(Zoe's POV)
"Don't kid around like that, Zoe. I knew you liked joking around, but I never thought you'd take it that far." Envy growls at me.
"I'm not joking, Frank. Besides you and everyone else already know I wouldn't leave the kingdom unless it was important," I tell him with a serious face.
"Are you even sure the Intel was good?" He questioned.
"Oh, it's good alright. It came directly from the imperial emperor." I informed him.
"Alright. So where are they?" Envy looks up.
"I'm not entirely sure, but they've been attacking villages and taking the village people. Another reason I'm here is to get your help because we're headed to one of the villages that could be attacked next. So grab your g-string and lets go." I rush him.
"I'm coming. Don't rush me. Besides did you even send word to the counsel?"
"No need. I saw a bird headed in that direction. I can assume we're not the only ones that know about the Hunt's attacks." I said.
"So we won't be the only ones, thank the gods." Envy sighed with relief.
"I just said that we can only assume." I repeat. "Now are you ready or not?"
"Yeah I'm ready. We can go through here to get to the nearest town." Envy pointed behind him.
"Alright. Now let's go hunt some wraiths." I said with a smirk making an appearance on my face.
(Nico's POV, wraiths ship)
"Captain, we just received word that the Witchers are on to us." A random wraith tells the captain.
"It doesn't matter. They're too late, our plans are already in motion."
What plans? Stop talking in circles. You'd think that spending a year in the wraith world, I would've found out more, but I haven't. Mostly becausemost of them hardly know anything. I thought to myself.
"How do we know it'll work, sir?" Questioned the same wraith.
"Because if the Witchers can call heroes from other worlds, then so can we. And the one we're summoning is someone who knows them." The captain laughs. I winced. His laugh sounded like blades scraping against a rock.
Who exactly are they bringing back? It's someone we know, but who?There's plenty of enemies back on earth.
"How long do you plan on hiding, Witcher?" The wraith captain said jolting me from my thoughts.
"How long have you known I was here?" I asked thinking of an escape plan.
The captain chuckled maniacally, "We're not as stupid as you think. We've known you've been spying on us all year. We just don't care that you know our plans. Because like I said, you're too late." The captain laughs again. "Now. As much as I would love to see you escape. I think not, kill him," he tells the other wraith who pulled out his sword.
"Hold up there, big guy. Before you kill me, I thought powder kegs weren't supposed to be too close together?" I asked seeing three of them to my left.
"STOP HIM!" The captain yells, but it was in vain, as I already blew up the kegs with my Igni sign.
Good news I got away. Bad news I was in the blast radius, now I know I how Percy and Beckendorf felt when they blew themselves up. Time to get to the counsel and let them know what's going on. I thought to myself before swimming to land.
(Later that day)
"Are you sure that your information was correct? It could have been wrong." I hear counselor Lucas say.
"Yes counselor Lucas, I am utterly sure. Our information came from a trusted friend of ours who contacted Lust, Greed, and I for help. He got the information from a Imperial commander." Electra answered.
"I heard it straight from the mouth of the Imperial emperor." Arrow finished off.
Good to know they're aware of what's going on. I thought.
"Well since they haven't showed up. We missed our chance. Perhaps it's time we send someone into the wraith world." Albus said grimly.
"Are you joking, Albus? No one has gone into their world and returned." Mareubo sounds shocked, his friend would say something like that.
"I returned." I said entering the room.
"NICO!" Everyone yells while my sisters runs up, and give me a bone crushing hug.
"Where the hell were you?" Hazel questioned.
"Just in the wraith world spying on the Hunt." I shrug nonchalantly. Which wasn't the best choice of words, because I got slapped by both of them.
"Ouch. What was that for?" I whine rubbing my cheek.
"What were you thinking, Nico?" Hazel growls glaring daggers at me with Bianca.
"I was thinking I could learn some valuable information. Which I did." I tell them.
"Don't care, Nico. You've been gone for a year. We were beginning to think the worst. Do you have any idea how worried Hazel and I were?" Bianca said
"I'm sorry, Hazel, Bianca, I really am. This is the last time, I do anything that's dangerous again. I promise you both." I tell them truthful.
They're right though. Going into the wraith world was dangerous. I had a few close calls, and had to kill a few to stay hidden. Which was pointless since they knew I was there. I thought, but no way I'm letting my sisters know that.
"Well, Obsidian. As much as I agree with your sisters on how dangerous your mission was. I also can't help but agree with you as well. So what all have you learned?" Mareubo questioned.
"Not as much as I would have liked, but these village attackings are planned, and it's not just happening in Imperial lands, but Nilfgaard as well. The whole reason the attacks are happening is because the Hunt are using the war for a cover," I announce stepping forward.
"This is troubling. With the war going neither side can really spare any soldiers to aid the villages under attack." Lucas thoughtfully said.
"What about the captured villagers, what are their faiths?" Questioned Albus.
"I honestly don't know, counselor Albus. I wish I did. Here, I thought I was used to the sound of people suffering, but the sounds I heard there will hunt me in my sleep." I mumbled the last part, but everyone still heard me.
"Nico, there was nothing you could do without getting caught yourself." Hazel whispered putting a comforting hand on my arm.
"She's right, bro." Bianca agrees.
"That's the point. The bastards knew I was there all along." I growled clenching my fist.
"They what?" Everyone asked shocked.
"They knew I was there. They just didn't care that I learned their plans. The only thing that kept me from saving those people was my own cowardice."
"That's not true Nico. You are not a coward. You are one of the bravest people I know. What you did took bravery." Thalia said speaking up.
"She's right, Nico. You've done a lot heroic things as a demigod. And you've done even more as a Witcher." Frank said with a smile.
"Hell, man. So next time you talk down about yourself. I'll have to fry you alive." Leo nudges me.
"Thanks, guys." I smiled and rarely did I ever do that.
"So, Obsidian. What is it that they're planning?" Mareubo asked.
"The Hunt is trying to summon someone from earth. Someone we all know, but I'm not sure who though. They never said a name." I answered.
"Someone you know." Mareubo repeated. "We'll continue to look into it." He continued.
"In the meantime, you said they were also attacking Nilfgaard, correct?" Albus asked.
"Yes sir." I answered.
"Someone send word to Gluttony and Axii, they're in the area and send word to Wrath, Pride, Pyro and Zenthora to aid them." Albus tells us
"Yes, sir." We all answered before leaving.
"We should all tread carefully. More dark days are ahead of us." Lucas calls after us.
What he didn't realize was that dark days had always been ahead of us, behind us, and upon us.
Sad thing is: we didn't realize it either.