Harsh wind had been blowing through the barren wasteland, bringing flashing freeze and covering ground with a thick layer of snow and ice. Snowstorm was so intense that it blocked the sky, and making any traveler inside it barely see his fingers, not to mention the ground before them. But nothing mattered, despite how long Ciri walked, landscape never changed in a slightest, just more snow, and snow, and sometimes even more snow.

- Shit - she said, still pressing forward, through the tall snowdrifts, against the freezing wind. She could move with the wind, use it to push her and lift some pressure from the muscles, which would make walking easier. She couldn't explain it, but something deep within her screamed that the wind will only lead her to her demise. Many would shrug off those feelings and move along, but her instincts saved her many times, and disregarding them in hostile world just after encounter with a demon could be a the worst mistake she ever made.

So she moved, challenging this harsh wind, raising her legs high with each step. If she wasn't exhausted, she would wonder where the actual ground starts, because she could only feel ice cracking under her feet.

Ciri fell into the hidden hole with surprised gasp. When she got out she now knew, that snow can reach her breasts and nearly cover her whole. Great.

She crawled out from the hole and resumed her walk, now carefully setting every step, to avoid another hidden trap.

- Hello! - She yelled into the snowstorm. - Is anyone here? - but only loud whistle of wind answered her.

Ciri wanted to slur again, but instead she focused on maintaining her breath. She barely even stood, and opening her mouth could led to even more cold air getting into her lungs, which in turn will lead to her succumbing to the frost faster. So now, she opted to not opening her mouth, just to curse this situation.

With each meter crossed Ciri felt how her body grows weaker and weaker, her legs refusing to move, her hands twitching, her heart beating slower and slower. Probably the only thing which kept her going was her determination and strong will, but even those were on the brink of collapse.

She suddenly felt warmer, and she saw that fire arose before her, giving her much needed warmth. She got closer to it, wanting to just lay near the campfire and finally get some sleep…

Ciri shook her head, shrugged off this illusion and moved forward. Her mind playing tricks on her is sign of that her body will soon collapse entirely.

No food, no shelter, harsh environment she thought Just like Khorath desert

If she could laugh at the similarity of those two events, she would. However, she was only able to leave a quiet chuckle. She could fell her eyes closing slowly, her breath became less and less frequent, and her mind slowly slipping away.

Maybe I could teleport on small distance? She thought.

- Only to alert the Wild Hunt Ziereal? - she heard familiar voice from her right side - In this state, they will easily subdue you.

- AVALLAC'H! - she yelled out in surprise and relief, quickly turning towards him, but no one was there.

- Right. - she said to herself in disappointment - I am alone here.

She pressed forward, focusing on each step, covering her eyes from wind. She tried to keep tight grip of her whole body, but soon another strike from her exhausted muscles came. She soon regained control but it made her close eyes for just a second…

When she opened them, she was in the middle of the burning forest, surrounded by battle cries, screams of pain and loud sounds of battle.

- That's all you got!? - she heard Geralt's voice behind and turned to see two-meter tall giant warrior, covered with thick, crimson armor, holding a giant, double handed warhammer.

- Blood for the Blood God! - Warrior screamed and charged at the witcher - Skulls for the Skull Throne!

Geralt dodged the incoming strike from giant hammer, and striked warrior's abdomen, piercing through warriors armor with his steel sword. Although this was a lethal blow, which would put down even strongest warriors from Skellige immediately, crimson warrior, unfazed by this mortal wound, grabbed Geralt's hand, lifted him into the air and throwed him at the nearest tree with inhuman force. Ciri could clearly hear sound of breaking bones.

- NO! - She yelled, draw her sword and charged at crimson warrior. He looked at her and to her shock, his eyes were burning.

She saw similar eyes before – red eyes full of hatred, mindless rage, desire only for kill and destruction, with no compassion nor remorse – only in most vile monsters. She couldn't understand, humans can be evil, but how low must someone fall to abandon his humanity and become a beast like that thing before her?

She opened her eyes again and whole forest, Geralt and giant warrior disappeared. Mind again played tricks on her, but that vision seemed too real. She shook her head and continue walking forward, not noticing a giant Raven flying above her head.

'

Raven landed atop of the building in the center of the Stoveengrad, from which laughter and excited screams could be heard. Inside, Norscans from Skealing tribe celebrated their recent victories against their rivals. Months after Egil seemingly regained his strength and wrath, Skealings crushed, pillaged and confederated many into their ranks. A lot of spoils and glory achieved for the Hound by the Red Wolf.

In the middle of the hall two giant Norscans exchanged blows, hitting each other in furious fist fight, to gathered people's amusement. Rules were simple – first to yield or cross from the marked circle – lose. And since Norscans run from the battle only if necessary or when their lord demands it, none of this warriors even planned to back down, especially having privilege fighting before Strybjorn himself.

- Hit him harder! - crowd yelled to both - Dodge you fucking pig!

While those two tried to win, the rest – warriors, women and children – enjoyed the feast, singing, eating and drinking. It was good month to be Skealing!

- Glory to our High Jarl! - One of the Huskarls sitting beside him yelled while raising a toast - May his victories grant him eternal reward!

- For Egil Strybjorn! - Whole crowd yelled and those who can drank beer and wine, while the youngest children drank milk.

Although their numbers were vast, now numbering thousands upon thousands of strong and mighty warriors, there was still a long journey ahead to regain what was lost in Bretonnia. Still, many expected that Strybjorn will conduct small scale raids against Bretton's coast. But, for some reason, he chose to expand his dominion in Norsca, strengthening his influence in the region, while only allowing raids of the empire, which started power struggle against other tribes. But as long as there was good fight, good loot and a lot of glory to earn, none was concerned by plans Strybjorn brew in his mind.

Egil took a large portion of mammoth's leg, and with one, powerful bite took meat into his mouth and started chewing it. Technically, thanks to gifts from the Murder Lord, he didn't need to eat or sleep, but he knew that nothing builds morale as good as seeing your leader eating and fighting beside you. And well-motivated warrior will fight better and will be more loyal to him.

He then picked up his horn full of beer - Glory to you my warriors! May the Hound bestow his gifts upon you! - and whole crowd cheered while two combatants became more and more aggressive to one another.

- You seem troubled my jarl - Huscarl sitting beside him said - Is this because of the troublemaker from the North?

Egil scoffed hearing this - This Snake's slut? I can crush him with my finger. He only conquered weak tribes, and his warriors are pathetic.

- Then you must be concerned about our revenge against bretton's and their champion? - Huscarl insisted.

In most cases, Egil would just cut short this little talk, but Huskarls were the mightiest warriors under his command, surpassed by only few chosen champions. Each scored many kills and claimed mountains of skulls during his raids, some even participated in his campaign's from day one, so he didn't mind their presence, nor some of their questions.

- All in time. - he replied, taking another bite from the mammoth's leg.

Warriors in the circle, both badly wounded and bleeding from various places, starred at each other, ready to pounce into the fray once more.
- Finish this! - Crowd yelled
- End this fight!
- Crush him!
- Tear him apart!

Strybjorn watched how two warriors clang their fists, took their last breaths and prepared for final showdown. Those two fought both with body and mind – whose body and spirit will be lesser. Strybjorn smiled seeing this, because didn't care who will win, as long as there is blood spilt. In this final crescendo, when two warriors charged at each other, screaming in pure rage, he felt like time itself slowed down. He almost could fell presence of something beyond human understanding. Maybe Blood God see his warriors through Strybjorn, and he…

- Then you must be concerned about the prophecy. - Huscarl said

- Not no… - Strybjorn turned to him, at first angered because his warrior dared to interrupt, but in mere moment this anger turned into shock, because he never spoke to anyone about the prophecy from the Eagle. His shock only grew when one of his huscarls, seasoned warriors who fought for him for years, was grinning unnaturally.

"Huscarl" opened his eyes, which now glowed with purple flame, and he stared directly "his" High Jarl.

- You must be worried about…

Cirilla

- I can't close my eyes - Ciri thought, breathing heavily - I can't close my eyes - she repeated this phrase to focus, like a mantra. She knew death crawled near her, waiting for her to fall asleep, and to take her spirit to… wherever spirts go.

Suddenly she heard child scream right next to her, and when she turned, young, ashen haired girl clinged to her leg

- Help me! - She screamed in panic - Monsters are coming!

- What monste… - she wanted to ask, but sudden appearance of child pursuers both shaken her to the core and nearly made her puke in disgust.

These monsters were dead people. Not necrophages, but actual reanimated bodies of dead humans. She saw so many of them approaching down the road, each different from on another – some looked like human who died recently, a lot were in the middle of rotting and lacked some parts of the body like hands, and the rest was lacking flesh entirely, leaving only blackened bones and teeth. However, all shared two things – their eyes were glowing with strange blue light and mindless desire to kill. Whole this mass of the dead charged through the street in pursuit of living flesh.

Ciri saw many disgusting necrophages before - she fought ghouls, drowned, rotfiends and more. She knew that, despite their appearance, they are just another beasts which prey on humans. But those approaching her looked like something more sinister raised them back from their graves.

- Stand behind me - she said to the girl and drew her sword - I will protect you.

First zombies closed distance rapidly, but before Cir could start cutting them off, someone from behind launched at them with two swords, both of which glowed with green energy.

Ciri watched in awe how female warrior with coppery skin, long, braided red hair and light green clothes jumped into the horde of living dead, slicing them with speed so unnatural that for a moment Ciri thought that unbelievable happened and someone truly made a female witcher. Warrior parried and dodged their attacks with little to no effort, jumped above their heads, moved with both speed and grace between them. It looked like she was dancing, with each clean strike cleaving heads, arms, and legs. Her long hair followed her movements like a tail of a comet and her battle skirt , to Ciri surprise, not restrained warrior in the slightest, only emphasizing both her beauty and ruthless dance of death. Ciri could even argue that also her shadows fought alongside her.

But one of this shadows grinned with its long teeth, while pulling long strings attached to warriors body.

- Another dream - she closed her eyes and shook her head, but when she opened them again, scenery changed.

Now she was standing on the top of obsidian tower, in the middle of city made of raising black ziggurats and workshops. She saw whole streets covered in smoke, ash and fire. She coughed while inhaling this foul ashes, her lungs aching due to toxic gases and her ears nearly bleeding because of the noise of unknown machinery and hammers underneath. She looked around, terrified by sheer size of this city.

- What are you doing!? - She heard terrified voice behind and quickly turned, just in time to see giant man wearing gray robes carrying above his head a dwarf in spike armor made of black metal. This dwarf wasn't much different from those she met, except large fangs and strange hat, but the biggest surprise was when his fingers glowed and giant's legs turned into stone, but after few seconds, he broke them out of it, and resumed walking towards the center of the platform.

There, in the middle of the tower, stood an enormous cauldron filled with boiling metal. As the giant man moved closer, both Ciri and dwarf realized what he has planned.

- No, NO! - Dwarf yelled, wiggling like a maniac, biting and tearing man's hands but to no avail. When warrior carrying him stood just before the edge, he leaned slightly backwards, preparing to throw.

- Wait, stop! - Ciri yelled, but it was too late, even if this giant even heard her.

With mighty swing, he threw screaming dwarf into the boiling pool, and when he landed inside Ciri heard screech full of pain and suffering. While dwarf screamed in agony, slowly drowning in metal, giant turned towards Cirilla, and his sight made her move two steps backward.

His eyes were burning in rage and madness, his face badly scarred and bleeding, showing her his teeth like some kind of a wild beast. His torso was uncovered, revealing strange, glowing red mark in the center. He then howled in triumph with force strong enough to push her back.

Before she could regain her balance, something solid rose behind her feet, and she fell into the well.

'

Through the snow, tall man covered in wolf fur walked through the snowstorm, covering his eyes. On his back he carried large wooden logs. He walked towards his home, thinking about hot soup, something to drink and the family which awaited him. Each step made deep holes in the snow, ice cracked under his weight and freezing wind couldn't even make him shiver.

- Help me. - Giant suddenly heard female voice, and looked around for the source of it.

- Hello? - he said into the snowstorm, but no one answered him. He shook his arms and wanted to start walking away

- Help me - he heard again, this time weaker. More distant.

- Where are you!? - he yelled, turning around. Before his wary eyes, a small, white pigeon appeared.

- The hell? - he asked, but pigeon already started flying towards something through the snowstorm. No, not something. Someone.

Man quickly dropped the wood and started following the pigeon, causing wind to hiss in anger.

There is no one thereee wind whispered You won't help…

Ziereal

Ziereal fell between the stars. From her many adventures across space and time she learnt that in space between the planets there is no "gravity", but she felt she was falling deeper and deeper. She saw countless planets, myriads of universes and billions of unique stars, all in perfect harmony with each. It was…

Beautiful.

But then, in a blink of an eye, a column of green light erupted from nothingness, and in an instant all started falling apart. She watched how planets started slamming into each other, creating thousands of floating rocks which flew into the next planets, causing apocalyptic destruction. She saw many magnificent stars shrinked and died, while some grew and consumed billions of worlds. How barriers between realities shattered and mix. How space cracked like eggs shell, and borders between the realms of the dead and living are erased from existence.

And among all of this, maddening laughter. All which survived the initial impact were soon covered in blue lights, purple fires, green crystals or turned to giant volcanos. They swapped places with one another, crashing, reforming to new worlds and stars in second, only to be destroyed after brief existence and changed into something new. She watched, terrified, how world resembling her home turned from giant star to floating ball of water in mere seconds, only to crystallize in an instant. She couldn't count how many were caught in this endless limbo of eternal destruction and rebuilt.

And then whole cosmos turned into infinite number of blue, red, green and purple eyes, which stared at her from all directions, and whole universe started laughing at her, overwhelming her mind, making her cover her ears, but maddening laugh only got louder and louder.

- Enough! - she yelled while falling, trying to somehow supress the mocking laughter - Enough of those visions! Enough of this surreal dreams!

- Dreams may carry warnings, Lady of the Worlds - calm voice said, silencing the twisted laughter - Especially for beings like you.

To Ciri's surprise, instead of painfully crashing into something she felt a soft ground under her back. She slowly raised from the ground and looked around herself. She was in some sort of a garden, surrounded by strange, black roses. She looked into the sky and watched flock of crows passing through, flying towards the open, wooden gate, carrying some blue lights in their talons. From the gate she heard voices of humans, talking to each other, spending time together, like they were no longer worried about anything.

- What is this place? - Ciri thought

- This is the place, where mortals from this world travel to find peace after years of existence. - Calm voice answered - And your presence here is… astonishing.

She finally noticed man fully covered in red robes, tending gently to growing black roses while holding Scythe made of black, unnatural wood and steel, so sharp that it seemed to be able to cut everything.

- Are you Death? - she asked, not even surprised anymore by him reading her thoughts - I heard many variations of you appearance but never seen one tending to roses.

- All lives are unique - hooded figure stated - Just like those fragile roses, they are different from each other, and also require tendance of diligent gardener to make them flourish - Figure rose up and turned towards her. - I am Morr, God of Death and Dreams.

- Ciri - she introduced herself while trying to perceive face under the hood, but to no avail.

- Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon. - Morr added - Lady of the Worlds, by some mortals referred to as 'Lady of the Lake'.

- You seem to know a lot - Ciri remarked - What else do you know about me? - she asked sarcastically.

- I know whole story of your life. - He answered - Because I relived it, when you entered my domain.

- So, am I in the afterlife after all? - she said – Fuck.

- You are… one step from it. - Morr corrected - In perfect state between.

- How is that possible? - she asked with suspicion.

- Because you are Lady of the Worlds. - Morr answered - And whole universe belongs to you. I cannot take you in without your approval.

- Hmm - she thought for a moment - If I got struck by blade or died in battle, could I simply say 'no' and go back to life?

- Sadly for you, no - Morr said - Universe hates cheaters, and there are some rules even we must honor.

- Then if I am not dead and you can't take me, means I can still return to life this time. Why I am allowed to return now? - she asked out of curiosity.

- Because HE cheated first. - Morr answered, fuming with anger.

- That Demon? - She asked

- Demon? - Morr scoffed - No, he is far worse than demons you encountered before. - He stated - For the Changer of Ways set his gaze upon you.

- Fancy title. - She remarked, but Morr wasn't in mood for some jokes.

- Changer of Ways, Architect of Fates, Great Sorcerer - Morr counted - He has many titles bestowed upon him by both his followers and his foes, but his most well-known name is Tzeentch - this name suddenly made her skin shiver

- Tzeentch… - she repeated this name. causing her skin to shiver again, like her body remembered something - Is he another god like you? - she asked, causing Morr to nod in response.

- Yes - He said - He is malicious being, playing with mortals like they are his toys, an amusement. He loves leading them to ruin and self-destruction, to later devour their minds and souls

- Souls? - She could fell her heart sink. She heard many variations about afterlife, like "those, who were good during life venture to better place, while wicked will be punished for eternity", but hearing that some malevolent deity will consume you after death was a revelation to her. If someone different than literally God of Death told her this, she would laugh, now however, she felt that he is telling her the truth.

- Indeed - Morr said - I don't know how or why he brought YOU here, but your appearance here of all worlds made an impact on whole universe – once inevitable future become impossible, and unthinkable may become reality. You need to run from here, as fast and far as possible.

- I wish I could - Ciri answered - And I tried, but something holds me here.

Morr scratched his chin, deep in his thoughts, while Ciri sat on the ground in anger

- First Nilfgaard, then Bonhart, Vilgefortz, my own father, Eredin and now some Demonic God? My luck is unimaginable.

- This is your fate as Lady of the Worlds - Morr stated - Someone will always try to use your power for personal gains.

- Always this damn "fate" -She sighed heavily - So, what now?

- There are two different paths you can follow - Morr stated - One is quick and will prolong existence of the universe for another ages, but its doom will be more than certain.

- And this path is 'crossing that gate'? - She pointed her finger at giant wooden doors

- Yes - he answered

- And second path? - Ciri asked

Morr raised his scythe high, tilting his head backwards - It will be difficult and rough journey, which will test you, drop you to the lowest of low, torment your body, mind and soul in attempts to break you, and if you somehow don't fall for tricks and lies of Chaos, you will face your worst fears and nightmares. Even this does not make victory certain, and consequences of your failure will be dire to us all.

- So, either sweet embrace of death or fight against all odds? - She said out her thoughts loud, thought more for a moment and turned towards God of Dreams - All I need is one, honest answer.

Freezing breath of frost struck giants feet, bringing him on his knees, but after a while he stood up again, laughing.

- That's all you got!? - He yelled into the wind - Not enough to bring me down!

Wind responded by launching full scale assault, wanting to crush, destroy, shatter this defiant mortal, but his only response was one step backward, followed by two heavy steps forward.

- I am Kislevite! - Giant yelled towards his opponent - Raised by Motherland, Forged in Freezing Winter! Some mere breeze won't break me!

Youu are NOT Kislevite. wind hissed Not anymore.

Man shook his head in denial, and pressed forward

- Where are you!? - Giant yelled, hoping for the response

She is deaaad .Winter whispered You have no one to rescueeee.

- Shut the fuck up! - he said in anger, and he quickly grabbed something from his pocket.

- God of Sun and Fire - he started praying, holding a small talisman - Patron of those in need. Give me your light to save a soul, just one soul. I know earthly matters don't concern you as much as the sky, but I beg you, hear my prayers and show me the path.

'

- Is there a chance for my victory? - She asked, but Morr remained silent - Answer me! - she said, now irritated - Is there any chance for me?

- It will require sacrifices… - Morr started to say

- Is there? - Ciri demanded, rudely interrupting him.

- There is - He finally said - But…

- That's all I needed to hear - she said and raised on her feet - So, how to go back?

Morr was stunned in this moment. The being, counting himself millennia of existence, was shocked. This mortal willingly (or foolishly) wants to challenge the mightiest beings in the universe. Even if she has the Hen Ichaer flowingthrough her veins, it is still a sign of courage or stupidity. Or both.

- Why? - He muttered, not understanding why she wants to take this burden

- I ran from my problems for far too long - She answered, looking at him, trying to again perceive something under his hood and show him her determination - And it only got worse and worse. Time to finally stop running and face them.

God of Death thought about this for a moment, tilted his head and then he hit the ground with his scythe.

'

Suddenly, before giant's eyes, sun pierced through the clouds, making path for him through the snowstorm, which shrieked in response to this powerful blow.

He smiled and went through the path in the snowstorm, guided by the sun.

'

When Ciri's spirit flew away, Morr stood in place for a moment, contemplating.

- I told you she will refuse! - he heard young male voice behind him - Always knew it.

- I remember. - Morr agreed

Beside him stood a handsome young man with long, flowing golden hair and wreathed in fire. He was wearing long coat in mixed colors of gold and red. His smiling face was perfect in most human standards, and his eyes glowed with the light of the sun.

- Never doubted her. - he said, patting God of Death back, to the latter's embarrassment

- Why she wants to fight Dazh? - Morr asked - Most of the living would take my offer.

- Then you don't know anything about the living - Dazh stated - You most of your time spend here, in your garden, taking care for those, who passed away. I guarantee you, your view about them would change instantly after watching them from the sky for just one day.

- Hmmm - Morr thought about that for a moment - You do understand that her choice may doom us all?

- I do. - Dazh agreed - But she is may also be our last chance.

'

Ciri opened her eyes, feeling alive again. What a strange feeling, return from death's doorstep to body. It is like returning to house after long journey, despite leaving for just couple of minutes. And just like the returning owner, Ciri's mind checked her body. And to her surprise, she wasn't feeling the unbearable pain of overstretched muscles or wind freezing her bones. It felt like her wounds, and wind was banished and replaced by warming sun. Now, she was only tired. Very tired.

- How…? - she wanted to ask, but sight before her answered all questions.

Woman in white attire stood above her, giving her comforting smile.

Ciri wanted to say something, but woman gently put her hand on Ciri's forehead.

- Rest now, young one. - she said, her voice calming Ciri, giving her some sense of security and hope - You are in good hands now.

Woman then faded away, and before Ciri passed away, she saw a giant man, wearing white wolf fur, quickly approaching her.