"Is this the world you live in, teacher?"
After passing through a towering ten-meter-high portal, Aragorn emerged from Middle-earth into the Witcher world. Leading a group of children, a wooden sword slung across his back, the young boy craned his neck, looking around curiously. As he observed the unfamiliar surroundings, his curiosity got the better of him, and he was the first to ask the burning question.
At just ten years old, Aragorn was at the age when curiosity ran wild, and the unfamiliar world intrigued him deeply.
"There are so many rocks here, but they don't look much different from the ones in our world!" he exclaimed. His eyes widened in realization. "I didn't expect you to be from another world, Master. No wonder you can do those incredible things!"
The portal from Middle-earth had opened in the forest just outside Maribor, the same stone grove where Wayne and Triss had previously hunted a dangerous Leshen. Now back in his own world, Wayne took in his surroundings, breathing deeply in the air laced with chaotic magic. A comfortable smile spread across his face.
He reached out, ruffling Aragorn's hair affectionately. "Yes, Aragorn, this is my world," Wayne said with a fond smile.
"This world is not as beautiful as Middle-earth. It's a place filled with war, deceit, and cruelty—a dangerous world." He paused, then added with a grin, "But it's a perfect place to train your swordsmanship."
Aragorn tilted his head in confusion for a moment, but Wayne's words stirred excitement in him. If this world could make him stronger, he was eager to explore it.
Meanwhile, Robin, the Deathclaw, emerged from the shrinking portal. Now towering at ten meters tall, the creature stretched as it crossed into the Witcher world. Under Wayne's guidance, the portal slowly shimmered and vanished into the ether.
Aside from Aragorn and the twenty children, Wayne had also transported 100 elven warhorses and several goods, including his collection of pipeweed. Initially, he had intended to bring White Fang, his direwolf companion, back to the Witcher world. However, the wolf had found a new life in the woods behind Wayne Manor, leading a pack of forest wolves and siring a new generation of pups.
The direwolf, larger and stronger than any ordinary forest wolf and comparable in size to a warg, had become the undisputed ruler of the forest. Rather than disrupt White Fang's new life, Wayne entrusted the wolf with the guardianship of Wayne Manor, leaving it to watch over the property alongside his old butler, Old Ford.
With the portal closed, Wayne surveyed the forest, noting that it was midday. After a moment of thought, he pulled a metal device inlaid with various gemstones from his space bracelet. It was a communication device—a gift from Triss, modeled after a magical artifact of Francesca's design, meant to maintain contact across vast distances.
Now that Wayne had shared the secret of his travels between worlds with Triss, there was little left to conceal between them.
Infusing the device with chaotic magic, Wayne waited until the embedded gems shimmered to life. After a brief moment, a familiar, teasing voice came through the connection.
"Wayne, is that you?" Triss's voice was playful and affectionate. "You've been gone for nearly two months without a word. Have you been off in another world again?"
Hearing her warm, teasing tone, Wayne smiled softly. Without hesitation, he answered, "Yes, Triss, I've just returned. Do you have time now?"
"If you do, meet me at my current location, just outside Maribor. I've got a lot to share with you, and I want you to be the first to hear the good news."
Triss's delighted laugh echoed through the communicator. "Of course. Head to an open spot and wait for me. I'll be right there," she promised, her voice brimming with affection.
A few minutes later, in a clearing within the Stone Forest, accompanied by the strange hum and tremor of chaotic magic, a bang echoed through the area. Under the curious gaze of the children, a small portal began to materialize, expanding rapidly until it fully formed beside Wayne.
While Aragorn directed the children—most of them close to his age—to maintain order, he watched with wide eyes, captivated by the magic unfolding before him.
Ten seconds later, the portal stabilized. From within, a red-haired beauty in a flowing purple gown stepped out gracefully.
The moment her eyes landed on Wayne standing beside the portal, she smiled brightly. Without a word, she dashed toward him, throwing her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his in a passionate kiss.
The kiss lingered for several minutes, filling the air with warmth. Wayne gently patted her back, breaking the moment with a soft chuckle. Then, with a playful glint in his eye, he gestured toward the group of children watching them intently.
Noticing their curious stares, the sorceress's face flushed a delicate pink. She gave Wayne a playful shove, murmuring, "You could've warned me," before stepping back, regaining her composure.
As her gaze wandered, Triss let out a soft gasp of surprise—not only because of the twenty-some children and the majestic 100 warhorses but also due to the towering beast nearby.
Standing at an imposing ten meters tall, with bronze scales glistening under the sunlight, Robin, the Deathclaw, exuded the aura of an ancient and terrifying creature. Triss's eyes narrowed as she observed it. As an experienced sorceress, she could sense the sheer destructive power emanating from the beast's massive form.
Wayne grinned at her reaction. He gave a sharp whistle, and Robin, who had been surveying the unfamiliar surroundings, immediately turned toward his master. With a low, rumbling sound, the Deathclaw wagged its tail like an overgrown pet and knelt in front of Triss, lowering its head in a show of respect and obedience.
Triss stared in disbelief, her mouth slightly agape. She turned toward Wayne, incredulous. "What kind of beast is this? Or is it some new monster?" she asked, curiosity clear in her voice. "I've never seen anything like it in any records. Is this creature from another world?"
Wayne chuckled, brushing a stray lock of hair from Triss's face. "Exactly," he replied with a fond smile.
He continued, "When we fought the Leshen in this very forest two years ago, I discovered a portal linking this place to another world. Time flows differently there—five times faster than it does here. While only two years passed for us, ten years went by in that world."
Gesturing toward the children and the supplies, Wayne added, "These are all from my time in that world. The children are war orphans, and I decided to adopt them. They'll be trained to become members of the Witcher Order. Even if they don't pass the Trials, we can still shape them into valuable allies and skilled individuals."
Triss's emerald eyes sparkled with fascination as she absorbed this revelation. The warhorses alone were worth a fortune, and the supplies brought from another world were treasures beyond measure. Then there was Robin—an awe-inspiring creature capable of immense power.
As a sorceress, Triss valued strength, but like many in her field, she was also driven by an insatiable curiosity. The prospect of exploring other worlds filled her with excitement, and she smiled, realizing that Wayne's adventure had not only enriched him but promised new knowledge and possibilities for both of them.
Wayne gently tilted Triss's chin, drawing her curious gaze toward him. Then, with a teasing grin, he kissed her and murmured, "Don't worry. Let's get these things back to Kaer Morhen first. I have an even bigger surprise waiting for you—one that will make you jump with joy."
Though Triss was eager and brimming with curiosity, she had a softer, more empathetic nature compared to other sorceresses, and she often deferred to Wayne's stronger personality.
Using teleportation magic proved convenient but taxing. Even for a talented sorceress like Triss, transporting the large load Wayne had brought from Middle-earth took considerable effort. They worked tirelessly until dusk, ensuring everything reached Kaer Morhen safely.
Finally, Triss wiped the sweat from her brow and cast an apologetic glance toward the towering ten-meter Deathclaw behind Wayne. She smiled awkwardly and confessed, "Wayne, ordinary portals can't transport something that big. If we want to move Robin to Kaer Morhen, we'd need to build a larger portal like the one we used before."
She added with a playful grimace, "It seems a bit excessive just to transport Robin."
Wayne chuckled, gently brushing the sweat from her forehead with the back of his hand. His expression softened as he replied, "You've done wonderfully. Don't worry about it."
He continued, "Let's rest at Kaer Morhen for now. Robin can stay here tonight. Tomorrow, you can bring me back, and I'll make the journey on foot with him."
Triss nodded in agreement, watching curiously as Wayne whistled a series of low, growling sounds to communicate with Robin. The massive beast responded with an eager rumble, its sharp eyes focused intently on its master.
Triss tilted her head in surprise. "Robin is smarter than I thought," she observed. "It seems like he truly understands you. He doesn't act like an ordinary beast."
Wayne smiled, pride evident in his voice. "Robin's not just any creature. Under my guidance, even ordinary animals become sharper. And Robin—he's something extraordinary."
He added with a playful smirk, "You'd be amazed at his abilities, Triss. Robin's intelligence is on par with that of a teenager. If he faced a company of knights or an army of soldiers, I'm confident he'd crush them without much effort."
Pausing for dramatic effect, Wayne added, "In fact, right now, I'd say Robin is probably the second most powerful member of the Witcher Order."
...
Upon their arrival at Kaer Morhen, Wayne was greeted warmly by the other witchers. He distributed the gifts he had brought—fine wines, exotic foods, and rare fruits from the elven forests of Middle-earth—earning him grateful smiles and lively toasts from his companions.
After the greetings and celebrations, Wayne gestured for Vesemir and Triss to follow him down to the basement beneath the old castle.
The old witcher furrowed his brow as they descended the stone steps, his curiosity piqued. He turned to Wayne with a puzzled expression. "Lad, why are we heading to the basement?"
Wayne flashed a mischievous smile and led Vesemir and Triss into a vast basement room that had once served as a warehouse.
As he lit the torches lining the walls, warm light flickered across the stone surfaces, illuminating the space. Wayne turned to them, his grin widening.
"Teacher, you were impressed by what I brought back earlier," Wayne began, his voice filled with excitement. "But what I'm about to show you now is the greatest reward of all."
Vesemir's brows furrowed slightly, a rare sign of unease. Moments earlier, he had been stunned to see Wayne return with over twenty children and hundreds of elven warhorses. It had left him feeling slightly dazed.
As someone deeply committed to preserving the Wolf School of Witchers, Vesemir found the influx of so many children overwhelming. For a brief moment, he wondered if Wayne had raided an orphanage—or even an entire village—to bring so many at once.
The sight of the elven warhorses was no less astonishing. To Vesemir, each horse was a rare treasure—living embodiments of speed, grace, and endurance. Selling even one of them could fetch thousands of crowns.
Now, Wayne promised an even bigger surprise, leaving the old witcher's mind struggling to comprehend what might come next.
Triss, her green eyes sparkling with curiosity, stood beside Vesemir, clearly intrigued. Wayne gave them both a sly look before reaching down to tap the small black money pouch at his waist.
From within the pouch, Vivian—Wayne's tiny, mischievous companion—popped her head out. With a playful smile, she raised her hands and began casting a spell.
In an instant, a six-pointed star of glowing magical energy appeared in the center of the room, its light flickering and shifting like a living constellation.
Suddenly, a flood of gold coins poured from the star-shaped portal with a deafening clatter, like a waterfall crashing down. The gold spread rapidly, flowing across the floor and piling up like waves of liquid metal. The entire room filled with the dazzling glow of treasure.
Clink! Clank! Clatter!
Both Vesemir and Triss stood frozen in disbelief as the golden cascade continued unabated. In mere moments, a massive mountain of gold had formed in the center of the room. It seemed to glow with its own light, illuminating the chamber as if the sun itself were trapped within the gold.
When the flow of coins finally stopped, Wayne stepped back, admiring his handiwork. With a satisfied nod, he turned toward his companions, whose boots were now half-buried in gleaming coins.
"This," Wayne declared, "is the development fund I've set aside—eighteen million Orens."
Vesemir's jaw tightened slightly, clearly struggling to process the sheer magnitude of what he was seeing.
Wayne continued, his tone calm but confident. "The Order will never lack funds again. Use this gold however you see fit. Repair Kaer Morhen, train the new initiates, stock up on potions—whatever it takes to rebuild the Order."
He gave them both a reassuring look. "And if it runs out, don't worry. This is just a very, very small part of my fortune."