Chapter 10:

"The serpent if it wants to become the dragon must eat itself." - Francis Bacon.

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A Few Moments Later:

Current Year: 1259

"That is...Unfortunate, Ivar. I didn't expect all of my class to die." I spoke while feigning sadness. Ivar was very adept at knowing if someone was lying, but I technically didn't lie. It's unfortunate that the four other students didn't survive, I had done nothing to try and hamper their success. They just weren't strong enough. It wasn't unfortunate that Ulf and Vivienne had died though. I have no doubt that if they survived this trial and the next, they would try to make my life more difficult for me once we had set out on the path.

"Yes….It truly is. We have never lost this many before. I pray that the class under you will have twice as many survivors to make up for it, but I believe it's a fool's dream." Ivar said while looking down and sighing.

"I didn't take you for a religious man, Ivar. Tell me, should I inform the priestess of Lebioda in Toussaint that you wish to be forgiven for your, no doubt several, transgressions? They'll probably spit in your face. The infamous "Ivar Evil-Eye" coming for forgiveness. It would make a good bard's tale, would it not?" I said while letting out a hearty chuckle. Ivar joined me, he liked macabre stuff like this after all. It was a good way to cheer him up.

"Ha! 'Tis true, it would make an excellent tale! I'm glad you still have that sly tongue of yours after having undergone the trial." Ivar said as he patted me on the shoulder, he was glad that at least I survived.

The mere mention of the trial though caused me to clasp my head in pain. Ivar quickly grabbed a hold of me, wondering what was wrong.

"Harkon? Harkon, are you ok? What's wrong?" Ivar asked, wondering what was happening.

"It's the trial Ivar." I said while clutching my head. My breath in pain. "I was awake for all of it. I remember everything."

Ivar looked shocked by my words. No trainee has ever been completely awake for the entirety of the trial. After seven days and nights of the harshest torture any man or thing could experience, it simply wasn't possible to stay awake that long. Ivar seemed to ponder at my words for a moment before speaking once more.

"It's because you're a source. With that much magical energy being forced through you, it must have kept you awake." Ivar said, his voice racked with pity.

"Is there any cure? Any mind magic shenanigans we can pull off? There must be something we can do." I said, the pain subsided and I managed to bring myself back up to my feet.

Ivar brought his hand to his chin and began to ponder on the myriad amounts of knowledge he has gained over his long life as a witcher.

"There isn't a "cure" per say, but I think I may be of use in this matter. You will not like the process, however." Ivar said ominously.

"I'll do what I have to do. " I said resolutely. I needed to fix this, I would not be stopped by something of this nature.

"Alright then. Here's what's going to happen. Your Trial of Dreams will begin in one month as is customary. Your body needs time to rest after the previous mutation process. During this one month period you and I will take a trip to a cave on the top of this mountain. There, I will attempt to "cure" you of your condition." Ivar said. His tone was resolute and carried authority. He was the master of this school after all.

"Alright, I'll pack my things and prepare for the journey. I have a couple of things to take care of first, I'll meet you in the courtyard in thirty minutes." I said. I bid goodbye to my mother and Ivar and made my way to the alchemy lab. I'll need to make a few doses of my addiction potion for Fringilla while I'm gone. I'll also need to make some powerful sleeping dust while I'm here, shouldn't be too difficult.

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After a few moments I reached the alchemy lab, Torsten wasn't here at the moment. He's probably out doing the most basic witcher exercises he needs to do to stay in shape. He wants to live as long as possible to continue his alchemical research after all.

I quickly got to work. I got out my mortar and pestle, fired up the alchemical burners and then procured my ingredients. I quickly ground up some wolfsbane, some bison grass, some bloodmoss and a few other odds and ends. Then I pressed all the ground up ingredients into a compressor and dropped it into the brew. A few minutes later, I had the potions I needed. I placed all of them in a small chest and carried them with me.

I quickly made my way over to Fringillas room. I walked with a bit of a spring in my step, I did want to see her again after all. I needed to wrestle with these feelings later, I don't know if I'm in the clear with her yet. Once I finally reached the door, I knocked a couple of times *Knock Knock*. After waiting for a moment, I let myself in. What greeted me was two perky mou- I mean, a nude Fringilla brushing her hair.

"No one has proper manners in this school, do they? You didn't even wait for a response before barging in here." Fringilla said, obviously teasing me. A quick flick of her wrist and some magic later and she was now wearing her usual mage outfit.

"I-I came to give you these." I stuttered out, but then collected myself as I handed her the chest full of potions.

Fringilla noticed my stuttering and smiled. She reached over sensually to grab the box, making sure to fully show me her cleavage as she did so. She took the box from my hands and then slowly opened it. She quickly drank one of the potions that was contained within. She was due for another dose.

"I know that I'm drinking poison, but it is delicious." Fringilla said truthfully. She looked around the box once more to find a clear bottle containing a golden dust like substance that resembled sand.

"I know what these are, but what's this?" Fringilla said questioningly as she held the bottle at eye level.

"That's sleeping dust. Should be powerful enough to knock out Svend. You must take him to Emhyr today, I'm going to be leaving soon. I need a month to heal after my first round of mutations and I'm heading to the mountains." I said seriously.

Fringilla looked at me with understanding, I was quite a mess the other day afterall.

"Alright, that's all fine and good. However, you will need to come with me temporarily. The emperor will need proof that this boy is who he says he is. You will meet with Emhyr and explain the situation." Fringilla said with a sly smile. My jaw hung open at this statement.

"Bullshit." I said with a bit of anger. "You knew Svend was here before you even arrived here. That's why the emperor even has his eyes on us in the first place!"

I yelled out, but Fringilla kept her face calm.

"That is not true. There was only a rumor going around a couple years ago that a bastard son of the usurper had fled. We had no idea where to. It was only until recently that the emperor learned that he could possibly be in the hands of the viper school." Fringilla stopped for a moment then continued. "The emperor didn't know what the child looked like or even what the child's name was. That's why he had me come here and why he had me assess whether or not you vipers were a threat."

Fringilla's words weighed heavily on me. I held my chin in my hands and stared at the floor in contemplation while pacing back and forth. It didn't make any sense! Why did the emperor decide to just now start looking for a bastard son of the usurper? Why did he suspect the vipers in the first place?! It doesn't make any sense! The only possibility was if...Someone...No, no. That's not possible. However, the more I thought about the theory, the more I thought that it was very possible.

….A red spy was in the base? At the very least, a Nilfgaardian one was.

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A Few Moments Later:

Current Year: 1259

I was currently in the courtyard, biting my fingers in nervousness. The unconscious body of Svend was next to me, passed out with a gag in his mouth. I had just finished telling Ivar that before we head off, I needed to talk to Emhyr. He protested and screamed in my face, saying that it was off the table. He told me that he would go in my stead. I told him no, he was the leader of the school and if something happened to him, the school would fall apart. We needed a leader.

I was about to meet one of the most dangerous men in the known world. Emhyr Var Emreis. A man who, in the future, would execute a slaughter of his own wife's country for practically no reason besides expansion of territory and to find his daughter so he could impregnate her. Truly a scumbag. I know that in the future he realizes that his plan is monstrous and allows Ciri to go free, but this is not the future. His majesty, Emhyr Var Emreis is still one of the most depraved men on the continent. Exactly the kind of disgusting human that I despise. I had prepared myself though. I know what he would probably ask me, and I definitely know what I'm going to say to him. I know a lot of things about him after all. I can use that information to my advantage.

I had written down everything I knew of the future and certain key world events in a letter that I placed in a locked chest in my room. If I do not return, Ivar will eventually come to clean out my things and find this letter. That would assure the schools survival and allow him and my mother to live.

As I was thinking these thoughts, Fringilla finally arrived down from her room. She glanced at the unconscious body of Svend and then looked at myself.

"Are you ready to head out? We can wait. You finished the trial just the other day."

I grunted as I picked up Svend from the floor, giving him a piggyback ride. My enhanced strength made it seem like I was carrying air on my back.

"No, let's get this over with. I do not wish to be in the presence of his majesty any longer than I must." I said gravely.

Fringilla nodded at my statement. She then made some motions with her hands. A nice tearing in reality sound was made and there was a glowing orange portal opened up. It looked similar to how it did in the games, but I thought it was….Ugly? I'm not really sure, but I know it felt weird to look at.

Fringilla walked through the portal that no doubt led to the royal palace in Nilfgaard. I imagine it will be much more luxurious than the one found in Vizima during the third game. It was in the heart of the wealthiest nation in the world after all.

I repositioned myself with Svend on my back and then walked through the portal myself. I felt like I was travelling through space itself for a moment and then I reemerged on the other side. I looked around to find several guards making their rounds around the castle, walking in several two man groups with classic Nilfgaardian heavy armor designs. I was right about the luxurious part, this place looked like it could shit gold! There were decorations and tapestries that aligned the walls. There were stained glass windows with several depictions of the 'Great Sun', the main religion of Nilfgaard. This place was beautiful.

Despite the beauty, a frown never left my face as I was in one of the most dangerous places in the world. Fringilla began walking down the main hallway and I followed after her. We came to a stop in a large corridor where several groups of guards, followed by a very familiar man were standing.

"The Gentleman will please follow me. The emperor is a very important man and must be shown the proper respect. We will clean you up this way, if you would please follow me." The man, who I recognized as Mererid from the third installment of the game, said.

"Alright, let's get this over with." I said as I handed Svend over to one of the guards with his hands out, ready to carry him, and then I set off. I looked at Fringilla and she smiled, she told me we'd meet up soon. She won't betray me. No amount of torture would break me and allow myself to divulge the antidote to the potion I gave her. She knew that. She witnessed me undergo the trial, afterall.

I followed Mererid to a bathing room. There were several handmaidens there, waiting for me. I took off my clothes and stepped into the bath while the girls got to work. I couldn't really stop them, they were under orders. I was willing to bet that all these girls, and everyone in this room, was a potential plant and spy for Emhyr. He probably wanted them here in case I felt chatty and decided to divulge any information about myself.

After they were done, they tried to cut my hair. My hair wasn't long though and I liked it the way it was. I told them no, on the grounds that if anyone went near my ears, I'd kill them. They accepted that and we moved on.

"Does the boy know how to bow?" Mererid said, condescension in his tone.

"It's 'boy' now? No longer gentleman?" I asked humorously.

"The gentleman is a boy, is he not? Now tell me, do you know how to bow?" He asked me once more, getting a little agitated.

I sighed and then performed a textbook Nilfgaardian style bow, not that I was gonna use it. This guy was being a dick.

Mererid nodded in my knowledge of proper etiquette. He then took me to a room that had several nilfgaardian outfits. Most of them looked horrendously ugly, but I managed to find a diamond in the rust. It was a simple pair of pants and a tunic, it looked remarkably similar to Geralt's tunic that he wore in the Netflix show when he fought Renfri.

I had decided on my outfit and got dressed. Afterward, Mererid led me down a hallway, presumably to meet the emperor. We were walking for a moment until we came across the door that was decorated luxuriously. There was a 'Great Sun' carved into the wood and there were several pieces of, what I imagined to be, gold Increments along the sides.

Mererid opened the door to the chamber to reveal who laid within. There was a man inside, sitting at a giant desk. It was covered with maps, several key positions outlined with red ink. It was Emhyr. He looked younger than he did in the Witcher 3, more closely resembling the actor who played him in the netflix series. He was wearing luxurious garments though, not something I'd be able to afford. He truly looked like a king, he just wasn't wearing his crown at the moment.

"Behold, his majesty Emhyr Var Emreis!" Mererrid intoned loudly while he went into a sweeping bow.

Noticing how I was still standing there, doing nothing, Mererid seethed.

"Bow!" Merrerid said angrily, but in a whisper.

I didn't listen to him. I was too busy glaring at Emhyr, the most dangerous man in the world, in front of me. The White Flame Dancing on the Barrows of his Enemies.

"Leave us." He intoned with authority. His voice was dark.

Merrerid left us immediately and shut the door behind him.

"Please, be seated." Emhyr intoned once more. I'd be lying if that didn't send a shiver up my spine. There was no emotion portrayed on my face, though. I would not be giving Emhyr an inch of ground to work with. This man was a master manipulator.

I sat down in the seat, making myself comfortable. I allowed my shoulders to slouch and I sat down with my hands clasping each other while my elbows rested on the arms of the chair. This was considered something extremely disrespectful to do, but I didn't give a shit. This man might be powerful, but he has nothing on the entity I met before. His presence is weak by comparison.

Emhyr looked at my antics, probably thinking I was just a child who didn't know any manners.

"Can I get you something to drink? Anything you desire, in Nilfgaard, we have it." Emhyr said, trying to sound 'fatherly', if you could call this man a father.

"No. Spare me the pleasantries, Emhyr, what is it you want?" I said with a scowl on my face. This man was a monster and I wanted nothing to do with him at the moment. I might be acting rude, but it is actually part of my plan. I actually don't have a lot of bargaining chips at this table. I need the conversation to go my way, or else he'll capitalize and take me for everything I have.

"I see, down to business then." Emhyr said, his face morphing into one without emotion. Just as emotionless as mine was.

"Is this boy, Svend, the son of the usurper?" Emhyr asked, his tone was resolute.

"Yes." I replied back after waiting a moment.

��I see." Emhyr said. He paused for a moment in contemplation and then he snapped his fingers. The door opened and a guard stepped in.

"Bring me the boy. Now." Emhyr said, a bit of anger in his voice this time. I guess when it comes to the matter of the usurper, Emhyr can become emotional. He did kill his father after all.

A few moments went by in silence. After the near deafening silence where all Emhyr and I did was glare at each other, the door opened again. Svend walked through the doors, he was no longer asleep it seemed. He still had a gag in his mouth. When he saw Emhyr he seemed to try and scream out, but it was muffled. He tried to break free from the guards hold and run away, but the guard punched him in the stomach and easily stopped him. Svend fell to his knees.

"Take off his gag." Emhyr intoned quickly.

The guard did as he was bid and ungagged Svend. Svend whimpered on the floor, still in pain from the extremely heavy hit the guard had landed on him.

"Boy." Emhyr asked, his words full of ice. "Your father was the usurper?"

"N-No! No! Your majesty please!" Svend said in terror, but then he discovered my presence and stared at me. "It's him your majesty! He's the son of the usurper! He's tricked you, please! I'm your humble servant!"

Svend was acting erratically. He was crying and pleading that he would come out of this whole situation alive. Emhyr turned his head over to me and just gazed at me.

"I see." Emhyr said frostily.

Emhyr turned around for a moment and collected himself. He was still for a few moments before all of a sudden Emhyr drew his sword that laid at his waist. Faster than most eyes could see, Emhyr turned around and with the fury of a madman, decapitated Svend.

Emhyr was breathing loudly. Huffing and puffing with anger.

"Hang his head on a pike outside the keep! Let all would be dissenters know that all traitors will meet the same fate. Take his body and leave us." Emhyr said, still breathing loudly.

I knew Emhyr might kill him, but I didn't think he would fully decapitate him. It's a shame, but Svend was planning to try and start a coup, so there was nothing I could do.

Emhyr sat back down in his chair and collected himself before returning to his emotionless appearance. I just smirked at that, he had already shown me his weakness by getting himself so worked up.

"I apologize for that, let us get back to business." Emhyr said, trying to act professional.

"Yes, let's. Now that you've gotten that out of your system." I mocked him.

"Tread more carefully, young one. I hold all the cards here, your school is at my mercy." Emhyr said, showing his hand. I knew he would try and threaten me, just didn't think he would do it so soon.

"No, Emhyr." I said and then paused, gauging his reaction before continuing. "You are at my mercy, your majesty."

I smiled at Emhyr with my signature devil's smirk. He had fallen right into my trap by being so direct with his threats. Now for me to show my hand.

"You know, your majesty, I was never truly taught how to properly address my betters. The lord's and lady's that are above my station." I said with a rather condescending tone. I could almost hear Emhyr's brows furrowing as a giant scowl appeared on his face.

"How should I address you, Emhyr? Should I call you Ser? Should I, perhaps, call you Lord? What about, my liege? That has a nice ring to it, doesn't it, my liege?" I spoke, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I would advise you to get to the point, boy. Otherwise those ears of yours will make a great decoration, once they and your head are adorned on a pike outside my walls." Emhyr said, promising me that his patience was running thin.

I just smirked, I had him.

"Not yet, my liege. I'm not quite finished. So, if I don't call you by any of those 'grand' titles, what should I call you by? Should I call you, my majesty? No, that's too played out. You must get that one all the time. What about...My Emperor! Nah, that one is stale as well. Hmm, let me think….Oh! I got it! I'm sure you'll love this one, your majesty. It's a classic after all." I said, my smile growing ever wider. Almost stretching past what was natural.

"You'll like this one, your majesty. How about we call you 'Duny'!"