Chapter Summaries

Witt arrived in Buina Village to take a drowner contract, but the villagers’ hostility led to a tavern brawl and a higher reward. After forcing the headman to negotiate, he gave his name as Witt of Lyria.

• Witt took the drowner contract from the noticeboard and entered the Wild Grape tavern to seek a room.
• The tavern keeper refused Witt service, and the scarred man and other drunks tried to drive him out.
• Witt quickly knocked down several men and threatened the scarred man with his sword.
• Headman Jeff revealed that he had posted the contract and explained that drowners and hostile elves had been attacking villagers.
• Jeff raised the reward from fifty to seventy ducats, and Witt identified himself as Witt of Lyria.

Witt left Buina Village to investigate the smell of blood and rot along the Buina River, where he met Geralt of Rivia. The two witchers found a drowner nest and the remains of a caravan, and Geralt gave Witt a Swallow potion before they faced the monsters.

• Witt left Buina Village and followed the Buina River upstream to investigate the scent of blood and rot.
• Witt drew his silver sword when he heard approaching footsteps, then recognized Geralt of Rivia and lowered his weapon.
• Geralt told Witt that Vesemir had returned to Kaer Morhen and sent him to bring Witt back, but agreed to deal with Witt's contract first.
• Geralt used the Axii Sign to calm Roach, then left the horse by the riverbank as he and Witt approached the source of the stench.
• Witt and Geralt found an overturned wine cart, the remains of its owner, and drowners feeding on a dead water buffalo beside their nest.
• Geralt handed Witt a Swallow potion as they prepared to face the drowners.

Witt and Geralt hunted drowners and a water hag along the Buina River, where Witt defeated the water hag in his first solo monster kill. After collecting the monsters’ alchemical parts, Geralt gave Witt the water hag’s brain and tongue as his trophy.

• Witt drank a Swallow Potion, and he and Geralt prepared to approach the monsters feeding on a dead man and an ox.
• Geralt knocked four drowners away with Aard, and Witt ignited a Dancing Star Bomb that blasted them apart.
• A water hag lunged at Witt while Geralt fought off the remaining drowners, and Witt’s Quen Sign protected him from its claws.
• Witt trapped the water hag with his sword and killed it with Igni, though the monster damaged his silver sword and bruised his waist.
• Geralt harvested the water hag’s brain and tongue and gave them to Witt as his first trophy.

Witt and Geralt finished the drowners contract, met the mage Old Graz, and agreed to consider his griffin contract after winter. Witt then helped the villagers identify Bob’s body and gave his widow money for the wine he had bought.

• Witt and Geralt met Old Graz, who bought the monster corpses and offered them a contract to hunt a griffin near White Mist Peak.
• Witt and Geralt declined to take the griffin contract immediately, agreeing to find Old Graz after winter.
• Witt and Geralt returned to Buina Village, where Witt showed the swamp hag trophies and Jeff paid him seventy ducats for completing the contract.
• Witt asked whether anyone was missing, and Jeff and Bob’s wife realized the dead farmer on the cart was Bob.
• Witt told Bob’s wife where his body lay and gave her thirty ducats, calling it payment for the wine.

Witt returned to Kaer Morhen with Geralt after surviving a swamp hag contract, where Vesemir praised his progress but reminded him he had not completed his training. As the witchers discussed rising tensions in the North and Geralt’s Child of Surprise, they made plans to take contracts near the Yaruga River.

• Geralt and Witt returned to Kaer Morhen, where Eskel, Vesemir, and Lambert welcomed them and learned Witt had killed a swamp hag.
• Vesemir rebuked Lambert for encouraging Witt to take the dangerous contract, while Witt defended his choice and gave the contract money to Vesemir and Eskel.
• Witt washed, received new School of the Wolf armor and a silver-plated longsword, and joined the others for dinner.
• Vesemir, Eskel, and Lambert reported rising military tensions near the Yaruga River, and Vesemir told the witchers to remain neutral.
• Vesemir asked whether Geralt would accept Ciri as his Child of Surprise, but Geralt said he could not let her travel with him; the witchers then named the regions where they planned to seek contracts.

Vesemir revealed that Witt had come from Brokilon and had been given to him as a child of destiny, while Witt’s nightmare foretold the White Frost. Geralt agreed to seek Queen Calanthe after winter, and Witt prepared for his final trial as he received a Wolf medallion.

• Vesemir asked Witt about his recurring dream and identified its green ocean as Brokilon and its frost as the White Frost prophecy.
• Vesemir explained that a dryad had handed him the unconscious Witt, calling him a child of destiny, after Vesemir helped her near Brokilon.
• Geralt agreed to travel with Witt to complete Old Graz’s contract after winter, then try to find Queen Calanthe in Cintra.
• Vesemir warned the witchers to remain neutral and said Witt would face his final trial the next day.
• Lambert tossed Witt a School of the Wolf medallion, and Vesemir said it would activate at the Circle of Elements.

Witt dreamed of his infancy in Brokilon, where a mysterious lady called him the miracle of Brokilon and sent him with Eithné to Vesemir. After waking in Kaer Morhen, Witt set out with Geralt for the Trial of the Mountains, still uncertain about his origins but choosing to reject destiny.

• Witt dreamed that the lady in Brokilon told Eithné to give him to Vesemir and called him the miracle of Brokilon.
• Witt woke in Kaer Morhen and wondered whether he had crossed into the Witcher world with his original body and whether he was connected to destiny.
• Geralt told Witt it was time for the Trial of the Mountains, and Eskel and Lambert offered to accompany him.
• Vesemir prepared potions for Witt and sent him off with Geralt after Witt hugged him goodbye.
• At the lake on the way to the trial, Witt told Geralt he had been thinking, "fuck destiny," and Geralt agreed.

Geralt guided Witt through choosing potions for their trial against Old Speartip, teaching him to weigh each potion’s benefits and risks. After learning that the cyclops would likely be dormant and vulnerable to a first strike, Witt selected Petri’s Philter and Blizzard Potion, while the two prepared to enter the cave.

• Geralt laid out six potions and asked Witt to choose the ones most useful for the trial.
• Witt considered Vesemir’s White Raffard, Tawny Owl, and Petri’s Philter, choosing Petri’s Philter for its ability to strengthen Signs.
• Geralt presented Cat Potion, Blizzard Potion, and Maribor Forest, and Witt rejected Maribor Forest and the Storm Potion after weighing their risks.
• Witt chose Cat Potion for the dark cave, Petri’s Philter to strengthen his Signs, and Tawny Owl as backup, but Geralt warned him that taking all three could push him to his toxicity limit.
• Geralt explained that northern cyclopes usually stockpile food and sleep through winter, making Old Speartip vulnerable to a first strike, and recommended Blizzard Potion to help delay its counterattack.
• Witt poured Petri’s Philter and Blizzard Potion into test tubes, and Geralt told him that ice giants in Skellige and around the Dragon Mountains still hunted during winter.

Witt and Geralt entered Old Speartip’s cave and fought the cyclops, with Witt using his Signs to help bring it down. They took its heart as a trophy and left the body behind, while Witt anticipated meeting the three troll brothers next.

• Witt and Geralt drank Cat potions and ventured into Old Speartip’s cave, where Witt gathered alchemical ingredients and sensed chaos magic near the Circle of Elements.
• Geralt attacked Old Speartip while Witt cast Quen and stabbed the cyclops in the lower back.
• Old Speartip counterattacked, but Witt dodged his blows and joined Geralt in casting Axii, leaving the cyclops unconscious.
• Witt removed Old Speartip’s heart for use as a mutagen ingredient, and Geralt called the dead cyclops their toll.
• Witt followed Geralt out of the cave, thinking that the three troll brothers would appear next.

After defeating Old Speartip, Witt and Geralt negotiated with three trolls and reached the Circle of Elements, where Witt used the ancient magic to charge his witcher medallion. Witt sensed an unusual surge of fire magic beneath the cliff, and Geralt agreed to investigate it with him.

• Witt explained that Petri's Philter had let him see Chaos magic, and Geralt recognized his exceptional talent for magic.
• Geralt and Witt persuaded the three troll brothers to let them pass by showing them Old Speartip's heart and offering his body as food.
• Witt and Geralt shared their belief that intelligent monsters deserved to live if they did not harm people.
• At the Circle of Elements, Witt lit the four elemental torches and placed his Wolf medallion on the altar to charge it.
• Witt sensed an unusually strong flow of fire magic below the cliff, and Geralt agreed to investigate the potential danger.

Witt and Geralt discovered a Place of Power beneath the Circle of Elements, where Witt’s Igni triggered a violent surge of fire and left a rune on his arm. The next day, Vesemir, Lambert, and Eskel returned from the site energized, and Vesemir reflected that Witt had grown up.

• Witt accidentally unleashed a massive burst of flame while casting Igni near a hidden Place of Power, and the resulting pain left him unable to speak for a time.
• Geralt tested the Place of Power, then Witt drew in its fire energy, replenished his magic, increased his capacity, and gained a glowing rune on his forearm.
• Geralt and Witt collected the Wolf medallion and returned to Kaer Morhen, where Witt told Vesemir, Lambert, and Eskel about the Place of Power and its effects.
• Vesemir scolded the witchers for failing to recognize the site, then took Lambert away for extra training after Lambert teased him.
• The next day, Vesemir, Lambert, and Eskel returned from the Place of Power feeling energized, hugged Witt to thank him, and Vesemir said the boy had grown up.

Witt and Geralt left Kaer Morhen for the road, but Vesemir warned Witt that his exceptional talent could make him a target before he was ready. Witt departed with Vesemir’s advice to act carefully and follow the path of neutrality.

• Witt and Geralt found Vesemir waiting at the stables as they prepared to leave Kaer Morhen.
• Witt asked Vesemir to sell his and Geralt’s monster trophies in Vizima, and Geralt agreed.
• Vesemir warned Witt that talented witchers such as Erland of Larvik and Ivar Evil-Eye had vanished, and that their gifts had inspired envy and fear.
• Vesemir urged Witt to think before acting, beware of hidden enemies, and avoid seeking fame until he was strong enough.
• Witt followed Geralt out of Kaer Morhen and looked back to see Vesemir standing by the gate.

Witt and Geralt reached White Mist Village and met Old Graz, who had asked them to hunt a griffin attacking the area. After Lowell described the creature’s violent attacks, the witchers suspected that something unusual lay behind its behavior.

• Witt and Geralt arrived at Old Graz’s student’s house near White Mist Village, where Old Graz welcomed them and asked them to rest before preparing for the griffin hunt.
• Old Graz explained that he had sent his student Lowell to the village so the witchers could meet him without a fuss.
• Lowell arrived and told Witt and Geralt that he had seen a huge dark-brown griffin attack White Mist Village, carrying off livestock and people.
• Witt and Geralt explained that griffins usually avoided populated places, and they concluded that they needed more information about why this one was attacking.

Lowell uncovered a griffin egg buried near White Mist Village, explaining why a griffin had attacked, but Witt remained suspicious because the flame rune on his arm had reacted while Lowell was present. That night, Lowell revealed his longing for magic and his bitterness about being rejected because he had left Ban Ard Academy.

• Lowell remembered finding a foul-smelling griffin egg in a farmer's backyard and led Witt, Geralt, and Old Graz to it.
• Old Graz identified the egg, and Witt explained that griffins fiercely avenged their mates and offspring.
• Lowell pointed out the house where he had found the egg, and Witt and Geralt decided to investigate it the next morning.
• Witt questioned whether Lowell could be trusted, but Old Graz defended his former student and described his years of study and work.
• Lowell asked Witt about witcher magic, and Witt warned him about the years of training, the deadly mutations, and the hardships of a witcher's life.
• Lowell said that nobody would marry a Ban Ard dropout because its students were treated as spies or scoundrels.

Witt investigated a griffin attack in White Mist Village and discovered from a recovered feather that the griffin was a young male, raising the possibility of more griffins nearby. After sending Lowell to question the household that found the egg, Witt turned to ask Hayden about Lowell.

• Geralt sent Old Graz to make a sheep decoy, went to find buckthorn, and asked Lowell and Witt to question villagers and investigate the egg’s household.
• Witt explained to Lowell that a male or young griffin might have a mate nearby, making the hunt more dangerous.
• Witt questioned Hayden, the village blacksmith and headman, about the attack and examined a feather Hayden had taken from his son.
• Witt recognized the feather as belonging to a male griffin in its prime, no more than fifteen years old, and suspected there could be more than one griffin.
• Witt sent Lowell to question the household that found the egg, then told Hayden he wanted to ask about Lowell.

Witt learned that villagers suspected Lowell of abducting men and secretly taking supplies to the forest, and warned him about his dealings with the elves. Lowell rejected Witt’s warning, attacked him, then fled toward the forest.

• Villagers told Witt that men had gone missing, Lowell had been stockpiling supplies, and someone had heard him reciting a strange spell.
• Hayden asked Witt to inform Lowell’s teacher about the villagers’ concerns, and Witt agreed but warned Hayden not to take matters into his own hands.
• Lowell told Witt he had learned nothing about the griffin eggs, and he and Witt left White Mist Village to meet Geralt and Old Graz.
• Witt confronted Lowell about his dangerous dealings with the elves, but Lowell defended his desire to gain magic and escape his mortal life.
• Lowell charged at Witt with a dagger, but Witt dodged and tripped him; after Witt noticed a carved design on Lowell’s bloodied back, Lowell fled toward the forest.

Witt, Geralt, and Old Graz lured a male griffin into a trap using a fake sheep packed with an Enhanced Dancing Star Bomb. The explosion badly wounded the griffin, but it survived and fled toward the forest as the witchers pursued it.

• Witt told Geralt and Old Graz about his confrontation with Lowell and returned the dagger Lowell had left behind.
• Witt described the griffin feather he found, and Old Graz decided to report the danger to Headmaster Dorregaray before they prepared the hunt.
• Witt set the fake sheep in a field and waited in hiding with Geralt and Old Graz for a griffin to appear.
• A male griffin swooped down for the bait, and Witt knocked it to the ground with Aard while Geralt struck it with Igni, triggering the hidden bomb.
• The explosion and Stammelford's dust wounded the griffin and filled the field with smoke, but it nearly struck Witt before Witt's Quen saved him.
• Witt's empowered Aard ignited the field and revealed the injured griffin, which Geralt attacked, but the creature rose and escaped toward the forest.

Witt, Geralt, and Old Graz tracked the wounded griffin into an elven forest, where they learned Lowell had been killed for belonging to the Cult of the Lionhead Spider. Miley, leader of the elven camp, hired the witchers to kill the griffin's surviving mate, and she told Witt that he carried a familiar scent.

• Witt, Geralt, and Old Graz followed the wounded griffin into the forest and encountered armed elven archers.
• Witt explained that the witchers had entered the forest to track the griffin, and the elf leader told them it was already dead.
• Old Graz asked the elves about Lowell, and their leader said she had killed him after discovering he belonged to the Cult of the Lionhead Spider.
• Miley stopped the witchers as they prepared to leave and hired them to deal with the remaining female griffin on White Mist Peak.
• Geralt agreed to the commission, and Miley introduced herself to Witt, saying she sensed a familiar scent on him.

Witt, Old Graz, and Geralt followed Miley to an elven camp hidden among ancient ruins, where Old Graz identified the remains as Tivissough's Winter Palace. The mention of Filavandrel aén Fidháil unsettled Miley, who challenged Old Graz's claim that he had grown weary of conflict.

• Miley led Witt, Old Graz, and Geralt to the elves' camp blindfolded and warned them to stay with the group.
• Old Graz and Witt examined the ruins and carefully cleared weeds from a magic circle while Geralt ate the roasted meat that had been promised as payment.
• Miley revealed that the ruins were Tivissough's Winter Palace, and Old Graz confirmed it from an ancient inscription.
• Old Graz explained that Filavandrel aén Fidháil, former ruler of Dol Blathanna, had been exiled there, making Miley tense.
• Old Graz reassured Miley that the discovery would not affect the elves' plight, and Miley replied that he had grown weary of strife only because his side had won.

Witt asked Miley what she had traded with Lowell, and she revealed a vial of the Waters of Brokilon. The vial stirred a familiar feeling in Miley and a memory in Witt, while Geralt wondered whether destiny had brought them together.

• Miley brought Geralt, Witt, and Old Graz into the elven reception hall, where hungry and wounded elves were sheltering.
• Miley offered magical crystals as payment for dealing with the remaining female griffin, and Old Graz identified some as valuable megascope materials.
• Witt touched a runed crystal and felt the fire elemental energy in the rune on his arm flow into it, but he told Miley nothing was wrong.
• Miley refused Old Graz's offer of crowns, explaining that her people needed supplies more than money.
• Witt asked Miley what she had traded with Lowell, and she produced a vial whose aura Old Graz identified as the Waters of Brokilon.
• Miley felt an inexplicable familiarity with Witt, and Geralt wondered whether the Waters of Brokilon pointed to destiny.