The following weeks were a blur of travel, training, and perilous encounters. Geralt's network of contacts proved invaluable as they journeyed from village to village, seeking clues about Alina's sudden appearance. Despite her progress, Alina often felt like a liability, especially when faced with creatures she only knew from stories. Yet, her determination never wavered.
One fateful evening, they stopped at a bustling tavern in Novigrad. The city was unlike anything Alina had ever seen—a chaotic blend of beauty and brutality. As they sat in a dimly lit corner, a bard began to sing a haunting ballad. Alina listened intently, the melody stirring something deep within her.
"That song," she whispered. "It's familiar."
Geralt frowned. "How?"
Before she could answer, a hooded figure approached their table, moving with deliberate steps. The figure's presence seemed to draw the attention of the tavern's more perceptive patrons—several glances were exchanged, and whispers followed. Alina tensed, her hand instinctively brushing the hilt of the dagger Geralt had given her.
The hooded figure stopped just short of their table and lowered their hood, revealing the sharp features of an elven woman with pale green eyes and hair like spun silver. Her gaze settled on Alina, studying her with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
"You don't belong here." the woman said softly, though her voice carried an authority that cut through the noise of the room.
Alina's heart skipped a beat. "You... you mean in this world?"
The elf nodded. "Your presence is like a ripple in still water. It disturbs the natural order."
Geralt leaned back in his chair, his golden eyes narrowing. "Who are you, and how do you know about her?"
The elf spared him a glance. "I am Vaelith, a seer of the Elder Blood. I have felt her arrival since the moment she crossed the veil." Her eyes returned to Alina, their intensity unnerving. "You were not meant to be here, yet here you are. The question is, why?"
Alina swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. She had been asking herself the same question every day since she arrived.
"That's what we're trying to figure out." Geralt said, his tone guarded. "If you have answers, I'm listening."
Vaelith tilted her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Answers are not so easily given, witcher. They must be earned." She reached into the folds of her cloak and produced a small vial of shimmering liquid. "This may help her uncover the truth of her arrival. But be warned—truths have a cost."
"What kind of cost?" Alina asked, her voice steady despite the apprehension curling in her stomach.
"That depends on what you find." Vaelith said cryptically, placing the vial on the table. "Drink it before you sleep, and you may glimpse the threads of your fate. But beware—what you see cannot be unseen."
Geralt's gaze flicked to Alina. "It's your choice."
Alina hesitated, her fingers brushing the cool glass of the vial. She felt an inexplicable pull toward it, as though it held the key to everything she'd been searching for. Yet a part of her feared what she might discover.
"I'll do it." she said finally, her voice firm.
Vaelith nodded approvingly. "Then I suggest you find a place to rest. Dreams are fickle things, and they do not favor chaos."
As quickly as she had appeared, Vaelith turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Alina and Geralt alone with the mysterious vial and an uneasy silence between them.
That night, in a small rented room above the tavern, Alina sat on the edge of the bed, the vial clutched tightly in her hands. Geralt stood by the door, his arms crossed.
"You're sure about this?" he asked, his tone more serious than usual.
"No." Alina admitted. "But I don't think I have a choice. If this can help me figure out why I'm here, I have to try."
Geralt nodded, his expression unreadable. "I'll keep watch. If anything... unusual happens, I'll be here."
Taking a deep breath, Alina uncorked the vial. The liquid inside glowed faintly, and as she brought it to her lips, it had a strangely sweet, floral scent. She hesitated for only a moment before drinking it in one swift motion.
The world around her blurred almost instantly, and she barely had time to lie back on the bed before darkness claimed her.
Alina found herself standing in a vast, starry void. Threads of light stretched in every direction, forming intricate patterns that shifted and swirled as she moved. It was beautiful and overwhelming, and she felt impossibly small in the face of it.
"Alina." a voice called, echoing through the void.
She turned and saw a figure standing among the threads—a woman with striking golden eyes, her presence radiating power and authority.
"Who are you?" Alina asked, her voice trembling.
The woman smiled faintly. "I am Ithlinne. Perhaps you have heard of my prophecies."
Alina's breath caught. Ithlinne was a name she recognized from the Witcher lore—a legendary elven prophetess whose words had shaped the course of history.
"Why am I here?" Alina asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Because you are a thread that does not belong." Ithlinne said, her tone both gentle and firm. "Yet you have been woven into the fabric of this world, and your presence will alter its course. You must decide whether to embrace your role or seek a way to return to your own world."
"I don't even know how I got here." Alina said, frustration creeping into her voice.
"You were called." Ithlinne said simply. "By forces that saw potential in you. But potential can be both a blessing and a curse."
The threads around them began to shift, forming images—scenes of Alina standing alongside Geralt, facing monstrous foes, and even glimpses of her own reflection, marked by changes she couldn't quite understand.
"What does it mean?" Alina asked, her heart pounding.
"It means your journey has only just begun." Ithlinne said. "But beware—every choice you make will ripple through this world, for better or worse. Tread carefully, Alina of another world."
Before Alina could ask anything else, the void began to dissolve, and Ithlinne's voice faded into the distance.
Alina woke with a start, her heart racing. The room was still dark, but Geralt was at her side, his expression sharp with concern.
"You were screaming." he said.
Alina sat up, her hands trembling. "I... I saw her. Ithlinne. She told me..." She trailed off, struggling to put the experience into words.
"What did she say?" Geralt asked.
"That I was called here. That I'm going to change this world." She looked at him, her eyes wide. "But I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing."
Geralt studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Then we'll figure it out. One step at a time."
Alina took a deep breath, the weight of Ithlinne's words settling over her. She didn't know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain—her life would never be the same.