Saving Geralt from the Wild Hunt, push Cirilla to use her power of traveler. It's how she arrived in Tedas. Spending time in this world will change her forever.
Gifted with a power considered dangerous by most, templars find her and after this encou...
Cirilla begins at the top of a mountain. Remembering what the First Enchanteur said earlier, she thinks about her sword "Zirael". It appears on her back. She finds a Vase of Healing containing Shimmering Orbs of Light.
"It could be useful", thinks Ciri.
Probably, she had imagined the need of something for healing herself while she would be in the Fade but will vanish once she will complete her Harrowing.
Next to the Vase is a Disturbing Statue which certainly represents the fate of all mages, who fail. Progress through the Fade was easy for the young witcher, who find only a few Wisp wraiths that attack with lightning and they come at her one at a time. She kills them quickly or uses an Arcane Bolt.
Along the way, Ciri hears someone talking and stops.
"Someone else thrown to the wolves. As fresh and unprepared as ever. It isn't right that they do this, the Templars. Not to you, me, anyone."
"You're a talking rat," said Ciri suspicious.
"You think you're really here? In that body? You look like that because you think you do!" The rat sights.
"It's always the same. But it's not your fault. You're in the same boat I was, aren't you? Allow me to welcome you to the Fade. "
"Who are you?" asks Ciri.
"You can call me... well, Mouse."
"You can change your shape?" replies Cirilla.
"Like I said, in this place, you are what you perceive yourself to be, I think I used to be like you... before. The Templars kill you if you take too long, you see. They figure you failed, and they don't want something getting out. That's what they did to me, I think. I have nobody to reclaim. And you don't have much time before you end up the same."
"What am I supposed to do?"
"There's something here, contained, just for an apprentice like you. You have to face the creature, a demon, and resist it if you can. That's your way out. Or your opponent's, if the Templars wouldn't kill you. A test for you, a tease for the creatures of the Fade."
"Anything can die, I doubt it's as simple as that. There are others here, other spirits. They will tell you more, maybe help, if you can believe anything you see. I'll follow if that's all right. My chance was long ago, but you... you may have a way out."
"A question for those in the tower. Maybe you'll be lucky enough to ask. Maybe someday, so will I." dreams Mouse.
Mouse returns into his rat form. Ciri sees a Lyrium Vein, which can be used to recover Mana during combat and decides to keep a piece. The Lady of Worlds follows the road.
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After a moment, Mouse comes back to talk to the young witcher.
"It is dangerous to be out in the open like this. Not that hiding helps much in the Fade."
"How have you survived here so long?"
"I missed my chance, so I became small. Unnoticeable. I hide from the bigger things, learn from the smaller things. There are places you can hide where the shadows go on forever. You stay there long enough, and the shadows begin to creep inside of you. I... don't know how long it's been. Forever, maybe."
"Why did they make us face a spirit or a demon for the Harrowing?" asks Ciri with interest.
"Because they're sadistic bastards, that's why. And I'm not talking about demons. Everyone must face the Harrowing because there's a small chance a mage might become possessed and become an abomination. Thrown to the mercy of a demon when you're at your weakest."For the safety of all"."
"Why don't they prepare us better for this fight?"
"They don't want you prepared. If you can resist it when forced like tis, you can do it any time. It's either that, or they turn you into a freak, a Tranquil who can't be possessed, but who also can't feel anything, ever. The Circle is a prison. You have choices... between joining and suffering various deaths of body or spirit. Remember that."
"The Templars simply killed you?"
"That is what happens to the physical bodies of apprentices who fail. They'd kill every mage if they could. All the Templars see in magic is a danger. And they don't just use the Harrowing. If you learn a little too much, they'll label you a blood mage and kill you on sight! True mages like you know that the power you hold is a gateway to greater things. A potential they can never hope to contain!"
"Isn't there also the option of the Rite of Tranquility?"
"Be turned into an emotionless freak? That is what it is, you know. To never dream, never feel. Even demons abhor them, but I suppose that is the trade-off. They can't be possessed. As if that is worse than losing yourself. You don't want to lose yourself here. Being nothing would be easier than this."
"Do you... want to die?"
"I...think you should finish your Harrowing."
After this last words, Mouse leaves Ciri alone. Ciri decides to continue to the center and sees what could happen.
