As they fought, Geralt's mind began to clear. He couldn't help but realise the danger they were in. He had to protect her, just as she had protected him.
Y/n noticed the change in Geralt's demeanour, he fought with newfound determination and a fierce protective instinct that Y/n couldn't deny. Anticipating each other's moves, and covering for one another when needed they fought as a team, and successfully so.
Despite their efforts, the creatures were relentless. Y/n's protective spell over Geralt had faded, and he was starting to feel the pain of his injuries from his earlier battle with the two beasts.
He did his best to push through the pain, knowing that they couldn't afford to show any weakness in this life-or-death battle.
They managed to injure one of the beasts, weakening it enough that it decided to retreat and lick its wounds. However, the other creature remained persistent, refusing to give up the fight.
The beast began to corner them between a set of trees causing Y/n to retreat from offensive magic to defensive.
Y/n channelled her magical abilities, focusing on casting protective barriers to shield them from the creature's relentless attacks. But she was also aware that her magical energy was running low, and she couldn't keep up the defences forever.
Seeing an opening, Geralt manoeuvred himself to position himself between the creature and Y/n. Geralt could feel the weight of the responsibility he had taken upon himself. The injuries from the previous battle and the strain of the current fight were taking a toll on his body, but he pushed the pain aside.
"Y/n, we need to find a way to finish this," Geralt called out, his voice strong and determined despite the pain he felt.
"I know," she replied, her voice dripping with urgency. "But I'm running out of magic. I won't be able to hold these barriers much longer."
Geralt glanced around, trying to assess their surroundings for any advantage they could use. He noticed a clearing with a cliff with rocky ledges and a narrow pathway that might give them an opportunity, which was a long enough sprint away.
"Y/n, when I say so, retreat towards the cliff," Geralt instructed. "We need to get them neat that cliff."
Without hesitation, Y/n nodded, trusting Geralt's instincts. As they continued to fend off the creature's attacks, Geralt deliberately steered the battle toward the cliff's direction.
When the moment presented itself Geralt shouted, "Now, Y/n!"
Y/n quickly complied, sprinting away towards the cliff as Geralt covered her retreat. The creature followed, its eyes fixed on Y/n, seemingly eager to take advantage of any opening.
As the creature lunged forward, Geralt carefully defended Y/n pushing back the large beast with the little magic he possessed only to, once there was enough distance between himself and the beast, sprint behind Y/n towards the cliffside.
He could feel the adrenaline surging through him, his instincts sharpened by the danger they were in.
"Geralt duck behind something." He was ready to fight back against her only to feel as if she had an ace up her sleeve. He grunted, sliding behind a tree and disappearing from the beast's view, causing it to follow after Y/n as she continued to sprint with no sign of slowing down.
She could feel the beast catching up to her as she approached the ledge. The initial plan she had concocted of getting under the belly of the beast had been thrown out the window because the beast was far too close as she approached the cliff.
Y/n let out a grunt as she continued to sprint with no sign of stopping only to leap off the ledge of the cliff.
The creature let out a piercing roar as it dived after Y/n. Geralt stood in shock as his heart stopped, waiting to see if she would emerge again. But there was only silence.
As Geralt's heart pounded in his chest, he couldn't believe what he had just witnessed. Y/n had leapt off the cliff, seemingly sacrificing herself to take the creature down with her. The silence that followed felt like an eternity, and he feared the worst.
"No, no, no," Geralt whispered, his voice rough and painted in denial of what he gad just witnessed. He rushed to the cliff watching Y/n fall in what seemed to be slow motion.
As she fell down she opened a portal below her falling into it only for another portal to open above Geralt, causing Y/n to crash land on him.
In a whirlwind of surprise and relief, Geralt found himself lying on the ground, winded with Y/n on top of him. He was momentarily disoriented, but as he realized what had just happened, a mixture of emotions washed over him.
"Y/n, you're alright," Geralt gasped, still trying to catch his breath from the impact.
Y/n groaned, wincing from the crashlanding, but she managed a weak smile. "I'm... I'm okay. Sorry about that rough landing." She let her head drop to his chest from exhaustion as Geralt wrapped his arms around her taking her in a warm embrace.
Geralt chuckled softly, relief flooding his being allowing his muscles to relax. Y/n felt his chest vibrate from the brief chuckle and she couldn't help but smile hearing and feeling such a beautiful sound.
"Don't worry about it. I'm just glad you're safe. You had me worried there," Geralt said, his voice soft and laced with concern. "I thought the worst for a moment."
Y/n looked up at Geralt, touched by his genuine concern for her well-being. "I'm sorry for scaring you like that," she said, still catching her breath. "I didn't mean to put you through that."
Geralt shook his head, his eyes searching hers. "You don't need to apologize. You did what you had to do, and you saved us both. Thank you."
She could see the gratitude and sincerity in his eyes, and it made her heart flutter. Y/n smiled at Geralt, feeling a warmth in her chest at his words. "Thank you for always having my back, Geralt. You're a true ... friend."
Geralt's expression softened even more, and he reached out to gently touch her cheek only to recoil his hand remembering how unhappy she was the last time he had made a move. Y/n hesitantly took his hand before he could pull away entirely and guided his hand to her cheek still pressed up against his armoured chest.
"Y/n," he began, and asked in a genuine tone, "Are you sure that's all you want us to be?"
Her eyes widened slightly, and he could see surprise and hope flickering in them. "I, I don't know" she stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper due to both exhaustion and uncertainty. Geralt gently caressed her cheek with his thumb, his eyes never leaving hers. Before Y/n could say anything else, Geralt leaned in, closing the gap between them, and pressed his lips against hers in a soft kiss.
The kiss took Y/n by surprise, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she found herself responding to the warmth and affection in Geralt's touch. At the moment their lips met, she felt a rush of emotions. Uncertainty, fear, but also a glimmer of something more, something that had been building between the two that she couldn't put her finger on.
Geralt pulled his head back slightly causing Y/n to get up and lean in again now straddling the Witcher with her hand placed delicately on his jaw and the other on his chest while he caressed her waist as he let out a satisfied hum, rather pleased with the outcome.
As they finally pulled back, their breaths mingling, Y/n rested her forehead against Geralt's, their eyes locked in a silent conversation. Her hand still cupped his cheek, and she could feel the warmth of his touch through the roughness of his stubble.
"I don't want to rush you," Geralt whispered, his voice husky, only for the two to hear behind them, "Well that was certainly a display,"
Y/n jumped off Geralt and turned around holding her hand out defensively only to see the person who had set them on this mission to begin with.
"You slimy-" She began to storm towards him only to be thrown back towards the cliffside. Geralt got up onto his feet and kept an eye on Y/n as she got back up by the cliff's edge.
"What is your motive Mage." Geralt pulled out his sword carefully beginning to circle the mage similar to the way a wolf would circle its foe.
"Your bond is dangerous. She needs her magic to be removed or else I think you both may damage the very continent you stand to protect." He babbled keeping one hand pointed at Y/n while his other hand was held out towards Geralt not wanting the Witcher to come any closer.
"So you set us up for failure because of a prediction?!" Y/n glowered closing her hand to a fist causing her knuckles to turn white in anger.
The mage's eyes darted between Geralt and Y/n, clearly feeling the tension in the air. "It was for the greater good," he stammered, trying to justify his actions.
"The greater good?" Y/n retorted, her anger boiling over. "You risked our lives. You manipulated us for something that may not even come to be?"
The mage seemed to be getting more nervous by the second. "I had to make sure you both understood the consequences of your bond. It's too powerful, too unpredictable. The world can not handle such magic."
"I thought I could control the situation and intervene if needed." The mage pleaded as Y/n got closer, mirroring Geralts' movements, pinning the mage into a circle he couldn't escape unscathed.
Geralt's eyes narrowed as he moved closer to the mage, his sword still at the ready. "Intervene? By sacrificing one of us?"
Y/n's eyes gleamed with anger and determination. "You had no right to manipulate us like this," she said, her voice cold and sharp. "Our bond is not yours to toy with. We are not your pawns to be sacrificed for some phoney cause."
The mage observed his surroundings trying to find the easiest way out of this, realizing the gravity of his actions and the anger he had provoked in both Geralt and Y/n was so much more threatening than he had ever anticipated. "I didn't mean for it to come to this,"
Leaves and dirt began to swirl around him as dark aggressive clouds began to consume the blue skies. Rain started to pour down on their surroundings only for it to become increasingly more intense.
"You are not escaping with a stupid distraction like this!" Y/n roared through the blaring weather and wind that was mercilessly whipping both herself and Geralt. She extended her hand releasing a large puff of flames to emerge dulled down by the weather but still effective enough to cause the shady mage to recoil from it.
"You both will regret this day! You will both be the death of this world as long as she has magic."
The mage's words hung in the air, his anger and frustration evident in his voice. But Y/n and Geralt stood firm, undeterred by his threats.
"You're wrong," Y/n said, not believing a word he was saying knowing how well her abilities had served her and how they had protected and saved an immeasurable amount of people.
"Then you're naive," the mage spat, his hands crackling with a magic Y/n did not recall ever seeing or reading about in any book.
Geralt attempted to strike the mage down while he was distracted with Y/n only to be pushed back by a gust of wind slamming him into a tree.
"No!" She yelled using what little magic she could conjure to send a blast the Mages way only to see him escape through a portal. The storm immediately ceased causing Y/n to sprint towards Geralt who was already helping himself up from the muddy floor.
Y/n rushed over to Geralt, concern etched on her face. "Are you alright?" she asked, checking him for any injuries.
Geralt nodded, slightly winded but otherwise unharmed. "I'm fine," he said, his voice firm. "We need to go after him."
Y/n hesitated, looking back at the spot where the mage had disappeared. "He's too powerful."
"And he said the same thing about you."