IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THE BARD SPREAD HIS MOST FAMOUS TALE.

The tale about an angel who ripped their wings for a mortal who could never love them back.

Faina kept her head up high as she rode towards the south. Every beast she crossed paths with didn't stand a chance against the rage of a dragon.

She made it to Zerrikania within a month, which confused Adelina and Katoka as winter had only just ended months before. It was even summer yet.

Faina dropped from her saddle and the two Zerrikanians approached her. Tears fell down her cheeks as she rushed forward to wrap her arms around Adelina.

She sobbed in Adelina's arms. The woman stroked the snow white hair that laid on her head, "Humans ruin everything, don't they?"

Adelina led her into their home. Faina sat on the floor, Katoka curled up in her lap, trying to bring her comfort,

"I shouldn't have been so stupid." Faina stated, staring out the window, "Witcher's don't have feelings, I don't know why I expected him to be different."

"Did you love him?" Katoka asked, looking up at her,

"I cared for him." Faina sighed, playing with the girl's hair, "I needed him and I thought he needed me, too. I thought wrong."

"Where will you go now?" Adelina asked,

"I'll stay here until next spring. I'll search the mountains again." Faina looked over at her, "Being a dragon is much simpler. I just need to survive."

And that's what she did. She left Nix at the ranch before heading back towards the mountains that she vacated only three months prior.

The white dragon returned to her cave, which was littered by old cow and deer bones. She curled up on her nest with a huff.

There would be no humans to bother her up here.

She spent the rest of the year in the mountains. Searching for any other dragons, scaring away any villagers. She didn't even return to the village for the annual Fire Festival.

Once the snow had melted in the north, did she return to the ranch. She spent a few days with Adelina and Katoka before attaching her pack to Nix's saddle,

"Will you go searching for your Witcher again?" Adelina asked from behind her.

Faina paused, stroking her horse before turning to her and she shook her head, "No. I'll head north for the Dragon Mountains."

"And if you run into him?"

"It's a large continent." Faina stated, "I doubt I'll see the Witcher again as long as he lives."

"Rumour is that the King of Kovir was killed by a dragon. They'll be searching the mountains for any dragons to hunt down." Adelina replied,

"I can handle some dragon hunters, Lina." Faina responded,

"You've survived this long because you avoided the hunters, Faina. Now you're on an entire kingdom's radar. And not to mention if the Witcher catches wind if they put a bounty on you."

"I'll be safe if I don't transform." Faina assured her, "Besides, not many can survive the rage of a dragon."

And with that, she began her journey north towards Kovir.

She rarely stopped in a village in fear of seeing him. Only for supplies if she had ran out. Every once in a while she'd be in an inn and she'd hear a story about a Witcher, the great Geralt of Rivia, defeating another monster one thought was impossible.

And every time she heard his name her heart would crack just a little bit more.

She kept travelling as far as Nix would take her before she would tire. Then she would tie the poor horse to a tree before falling asleep and continuing their journey the next day.

She reached Talgar within a few months, at the peak of summer. She found a nice old couple who would take care of Nix while she was away before heading towards the back gated of the community,

"Are you heading toward the mountains?" A boy asked as she walked towards the northern gates of Talgar,

"Perhaps." Faina paused and looked down at him, "Why?"

"Well, they don't call it the Dragon Mountains for nothing." The boy stated, "No one has gone there and lived to tell the tale."

The white haired girl smiled down at him, "Don't worry, boy, I live in a cottage just outside the walls. I will not be in any mountains." She lied smoothly, "I won't be in any danger."

And with that, she left the gated village of Talgar and went into the mountains.