— –Alexander Montclair– —
Ciri was right, he really did need some air. To give himself some breathing room to clear his mind. He had been in such a rush to get everything done, to not falter for a moment, that he was starting to do the same mistake he had done back before Tandy. Sure, having Dudu around helped, but it was hard for him to not lose his sight when there always appeared to be such massive things hanging over his head.
In the end, he was glad to have someone by his side who he could trust to look out for him. And who knows, perhaps he'd break his self imposed rule and have a drink or two. It wouldn't be a bad reward to have after a game of Gwent.
In his mind, he was already planning out the rest of the night. Dandelion had told him about a beautiful park in the city where you could bask in the stars and moonlight. And well, from the very unsubtle winks and nudges he had given him, maybe the park could be the road to something a bit more… special.
Yet, even as he let his mind wander and allowed himself to finally relax, he couldn't help but tense up once more once they made their way through the tavern towards the mysterious Gwent player.
"Well, would you look at that?" The merchant holding a deck of Gwent cards let out a low chuckle as their eyes met. "It seems I was right after all. Destiny has crossed our paths once more, perhaps a bit sooner than I might have expected."
Staring at the smiling merchant, Alex couldn't help but stop mid-step, his eyes subconsciously narrowing at the recognition of the man sitting in the dim corner of the tavern. The same plain-faced merchant who had once tried to buy his clothes when he'd first arrived in this world. The same casual smile. The same unsettling calm.
And now, that same man was here again, shuffling cards as though nothing had changed.
"What is it?" The merchant's tone was playful. "Are you also here for a round of Gwent? I ought to warn you, everyone I've played against so far has lost."
"No." Alex answered quickly, almost too quickly. Ciri raised an eyebrow beside him, and even the merchant seemed faintly amused. "I just came here for a few drinks."
His first meeting with the man had been… harmless. Simple, even. The merchant had backed off once Alex refused his offer, even paying for his food afterward without asking for anything in return. But there was something about him that didn't sit right.
Too plain. Too forgettable. Perhaps he was simply overthinking, but the fact that the merchant had simply vanished after their first interaction was enough to put him on guard.
Then, there were his words, "Destiny has crossed our paths once more."
Alex didn't believe in fate. His father had raised him to test, to doubt, to break things apart and see how they worked. But after Limbo, after demons, magic, and Ciri… well, who's to say what's real anymore?
After all, Ciri herself had told him about her "Destiny." How, bound by the law of surprise, she had been bound to Geralt. And how, no matter how far away they got, fate would bring them together once more, one way or the other.
Maybe the universe really did have a cruel sense of humor. Maybe Destiny and fate were real. And given his track record, if Destiny had brought the merchant back to Alex, then the chances it was for something good were minimal.
"Really?" The merchant's grin widened. "Well, that's disappointing." He tossed the cards onto the table, fanning them lazily. "And here I wanted to try some of my new cards. It's hard to find a good player these days."
Alex's eyes drifted to the cards on the table involuntarily, his curiosity winning out for just a second, and as he did, he couldn't help but feel his breath catch. In the cards, he saw Belasco, Ciri, Dudu, the Wild Hunt, and finally, his own face.
Painted onto the cards with the same intricate, hand-drawn detail as any Gwent deck. But when he blinked, they were gone, replaced by simple illustrations of soldiers and folk heroes.
Ciri didn't appear to have noticed any change. And even if the bar continued buzzing with the quiet chatter and mugs clinging in the background, Alex couldn't help but feel the air getting slightly heavier around him.
If he were being honest with himself, Alex wanted to sigh. He wanted to turn on his heel, and walk out of the tavern without a second look. Perhaps if he just avoided the merchant, he could save himself the trouble.
But Alex knew better.
To turn a blind eye to the sword of Damocles would only make him unprepared for when it fell. As tired as he was, he had to look "Destiny" in the eyes.
"Well… actually." He let out, forcing back the sigh. "I'll play one game."
Ciri's eyes narrowed for a moment as she looked at him, almost as if silently asking him if something was wrong. But Alex simply gave her a shake of his head, pretending it was nothing. It was clear the merchant wanted to speak to him specifically, and he might get spooked if Ciri joined them now.
"Wish me luck." Alex said, giving Ciri a reassuring smile as he sat across from the merchant and pulled out his own deck.
"Good luck then." Ciri chuckled softly. "I'll grab us a drink."
The merchant, no, the man, watched her walk away with that same faint smile before turning back to Alex.
"Alexander, was it?" He asked, casually shuffling the deck.
Alex paused, fingers tightening on his own cards. He didn't remember telling the man his name. Was it a mistake, or was it deliberate? Either way, he forced a chuckle and began to shuffle his deck in return.
"It is, yes. I'm sorry, I can't seem to remember your name."
"Ah, my mistake." The man dipped his head slightly. "The name is Gaunter O'Dimm. Just a simple merchant."
O'Dimm, a card he was familiar with. One that summoned Gaunter O'Dimm: Darkness. A card with a line that had been memorable enough for him to remember at the simple mention of the name. "He always grants exactly what you wish for. That's the problem."
So a Djinn, perhaps?
No, that wasn't right. From the Darkness cards, it was likely that the man in front of him was a Demon. And perhaps, judging by the fact his soul was tainted by Limbo, it shouldn't have been a surprise that he would catch the eyes of a few fiends.
"Right." Alex replied flatly, setting down his opening card as O'Dimm gestured for him to go first.
"I'm curious, what kind of stuff do you sell. Clothes?"
"No, no." O'Dimm answered with a chuckle. His grin didn't waver as he placed a card of his own. "I sell a little bit of everything your heart desires. Information. A bit of help, perhaps. Maybe more, if you can afford it."
"But it comes with a cost, doesn't it?" Alex muttered, his tone caught somewhere between curiosity and cynicism.
"Everything does." The words slipped out so naturally, so effortlessly, that it almost sounded kind.
"I'm guessing you don't want gold, do you?" Alex asked, and the smile O'Dimm replied with was enough on an answer. For a second, he hesitated to ask, but in the end, the direct route would probably be for the best. "So what then? Are you a demon? Do you want my soul?"
"Your soul?" O'Dimm laughed, quiet but genuine. He shook his head. "Usually that would be my main bargaining chip, but no. No, no. I don't deal in damaged goods." Alex's brow furrowed, but O'Dimm went on, voice smooth as silk. "And even if it were whole, your soul isn't worth my services."
Alex couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the comment. He almost opened his mouth to fight back against the comment. But he caught himself before O'Dimm could notice. The merchant wanted him to ask. Wanted to drag him along, one question at a time. So instead, Alex decided to change the rhythm.
"Why now? Why show me the cards?" He asked. That earned him a flicker of satisfaction in the man's eyes. "You were obviously planning to play the long game." Alex went on. "You didn't push anything the first time we met. And even now, I could've walked out. Why change tactics?"
"Because." O'Dimm replied smoothly, placing a card face-down with deliberate care. "A merchant always knows when he's looking at a golden opportunity."
He flipped the card over. Illyana. Painted in haunting, delicate strokes.
Alex held his breath for a moment as he saw the card, yet he did his best to pretend as if the face of the girl didn't surprise him. Belasco was one thing, with his limited knowledge of the Multiverse, perhaps demons all came from Limbo, or perhaps they were familiar with it in one way or the other.
But Illyana…
"And my customer…" O'Dimm added, his eyes glinting with quiet amusement. "...is a skittish one. Leave him to his own devices, and who knows how long it would take before he's ready to talk."
"So you threw caution to the wind?" Alex asked, his voice lower now. He couldn't help but fidget slightly with the cards in his hand.
"I'd call it… taking a calculated risk."
"What do you want?" Alex asked finally. "Because I don't have much to offer."
He really hated how tempted he felt now. The demon in front of him knew too much, and there was a chance he knew about Illyana's fate. If she had truly escaped Limbo, or if she had been captured once more.
And if Illyana had escaped and been captured once more, then he too, was hanging by a threat. It would only be a matter of time until his freedom was taken once more.
"That depends." O'Dimm said, playing another card without even glancing down. "On what you desire. I'm a fair man, Alexander. I never charge more than I give."
"How about a free sample, then?" Alex asked, trying his best to get a read on the man in front of him.
"A free sample?" O'Dimm echoed, his grin widening with faint amusement. "Hmm. How about a deadline instead? Something to… motivate you not to kick this rock too far down the road."
His hand dipped into the deck again, slow and precise, before pulling out a single card. He placed it down between them.
It was Illyana once more. She looked older, but he recognized her nonetheless, bound in chains, head bowed beneath a pale, dim light.
"One month, two weeks, five days, seven hours, thirty-four minutes, and seventeen seconds." O'Dimm said calmly, voice smooth as glass. He gestured for Alex to play his turn, but Alex barely moved, eyes locked on the card. He simply waved away his turn, urging O'Dimm to continue.
The tavern felt quieter somehow, the laughter from the other tables dulled, like sound itself was holding its breath.
O'Dimm didn't seem to notice, or perhaps he didn't care. He drew another card and placed it down, this one showing a glowing portal framed by runes, and behind it, unmistakably, the New York skyline.
Alex felt a slight headache pass through him for a moment, wincing slightly as O'Dimm's smile became almost kind.
"Not a lot of time." O'Dimm continued, his tone turning almost sympathetic. "Not enough to learn how to return on your own. Not enough to master magic strong enough to defeat him. Not even enough time to build something that might truly stop him. By the time you make anything of yourself, everything, and everyone you know and care for will be gone."
He flipped the next card, Belasco. Smiling. The grin was painted with such detail that, for a heartbeat, Alex could've sworn it twitched.
"So tell me, Alexander…" O'Dimm leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Will you let him win? Will you let him get his hands on the girl? On your city? On your world?"
Alex's hand hovered over his cards, but his thoughts were far from the game. The weight of that single question pressed on him harder than any taunt could.
"You are saying you can help me kill him?" Alexander asked, surprising even himself with the word. He had never killed anyone in his life, and yet, he felt so sure of what he would do if he were standing in front of Belasco.
In the end, it was the only honest thing he could say.
"Kill him?" O'Dimm's grin spread, pleasure gentle and patient. "Why, Alexander, you are thinking too small." He tapped a card, slow, deliberate. "Why not strip him of his power, and turn the chains he used on you back on him. It would only be fair, wouldn't it. Imagine what you could do with all that power. You'd finally be safe. No one could hurt you, or those you care about. After all, he who wears the crown of Limbo, cannot be truly harmed in his own realm."
Alex's breath caught in his throat, the tavern going completely silent by now, yet he didn't seem to register it entirely.
"Ah, did you not know that?" O'Dimm asked, sounding almost concerned. "As long as Belasco remains king, no weapon you create will harm him. Perhaps, in time, you'd figure out another way. But, that is time you do not have. I, on the other hand, already have the solution to your problem. All you have to do is ask."
The offer was tempting.
"How?" Alex asked, trying his best to keep his voice steady. He didn't want to fall for the trap, but if he wanted to avoid it, then he needed to know more. Or at least, that's what he told himself. "Say, for going back to Limbo and killing him… just killing him, leaving Limbo kingless… What would be the price?"
O'Dimm reached into the deck once more, placing down a card with a painted version of Alex, who appeared to be inside of broken glass.
"It's a funny thing, you know? They call me Master Mirror, the Man of Glass. And you, my friend, happen to have a lot of glass around you. Quite the unique glass, if you ask my professional opinion."
As he finished the sentence, Alexander felt a massive headache assault him, and as he clutched at his head, he couldn't help but hear the familiar sound of glass breaking. He could feel his vision begin to blink in and out as the bar around him began to transform, yet even with all of the changes happening, O'Dimm and the deck of cards in front of them didn't change.
The world around him began to break once more, the very air splitting apart like broken glass, and he could feel the slight nausea that came as the world around him threatened to collapse.
Yet, just as quickly as the headache had arrived, it vanished. Leaving him back in the middle of the bar, clutching at his head and breathing heavily.
"All I would require is for you to give me a place here." O'dimm muttered after a few moments of letting Alex catch his breath, tapping one of the broken glass fragments in the card and causing it to turn pitch black. "See, I'm a merchant, and the customers here… their goods are no longer of interest to me. I am seeking to expand my market."
"If you can take me back to Limbo, then what's stopping you from going back to my world?" Alex asked, slowing down his breathing and trying to regain his composure.
O'Dimm's chuckle was quiet, but it filled the room nonetheless.
"Nothing, really. If I truly wanted to go, there would be little that could stop me. But it would be more trouble than it's worth." He leaned forward slightly, his tone lowering to something almost conspiratorial. "To be invited by a local, however… that would allow me to circumvent a few, let's say, inconveniences."
"And what? Place those inconveniences on me?" Alex asked, causing O'Dimm to chuckle.
"Ah." O'Dimm said, his grin widening. "That would be troublesome, wouldn't it?"
Alex didn't answer.
O'Dimm continued, the humor never leaving his tone. "If I'm being honest, it is within my abilities to… distract them. To allow your involvement to go unnoticed. To make sure that, should you return to your Earth, its protectors don't come crawling after you before you've even returned to your home." He paused, tapping another card into place. "But that would require something from you."
"A favor?" Alex guessed flatly.
"A small one." O'Dimm replied. "A promise, to be fulfilled when the time comes."
"What kind of favor?" Alex frowned.
O'Dimm tilted his head, his expression turning oddly sincere.
"I don't know." He admitted. "The things I need… you cannot provide. Not as you are now, and not as you will be for some time. Who's to say what I might need then?"
His tone softened, almost amused. "But I've found that when men grow, when they change, they stumble into all sorts of interesting places. And sometimes, when the hour is right, I might just need someone to open a door. Deliver a message. Or… Well… Help me with an unruly customer."
Alex stared at him in silence, the weight of the words pressing against his chest.
Perhaps it would have been better if the man in front of him had wanted his soul. At least that was something "tangible." But as tempting and simple as a favor sounded, he could tell that it would be far more trouble than it would be worth. Whatever Gaunter O'Dimm wanted, he could almost guarantee it would cost him more than his soul. Or at least, it would be of similar value.
"What if I refuse?" Alex asked, trying to give himself more time to think.
"Refusal is always an option." He answered, his gaze never leaving Alex's. "I'm an honest man, I won't take what wasn't given to me. So if you really aren't interested, I will simply leave you alone. I have many other customers who wouldn't hesitate to shake hands with me. And so, we won't see each other again until Destiny crosses our paths once more."
As he finished speaking, Gaunter pointed at the cards on the table. It only took a brief glance to see that they had all returned to normal Gwent cards, and as he glanced at the points, Alex could tell that O'Dimm had won.
Then, as O'Dimm began to pick up the cards he continued.
"Who's to say if a kinder future awaits you then?" O'Dimm continued, almost idly. "To abandon those who need you, and start a new life here, free of burdens, free of wars, free of the memories that bind you." He paused, looking at Alex.. "Perhaps later you'll change your mind. You'll come looking for me, desperate for a deal that's no longer on the table."
The last card slid into the deck with a soft click.
"By hesitating now, all you are throwing away is time." He said simply. "The precious time you need."
Once he had finished putting his cards away, O'Dimm glanced back at Alex.
"So, Alexander." He said, his voice soft as smoke. "What do you say? Do we have a deal?"
— –Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon– —
Walking back from the bar with two mugs in her hands, she saw Alexander sitting alone, the merchant nowhere in sight. For his part, Alex was fidgeting with a Gwent card, looking at it like it was the most important thing in the world.
"That was quick. I was only gone for at most a minute or two. Was he that bad at Gwent?" Ciri asked as she sat down in front of him, where the man had been sitting before. She set one of the drinks in front of Alex and took a sip of her own.
"No." Alex muttered, grabbing the mug and taking a few big gulps. "I lost the game, actually."
Ciri raised her eyebrows at that. He looked a mess, the same look he'd had when she'd first found him in the woods.
"What happened?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he placed the card between them, an hourglass, painted in gold and black. To her, it was just another Gwent card. To him, it looked like the weight of the world.
Then, without a word, he chugged down the rest of his drink. So quickly, in fact, that Ciri just slid her mug across the table and watched as he picked it up and drained that one too.
Sure, she'd never seen him lose before, but this seemed excessive. Still, when she saw the distant look in his eyes and the way his shoulders sank forward, she decided not to push. Whatever it was, he'd talk when he was ready.
And so, when he finally stood and motioned for her to follow, she rose without question. They stepped out into the night air, the tavern's noise fading behind them. A chill breeze rolled through the streets, carrying the faint murmur of laughter and the crackle of torches.
For a while, they just walked. No destination, no words. Just the rhythm of their steps echoing softly on the stone.
Then, out of nowhere, Alex spoke.
"My father once told me that curiosity was our family curse."
Ciri glanced at him. His eyes were fixed ahead, the torchlight glinting faintly in them.
"He used to dip his fingers into things that bit him back." Alex went on, his tone almost thoughtful. "Most of the time, he'd figure out a way to fix the mess he'd made… but not always."
"And when he couldn't?" She tilted her head, letting her voice soften.
He gave a small, humorless laugh.
"He called it bad luck."
They walked another few steps before he slowed, glancing down at his hands.
"He used to build machines." Alex continued quietly, more to himself now. "Things that could measure, predict, control. When my mom died, he couldn't accept it. So he tried to control everything that came after. The world, fate, even me. And hell, he succeeded. He practically built an utopia. But that wasn't enough, and when he created the portal, when he saw the possibilities, he couldn't help himself."
He stopped walking, eyes flicking to the torchlight ahead.
"It's strange. I both admired him and… feared him? Maybe even resented him a bit at times. But now…" He breathed out, the sound almost a laugh. "Now I understand."
Ciri stayed silent. The wind tugged at her cloak, strands of silver hair brushing against her cheek. She watched him for a moment, the way his fingers toyed with that Gwent card, the way his voice lowered when he spoke about his father.
He rubbed his thumb over the edge of the hourglass card, still clutched in his hand.
"I think it's the lack of control that's our real curse." He murmured. "After she died, he couldn't stand the feeling of being powerless. And in the end, it took everything from him, his mind, his life."
Ciri glanced at him, her brow furrowed slightly. She'd known people like that, men who built walls out of reason and called it strength. Geralt had done it. She had too, once.
'Powerless,' she echoed in her mind. 'That's what it always comes down to. You can face monsters, mages, even death, but not that.'
She couldn't help but let her mind wander to a question she'd asked him before. One he'd never given her a proper answer for.
"And you?" Ciri hesitated, then asked softly. "Why did you step through that portal?"
"Because I saw him after he lost everything." His shoulders tensed. "I didn't want to sit still while the world decided everything for me." He exhaled slowly. "Maybe I thought… if I jumped, if I made the choice myself, then at least the mistake would be mine."
Neither said anything for a few moments after his answer.
In a way, she could understand him. She'd run too, once upon a time. Hell, she was even running now. From destiny, from the Wild Hunt, from herself. But in the end, it never mattered how far you went, fate had long legs.
"Did it work?" Ciri asked, already knowing the answer. Ciri walked closer, her eyes searching his. "What do you feel now?"
"Still powerless, I guess." He looked at her, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. But at least I'm trying."
He turned toward the riverbank, resting his hands on the railing. The torchlight danced across his face, throwing gold against the brown of his eyes.
"It's funny… I think the reason I cared for Illyana so much, maybe the reason I still do, is because she was the one person I could protect. In Limbo, everything tried to take that away. But with her, I had… something I could choose."
He paused. "And now? I think I finally understand why my father couldn't let go. Because losing control, it breaks something inside you."
Ciri stepped closer until she was beside him. The sound of water filled the silence between them. She didn't say anything, just reached out and let her hand rest lightly on his arm. The gesture came before she thought about it, a quiet instinct she couldn't quite explain.
'Damn it,' she thought. 'He doesn't need pity.' But it wasn't pity. Not really.
He didn't move at first, then turned his head, meeting her eyes. The light behind his gaze had thinned, like a candle burning lower, steadier.
"The merchant, his name was Gaunter O'Dimm. He was…" He began pausing for a moment before shaking his head. "He never confirmed it, but I believe he was a demon. He knew about Limbo, Illyana, and Belasco. And he wanted to make a deal with me. I would bring him to my world, and I would owe him a favor in exchange for help defeating Belasco."
Ciri's eyes widened at his words. A demon. Deals, favors, it all sounded too familiar. The kind of power that always came with a price, no matter how well you thought you understood the terms. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, realizing there was nothing she could say that he probably didn't already know.
"I'm done letting anyone control me. Not gods, not demons, not destiny. Not again." His voice dropped lower. "Even if it means I end up like him."
Ciri's hand stayed on his arm. She could feel the tension coiled beneath his skin, the tremor he was trying to hide. There was anger there, yes, but beneath it, something smaller. Something afraid.
It was funny, really, she never thought herself to be the comforting type. But from the time they had spent together, she could tell that he seemed disturbed by the notion. And so, even if it was a lie, even if she had no right to say it, she spoke up.
"You're not him." She said quietly.
"You don't even know who he is." Alex gave a small, humorless breath.
"Doesn't matter." She replied. "You're not him."
For a long moment, he just looked at her. Then, unexpectedly, he laughed. Softly at first, then with a quiet exhale that almost sounded like relief.
"I'm glad I met you." he said.
The smile that followed wasn't forced this time. It was faint, but real, the kind that reached his eyes again, however briefly. He leaned in, close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath, and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. Right where her scar caught the light.
Ciri blinked, caught between surprise and something she couldn't name.
"Come on." He said, stepping past her and back toward the road. "We have a lot of work to do."
She watched him for a moment before following, the ghost of his touch still lingering where his lips had been.
Shoutout to @Basilisk, @Harman, and @Tertius711 for helping me brainstorm and keep on coming up with ideas for this story and for Beta Reading.
https://discord.gg/WTgN9J3YgK
~A/N~
Sorry for the delay, got a bit sidequested playing FF7 Remake/Rebirth, and then, just plain ol' had a hard time writing this chap.
The convo with O'Dimm and Ciri actually went through a ton of different versions and revisions until we landed on this, and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.
I'm about to start writing the next chap, and I can say that the main focus is gonna be Illyana and Darkchylde.
As always, I like to put little hidden details and set up for future stuff in each chap, and this was one of them. So if you notice anything or anything stands out to you, drop a comment.
Also, didn't make an official announcement here since I was planning on posting soon, but the plan for me is to focus on this fic til I finish volume 1 and put it on hiatus to focus on my persona story. Once persona story is done, focus on tensura and finish that one, and once tensura is done lock in on this one.
Planning on making the ending of Volume 1 a pretty good resolution so even if the wait is kinda long it won't feel like you all got left hanging.