Chapter 50: The Wild Hunt's Herald
POV: Adam
The forest should have been warming with spring's arrival, afternoon sunlight filtering through new leaves while birds celebrated winter's retreat with songs that spoke of renewal and growth. Instead, Adam's breath began forming visible clouds as temperature plummeted without meteorological explanation, frost spreading across ground that had been comfortably warm moments before.
Unnatural. This cold is completely unnatural.
The atmospheric disturbance felt wrong in ways that went beyond simple weather anomaly—supernatural manipulation of natural forces that violated physical law while announcing presence of something that didn't belong in mortal realm.
Blood Sensing. Something approaching that doesn't register as alive.
Adam's expanded awareness detected absence rather than presence, void where life signature should exist but didn't, spectral phenomenon moving through forest with purpose that conventional understanding couldn't adequately explain.
Geralt knows. His expression says he recognizes these signs.
The witcher's face had gone grim with recognition that spoke of someone who'd encountered similar manifestations before, understanding that categorized threats according to survivability rather than simple danger level.
"Prepare yourselves," Geralt said, his voice carrying authority that made weapons appear in hands without conscious thought. "This is beyond normal monsters."
Beyond normal. Whatever's coming is beyond normal classification.
The frost continued spreading in patterns that defied natural physics—geometric designs that spoke of intelligence rather than random crystallization, magical symbols carved from ice that appeared to serve purposes beyond simple decoration.
Communication. The patterns are some form of communication.
The Wild Hunt rider materialized from dimensional void like nightmare given physical form, spectral warrior astride skeletal horse that moved without touching earth while black armor radiated cold that made reality itself seem less solid in its presence.
Level 40. Spectral entity that exists partially outside normal dimension.
The skull mask that concealed its features reflected starlight despite afternoon sun, bone-white surface carved with symbols that hurt to look at directly while violet flame flickered in empty sockets that had never held living eyes.
Ancient language. Speaking in language Geralt barely recognizes.
The words that emerged from behind bone mask carried authority that transcended translation, demand for surrender that suggested negotiation was courtesy rather than necessity.
"Zireael," the rider said, its voice echoing from dimensions that human vocal cords couldn't access. "Luned aep..."
Surrender Ciri. It's demanding we surrender Ciri.
Geralt's translation was unnecessary—the meaning penetrated consciousness through direct neural interface rather than linguistic comprehension, supernatural communication that bypassed normal auditory processing.
Refuse. Obviously we refuse.
The combat that erupted tested everything winter training had taught about survival against impossible odds, spectral warrior phasing between dimensions to avoid attacks while ice magic turned forest clearing into arctic battleground.
Nearly immune to physical attacks. Silver sword barely affects it.
Geralt's expertise proved marginally effective against opponent that existed primarily outside physical realm, his blade creating wounds that sealed themselves with supernatural healing while the creature's attacks carried cold that could freeze blood in living veins.
Waterbending. My ice manipulation provides unexpected advantage.
Adam discovered that elemental magic could interfere with the rider's supernatural abilities, water-based techniques disrupting its dimensional phasing while ice manipulation turned its own weapons against it.
Elder Blood flares. Ciri's power seems to hurt it.
The unconscious manifestation of Elder Blood that terror triggered in Ciri proved more effective than conventional weapons, raw magical energy creating wounds that the creature couldn't immediately heal while forcing it to maintain defensive posture.
Testing our capabilities. This isn't full attack—it's reconnaissance.
The rider's retreat came after evaluation rather than defeat, spectral form fading back into dimensional void while promises of return echoed through forest that would never feel entirely safe again.
"Dh'oine... aen elle... feainnewedd," it said before disappearing, words that carried threat transcending immediate understanding.
Next time. There will definitely be a next time.
[Experience Gained: 800 XP - Surviving Wild Hunt encounter]
[LEVEL UP! 24 → 25]
[Free Stat Points: +5]
[Allocation: +1 STR, +2 STA, +2 AGI]
[New Stats: STR 41, STA 56, AGI 55, HP 410, MP 560]
[Title Gained: "Hunt Survivor" - +10% cold/ice magic resistance]
The explanation that followed painted picture of threats that extended beyond mortal comprehension, interdimensional hunters whose capabilities made human armies seem like minor inconvenience rather than serious opposition.
Wild Hunt. Interdimensional elves hunting her for Elder Blood power.
"They've been tracking her since birth," Geralt said, his voice carrying weight that came from understanding exactly what their situation entailed. "Travel between worlds, nearly impossible to kill permanently. What we just faced was scout testing our defenses."
Since birth. They've been hunting her since birth.
The implications sent cold calculation racing through Adam's mind as he processed scale of forces that viewed Ciri as resource to be claimed rather than person to be protected.
Winter delayed them. Kaer Morhen provided temporary sanctuary, not permanent solution.
"Full Hunt manifestation would be death sentence at current power levels," Geralt continued, his assessment carrying professional honesty that made tactical planning feel like exercise in futility. "Need greater power, more allies, preparation for inevitable confrontation."
Death sentence. Current capabilities inadequate for survival against full force.
Ciri's terror was visible in every line of her posture, someone discovering that her existence attracted attention from forces beyond human comprehension while her power made her target for hunters who could pursue prey across dimensional boundaries.
Regardless of enemy's nature. I promised protection regardless of enemy's nature.
"Whatever they are," Adam said, his voice carrying conviction that surprised him with its certainty, "whatever powers they possess—I won't let them take you."
Promise. Renewed promise in face of impossible odds.
[Relationship: Ciri +10 (terror bringing them closer)]
[Relationship: Geralt +5 (now 100/100 - MAXIMUM TRUST)]
Night brought triple watch rotation while frost patterns remained visible on ground despite distance from encounter, crystalline evidence that some forces left marks extending beyond immediate presence.
Still visible. Supernatural effects still visible hours later.
The camping arrangements reflected new understanding of threat levels that transcended normal security considerations—Blood Sensing providing early warning while Air Sense monitored atmospheric disturbances that might precede dimensional incursion.
Most valuable and most endangered. She's simultaneously most valuable and most endangered person on the Continent.
Looking at Ciri's sleeping form where exhaustion had finally overcome fear enough to allow unconsciousness, Adam understood that their situation had fundamentally changed from refugees seeking sanctuary to targets of cosmic forces whose interest made normal political concerns seem trivial.
Even gods disguised as hunters. Even gods disguised as hunters will learn what it means to threaten someone I love.
The promise felt inadequate against entities that could traverse dimensional boundaries, but inadequacy didn't diminish determination that some things were worth defending regardless of survival probability.
Together. Whatever comes, we face it together.
The stars wheeled overhead in patterns that might conceal interdimensional portals, while three people who'd discovered that love could make impossible odds feel like manageable challenges prepared for conflict that would test everything they'd learned about protection and sacrifice.
Spring brings enemies. Spring brings enemies far more dangerous than human armies.
Some threats required solutions that hadn't been invented yet.
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