Chapter 54: Novigrad Approach
POV: Adam
Novigrad rose from the Pontar's northern bank like civilization's answer to natural law, its spires and battlements reaching toward heaven with architectural ambition that spoke of wealth accumulated through commerce and religious authority. The city's massive walls enclosed population that rivaled small kingdoms, while temple bells created acoustic backdrop that promised salvation and threatened damnation in equal measure.
Massive. Largest city I've seen in this world.
The river crossing required negotiation with ferryman whose attention lingered on their weapons with evaluation that spoke of someone calculating potential profit against possible risk, understanding that travelers approaching Novigrad often carried more than simple trade goods.
Eternal Fire. Geralt explaining the political reality.
"City's controlled by Eternal Fire church," Geralt said, his voice pitched for private conversation while other passengers focused on their own concerns. "Religious organization with temporal power, known for witch hunts and systematic persecution of non-humans."
Witch hunts. They literally hunt people like us.
The explanation that followed painted picture of theocracy that viewed magical abilities as heretical aberration requiring elimination through fire and steel, political structure that maintained power through identifying enemies that justified violence in religion's name.
Sorceresses operate secretly. Even sorceresses must hide here.
"Magic is heresy in their doctrine," Geralt continued, golden eyes studying the approaching city with attention that spoke of someone evaluating threat levels. "Witchers tolerated for monster-hunting utility, but barely. You and Ciri must hide abilities completely."
Discovery means death. In this city, discovery means death.
The atmospheric pressure that settled over their group felt like weight of surveillance state where any action might reveal identity that authorities were actively seeking to eliminate through methods that prioritized spectacle over mercy.
Hide everything. We have to hide everything about what we are.
The city guards who inspected entering travelers operated with efficiency that spoke of systematic training in recognizing threats to religious order, their questions probing backgrounds and purposes with attention that suggested extensive experience identifying undesirable individuals.
Looking for mages. Specifically trained to identify supernatural abilities.
Ciri's ash-blonde hair disappeared beneath hood that transformed distinctive feature into anonymous concealment, while her concentration focused on suppressing Elder Blood signature that could betray her nature to people trained in magical detection.
Complete concealment. Elder Blood signature must be completely suppressed.
Adam maintained facade of ordinary traveler despite supernatural abilities that hummed beneath conscious awareness, elemental magic contained through will that felt like holding breath indefinitely while surrounded by people seeking reasons to stop that breath permanently.
Witcher's apprentices. Geralt vouching for us as monster-hunting apprentices.
"Training them in the trade," Geralt said when guards inquired about his companions, his voice carrying casual authority that made deception feel like routine professional explanation. "Need experience with urban contracts."
Suspicious but accepting. Guard suspicious but witcher reputation provides cover.
The examination continued longer than comfort suggested, careful scrutiny that evaluated posture, equipment, and responses for inconsistencies that might reveal concealed truth about capabilities or intentions.
Pass. We pass inspection despite everything.
The gate opened to admit three people whose survival now depended on maintaining deception in environment specifically designed to eliminate individuals matching their exact description.
Death surrounds us. We've entered place where discovery means immediate death.
Locating Triss required navigation through city's commercial districts where legitimate business provided cover for activities that church doctrine would classify as criminal conspiracy, underground networks operating beneath surface of approved civic life.
Secret clinic. Operating secret clinic for persecuted individuals.
The sorceress emerged from concealment that spoke of someone who'd learned survival through careful planning rather than supernatural power, her appearance transformed by mundane disguise that made recognition require deliberate attention.
Shocked. She's shocked we came here.
"You came to Novigrad?" Triss's voice carried disbelief that transcended simple surprise, understanding that encompassed exactly what their presence meant in terms of risk assessment. "This is the most dangerous city on the Continent for your situation."
Most dangerous. Confirmation that we've entered most dangerous possible environment.
The explanation that followed revealed escalation in persecution that had transformed theoretical threat into immediate deadly reality, witch hunters growing more violent while public executions provided entertainment that reinforced religious authority through spectacular violence.
Several sorceresses executed publicly. They're killing sorceresses in public ceremonies.
"Sanctuary," Triss offered despite personal risk that such assistance created, her voice carrying determination that spoke of someone whose principles transcended self-preservation. "Safe house while you plan next moves."
Wild Hunt presence. Even here, Hunt's influence is felt.
But alongside immediate sanctuary came confirmation that interdimensional pursuit had extended reach into every corner of mortal realm, temperature anomalies and spectral sightings that spoke of hunters whose capabilities transcended normal geographical limitations.
Nowhere safe. Literally nowhere is safe from either threat.
[Experience Gained: 150 XP]
[Skill Gained: Urban Stealth]
[Relationship: Triss +15 (now 40/100)]
The safe house proved to be basement beneath establishment whose surface activities provided perfect concealment for underground operations, irony that made sanctuary possible through society's deliberate blindness toward activities occurring in plain sight.
Brothel basement. Safe house hidden beneath brothel.
"You can stay hidden," Triss explained as evening shadows painted concealment through darkness that felt temporary rather than permanent, "but not indefinitely. City above hunts people like you while Hunt tracks from beyond dimensions."
Temporary sanctuary. This is only temporary respite.
The understanding that their situation had progressed beyond simple evasion toward confrontation with forces that couldn't be avoided through conventional hiding created weight that felt like burden carved from certainty rather than fear.
Multiple threats. Facing multiple existential threats simultaneously.
Looking at Ciri's profile as candlelight painted her features with warmth that contrasted sharply with dangers surrounding them, Adam understood that some protections required solutions that hadn't been invented yet.
Together. Whatever solutions exist, we find them together.
The city above continued its evening routine while three fugitives processed intelligence that suggested nowhere in mortal realm offered permanent safety from forces whose interest transcended normal human motivation.
Hunt everywhere. The Hunt's reach extends everywhere.
Some sanctuaries were measured in hours rather than permanence.
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