At the dawn of episode 7 in The Witcher's third season, after harnessing the might of Tor Lara and shattering the structure, Ciri was thrust into a desolate desert. In the aftermath of the Battle of Aretuza, Jaskier arrived at the castle, seeking his comrades. Instead, he encountered Radovid in tears, amidst the wreckage. Shortly after guiding Jaskier to a safe abode, he encountered Yennefer once again, who revealed the dire state of Geralt's injuries. Meanwhile, Triss had transported the gravely wounded Witcher to Brokilon Forest, where the elves struggled to save his life. His prognosis was bleak, as Milva, an elf, pointed out.
Desperately wounded, Ciri struggled to activate a portal back to Aretuza, but it remained unresponsive. She persevered, mending her broken arm. Yet, she was not alone, as a shadowy figure stalked her. Facing the harsh desert heat, she felt compelled to walk west, seeking shelter and sustenance. Along the way, she discarded a few possessions, including the locket Yennefer had given her.
Horrified to realize she had returned to her starting point after a long night's journey, the princess stumbled upon a unicorn, which rescued her from a ferocious desert beast. She chased after the enigmatic creature, but it vanished. Desperate for food, she found a few lizard eggs to consume. However, just as she devoured this meager meal, Princess Pavetta, her mother, materialized mysteriously, though it was merely her spirit, chastising her daughter.
Later, Ciri stumbled into an abandoned tavern, where she encountered the mysterious figure that had been trailing her. The Hooded Woman imparted profound words to Ciri, warning her that her influence might make her the last hope for bringing about change in the world.
The following morning, as Ciri stirred from slumber, the unicorn gracefully joined her side, granting her permission to trail behind him. Days unfolded, and the sight of the young princess traversing the desolate terrain alongside her newfound friend, whom she affectionately named Little Horse, became a familiar one.
However, a haunting apparition of Queen Calanthe materialized, castigating Ciri for her inaction during the war's impending shadows. As night descended, the Hooded Woman materialized once again, finally revealing herself as Falka, an elven demon who had been scorched in history's annals. She displayed no remorse for her deeds, including the murder of her father and the majority of his kingdom, and remained steadfast in her convictions.
Subsequently, Falka imparted wisdom to the young Ciri, guiding her on how to harness the full potential of her abilities. A colossal spider-like monster emerged from the sandy depths, inflicting wounds on Little Horse before Ciri vanquished the monstrosity. Falka's figure materialized again, urging Ciri to employ her forbidden fire magic to salvage the unicorn. Miraculously, the magic prevailed, but Little Horse fled in terror as soon as his wounds healed.
As Ciri seemed enraptured by the might of fire magic, Falka encouraged her to harness it further. Visions of vengeance against those who had transgressed against her and the grisly deaths of her loved ones like Jaskier, Yennefer, and Geralt had plagued her mind. Falka believed that Ciri stood alone, urging her to channel all her strength and fury. Nevertheless, Ciri insisted that she desired to relinquish her power, as it was not her true calling.
Upon regaining consciousness, Ciri emerged from the desolate terrain, only to be captured by a group of men murmuring about how perfectly she fit the description. Meanwhile, Jaskier journeyed to the Brokilon Forest, where Geralt was recuperating. Initially, the elves opposed his entry, but the bard's soothing melodies eventually won them over, allowing him to visit Geralt. Despite his injuries, Geralt remained confined to his bed. Jaskier bore grim news, revealing that Ciri had been discovered by Nilfgaard and was now headed towards Emhyr.
