The path narrowed as Ciri climbed, stone giving way to ancient, weather-worn steps, she claimed those steps and then stopped. For a moment, she forgot to breathe.
The Circle of Elements stood at the peak, its stones arranged in a perfect ring around a low altar etched with faded runes. Four braziers stood at the cardinal points,
But it was the view that held her.
The mountains stretched endlessly beyond the circle, jagged peaks piercing through drifting clouds, their tips painted gold by the sinking sun. Far below, the valley rolled outward in vast waves of green and grey, forests clinging to slopes, rivers threading like veins through the land. The fog they had crossed now lay beneath her like a sea, slow and shifting, swallowing everything it touched.
From up here, it didn't look threatening, nothing did. Everything looked… almost peaceful.
Ciri let out a quiet breath, stepping forward slowly, as though afraid the moment might shatter if she moved too quickly.
"…Gods," she murmured under her breath, a smile touching her lips. "All that trouble down there… and this was waiting above it."
She turned slightly, taking it in from another angle, her voice softer now, almost thoughtful.
"It's like the world's trying to apologize for the trouble we had down there.."
For once, her tone was filled with wonder.
She walked to the edge of the circle and lowered herself onto one of the ancient stones, resting her arms loosely on her knees as her gaze wandered over the horizon. The wind was gentler here, cool against her face, carrying none of the damp rot from below, only clean air, thin and sharp.
For a while, she simply sat.
Time passed without her noticing.
Then, behind her, came the sound of footsteps.
She didn't turn immediately, but she smiled.
Sebastian stepped into the circle, his presence quieter than it had any right to be for someone who had just fought two trolls. There were faint smears of blood across his sleeve and collar, already drying, and a few shallow cuts along his armor. He wiped his hand across one of the stains as he walked, more out of habit, before sheathing his sword with a soft, final click.
"Looks like you found it already."
Ciri glanced back at him, her expression lighter than before.
"The path wasn't exactly hidden," she said, gesturing lazily toward the ascent. Then her gaze drifted back to the horizon. "Didn't expect it to look like this, though."
Sebastian followed her gaze, taking in the view for himself. For a moment, he said nothing.
Then, almost absently, "Didn't think you cared much for this sort of thing."
"I don't not care," she replied, "I can appreciate something nice without writing poetry about it."
"…Though," she added, quieter now, "this one might be worth it."
Sebastian huffed a faint breath through his nose, before stepping toward the altar.
"So," she said after a moment, glancing back at him, "how did Geralt say this works again?"
He reached up, pulling the medallion from around his neck, the chain glinting faintly in the light.
"It's simple."
He placed it gently on the altar, the metal settling against the ancient stone with a soft, sound. Then he moved to the nearest brazier, raising his hand slightly.
A flicker of flame sparked to life in his palm.
One by one, he lit them.
Each brazier caught slowly, the fire building with a low, steady glow until all four burned in quiet symmetry around the circle. The air shifted subtly as they did, as if something old had stirred awake.
Sebastian glanced over his shoulder at her.
"Your turn."
Ciri pushed herself up, walking over. She removed her medallion and placed it beside his, her fingers lingering on it for just a second before pulling away.
Sebastian stepped back, then lowered himself to sit near the edge of the circle again, leaning back slightly on his hands as he looked out over the valley.
"Now we wait," he said. "They'll absorb what they need. Shouldn't take too long."
Ciri nodded, returning to sit beside him.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The wind moved softly through the circle, the flames flickering. Somewhere far below, a distant bird cried out, its sound barely reaching them.
Eventually, Ciri broke the silence.
"What happened with the trolls?"
Sebastian didn't look at her.
"I killed them."
Ciri studied him for a moment, her brow faintly furrowing.
"You don't sound too pleased about it."
He shrugged slightly, eyes still fixed on the horizon. "I don't know."
She tilted her head.
"They tried to kill us. After barely a few words. You heard them, they were harmful monsters."
"I know," he said quietly. "I'm not arguing that."
"It's just…" He exhaled faintly. "I wanted to try something different."
Ciri let out a small breath through her nose.
"That's a strange thing for a Witcher to say."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Maybe you are right."
She looked at him for a moment longer, something unreadable passing through her expression. Then, suddenly, before she could second-guess it she reached out, grabbed his hand, and leaned in just enough to press a quick, soft kiss against his cheek.
"Thank you, Seb."
The words came out fast, almost tripping over themselves, and just as quickly she pulled back, turning her face away as if the horizon had suddenly become the most fascinating thing in the world, which it was.
Sebastian froze.
Not completely, but enough for his eyes to widen slightly, the slit pupils catching the light for just a second as he processed what had just happened. His hand remained where it was, as though unsure whether to move or not.
"…We did it together," he said after a moment, his voice quieter now. "You don't have to thank me."
He glanced at her.
"You're as much a Witcher as anyone back at Kaer Morhen."
Ciri stiffened.
Then, abruptly, she stood.
"See?!" she snapped, spinning toward him, her face flushed red now. "This! Why are you like.. this!"
Sebastian blinked up at her, genuinely confused.
"…What did I do?!"
She pointed at him with both hands, frustration and embarrassment tangling together in her expression.
"That! Exactly that! You just.." she cut herself off, searching for words and clearly hating every second of it. "You're always like this. Calm, and… and good about everything. Not just with me.. with everyone. At the keep, on the path, it doesn't matter. I get why they.."
She stopped again, her face reddening even more.
"…why they care and have so much love and respect for you," she finished, more quietly this time.
Sebastian tilted his head slightly,
"Do you?"
That was enough, Ciri turned away immediately. "Forget I said anything."
She dropped back down onto the stone, arms crossed tightly as she looked in the opposite direction.
"Let's just… wait."
A few seconds passed.
"…Sorry," she muttered under her breath.
Sebastian didn't answer, he just smiled faintly and leaned back again, his gaze returning to the mountains.
The silence that followed wasn't awkward.
From time to time, they spoke, small things, passing comments, nothing that needed to be held onto. The flames burned steadily, the medallions resting at the center of it all, slowly drinking in the power of the elements in this place.
And then, almost without warning, something shifted.
The medallions trembled slightly against the stone.
Sebastian sat up first, reaching for his. The metal felt different in his hand, warmer and almost alive in a way it hadn't been before.
Ciri grabbed hers as well, her eyes lighting up the moment she felt it.
"…Nice."
She slipped it back around her neck, the chain settling into place.
A grin spread across her face.
"Alright… so that means,"
"We passed," Sebastian said, already standing.
She let out a short, excited laugh.
"We actually did it!"
He nodded, a small but genuine satisfaction in his expression.
"Wonder what Vesemir would say."
Ciri's grin turned sharper.
"Oh, I know exactly what I want to see."
She turned slightly, eyes gleaming with mischief now.
"Lambert's face!"
Sebastian huffed a quiet laugh.
"…Yeah. That'd be worth the climb alone."
/-\
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