May 8, 1271
Vizima

Well, that was an exciting evening! This will be a long entry – so much has happened! Not everything went according to plan, but we made some great progress.

Before assaulting their base, I figured we needed some backup. Geralt requested help from his new 'friends' of the Order. Thankfully, Siegfried is an honorable man (perhaps the only one of that lot) and agreed. We were all to meet at the New Narakort's upper floor to plan our attack. Siegfried and Leuvaaren arrived before Geralt.

I chatted a bit with Siegfried – he seemed a nice fellow. He values honor and chivalry quite highly. He treated me like a lady, even though I'm a sorceress. Rare to find someone of the Order so polite to my kind.

Anyway, it wasn't long before we heard commotion downstairs and I realized that we would probably have to act quickly. So, I prepared my spells and thank goodness I did. Once Geralt reached me, mere moments later we were confronted by De Wett and a few of his thugs. I was able to teleport Geralt and Siegfried into the caverns connected to the Salamandra base. I also secretly cast Alzur's shield on Geralt, which would protect him from magical attacks. It's a devilishly tricky spell, but I managed to pull it off perfectly! While teleporting two men at the same time. Damn, I'm talented!

After that, I muttered a scary sounding incantation and then sent a little jolt of electricity to De Wett's hind quarters – just to scare him. Worked like a charm! De Wett just about wet his trousers after that. He retreated with his tail between his legs, mumbling something about "sorceresses getting their just deserts in the end."

Of course, not long after I got home, Salamandra agents broke in. Bastards were looking for Alvin, whom I told to hide. Although they proved no match for me, they spooked the boy and he vanished. Thankfully, he was easily traceable, now that I knew the resonance of his Source. He's in some village to the south, near the lakeside. Murky Waters, I think it's called.

Anyway, with the salamanders taken care of, I decided to watch Geralt's progress through my scrying orb. I must say, watching him in combat is an exhilarating experience. He really is an impressive swordsman! The way he perfected the Viroledan Naev'de Feaine Glaeddyv (or as Vesemir pragmatically called it: "group style") is a sight to behold. He waits for about 5 or 6 men to surround him and then spins his sword so quickly and gracefully that they don't even know what hit them! Is it strange that I focus not on the blood and gore of men meeting their death, but the beautiful technique in which it is done? Must be a sign of being in a relationship with a witcher!

Once Geralt reached Javed and the Professor, the shield I placed around him activated. I savor the look on the Javed's face as he realized the witcher was protected by Alzur's shield! Looks like the little girl from Maribor outwitted the powerful Zerrikanian sorcerer! Knowing he was no match, the mage fled through a portal. Thankfully, the Professor was not so lucky and Geralt had him cornered.

They fought briefly, if you could call it a fight as Geralt handily won. But, it seemed the Professor had one last trick up his sleeve and quietly readied his crossbow. Thankfully, Geralt was not taken by surprise and he parried the bolt in mid-flight! One of the more impressive witcher tricks. Although the witcher wasted no time killing the son-of-a-bitch, Fate decided to test him once more.

During their brief fight, they had fallen into a kikimore queen's lair. The monster gobbled up the professor's body and began charging towards Geralt. My heart was pounding, a kikimore queen can sever a mature oak like a twig – one swipe from her powerful claws and he would perish. I was moments away from teleporting him out of there, but the witcher was already on the move. He decided to use his terrain to his advantage and began collapsing the cave around him using his Aard sign. In no time, the queen was buried under a pile of rubble.

I turned away as he gutted the monster, but I know he needed to access her stomach. The Professor's remains surely held some more information that could be useful. Nasty work, but such is the life of a witcher! I'll make a note to give him a long bath once he comes back to me. With lots of slippery bubbles. He'll need to be thoroughly scrubbed, and nothing does that like the skin of a sorceress. Flesh rubbing against flesh, my body sliding all over his. Every inch of his body will need to be caressed. For proper sanitation, of course!

Anyway, that may not be for a while. Just as he exited the caverns, he was met by that bitch, Princess Adda. She had him surrounded by guards and was ready to execute him. It seems our dear little princess was working with Salamandra the whole time! That would explain her hostility towards me as I investigated. She ordered him killed, but in classic Geralt form, he knew exactly how to stall her long enough for me to pull his arse out of the fire. He asked her for one last kiss. You wish witcher! Just as she was about to place her venomous lips on my Geralt, I had my teleport ready. I sent him to Murky Waters, where Alvin went. And was she furious then! How does it feel to be denied a second time, you scamp?!

In retrospect, it was the perfect way to ensure his safety. The guards may have tried shooting Geralt whilst I was teleporting him. If they were fast enough, he would've been riddled with bolts despite my best efforts. However, by being locked in the embrace of the Princess, no guard would dare take a shot. She unwittingly provided the perfect cover for his escape. Geralt really is a genius. I sure do know how to pick them!

Bottom line: The Professor is dead, Adda is exposed, Geralt and Alvin are safe, and Javed is on the run!

May 9, 1271
Vizima

My dimeritium amulet came in today, finally! You'd think it would be simple to mold a hunk of metal into a disk. Never the less, it is here. Simple, yet it should be effective. I wore it for a brief time and noticed my magical abilities were entirely muted. It was like being plunged underwater. Terrible feeling, I took it off as soon as I could. It should keep Alvin's powers at bay, at least until he gets some better training.

I gave the amulet to Dandelion to give to Geralt straight away. I also gave him a letter to deliver to my beloved Geralt. Here's what I wrote:

Dearest Geralt!

You managed to escape in time and you should not return to the city for a while. Yet I hope we will not remain apart for long...

Our problems, however, do not end there. Alvin used magic to disappear, but I was able to locate him and sent you there. Take care of him, please. I know you don't need convincing – you've come to like him as much as I have. The boy has been through a lot and his wild magical talents have awakened. When he was with me, he did not have patience enough to undergo basic magical training, claiming he would rather be an explorer of lost ruins, a discoverer of magical artifacts. I have enclosed a dimeritium amulet that blocks magic. I hope Dandelion hasn't lost it. Please convince Alvin to wear the pendant at all times. Take care of him and think of me sometimes. I deeply hope all will be well with us – our little affair can't possibly be more difficult than your mission, can it? Be careful and know that I await your return.

Your Triss

I wonder if he'll write back? I know I won't see him in a while, so it'd be nice to hear from him.

I teleported Dandelion to Murky Waters. Hopefully he and Geralt can meet up in short order – if the bard doesn't get lost.

May 10, 1271

Vizima

Rested most of the day. After casting all of those spells the past couple of days, I really needed to take it easy. If I over tax myself, I won't be any use to anyone.

May 11, 1271
Vizima

I hate living in this big house by myself! Without Geralt and Alvin, it's been so quiet. I miss them both.

Sometimes, I miss our mornings the most. Although our nights were filled with fiery passion, the morning came with a homey kind of intimacy. A caring sort of sensuality. Relaxed and calm. I would sit at my dresser and brush my hair. Geralt would be just a few paces away, in my lab brewing his potions. Alvin, of course, would still be asleep downstairs. Nothing but the sounds of potions bubbling and the swish of my brush. Sometimes Geralt would come over and sniff my hair or kiss my cheek. Or I'd walk over to watch him brew. I would stand behind him, wrap my arms around him, and rest my chin on his shoulder. Moments like those make me desperately wish we could just settle down. Get away from this stinking city. We could have a little house tucked away over hill and dale. It's a fairytale dream, I know. But on those special mornings, I felt like it wasn't so far-fetched.

But, for now I wake up alone. No witcher to keep me warm. The only noise is the occasional creak as the wind buffets the house.

I miss Geralt...

May 15, 1217
Vizima

Geralt wrote back to me! I just got his letter today. I'll always keep this letter in a safe place, but just in case something should happen, I'll copy it here:

Beloved Triss!

Your insight made finding Alvin possible. Also, I received the amulet from Dandelion. Don't worry, the boy will be alright, I will take care of him.

I understand that I have to spend some time away from Vizima. Here in Murky Waters the time seems to pass according to its own rhythm. It is a very beautiful place — with grain fields swaying in the wind and a crystal clear lake. The people here are also very pleasant.

I think about you as well, Triss, and I keep thinking about the moments when we were together. I don't know if our relationship will overcome all obstacles but I don't think we should worry about that just now. What is important is that we have each other. I hope that I will see you soon.

Geralt

Such a beautiful letter. It seems things are finally going our way! Geralt must have found Alvin and given him the amulet. This should help the boy keep his abilities in check. And hopefully silence the awful night terrors he used to get.

Murky Waters seems like a lovely village. A bucolic paradise. I'll have to visit someday.

The last part of the letter makes my heart sing! I'm so glad he thinks about me too and the wonderful moments we shared.

He's right – no one knows what the future will bring. There are countless obstacles that threaten what we have together. I'm dreadfully concerned about the Djinn's magic binding his fate to Yennefer. For now, it seems to be having no affect – perhaps because of his amnesia. But what if he recovers his memory and the magic pulls him away from me? What if he rejects me and goes running off into her arms? What if he hates me for trying to win his heart?

No. I can't think about that. Like Geralt wrote: we shouldn't worry about the obstacles that threaten us. What is important is that we have each other in the here and now. The past is in the past and the future is unknowable. Focus on the present Merigold! Geralt loves you now. Today. That's what matters!

May 17, 1271
Vizima

Things are heating up in the city. Small riots are an almost daily occurrence. The Order is actively spreading hatred amongst the human populace, so things have gone from bad to worse for the non-human citizens. They're being rounded up and herded into Old Vizima with the plague victims. Unsurprisingly, the Elder races are starting to organize themselves and push back. This, in turn fuels more hatred towards them. It's a deadly spiral and I worry that a full civil war is immanent.

Only good news is that King Foltest is due to return in a couple weeks from his campaign. He better not tarry; else, he may not have a city to come back to.

May 19, 1271
Vizima

Tried to observe Geralt's progress in Murky Waters through my scrying orb, but it proved extremely taxing at such a distance. I do know he's helping the locals with a noon-wraith problem. Some poor girl died right before her wedding. So sad.

If anyone can lift the curse, it's Geralt!

May 23, 1271
Vizima

Our Princess has been acting oddly, even for her. My sources say that she disappears at night and comes back in the morning with scraps and bruises all over her body. If I didn't know better, I'd say someone re-cursed the girl. I hope not – if news gets out that the Princess is once again a striga, there will be a whole new layer of fear and panic in the city. Situations like this have taught me to never use the phrase: "It can't get any worse." Because it can, and often does.

May 25, 1271
Vizima

The streets are no longer safe, especially in the Temple District and Old Vizima. The guards are having a hard time keeping order, and more than one has met his death trying. Soon, it will no longer be safe in the Merchant District where I live. I better go to the castle, where knights loyal to Temeria (not the Order or the Eternal Fire) are abundant. I should be able to set up a makeshift bed in my office. Being a Royal Advisor has its perks!

May 28, 1271
Vizima Castle

Got a letter from Dandelion today. He says that he single-handedly lifted the noon-wraith curse by playing soul-rending ballad which convinced the restless ghost to leave this world for good. Which means that Geralt probably did all of the heavy lifting. Some people never change...

Alvin is doing well. A local present family has been taking care of him. According to the letter, Geralt convinced him to wear the amulet at all times, and it seem to be working. His nightmares have abated, anyway. Also, the boy follows Geralt around like a puppy during the day. So cute! I hope they get some time to really bond. Like father and son.

Speaking of the witcher, apparently he also established peace between the local peasants and the Vodianoi. No small feat! If only there were 20 Geralts, the world would be a garden of paradise!

I can't wait for him to come back so he can share with me all of the details.

May 30, 1271
Vizima Castle

Just found out that Order of the Flaming Rose dispatched a cohort of knights to Murky Waters today. Apparently, some high ranking Scoia'tael have been hiding out there. Interesting – everything seems to revolve around that little town of late. I'd go there myself, but I'm needed here. The king is expected to return soon, and I need to be present at the castle.

Plus, it's good to be behind castle walls with everything that's been going on.

May 31, 1271
Vizima Castle

Eerily calm today. No reports of riots or anything of the sort in the city. And the castle so quiet you could hear a pin drop. I can't help but feel that something big is about to happen.