Chapter 16 : The Price of War

The Witchers stood on the edge of the battlefield, surveying the devastation before them. The once-beautiful countryside was now a desolate wasteland, littered with the bodies of fallen soldiers and burnt-out buildings.

Eryk looked around at his companions, his heart heavy with sorrow. He knew that this was the price of war, but it still pained him to see so much destruction and death.

"We did what we could," Geralt said, his voice low and somber. "But there are always casualties in war."

Bjorn nodded in agreement. "Our job is not to pick sides, but to protect the innocent and prevent the spread of evil. We did that to the best of our abilities."

Eryk felt a surge of pride at his fellow Witchers' words. They were a powerful team, capable of great feats of strength and courage. But they were also deeply compassionate, committed to their duty to protect the innocent.

As they turned to leave the battlefield, a figure emerged from the smoke and rubble. It was a woman, her hair matted and dirty, her clothes torn and bloody.

"Help me," she cried, stumbling towards them. "Please, you have to help me."

The Witchers exchanged a quick glance before springing into action. They surrounded the woman, their swords drawn and ready for whatever danger lay ahead.

"What happened?" Eryk asked, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger.

"I was a captive of the enemy," the woman gasped, tears streaming down her face. "They were going to kill me, but I managed to escape. I've been running ever since."

Bjorn took a step forward, his voice gentle. "Don't worry, we'll protect you. Just tell us where to go."

The woman nodded, leading them through the wreckage of the battlefield. They traveled for hours, stopping only briefly to rest and drink water from a nearby stream.

As they drew closer to their destination, they could hear the sound of fighting in the distance. The woman's captors had caught up to them, and were preparing for a final showdown.

The Witchers readied their swords, their eyes fixed on the approaching enemy. They knew that this battle would be their toughest yet, but they were determined to protect their charge at all costs.

The fighting was brutal and intense, each side trading blows and pushing the other back. Eryk felt his heart racing as he battled the enemy, his muscles aching with exertion.

But as the battle raged on, it became clear that the Witchers were outmatched. Their enemies were stronger and more skilled, and they were slowly but surely gaining the upper hand.

It was then that the woman stepped forward, her eyes blazing with determination. "Stop," she shouted, holding up her hands. "Stop fighting. I know a way to end this peacefully."

The Witchers were skeptical, but they lowered their swords and allowed the woman to speak. She explained that she had inside information about the enemy's leader, and that if they could capture him alive, they could end the conflict without further bloodshed.

It was a risky plan, but the Witchers knew that they had no other choice. They put their faith in the woman, and set off to find the enemy leader.

The journey was long and arduous, but they finally arrived at the enemy camp. The woman led them to a tent at the center of the camp, where the enemy leader was sleeping.

The Witchers surrounded the tent, their swords at the ready. But as they prepared to attack, the woman emerged from the tent, a look of triumph on her face.

"He's gone," she said, grinning. "I convinced him to leave.