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It's just another sunny day in Los Angeles. The streets may not be as crowded as before, but Sera still has work. The café is not entirely empty but Sera and Ben have some free time for their own pleasure.
As usual, she was dismissed by Ben so she could do her busking earlier. She didn’t really need the money, but she needed experience singing to people. Especially to important people like Ahri.
It’s a bit hard singing with a mask on but she still managed to piqued interest from passers-by. All of a sudden, her mic went off the same time as a teal glow emerged from the alley beside her. She doesn’t really notice it and continues singing.
“What a pleasant voice you have. Are you a bard ?” It wasn’t a question Sera usually gets from a pedestrian. “I’m sorry, a what ?” The pedestrian was visibly trying to think of another way to explain what she meant. She looked at the sky, giggling as she remembered a dear friend of hers. “A bard. You know, making tales and stories into ballads and such.”
Bards. Or poets. Whatever this person meant, Sera felt that her performance was more of an extension of her expression rather than retelling. “Oh, you mean a poet ? No, I’m sorry, but I’m not a poet. I’m just someone who likes to sing.”
“I see, a singer. I’ve heard people like you before. Sorry to ask you this, but is there a tavern or an inn I can rest in ?” From the looks of it, this female looks like she’s been through a lot. “I know a café nearby. Maybe we can search for an inn while you rest there.”
“It would be a pleasure to rest for a while,” she replied. As they walked back to the café, Sera couldn’t help but notice the stares she and her new companion got. Not a few people are taking pictures of them. Is her secret found out ? Did the news get out that Ahri had called her ?
“Excuse me ?” Sera’s thoughts were distracted when a teen approached them. “Yes ?” The female removed her hood. “Could- could we get a picture ?” The teen was shivering. He’s ready to run if he is rejected. “A picture ? What is that ?” The teen looked more calmly. “It’s an instant image. Like a painting. It would only take a moment,” Sera calmly explained.
“If it’s only a moment, then yes, you could take my picture.” The teen looked happy but Sera noticed that the girl she'd been with for the last hour or so was starting to get comfortable.
“Hey Ben, I’m back.” Sera cheerfully greeted Ben, who had been attending the café alone. “Hey Sera, have you left something behind?” “Ben, Could we have a drink and some pastries ?” Sera turned around to see her companion in awe with her surrounding. “Excuse me, what would you like to drink ?” Her companion snaps back to reality, seeing Sera’s sweet face. “Oh, the strongest ale you got please.” She then left to find a place to sit.
“Umm... maybe a ginger ale for her and a few egg tarts. Oh and here, for the boba yesterday.” Ben smiled. He gave her the food and beverages but refused to take Sera’s money. “Keep it, you’re going to need it.” Sera's face glittered. She then joined her new friend in the corner.
“Here you go.” Sera puts the ginger ale and pastries on the table. “Thank you. Your name is Sera, right ?” Sera stared a moment before she sat down. “Yes, it's short for Seraphine. And you ?” Her companion giggled a bit. “Its Ciri.” “So, Ciri, are you a cosplayer ?” Ciri was confused by the question. “What is a cosplayer ?”
“Oh, it's when you dress up as the character you love and become them.” “No, I’m a witcher. Well, a witcher in training.” Sera now recognized the name and how Ciri described herself. “Wait, you’re Princess Cirilla of Cintra ? Are you from another dimension ? Is this the part when you were chased by The Wild Hunt ?” Sera went into full fangirl mode.
“It seems like you know my story well. But yes, I was chased by them. As long as I don’t teleport, they can’t track me here.” Sera looked down at her mug. Ciri can’t help but feel sad for her new friend. “Are you okay ?” Sera’s head then tilts up again to face Ciri. “Its nothing, but when I think of it, it must be sad. To be apart from your family.”
Ciri smiles reassuringly. “Its okay. I’m doing this so Geralt and Yennefer are safe. They’ve always protected me before. Now it’s my turn.” Sera’s face lightened up after hearing that.
“Anyway, have you found a place I could stay in ?.” Sera forgot why they came to the café. “Oh, umm, you could stay with me.” Ciri politely refuses. “I don’t want to bring trouble to your family.” Sera is excited to have a sleepover with the Lady of Space and Time so much that she reassures Ciri that its okay.
It's not a large room. A queen-sized bed, a desk paired with a chair, an amplifier for the guitar, and the collections of records are the only things occupying the space. Ciri is in awe with the wall filled with posters of K/DA and (G)I-dle. She’s transfixed with this one large poster of Ahri. Her beauty is transcended. She had never met a gumiho before on the Continent.
She had overheard Sera talking with her father in a language she didn’t understand. Sera entered the room with dinner in hand. “I’ve brought dinner. Dad said if you need something just ask.” Ciri stood up from the bed to get her dinner. “Thank you, Sera. This looks excellent.”
They exchanged stories and tips over dinner, and got ever closer to know each other. After dinner, Ciri decides to clean her sword while Sera tries to write music. Ciri sensed something was wrong when Sera walked around the room and often looked at Ahri’s poster.
As Sera slumped on the desk, Ciri approached her slowly. “Sera, is something troubling you ?” Sera’s face started to tear up. She turned her face and looked at Ciri behind her. “I- I just don’t know what song I should write. I have this audition coming up and it's my biggest chance to be a singer.” Sera then turned her face to look at the Ahri poster. “I just don’t want to disappoint her.”
Ciri looked at the poster. She understood having expectations. She grabbed her sword and showed it to Sera. “Back in my world, everyone had great expectations of me just because I have elder blood.” Sera stopped tearing and looked at Ciri’s contemplating face.
“But Geralt, Triss, Yennefer, Uncle Vesemir, and the other friends I made along the way told me to live the way I wanted to. People may start it but I’m going to finish it my way.” Sera started to look at her own reflection in the sword.
“Jaskier once said that a masterpiece will come if you made it purely from the heart of the true you. I thought he was just trying to charm the girl he spoke to but I think its true.” Sera’s mood instantly brightened up.
“I think you should add some of your mother tongue. People would love it.” Sera spent the night writing, while Ciri got a good night's sleep. She hasn’t had a well deserved sleep in a while.
The next morning, Sera is busking again in the same place as before, this time with Ciri accompanying her. More people joined the crowd who wanted to hear Sera’s performance. After the performance, the same thing happened as before. But instead of a teal glow, the light from the alley has a more blue hue to it.
Ciri and Sera went to check it out, only to see a hooded masked man standing in front of a portal. Ciri then ran towards the man and embraced him in a big hug. “Avallac’h, you've found me.” The masked man looked at his surroundings before letting go of Ciri. “Zirael, we must go. The Wild Hunt will be here any moment.”
Ciri returned to Sera to say goodbye. “Sera, thank you for the time we’ve spent. I’ve learned a lot from you.” Sera tried her best not to cry. “Please don’t cry. I wanted to ask you something.” Sera looked up to Ciri but didn’t want to look at her beautiful eyes.
“You said that I was a book and game character. Do you know how my story ends ?” Sera nodded because she completed reading all the books and played the game. “Great, then you know there’s a big chance that we could meet again. Please take care until that.”
Ciri stopped a moment and waved to Sera before entering the portal. As the portal closes, Sera wipes her tears. She’s motivated for the audition and will do the best she can so Ciri can be proud of her next time they meet. “Thanks Ciri, thanks for making me this way.”