Chapter 631: Wild Hunt Appears

[TL: Asuka]

[PR: Ash]

Winds blew from the seas, trudging into land. On the east side of An Skellige was a small house so beautiful, it almost felt like it was made out of the morning mist itself. Flowers of every color bloomed in the al fresco garden.

Cahir hid behind a bush of blackthorn, staring quietly at the petite figure basking in the golden sunlight. The princess of Cintra changed her beautiful long dress into a blue hunting attire suited for quick movements. Her hair, tied in a ponytail, swayed behind her head. Happily, she was chasing an adorable girl in a floral jacket. Ciri would go ahead and hold the girl by her waist, ticking the back of her neck. Sometimes she would lift her up with magic, and the girl would gurgle.

A long while later, the aunt and her older niece sat on a swing made of ivy. Their legs swam across a patch of maroon rose myrtles, and the golden sun draped the girls in a sheen of gentle gold. They were like characters from an oil painting.

Cahir was observing them quietly, his eyes twinkling. For three years, he stayed at An Skellig, and he spent his days toiling away as stablemaster, servant, and guard. With Roy’s recommendation, he finally gained the trust of Calanthe and Skellige’s royalty. He was entrusted with the duty of quietly protecting Eileni and Ciri. His main job was to watch over them as they played and trained in magic and swordsmanship.

Cahir witnessed Ciri growing from a scrawny little girl into a blooming young lady. His mission from Nilfgaard’s intelligence agency, the orders of Emhyr, and the wishes of his family… None of those mattered anymore. He just wished to watch over Ciri quietly until the day came when he could appear before her as her knight and burn his life like a candle for her.

“Oh, you still haven’t had enough even with me playing with you?” The young lady on the swing sighed at the girl. “Calanthe is in a conference. She can only see you at night.”

“Roy, Roy…” Eileni blinked, tugging at a lock of Ciri’s hair.

“Alright, stop that. Roy, Geralt, and Yennefer are in a conference on Thanedd. You’re asking me where Thanedd is? Just don’t go there, or poor little me is going to be locked in Aretuza for years.”

Ciri placed Eileni on her lap and held her chubby arms like she was playing with a doll. Lovingly, she pressed her forehead against Eileni’s. Solemnly, she said, “We have to train hard and grow up soon so we can help him. Do you understand me, my dear aunt?”

Eileni gurgled.

Cahir smiled. The cheeky princess has finally grown up. And then his smile froze.

The weather took a sudden turn for the worse. Behind the dark clouds, the golden sun hid. Freezing winds cut through the air like knives, and the temperature dropped to a bone-chilling level, as if they were plunged from summer straight to winter. Cahir shivered.

Ciri knew something was wrong. She stuff Eileni into the jacket, and the young girl could do nothing but look around curiously. “Mousesack said it would be sunny the whole day, so…”

And then everything around them rumbled. Something exploded. A storm roared from afar, silver lighting bolts tearing through the skies, illuminating the jagged coastline. The deafening boom was heart-pounding.

And then rain fell, spreading vapor through the lands. Winds howled, and flowers were uprooted, taken into the distance.

Ciri quickly pulled her hood over her head and leapt off the swing. She ran to the castle nearby and quickly moved her fingers. A blue barrier made of mana covered her, deflecting the icy rainwater away.

***

Cahir followed her, tugging on his canvas jacket with one hand. He wondered if he should go ahead bravely and shield the princess from the elements. And then, a looming shadow flashed through his line of sight. Something suffocating clutched his chest. Cautiously, he stopped in his tracks, staring at the coastline. “What is that?”

The winds roared louder, and the rain turned into a torrential downpour. Dark clouds hung ominously in the air, and waves crashed on the sea.

An ocean of lightning connected the dark skies and raging waters, conjuring a mysterious silver ribbon. Sounds of stampeding horses and ancient singing came with the booming thunder.

A few silhouettes rode through the storm, covering miles in an instant. They slowed down when they were about a hundred yards away.

When Ciri realized what was going on, she could already hear the brays of the steeds. The horse blankets were glinting coldly, looking like metal.

“Zireael!” the riders atop their steeds called out to Ciri, as if singing an ancient poem.

Crimson cloaks billowed behind them. Under their feathered, horned helms, their eyes flared like flames. Their chins were sharp, their cheekbones prominent, their lines sculpted. Their lips were cracked in grins, and there wasn’t even an incisor in their mouths.

What are they? The Wild Hunt? But they should be skeletons, ghosts, and the dead. These are living beings. A lot of thoughts went through Ciri’s mind, and she was musing over the scene before her.

As if captivated, she stared at the knight in the center. His obsidian armor looked like a ribcage. His helmet had a ring over it, and his mask was in the shape of a skeleton, but Ciri felt a blood connection to the knight. It was like she was facing Roy. Does he have the same bloodline as me?

The Elder Blood started shivering uncontrollably. Starlight came gushing out of the young lady’s body like a stream of water, piercing the veil of rain. The blinding light was like stars in the night, lighting up the bodies of all three bearers of the Elder Blood.

In the vanguard of the knights was a burly commander. He tugged on the reins of his steed, a roar of eerie laughter coming from under his mask. “You seem to like our pilot, correct? He has the same blood as you, just not as pure.”

Lighting tore through the skies, illuminating the knights with skeletal masks before Ciri. Ciri shivered and woke from her stupor, and then the knight said something in Elder Speech.

“What are you still waiting for, Zireael? Daughter of the Elder Blood and the reborn swallow. Come, join us. Come, let us travel to the world’s end, where the celebration of the hunt lies. Come and revive the glory of Aen Elle! Do not try to resist, for it is futile. You cannot escape!”

In your dreams! Go away! Ciri gritted her teeth and shoved her hands ahead. The vapor in the air quickly formed icicles. The icicles tore through the air and slammed into the Wild Hunt’s knights’ armor. The icicles exploded, the shards blocking the knights’ sight.

The knights were unharmed, but their steeds neighed in fear and shook their heads.

Ciri quickly ran away. Roy. Gotta get to Roy, she screamed in her heart. Do it, Ciri. You can do it. Help me, Eileni! Elder Blood, teleport us to the Isle of Thanedd!

Blinding starlight linked up between the girls and quickly covered the running Ciri like a layer of silk dress.

Lightning tore through the skies, and the horses galloped as a few Red Riders charged out of formation. They extended their armored arms at Ciri, trying to capture her, but then, someone pounced out of the bush like a storm. Caught by surprise, the knight was slammed off the back of his steed, falling into the wet soil.

Cahir was flushed crimson, roaring like a crazed man. Adrenaline pumped through his veins, and strength he’d never known coursed through his blood. He sat astride the knight and rained punches on the hideous horned helmet. His fists were nothing but a mess of blood and flesh, bones jutting out of his skin, but his heart was swelling with excitement he’d never felt before.

Run, Ciri! I, Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach shall keep you safe, even if it costs me my life!

And then, a hand covered in a silver glove touched Cahir’s chest. Frost spread, and a bone-chilling freeze coursed through Cahir’s body, freezing his flesh and soul. Cahir pushed the hand away and swayed a little. He then fell to his knee, frost flaring out of his jacket. The grass and soil underneath quickly turned into ice, as if it were a frozen lake. He used the last of his strength to turn his frost-covered head around.

The knights screamed and surrounded Ciri, but the young princess turned and looked at Cahir, her eyes glistening with tears. All of a sudden, she merged with the starlight and disappeared into thin air, escaping the Wild Hunt.

I did it. I upheld my word. Cahir’s eyes were wide, and he cracked a smile. Farewell, Ciri, but do not feel sad for me.

The icy abyss devoured Cahir’s last sliver of consciousness.

***

“Stubborn Zireael. Your futile resistance will only cause more deaths.” Eredin waved his hand, and the pilot with the ringed-helmet quickly swung his staff. Winds howled, and a gigantic doorway the shape of a ball appeared in the air.

Steeds brayed, and hurricanes howled. The Red Riders flew into the doorway. Behind them space wriggled and rippled. A black ship with twin masts appeared, the sharp bow piercing the skies. It was like a swordfish soaring through the air.

Gold-haired Avallac’h stood on the bow solemnly. Fully-armed Red Riders and Hounds of the Wild Hunt the size of calves and covered in blue icicles stood on the deck.

“Zireael has mastered instant teleportation. What a surprise.” The winds blew on Avallac’h’s hair, and the ship sailed into the doorway.

***

The storm stopped, and the raging seas calmed. The sun hung over the blue skies once more. The only proof that the Wild Hunt was here lay within a frozen human statue kneeling on one knee outside the garden, its eyes wide.