Witcher: The Half Elf

After a few moments of consideration, Wayne agreed to the queen's condition.

An owner of the Elder Blood lineage practically handed to him without any effort—illegitimate child or not, boy or girl, it didn't matter. This was an invaluable resource. Whether as a potential witcher apprentice, a useful ally, or even, in darker circumstances, as a subject of research, the value of this ancient bloodline was immeasurable.

Only mortals like the Cintran royal family, bound by their ignorance, would regard such a bloodline as a curse and a source of trouble.

Wayne could almost picture the reaction of Francesca Findabair, the enchanting elven sorceress, or even the esteemed elven sage Avallac'h, upon hearing that his Order of Witchers had casually "acquired" a bearer of Elder Blood. Their envy would be palpable.

After all, in the original tale, the Wild Hunt had pursued Ciri tirelessly across countless worlds for over a decade, only to be thwarted in the end. All of it for the Elder Blood, the key to immense magical power.

And Vilgefortz—what lengths he went to in the original saga! Researching ancient rituals, orchestrating intricate schemes, even manipulating Emhyr var Emreis onto the Nilfgaardian throne, all in the pursuit of the Elder Blood. Yet, his journey ended with Geralt's sword at his throat.

Now, fate had turned the tables. Wayne hadn't schemed, nor had he taken extraordinary risks. Yet here it was—an unimaginable treasure falling into his lap.

Was this the influence of his fabled luck?

Though this thought amused him, Wayne kept his expression neutral. He didn't want to betray his interest in the Elder Blood to those around him.

"I accept your terms, Your Majesty," Wayne finally said, his tone measured. "However, I do have a small favor to ask of His Majesty King Eist or perhaps Archdruid Mousesack."

King Eist Tuirseach, usually reserved, raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. He couldn't fathom what help Wayne might need from him.

Still, true to his Skellige nature, Eist was a man of honor and gratitude. After a quick glance at Mousesack, he nodded firmly.

"Say the word, Wayne. You've saved Pavetta and spared me the grief of losing my family. From this day forward, you are a friend to the King of Cintra. Whatever you need, I will assist you without hesitation," Eist said, his voice resonating with sincerity.

Wayne appreciated the forthright nature of Skellige men. Unlike the duplicitous nature of many nobles, they valued honesty and loyalty above all else.

Wayne smiled, his tone light as he replied, "It's nothing too troublesome, Your Majesty."

Pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts, he continued, "As you may know, I've established a new Order of Witchers to rebuild what was lost. My aim is to change the dire lives of witchers, offering them a future worth fighting for."

"Sadly, the schools of the witcher orders have faded, their strength and unity dissipated. This weighs heavily on me," he said, his tone turning somber. "I've learned that there are witchers of the Bear School residing in the Skellige Isles, though they've had little interaction with the other schools on the Continent."

"This could be an opportunity for us to meet and understand one another. As a prominent figure in the Isles, I was hoping Your Majesty and Archdruid Mousesack might facilitate an introduction."

King Eist's hearty laughter filled the room as he raised his goblet, drinking deeply before slamming it down on the table. "A trivial matter, Wayne! You make it sound so grand. Consider it done. I'll handle the arrangements once this banquet concludes."

The mention of the Bear School brought a glint of nostalgia to Eist's eyes as he reminisced.

"You know," he said, leaning forward slightly, "I encountered several Bear School witchers in my youth. One of them, Ned, left an indelible impression. He was like a mountain of muscle—a man built like a bear, fitting for his school. Even among the warriors of Skellige, few could rival his strength."

Unexpectedly, King Eist also had connections with the Bear School witchers, which came as a pleasant surprise to Wayne.

Having successfully completed another one of his objectives, Wayne was in high spirits. He retrieved an exquisite elven wine from his space bracelet—imported from another world—and shared it with those present. The wine earned sincere praise from everyone, providing a fitting conclusion to the banquet.

After the banquet, Wayne returned to the luxurious hotel and gathered his companions. He informed Geralt and the others that their mission was essentially complete.

For the next month, Princess Pavetta would remain secluded, under the guise of recovering from an illness, with strict orders not to meet anyone.

Geralt and Yennefer were assigned to stay in Cintra. Their duties included protecting the royal family from potential threats and acting as practical combat mentors for Alex and Aragorn. Their task was to help clean up the surrounding monster infestations while providing the young apprentices with vital hands-on experience.

Neither Geralt nor Yennefer raised objections to this arrangement. Although Geralt was eager to return to Kaer Morhen to resume his quiet life, he found himself overruled by Yennefer. The raven-haired sorceress had other plans—she had been observing Ciri, the child of destiny, with great interest.

Yennefer, having received an oracle from the Lady of the Lake, knew Ciri was the heir she had long hoped for—a child whose fate intertwined with her own. Her deep care for Ciri largely explained her attentiveness to Cintra's affairs.

Meanwhile, Xianna, Wayne's capable and resourceful assistant, would also remain in Cintra. Her role was to manage the burgeoning operations of the Wayne Chamber of Commerce.

The Kingdom of Cintra and the Skellige Isles—home to the most formidable seafarers in the Northern Kingdoms—were both crucial to the Chamber's long-term strategy. In a world where maritime fleets were still rudimentary and heavily reliant on courage and navigational skill, the warriors of Skellige were unmatched.

Wayne envisioned expanding maritime trade and possibly initiating an age of exploration. Such an achievement would not only transform commerce but also cement the Wayne Chamber of Commerce as a dominant force in the Northern Realms.

With everyone's tasks clearly assigned, Wayne departed for Aretuza, the prestigious sorceress academy on Thanedd Island, fulfilling a promise he had made to the witch Raani.

Aretuza stood as majestic and enigmatic as ever. Young and beautiful sorceress apprentices moved briskly through its halls, while the castle's immense magical barrier exuded an air of mystery and wisdom.

During his visit, Wayne reunited with Triss Merigold, the red-haired sorceress who served as the Witcher Order's chief mage. Despite only being apart for a little over two weeks, Triss had been industrious during her time at the academy. She spent her days buried in the library, devouring tomes of magical knowledge with tireless dedication.

When Triss learned that Wayne had traveled to the academy specifically to see her, she was deeply touched. She eagerly set aside her studies and spent an entire day and night with him in her private quarters. Their extended absence did not go unnoticed, prompting playful teasing from Triss's fellow sorceresses.

The current headmistress, Margarita Laux-Antille, was as charming and effervescent as ever. With her impeccable figure and confident demeanor, she regarded Wayne with a gaze that seemed to hold hidden intent, as though she wished to draw him into a deeper, more intimate connection. However, with Triss by his side, Wayne maintained an air of restraint. He acted the part of a devoted and disciplined man, avoiding any improper behavior and respecting the boundaries of his relationship.

During his two-day stay at Aretuza, Wayne made a formal request to Margarita. First, he paid a hefty sum of two hundred thousand orens to purchase copies of all publicly available texts from the academy's collection. Then, leveraging his amicable rapport with the headmistress, he secured permission to access restricted books within the library—texts containing knowledge not deemed core secrets. Quietly and methodically, Wayne ensured these texts were duplicated and transferred to Kaer Morhen's expanding library.

Life at the academy was tranquil, free of disturbances. Wayne spent his days engrossed in the library's vast archives and his evenings preparing exquisite meals for Margarita and Triss. The headmistress, captivated by his culinary prowess, was unabashed in her enthusiasm for his food. Each interaction further revealed her admiration—not only for his cooking but for his imposing presence.

Triss, for her part, seemed unbothered by Margarita's effusive appreciation. Wayne, ever pragmatic, saw no harm in maintaining cordial relations with the influential headmistress. Margarita, after all, was not just an alluring personality but also a competent and resourceful sorceress—a valuable ally for the Witcher Order.

Over the course of two weeks, Wayne acquired an impressive collection of magical texts and materials. Meanwhile, Triss made significant strides in her research, gaining deeper insights into improving the mutation experiments for aspiring witchers. Her work sparked new ideas that promised to advance the order's techniques.

Just as their stay at Aretuza was nearing its end, Wayne received an unexpected invitation from the former headmistress of Aretuza and a highly respected member of the Sorcerers' Supreme Council, wished to meet him.