Wayne had only been in Toussaint for less than two months, but his time there had been filled with adventure and discovery. As he recounted his experiences to Vesemir, the old witcher frowned at one particular memory.
"Ah, I haven't heard from my old friend in so many years. I never expected that he had met his end in Toussaint," Vesemir said, his voice tinged with sadness. "I once gave him a master-level armor blueprint from the Wolf School, asking him to take it to Master Tyensel in Toussaint. That was many years ago, back when you were just a boy."
Listening to Vesemir speak of his friend and the lost blueprints of the Wolf School, Wayne felt a pang of emotion. Though he had been thrilled to acquire those blueprints, they came with the somber reminder that each one represented the loss of a witcher.
Wayne turned to the old witcher and asked cautiously, "Teacher, do you think it's feasible for me to invite witchers from other schools to join our Order?"
Vesemir looked at Wayne thoughtfully, not giving a direct answer at first. Instead, he provided a measured analysis. "From the information you've gathered, it seems that, apart from the Bear School, most of the witcher schools have all but disbanded. Their members are scattered, and there are few, if any, successors."
"If you can address the issue of preserving their legacies, I think the idea could be quite appealing to them," Vesemir continued. "While the different schools parted ways due to ideological differences, now, with our numbers dwindling to single digits, perhaps your generation can mend those rifts through your own efforts."
Perhaps not wanting to dampen Wayne's enthusiasm, Vesemir's words were gentle yet encouraging. Wayne felt a surge of happiness; having such a supportive elder was the greatest motivation. He believed in himself, in his ability to bring the witchers together, and even to save the world if it came to that.
The two continued to talk, exchanging ideas and thoughts, eventually turning to the topic of the new residents—Wayne's giant companions. Vesemir, ever cautious, was concerned about trust issues. As an old witcher who had seen centuries of betrayal and treachery, he knew well how fragile trust could be, even among lovers or brothers, let alone refugees.
Wayne, confident in the power of the Magic Crown and his own abilities, shared some carefully chosen details with his teacher. "Teacher, you can rest easy. These new residents are a clan of giants trapped in an alien plane. Their strength isn't extraordinary by our standards, and they have no allies in our world. They won't cause any future problems."
He continued, "The reason I'm confident in controlling them is that I possess a magical artifact specifically designed to subdue these giants. It ensures they can't disobey my orders. These giants were once like trolls, a race that devoured anything, including humans. If they cause any trouble, they'll face destruction. I've taken them in as workers, soldiers, and their fate is in my hands."
Vesemir was intrigued by Wayne's mention of the giant clan and the alien plane. He wanted to ask more but held back, sensing his apprentice's confidence and determination.
Two days passed quickly. At the appointed time, Wayne and Vesemir, carrying the magical artifact, flew to the back mountain of Kaer Morhen on Wayne's magic carpet. Using the magical nodes there, they prepared the portal.
As the portal's magic began to react, chaotic energy gathered above, forming a massive gateway, nearly thirteen meters high and seven meters wide. The portal stabilized, revealing an ominous void within.
Vesemir, watching the scene unfold, sighed. "I haven't seen magic of this caliber in a long time. It seems the sorceress you've enlisted has some real talent."
Wayne couldn't help but smile proudly. "Thank you, teacher. The sorceress is Triss, an exceptional graduate of Aretuza Academy. She's also my girlfriend, and I trust her completely."
Vesemir raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming. "Triss, you say? The red-haired sorceress we met last time? Lambert mentioned that while we were fighting the evil god, the two of you were busy sneaking kisses behind our backs."
He chuckled, adding, "But she does seem like a good woman. Make sure you keep a handle on things and cherish what you have."
The usually composed Wayne found himself blushing, embarrassed by the topic, and quickly changed the subject.
The portal was soon fully constructed, and the first to step through was a nine-meter-tall giant, clad in armor and wielding a massive two-handed axe—Glass, the current giant general. Upon seeing Wayne, Glass instinctively moved to kneel, but Wayne stopped him with a glance, pointing to an open area nearby.
"Take your people and wait for my orders there, Glass," Wayne commanded calmly.
"As you wish, Master," Glass replied, nodding respectfully before moving to the designated area.
Soon, more giants emerged from the portal, following Glass's lead without needing further instruction. They moved obediently, showing both their intelligence and the respect they held for Wayne.
Vesemir watched in astonishment, impressed not only by the giants' size and intelligence but also by their unwavering obedience to Wayne and the way they addressed him as their master.
'It seemed that Wayne had indeed managed to fully conquer these alien giants, just as he claimed'. As a pragmatist, Vesemir quickly shifted his thoughts to practical matters—how to best utilize these giants.
For years, the old witcher had struggled with the lack of workers and materials necessary to repair Kaer Morhen. Now, it appeared that Wayne had brought him the solution he needed.
Roughly twenty minutes later, all the giants had emerged from the portal, their sheer size and number crowding the entire clearing. Despite being only two hundred strong, the sight of them was more intimidating than that of a thousand human soldiers.
As the portal began to close, Triss, dressed in a stunning long gown and wearing a golden crown, stepped out. She wiped the sweat from her brow, but before she could say anything, Wayne approached and pulled her into a deep kiss.
Their embrace lingered for what seemed like two minutes, with no sign of them parting.
Vesemir, clearly not one for public displays of affection, cleared his throat and remarked, "It's time to get down to business, kid. Save the romance for later, preferably when you're not in front of your elders."
Wayne, unbothered by the old witcher's comment, released Triss and turned to Vesemir. "Teacher, why don't you take Triss on a tour of the castle? As the new chief warlock of the Order, she should familiarize herself with her working environment."
Then, he gently caressed Triss's face and said softly, "Plan everything carefully for us. Our castle hasn't had a professional warlock in a long time. If you need any equipment or materials, don't worry—I'm giving you 100,000 orens as initial capital. Use it wisely, and I'm sure you'll achieve great things."
"One hundred thousand orens?" Triss and Vesemir both echoed in shock. Even Vesemir, an old witcher, had never seen such a sum in one place.
Triss stared at Wayne for a few seconds, then stood on her tiptoes, kissed him on the lips, and smiled sweetly. "Thank you, for trusting me so much. I'm seriously considering quitting my job as a royal advisor to work full-time for you. I've never even seen this much money before."
Wayne wasn't overly proud. Though the wealth he'd acquired from the giants was substantial, it wasn't enough to accomplish anything monumental. Compared to the treasures of the dwarves in the Lonely Mountain of Middle-earth, this gold was a mere pittance.
Vesemir, still reeling from the shock, asked, "Child, where did you get so much money? Did you stumble upon a treasure hoard?"
Wayne smiled humbly, then glanced at the giants nearby and said, "This wealth was collected by the giants, but as their master, it all belongs to me now."
After a brief exchange, Vesemir took Triss to tour Kaer Morhen. It had been decades since a warlock had set foot in this ancient castle, and she was now the Order's warlock.
Though witchers had a basic understanding of magical knowledge, they were far behind professional warlocks. Witchers were warriors first and foremost, and only with the assistance of a warlock could many of their studies progress.
With Vesemir and Triss occupied, Wayne flew his magic carpet over to the group of giants and addressed Glass, their new general. "Glass, gather your people and follow me. I'm taking you to your new home, where you'll live and wait for my orders. As long as you and your tribe remain completely loyal to me, you'll be safe."
Wayne's tone softened as he added, "The world is more dangerous than you think, but it's also full of opportunities. Once you've settled here, you can try to resume breeding. Perhaps the problem of infertility that plagued your race in Gantuowa will be solved here."
Hearing this, the giants began to murmur amongst themselves. Thousands of years ago, their race could reproduce, but over time, their chances of pregnancy dwindled until, by a thousand years ago, their numbers stopped growing altogether. This led to deep-seated negative emotions within their race, resulting in chaos, violence, and even internecine conflict.
Wayne had speculated that the giants' infertility was due to the fading magic in their world. As a race born in the Age of Magic, the giants likely lost their fertility as the magic faded. However, the chaotic magic of the Witcher's world—enriched by magic from other worlds during the Conjunction of the Spheres—might restore their ability to reproduce.
Though skeptical, Glass was a smart giant. He led his tribe in kneeling respectfully before Wayne and said, "Thank you, Master, for bringing us to a new home where our tribe can continue to thrive."
Whether Wayne's words would prove true or not, Glass knew the importance of gratitude. The fate of their entire race now rested in Wayne's hands, and Glass's only concern was ensuring their survival.
Satisfied with Glass's attitude, Wayne led the giants to a site near the foot of the Blue Mountains, close to Kaer Morhen. It was an ideal location with abundant forests, proximity to water, and a natural cave that could serve as temporary housing.
The arrival of these giants sent the ogres of the back mountain into hiding, too terrified to show themselves.
The settlement Wayne chose was perfect. The land was fertile, the forests rich with resources, and the nearby lake teeming with fish. The giants were not uncivilized; their technological level was akin to that of early medieval humans. They knew blacksmithing, forging, animal husbandry, fishing, and construction. Wayne wouldn't need to worry too much about them.
After bringing the giants to their new home, Wayne allowed them to begin cutting down trees and building houses. They were also permitted to fish in the lake, effectively making Wayne the lord of this giant village.
With the abundant resources of the Blue Mountains and the supplies they brought from King Brahmwell, the giants wouldn't have to worry about food for at least three months. In that time, they could firmly establish themselves in their new home.