A change.

When morning came, the room sat in an awkward silence; Triss next to Geralt, Keira next to Yennefer who sat there trying to comfort her friend; Ciri torn between where to sit; Zantano sat in the corner alone looking down; Triss tried to tell them that he’s just trying to cope but Yennefer not quite sure in this argued he was angry which in turn started a cat fight between the two. “Makes me wish the Wildhunt would just hurry up and get here!” Lambert spoke, “Never wish for war earlier then necessary, doing so means one of two things: one you are scared or two unprepared. Battle should only start when you are mentally at your best!” “Like you, you mean?” “I think so yes, last night no but I have the luxury of not feeling anything and everything is simulated it’s why some of my reactions are wrong to some situations!” Zantano spoke, “So you are currently sad?” he shook his head before stating, “No, I’m feeling the one emotion that is genuine to me... that’s anger! I could crack Geralt’s skull with my bare hands if no one tried to stop me!” “I like to see you try!” Geralt barked but immediate regretted his decision to challenge him because Zantano got up and yanked him off the chair. The others leapt at him trying desperately pulling at his hands as they tried to grab the Witcher’s head. Lambert was flung up and Eskell tried get in between both men, Yennefer tried to cast a spell to soothe the Gods rage whilst Keira and Ciri lunge at his back trying to **** him to stop with the extra weight.

It was only stopped by Triss who out of desperation lunge forward using a sword to impale him. He stopped and looking down saw the horror in her eyes, “I didn’t... I didn’t mean to. Damian, I’m sorry!” “My name is Zantano!” he growled grabbing the tip of the sword and pulling it through his chest watched as the wounds healed before throwing the sword to the ground grabbed her by the neck, “My turn!” the others watched in horror as he threw her into the wall before kicking her, the others tried to pry him away but it was only when he regained his composure when he realised what he was doing, “Triss. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Please, I forgot where I was! I lost my way! Please, I know it doesn’t make up for it but I’m sorry!” she got up bleeding clutching her ribs before looking at him growled, “You are too far gone! I didn’t think that he would return!” “Triss... I, err, I” “I know... Go!” he turned around before looking away spoke, “You did make me a better person Triss, you really did!”

“Eskell, Lambert, Letho get your blades, the bastards out of here!” “Don’t” Triss spoke reassuring them as Vesemir and Keira treated her wounds, “You aren’t angry?” “No I’m hurt that this side returned, I thought I had brought the other side out of it’s shell enough to stay and cope with hurt and loss! He would also kill you all before you had a chance to strike!” “He hurt you!” Geralt spoke which agreeing she began to explain her point, “What you saw there is an fragment of the old Zantano, the one who I first met; he never hit me ever before this side of him has been wrestling with the new for ages and that was the old one lashing out. Traditionally he is a emotionless, violent monster who is despised by everyone apart for his grandmother Persephone who just wants to marry him. I spent years helping him recover from Philippa’s mess but clearly it didn’t work!” “You are justifying his actions?!” Keira protested but shaking her head she simply said, “No but this is my fault, I should have been more weary of the situation, he doesn’t have much and the thing he valued is gone; we just need someone to latch onto him and pull him away from the darkness in himself!” she looked over to Keira but was met with, “No thank you. I’m not going near him!” Keira snarled and agreeing with the logic both Ciri and Yennefer ruled themselves out, “At least on the battlefield he will be a excellent ally, until then everyone give him some distance...”