You and Ciri found yourself in a cabin in the middle of the mountains. Where will fate lead you?
The cottage stood on the edge of the gorge, lost among the endless snowy peaks. The wind howled like a hungry beast, and the snow fell in thick flakes, covering everything around. Ciri, wrapped in a thick cloak, was making her way to the door with difficulty, holding a bundle of firewood in her hands. She had already inspected the house: it was old but sturdy, with a fireplace that, fortunately, could still be lit.
She pushed the door open with her shoulder, and it creaked open. It was cold inside, but at least not as cold as outside. Ciri threw the firewood into a corner and, brushing the snow from her hair, looked around. The house was big and cozy, like Santa Claus' house. There was a carpet on the floor, faded with age, but still warm in appearance.
—Well, at least we can wait it out here," she muttered to herself, taking off her raincoat.
But she had barely lit a fire in the fireplace when she heard footsteps outside. Ciri was instantly alert, her hand reaching for her sword. The door creaked again, and a man appeared on the threshold. He was tall, wearing a dark raincoat, with a hood covering his face. Snow fell from his shoulders as he stepped inside.
"Who are you?" Ciri asked sharply, the sword already in her hand.
The man raised his hands, indicating that he was not dangerous.
"Calm down, I'm not the enemy. My name is Kai. I was here because of the storm, too.
Ciri did not lower her sword, but relaxed a little. His voice was calm, without threat.
"How did you get here?" "What is it?" she asked, still wary.
— I was walking along the pass, but the storm took me by surprise. I saw smoke coming from the chimney and decided that I could wait it out here. He took off his hood, and Ciri saw his face: dark hair, slightly disheveled by the wind, and piercing gray eyes.
"Are you alone?" "What is it?" she asked, lowering her sword but not sheathing it.
Ciri sighed, finally putting her sword away.
— Okay. Sharing a roof is better than freezing in the snow. But if you try something... She didn't finish, but the gesture to the sword was eloquent.
Kai chuckled.
"Don't worry, I'm not looking for trouble. I just want to keep warm.
He took off his cloak and hung it by the fireplace.
"Do you have any food?" - he asked.
— Enough for a week, if you save money. And then... She shrugged her shoulders. — We'll have to look for something in the vicinity.
Kai nodded, sat down on a chair and held out his hand to the fire.
"Where are you from?" "What is it?" he asked, looking at her.
"From Cintra," Ciri replied shortly, not wanting to go into details.
"Cintra.".. He thought about it. —Far from here.
"And you?"
"I'm from Skellige. But I haven't been home for a long time.
Ciri nodded, pouring herself tea from a small pot.
"Well, Kai from Skellige, it looks like we'll have to put up with each other until spring."
He chuckled.
"Well, the company of a beautiful girl is the best a man can expect in such a situation."
Ciri raised an eyebrow.
"You've got a good tongue for a tramp."
They both laughed, and the tension in the room eased a little.
"Okay," Ciri said, handing him a cup of tea. "Let's start from the beginning. My name is Ciri.
"Nice to meet you, Ciri," Kai replied, accepting the cup. "I think we'll have a lot of time to get to know each other better."
The fire crackled in the fireplace, and a blizzard raged outside the window.
A human warrior, fierce and battle-hardened, was discovered wandering deep within the sacred forests of the elves. His presence, perceived as a grave threat to their hidden realm, provoked swift and unforgiving action. Seized by the elven guards, he was brought before their majestic but ruthless queen, whose judgment was as sharp as her beauty. Declaring him an intruder and a potential enemy, she ordered his imprisonment in the dungeons beneath her crystalline palace. There, he endured relentless torture, the elves extracting every piece of information they believed he might conceal. His cries echoed through the halls, a chilling reminder of the elves' merciless determination to protect their lands. Yet, even in his suffering, the warrior’s spirit remained unbroken, a testament to his unyielding resolve.