Chapter 4

Sasuke is currently feeling one emotion at the moment and that's disappointment, what he thought was going to be a tough fight turns out to be one of the easiest fights he had. Most of the monsters he fought were either killed in a single slice or easily hypnotized by his Sharingan, and all he had to do was generate his Killing Intent to paralyze the beings controlling the beasts and monsters of the swamp.

Turns out the group that he killed are called the 'Crones' who disguised themselves as 'Ladies' to the locals here promising them protection and special gifts from time to time, the only catch is they lead their children into their 'Orphanage' where the 'Crones' will eat them, glancing at the charred corpse of the creature he sighs, 'The only adequate result that came from that 'fight' was the vast array of information that I manage to get from her'.

He finally knew who the Black Armored individual was which turns out to be Imlerith a 'General' of the group called 'Wild Hunt', according to the 'Crone' he was an 'Aen Elle' a type of 'Eleven Race' from another dimension visiting in this world to gather human slaves.

'So… dimension-hopping entities aren't new to this world after all, interesting.' Sasuke mused to himself.

Of course, he had to ask why the General visited this swamp specifically, the 'Crone' told him that he was looking for someone specific an ashen-haired woman named Cirilla who is the 'Child of the Elder Blood' granting her the ability to travel between different dimensions at will, it is said that she was prophesied to stop some sort of calamity called 'White Frost'.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at this, 'I'm in this dimension less than a day when the ashen-haired woman appeared near the hut I'm currently staying at,' he mused 'Either she's very lucky to teleport near me or this is no coincidence at all.' Sasuke thought

At the very least he already has a name to put on the woman that he is currently nursing back to health. Another point of interest was a cursed godling called Johnny, what a godling is he doesn't know 'I'll just ask around I suppose.' he thought

Looking around the small village he could already see the children looking outside the window inside the small cottage, he approach the cottage and give a few knocks on the door.

"The fight is over, the Crones are not going to bother you anymore" He stated while knocking on the door, once he stops knocking, the door flung open revealing an old woman with bandages on her left arm she appears to be shielding the children.

"I-it's actually over," the woman said "Are you sure that they are gone? That we are safe?" the woman's hands start to tremble slightly.

"Yes I've already dealt with them," Sasuke replies, he watches as the woman is trying to remove the bandaged arm, he hears the woman gasp while looking at her arm, there were no visible marks on her hand, just some few cuts, and light bruises likely from the bandages being attached to her for a long time.

"I-it's gone! My curse is actually gone!" the woman exclaimed happiness gracing her face, he was suddenly embraced by the woman while saying "Thank you" repeatedly, not trying to make it awkward Sasuke gave the woman a few taps on her shoulder trying to calm her down.

Once she finally calms down Sasuke decides to ask what is she going to do with the remaining children of the 'Orphanage', and her answer was immediate.

"My name is Anna Strenger my husband is the Baron of Crow's Perch," said Anna "I'm sure I can convince him to help the children and I'm sure there is a reward for me too should you tell him that you found me." Anna then gave Sasuke what appears to be a wedding ring "Here give him this he will know for sure that I sent you and that I am alive and well. Thank you again for helping us" smiled Anna, once again thanking the Uchiha.

"Don't mention it, I was just at the right place at the right time" Sasuke waved her thanks then pauses, as if remembering something important "By the way have you ever heard of a godling called Johnny in this place?"

A Few Hours Later

After tracking the godling from the direction that Anna pointed out he was surprised to see that it was a small pale-blue creature the size similar to that of a child, after seeing the problem with the godling's voice he decides to help the creature return his voice back, once the godling got it back he started shouting a bunch of profanities, Sasuke could only sigh already regretting giving the godling his voice back.

Currently, they are resting near his hut while cooking some fish that he caught for lunch, judging by the browning of the fish he can assume that his food is almost done cooking.

"Still can't fuckin' believe you offed the Crones," Johnny the godling said while munching on his raw fish "They have been ruling-mmm- this swamp for what feels like forever." said the godling while stuffing the fish in his mouth.

"Aren't you too young to be cursing a lot," said Sasuke who was also eating his fish albeit in a more civilized manner.

"I'll have you know-mmm- I am older than you-mmm- think," said the godling in between bites of fish "I'm older than this swamp friend," Johnny added with a smirk on his face.

Johnny took a big bite of fish before continuing "Still, can't thank you enough for giving me my voice back, shits been difficult when trying to act out what I'm trying to say." he stops to eat more pieces from the fish "And to top it all off you even gave me food! You must be the gods' gift Saucekay!" the godling happily continues as he bites more fish.

"It's Sasuke," said Sasuke correcting the godling.

"Whatever," replied Johnny without a care in the world. Silence reigns as the two sat side-by-side eating fish, once Johnny is done with his fish he decides to ask the Uchiha some questions.

"So, who is she?" asked Johnny while pointing at the person inside the hut.

"A woman named Cirilla" was the only reply the godling got from Sasuke. However, Johnny wasn't done with his questioning.

"...Did you two fuck?" Johnny ask

"No."

"...Ever thought of fucking her?"

"No."

"...Not even once?"

"No."

"...But what if she agrees?"

All Johnny got was a deadpan stare from the Uchiha, as if telling him to shut up, the poor little godling huffs and crosses his arms across his chest.

"You're no fun at all." said Johnny, earning a grumbled "hn" from the Uchiha. The godling suddenly jumps from his sitting position and headed towards some bushes, not before making a snide remark from the Uchiha

"You two won't be fucking anytime soon, especially with that attitude!" Sasuke glared at the retreating golding, before sighing and letting the matter drop as it is.

Johnny the godling was an interesting character for the Uchiha, the moment he gave the godlings voice back he started worshiping the very ground he walks on, it was fun at first but then it grew to the point of ludicrousy, sighing he began massaging his temples as he stares off into the distance and appreciates the peaceful nature in front of him.

Deep in thought Sasuke almost forgot the fish he was cooking, placing another cooked fish onto another plate he made an idle comment to the person behind him.

"You should eat first before leaving," Sasuke commented on his companion who was trying hard to stay silent and leave while he wasn't looking, he heard a sharp intake of breath from behind him before picking the plate up and placing it right behind him without looking and smiled a little when he heard his now awake companion picked the plate up.

"It feels normal at first, but I highly recommend you to rest and lay low for a while, the damages done to your body were extreme, fractured ribs along with a nasty cut from your abdomen, a dislocated shoulder which I manage to realign, along with a bacterial infection that should have been fatal for anybody who has it," said Sasuke while cooking his meal, he gave her a side glance checking to see how she is doing.

"For all your injuries your lucky to be alive right now." the Uchiha said while standing up, the woman drew another sharp intake of breath as she gaze at his full height and he notice that she was also gripping her sword tightly, deciding to deescalate the situation he said "Calm down and put your sword away your not in any danger", remarkably she did for now at least, turning around Sasuke decides to finish cooking his meal.

Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon/Ciri

For the most part, Ciri was surprised when she saw the man's features, his angular face, his lone onyx eye the other one seems to be hidden by his strands of hair, his posture which speaks of a highly trained individual, and his accent which sounds foreign even to her.

She took a glance at her plate, not knowing why she took it in the first place, was it because of hunger? Or perhaps his steel tone of voice that forced zero arguments on the matter? She wasn't really sure, looking around the room she notices that her sword was next to her while the man's sword is placed on the other side of the room away from him, but before giving a sigh of relief she realizes that she was wearing a different set of clothes altogether, this could only mean one thing, especially in the middle of nowhere.

Gripping her sword tightly anger clouded her vision as she comes to her own conclusion of what might have been done to her.

'This filthy bastard! He had his way with me!' dropping her meal she decides to attack his exposed back, performing a two-handed grip with her sword and rushing towards the man, who in a blink of an eye suddenly turns around and hits her sword with his own before hitting her leg with his sword sheath, knocking her down.

She groaned as she hit the floor, she had just got taken down by a stranger who was still somehow holding his food with one hand and a sword in the other. What confuses her though was how did his sword suddenly appear in his hand while it was across the room a second ago.

Ciri shot the stranger her coldest gaze she could muster, all her years of witcher training suddenly came back to her, 'Tsk! I still have a lot to learn after all.' she thought to herself. She was brought back to reality when the stranger began speaking to her.

"Do not insult me with your bold actions woman, you do not know who I am or what I'm really capable of, remember this if it wasn't for me you would be in a ditch somewhere with the Wild Hunt keeping you company." He finishes his statement by placing the food he was holding next to her, while at the same time glancing at her with mild annoyance, like scolding a child having a temper tantrum.

Gods she hated that look more than anything

Ciri slowly got up while maintaining her eyes on the man, before silently picking up the plate he left for her, she glances at her ruined meal the one she dropped when charging toward the stranger, deciding to give the man a benefit of a doubt, she cuts her fish in half and gave the other half to the stranger.

"Sorry… it's just… it's not every day when some stranger decides to go through a certain length to save you." Ciri said with a frown on her lip, but quickly smiles when the man took half of her fish, she took a few steps back and sat down at her bed while nibbling at her food, a moment of silence graced the two individuals before Ciri decides to break the silence.

"Earlier you said the Wild Hunt?" ask Ciri while eating her food.

"Yes," said the man, while gazing outside of the hut enjoying the view for all its worth.

An uncomfortable silence took over, Ciri debated in her head if she should ask another question or wait for an answer, deciding to do the latter she continues to eat her meal during the silence.

"It was before dawn, a cold mist appeared and covered the entire forest, a General of the Wild Hunt known as Imlerith appeared within this area and was searching for you" Ciri glances at the man. Very, very few people know the Wild Hunt and their names, either he is very well informed or he was quite possibly an elven breed an Aen Elle.

"How do you know of the Wild Hunt?" she asks all her focus on his answer.

"The Crones told me." the man simply said.

"The Crones?... The Crones of Crookback Bog?" Ciri asks again.

"Yes, them"

"What? How did you get that information? They would never cross the Wild Hunt." She said her face etched with worry.

"It was an exchange" Ciri blinks at the answer, that would make sense, information for information.

"So what did you give them?" she asks the man, who in turn looked directly into her eyes.

"A swift death," the man said, his face not showing a single drop of emotion, before averting his eyes outside of the hut once again.

"Oh" was her only reply, she was shocked the Crones for all her knowledge were ancient, killing them would be next to impossible for a regular human, she was about to ask again when she heard light footsteps running straight towards them. She stood up and was already grabbing her sword preparing for the worse, oddly enough the stranger remained seated not even moving an inch.

A godling came into view, according to her knowledge godlings were nice creatures provided no one provokes them in any form, she lowers her sword and sat down on her bed again.

"Hah… fuck me I really need to… hah get into shape" heavenly gasping for air, as the godling places his hand on his knees "There's a girl… surrounded by wolves" taking a deep breath the godling exclaimed, "She needs your help, Saucekay!"

"Oh! You're finally awake!" the godling exclaimed while looking at her "Name's Johnny I made sure this brute here doesn't violate you while you-" he was cut off when the man ask the godling

"Where is she Johnny?" he ordered the godling, cutting straight to the point.

"Ah- right," the godling replied before pointing in a random direction "I saw her that way!" pointing at some part of the forest.

The man merely grunted before disappearing leaving behind a trail of leaves in his place, Ciri's eyes widen and her mouth gaped at the speed at which the man moved 'I barely saw him move! What was that?!' she thought.

Her facial expression must have been too obvious as she saw the godling giving her an amused stare.

"Heh, scared me to shit too when I first saw him do that," remarked the godling lightheartedly, she glance at the godling worry etched on her face. While she wanted to stay and ask the stranger how in the hell did he do that, a sudden thought crosses her mind. She almost forgot about her mission! The reason why she's in Velen in the first place!

'I need to get to Novigrad! To Triss! I need her help to undo the curse on Avallac'h!' she mentally berates herself for nearly forgetting her primary objective, gripping her sword tightly she observes her surrounding once again, she's in the middle of a dense forest, if her geography of this place is right the nearest town that sold horses are miles away from her.

'Dammit! This is not good, I can't use my powers to get there! The Wild Hunt will track me for sure!' she needed to move, and quickly at that to make up for the lost time, but first looking at her state of wear, 'I need to find my clothes first, I can't leave looking like this.' she thought to herself.

Looking around the room she found what appears to be a satchel belonging to the stranger, she haphazardly opens the bag looking for her belongings.

"Uh, miss can I help you-" she cut the godling off

"Bugger off!" she exclaims while still rummaging through the satchel, finding nothing but a few scrolls and some piece of paper.

'Tsk! There's nothing here!' Ciri needed to get out of here now! Time is already wasted by staying here! 'Dammit!' she mentally cursed, which means she had to wait for the stranger to come back!

"Oh! The fuck-" she was cut off on her rant when a voice from behind interrupted her.

"Looking for your clothes?" the stranger asks, both Ciri and Johnny turned around to find the man standing behind them while holding a little girl on his arm.

The man placed the girl down, she saw the look of gratitude that the girl is giving toward the man, Johnny unlike Ciri is very vocal when it comes to his amazement.

"Holy shit! You blow me away yet again friend!" exclaimed Johnny while running toward the little girl "Hey! What's your name?" ask the godling excitedly.

"Gretka!" the girl replied already infected with the godlings' enthusiasm.

"Wann play?!" Johnny ask the girl, who nodded her head excitedly before following the godling outside of the hut.

The man remained silent as he was walking towards his opened satchel.

"It wasn't there I checked," said Ciri while glancing around the room. "I think the godling is jesting with-" she was cut off as the stranger pulls out a scroll.

Placing the scrolls on top of the table, she saw the stranger unravels the scroll revealing unknown symbols written within it, the stranger then bit his thumb drawing a small amount of blood before slashing it across the scroll, and a cloud of smoke appears revealing her set of clothes, already clean and stitched back together.

'What the hell is that?!' she mentally exclaims 'Some sort of spacial runic magic? That is keyed to his blood?' she never saw anything like this before! She would know she already spent some time with actual mages and magic users alike!

With an odd look on her face, she took her clothes while still staring at the stranger.

"Who are you?" she had to know, no she needed to know who he is.

"A lost traveler" was the only reply she got from the man.

"That's bullshit!" she exclaims, already getting tired of how the man is treating her "I literally saw you jump leagues into the air! Rescuing the girl and coming back here within seconds!" she was walking back and forth, the stress clearly getting to her

"Taking me down with ease without even looking in my direction!" all her bottled-up emotions are coming out

"A sword suddenly appears in your hand! Killing the Crones! Using some sort of spacial magic without uttering a single chant!" taking a few deep breaths she stops her prancing as she begins to calm down.

"Are you done?" the man asks while his lone eye watches her intensely, the man suddenly starts walking towards her forcing her to step back a little.

"Now, why should I tell you who I am?" the man said while continuing to stare at her, which was already starting to unnerve her "Simply because you demand it?" the man added.

"You did not earn that right from me… Cirilla" the man stated, before stepping away from her.

Ciri, for the most part, remained quiet, she didn't understand why she suddenly lashed out like that, was it because of how he treated her? No, he had every right not to give her information, was it because he was stronger than her? Also no, he could have forced her to do what he wants but instead, he nursed her back to health, or maybe it's because she's used to getting what she wants from time to time, and getting a "No" bothered her. She huffed, before grabbing her clothes and heading towards a tree for some privacy.

One thing is for certain though, she needed to learn to be patient when it comes to the man, especially if she was going to travel with him. At the moment it seems like they needed some space, boundaries are set and lessons were learned from each other.


Some time has passed and Sasuke was now preparing to leave, packing his supplies he begins to plan out his voyage and what he will do for the rest of the day. He hasn't seen Cirilla in a while after her outburst, 'Maybe that's for the best' Sasuke mused, after all having someone breathing down on his neck while traveling is just going to irritate him.

'According to Anna, Crows Perch is located North West from our current position.' thought Sasuke 'If we start moving now we might be able to get to the nearest village before sundown, provided that nothing happens on our way there.'

Looking outside the hut, he saw the little girl he rescued named Gretka playing with a doll that Johnny made, making his way over to her she asks if she was ready to go, and she nodded her head. He glances at the godling who seemed saddened at his departure.

"I'll be back," he declares to the godling

Johnny's face brightens, and a smile appeared on the godling's face before waving his hand and then yelling "Bye Saucekay!"

His eye began to twitch as he glared at the godling before replying "It's Sasuke" he stated for what felt like the hundredth time. The godling seeing this act merely smiled cheekily at the Uchiha, before running off into the bushes and disappearing from his sight.

He glance at Gretka who was giggling at the godlings' antics before looking at him, grabbing her supplies he nods his head in her direction signaling that he is ready to go and that she should follow.

The two traveled on a beaten path, the sun shining above their heads, and the whistling of winds graced their ears, slowly their surroundings begin to change as the trees and bushes started getting livelier, the smell of the swamp drifting away as the smell of fresh forest greeted their nose.

As they enter the new area, they are greeted with a sight to behold, luscious-looking flowers of different varieties surround the area, ancient-looking trees that grow high into the air, animals like dears and elks are prancing around enjoying their freedom, and small birds chirping away as they passed by. He had to admit this world looks beautiful, he smiles a bit remembering fond memories of his home world, his inner musing stopped momentarily when Gretka began speaking to him.

"So…," Gretka started, while yanking a yellow flower and placing it on her hair "Where's your betrothed?" she asks him.

"I don't know" he quietly replies, although from the light footsteps he could hear he already has an idea of who might be following them.

"You don't know where your betrothed is?" said Gretka, clearly unimpressed by the amount of concern he is showing.

"She is not my betrothed," stated Sasuke, his onyx eye glaring at the little girl, Gretka glares back and decides to hammer her points across.

"When I saw her she was only wearing one piece of a garment" she points out before adding "I also saw only one bed inside the hut." she declares while looking at the man.

While Sasuke is showing not a drop of emotion on the outside, inside however he was smirking 'What a very perceptive child you are,' Sasuke thought 'That's good that will take you far, especially in this world.' he added as an afterthought.

They continue to walk the road in silence, up ahead seems to be a large clearing of land followed by another dense forest. Sasuke took note of the footsteps that is running ahead of them and into the forest ahead, it seems as though the person following them decided to set up an ambush in the next area. As they were about to enter the forest, he was not surprised when a familiar figure greeted him and his traveling companion.

"Greetings!" exclaimed Gretka, smiling a bit at the ashen-haired woman.

"Hey…" Cirilla replies lacking the same enthusiasm as the child, Sasuke raised an eyebrow at this, it looks as though she was about to say something and is nervous about it.

'If I had to guess she is going to ask for my help in dealing with the Wild Hunt.' Sasuke thought with clear disdain at what appeared to be an easy way out of her problems.

"I need your help," she said while glancing on the side of the road unable to meet his eyes.

Sasuke already feeling indifferent to her situation, glances at Gretka before saying "Let's go," prompting the little girl to follow him.

Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon/Ciri

Her eyes widen in shock as he just ignored her plight, seeing his retreating form she decides to call his name hoping to get his attention once again.

"Saucekay!" it appears that was the wrong thing to say as she heard an irritated sigh that came out from the man.

"It's Sasuke" she heard him correct her, she mentally berates herself for not asking his name earlier and relying on a jesting godling for the man's name. Seeing as he is still not stopping she strides faster catching up with him.

"The Wild Hunt is after me and I need your help!" she notices that he is still not responding, so she continues this time adding more information.

"They want my power! The Elder Blood! Granting them powers of space and time!" she exclaims while looking straight at his face, seeing no reaction whatsoever, it's almost as if he has already seen this before. Just who is he?

She glances at the little girl named Gretka who smiles nervously while looking at the two of them.

"I already save you, didn't I?" the man named Sasuke replies before adding "Why should I go out of my way to help you again?" he said while continuing to move forward barely acknowledging her in the process.

"Because if they captured me then I won't be able to save this world from the White Frost!" she exclaimed, but the man still kept moving and it was starting to piss her off.

'That is it!' she mentally exclaims 'Enough is enough!' If he isn't going to take this seriously then she is going to force him to. Cirilla ran in front of Sasuke blocking his path and forcing him to look in her direction.

"Don't you even care at all!" she yells at him "I'm not the only one who is going to suffer!" she continues, gesturing her arms to the surrounding land "This entire world is going to suffer as well!" she was beginning to feel desperate, she feels as though the entire world is against her.

"Why should I care?" he said, before adding "You're 'The Child of the Elder Blood' aren't you?'" she could feel the sarcasm coming out of him. "You'll save us all won't you?" each sarcastic question is like a knife stabbing through her already deteriorating mental state, slowly wet droplets begin to form around her eyes. The combined stress of the overall situation is proving to be costly for her.

"For fucks sake! Sasuke please! Listen to me!" she was crying now, using the sleeves of her shirt she tries to wipe the tears off of her, trying to save face in front of him. She can't face him like this! She has to stay strong! However, with each passing minute as the conversation keeps on going, the stress, the bottled-up emotion, and the blatant disregard for her cries for help are already taking a toll on her.

"Cirilla," Sasuke said this time calmly, before adding "No one is asking you to save them." she understand what he is trying to say, or rather what he is trying to make her see. That she has a choice, she can choose not to save anyone, to just hide and let it all play out. However, with what she has seen and with what she has experienced, she can't for the life of her abandon the people who believe in her ability.

"I had…" Ciri began, she took a deep breath trying to regain her composure, she continues "I had so many people, saying that I was born for this, that I was destined for greatness." she said this time looking straight into his lone eye "It feels more like a curse, then a blessing sometimes." she quietly added. Slowly her tearful expression was being replaced with determination, her eyes never leaving Sasuke as she starts to say her piece.

"But, never assume Sasuke that I am taking the easy way out by asking for your help," Ciri states this time however a look of conviction can be seen in her eyes.

"I saw you jump in the face the of danger to save one life," she says, while gesturing toward the little girl beside him, "I also know that you saved those children in the Orphanage," she continues, but she wasn't done proving her point across

"How do I know this? It's because I talked to them, I asked Anna and she told me everything Sasuke, how you easily killed all of the monsters surrounding the swamp, how you dealt with the Crones." she glances at the wildlife in the forest, before looking back at him. "I know that you won't just stand by and let others suffer when you have the power to stop it." she continues.

"Truth be told Sasuke I don't want to keep running and hiding my whole life," she said, looking straight in his eye, "I don't want to just save this world Sasuke, I want to change it, make it better. So, will you help me?" her conviction this time is clear as day, she awaits his response for what feels like hours.

He then walks past her and continues to traverse the road ahead the little girl Gretka following beside him. Ciri frowns and crosser her arms while glaring at his retreating form.

"So… I guess that is a "No" then," she said bitterly, Sasuke stops in his tracks this time however he glances in her direction, prompting Ciri to raise an eyebrow.

"I said no such thing" he replies still looking in her direction, "Now follow." he continues

His reply made her eyes widen, a beautiful smile graced her lips and she happily ran up to the two.

AN: This is the longest chapter I have done so far, tell me what do you guys think?

Also for those who are asking me to repost this on Ao3 you'll be happy to know that I already posted it under the same username that is "archive of our own . o r g (/)users(/)Supbro06"

With that out of the way, enjoy your day and have fun reading!