𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆, 𝘧𝘦𝘮!𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘹 𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘵

08 | 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭

• ──────── ꗃ ──────── •

The morning mist clung to the trees, wrapping the world in a muffled stillness that made every sound seem unnaturally loud. Teddy's small hand was warm in Roseanne's as they walked to the edge of the woods. 

Geralt and Ciri led the way, their movements purposeful and alert. The tension between them was palpable, unspoken words hanging in the air like the mist itself.

"You're sure about this?" Roseanne asked, her voice low. She looked at Geralt, his silver hair catching the dim light.

"We don't have a choice," he replied, his tone resolute. "The heart of the forest is the source of her power. If we destroy it, we break her hold on this place."

"And if it's a trap?"

"Then we fight our way out," Geralt said simply, his gaze steady.

Roseanne nodded, though unease churned in her stomach. She glanced down at Teddy, who was watching the woods with wide eyes. "Stay close to me, sweetheart," she said softly.

"I will, Mama," Teddy replied, his voice small but brave.

The group ventured into the forest, the path ahead winding like a serpent through the underbrush. The further they went, the darker the woods became. The sunlight struggled to pierce the canopy, leaving them in a twilight haze.

"It feels different," Ciri murmured, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "Like it's alive."

"It is," Roseanne said grimly. She could feel the magic pulsing through the ground, ancient and restless. The forest was watching them, its energy coiling around them like a predator waiting to strike.

After what felt like hours, they reached a clearing unlike any other they had encountered. At its center stood a massive tree, its trunk gnarled and blackened as though scorched by fire. Its roots twisted out of the ground like grasping fingers, and its branches stretched skyward in defiance.

"This is it," Geralt said, his voice low. "The heart of the forest."

Roseanne stepped closer, her wand drawn. She could feel the magic radiating from the tree, dark and consuming. It was a force that demanded obedience, that whispered promises of power and destruction.

"What now?" Ciri asked, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes.

"We destroy it," Geralt said, raising his silver sword.

But before he could strike, the air around them shifted. The figure from before materialized in front of the tree, her veil shimmering in the faint light.

"You dare to defile my sanctuary?" she said, her voice cold and sharp.

"We're here to end this," Roseanne said, stepping forward. "You've taken enough lives."

The woman laughed, a sound that sent a shiver down Roseanne's spine. "You think you understand this forest? Its power? You are but children playing with fire."

Geralt lunged forward, his sword aiming for her chest, but the woman vanished again, reappearing behind him. Her laughter echoed through the clearing as the roots of the tree began to move, writhing like snakes.

"Watch out!" Ciri shouted, slicing at a root that lunged toward her.

Roseanne raised her wand, her voice steady as she cast a shield spell around Teddy. "Stay inside this circle, no matter what," she told him.

"But, Mama—"

"No arguments, Teddy!" she snapped, her heart pounding.

The battle erupted around them, the air thick with magic and the sound of clashing steel. Geralt fought with practiced precision, his movements a deadly dance against the roots that tried to ensnare him. Ciri was a blur of motion, her blade slicing through the air with fierce determination.

Roseanne focused on the woman, her wand sparking with raw energy. "If you're tied to the forest, then you're tied to this tree," she said, her voice ringing with conviction. "And I will end it."

The woman hissed, her form flickering like a flame caught in the wind. "You know nothing of what you face, witch."

Roseanne didn't respond. Instead, she raised her wand and began to chant, her words weaving a spell of destruction. The ground beneath the tree trembled, and the air grew heavy with magic.

The woman screamed, her voice a mixture of rage and fear. "You cannot destroy me! I am the forest!"

"No," Roseanne said, her eyes blazing. "You are its curse."

With a final, powerful incantation, Roseanne unleashed her spell. A burst of light erupted from her wand, striking the tree and enveloping it in flames. The roots recoiled, and the woman's form dissolved into smoke, her screams fading into silence.

As the tree burned, the oppressive weight of the forest lifted. The air grew lighter, the darkness retreating as sunlight broke through the canopy.

Geralt lowered his sword, his breathing heavy. "It's done," he said, his voice rough.

Roseanne turned to Teddy, who was still inside the protective circle. She dropped to her knees and pulled him into a tight embrace. "It's over," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You're safe."

Ciri sheathed her sword, her expression thoughtful. "What now?"

"We move on," Geralt said, glancing at Roseanne. "But we'll need to be careful. The power that cursed this place doesn't vanish so easily."

Roseanne nodded, her arms still around Teddy. She could feel the truth in Geralt's words, the lingering presence of the magic that had haunted the forest. But for now, they had won.

For now, they had peace.

• ──────── ꗃ ──────── •