Tir ná Lia -
Ciri stood at the center of the clearing of the magical forest where she stayed, her feet planted firmly on the earth, her eyes closed. Her breathing was slow, her mind focused on the task at hand. Beside her, Avallac'h watched with his silver eyes, patient and full of expectation.
"Focus," Avallac'h said, his voice calm and resonant. "You have done this before, you have jumped between distances, between the very fabric of existence itself... Space is no obstacle to you, and this is no different, the only difference is intention."
Ciri's brow furrowed. Her hands were clenched at her sides, her jaw tight with concentration. "I know," she said. "But every time I try, I end up.."
"You end up jumping small distances," Avallac'h finished for her. "Yes. Because you are afraid."
Ciri's eyes snapped open. "I am not afraid!"
Avallac'h's expression did not change. "You are afraid of what you might find, afraid of losing control. Afraid of the power that sleeps within you." He stepped closer, his voice softening. "But fear is not your enemy, Cirilla. It is a guide. It tells you where you need to grow.."
Ciri stared at him for a long moment. Then she closed her eyes again, her breathing steadying.
"Imagine it," Avallac'h said. "Your destination. Picture it in your mind, not just the place, but the feeling of it, feel it as if you are touching a rock within that place, the warmth of the sun on your skin, the sound of voices, the scent of the air. Feel it, Cirilla. Make it real."
Ciri's mind reached out, searching for a memory, a place that she could hold onto. She thought of Kaer Morhen, the cold stone walls, the warmth of the great hall, the sound of Vesemir's voice. She thought of Geralt, his steady presence, his unwavering faith in her. She thought of Sebastian, his smile and his calm demeanor, his eyes that always seemed to see straight through her.
The image grew clearer, more vivid. She could feel the cold stone beneath her feet, hear the crackle of the fire in the hearth, smell the pine and the old wood and the faint, familiar scent of home.
"Now," Avallac'h said, his voice a whisper. "Now, Cirilla.. If you wish to go home, this is your chance."
Ciri reached for the power within her. It surged, raw and untamed, flooding her senses. The world around her seemed to shimmer and distort, the edges of reality blurring. But then... nothing.
The power faded, and Ciri found herself standing in the same clearing, the same trees, the same patient sage watching her with his ancient eyes. The only difference was that she had moved ten feet to the left.
"Again!" Ciri growled, frustration bleeding through her voice. "The very same problem! I can jump small distances. And I can do it easily because I've been doing this for a long time, even before you kidnapped me and brought me here. But that's the full extent of what I can do... No sort of improvement since my training with Yennefer..."
Avallac'h's expression did not change. "That is not the full extent of what you do." He paused, "And I thought we are already beyond the part of me 'kidnapping' you."
Ciri glared at him. "Oh please. I still think what you did was wrong. But I understand what is at stake." She paused, her voice softening. "I understand now. That doesn't mean I have to like it."
Avallac'h inclined his head. "Fair enough. Again. Calm your mind and repeat it, I know it is difficult, but in time you will.."
He stopped and his head tilted, his silver eyes narrowing. For a moment, he was utterly still.
"Wait," Avallac'h said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Hide. There is someone here."
Ciri did not hesitate. She reached for her power and vanished, reappearing behind a massive tree some distance away. She pressed her back against the trunk, her heart pounding, her eyes fixed on Avallac'h.
She could see him clearly from her hiding spot, his tall, elegant figure silhouetted against the soft glow of the forest. And she could see the figure that was approaching him.
An elf naturally.
He was tall and slender, his features sharp and aristocratic, his hair long. He wore robes of deep blue and silver. His movements were graceful, his eyes, pale and cold as winter frost, fixed on Avallac'h.
"Hello, Master," the elf said, his voice carrying the same elegant cadence as Avallac'h's. "It has been a while."
Avallac'h's expression was calm. "Caranthir," he said slowly. "I am surprised that you found me here. Though I cannot say I am surprised by your ability to do so." He paused, his silver eyes studying the elf before him. "Is there something you want from me?"
Caranthir smiled. He glanced beyond Avallac'h, his gaze sweeping the forest as if searching for something or someone, then he looked back at his old master.
"Well, old master of mine," Caranthir said calmly, "I do actually. I wish to inquire about something, only if you wish to listen to me, of course."
Avallac'h inclined his head. "Naturally. Speak it."
Ciri watched from her hiding place, her heart pounding in her chest. She strained to hear their words, but the distance was too great. She could see their lips moving, could see the easy familiarity of their gestures, but the words themselves were lost to the rustle of the leaves.
"I thought Avallac'h said no one could find us here," Ciri whispered to herself. "How did this elf manage to find him? And they seem to know each other very well." She pressed herself closer to the tree, her eyes fixed on the two figures. "Damn it all! I can't hear anything from this distance. Avellac, you better not.."
She stopped. Caranthir had turned his head slightly, his pale eyes scanning the forest. For a moment, just a moment, it seemed as though he was looking directly at her hiding spot.
Then he turned back to Avallac'h, his smile returning.
Ciri held her breath, her hand pressed against her chest. Her mind raced with a thousand possibilities.
'Who is this elf? Does he know I'm here? and what does he want with Avallac'h?'
She settled deeper into her hiding place, her eyes fixed on the two figures.
"Your navigation ability is already beyond what I can guide you. You are a prodigy, Caranthir. This was but a small mishap; it should not happen again." Avallac'h said.
Caranthir inclined his head, a gesture of acknowledgment that carried no humility whatsoever from him, his smile deepened. "Thank you, but... it seems that you are somewhat angry with me, old master of mine." He paused, tilting his head "Is there something wrong?"
Avallac'h's expression remained composed, but there was a flicker in his eyes, frustration and disappointment, or the weary resignation of a teacher who had watched a promising student walk a darker path.
"Yes," Avallac'h said, "Your service to Eredin bothers me greatly. But I am in no position to comment about it. I know Eredin is in service to our King, but I just do not trust him.. And you should not as well."
Caranthir's smile did not waver. He stepped closer, his robes rustling softly against the moss-covered ground. His voice was calm, reasonable, he had long ago convinced himself of his own righteousness. "Eredin thinks for the good of our people," Caranthir said. "We are looking for the girl for our King and the good of our people. And we will find her." He paused, his pale eyes meeting Avallac'h's with intensity. "I also know that you are looking for her as well. Perhaps you already have, perhaps you have her."
Avallac'h's expression did not change.
Caranthir continued, his voice softening. "But out of respect for you, I will not pry. That is all, but do not get in our way."
He turned, his robes swirling around him, and began to walk away.
Avallac'h watched him go, his silver eyes fixed on the retreating figure. His hands were clasped behind his back, his posture straight and composed. But there was a tightness in his jaw from concern.
He did not call out. He did not stop Caranthir.
He simply watched and when the figure had disappeared into a portal he made with his staff, Avallac'h stood alone in the clearing, his thoughts his own.
From behind the massive tree, Ciri watched the exchange with wide eyes. She had not heard every word, the distance had been too great.
She waited until Caranthir was completely out of sight, until the forest had returned to its quiet stillness. Then she emerged from behind the tree, her steps hesitant, her eyes fixed on Avallac'h.
He was still standing where Caranthir had left him, his silver eyes fixed on the empty space where the other elf had disappeared.
"Avallac'h?" Ciri said, her voice soft. "Who was that?"
Avallac'h turned to look at her.
"His name is Caranthir Ar-Feiniel, he is someone I trained," Avallac'h said. "Someone who chose a different path."
Ciri stepped closer. "He knows, doesn't he? He knows I'm here, I can tell."
Avallac'h was silent for a moment. Then he nodded slowly.
"He suspects, but perhaps you are right." Avallac'h said. "He will not act on that suspicion, but if he already knows that you are here, he will not act hastily as well, he is that smart afterall.."
Ciri's jaw tightened. "What do we do then?"
Avallac'h looked at her, his silver eyes meeting hers. "We will leave."
Ciri nodded slowly. She did not speak, as there was nothing to say.
/-\
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