The wound wasn’t fatal.

Geralt had suffered worse.

At least that’s what he kept telling himself.

The problem was that it wasn’t healing.

Three days earlier, a contract had gone wrong. The creature was dead, but not before leaving a deep gash along his side laced with something unnatural. Every potion he’d taken had slowed it, but not stopped it.

By the time he reached the next town, even he was forced to admit he needed help.

Fortunately—or unfortunately, depending on one’s perspective—the townsfolk were eager to offer advice.

“There’s a sorceress living north of here.”

“Powerful one too.”

“Strange woman, keeps to herself.”

“People come from all over looking for her.”

Geralt had almost ignored them.

Almost.

Then someone mentioned the magic she was capable of.

Even among mages, her abilities had become the stuff of rumor.

That got his attention.

A few hours later, Roach carried him along a winding forest path toward a secluded estate tucked away from the rest of the world.

The ride gave him too much time to think.

About mages.

About old memories.

About someone he hadn’t seen in years.

Someone who had once traveled beside him across half the Continent.

A powerful mage even then.

Far more powerful now, if the stories he’d heard over the years were true.

The two of you had saved each other’s lives more times than either of you cared to count.

You had fought.

Argued.

Driven each other mad.

And somewhere along the way, become something far more dangerous.

Important.

Then duty had pulled you in different directions.

Neither of you had asked the other to stay.

Neither of you had wanted to leave.

And yet you had.

Years later, he still found himself wondering what might have happened if things had been different.

The thought vanished the moment the estate came into view.

Coincidence.

Nothing more.

Geralt dismounted slowly, climbed the stone steps, and knocked against the door.

A few moments later, it opened.

And the world seemed to stop.

Because standing on the other side was the very last person he’d expected to see.

You.

For a long moment, neither of you spoke.

Neither of you moved.

Years disappeared in an instant.

Geralt stared.

Then exhaled slowly.

“…Didn’t expect to find you here.”