Witcher: The Half Elf

Because of Queen Calanthe's request, Wayne and his companions did not immediately leave the Kingdom of Cintra after rescuing Princess Pavetta.

Following her master's order, Syanna did not directly approach Queen Calanthe regarding the matter. Things that are too easily obtained are often undervalued, and the clever girl believed that the million gold coins should not be presented outright.

"Unsolicited generosity is either a ploy or a prelude to exploitation," she reasoned.

Giving such a significant amount without strategic considerations would not only fail to garner the desired attention but might even raise suspicions about the Chamber of Commerce's motives.

The Wayne Chamber of Commerce did not yet have a deep foothold in Cintra or Skellige, and Syanna saw this as a golden opportunity. By leveraging the enormous bounty as a bargaining chip, she could potentially negotiate alliances with Queen Calanthe and influential Skellige leaders. This would solidify the Chamber's influence in the region and pave the way for smoother future expansions.

"If we gain the support of the royal family, subsequent developments will face far fewer obstacles," Syanna mused.

Of course, this was merely her perspective. When she shared her thoughts with Wayne, he neither agreed nor objected, simply telling her to proceed as she deemed appropriate. Wayne had little interest in micromanaging the Chamber's affairs, preferring to leave such matters in Syanna's capable hands.

The power of wealth, Wayne knew, was a double-edged sword. Properly wielded, it could accomplish extraordinary feats with ease. Mismanaged, however, it could arouse greed and hostility, leading to disastrous consequences. Perhaps this delicate balance was why the goddess of wealth, known to roam many worlds, wielded her influence so effectively.

In the days that followed, Wayne visited young Ciri once more, bringing with him a bag of candies and snacks he had crafted himself. Thanks to his exceptional culinary skills and systematic expertise, these treats were undoubtedly among the finest in the world, capable of delighting any child.

Ciri's joy, however, was short-lived. She gratefully thanked Wayne, carefully storing the candies and snacks with great care. "I'll save these for my mother," she said earnestly. "She'll love them."

The little girl's mature sentiment touched Wayne. Through their conversation, he learned that Princess Pavetta remained unconscious even after several days. For reasons unknown, the child in her womb had not been terminated but was instead left to continue growing.

Ciri's concern for her mother was palpable. Having lost her father at a young age and living under the strict rule of her grandmother, Queen Calanthe, her gentle mother was her only source of comfort and stability.

Though just a child, Ciri seemed to sense the gravity of her mother's condition, her demeanor tinged with a sadness that weighed heavily on her young shoulders.

There was little Wayne could do to ease her pain. While taking Princess Pavetta to the Witcher Order for treatment under the care of their sorcerers might yield better results, it was unlikely Queen Calanthe would ever agree to such a plan. Her pride and mistrust of witchers would undoubtedly stand in the way.

Another day passed, and just as Wayne expected Queen Calanthe to make her decision, Syanna approached him with unexpected news—news that, while surprising, seemed to fit the larger picture.

Within the past week, Count Karn of Kaedwen had suffered a decisive defeat at the hands of King Demavend of Aedirn. After years of careful planning, Demavend's forces had occupied the city under Karn's rule, capturing the young count and several nobles loyal to him.

The southern territories of Kaedwen were now in turmoil. With Aedirn occupying a significant portion of the region, an influx of Aedirnian settlers was reshaping the area. Though pacifying the territories and winning over the remaining nobles would take time, it seemed likely that Demavend would solidify his hold if no external powers intervened.

Wayne listened carefully, his mind piecing together the implications. The absence of Francesca Findabair's involvement suggested that she had chosen not to interfere, allowing Demavend to secure his victory. If Francesca had intervened with her magical prowess, even Demavend's well-prepared army would have struggled to capture a fortified city within a week.

This news was fresh, likely unknown to most northern rulers. In the Middle Ages, communication was slow, often taking weeks or months to reach distant kingdoms. Without specialized networks or magical assistance, news of this defeat might take half a year to fully circulate throughout the north.

However, this development had no real impact on the witchers, and Wayne stopped paying attention shortly after hearing it.

For the current Witcher Order, resources, talent, and security were no longer pressing concerns. Many of the challenges that had once plagued them had disappeared, leaving only one essential ingredient missing—time.

As the next generation of witchers matured and the research of the order's sorcerers advanced, the Witcher Order's strength would inevitably grow. Soon enough, it would reclaim or even surpass the glory of its former days.

Wayne's visit to Cintra was not solely about assisting with the royal family's troubles. In addition to planning a visit to Aretuza Academy, he had a vital mission: to leverage King Eist's connections to journey to the Skellige Isles. There, he hoped to meet with the Bear School witchers who had long operated in the archipelago. His goal was twofold—explore the possibility of incorporating them into the Witcher Order and recover any materials they had taken from Kaer Morhen in the past.

Of course, this was not an urgent task. Even if the initial contact did not yield the desired outcome, there would be other opportunities. Once the Wayne Chamber of Commerce expanded its operations to the Skellige Isles and established robust trade routes, the chances of fruitful negotiations with the Bear School witchers would increase substantially.

Another day passed.

That afternoon, as Wayne engaged in an intriguing Gwent duel with some of the city's finest players, he received an unexpected invitation. Queen Calanthe had requested his presence at a private dinner within the palace.

Wayne accepted the invitation without hesitation. Though he had grown a little impatient after waiting several days for her decision, he understood the internal conflict of a mother and a queen. Her hesitation was not something he took personally.

The dinner took place not in one of the palace's grand halls but in a private chamber. The only attendees were Queen Calanthe, King Eist, and Archdruid Mousesack. Their expressions were heavy, their faces marked by worry, and the usual courtly politeness was notably absent. After a few sips of wine, they quickly moved on to the matter at hand.

Queen Calanthe drained her glass of red wine, exhaling deeply before speaking in a low, resolute tone:

"After Pavetta's child is born, whether it is a boy or a girl, I intend to hand them over to your Witcher Order."

"From that moment on, this child will have no claim to the throne of Cintra, no royal inheritance, and their identity as an illegitimate child will not be recognized."

"In return, the royal family of Cintra will owe your Order a favor. Should the Witcher Order require assistance in the future, we will provide it without hesitation."

"What do you think of this proposal, Wayne?"

Wayne was taken aback by the queen's unexpected offer. He had not anticipated such a drastic decision. After a brief moment of thought, he couldn't help but ask:

"Your Majesty, if you are so adamant about distancing yourself from this child, why not simply terminate the pregnancy? Why insist on allowing the child to be born?"

Queen Calanthe's expression darkened at Wayne's blunt question, but before she could respond, Archdruid Mousesack stroked his beard thoughtfully and offered an explanation:

"You see, Wayne," he began, his voice steady and solemn. "After careful study conducted by myself and another senior mage, we discovered that the vile sorcerer Vilgefortz performed an ancient and forbidden bloodline deprivation ritual."

"The child growing within Pavetta is not only drawing sustenance from her body but is also siphoning her ancient blood—an act both ruthless and irreversible."

Mousesack paused, his brow furrowed in visible frustration before continuing. "What makes matters worse is that the child is intricately bound to Pavetta's life force. Should the child be aborted, Pavetta will inevitably perish along with it."

"So, we are left with no other choice. To save Pavetta's life, we must allow her to carry the child to term," he said, his tone heavy with resignation. "Once the child is born, Pavetta will survive, though her body will remain frail. Without the ancient blood coursing through her veins, she will no longer be a target for power-hungry sorcerers or warlocks. She can then live on, reclaiming her role as Cintra's rightful heir."

The druid leaned back slightly, casting a glance at the queen before continuing. "We also intend to use magic to seal her memories of this ordeal. Pavetta will forget the horrors she endured, enabling her to move forward unburdened."

He sighed deeply. "This is not a perfect solution, but after much deliberation, we concluded it is the most appropriate course of action. If the Witcher Order refuses to take in this child, he will be sent to a more secluded place, away from prying eyes."

After a moment's hesitation, he added, "At first, I considered the Bear School witchers of the Skellige Isles. However, their physical degeneration and current state of decline made it clear that the child would not thrive there."

Wayne raised an eyebrow at Mousesack's words but refrained from responding immediately, letting the gravity of the situation settle in. Instead, he fell into silent contemplation.

Throughout the meal, Wayne had noticed a marked shift in Queen Calanthe's attitude toward him. No longer did she regard him with the dismissive disdain she had once shown. Instead, there was a measure of respect in her demeanor—perhaps even deference.

It wasn't difficult to deduce the reasons for this change. Likely, the Wayne Chamber of Commerce, under Sianna's management, had begun engaging with the Cintran royal family. Through these dealings, Queen Calanthe must have come to recognize the depth of Wayne's influence and the resources at his disposal.

This change in attitude undoubtedly played a role in today's deliberations. The queen's decision was not made solely out of desperation but was also influenced by her recognition of the potential alliance she could secure through Wayne.

Now, the question loomed: Should the Witcher Order accept this child?