The Divine Hunter Chapter 631: Wild Hunt Appears

Seabreeze winds carried inland. An Skellige's eastern coast featured a modest dwelling, so enchanting it seemed woven from the very fabric of dawn's mist. A vibrant garden, bursting with flowers of every hue, flourished outdoors.

Concealed behind a thicket of blackthorn, Cahir observed a small figure bathed in the sun's warm glow. The Princess of Cintra, having exchanged her elegant gown for practical blue hunting attire, her hair in a swift ponytail, playfully chased a young girl. Ciri would grasp the child around her waist, tickling her neck, or lift her with innate magical ability, eliciting joyful giggles.

Much later, the aunt and niece rested on an ivy-woven swing. Their feet dangled, brushing against patches of deep red rose myrtles, while the setting sun cast a gentle golden aura upon them, painting a scene reminiscent of an oil masterpiece.

Cahir watched their peaceful tableau, a twinkle in his eye. For three years, he had resided on An Skellig, fulfilling roles as stablemaster, servant, and guard. Through Roy's endorsement, he had finally earned the confidence of Calanthe and the Skellige royalty. He was tasked with the quiet guardianship of Eileni and Ciri, primarily ensuring their safety during their training in magic and swordsmanship.

He had seen Ciri evolve from a slender child into a radiant young woman. The directives from Nilfgaard's intelligence, Emperor Emhyr's commands, and his family's expectations—none of it held sway anymore. His sole desire was to remain a silent protector until the moment he could present himself as her knight, dedicating his life to her cause like a burning candle.

"Are you still not tired of playing with me?" the young lady on the swing asked the girl, a hint of weariness in her voice. "Calanthe is in a meeting. She can only see you tonight."

"Roy, Roy," Eileni chirped, playfully tugging on a strand of Ciri's hair.

"Alright, enough of that. Roy, Geralt, and Yennefer are meeting on Thanedd. You're asking where Thanedd is? Just avoid that place, or this poor me will be confined within Aretuza for ages."

Ciri gently placed Eileni on her lap, cradling her chubby arms as if holding a doll. With tender affection, she pressed her forehead to the child's, speaking with profound sincerity, "We must train diligently and mature quickly so we can aid him. Do you understand, my dear aunt?"

Eileni let out a happy gurgle.

Cahir’s smile faltered, then froze.

The atmosphere shifted dramatically. Dark clouds obscured the sun, and a chilling wind sliced through the air like daggers, causing the temperature to plummet as if summer had abruptly given way to winter. Cahir shivered involuntarily.

Ciri sensed the impending change. She quickly tucked Eileni into her jacket, and the little girl could only look around with bewildered curiosity. "Mousesack predicted sunshine all day, so..."

Suddenly, the surroundings began to shake violently. An explosion echoed nearby, followed by a distant storm's fury, with silver lightning bolts splitting the sky and illuminating the rugged coastline. The thunderous sound was bone-jarring.

Then, rain descended, creating a misty haze across the landscape. The wind howled fiercely, tearing up flowers and scattering them into the distance.

Ciri swiftly pulled her hood up and jumped from the swing. She hurried towards the nearby castle, her fingers moving rapidly. A protective azure barrier, formed from mana, enveloped her, repelling the frigid raindrops.

***

Cahir followed, adjusting his canvas jacket. He pondered whether to bravely intervene and shield the princess from the tempest. Just then, a vast shadow swept across his vision, instilling a stifling sensation in his chest. He halted cautiously, his gaze fixed on the coastline. "What is that?"

The wind intensified, and the rain transformed into a torrential downpour. Ominous dark clouds loomed overhead as massive waves crashed against the shore.

A spectral lightning bridge connected the stormy heavens and the turbulent sea, forming a mysterious silver ribbon. The sounds of thunder were accompanied by the clamor of galloping horses and an ancient chant.

Several figures, riding through the storm, covered immense distances in mere moments. They gradually decelerated when they drew within a hundred yards.

By the time Ciri registered their approach, the sharp whinnying of their steeds could be heard. The horse trappings gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen.

"Zireael!" the riders, mounted on their steeds, called out to Ciri, their voices echoing like an ancient incantation.

Crimson cloaks billowed behind them. Beneath their plumed, horned helmets, their eyes blazed like embers. Their features were sharp, with high cheekbones and sculpted lines. Their lips were drawn into cracked smiles, revealing no incisors.

A whirlwind of thoughts filled Ciri's mind as she gazed upon the spectacle before her.

She found herself transfixed by the knight in the center, his obsidian armor resembling a ribcage, a ring adorning his helmet and a skeletal mask covering his face. Despite the strange appearance, Ciri felt an undeniable blood connection, as if she were facing Roy himself. The power of her Elder Blood began to tremble uncontrollably. Like a cascading stream, starlight erupted from her, piercing the rainy veil and illuminating the figures of all three Elder Blood bearers with a brilliance akin to the night sky.

A burly commander led the knights, his steed halted by a tug on the reins. A chilling, eerie laugh echoed from beneath his mask. "You seem taken with our pilot, don't you? He shares your blood, though not as pure."

Streaks of lightning split the heavens, momentarily revealing the skeletal-masked knights before Ciri. A shiver ran down her spine, snapping her out of her trance. The knight then spoke, his words resonating in the Elder Speech. "What delays you, Zireael? Daughter of Elder Blood, the reborn swallow. Come, join us. Let us journey to the world's end, where the grand hunt awaits. Come, and let us restore the glory of the Aen Elle! Do not resist; it is futile. You cannot escape!"

Ciri grit her teeth, thrusting her hands forward. The ambient vapor coalesced into sharp icicles, which then shot through the air, striking the Wild Hunt knights' armor. The impact shattered the icicles, sending shards flying and obscuring the knights' vision.

While the knights remained unharmed, their steeds whinnied in terror, tossing their heads.

Ciri seized the opportunity and fled, a silent scream echoing in her heart.

A dazzling starlight connected the girls, swiftly enveloping the fleeing Ciri like a silken garment.

As lightning flashed across the sky, the horses thundered forward. A few Red Riders broke formation, their armored arms reaching out to seize Ciri. Suddenly, something erupted from the undergrowth like a tempest. Taken by surprise, one of the knights was unseated, tumbling into the sodden earth.

Cahir's face flushed crimson, his roars akin to a wild man's. Adrenaline surged through him, imbuing him with unprecedented strength. Mounted atop the fallen knight, he rained blows upon the hideous, horned helmet. His fists were a bloody, mangled mess, bones protruding through torn skin, yet his heart swelled with an exhilaration he had never known.

Then, a hand encased in a silver gauntlet grasped Cahir's chest. Frost bloomed, and an unearthly chill coursed through his body, freezing flesh and soul. Cahir wrenched the hand away, staggering slightly before falling to one knee, frost flaring from his jacket. The ground beneath him rapidly turned to ice, resembling a frozen lake. With his remaining strength, he turned his frost-encrusted head.

The knights converged on Ciri, their shouts piercing the air. But the young princess turned, her eyes awash with tears, and looked towards Cahir. In a sudden instant, she merged with the starlight and vanished, escaping the clutches of the Wild Hunt.

Cahir's eyes widened, and a faint smile touched his lips.

The frigid abyss claimed Cahir's last vestiges of consciousness.

***

"Stubborn Zireael. Your futile resistance only guarantees more deaths." Eredin gestured, and the pilot clad in a ringed helmet swung his staff. A tempest roared, and a colossal, spherical doorway materialized in the air.

Steeds whinnied, and hurricanes howled. The Red Riders surged into the portal. Behind them, space warped and rippled. A black ship with twin masts emerged, its sharp prow cleaving the sky like an airborne swordfish.

Upon the bow stood the golden-haired Avallac'h, his expression solemn. The deck was crowded with fully armored Red Riders and Hounds of the Wild Hunt, their bodies covered in blue icicles and their sizes comparable to calves.

"Zireael has mastered instantaneous teleportation. How surprising." The wind ruffled Avallac'h's hair as the ship sailed into the gateway.

***

The tempest subsided, and the turbulent seas grew calm. The sun once again graced the azure sky. The only testament to the Wild Hunt's passage was a frozen human statue kneeling outdoors by the garden, its eyes wide in eternal shock.

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