[Chapter Size: 1900 Words.]
Third Person POV
Northern kingdoms.
...
...
In Aretuza, discussions were ongoing in the main hall, where nearly all the continent's mages debated among themselves while Tissaia continued to oversee the discussion.
Not surprisingly, the faction that sided with Nilfgaard was significantly smaller among the voices of debate. Despite their attempts to argue for Aretuza to ally with Nilfgaard, they were easily overshadowed by the other voices.
Emhyr wanted them to recruit as many mages as possible to work for Nilfgaard, but still, the plan seemed to be almost a complete failure there. Yet, there were still some who did not look at them hostilely, even appearing to seek an alliance. However, these would be secret alliances, as these mages would not declare their support for the emperor openly.
"As we've discussed here, it seems time for us to decide on a course of action," Tissaia spoke, asking everyone to express themselves. "Everyone here has the right to say what they think. First... those in favor of Nilfgaard, raise your hands," she requested, looking at all present.
Only those openly favorable to Nilfgaard from the beginning raised their hands, a small group in the crowd receiving hostile glances.
"Very well... The result is obvious," Tissaia said, before continuing. "Even so, we should see the vote of everyone present. Now raise your hands, those who are in favor of the north against Nilfgaard." She spoke, and immediately, everyone there expressed themselves. Aretuza seemed to have decided its side.
"So, it seems that Aretuza will be on the side of the north and we intend to stop the threat of Nilfgaard along with all the monarchs who govern these lands!" she declared, as a round of applause started immediately among the mages.
"Let's defend the north!"
"Let's expel the invaders from the south!"
"They are not welcome in these lands!"
"We must drive those southern dogs out."
"They will pay for what they did in Cintra!"
The mages exclaimed immediately, while those favorable to Nilfgaard just cast reproachful glances.
"Tsk, it seems we have nothing more to discuss here. Perhaps the next time we meet will be on the battlefield, I hope you don't regret this, sisters and brothers..." Fringilla spoke firmly before turning, and the mages behind her began to follow her as they were booed and disappeared into the portal.
Tissaia just sighed at this and returned to her companions, beginning to issue orders about what to do now. Discussions continued for the next three hours. Only at dawn did everyone begin to say goodbye as they would leave once everything was over, except for a select group of mages whom Tissaia asked to stay.
"Please, follow me. Let's go to a more private location," Tissaia spoke, not taking her eyes off Vilgefortz, who was watching from a distance without leaving. She did not like him and had doubts about whom he truly served, after all, there were rumors that he had contact with Emperor Emhyr and they were close.
Several other mages were taken to a specific room, everyone followed her and took a place as she waited for them to settle down. "As you know, Nilfgaard is now marching towards Sodden, so I would like a force to go there with me, through the Sodden Mountains, to try and intercept some of Nilfgaard's forces, even a general. This could give a great advantage to the north," she spoke as everyone looked at each other.
"At this moment, I will not force anyone to volunteer with me, but if anyone wants to join me, please come," Tissaia continued, pointing to the map on the table that she had already prepared. "I intend to advance through the Sodden hills and try to help the young king while they are attacked from this southern side and now with most of the exercise coming from the west, since the kingdom would be at a disadvantage fighting on two fronts." She concluded.
"I couldn't go," Yennefer was the first to speak up. "I'm in the middle of a mission and couldn't accompany you, sister," she said to her former tutor.
Tissaia understood. Meanwhile, Triss looked at the map before deciding. "I will go," she declared, with Yennefer looking at her in surprise.
"I will go too," another mage with red hair spoke up, stepping forward with a determined look. This was Lytta Neyd, also known as Coral.
"Thank you, Triss, Coral." Tissaia looked at the two redheads.
"Count me in too, Dean!" another mage spoke up.
"I'm going as well," a fourth mage said.
"Let's finish them, Tissaia!"
More and more mages began to speak as Tissaia watched proudly. "Great. I want you to organize to leave here in a week. Afterward, we will travel by horse; we cannot teleport to unknown locations, and I'm sure Nilfgaard won't be unprepared," she spoke, while everyone listened.
"And what about the princess of Cintra?" Coral suddenly asked, a topic that had been heated in the previous discussion; everyone wanted to know what to do with the missing girl, and everyone had different opinions about her.
"We will find her. I want everyone working towards this; we cannot let her be captured by Nilfgaard or any other king, after all, the girl might be useful to the order of Aretuza." Tissaia expressed the idea of training her, given she was a descendant of Lara Dorren, but most were skeptical of this lineage, as no one had ever shown extraordinary abilities over the centuries.
Yennefer seemed to frown at this but did not speak up. The conversation continued about a few more subjects and plans regarding the situation of Aretuza and how it would behave in this war. The first move against Nilfgaard would be to traverse the Sodden hills.
"You may go." In the end, Tissaia dismissed everyone.
Yennefer and Triss walked down a corridor alone, "Come with me, Triss," Yennefer asked a moment later, as they moved to another location. "It's better not to risk someone overhearing..." she said, while creating a magical barrier to ensure no one could listen.
"Is it about Cirilla?" Triss asked, seeing Yennefer so cautious.
"Isn't it obvious?" Yennefer replied. "You know I'm not the only one after the princess. All the northern kingdoms must be doing this, and many mages won't be in favor of Tissaia's decision to train the girl." She spoke, still making sure no one was nearby.
"I know," Triss admitted. "However, you seem to have an unusual desire for her... you would seem almost obsessed if I didn't know you..." Triss couldn't help but notice.
Yennefer was silent for a few seconds before sighing. "I want you to help me look for her too, before Tissaia and King Foltest... you need to help me find her along with the boy..." Yennefer said.
"Is she that important?" Triss asked until she finally noticed something. "Wait... it's the boy you're after, isn't it?" Triss accused, knowing Yennefer had always been a selfish person, even being her trusted friend, it was surprising her concerned about the little princess, but it wasn't what it really seemed.
"It's hard to explain," Yennefer admitted. "Anyway, have you heard of Madara Uchiha?" She asked. Triss, despite being surprised by the mention of that boy again, thought for a while until she finally recalled that name from some reports King Foltest used to hear about.
"About a child who had won a war against Sora? I thought it was just an absurd rumor. Foltest saw it as Calanthe trying to create a legend at the time and didn't take it seriously."
"It wasn't a rumor," Yennefer asserted. "The boy exists, and I have been investigating him for the last few years. But I couldn't be in Cintra to see him..." she said.
"All this time, it was never about the girl..." Triss sighed. "You even sent the witcher to try and locate them for you," she said.
"A witcher is always a good tracker, and even though I am being selfish, Geralt has a connection with the girl," Yennefer explained.
"You haven't changed at all, have you? What is so special about this boy?" Triss asked, still puzzled.
"I just have some things from investigations I've conducted, but I believe the boy is special, very special and unique in this world... They say he doesn't possess chaos energy and can perform strange spells... Do you know what that means, Triss?" Yennefer seemed to have a glint of greed.
"What do you mean by that, him being able to use magic without chaos, that's impossible, Yennefer!" Triss couldn't believe those words.
"He possesses a new type of power from what I could tell, doing strange things like breathing fire from his mouth, even stronger than most mages, being able to multiply, among other things. His physical strength is comparable and even greater than a witcher, he can move faster than a vampire..." Yennefer continued speaking while Triss was stunned hearing this; none of the mages there seemed to have heard about this Madara, but Yennefer had discovered him for some reason.
"Are you saying the boy passed the herb trial after decades without any other reports of witcher schools doing this?" Triss murmured.
"No, Triss... then this is the most shocking part... he was born with it... his body naturally filled with an energy different from anything we know...!" Yennefer spoke before continuing. "At 6 years old, he killed a centenarian witcher alone, at 8 years, he killed a Witcher, at 10 years, he stopped a small war and now at 12 years old, he is out there, mingling with the princess of Cintra..." Yennefer saw no problem in telling how incredible Madara Uchiha was, something she researched after seeing Geralt's vision.
Triss, though surprised, could see Yennefer's eyes of ambition.
"That is hard to believe, Yen, but what do you want with the boy...?" Triss wanted to know.
'I will create such a world...' Madara's voice emerged in her mind, which made Yennefer bet that Madara would be at the top of that world. "He can help me heal with this energy... maybe I can get pregnant..." Yennefer didn't speak her real reason, but believed that Madara's strange energy could be the key to healing for what she traded when she transitioned as a mage.
"..." Triss just sighed. "Alright... I'll help you," she said at last. After all, she was her friend and had no reason to refuse something like this, especially since she also became interested in the boy with Yennefer's words. "I'll help in the search for the child."
Yennefer felt satisfied with this. She had wanted to see this extraordinary child since she started hearing rumors after Geralt's vision, but had never been in Cintra due to the court mage, Mousesack. She knew that if she was seen searching for Madara, she would be expelled immediately and she didn't want to appear like that to the boy, after all, she wanted his trust—if Geralt could have a daughter of destiny, why couldn't she also have a son of destiny?