As soon as the four of them entered the hut, they were surprised by Gretka running up to Geralt and Ciri before hugging the witcher's legs and looking at him.

"So? How did it go? Did you defeat the bandits?" Gretka asked in an excited tone, making the two knights laugh with amusement at the child's excitement.

"We defeated them all." Ciri declared with a smile, making Gretka turn to her, releasing Geralt who sighed seeing how the child was becoming involved with his daughter in everything but blood.

It was at that moment that Geralt saw Shani approaching him with a smile, looking at Gretka before turning to the sorcerer and the two knights. "Sorry about that, she was very excited to see Geralt."

"There's no need to worry. We know what a child's joy must be like to see their father fighting evildoers." Milton declares with an amused smile on his face.

"She's not my daughter, she's..." Geralt comments, trying to avoid a misunderstanding, but Shani steps in front of him.

"What Geralt means is that he and I are looking after Gretka in the future." Shani declares briefly, which causes Geralt to glare at her, but she ignores it. "But anyway, I don't think that's why you wanted to talk to Geralt."

The two knights looked surprised as they exchanged a glance before looking at Geralt, who sighed, but didn't deny what she had said since it was true and he agreed with Shani, they had come here to sort out another situation and not to talk about his new ward and traveling companions.

"So, fess up, what brings you such a long way?" Geralt asked, making the two knights look at each other.

"We have to deliver Her Grace the Duchess' message in full, with all due ceremony. For tradition..." Palmerin began as he stood up with a parchment in his hand, which made Geralt cross his arms, already recognizing what he was about to say.

"Is sacred in Toussaint. All right. Fine." With that, Palmerin approached Geralt, opening a long parchment while Shani, Ciri and Gretka gathered around the witcher to hear the contents better.

"Most Honorable Geralt, slayer of monsters and all the evils nefarious witch prey on the defenseless of this world!" Hearing Palmerin's tone, Gretka couldn't help but open her eyes wide in amazement at the way he spoke of Geralt before looking at the witcher with admiration.

"Whereas never have you been known to deny help to the innocent nor leave windows and orphans to fates undeserved, answer now our present summon. " This time Shani couldn't help but blink in surprise at how elaborate this contract was... For some reason she doubted that everyone was like this.

"Free us from the beast which floods our streets with blood and sows panic in the hearts of rich and poor alike!" Upon hearing about the beast, Ciri and Geralt began to think of any creature they knew that could generate such urgency from another realm to summon a specific sorcerer to deal with it.

"Come to our aid, switcher: thus humbly beseeches you the star-crossed city's most gracious protectress, Her Illustrious Highness, Duchess Anna Henrietta." With that, Palmerin began to roll up the parchment, having finished reading the message while Milton stepped in front of the sorcerer and his group.

"Shall you answer her call?" Milton asks.

Geralt remained silent for a few seconds before looking at the two knights.

"It's perhaps the most fervent request I've ever contracted with. And the most courteous." Geralt comments, but he ends up being interrupted by Gretka.

"Did she really say all that? Word for word?" Gretka asks, impressed, making Milton and Palmerin laugh.

"Well, in point of fact she said, 'Bring me the witcher and don't you dare spare the horses. Only make sure he comes alone.' The ducal chamberlain added the rest, you know how it is." Milton declares before sniffling, noticing Geralt's gaze at the end. "I think we both know who exactly she was referring to."

"Yeah, I remember." Geralt comments calmly before looking at Shani. "But if they can't come with me, I'll refuse the contract right now."

"There's no need to be so strict, Geralt. I'm sure your companions will be welcome." Palmerin assures in a soothing tone. "I might add, be it unofficially, that a hefty reward awaits you. Yet the specifics you will need to verify with Her Illustrious Highness."

Geralt looks at them both for a while before nodding, prompting Palmerin to hold out the parchment to him, which the witcher promptly takes.

"And with that stage completed, we want to know more about this beast. Is it some kind of monster? Just a guess." Geralt asks, causing Palmerin to sigh and shrug.

"I'm sure it is, but no one has seen the beast to this day. Our most reliable witnesses are bodies butchered in a brutal and horrific way." Upon hearing this, Geralt sighed, already realizing that it wasn't going to be as different a case as he had expected.

"Look. Some sketches based on the descriptions given by those who claim to have seen the beast: each one different. To me, these 'witnesses' are lying." Milton declares as he approaches another table with several papers on it.

As soon as they saw it, Geralt and Ciri approached the table while Shani took Gretka to sit a little away so that they could hear the rest of the conversation. Geralt leaned over the table and narrowed his eyes at the images, picking up one of the drawings and handing it to Ciri.

"...The witnesses couldn't necessarily be lying, Duplices are shapeshifters capable of turning into many unique things if they want to." The girl commented, causing Geralt to nod.

"It's true, once in Novigrad I had to deal with an 'imp' robbing the market, in the end it was a rather powerful duplicate." Says Geralt before looking at the other images. "But if we go by that line of reasoning... I don't think we'll get close to what the monster is, too many unique and different details. How many victims so far?"

"Two. When her Excellency learned of the second, she immediately dispatched us to fetch you, promising land and fortunes in gold if you heeded her call." Palmerin declares, taking a quick glance at Shani and Gretka before looking back at the sorcerer. "I imagine that's exactly what you're looking for now."

"I fear for the future. The beast can't be traced: people say it uses black magic. Both victims were of noble origin and a tournament is approaching." Milton says worriedly.

"..." This was no simple case.

Geralt felt like he was at a crossroads right now, on the one hand this was a job related to royalty and that hardly ever worked out well for the witcher, and on the other this monster seemed to be getting more and more complex than before. However, this time Geralt couldn't think only of himself, he had to secure a safe place for Shani and Gretka as soon as possible.

The war on the continent seemed to be getting more and more violent between Nilfgaard and Redania, and it didn't seem like the ideal place to be jumping from one village to another with them, that wasn't the life they deserved.

Staying in Novigrad or Velen was too risky and dangerous for everyone involved, so Geralt was going to avoid it as much as possible.

Skellige... was a possibility, but it didn't seem ideal for them, especially with the increase in looting of ships and pirate attacks.

Kaer Morhen, the ancient fortress of the witchers, was safe and well hidden, but it would need a lot of repairs before anyone could live there for long.

It seemed Geralt had no choice, but at least he would have support in the form of Ciri.

"Ahh, sometimes I think of all the contracts I've accepted from sovereigns. It's hard to remember a single one where I ended up doing well." Geralt reflects before turning away from the table, making the two knights, Ciri, Shani and Gretka stare at him.

"You can't be thinking of refusing!" Palmerin asks, startled by the possibility.

"Ahh, no, I just had a thought... How demanding the Duchess can be..." Geralt clarifies, glancing at Ciri.

"So you accept the contract?" Milton asked, wanting to clarify the matter.

"Yes, we accept." Assured Ciri, making Palmerin perk up.

"We have to leave right away. We've wandered this land a lot looking for you. But time is precious!" Upon hearing this, Geralt nods before looking at his traveling companions.

"I just have to get my horses and wagon ready so we can set off." Declares the witcher, causing the knights to perk up at the news.

"Excellent! Then posthates to Toussaint!" Palmerin exclaimed happily, accompanied by Milton.

"To Toussaint!"

Shani let out a yawn while inside the wagon before looking at Gretka who was sleeping while hugging the doll Geralt had given her. Seeing this, Shani smiled before pushing aside the tarpaulin separating the wagon from Geralt to see the witcher driving the wagon while the knights and Ciri galloped around them.

Another thing she noticed was that it was already night, they must have been traveling for about four or five hours.

"You should get some sleep Shani, we'll arrive in Toussaint early tomorrow morning." Geralt commented calmly as Shani climbed out of the wagon and sat down next to him.

"At first light." Clarified Milton, who was closest to them, receiving a nod from Shani.

"I see... Can you give us some space? Geralt and I need to talk." Shani asked, causing the rider to nod before snapping the reins, causing his horse to pick up the pace.

Once Milton was a good distance away, Geralt turned his attention to Shani.

"How is she?" Geralt asked softly, causing Shani to glance briefly inside the wagon.

"She's fine, energetic like an ordinary child, despite everything she's been through." Shani declares with a small smile before turning to Geralt. "Did you really mean that?"

"That? What exactly did I say?" Asks the confused witcher.

"About refusing the contract if you couldn't take me and Gretka." Upon hearing this, Geralt falls silent with a thoughtful expression before nodding.

"Yes, every word. If they didn't allow you to go with me, I was already thinking of other possible places to take you." Geralt explained seriously before glancing briefly at Ciri, who was talking to the two knights a few meters in front of them. "I've let you out of my life before because of my inaction, so I refuse to let it happen again."

For a while Shani said nothing, remembering her time with Geralt during the Catriona plague, when he and she were Alvin's temporary guardians, when they had an established relationship, before Geralt started going on various quests given to him by King Foltest. Those were very happy times, but even so, Shani and Geralt broke up because the witcher stayed away a lot and sometimes went months without showing up, which meant that they ended on friendly terms.

Now, Geralt seemed to have abandoned everything he was doing to help her, maybe this time they could be together with Gretka and, possibly, Ciri... Geralt knew that Shani had problems with how difficult their two lives were, but even with the difference between them, the sorcerer was always there with Shani and tried to have a life with her. Something the doctor could no longer ignore.

Suddenly Shani approached Geralt and kissed him close to the lips, surprising the sorcerer.

"Shani?"

"Thank you Geralt, really." Shani thanked him, smiling at the witcher before looking back into the wagon.

"I think you should sleep now, I can drive the wagon for a few hours." Shani comments, making Geralt stare at her.

"It's okay Shani, I've been in situations where I've had to stay awake for several days during a mission." Geralt calmly stated, trying to reassure her, but this only made Shani narrow her eyes.

"Geralt, as your doctor and 'wife' I'm asking you to get some sleep, we're with two royal knights from Beuclair and Ciri, you can get some rest." Shani looked like she wasn't going to change her mind as she stared at him.

Geralt didn't seem bothered by what she said, but he couldn't help raising an eyebrow at the word 'wife' used by Shani.

"Wife?"

"It seems that Milton and Palmerin are under the impression that we're in some kind of relationship thanks to Gretka... It could help us get passage there so I didn't deny it... and in a way, we were almost married before, but the child who was with us was..." Shani began a little sheepishly at the end, making Geralt frown and feel the same way, he understood what she meant.

"Alvin." Geralt thought before sighing. "All right, I'll get some sleep, but as soon as we get to Toussaint, wake me up."

Shani nodded before picking up the reins as Geralt settled into his seat and closed his eyes before falling asleep in a few minutes.