The Heat of the Day

The Heat of the Day is a main quest in Act IV of The Witcher, set in Murky Waters, the Fields and Lakeside. It begins in Alina’s house: she is about to marry Julian, but the two have argued, and she worries that her sister Celina is far too interested in him. Adam, a young man quietly in love with Alina and busy writing her poems, makes the village love triangle a square.

After Alvin’s troubled dreams point to the Fields, Geralt finds Alina at the raspberry patch as a noonwraith, still picking berries for Julian and unaware she is dead. Celina killed her out of jealousy, and Adam has already taken revenge on Celina. To lay Alina to rest, Geralt gathers the shards of her Nehaleni’s mirror and has it repaired, though even that does not quite set her free. How the story ends depends heavily on what Geralt did with Abigail back in Act I.

Walkthrough

Talk to Alina in her house; she asks you to check on Julian at the inn and keep an eye on Celina. Adam introduces himself as you leave.
At the inn, see Julian and Celina, then report back to Alina.
Once Alvin (after receiving the dimeritium amulet) tells you his dreams take place in the Fields, go to the raspberry patch during the day and face Alina as a noonwraith.
Tell Julian what happened; he asks you to end the wraiths quickly and painlessly.
Talk to Abigail the healer, who suggests repairing Alina’s smashed magic mirror.
Collect the five mirror shards in the Fields, each guarded by a midday bride that only appears by day (one is at the top of the ruined mill’s silo).
Have the mirror repaired by the blacksmith or the elven craftsman in Lakeside (100 orens) and give it to Alina; she is still not free.
Finish the quest by the route your Act I choice allows (see consequences), then return to Julian for the 400 orens.

Quest Consequences & Choices

You protected Abigail in Act I: she suggests poetry, so bring Dandelion to the raspberry patch at dusk. Answer “the deceased” and “a ghost” in his poem for two voices; Alina accepts her death and forgives Celina. Celina’s nightwraith can later be freed with a wreath of immortelles or killed. Julian’s reward includes more experience on this route.
You handed Abigail to the mob: the healer says only the dead can reach Alina. Find Adam (you need Julian’s key if he is under house arrest), follow him to the campfire north of the raspberry patch, where he takes his own life to join her. His body carries 850 orens.