At the dawn of episode 6 in The Witcher's third season, Dijkstra brandished his sword, its tip resting ominously against Geralt's throat. It was then revealed that Dijkstra and Phillipa had conspired in a coup, with the spymaster seemingly eager to have Geralt on their side, given the mages' previous alignment with him.
As Redanian soldiers kept the mages in captivity, Yennefer managed to escape, only to encounter Lydia, who desired to deliver Ciri into the hands of Emhyr. While searching for Ciri, Yennefer narrowly escaped Lydia's grasp, with Triss intervening at the last moment to save her.
Meanwhile, Jaskier awoke in the cabin to find Radovid making attempts to abduct Ciri, much to his dismay. Luckily, Ciri had already fled the scene. The Redanians intended to purge the Brotherhood of mages who had sided with Nilfgaard, but Tissaia, one of the few mages unbound by magic, questioned the allegations against her lover.
She shattered the spell that bound the mages, liberating them and foiling Phillipa and Dijkstra's coup. However, by the time Tissaia realized her mistake, it was too late. Her heart was shattered as Vilgefortz revealed his true nature, and he promptly activated a portal, allowing Nilfgaardian soldiers like Cahir, Fringilla, and Francesca to invade Aretuza alongside Scoia'Tael.
Amidst the ferocious clash to safeguard Aretuza, the Brotherhood rallies alongside Tissaia, who stands unwavering, a testament to her unwavering resolve. Even those who were once implicated in the failed coup now find themselves engaged in the struggle against Nilfgaard. However, Ciri and Yennefer, absent from the tumultuous battlefield, aim to flee the island. As Geralt joins their ranks, he informs Yen of the castle's events, having vanquished Rience.
The bloody carnage of Aretuza claims numerous lives, including Artorius, betrayed and slain by his own niece, and Francesca's companion, who falls under Tissaia's unforgiving blade. Yet, in the midst of this turmoil, Phillipa and Dijkstra manage to slip away.
In the heat of the battle, Tissaia unleashes Alzur's thunder, a desperate attempt to safeguard her beloved Aretuza. Realizing the desperation of her mentor, Yen makes a choice, leaving Ciri and Geralt behind to stand beside Tissaia, her resolve strengthened by the knowledge of her mentor's plight.
Upon discovering Ciri and Geralt, Cahir, instead of confronting the princess whose life he had shattered, tendered an apology. Just as he offered his own life to Ciri, a group of elves seeking the princess emerged, seemingly desiring only her forgiveness in exchange for his sacrifice. As the newly converted knight distracted them, Ciri and Geralt stealthily headed towards the beach, intent on escaping the island.
Despite Yen's arrival on the battlefield, the mages were outmatched, and Tissaia's thunder spell had lost its potency. At the same moment, Stregobor appeared as Francesca prepared to round up the remaining mages. Prepared to unleash fire magic, the professor saw this as an opportunity to eliminate a few elves.
As Geralt and Ciri neared a boat, he sensed Vilgefortz's ominous presence. The Witcher instructed Ciri to flee while he confronted the malevolent mage. Although Vilgefortz inflicted grievous wounds on Geralt, he refrained from killing him.
Shortly after leaving a wounded Geralt on the beach, Vilgefortz found Ciri and attempted to convince her to let him train her. However, she chose a different path, ascending to the peak of the towering Tor Lara. There, she connected with a fresh, enigmatic force. As she commanded, the tower erupted in a powerful explosion, silencing Vilgefortz as its blast struck him.
