The Witcher: Elder Blood

200 gems = bonus chapter

Fully support the story at:

patreon.com/FanFictionPremium

***

The palace of Loxia looked a lot like the castles of the local kingdoms, closer to the human style than the elven buildings. However, we had not come to see the palace, which was decorated for the reception of guests, and there was no time for a full-fledged tour of the island - the reception in the main hall was soon to begin.

We went straight towards the high gate through which all the guests passed. Behind the gate there was a long corridor, on the sides there were two smaller corridors, but we were interested only in the main one. It was there that we met the academy's rector, Tissaya de Vrieu, who was greeting the guests with another sorceress.

'Jennyfer led me to them as soon as I noticed the older sorceresses.

And coincidentally, Sabrina was right next to them, exchanging catchphrases with her former mentors. Just by the appearance of the three sorceresses, as well as the clothes on the side of Jennyfer, one could conclude that everyone was struggling with costumes.

Unlike Hela Gedymdate, the almost as old Tissaya was better preserved. Apparently she has spent more time preserving her beauty, brewing the best magical elixirs to slow aging, and most likely learnt magic younger than her colleague. She's the tallest wizard I've ever met, over a hundred and seventy-five centimetres with heels. A strict dress with a neckline that you wouldn't look at, at least not under the gaze of a sorceress, thin lips without a hint of a smile and sharp facial features gave an aura of seriousness to the Rector of Arethusa.

We walked closer to them and said hello, and at the same time began to get acquainted with the older wizards.

The second, a moderately pretty blonde woman of unassuming appearance by the standards of sorceresses: an ordinary woman without her zest, to put it simply, was called Biruta Ikarti. One of the teachers at the academy, and as I guessed, also the vice-rector. She was mostly a scientist, devoting her time to genetics and hybridisation, and was doing administrative work at the academy to take the load off Tissai.

- It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs de Vries. I had a very favourable opinion of you from the outside,' I decided to raise my first impression a little, whether I needed it or not, it was more of an automatic thing.

- Eren Yeager. - as if holding the surname on her tongue, the sorceress paused. - I had never heard such a surname before.

- I didn't get it from my parents,' I replied evasively. My knowledge of Elvish helped me come up with a backstory, which the rector approved: a Quarteron, raised by an Elfess in the Blue Mountains, surname chosen by himself.

I thought about retelling the prepared text, but Tissaya beat me to it: 'I heard it from Hela. He also spoke of you exclusively as a promising member of our brethren. You've learnt all the basics in a year.... - Suddenly the sorceress moved her right palm to my collar and in a couple of movements corrected it in a perfect position, then asked: - You missed last time by choosing not to go with Yennifer. You don't like being in places like this?

- Just being nasty,' Sabrina interjected. - He likes to do more important things.

- Pompous meetings don't appeal to me,' I squinted at the smiling red-haired girl, and at the same time felt a nudge from Jennyfer at my statement.

- It's okay, you'll have plenty of such encounters ahead of you. You'll get used to it, unless you're going to go into asceticism and solitude with nature,' she said without raising an eyebrow. Then Tissaya noticed the new guests behind us, entering through the main gate. - You may go through. Yennifer, would you be so kind as to give your companion a tour before the opening speech. There is much to see in the courtyard of our academy.

We headed further down the corridor, and turned towards the courtyard exit on the other side of the main entrance. The courtyard was like a garden with benches, currently empty as all the guests were heading to the main hall.

- Why did you follow us? - Jennyfer stared unhappily at Sabrina, who was walking beside her. - Have you forgotten everything and I have to give you a tour at the same time?

- There's nothing interesting for the next hour. You could skip Tissai's speech, it's the same every time. Or... oh, you wanted to make your peace with Eren alone in the garden? - Sabrina covered the oncoming smile with the palm of her hand. - Look around, Eren, it's beautiful. The garden is usually the place to go after the homecoming ball when you've had enough of the minstrels playing and the unpleasant faces of the others in the hall.

- What about the rest of the time?

Jennyfer didn't give Sabrina a chance to continue, taking over the role of tour guide: - Here one comes to think, to read in silence. Arethusa's garden contains all the most beautiful flowers from the Continent. Some of the flowers are maintained through magical tricks due to unsuitable conditions. The smell is pleasant.

-Noticed, -A light breeze carried the scent of dozens of different flowers around the garden.

- Now let's go to the Square of Peace, the place of power. It's where they give meditation lessons to new students. It makes it easier for new students to experience magic....

For ten minutes we walked around the grounds of the island without going inside the other two buildings that were closed for the event. Even though Sabrina said it was okay to skip a whole hour, we still headed to the rest of the guests early.

Once inside, amongst the many groups of wizards and fewer monarchs, Yennifer and I began to look around, while Sabrina went to the table of viands with the words, -I'll dilute the boredom in wine, enjoy the evening.

Among the guests I noticed King Aedirn standing with, as I knew from our conversations with Ian and Sabrina, the sorceress Fringilla Vigo and her uncle Artorius Vigo, an expert in illusions. Fringilla had natural beauty and grace, green eyes and short cropped hair, and wore a dark red dress in the colour of her uncle's costume. For his part, Artorius looked like an ordinary middle-aged man with a beard beginning to grow.

The Vigos are a noble wizarding family originating from the Principality of Toussaint.

I spotted Hela talking to a warlock unknown to me. But the bulk of the people here are unknown to me. Except that I could identify two elven sorceresses: Francesca Findabair and her protégé - Ida Emean aep Sivney.

I only know about the two elven women from the words of Ian and Sabrina. The former is considered one of the most powerful sorceresses of the present time. She is a pureblood elf and a member of the Sorcerers' Chapter. She is second only to Miss de Vries in influence, and that only because of her involvement in the unfortunate and unfortunate Aelyrann Uprising. Only taking a shallow glance at her so as not to stare too hard, he could only give her one assessment: 'captivating to look at.

'It's like being in some kind of flower garden,' I look away from the two elven women.

- It's always like this here,' my partner said as she noticed my gaze running around the large hall. - Everyone comes in, meeting up with acquaintances, socialising while waiting for the start. Then there's a welcome speech from Tissai, a ball with the graduating girls, and again everyone divides into groups to socialise. And drinking, too,' she grinned, taking my hand tighter and leading me away from Sabrina, who had found a table with drinks.

- Just a social gathering. Meet other wizards, perhaps kings and queens, dukes and princes. Gossip, rumours, life stories in one telling,' I gather together all the information about the evening in question.

- That's right,' came the steady voice of Tissai de Vries from behind us.

We turned round to her. There were three women standing behind us; only the rector of the academy was known to me.

- In time you will discover the value of such meetings, they usually begin to be used for their intended purpose about.... Mm, ten to twenty, it varies from person to person,' said the youngest woman, which was safe to say she didn't look even close to her true age.

Dark, loose brown hair, brown eyes and light make-up - a pretty but mostly standard appearance with the influence of magic. In contrast went an ornate dress of black with flecks of white, and an array of jewellery in the colour of the dress.

Tissaya took the floor again, maintaining a frozen mask of calm on her face: - 'May I present to you, Philippa Eilhart,' a slight bow of the head from the woman who had spoken earlier. - And Litta Nade,' a less confident nod from the third woman, clearly looking her age - quite young, younger than Jennyfer and Sabrina.

- Pleased to meet you, Eren Yeager,' I introduce myself first.

- Jennifer from Wengerberg.

- You have a lot to talk to Litta about, and we need to take our leave,' Miss de Vrieu led Philippa away behind her, all the while maintaining a polite smile, and left us alone with one of Arethusa's newest students.

Litta is half a head shorter than Yennifer. Sharp facial features, softened with make-up, were outweighed by fiery red hair and eyes the colour of jade. And the girl clearly knew how to elevate her appearance by emphasising her figure: a slim fitting dress with a neckline on her chest and left leg gave an instant appreciation of the sorceress's form.

The outfit was a clear contrast to her stern face, only occasionally breaking down in times of uncertainty, such as now when she was quickly spat at us before the upcoming ball. 'Is she trying to copy Tissai's behaviour, or does she not like to show emotion herself?' she said.