WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for The Witcher Season 2, now available for streaming on Netflix.

The Witcher Season 2 provided plenty of answers for the questions the show set up in Season 1. But this grand story about a witcher, a lost Cintran princess and powerful sorceress caught in the machinations of the Continent's warring rulers is nowhere near complete. The climactic Season 2 finale laid the foundations for a bombastic Season 3, which will largely adapt Andrzej Sapkowski's Time of Contempt.

That being said, there are many who would believe that Season 2's adaptation of The Witcher has deviated substantially from the novels in parts, which means fans of Andrzej Sapkowski's books probably won't be able to guess their way through Season 3 -- not entirely, at least. It's best to take a closer look at the Season 2 finale and how it leaves the Continent ready for some of the major twists and turns Time of Contempt has in store and what paths the Netflix series might take in order to get there.

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Voleth Meir Sets Up the Wraiths of Mörhogg

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The mysterious demon Voleth Meir left behind after the Conjunction of the Spheres returned to her sphere and to the Wild Hunt in the finale. Her exit officially introduced the Wraiths of Mörhogg, which were mentioned numerous times throughout the season. While the infamous riders don't appear in Time of Contempt outside of a brief appearance, the Season 2 finale of The Witcher teases a much larger role for them to come.

Of course, just as Season 2 did, it's possible that The Witcher Season 3 will draw from further along in Sapkowski's saga than Time of Contempt -- but this is speculative. What's vastly more certain is that Voleth Meir will return, likely alongside the Wild Hunt in the upcoming prequel series, The Witcher: Blood Origin.

Emperor Emhyr Could Be a Major Villain in Season 3 of The Witcher

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One of the biggest changes from the novels concerns a huge plot twist that occurs toward the end of Sapkowski's novel saga: the truth concerning Emperor Emhyr var Emreis and his relationship to Ciri in the Season 2 finale. It'll make his actions and his intentions that much more monstrous, should the series follow the novels closely. He needs Ciri to secure Cintra and he will go to any lengths to do it.

His reveal provides audiences with a hint at the depths he will go to to secure power and sets him up as a far greater villain in Season 3, which certain events may benefit from. It also suggests that audiences might get to see the hands and all the puppets on the Continent far earlier than novel fans did. Season 3, may just provide answers as to how Emhyr -- or Duny -- survived the sinking ship that claimed Ciri's mother.

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The Hunt for Ciri Puts Her in Grave Danger in Season 3

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In a meeting resembling the one that took place at Hagge Castle -- which did take place in Blood of Elves -- the rulers of the Northern Kingdoms opted to put out a bounty on Ciri and remove her from the equation, given what she means for Nilfgaard and where her capture would land Cintra.

The Witcher Season 3 will most certainly find Ciri in greater danger, now that the Northern Kingdoms themselves are hunting her. While she will have Yennefer -- who now has her magical abilities back -- to protect her, it likely won't be enough and she'll find herself having only herself to rely on, just as she does in Time of Contempt.

Rience and Lydia Are Working for a Shadowy Figure

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Among those hunting Ciri is Rience and the now disfigured Lydia, both of whom are chasing the Cintran princess' Elder Blood and power for an unknown purpose and for an unknown master. The mysterious figure is revealed later on in the novels and, given what the series just did for Emhyr, it's possible this shadowy figure will come into the light soon -- maybe in Season 3.

If the series does adhere to Time of Contempt, then audiences should remember what Stregobor said: no one is what they seem. What fans can rely on is the fact that, like its novel counterpart, this mystery force is out for power -- the kind of power that Ciri has. That means that this is far from the last time viewers will see Rience and Lydia.

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Ithlinne's Prophecy Is Guiding Ciri's Destiny

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For the entirety of Season 2, Francesca Findabair -- and Filavandrel to an extent -- lead the Scoia'tael elves, on the basis that the Elven sorceress is under the guidance of Ithlinne through her visions. This is the same Ithlinne whose prophecy is guiding Ciri's destiny.

In the Season 2 finale, Istredd reveals to the Scoia'tael that Ciri is a Child of Elder Blood. In their eyes, that makes her their prophesized savior, which means she is in dire need of protection from the forces that hunt her. This puts the Scoia'tael in direct conflict with the Northern Kingdoms, more so than before. Audiences are likely to see that conflict come to a head in Season 3.

Philippa Eilhart and Sigismund Dijkstra Will Have Ties to Ciri and Jaskier

Philippa Eilhart from The Witcher Season 2 on Netflix

After introducing Dijkstra and a mysterious owl, The Witcher Season 2 reveals that the Redanian spy's accomplice is not actually a bird of prey, but another sorceress, Philippa Eilhart, known in the novels as one of only a few polymorphs. More importantly, she and Dijkstra are eventually shown to be behind the Thanedd coup in Time of Contempt.

The Season 2 finale suggests that Ciri and Jaskier will be more closely tied to the event if or when it occurs in Season 3, since Dijkstra sends his accomplice to take the bard. There are few hints in Season 2 to suggest what the pair have in store for Geralt's faithful friend.

Ciri Will Train With Yennefer to Learn Magic

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Time of Contempt sees Ciri head off with Yennefer of Vengerberg to begin training in the use of magic. Season 2 of The Witcher touched on their budding relationship already by having Yen teach the Cintran princess a few spells. Season 3 may follow the novels and see Yennefer take Ciri to Aretuza for training.

Sapkowski's novel is massive and it's likely that the show will adhere to Ciri's story by introducing at least a few complications. Her time learning magic won't be anywhere near as simple as her time learning how to fight with a sword at Kaer Morhen.

See all of these Season 3 setups and more in Season 2 of The Witcher. Available for streaming on Netflix.

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