POV Aiden After I woke up, we headed down to the dining hall I was starving.
I devoured absolutely everything within reach, rabbit stew, bread, all of it.
What was pretty funny was watching Ciri make constant trips back and forth with a plate, full or empty.
It took long minutes before I finally managed to fill my stomach.
Ciri sat down next to me, smiling, and hugged me without a word.
I stroked her hair, and looking around, I noticed two new faces two women, both genuinely stunning.
If I wasn’t mistaken, the redhead was named Triss, and the black-haired one, Yennefer?
Anyway.
Stunning, no doubt about it.
Geralt pulled me out of my thoughts.
“Good to see you this alive.” I smiled slightly.
“Same here, Geralt.
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to wake up months later.
Sorry for making you all stress so much.” Geralt shook his head, waving off the idea.
Ciri lifted her head from my arms.
“No.
You don’t have to apologize.
What matters is you’re awake!” I smiled again, but Yennefer cut our reunion short.
“That’s real touching, all this.
But Geralt, when exactly do you plan on telling them?
Triss and I waited until Aiden woke up to bring this up, but now that he’s up, you two witchers need to tell them the truth.
Now.” Triss shot Geralt a worried look, saying nothing but it was clear she agreed with Yennefer.
Vesemir looked at Geralt, who nodded.
Vesemir spoke up, calm, looking at both of us.
“Kids.
Like Yennefer just said, we need to be honest with you about what’s ahead especially concerning you two.” Ciri shot Vesemir and Geralt a worried glance.
I just nodded ever since becoming a witcher, my senses had sharpened considerably.
I hadn’t had the chance to test it in real combat yet, but I could already tell I was much stronger than before.
What struck me most, though, was my emotions.
A lot of people think mutations wipe out a witcher’s feelings but now that I was living it myself, I knew that wasn’t quite true.
You still feel anger, sadness, all of it it’s just kept in check much better.
Kind of like when people say “keep a cool head” when you’re angry: with the mutations, you’re basically stuck with that cool head permanently.
But you still feel it, underneath.
I answered calmly: “Of course.
We’re listening, Vesemir.” He nodded and began: “Let’s start with Ciri.
Ciri, at the spot where you train with Geralt, flowers of time appeared.” Ciri dug through her memories of botany, unsure.
“Flowers of time?
I don’t remember seeing those in your books, Uncle Vesemir.” Geralt shook his head.
“That’s normal, Ciri.
Those books burned a long time ago, during something that happened here, at Kaer Morhen a long story I’ll tell you another time.” Vesemir continued: “Like Geralt said, that information’s been lost from most libraries but during my own witcher training, I had access to it.
These flowers of time are extremely rare, a species thought extinct: the only way for them to appear is in the presence of Elder Blood.” Triss chimed in, her voice gentle, as if to reassure Ciri: “They’re also called, in Elder Speech, Feainnewedd.
They’re nearly essential for creating witcher mutagens.” Ciri frowned.
“Elder Blood?
So my blood could be used to create new witchers?” Vesemir nodded.
“Yes.
Your blood could indeed be used to create new witchers that’s actually one of the reasons you’re so valuable, for the future.” Geralt frowned, and so did both sorceresses.
I stroked Ciri’s hair, feeling her tense up after all, no matter how you phrase it, if her blood could be harvested to create new witchers, she’d become a target for half the world.
I said, to reassure her: “Don’t worry.
With me and Geralt around, I’m sure it’ll be fine.
And besides, isn’t that exactly why you’re training?
So you can protect yourself.” She nodded, a bit reassured, and turned to Triss.
“Can you tell me about the Elder Blood?” Triss nodded with a gentle smile.
“Elder Blood is a bloodline normally considered extinct Lara Dorren’s bloodline.
A traitor, to some elves.
A hero, to others.” Yennefer cut Triss off, sarcastic: “Tell her it’s really just a bunch of stubborn elves who think failing her rebellion makes her a traitor.
I’ll bet you anything that if she’d succeeded, those same elves would call her a hero today.” Triss sighed, then continued simply: “Before Yen cuts me off again: Elder Blood carries an extraordinary quality of magic, including a power tied to time and space.
They call Lara Dorren ‘the Lady of Time and Space.'” Maybe to reassure Ciri further, Triss added, softer: “Don’t worry even carrying Elder Blood doesn’t necessarily mean you can manipulate time and space.
For a very long time, certain mages have tried to manipulate Lara Dorren’s heirs to recover that specific power.
It’s never worked.
So don’t worry, okay?” Ciri nodded and kept questioning Triss about Lara Dorren’s history.
Meanwhile, I found myself thinking on my own after all, the day I’d nearly taken an arrow to the head, I really had teleported, hadn’t I?
I cut into their conversation: “How does teleportation actually work?” Triss, surprised, thought for a moment.
“Honestly?
I don’t really know.
What we do know is that it’s instantaneous for that bloodline a natural gift for them.
Why the question?” I shook my head.
“No, just curious.” I hesitated to say more.
Maybe just a coincidence, but I filed it away in the back of my mind.
Maybe…
Geralt spoke up, addressing Ciri: “Like Triss said, you’ll need to train to master this power, even without inheriting the time-and-space gift itself.
Lara Dorren’s bloodline stays extremely powerful in magic and extremely sought after because of it.” Ciri nodded and turned to Triss, as if to say “she’s the one training me,” when a small laugh escaped Yennefer.
“Sorry, sweetheart, but I’m the one training you Geralt asked me to.
Don’t worry, I don’t bite.
Well, not always.
Mostly just the ones who don’t get it.” Ciri frowned, frustrated.
“Great.
I get the raven lady as my trainer.” Yennefer shrugged, teasing, staring her dead in the eye.
“And I never asked to babysit some kid.
But Geralt begged, and I’ve got a big heart, believe it or not.” While the two of them kept trading barbs, I smiled I could tell that, deep down, Ciri actually enjoyed these exchanges with Yen.
Vesemir turned to me.
“As for you, Aiden you’re a special case.
Practically an anomaly, in this world.
Both you and Ciri will be targets, whether to be studied, or worse.” I shook my head, calm.
“I know.
I already told you about the ice humanoid that interrupted me, back there.
Don’t worry, Vesemir I know it, or rather, I feel it.
Even as a witcher now, I’ll keep protecting Ciri, and I’ll keep protecting myself.
Isn’t that the whole point of all this training?” Vesemir nodded, smiling.
Geralt smiled too.
“You can count on me too, and on the rest of the witchers.
We might not be as extraordinary as you two, but you’re part of the family.
We’ll defend you.” I nodded, smiling, and looked at Ciri, who was still listening to Yennefer’s jabs with delight.
She said, cheerful: “That’s so true, Uncle Vesemir!
At least, the day you can’t walk anymore, I, Cirilla, will help old Vesemir get around!” Vesemir let out a small laugh.
“You little devil.
I’m not that old.” Triss looked at me, smiling.
“Like with Ciri, I’ll be the one training you in magic.
I mostly specialize in fire magic, so I can teach you to control your own element.” I nodded.
“So I guess my main element’s ice?” Yennefer shook her head, conjuring a bubble of water in her hand.
“No, actually.
You mostly control liquid your affinity for water is extremely high.
But yeah, you do also have a strong affinity for a sub-category of water magic: ice.” I frowned, curious.
“Sub-category?” Triss nodded, smiling.
“Every kind of magic breaks down into four main elements: fire, water, earth, and air.
Across those four elements, there are tons of sub-categories and combinations earth and fire make magma, or shadow; air and fire make light.
Those are just a few examples out of countless possibilities.” I nodded, understanding better now, a little eager to start.
“When do we start?” Geralt put a hand on my shoulder.
“Not today.
Today’s rest, for you.
We’ll ease back into it slowly, get you readjusted to your own body don’t forget, everything about you has changed.” I nodded.
Just as I was about to add something, Ciri pulled me up by the hand.
“Come on, Aidy!
I’ve got at least one new move to show you!” I sighed, smiling, letting her drag me outside.
— POV Geralt I smiled slightly watching Aiden let himself get dragged along without a fight.
Vesemir got up too.
“I’ll go keep an eye on them, just in case.” He left.
Yennefer spoke up, serious: “Why haven’t you told them about Nilfgaard?” I sighed.
Triss added, worried: “Yen’s right, Geralt.
You need to tell them the emperor’s put a bounty on Ciri’s head alive.
Every northern king, every mercenary, and Nilfgaard itself want her, because of her title: whoever marries her gets a legitimate claim to Cintra.” I glanced toward the entrance.
“I’ll tell them when the time’s right.
For now, we keep training them.” Yennefer frowned.
“You can’t train them forever, Geralt.
Wrapping them in cotton wool isn’t the answer.
They need to see the world as it actually is.
I’ve told you already: we could send Ciri to Aretuza to deepen her training…” I cut her off, frowning.
“I’m not sending Ciri to that place where you mages plot the fate of this world like it’s a chessboard.” Yennefer, just as sharp: “Do I need to remind you we’re mages too, Geralt?
Or do you see me and Triss as nothing but manipulators?” I was about to answer, but Triss cut in, her voice cold: “Enough, both of you!” She continued, softer: “For now, we do what Geralt said we focus on training them.
But Yen’s not wrong, Geralt: Ciri’s magic is extremely unstable, and for all our talent, we don’t necessarily have the knowledge to help her properly.” I looked at Triss.
“Fine.
But for now, we focus on training we’ll deal with the rest later, and only if Ciri decides that for herself.” Yen nodded, still a little stung I’d probably hurt her more than I meant to.
Triss took my hand.
“We’ll do it this way for now.
So make up, you two, all right?” — POV Vilgefortz I studied the emperor’s library with curiosity, waiting for him to finish his talks with the envoys from the northern kingdoms.
Mousesack had survived.
I’d gone back to the site and found traces of teleportation magic heading toward Skellige.
I could have hunted him down for information, but something else held my attention right now something far more important.
My research was finally nearing completion: the emperor’s daughter, alias Cirilla, carries Elder Blood, and is one of the rare cases where the bloodline has stayed this pure.
With a bit more finesse in my methods, my instruments would let me… The emperor’s voice cut into my thoughts.
“Vilgefortz.
How’s the research on my daughter progressing?” I smiled easily smiling like an actor had become second nature around him.
I’ve been using you from the start, ever since I helped you seize the throne.
But you’re far too proud to notice.
“From what we know, she escaped with her knight, some Aiden of Cintra.” The emperor nodded.
“Keep sending your spies after her.
I want her alive.
She needs to come back to consolidate my power.” I bowed, smiling inwardly.
Does he really think I care about that?
About his petty little power?
No I need Ciri for something far greater.
I need to understand this world at its depths.
The Conjunction of the Spheres didn’t happen by accident I finally have a few faint clues, and everything points to the fact that… The emperor interrupted my thoughts again.
“And the mages?” I shrugged.
“Unfortunately, most remain loyal to the northern kingdoms.
Our faction stays a small minority.” The emperor thought in silence for a long moment.
“Let’s see.
Will they stay neutral, during the attack?” I smiled, amused I know exactly how mages behave.
“You mean Sodden Hill?
I figured you’d take your time.
After all, Queen Calanthe hurt you pretty badly, blowing herself up along with her capital, didn’t she?” The emperor’s face went cold.
“No need to remind me, Vilgefortz.
The secondary army, led by Marshal Menno Coehoorn, is already marching toward it.
It needs to cross the Yaruga to conquer the North.
Those northern king fools still think they’re safe, convinced Cintra was the only way in.” He looked at me.
“Keep sending your spies after my daughter, and keep working to bring the mages to our side.
If they break their neutrality mid-battle, we’ll deal with it.
You’re dismissed.” I bowed and left his study.
Walking down the halls, I smiled.
I’m curious myself whether the mages will actually resist it’d be a shame if they didn’t, I could use a few test subjects for my next experiments.
Maybe I should quietly stroke a few egos, push some of the more reluctant ones toward breaking their neutrality.
This battle needs to happen.
It serves my plans.