Andries's eyes fluttered open, the unfamiliar softness beneath him a stark contrast to the hard ground he had grown accustomed to. He blinked, his vision adjusting to the dim light filtering through intricately designed curtains of rich velvet. He tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness forced him to lie back down, his head sinking into plush pillows.
The room around him was clearly intended for a mage of noble birth. The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting ancient battles and scenes of powerful sorcerers casting spells of immense magnitude. A large, ornate mirror framed in silver reflected the elegant surroundings, its surface faintly shimmering with enchantments to ward off prying eyes.
Beside the bed, a small table held several items that caught his eye. A delicate crystal orb, swirling with a misty light, hovered just above its silver stand, a traditional focus for scrying. Next to it lay a finely crafted dagger with runes etched along its blade, glowing faintly with protective charms. An array of vials containing potions of various hues lined the table, their contents gleaming in the soft light.
Andries also saw a bed that looked a little out of place there, almost like it was brought there recently. On that bed, he saw Mathies sleeping and snoring.
With some effort, Andries managed to sit up, taking in the rest of the room. An ornate wardrobe stood against one wall, its doors slightly ajar to reveal robes of fine silk and velvet, each embroidered with arcane symbols. A large wooden desk, covered in scrolls and tomes, occupied the opposite side of the room. He recognized some of the titles, volumes on elemental manipulation, alchemical recipes, and there was one ancient necromantic grimoire.
Nearby, Andries saw a pile full of items. There were chests, very well-made light armor, master-crafted swords with magical runes on them, a bunch of amulets, and an alchemy kit. Beside the pile was a table with a stack of parchments.
Andries looked to the table to his left and saw a bell with a note near it. On the note, it read: "Ring the bell when you are awake." Andries did and felt a ripple of magical energy. A few moments later, a group of golems walked in.
These golems were human-sized constructs, carved to look like humans or dolls. They brought trays of food in. There was freshly baked bread, assorted fruits, a cheese platter with a variety of normal and exotic cheeses, two roasted chickens, and a meat pie. There were also fresh juice and water brought with the food.
The smell of the food and the sounds of the moving golems woke Mathies up. He first looked over at Andries to see if he was okay.
"Morning." Mathies said with a smile.
"Morning." Andries replied, returning the smile. "Do you know what is happening here? Where are we? Why are these golems bringing us food?"
The golems also brought tables with them and placed the trays beside Andries and Mathies's beds. Andries was very hungry, so he decided to rip a leg off of the chicken he was provided.
"That black-haired lady, Tiss… Tissa… Tisse…" Mathies started to say.
"Tissaia?" Andries asked.
"Yes, that." Mathies nodded and picked his own roasted chicken. "She opened a portal and brought us here after the war. A lot of people came to see you and cast spells on you. They also gave me a lot of good food."
"So, this is Tissaia's house?" Andries said and took a bite from the leg and Mathies shrugged.
Andries didn't know how to find Tissaia, so he decided to just eat. The two started on the food, the roasted chicken disappearing quickly as Andries savored each bite and Mathies devoured his portions with speed. They then moved on to the meat pies and the cheese. By the time they reached the cheese, Andries was full while Mathies could still eat. The bread and fruit remained untouched.
"I've never eaten so much in my life." Andries said.
"I did." Mathies replied.
"What? When?" Andries asked, surprised.
"We cooked a boar. You ate a little, and I ate the rest." Mathies said.
"Oh yeah, you did eat a whole boar." Andries remembered with a chuckle.
A couple of golems moved to take the plates away, providing handkerchiefs for the two. Andries wiped his hands and mouth while one of the golems helped Mathies clean himself.
Andries, mostly naked, moved to the wardrobe. Inside, he found robes, tunics, trousers, and other clothing in both his size and Mathies's size. He chose a comfortable tunic and trousers, then moved to the bookshelf.
Selecting a book on elemental magic, Andries returned to his bed. He lay down and started to read while Mathies lay on his bed and slept. After a while of reading, Andries heard a knock on the door.
"Come in." Andries said.
Tissaia walked in, her black hair braided and wearing a green dress. Andries noticed that, unlike other sorceresses he had seen, Tissaia preferred to dress modestly, covering her body.
"Hello." Andries greeted her.
"Good to see you finally awake." Tissaia said. "When the golems were called, I knew you were awake, but I decided to let you two eat in peace. Although I think you ate a little too much."
"It was great, thank you." Andries said. "Sorry for making your sheets a little dirty, I think I dropped some food on them."
"Don't worry, the golems will wash them." Tissaia said. "Besides, this isn't my home. It is actually yours. Well, it was your mother's home, it was confiscated by the Brotherhood of Sorcerers. After what you did, four kings decided that the confiscation was unjust and must return to you as the rightful inheritor of this place."
"Oh, I've never seen this place." Andries said.
"Your mother had a lot of houses." Tissaia explained. "I managed to keep this one since it was the best, but the others... let's say the Brotherhood has a lot of pleasure seeking members and they had to pay a lot of money to you for what they did to those places."
"How much money? And where is the money?" Andries asked.
"I personally don't know the exact amount." Tissaia said. "As for where it is, it was put in the vault under this mansion. That vault is actually one of the ways I proved you were Selene's son. The vault is enchanted, it only lets people of the same bloodline as Selene open it."
"My blood opened it?" Andries asked.
"It did." Tissaia said.
"Sounds great, now tell me what happened in the battle?" Andries inquired.
"Thank you for reminding me to berate you." Tissaia said, her tone sharp. "What you did was reckless and foolish. I thought you didn't care about war, glory, and hatred for Nilfgaard. So why did you rush into the battle?"
"I didn't plan that." Andries said defensively. "I wanted to go to the north, get to the back of the Nilfgaard army, and snatch a couple of mages from the back."
"What does that even mean?" Tissaia asked, exasperation evident in her tone. "You can't snatch a mage like they're food on a plate. They will fight back."
"Have you met Mathies?" Andries replied with a sly smile.
"Okay, let's say you and Mathies managed to do it." Tissaia conceded. "Now that you have an angry mage with you, what are you going to do?"
"We would kill the mage and then steal their things." Andries said nonchalantly.
"That explains the talismans I found in your pack." Tissaia remarked.
"Oh, you got my pack. Where is it?" Andries asked.
"It is in the mansion, don't worry." Tissaia assured him.
"Great. By the way, what are those?" Andries asked, pointing at the pile of items in the corner.
"Word of your deeds has reached some influential ears." Tissaia said, rolling her eyes. "People have heard the tale of the child mage and his giant friend who fought valiantly in the battle and some say, helped immensely in defeating the Nilfgaardian army."
"Oh, so you beat Nilfgaard." Andries said. "Good. Those assholes treated mages like shit. I don't want to live under a rule like that."
"Yes, but the war went on for days longer." Tissaia said. "Now I don't want you to get arrogant as many of the stories are exaggerated, but from what I heard, what you and Mathies did was what really broke Nilfgaard's back."
"That was mostly Mathies." Andries said.
"Yes, but he is too simple to understand what is happening." Tissaia said. "As for you, you have been given your mother's name, the name Ebonhart. By the decree of four of the northern kings, you are now a nobleman, Andries Ebonhart."
"That... I don't think I want that." Andries said, frowning. "Being a noble sounds like too much work. I want to learn magic and find fun ways to use it. I don't want to learn about being a nobleman."
"You don't have to worry about that." Tissaia said. "You are going to attend the Ban Ard Academy. At this point I don't need to give them a letter of recommendation, the Ban Ard and other academies all want you to join them, offering greatness, except for Aretuza, that is an only woman's academy." She then pointed at the parchments near the treasures. "You will find their invitations there."
"And the treasures near the parchments?" Andries asked.
"Those are yours." Tissaia said. "The kings and academies sent some gifts alongside the decree of your new noble status. You can legally purchase land in Temeria, Kaedwen, Redania, and Aedirn."
"Nice." Andries said, his eyes lighting up.
"Whenever you feel healthy enough, I will teleport you to Ban Ard myself." Tissaia said.
"Thank you." Andries said. "By the way, do you know if any of the mages there are a source? I really need to find a source."
"I am afraid to ask, but why do you need to find a source?" Tissaia asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Horrible things." Andries admitted.
"No, a source is not easy to find." Tissaia said. "There used to be many source children born in the past but lately, I have seen less and less of them. The last source I met died before you were born."
"Bummer." Andries said. "I just remembered something, did you know the princess of Cintra survived? I heard she ran away before the slaughter."
"Princess Pavetta is dead. She died a long time ago." Tissaia said.
"I don't mean her." Andries said. "I don't know exactly who she is, but I read a few Nilfgaardian minds, and they were looking for the princess. I think she is Pavetta's daughter." Andries then described the girl he had seen in the Nilfgaardians' minds.
"That is interesting. So, princess Cirilla survived. I will keep an eye out." Tissaia said thoughtfully. "For now, get some rest. I have made some purchases, filling the kitchens here. The golems are the same as the vault, they will do your bidding. Just remember to feed them some magic from time to time. I wrote some instructions, this will help."
Tissaia handed Andries a parchment, and he accepted it. It detailed the energy source of the golems, explaining the need for recharging or replacing. There were descriptions of the methods for recharging and the items needed for replacement.
"Thank you." Andries said, genuinely grateful.
"Get some rest." Tissaia said. "You used a lot of magic and psionic power. That left your body very weak. You need rest for the day. I will stay here for now."
"Okay, thank you." Andries replied.
Tissaia left Andries in the room. He continued reading the book, practicing the hand movements of the spells but without channeling any energy. He lazed around, reading books and ordering food to be brought to his room. Mathies stayed in bed, only waking up to eat and talk to Andries from time to time, which they both enjoyed.
The next day, Andries and Mathies decided to have breakfast, pack their things and then explore the mansion. At first, Andries wanted to check where they were and how the mansion looked, but it turned into an experiment to see how much the golems would obey their commands.
When Tissaia returned to the mansion, she saw the two in a state she hadn't expected.
"Mathies, please put the golem down." Tissaia said. Mathies put the golem he held in both hands down. "And Andries, tell me, why are the golems walking on their hands?"
"I wanted to see how much they would react to my commands." Andries said.
"So you told them to walk on their hands?" Tissaia asked.
"Truth be told, I thought they looked funny that way." Andries replied.
"And why was Mathies holding a golem like it was a doll?" Tissaia asked.
"He was testing how tough they are." Andries explained.
Tissaia glanced at a damaged mark on the wall, nearly the size of one of the golems. She shook her head and rubbed her forehead.
"Please follow me." Tissaia said with a sigh. "I want you two to learn where the mansion is so you can return here after we leave via portal."
"Sure, sounds good." Andries said.
"I will be taking care of the golems until you learn teleportation." Tissaia said. "When you advance enough in the field of teleportation to reach here, then you will have to take care of the house and the golems on your own."
"Okay." Andries agreed. "By the way, where are we? I mean, what city, what kingdom, things like that."
"We are in Gors Velen," Tissaia explained. "Gors Velen is a port city on the northern coast of the North Sea in Temeria. It used to be an elven city but now it is one of the most profitable coastal cities in the west. It is also close to Thanedd Island, where Aretuza Academy is located, the place where your mother and I met and became friends."
"Aretuza, it is an all-women's academy, right?" Andries asked.
"Yes, it is." Tissaia confirmed. "And no, I will not let you attend there. The reason we only allow girls there is to remove distraction, and you would be a big distraction."
"I didn't say I wanted to be in an all-women's academy. That would be weird." Andries said.
Tissaia led Andries and Mathies through the bustling streets of Gors Velen, which pulsated with energy. The morning sun bathed the cobblestone paths in a warm, golden light, casting long shadows from the tall buildings and market stalls.
As they walked, Andries's eyes sparkled with delight, taking in the sights of the vibrant shops and stalls. Merchants called out their wares, offering everything from exotic spices to finely crafted weapons. The aroma of fresh bread and roasting meat filled the air, mingling with the salty tang of the nearby sea.
Mathies, on the other hand, appeared somewhat bewildered by the activity around him. His gaze darted from one vendor to another, his expression a mixture of curiosity and confusion. The sounds and the rush of people seemed to overwhelm him, but he stayed close to Tissaia.
The townspeople cast glances at the two young mutants. Whispers spread through the crowd, a mix of curiosity and caution. The stories of two mutant war heroes had circulated widely making people a little more respectful toward mutants, but few realized that these very heroes were now walking among them. Their mutations, visible to the eye, prompted hushed conversations among the people and not all of them were kind ones.
Tissaia, ever poised and commanding, drew the eyes and deference of those they passed. Her elegant dress, deep blue silk embroidered with silver threads, flowed gracefully as she walked. Her presence alone seemed to command respect and the townspeople instinctively made way for her, offering nods of acknowledgment.
Tissaia guided them onward, her pace unhurried as she allowed them to take in the sights. She pointed out notable landmarks, the ancient tower of the Sorceress Guild, the grand marketplace, and the dockyards teeming with activity.
"Andries, I've been meaning to ask, how old are you exactly?" Tissaia asked as they walked.
"I think thirteen or fourteen." Andries said.
"This doesn't sound right." Tissaia said. "I remember when you were born. Well, 'born' might not be the right word, you came out of a lab tube. You were raised to look like you were five with magic so when you were born, you looked five. If you look thirteen, then you should be younger."
"No, Mom was weird about that." Andries said. "I remember everything from the moment I was 'born,' which, as you say, was when I came out of the tube. I already had some things implanted in my mind, so I could speak and knew a little writing. Mom wanted to have a kid without the hard parts, but she still wanted to have a kid grow with his age, so when I reached age ten, she started to change my body with alchemy. It was weird looking like a five-year-old for five years and only looking a little older after, but mom really loved that, until I reached the age of ten. I still age slower, but Mom changed me to look thirteen just before she was captured. She also taught me to change my appearance with alchemy, but I don't want to do it."
"You say you were born with knowledge in your head?" Tissaia asked. "Why didn't she try to implant more knowledge in your brain, maybe knowledge of magic, alchemy, and other things?"
"She tried it on other subjects and their heads exploded," Andries said. "It turns out you can only put a certain amount in someone's head without killing them. Also, Mom loved to teach me about magic, alchemy and some magical devices."
"Everything you say concerns me." Tissaia said, her tone serious.
"Why? What did I say?" Andries asked.
"The test subjects that died, were they of your mother's blood?" Tissaia inquired.
"Yes." Andries responded.
"Then they were your siblings." Tissaia said, her voice tinged with sadness.
"Technically, yes." Andries replied calmly.
"And it doesn't bother you that they died?" Tissaia asked, incredulous.
"Better them than me." Andries stated matter-of-factly.
"Selene was a friend, but..." Tissaia trailed off, struggling to reconcile her memories.
"I know, she wasn't a good person, but I loved her." Andries said.
"How can you love her?" Tissaia asked. "She created you in a tube, made you a five-year-old so she didn't have to clean up after you, risked killing you just to avoid teaching you, aged you and those are just some of the things she did. How can anyone love a woman like that?"
"There were good parts, too." Andries said. "Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't go back to my mom if she were alive, hell, I might even kill her... I probably would kill her, she's too dangerous. But I still love her."
Tissaia wanted to argue, but what could she say? Andries had, in the same breath, declared both his love for his mother and his willingness to kill her if she were alive. She felt an urge to abandon this wild child, but that would only worsen things, this kid needed proper guidance.
Determined to show him kindness, Tissaia decided to buy them whatever they wanted. Andries and Mathies mostly ordered food, offering to pay with their own money, but Tissaia wouldn't hear of it. Andries did purchase a dagger he liked, though Tissaia again paid for it, leaving Andries looking a little embarrassed.
After showing the two mutants around the city for a while longer, they decided to return to the mansion. Before leaving, Tissaia handed Andries a fist-sized crystal ball that would allow them to communicate magically.
Andries and Mathies said their farewells and went back to the mansion. They ate some food and then decided to explore the mansion again.
The mansion had multiple rooms, including one that looked like it had belonged to his mother, a room entirely filled by a giant bed, and several guest rooms. The mansion also boasted a lab with impressive alchemical and magical tools, priceless to most mages but nothing compared to the lab Andries was born in.
The next room that interested Andries was the basement, which seemed to be a storage area. Mostly empty, it contained a giant vault door. Andries felt a faint amount of energy in the area but nothing more.
Approaching the vault, Andries touched the door and felt a welcoming power. He winced slightly as the vault took a little blood and opened. Inside, he found a space almost the size of a great hall, filled with gold coins, gold bars, and other precious items. After taking in the sight, Andries decided to close the door. He cut his hand and wrote protective runes in front of the vault, feeding the blood some energy before leaving. Andries stayed in his room the rest of the night, reading his new books.
Andries stayed in his room the rest of the night, engrossed in his new books. The next morning, he enjoyed a relaxing bath before breakfast. Mathies, though dirty, didn't smell too bad, but he took a bath after Andries. The mansion's bath area was essentially a massive pool, spacious enough for Mathies to bathe without breaking anything. After their baths, Andries and Mathies decided to explore the mansion again when one of the golems approached them.
"You have guests," the golem announced, its voice eerily similar to Andries's mother.
The familiar voice startled Andries and terrified Mathies. Andries quickly calmed Mathies down, and the two went to the front door. Opening it, Andries saw Tissaia standing with Lytta. Tissaia wore her usual elegant, full-coverage dress, while Lytta's dress, to Andries's surprise, was more modest than usual, though it still featured a plunging neckline.
Lytta smiled upon seeing Andries. She walked towards him, embraced him, and kissed his cheek, causing Andries to blush.
"How is my little hero?" Lytta teased.
"Um… Hi… can you let me go?" Andries stammered.
"Of course." Lytta laughed, releasing him.
"I really have to teach the two of you etiquette." Tissaia said, looking at both Lytta and Andries. "Andries, as a noble, you do not answer doors yourself. That is the job of a servant, in your case, the golems will answer the door. You will wait for the guests in a meeting room, depending on the occasion. And as for you, Lytta, that embrace and kiss were improper."
"Sorry." Andries said, while Lytta just laughed.
"When will you children ever grow up." Tissaia said, shaking her head.
"So, what is the occasion?" Andries asked, looking at Lytta.
"I heard you were going to leave for Ban Ard." Lytta said with a hint of disdain when she said Ban Ard. "I wanted to give you a gift before you left for that place."
"Oh, thank you." Andries said.
Lytta smiled again and turned around, performing complex hand movements to open a portal. She stepped inside, and the portal closed behind her. Andries was about to ask something when the portal reopened. Lytta returned, holding a small black kitten.
Andries's face lit up at the sight of the kitten. He had always wanted a pet, specifically a cat. His mother had only kept cats because they acted as extra batteries for her. He held his hands up, and Lytta handed the kitten to him.
"Tell me, Andries, which gift do you prefer, the kiss or the cat?" Lytta asked playfully.
"The cat, obviously." Andries replied, making Lytta frown.
"That is enough pointless waste of power." Tissaia interjected. "Andries, you should pack your things. We are leaving for the academy."
"I will, right away." Andries said, gently rubbing the kitten's head. "Wait, can I bring Mathies to the academy?"
"Yes, as long as you introduce him as a golem." Tissaia said.
"I will, I will be back." Andries said.
Andries hurried to pack his belongings and Mathies's things, all the while thinking about the new life awaiting him at Ban Ard. With the kitten nestled comfortably in his arms and Mathies by his side, he felt a sense of excitement and anticipation for what might lay ahead.
He then rushed back to see Tissaia and Lytta arguing. They stopped when Andries reached them. Lytta walked to Andries and handed him some notes on how to take care of the kitten. She then kissed Andries on the forehead, which this time Andries barely registered as he was mostly focused on the kitten.
With a wave of her hand, Tissaia activated a portal, its swirling energy casting a soft, otherworldly glow across the hall. The cat, nestled comfortably in Andries' arms, seemed unfazed by the magical display, while Andries and Mathies watched with a mix of curiosity and excitement.
They stepped into the portal, feeling a brief but intense sensation of being pulled through space. The familiar surroundings of the mansion dissolved into a blur of light and color. Within moments, the world around them reformed, and they found themselves standing in a new location.
The academy itself was an imposing structure of stone and iron, built to withstand the elements. Tall towers reached toward the sky, their windows glowing with the light of magical energy. The main courtyard was bustling with activity as students and instructors moved about, their robes billowing in the chilly breeze.
Ban Ard was completely different from the mansion in Gors Velen. The academy was located high in the mountains of Kaedwen, a region known for its harsh climate and rugged beauty. The air was crisp and cold, carrying the scent of pine and the distant sound of rushing water from mountain streams.
Andries and Mathies, despite their unusual appearance, drew only a few curious glances from the academy's inhabitants. Looking around, Andries saw only men and boys of all races, and his presence there seemed ordinary. However, Tissaia's presence drew many curious looks.
Tissaia led them through the courtyard, her presence commanding a path to be cleared. Andries was too engrossed in the new sights to notice the wary glances cast in Tissaia's direction. He marveled at the variety of magical items on display in the windows of the academy and workshops.
Mathies, still somewhat bewildered, stuck close to Andries, his large frame making him an imposing figure despite his confusion. The cat in Andries' arms purred contentedly, seemingly unaffected by the cold or the strange new environment.
"Welcome to Ban Ard, Andries."