Witcher: The Half Elf

The war in Aedirn continued. After a brief and fruitless negotiation, the armies of both sides soon clashed in fierce combat.

Despite being protected by solid city walls, the defense against Nilfgaard's Black Army proved arduous. King Demavend personally commanded the defense, even standing atop the city walls to inspire his soldiers. Yet, despite his efforts, his forces suffered heavy casualties and were placed at a stark disadvantage.

Had the Kingdom of Aedirn not bolstered its military in recent years, plotting to seize Kaedwen territory and stationing idle troops near the capital, Vengerberg might have already fallen to the Nilfgaardian assault. Without those preparations, the kingdom would have likely been overrun in a single wave, leading to its destruction within a month.

However, these battle developments had little to do with Wayne.

After resolving matters concerning Princess Pavetta and the infant girl born with the blood of the ancients, Wayne left the Kingdom of Cintra. With King East's arrangements, he set sail for the Skellige Isles.

The Sea Boar, Craite, welcomed Wayne warmly. After failing to win Princess Pavetta's favor and returning home, Craite had fallen into a months-long depression. He later married through political arrangements and now had two children—a son and a daughter.

Craite admired Wayne's strength and drinking capacity. On the night of Wayne's arrival, the Quint family patriarch held a grand feast, inviting prominent members of several Skellige clans to celebrate. Wayne arrived bearing fine wine, which elevated the banquet into a night of revelry that left everyone thoroughly intoxicated.

Yet the Skelligers underestimated Wayne's drinking capacity.

The warriors of the great clans, renowned as masters of the mead-hall, proved no match for Wayne. His enhanced constitution, akin to that of a super-soldier, rendered him impervious to the effects of alcohol. As barrel after barrel was consumed, every man at the banquet eventually succumbed to intoxication, collapsing in drunken stupors.

After felling ten of Skellige's best drinkers, Wayne remained sober, though his stomach protested the sheer volume of alcohol consumed. Even so, his drinking prowess earned thunderous applause from the Skelligers.

Later that evening, two tall and striking Skellige women escorted Wayne to his chambers. They helped him undress, their intent clear. The room was soon filled with lively and rhythmic sounds of shared joy.

When Wayne emerged the following afternoon, refreshed and energized, a servant guided him to the hall of the Quint family.

The hall's décor, rough yet imposing, suited the character of Skellige. Craite, now fully recovered from his revelry, sat at the head of the hall, deep in conversation with a towering man whose frame resembled a bear.

As Wayne entered, Craite turned, his face lighting up with laughter. He exclaimed in his booming voice:

"Wayne, my friend, word has spread across the Skellige Isles—Wayne the Witcher is now hailed as the greatest drinker in the North!"

With a mischievous grin, Craite added, "Your drinking prowess stunned all of Skellige. And as for the two lasses who joined you last night? They sang your praises all night long. It seems your skills in bed rival your drinking abilities. The women here are smitten!"

Skelligers were known for their bluntness, and Wayne found himself momentarily at a loss for words in response to Craite's direct and unabashed remarks. He managed a gracious thanks for the warm hospitality before turning his attention to the bear-like man in the hall. The man's piercing gaze met Wayne's, and his presence exuded power and authority.

Wayne recognized the man's features instantly—the sparse cropped hair, rugged beard, fierce expression, heavy metal armor, and the distinct vertical pupils alongside the bear-shaped medallion hanging on his chest.

Before Wayne could speak, Craite introduced them with a hearty laugh:

"Wayne, my friend, this is Master Ned, a witcher of the Bear School. He's been a great ally to our clan, slaying the harpies that plagued our coastline and keeping our sailors safe from monsters. He's a warrior of unparalleled swordsmanship!"

"I have prepared a quiet room for you. If you want to discuss anything, you can use that space. No one will disturb you," Craite offered warmly.

Wayne expressed his gratitude for the thoughtful arrangements and then turned his attention to Ned, the Bear School witcher. Their gazes locked for a moment before Wayne spoke.

"Hello, Ned," Wayne began, his tone measured. "I am Wayne, a witcher of the Wolf School and the administrator of the new Witcher Order."

Ned's expression remained impassive at the mention of the Wolf School, showing no particular concern for a fellow witcher. However, his demeanor shifted slightly when Wayne mentioned the newly reformed Witcher Order. His thick brows rose, emphasizing the scar that slashed across his rugged face.

Fixing Wayne with a cool, scrutinizing stare, Ned spoke, his voice edged with skepticism.

"The Witcher Order?" he repeated. "I thought the Order disbanded more than two centuries ago. I've heard of the Wolf School—White Wolf Geralt and your mentor Vesemir—but I've never heard of you. So, why are you seeking out the Bear School? What's your purpose?"

Wayne, unfazed by Ned's curt tone, offered a calm smile. He nodded briefly to Kratz before turning back to the Bear School witcher.

"Ned," he began evenly, "Vesemir is indeed my teacher. While I've only been a witcher for six years, I'm undeniably the most powerful witcher of this era."

"The Witchers of the Wolf, Griffin, Viper, and Cat Schools have already joined the new Witcher Order. I was elected as the Order's administrator with their full support," Wayne continued, his tone steady and resolute. "I understand the Bear School values professionalism and doing business without personal attachments. So, you don't need to concern yourself with my credentials or the truth of my words right now."

"My purpose here is straightforward. I want to negotiate a deal with the Bear School, one that promises to be the most lucrative commission you've ever encountered. Let's go to the room Craite has kindly arranged and discuss the details."

Wayne's gaze held firm. "Whether you agree or not after hearing me out, you lose nothing, correct?"

Ned's eyes narrowed slightly in response to Wayne's confident tone. The young witcher's self-assured claim of being the strongest alive and his talk of uniting the schools into a new order struck him as overly bold, perhaps even exaggerated. The Bear School witcher had spent decades in relative isolation, traveling far less frequently than others, but he kept tabs on news of his peers.

The idea that someone could unite the fractured remnants of the witcher schools seemed implausible, bordering on fantasy. Ned suspected Wayne might be embellishing, yet something about his presence and composure made the Bear School veteran pause.

Still, Ned was pragmatic. As a witcher accustomed to operating as a mercenary, he knew there was no harm in hearing Wayne out—especially since the arrangement was facilitated by Craite, the head of the Quint family. Refusing such an introduction outright would be impolite, if not foolish.

After only a moment's thought, Ned nodded and gestured for Wayne to lead the way. Together, they entered the private room Craite had arranged.