To the sorcerers, Alzur was one of the greatest sorcerers to have ever lived. "Alzur is a legend, and he has left a lot of stories among the pages of the north's history." Coral's eyes shone with worship. "One being him creating the first witchers alongside Cosimo in the tenth century."
Reminiscence shone in Vesemir's eyes. He had lived for more than three hundred years, so he'd seen the creator before. That man was special, and everyone was inclined to trust him. Pity he had only seen Alzur once.
"And he has created many incredible spells. Alzur's Shield, a powerful protective spell, Alzur's Thunder, an offensive spell that can be cast in a wide range, and perhaps the most famous, Alzur's Double Cross. It can summon a terrifying creature called myriapodan. Myriapodans are a few dozen times larger than dragons, and they can destroy a city by themselves easily."
A summon spell that can call forth a creature that can level cities? Sounds stronger than regular dragons in Skyrim. Roy rubbed his chin and made a mental note to know more about that spell. After all, he knew a bit of Skyrim's Conjuration spells, and the power of Alzur's Double Cross was tempting.
"Is that for real?" Serrit frowned. Dubiously, he said, "If that's true, then he can control the world if he can control the myriapodan."
Coral shook her head. "According to the records of the brotherhood, Alzur was a man of virtue, and he didn't like having power. His dream was to save the people. They created witchers in the first place to save the people from monsters."
A hint of respect flashed in Coral's eyes. "And there's another story to prove that. From the ninth to eleventh century, the Prince of Maribor and the Duke of Ellander were engaged in a war to fight for the throne of Temeria. Because of their similarly-matched strength, the people of their lands were plunged into peril. To end this war, Alzur unleased his Double Cross on the battlefield and called forth the Viy of Maribor. Ellander's troops were demolished, forcing them to surrender. Maribor gained rulership over Vizima, and the people were delivered from war."
"That is true." Coen said, "Keldar told me that even though Erland was the one to set up the knight's virtue as the basis of the Griffin School, the source of that came from Alzur. He might have been a sorcerer, but he was trained as a knight in his younger years, and the spirit of knights influenced him."
"Oh please, don't paint him as a saint," Letho said. He, for some reason, didn't like Alzur that much. "I remember him and Cosimo putting countless innocents through horrifying experiments and killing them in the process of making witchers."
Coral nodded. She had been researching witcher mutations, so she knew some history. "According to the history I know, Alzur and Cosimo alternated between experiment areas hidden in ancient castles and performed experiments on adults. Kaer Seren was one such fortress. Their experiments failed, and it killed many innocents in the process. Once they realize that they couldn't turn adults into witchers, they turned their attention to children before they finally created the first witcher. But then they abandoned the group of witchers they created and turned their attention to something else."
***
"Idarran's skill in modifying and summoning his creatures obviously comes from his mentor." Serrit said, "If what Roy said is right, and that Idarran appeared with the grandmasters, then I posit that the ringmaster of this operation might be the creator of witchers himself."
Everyone stopped breathing for a moment.
"That is plausible. The grandmasters might still respect their creator," said Felix. "And he used that to convince them into helping him. He has a goal we do not yet know of."
Coen paused for a moment, then he said, "Erland left the fortress after it was buried under all that snow, but the book he left spoke of his destination. He wishes to find Alzur."
Auckes raised his voice, "And he did." The light shone on his excited face. "And Alzur convinced him into joining the organization."
Roy added, "Jerome said that Erland told him not to search. I think that means something else. Erland gave all his heart and soul to the Griffin School and searched for Alzur without rest when he had time. He wanted to convince Alzur into helping humanity, and he seemed to have found his goal. Could this be fate?"
"Erland might have been the first to join," said Kiyan. "Then Elgar, then Arnaghad, and then Ivar. Alzur and his student, Idarran, are the core of that organization."
The witchers had no idea how to feel about it. After a lot of discussion, they realized that the enemy they had to face might be their creator. Every witcher knew of that name, and they were even more wary of him compared to their grandmasters.
***
"You have a point." Kalkstein caressed his beard, shook his head, and smirked. "But you missed one important point, and that pokes a big hole in your guess."
"What do you mean?" Eskel asked.
"Alzur has been dead for more than a hundred years," said Kalkstein, and the witchers were dumbfounded. "And it was an ironic death. More than two hundred years ago, the monster he summoned ended the war and helped Maribor gain rulership over Vizima, but for some reason, that tragedy struck again, and Alzur once more summoned that monster, and it destroyed half of Maribor. Even now, its ruins still stand, speaking of its bloody history. And Alzur met his end in this chaos." Kalkstein stopped for a moment. "The monster he summoned killed him."
"I was born in Maribor." Triss paled a little, as if she was reminded of something bad. "It was a tale I've heard for many years before I became a sorceress. The monster Alzur summoned destroyed half of Maribor and killed countless innocents. He too was killed by that monster, and people from my homeland fear giant centipedes even now, and they despise Alzur with all their hearts."
"What happened in Maribor?" That was the question everyone wanted the answer to. They had no idea why a powerful sorcerer would attack innocent civilians.
"That was what Alzur really was like," Kalkstein said, not bothering to hide his disdain. "He was a complex character and very hard to pin down."
Everyone's hearts sank. "Alzur might be dead, but what about his mentor, Cosimo?"
"He died before Alzur did." Kalkstein shook his head.
"So our enemies are just Idarran and the grandmasters?" Roy muttered. That's going to be a relief.
"Cosimo is dead, there's no doubt about it." Lytta clenched her fists, and she rebutted, "But Alzur's death is still debatable. The brotherhood claims he's dead, and Maribor's people think he's gone too, but nobody ever saw his corpse. For a time, I was obsessed with the mutation of witchers, and I delved deeper into history just to find out more. There were a lot of rumors claiming that Alzur's remains were found, but they were just bodies of regular humans with no mana in them at all. And so, I came up with a bold supposition." She looked at the silent witchers. "Alzur faked his death after he summoned the monster, and he escaped. Then he started creating his masterpiece to realize his dreams. Many of the first generation witchers and grandmasters have gone missing until now, but they're not dead. They're just hiding."
"Hey, show some respect, Lytta. You're saying Roy is a 'masterpiece' too?" Auckes interrupted.
"Yes, he is." Lytta smiled proudly and puffed her chest out. "I made him myself, and I'll make him better."
Roy wanted to pull his hand away, but Lytta shot him a glare and held him tighter. Everyone shivered, and goosebumps broke out all over them. Triss looked away.
"They keep their true goal under wraps, so I think their goal might be unacceptable for many. Perhaps it is even a transgression. Heresy," said Lytta. "So they went with a secret operation and stayed away from the public for more than a century. And they cut off contact from the brotherhood, showing up on battlefields to collect the souls of the dead." The mural in Haern Caduch that recorded the time, place, and the number of deaths was proof that this was the right guess.
***
"This is not to be taken lightly." Vesemir knocked on the wall and snapped everyone out of it. "The grandmasters and Idarran might be working for Alzur himself, and Alzur is the strongest sorcerer in the world. We must be prepared for the worst."
Everyone's hearts skipped a beat. The grandmasters alone were powerful enough, and if Alzur was added into the mix, this would make them a formidable enemy. The looks on everyone's faces were grim, and the air felt heavy.
"Hey, kid." Lambert wrapped his arm around Roy's shoulder. "Why don't we surrender and help them out with their work?"
Everyone shot him with icy glares.
"Just kidding. They won't escape after what they did to Roy."
"They didn't hurt Triss or the orphanage," said Serrit. "So the orphanage's operation isn't getting in their way."
"That is correct." Roy looked at everyone. "They'll come after me and only me."
Everyone fell into silence. They knew Roy had a secret of his own, and it was thanks to that he grew to an incredible level of strength in a relatively short time. It had been but three years since he became a witcher, and yet he had already defeated Letho in a one-on-one battle. If he wasn't restricted in any way, he would be one of the most powerful members among the brotherhood. They wondered if the grandmasters and Idarran were hunting Roy for his secret.
***
"I can't show up anywhere conspicuous, and that includes the orphanage and Novigrad. In case they find me. I can't let them find out I've returned." There was a sharp look in Roy's eyes, and he grinned. "I need to find out where they're operating from and what their goal is. Then it's time to pay them back for what they did to me. Especially Arnaghad. There's a score to settle."
As of now, the brotherhood was in the shadows, while the grandmaster and their organization was under everyone's scrutiny. They had the advantage.
"You sure you're not going back?" Kiyan sighed. "The kids have been asking where you went for two months. I can hear them even when I sleep. They miss you, and the kids we brought back first have passed the Trial. They took the modified version, so nothing bad happened. It won't take long until they strike out on their own."
Roy was glad the organization was growing fine, and it reaffirmed his decision to stay in hiding. "I'll see them when this is over. For now, just tell them I'm traveling."
"You seem to have a plan." Letho turned to Roy. The lad had changed over the last two months, and Letho felt a bit of pressure coming from him.
"From what we know now, the grandmasters usually show up during wartime." Roy cracked his fingers, and everyone looked at him. "The Battle of Sodden had just ended, and both sides sustained heavy losses. There shouldn't be any large-scale battles for years."
"Your gut tells you that?" Triss asked.
"Yes. It is now the fifteenth of the third month, year 1263. Nilfgaard and Cintra will sign a treaty in six months and bring this war to an end." According to his memory, Cintra was given to Nilfgaard once the treaty was signed, signaling the end of the first war. "The grandmasters will wait in hiding after the war is done." Roy grabbed the air, and dozens of portraits flew into everyone's hands.
"Coral made these according to my description. Keep an eye out for these people, especially if anyone suspicious shows up around the orphanage."
"Easy. Get Gawain and Chappelle to help us out. Chappelle's an important member of the church anyway, and they have branches all over the Continent. If they can help us, I think we can find these people soon enough," Auckes said.
"Are you mad?" Serrit shook his head, his eyes filled with wariness. "You think the grandmasters are some sort of weaklings? Have you forgotten about Ivar's skills in stealth and hiding? If they wish to hide from us, none can seek them."
"Jerome was the only one tied to Erland, and he is dead. We can't divine Erland's whereabouts with just the Book of Shadows," Eskel said.
Letho nodded. "If we search for them too conspicuously, they're going to suspect something."
"I can help." Triss licked her lips and volunteered. "Since Roy's back, there's no need for me to stay in Novigrad to recover my memories."
Roy wanted to say something. He risked his life so Triss could finally stay here, and he wouldn't let her go that easily until she became their mage.
"I need to return to Vizima and seek an audience with Foltest, then I need to establish contact with the brotherhood. I'm going to stay in the brotherhood and find out some clues for you." Her eyes shone with determination, and her voice echoed in the air. "The grandmasters are hard to find, but Idarran is fascinated by mutated beings. He won't stay put in one place. I think we can start with him."
"Good idea," Coral praised. "Idarran's not the only one in the brotherhood with an interest in mutated beings. Some people might have clues about him. Some might even stay in contact with him still."
Coral let go of Roy's arm and held Triss, smiling at her like she was a good friend. "You can always come back when there's time. The kids like you, and we've gotten along well." Lytta was happy about Triss' change. After two months, she couldn't even look Roy in the eye, let alone steal him away. She was a good girl now.
"Sure. I'm going to miss you guys," Triss said, and she tried her best not to look at Roy. He had saved her twice, and it was time for her to repay the debt.
The other witchers watched on with interest, staring at Roy and the ladies. Their looks sent chills down Roy's spine. "I'm counting on you… Triss. Keep yourself safe," said Roy. He didn't try to make her stay, and he changed the subject. "There won't be any big battles for a while, so I'm going to search around Sodden, where skirmishes are bound to happen. The grandmasters might snatch up what little souls they can find." Roy looked at Coral. He spent the whole night convincing her of this. "And I'm doing it alone." Then he stole a glance at Triss, who was spaced out and tugging on the hem of her dress.
The events in Cintra were enough to teach him a lesson. With him as the bearer of the Elder Blood, he couldn't possibly bring any deadweight with him. He worked better alone. "And you guys…"
Lambert announced, "Nothing from Chappelle and Gawain yet. Aiden and I have nothing to do, so we'll see if Kaedwen has anything on the grandmasters. Aiden knows that place better than me."
"Eskel and I are going to Aedirn," said Auckes.
"Then everyone else, keep this place safe. That's all I ask from you."
Vesemir's eyes glinted. "If you're going to Sodden, contact Geralt on the way. He can help."
"I was wondering why he wasn’t here. Why's he in Sodden?"
"To search for his daughter," Lambert answered solemnly. "Two weeks ago, Corrine divined the location of Ciri, and she's around Yaruga. Specifically, the stretch in Sodden. The war's aftershock still rings out, and there are skirmishes happening everywhere. He went alone and refused our help in case we were to affect the machinations of Destiny."
Roy nodded. There should be a Druid's Circle nearby. Perhaps his mother is there too. "Very well. I shall seek him out on my way."
***
"So when are you setting off?" Letho whipped out a bottle of dwarven liquor from his ring. "It's been a while since we gathered around. Let's have some drinks and share some stories. What kind of place is Skyrim anyway? And what happened while you were there?"
Roy looked at Coral, who had anticipation in her eyes. "Fine. I'm going to set off in two days anyway, so I have time. Oh, and I have presents." He waved his arms, and an arcane enchanter appeared, decked out with two full-charge soul gems. "Coral, Kalkstein, and Triss, this is for you. An arcane enchanter from Skyrim."
Coral had the biggest smile on her lips, and she kissed Roy, then she observed the new tool from another world closely. A curious Triss approached it too.
"Letho, Kiyan, this is for you." A pile of herbs filled up another countertop. "Skyrim's herbs. Thirty-six types of them. You can research them and come up with new potions. Or you can use them to improve the Trial."
The witchers breathed heavily, as if they had just seen a gorgeous woman.
"Here's your chance, Kiyan," Letho teased. "Get some seeds for Evelyn and see if she can plant them."
"Sure."
And finally, Roy filled the last table with a pile of bones and scales that radiated incredible power. That was only a quarter of his stock. He would take out more in time.
"And what's this?" Auckes, Serrit, and the remaining witchers stared at them.
"The bones and scales of a powerful beast." Roy smiled at Vesemir. "See if you can make them into weapons or armor."
"What kind of beasts?" Vesemir caressed the scale and flicked them. It made a curious sound, and his eyes shone.
"Oh, they call them dragons back in Skyrim."
Someone spat his liquor out.
"You have five seconds! Wipe. It. Off." Auckes quickly wiped the liquor off Lambert's face, and Roy smiled at his shocked companions. Everyone's attention was grabbed by the mere mention of dragons.
"I have time." Roy took a sip of his wine and wrapped an arm around Coral's hips. She looked a bit confused, and he kissed her. "My adventure in Skyrim wasn't too long, but it wasn't short either. I'll answer everything."
***
***
