A naked woman wakes Geralt, the Witcher, early in the morning. They engage in a silent encounter of love.
Geralt arrives in the town of Wyzim and enters The Fox inn. He's denied a room and told the town doesn't need people like him. A brawl ensues with three men, and Geralt kills them. He's arrested and taken to Velerad, the castellan. Geralt shows an advertisement from King Foltest, offering a reward for dealing with a cursed princess, a striga. Velerad explains the princess, Adda, had a child who became a striga and started killing at night. Various attempts failed to lift the spell. Geralt negotiates a fee, and they agree on 1500 orens. Geralt meets the king, who discusses the situation and conditions for his attempt. He warns Foltest not to join him. Geralt meets a survivor of the striga's attack who provides no useful information. The king talks informally with Geralt, who believes staying a night could lift the curse. The issue of harming the girl arises, and Foltest gives permission if necessary. Geralt explains the importance of a sapphire or silver chain. He clarifies that incest isn't the cause. Geralt intends to act after the next full moon and refuses the king's offer to accompany him. On the night of the attempt, Geralt takes potions to enhance his abilities. He encounters Ostrit, who offers money to vanish, and they fight. Geralt uses Ostrit as bait. The striga emerges, and Geralt fights her, using silver weapons. He establishes a psychic link and drives her away. Geralt waits in the striga's tomb, then wakes up wounded and victorious in the palace with the promised reward.
Nenneke wakes Geralt, sending away the woman, Iola, who was with him. Geralt tries to talk to Iola, but Nenneke informs him that Iola has taken a vow of silence. Geralt is at Melitele's temple in Ellander, healing from his wounds caused by the striga. Nenneke redresses his wounds and scolds him for getting hurt by the striga.
The cult of Melitele is a continuation of ancient religions worshipping harvest and fertility goddesses. Nenneke and Geralt argue about using a trance for healing. Geralt believes he's immune, but Nenneke suggests it can't hurt.
Geralt finds two travelers' mutilated corpses with birds circling overhead. He concludes they were attackedwhile returning home from a nearby forest. He investigates and finds a tower. He senses someone watching and sees a girl with black eyes, who disappears into the forest. The tower gate is unanswered, so Geralt and Roach enter the courtyard. A humanoid monster threatens Geralt, but he doesn't leave, prompting the creature to become more curious. The monster, Nivellen, invites Geralt in. The tower responds to Nivellen's desires. Nivellen shows Geralt a portrait of his human form and reveals that he used to be human. Nivellen believes he can defeat Geralt in a fight. Geralt argues Nivellen isn't a monster due to his ability to touch silver, suggesting his appearance might be a curse. Nivellen's backstory is revealed: he was cursed after he and his gang raped a priestess. He turned into his current form and scared off or killed the servants. He demanded young girls in exchange for gold, living with them for a time. Geralt deduces Nivellen's companion, Vereena, must be the girl Geralt saw. Nivellen declines Geralt's help for his appearance or Vereena. Nivellen accidentally mentions Vereena loves him. Geralt realizes Vereena might be a bruxa, a vampire, not a rusalka. He hears screams in the forest, finds charred bones, and later realizes Vereena is behind it.
Returning to the tower, Geralt accuses Vereena of turning Nivellen into a true monster. He realizes she's a bruxa, not a rusalka. They battle, and Nivellen intervenes, killing Vereena. Nivellen returns to his human form.
Two knights in Duke Hereward's service arrive at the Cult of Melitele, demanding Geralt's departure. Nenneke refuses as she governs the temple grounds. Geralt tries reasoning with the knights, realizing they hate him more than the Duke. They nearly come to blows before leaving.
Geralt goes to Blaviken seeking a reward for a kikimora he killed, but there's no reward. They plan to take the kikimora to Master Irion, a wizard. Geralt recognizes Stregobor, an old acquaintance, in the wizard's tower. Stregobor asks for Geralt's help as he's being pursued by a girl, Renfri, who seeks revenge. Years ago, cursed girls were born due to the Curse of the Black Sun. Wizards locked them up to prevent terror. Stregobor identified Renfri as cursed, leading to her tragic life of crime. Stregobor wants Geralt to kill Renfri as the lesser evil, but Geralt refuses to choose betweenevils.
Geralt and Caldemeyn find Renfri and her gang at the Golden Court. Caldemeyn wants a tribunal, but Renfri has an order from the king. Renfri warns Geralt that Stregobor will die soon and gives him an ultimatum to kill Stregobor for her. Geralt refuses. Renfri agrees there's no lesser evil and unexpectedly stops the attack.
Over breakfast, Caldemeyn reveals that one of Renfri's men was involved in a massacre. Geralt rushes to the market where Renfri's men attack him. Renfri arrives and battles Geralt. Geralt defeats her, and she dies. Stregobor wants an autopsy, but a stranger intervenes. Caldemeyn tells Geralt to leave after the crowd turns hostile.
Geralt tells Iola about his background as a witcher. He's from Kaer Morhen and received intense training to protect innocents from monsters. He encountered a small girl in danger, but her father fled and she rejected his help. Since then, he often follows "the voice of reason" and avoids interfering in regular affairs, though he has regrets, including Yennefer.
In Cintra, Geralt is hired by Queen Calanthe to ensure the marriage of Princess Pavetta to a nobleman from Skellige. Geralt poses as Ravis of Fourhorn. Mousesack, a druid, communicates secretly with Geralt at the banquet. Queen Calanthe explains that Urcheon of Erlenwald, a humanoid monster, is seeking the hand of Pavetta due to a promise her father made. Chaos erupts, and Geralt defends Urcheon from attackers. Pavetta's hidden magic causes chaos until Geralt and Mousesack contain it. Mousesack reveals Pavetta's magical abilities, which she inherited because she's not a virgin. Urcheon reveals his human form was restored due to the curse lifting. In the queen's chambers, Urcheon, or Duny, explains that he's been seeing Pavetta for a year. Calanthe supports their love and reveals her own secret love for Eist Tuirseach. The curse is fully lifted, and Geralt claims the Law of Surprise for Pavetta's unborn child, ensuring their destinies are intertwined.
Dandelion, Geralt's poet friend, arrives at the temple. He wants to travel with Geralt for a while. Geralt laments that witchers are becoming unnecessary due to changing times. They discuss how the success of witchers leads to fewer monsters and, consequently, less work for them.
Years ago, Geralt and Dandelion encounter a village where monsters are rumored to exist. Geraltlistens to the villagers' list of mythical creatures, then leaves with Dandelion. Dandelion is puzzled, but Geralt explains these myths excuse human faults. They are later hired by villagers from Lower Posada. A creature called the "devil" lurks nearby, causing minor trouble but demanding levies. Geralt investigates, and the villagers admit the devil's more aggressive behavior. The oldest woman, Lille, is the village's hidden prophetess. Lille accepts Geralt's help. The devil, a sylvan named Torque, has been stealing grain for elves of the Old People. Geralt confronts Torque, is knocked unconscious, and awakens captured by elves. The elves discuss killing Geralt and
Dandelion, but Lille's appearance prevents it. Torque protects the humans, and the elves, led by Filavandrel, leave after Lille communicates with them. Later, Geralt reads from the villagers' book about Lille, who represents hope for the village and the elves.
Geralt and Nenneke examine plants in a cave for witcher elixirs. Nenneke asks Geralt to stay, but he's in a hurry, concerned Yennefer might find him at the temple. Nenneke says Yennefer was there two months ago and won't return soon. Geralt converts his payment into jewels and gives some to Nenneke for the temple. He guesses Yennefer seeks a cure to have children despite the impossibility for sorceresses.
Geralt and Dandelion fish and encounter a djinn. Dandelion makes wishes, angering the djinn, which attacks. Geralt saves Dandelion using a brass seal. They reach Redania, guards deny them entry due to night law. Elves and a knight are in a building nearby. Geralt learns wizards boycott Redania due to taxes. Yennefer, who lives there, defies rules and taxes, angering authorities. Geralt reluctantly seeks her help for Dandelion. They meet Yennefer, she treats Dandelion, and Geralt talks to the elves. Chireadan warns Geralt of Yennefer's manipulation and reveals his love for her. Yennefer tells Geralt her plan to trap the djinn and demands the seal. Geralt agrees but wants to save Dandelion first. Yennefer paralyzes Geralt and intends to use the djinn. Geralt awakes in prison, Chireadan explains they're arrested for Yennefer's revenge. Geralt defeats guards using a wish. Geralt and Chireadan tell their story to Mayor Neville. Dandelion arrives through a portal, under Yennefer's influence, revealing the truth. Yennefer traps the djinn, causing chaos. Geralt helps Yennefer, and they're thrown through a portal. They figure out the djinn isfulfilling Geralt's wishes. Geralt makes his last wish, causing an explosion, but both survive. Geralt and Yennefer share a heartfelt moment.