Contains spoilers for this episode and earlier episodes.
Ciri emerges from Tor Lara's portal alone in the Korath Desert. Injured and unable to open a route back, she must search for water and food while the heat drains her strength. Walking through the night brings her back to familiar ground rather than safety. A unicorn saves her from a creature, then becomes a companion she calls Little Horse. Its help gives her a way forward, but visions of Pavetta and Calanthe turn the desert into a confrontation with the family she has lost.
A hooded woman identifies herself as Falka and encourages Ciri to embrace the violence her power could unleash. When another monster wounds Little Horse, Ciri kills it and uses forbidden fire magic to heal the unicorn. The success brings frightening images of revenge and the deaths of people she loves. Falka urges her to take more power and need no one. Ciri refuses that future and relinquishes her magic. When she next becomes aware of her surroundings, men find and seize her.
Elsewhere, the destruction of Aretuza leaves Jaskier searching for his friends. Yennefer tells him that Geralt is badly hurt, and he travels to Brokilon to reach the recovering witcher. Geralt remains unable to leave his bed. Jaskier brings the report that Nilfgaard has found Ciri and is taking her to Emhyr, although the princess's own ordeal has ended in another captivity.