11 years later

[A surprise second chapter today!!! Hope you all enjoy!!!!]

I am 21 now. I just finished the last contract for Gaunter, I have said contract over my shoulder, they call him Jork the Vast on account of his massive fortune. I never in my wildest dreams thought this is what a deal with the devil means. My body has an assortment of new scars, each one has a story too. I am lucky in that my face hasn't had the same treatment as my body, the only thing on my face is the brand. Nothing debilitating, but the wounds healing did make this journey longer. I am also quite tall now, I'd reckon I'm 6'2, just like my dad. I am supposed to meet Gaunter at a shrine dedicated to the forest gods. I am glad to say that I am almost finished with this.

I finished what was in Lara's diary too. I learned everything she had written in there. I have an assortment of new offensive magic's. The thing that's developed the most was my control over my power. I can now suppress it on my own. I can still be tracked if I teleport long distance though. Even Gaunter taught me a thing about magic. However the amalgamations in trying to put it into practice was improbable. I still have the knowledge however, which is worth something.

I have done a lot of regrettable things on my journey with the merchant. Killed a lot of innocent people that got in the way. Both figuratively and literally, he lied about that part. I have done so much wrong, and I am sure that I will have to pay for it at some point. I even got a nickname for my brutal deeds, the majority of the populous call me Emerald Death on account of my Elder Blood. Gotta say, sounds narcissistic and egotistical, but I didn't come up with it.

I am approaching my destination with my captive tied up on my shoulder. Gaunter wants to deal with him personally. I walk up the mountain and see the shrine. It appears that everything is calm and quiet. The birds are chirping and the wind blowing on this lovely early spring day. It is getting warmer, but its a little nippy right now. I soon stop and throw the man down. He grunts, but makes no other noise.

I lay against a tree as I contemplate my life to this point as I wait for Gaunter. Another hour passes and I find that the man is now struggling to talk. I am tired of the constant groaning, so I take off his gag.

"*Cough**Cough* DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM!!!! YOU WILL REGRET THIS, I PROMISE ON MY MOTHERS GRAVE!!!" Geez, taking off the gag was a bad idea. I have heard this a bunch of times. No one was strong enough to make me regret it.

"It's not me you gotta worry about Jork. I am still pretty pissed about what you said though." Making fun of another man's mother is enough to warrant death. He's even unluckier that Gaunter wants him.

"What does that even mean!?! Who do you work for anyway??!" Man this guy is loud and dumb. Well it will all be over soon. So what's another few minutes of this shit.

"Gaunter O'Dimm has some business with you Jork. I simply bring him what he want's. After you, I get what I wanted after several years now. So in the end you will die for a good cause." The look on his face when I said Gaunter's name pretty much sums it up.

"PLEASE RELEASE ME!!!! I'LL GIVE YOU ANYTHING!!!!" You don't have anything I want. I soon hear Gaunter's voice.

"Now now Jork, I hate it when someone tries to run from a debt with me." Speak of the devil. I have been this man's, if you can call him that, companion for 11 years now. I have gotten used to him. I will admit everything wasn't all bad. Take away the godlike supernatural power and evilness, you got a great conversationalist.

"Master O'Dimm, if I knew it was you...." He chokes on his own words. He can't even come up with an excuse. Gaunter uses his powers to undue the binds and the man gets up slowly.

"By all means, finish. You aren't going anywhere anytime soon." Talk about foreboding. I stay out of the way when this happens. I never felt any pity for these men. No reason to step in and help them. He actually looks at me too, you won't find any help here bud.

"Please, Master O'Dimm. Have mercy on my soul." Wow, now he is on his hands and knees begging. At least die on your feet like a man. Well, I guess getting your soul taken by Gaunter is worse than death. You brought this on yourself though.

"You forget Jork. You sold me your soul for the vast power and wealth you now have. It's time to play the piper." He walks to the man and digs his hands into his chest. After the first 4 times it doesn't gross me out anymore.

"Your soul belongs to me now." Jorks soul is sucked out and taken. All that's left is a skeleton. Gaunter holds his skull as he turns to me.

"It seems you have held up your end of the deal Cera. Now it's time for me to hold up mine after all these years." He waves his hand and the brand is removed in a cold heat. I definitely feel different now, like no one is watching me anymore.

"I still remember what you wanted. Has that changed by chance?" I have never heard him speak in such a tone. I guess I did a good enough job. My wish however, has not changed.

"No, I only want to know how to stop the wild hunt. It's the whole reason I did all this." I came to learn the identity of my enemies a few years back. I know Gaunter will know what I need to do. He is far more powerful than me.

"I should have known better, you never wavered with that wish. The love of a child for his parents is an extraordinary thing." He says in a wise tone as he looks off into the valley.

"You will need to search for an elf from Aen Elle called Avallac'h. He will be the one that will make your wish a success. You will also run into some other friends along the way. Said elf is already helping Ciri. You will succeed if you just pursue the elf and meet up with him. A place to look would be Velen in two weeks time. A place called Crows Perch. You will meet Ciri there." Now that's a surprise. I guess even the Aen Elle are imperfect. Ciri getting help from him already is worrying. I guess I'll get to see Ciri too. Hope she is okay after all this time.

"Thank you, I now have a path to follow. I never thought this is what my life would turn out to be." I confess to the man I have spent the last 11 years traveling with. He looks at me with a calculating look.

"I will grant you one more wish Cera. I think you have earned that much." Never thought the devil would be the generous type. I never gave a thought on what a second wish would be. I got one though.

"I haven't made selfish requests many times in my life, but if I had another wish it would be to always remember my mother's and father's faces. I have begun to forget what they look like." That is what my second wish would be.

"*Sigh* You never had a single desire for something vile and base. I wish I ran into others like you Cera." He waves his hand and I can remember them as though I saw them yesterday. I feel a stray tear fall from my eye. I miss them so much, but they died protecting me. Now it's my turn to repay their undying love for me.

"I will give you well wishes on your journey Cera. This one is now over." I guess it really is over now. Years and years of fighting and killing. Never to rest and take a break. Now I am free. I hold out my hand.

"And I thank you for keeping your end of the deal. I wish you well on your journeys as well Gaunter." We shake hands and he walks away. Soon he is out of sight and I am left alone with the skeleton of Jork.

"You should have made better choice's. The things you did is what attracted him. You only have yourself to blame." I say to the skeleton. I am free.....What a feeling!!!!

~~~(POV Yen)~~~

I have never stopped looking for Cera, but I have given up hope he is alive or safe. I don't know how many night's I have cried myself to sleep from losing him. 11 years is a long time to be missing. I hear the bedroom door open and a servant comes through the door.

"The Emperor will see you now." Duty is calling. I haven't spoken to Emyr since Cera was taken. After a few years Ciri left too. I haven't heard from her or Geralt in a very long time. I approach the room and enter. He has grown older it seems. No point in dilly dallying.

"Emperor, what is it you require of me." I state in a tone of sincerity and confidence as I give the customary bow. You can't act a fool in front of royalty like this.

"Everyone leave us. I wish to speak to the sorceress alone." Everyone quickly leaves and I look at him as he gets up and walks to the painting of Ciri.

"Do you know why I have called you here Yennefer." I haven't heard him call me that in a long time. I guess we are dropping the formalities.

"No Emyr, I don't." I say not bothering to waste anymore time. He stays quite for awhile and speaks in a worried voice.

"My daughter, Cirilla, has returned. My spies have confirmed reports of her traveling in Skellige. I need you to find her and bring her to me." That's the best news I have heard in a long time.

"I won't bother you with pointless questions. I will start putting out feelers and use location magic to find her. If that doesn't work, then you will have to call in a tracker." I tell him as he turns to face me.

"How long do you need?" He asks as a father and not as an Emperor.

"Give me a couple of weeks, if I can't find her by then, we have other option's to use." I will admit, this is putting a fire under me. To find the girl I helped raise. She helped fill the great hole in my heart that Cera left.

He goes back to his desk and motions for me to leave. I guess there is no time to waste. I head to my room with my magical items and begin searching.

[So the story kicks off. Cera and Ciri will be traveling together when they meet up in Velen. I won't give anymore spoilers. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter!!!!]