POV Aiden
Thúrlas burst into laughter and, without waiting, rushed at me at blinding speed. I barely had time to tighten my grip on Aerondight and block his strike. The impact was brutal, crushing, and I was thrown backward despite my guard. My arms trembled from the shock, numb, almost lifeless.
He didn't give me a second to breathe. He kept attacking, again and again, a cruel smile carved across his face.
With every exchange, it was the same pattern. I blocked. I stepped back. My muscles slowly gave in as wounds opened across my body, piling up without giving me time to recover. The ground beneath my feet felt more unstable with every step.
I clenched my teeth and kept going.
If I fell here…
Syanna would die.
Regis would die.
Beauclair would fall with us.
I had no right to give up.
But Thúrlas struck even harder.
I braced myself, gathering what little strength I had left. After endless minutes of enduring his blows, my arms gave out. Just a fraction of a second. One single mistake.
It was enough.
Thúrlas broke through my defense and tore into my chest, ripping a deep gash before hurling me violently away.
The world spun.
I was caught before hitting the ground. Two arms held me steady. When I opened my eyes, Regis stood there, still upright despite his injuries, Detlaff at his side. Both bore the marks of battle, but Regis, as always, offered a weary smile.
"It's good to see you alive, my friend."
I returned a faint smile as Syanna approached, then nodded.
"Me too, Regis… but I don't think we have time to talk. And I have a lot of questions, especially about Detlaff."
Regis calmly placed a hand on Detlaff's shoulder. Detlaff remained silent, arms crossed, eyes fixed on Thúrlas still motionless, still smiling.
"Don't worry. Detlaff is with us. For now… let's focus on him."
I nodded and slowly pushed myself upright. My gear was too damaged to protect me any longer. I discarded it without hesitation, standing in nothing but my shirt. I rolled up my sleeves, adjusted my gloves, and took a deep breath.
I centered myself.
My gaze locked onto Thúrlas. My grip on Aerondight tightened.
"Listen… I don't know if we can win. He's dangerous so dangerous that even I can barely follow him. But..."
I stopped.
Without realizing it, Regis, Detlaff, and Syanna were all looking at me. Not with fear. Not with doubt.
They were waiting.
In the distance, Beauclair was still burning. The cries of knights and civilians echoed through the chaos. And yet, they kept fighting. Protecting. Surviving.
I stepped forward, instinctively placing myself in front of them.
Aerondight began to glow more intensely, its golden light illuminating my right side, while an icy blue glow cold as winter spread along my left, answering something older, something deeper.
I spoke again, my voice calm and firm.
"I'm asking you to fight at my side."
I didn't turn around. I didn't need to.
"Regis. Detlaff. You can survive this. You're vampires. But I'm asking you to stay here. With me."
A brief silence followed.
Then Regis removed his hand from Detlaff's shoulder. His smile faded as he transformed, his vampiric form emerging. He stepped naturally to my side.
"I promised Geralt I would protect you," he said simply. "And I always keep my promises."
Syanna stepped closer and took my free hand, her eyes never leaving Thúrlas.
"Don't worry, Aiden. I'll fight. Even if it costs me my life. I won't lose what gives me a reason to keep going. I'm not the weak girl who let others decide her fate anymore."
Finally, Detlaff moved behind us. His wings spread as he shifted into his vampiric form.
"I don't know you, witcher…" he said slowly. "But Regis trusts you. And I can see it in your eyes. You're not like other humans."
He took his place.
"I'll fight at your side."
I nodded, released Syanna's hand, and gripped Aerondight with both hands. In response, Regis and Detlaff unleashed everything they had, while Syanna released her power as well.
Thúrlas, who had watched the entire scene with a mocking yet attentive smile, tilted his head.
"So, witcher… final round?"
I nodded.
"Indeed, Thúrlas. Let's end this here and now. And let our weapons decide."
---
POV General
The ground trembled beneath Thúrlas's steps.
He advanced slowly, unhurried, like someone who already knew how this would end. His gaze passed over us, lingered on the ice spreading around my feet, then settled on Aerondight.
A faint smile curved his lips.
"I recognize this cold."
He raised his hand.
The pressure crashed down without warning. Regis was hurled into a wall with a violent impact. Detlaff slid several meters, his claws scraping stone to keep from falling. Syanna staggered, forced down onto one knee.
I held my ground.
The ice answered before I consciously called it. It rooted itself beneath my legs, digging into the stone and keeping me from being pushed back.
"You carry winter like he did…" Thúrlas said. "But you're not ready yet."
He vanished.
I didn't have time to think. My body reacted on instinct. A short, brutal teleport pulled me aside. The air exploded where I'd stood a heartbeat earlier. Pain ripped through my head, and the world wavered.
Each jump cost me more.
I rolled across the ground and struck back immediately. Aerondight carved a glowing arc, cutting into Thúrlas's shoulder. Dark blood flowed… but he didn't retreat.
He grabbed my wrist.
The strength of his grip was crushing. I felt bone strain. Ice spread instinctively over his arm, trying to freeze him in place.
He smiled.
"You really think the cold scares me?"
He slammed me into the ground. The impact knocked the air from my lungs. Before I could rise, he came down on me, striking with cold, methodical precision. Every block burned my arms. Every blow stole more sensation.
I clenched my teeth.
Not now.
A wave of ice burst outward, pushing Thúrlas back just long enough.
Regis surged forward, fully transformed, striking with all his strength. Thúrlas stepped back two steps.
Two steps.
It was more than we'd managed until now.
Detlaff dove from above, wings beating violently, crashing into Thúrlas with brutal force. They rolled together, cracking the ground beneath them.
Syanna raised her hands. Her power erupted, raw and unstable, forcing Thúrlas to break free.
I staggered back to my feet.
The cold still carried me… but I felt something else. An emptiness. A growing distance between my body and warmth.
Thúrlas straightened slowly, studying each of us.
"Four against one…" he murmured. "Just like before."
His eyes settled on me.
"Caladwen would have been proud of you."
Those words hit harder than any blow.
"You don't have the right to say her name," I rasped.
He inclined his head.
"She was my sister."
For a moment, the world froze.
Then he struck the ground.
An ancient force surged outward, crushing everything in its path. Detlaff was thrown violently aside, his wings slamming into stone with a sickening crack. Syanna was swept away, her power snuffed out instantly. Regis collapsed to one knee, gasping.
I stayed standing.
The ice had climbed to my chest now. I could barely feel my fingers. Aerondight vibrated weakly, as if hesitating.
We attacked again anyway.
Not to win.
Just to hold on.
The strikes kept coming, but Thúrlas countered everything. Every attempt cost us more than the last. Detlaff struggled to rise. Syanna trembled, exhausted. Even Regis's breathing grew heavy, his movements slowing.
And I… I kept striking, never once turning the tide.
Thúrlas watched us calmly.
"You're wearing yourselves out," he said. "I'm not."
Regis looked up at him.
Then at me.
And in that look, I understood.
We would never take the advantage.
---
POV Regis
Watching the situation, I understood.
There was no way out.No victory. No turning back.
So… it had to be me.
Geralt, my friend…I'll keep my promise to the end. It's a shame… I would have liked to share one more drink with you.
Saphir…Wait for me. I'm coming.
---
POV Aiden
I saw Regis smile as he slowly stood.
"Aiden… forgive me. But I need you to promise me something."
I forced myself upright, pain screaming through my body. Without taking my eyes off Thúrlas, I asked:
"What is it, Regis?"
He stepped beside me, still wearing that calm, almost gentle smile.
"Can you promise to do what I'm about to ask… no matter what happens?"
I was about to ask why, but he cut me off.
"Promise me."
The words caught in my throat. Then I said it.
"Yes… I promise."
Regis nodded and turned to Detlaff.
"Forgive me, my brother. But do me one favor. Stay by Aiden's side, like I stayed by my witcher friend, Geralt. You'll see… humanity isn't horrible. Like a coin, it has two sides."
Detlaff understood. He tried to rise, his voice breaking as he begged him not to do it but his legs gave out again, too badly injured.
I understood too.
I stepped toward Regis to stop him, but he had already passed me, whispering as he moved ahead of us:
"My dear Saphir… wait for me. I'll join you in one last blazing battle."
Then Regis roared.
Not a scream of blind rage.
A cry filled with resolve.
In a movement too fast to follow, he appeared behind Thúrlas and drove his fangs and blades into his sides. Thúrlas screamed in pain as Regis lifted him, holding him in place, pouring all his venom, all his blood, everything he had left into him.
Regis looked at me one last time, smiling.
"Aiden… do it. End this despair. I believe in you."
His voice trembled slightly.
"I'll be watching over you, with my wife, from the sky."
Detlaff screamed, trying to move, but collapsed again. Syanna lay on the ground, exhausted, lips pressed tight, unable to speak.
Thúrlas struggled, but Regis's sacrifice held him fast.
I stepped forward.
Every step was agony.
I had to…I had to…
Why was it so hard?
My arms trembled. I couldn't raise the sword.
Sensing my hesitation, Regis whispered again, his voice gentle.
"Aiden… you promised me. End this cycle. Live your life."
Then he laughed softly, tears in his eyes.
"Because I believe. I truly believe. You are hope. Never forget that."
Something broke inside me.
Grief, rage, despair blended into one.
I raised Aerondight.
Its golden light merged with the icy blue of winter, rising toward the sky like a pillar of light. Despite Detlaff's screams, despite the pain, despite everything...
I screamed, releasing all that I carried inside me:
"AERONDIGHT!"
The blade fell.
Light consumed Regis and Thúrlas.
And until the very last moment…
Regis was still smiling.