[Chapter Size: 2400 Words.]
Third Person POV
Aretuza.
...
...
"Fringilla Vigo! And other representatives of Emperor Emhyr and the Empire!" As soon as their names were announced... everyone turned, seeing an entire group wearing black cloaks with a sun drawn on them — it was the Nilfgaardian delegation, finally joining the ball.
And, by the way they were dressed, they hadn't come in attire for the occasion. They looked more prepared for war than for socializing or dancing — which was quite obvious and, at the same time, smart.
After all, everyone in the hall began to look at them attentively. There were more than thirty mages entering the hall.
"Welcome, Fringilla," said Tissaia, looking at her former apprentice, trying to maintain a civilized demeanor in front of everyone in the hall.
"Hello, mistress... it's been a long time," Fringilla replied in a very calm tone.
"You are welcome. After all, the invitation was extended to all mages of the continent, and Nilfgaard is no exception. Therefore, tonight should be treated as more than a political gathering. We are here to discuss a problem that may involve the entire world — and it does not matter which side of the war you are on," Tissaia declared loudly, enough for everyone to hear, hoping the hostile eyes would calm down.
And of course, those words would not have much effect.
Soon, several people began approaching the Nilfgaardians, trying to start conversations. The hall quickly turned into a political battlefield, with everyone trying to extract information — both from the North and the South — seeking plans, intentions, and possible schemes.
Tissaia could even try to deny it, but that night might be even more political than the meeting of the kings itself.
"Francesca Findabair!" The announcement came shortly after.
Everyone looked, seeing the most powerful elf on the continent entering the hall. Also considered the most beautiful woman in the world, or at least, that's how they saw her.
Francesca, the current queen of the elves, also held the title of sorceress — just like Tissaia and Hen Gedymdeith there. In the last centuries, only 5 mages had reached this level of mastery in magic, which showed how difficult it was to attain such a position.
Francesca approached, and the attention in the hall intensified even more. "It's been a long time, Tissaia."
"Indeed, Francesca. Although you are with the South, you haven't stayed away from Northern matters for long, have you?" Tissaia replied, in a serious tone.
The two had already faced each other during the war. While Madara dealt with the army of black-clad soldiers alone, the two engaged in battles between high-level sorceresses, using spells powerful enough to frighten even the most experienced sorceresses on that battlefield.
Francesca simply nodded, maintaining a calm posture.
"It seems this place is getting more and more interesting," Philippa commented, while standing beside Yennefer, Triss, Geralt, and Keira, drinking wine and trying to stay out of more direct conversations, while observing everything attentively.
"I was hoping we were here just to socialize at a ball, hear some worrying things, and maybe sleep with a handsome man at the end of the night... but I'm starting to feel like we're about to walk into a war," Keira murmured beside them, crossing her arms.
"Well, that was already expected," Triss murmured, observing the looks they exchanged among themselves.
Certainly, there was no friendship there. None at all. Only interests, political games, attempts to gain favors — or something more... even flirting, with people trying to seduce one another.
"And them?" Triss asked.
Yennefer gave a slight smile before replying: "They're coming. You know how it is... they are what everyone is waiting for tonight. There's no need for them to arrive so early."
Even so, as she said that, she turned her gaze toward the entrance.
If he was going to arrive, then it should happen at any moment.
Then a man approached the herald, whispering something. By the nervous way he acted — and the fact that he also informed Tissaia — it became obvious to some who was about to enter when she took leave of Francesca and positioned herself right in front of the door.
The herald puffed out his chest.
Yennefer's gaze also turned to the door, and soon many others followed the same movement.
"We now welcome Duke Madara Uchiha of Cintra and the crown princess Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, his wife!"
Immediately, countless heads turned toward the entrance.
The entire hall seemed to hold its breath.
The doors opened.
All eyes were fixed there.
And then, they appeared.
Ciri wore the same hairstyle as at the meeting of kings, dressed in an outfit as white as her platinum hair, it was very refined for the occasion.
At her side, Madara wore garments in a Japanese style — his noble kimono, but with colors opposite to Ciri's, black. His hair was loose, not tied as it had been at the meeting of kings... longer than before. He had been letting it grow over the past years, and, even being naturally unruly, it had the strange way of perfectly matching his presence.
Female sighs echoed through the hall. Even some of the servants seemed momentarily distracted, almost forgetting their duties.
Yennefer could see Ciri muttering something upon noticing this, clearly bothered by the female gazes directed at her husband.
Even so, Ciri slightly raised her arm, gave a smile, and held onto him, as the two advanced together into the hall.
The conversations ceased.
The music stopped.
No one sought dialogue or distraction anymore.
All attention was focused solely on Madara and his companion.
After all, he was the man capable of using elemental powers that did not come from ordinary magic — but from something unique, something only he possessed.
It was practically as if everyone there had seen Madara kill a friend, a relative — or even a lover.
In the minds of many mages in that hall, he represented exactly what they could not achieve, no one had the courage to meddle with him...
But no one could deny it: that was a man who could not be underestimated. If anyone tried to seek revenge against him, they would likely find only their own death.
Madara was ruthless.
His reputation among sorcerers and mages was clear — he had already killed more sorcerers than any other living being on the continent, perhaps in all of history. The number of mages he had eliminated alone had already surpassed one hundred.
And all of that since the age of six.
He also killed Vilgefortz, one of the five most powerful on the continent — and despite being the youngest among all with the same title, perhaps the most powerful, as many believed.
"Welcome. We have been expecting you," said Tissaia, in a diplomatic tone.
"Hello, Tissaia. It is good to see you. I hope you are well," Madara replied in the same tone.
"We are looking forward to tonight's meeting," she said with a slight smile, before turning her attention to Ciri.
"Princess Cirilla, it is an honor to have you in Aretuza. We have heard that you are becoming a powerful sorceress as well." These words immediately sparked whispers among those present.
"A sorceress...? What do you mean?"
"I didn't know that..."
Many were surprised.
Ciri was already known as an exceptional swordswoman. Her name had spread after she demonstrated that she could even compare to Madara in sword combat.
In Skellige, she had proven this in the arena, facing monsters, and also in the battle against the Wild Hunt inside Kaedwen's castle.
After that, she remained more reserved in the past year — training with Yennefer and taking care of Aren's pregnancy. Even so, her name continued to be mentioned for extraordinary feats with work that only a witcher in Redania, Caingorn, especially in the Holopole region.
Since it was not common for someone to arrive in a city and simply declare that they had eliminated more than fifty monsters alone, completely clearing the region of monsters and taking on almost all the contracts from the city's notice board...
Now, with Tissaia openly revealing that Ciri was also studying magic, that ceased to be a secret. And, in truth, it would not make sense to hide it for long.
Soon, everyone would see her power. She could already perform many spells and they would naturally witness it tonight, before they could simply use it as an excuse to approach, they had decided behind closed doors that Tissaia could announce this to everyone in the hall.
Madara, who managed to gather knowledge from numerous sorcerers and one of the mages — managed to obtain the knowledge of yet another mage, Hen Gedymdeith, a mage nearly 200 years old — and intended to pass part of it on to Ciri so she could become even more powerful.
"In any case, I am sure many people will want to speak with you. Let us wait for a few more guests before we begin the main discussions. Make yourselves comfortable, Lord Uchiha and crown princess," said Tissaia.
With that, she left them free in the hall, and the two began to walk together. People automatically stepped aside, opening a path as they watched them pass.
'Can you use magic in here?', Madara asked telepathically. They were still using the artifacts from the meeting of kings.
'Don't you see people moving away? I'm casting a spell to push them back. And it's working', Ciri replied, almost celebrating.
The people in front of them were indeed stepping aside. Many tried to approach them, but ended up being diverted by the effect of the technique.
The hall had magical barriers that prevented the use of spells for everyone, ensuring the safety of the event. Even so, Ciri could use her energy in a subtle way — enough to bypass these protections, the Elder Blood would not be stopped by barriers.
They walked toward where Yennefer was.
'You know... I'm thinking about Aren right now', Ciri said suddenly. The topic was very random.
But it wasn't the first time she had brought it up since they left Aren at the temple.
'He is fine', Madara replied.
'But what if he's hungry? This is the time he usually feeds... then they'll have to change his diaper. Do you think Nenneke is taking good care of him?', she asked, beginning to show anxiety.
Madara sighed. It was not the moment for this — not in the middle of the largest gathering of magical beings on the continent.
'He is fine, Ciri.'
'But... what if after changing his diaper they don't cover him with blankets? What if he gets cold? Remember that we started sleeping with him between us in the last few weeks?'
'I know. But he will be fine. I have a clone there watching our son. If something is wrong, I will know.'
She still seemed reluctant, but nodded slightly.
'Ciri... let's focus here. We have enemies among these sorcerers. We don't know what they are planning, so we need to stay alert. Let's protect each other. As long as we are alive, we will have the chance to return to our son. You know that.' With those words, Ciri took a deep breath.
'I know... sorry.' she murmured, a bit nervous.
'It's fine. Let's find our friends.' They walked toward Yennefer, where Geralt, Triss, Keira, and Philippa were also — who was watching Madara attentively.
Madara couldn't help but think. 'I just hope these fools aren't trying to start another game among sorceresses...'
There were looks full of intent — some clearly considering seducing him. But that would not work on Madara.
Madara had an idea that there were two types of people here, those who saw him as a threat with his current power and influence over the North and the South, also with a desire for revenge, after all Madara had killed many people over the years... And the other type was nothing less than seeking to benefit from him, to ally with him would be among the looks filled with desire, there were women seeking to be his lover, his ally, mentor among other things... they would realize that the best strategy would be to align with him, seek protection and perhaps even try to influence his political path — who knows, encourage him to become something greater, an absolute ruler of the continent and benefit from it...
The Lodge of Sorceresses could try that, with Madara knowing these women... The sorceresses could remain under the power of a world he might build, acting as advisors just below him and Ciri.
Madara, in turn, remained calm as he observed the looks upon them, while they arrived where Yennefer had come to meet them.
"Hello...", said Yennefer with a slight smile, as the music began to play again.
"Lord Madara... Princess Ciri..."
The two looked at a young woman who approached with a tray of glasses. She stuttered slightly, clearly nervous.
"She's asking if you would like to drink this wine, Lord Madara, crown princess," said another girl as she stepped beside her colleague — none other than Isabella — with a calm smile, helping her friend who was quite nervous.
"Of course," Madara replied.
He had already noticed the nervous girl's intention when she saw them, but he appreciated the way Isabella intervened.
He took a glass and handed it to Ciri, filled with a transparent-colored wine, very famous and expensive, before taking another for himself.
"Thank you. You may return to your work." With that, the girls stepped away.
"Did you see that? He spoke to us!", Isabella's friend said after she stopped trembling, excited.
Isabella merely raised an eyebrow slightly, but did not stop glancing at Madara. At that moment, practically the entire hall was still watching the two.
"And how did you speak to him so easily?!" The girl noticed this and could not help but exclaim to her friend.
"I just took a deep breath..." Isabella lied.
"How did you just take a deep breath!? He is the most powerful man on the continent, even the mages are afraid of him! He has a presence that pushes everyone away and he is so handsome!" she said like a lovestruck teenager.
Isabella rolled her eyes at that comment. 'Well... you feel more at ease with him when he is responsible for changing your life and you have more contact with him than any other student here', Isabella couldn't help but think as she returned to pick up more drinks in glasses to distribute.
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
🦝 Raccoon here: 🦝
I deeply appreciate your support since the beginning of this exciting journey!
🌟 RaccoonLeague | Patreon🌟
Visit our Patreon for more: https://www.patreon.com/RaccoonLeague
Extra Content Already Available:
🏴☠️ One Piece - I Am a Different Luffy!: 30 extra chapters!
👑 Game of Thrones: The Legend of Jon Arctic!: 30 extra chapters!
👑 Game of Thrones: DragonBorn! 30 extra chapters!
👑 HOTD: Jon Arctic! 30 extra chapters!
🌀 Naruto - Minato Namikaze SI!: 30 extra chapters!
🗡️ The Witcher - As Uchiha Madara! 30 extra chapters!
⚡HP - Jon Arctic as Severus Snape! 30 extra chapters!
⚡ Harry Potter - Shadow Monarch! Finished! [100%]
⚡Danmachi – The Alchemist! [Coming Soon.]
Visit our Patreon for more!!
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆