[ It gives her a minute to try to gather her thoughts (again). Figure out where to start. Ciri sits across from him, staring down at her hands settled on her knees. ]

You've met Viktor. [ She'll start at the beginning. ] He's been expressing interest in seeing the desert for himself, but he's not... well equipped to do so alone. I agreed to escort him. Just a half-day's excursion to that striped rock formation close to the city.

We got unlucky. There was a wildcat, and Viktor's horse spooked and threw him. I tried to help, but--

[ Laid out like this, it all sounds so stupid. She's gotten too reliant on being able to use her abilities. She should have known better. ]

I used my powers. I only meant to portal him to safety. [ It doesn't need to be said Viktor's not much of a fighter, physically speaking. It's not his fault. Ciri was fully expecting to fend off anything as needed, and it never should have been a problem.

Finally, she looks up, worry furrowing her brow. ]

Geralt. We ended up at the crater. Surrounding the monolith. The Singularity.