the bowl into my mouth, and then nothing.

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"Where am I now?"

I found myself in a dark space and with intense silence, then silhouettes appeared and these silhouettes looked like my parents.

But instead of the warm look, I saw a look filled with hatred.

"Honey, watch him play with his new life."

"Yes, after almost exhausting us to death, he's having a good time."

"Stop!" I put my hands on my ears and crouched down with a hope that I would not hear what was in vain.

"You used all our money, we couldn't even enjoy a holiday, you were a burden and a profiteer!"

"Every time I came back from work, I had to see you while I was exhausted, not to show any more false feelings of concern towards you was hard, you know."

So like flies hovering around a poop, they kept repeating the same thing, I drowned in sadness, thinking that these were the real feelings of my parents.

But I didn't realize that outside or all the people waiting for me were worried, because right now he was seeing my body roll back and foam coming out of my mouth.

The witcher knew that Aiden had not succeeded, but even Geralt could not say that he had failed and that the best thing to do was to end his life.

"Geralt, Aiden, is he?"

Hearing no answer, Triss asked again.

"Geralt?"

"Triss, he's got..."

But not finishing his sentence that a light was placed on Aiden's arm, Geralt rushed towards him with Vesemir upstream then looking, an eagle tattoo had appeared on his left arm

"What is that?"

But at the same time, thanks to the sense of witchers, they heard Aides breathing again

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By some courage, I got up and then remembered all those moments when I saw Ciri smiling at the festival or when she cried at the fall of Cintra, or when Yen and I made a promise to help each other that I'm sure even she didn't realize that she was happy when we made that promise

"Yes, I am a profiteer, but although I would like to apologize, I cannot, because I still love you both, but I have a family waiting for me, people in whom promises have been made!"

"So, the past has to stay behind me and look to the future so, yes, I'm afraid to find myself in the same situation, but I'm going to turn that fear into fuel!"

When these last words were spoken, my parents' silhouettes disappeared, but without leaving a final comforting smile.

Back in this silence of death, but an eagle cry was heard and a beautiful white eagle descended before me.

Looking at his appearance, white feathers like snow, blue and green eyes and looking into my eyes with confidence, I could not help but extend my hand to caress him and the eagle replied, laying his head on my hand and letting him caress him

"You look great."

The eagle cried out to say yes, but suddenly he turned into a place and when I looked where he was looking, a snowstorm popped up, but I didn't feel the cold anymore I felt like someone was giving me a blanket.

And suddenly a voice neither feminine nor masculine began to speak.

"You have finally overcome your fears and so you can start on the path of your destiny."

"What a destiny?!"

Not receiving an answer, I asked the question again.

"Please answer, that's all I'm asking!"

"Find the swallow, the cat and the raven, because without them, you won't come to the conclusion you want when you understand your destiny."

Then I felt sucked to finally wake up and pass this test.

(Try to guess who these animals belong to, although I think at least one animal doubted who you were talking about)