Farewell and Renewal

The following day, Saibus, Yennefer, and Elana are in the garden, standing under the tree branches. Saibus is standing next to his wife while Elana is standing in front of them.

Saibus has a sad face, while Yennefer and Elana are sad but smiling. Elana moves closer to her son and holds him close.

"I know this is hard, but you knew this moment was coming. I am only in this world for one day, and my time is ending. I've enjoyed the hours we've spent together, but I need to get back to your father's side. After all, I have plenty of adventures to tell him about how our little assassin became one of the best assassins in the League, how you helped the wizards of the Wolf School, how you became a king by bringing punishment on the king of Nazir. And most importantly, how you married the little girl you met in the forest." comforts Elana.

"I know all this. I have mourned your death, but seeing you again has made me realize how much you mean to me. After all, it's when we lose something that we understand how much it meant to us." replies Saibus with a dark smile.

"Yes, my darling. Sorry again, but this situation was a happy accident. I was able to see your evolution and meet my daughter-in-law. I thank fate for granting me this chance." says Elana in a motherly voice rubbing her son's back gently.

"Me too, mom. The pain of losing you again is worth it to have shared this day with you." retorts Saibus.

Mother and son remain like this for a few moments before they part ways. Elana then approaches Yennefer.

"My dear, know I am proud of the woman you have become. You have gone from a scared little girl to a beautiful magician with a place on the Council of Mages. I am delighted to call you my daughter-in-law. I hope you will take care of yourself and Saibus, although he can be very annoying sometimes." Elana tells Yennefer.

Elana holds Yennefer in her arms and whispers something in her ear that Saibus can't hear despite his heightened senses. Yennefer shakes in her arms for a few seconds. Saibus can't see her face, but he suspects that her mother has said something to Yennefer that must have upset her to make her tremble and lose her composure.

Elana steps back after that and resumes her initial place in front of Saibus and Yennefer, who has stopped shaking. Elana slowly takes a bluish tint.

"It's time. I'm glad to see you kids again. I hope you will take care of each other because family is the most important thing in the world." The blue light gets brighter and brighter until it's blinding.

"I love you." Elana's last words echo through the garden before disappearing from the physical world.

Saibus and Yennefer hug each other. They remain in a strange silence, mixing comfort, sadness, and joy. Saibus is the one who breaks this silence.

"What did my mother whisper to you to make you tremble so much?" asks Saibus, stroking Yennefer's hair.

"She gave me a clue to make my dream come true," answers Yennefer with a smile.

"And may I know what that dream is?" asks Saibus.

"No, you can't, at least for now. But you'll be the first to know if I succeed," says Yennefer with a huge smile. Saibus believes it's the first time he's seen Yennefer smile that big. That smile makes her look resplendent.

"Well, I'll wait for the moment you realize your dream, and I hope you do," says Saibus.

"I hope so too," murmurs Yennefer as she touches her belly.

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Saibus POV

It has been several weeks since I entered the Aen Undod ruins, found the World Tree, saw my mother, and faced Caranthir. The power of the World Tree has faded, causing my mother to have to leave the physical plane. In those weeks, not much happened, but what little there was very important.

First, the ruins of Aen Undod were finished being explored and destroyed by order of the Council. Therefore, nothing is noteworthy except the World Tree, which was destroyed after the collapse of its hall. The Wild Hunt cannot do anything with it because its physical existence is gone.

Thanks to this, Alice will no longer be disturbed, although she remains in contact with the League to give her protection from the Hunt. Then one of the biggest news concerning the Order, Lars, the leader of the Elders, has retired and offered his place to Shanks. At the same time, a new master has risen to the rank of Elder.

I had health checkups in Novigrad and listened to the doctor I saw in the kingdom of Nilfgaard. After that, I didn't do any mission or make too much physical effort to recover. But one thing fell out during my exams, the White Cold left some residue in my magic, preventing me from practicing magic well for a while. I don't know how long it will last, but according to some of the great mages of the Order, my magic can become stronger after the traces of the White Cold are gone.

Although losing my magic for a while is disturbing, it can allow me to deepen my theoretical knowledge about esoteric subjects or other things. I may even find another passion about the time I was practicing magic.

There are other little things that happened, but it has little or no importance to me.

Finishing thinking about the past few months, I look at the dark sea on my chest. I gently rub Yennefer's head. She responds to me with a small moan of contentment, a small moan closer to a purr that might misunderstand Yen's elven shift.

"Do you have to get up?" Yennefer's tired little voice reaches my ears.

"Yes, it's already past ten, and I must go to the Forge to get my new swords. I have to go see Trinity too." I reply as I continue to stroke my wife's scalp.

"Hhhmmm." Yennefer doesn't answer me with words but with a moan. She climbs a little more on my chest and tightens her arms around me. Finally, she clarified that she wanted to keep sleeping and that I should enjoy and stay in bed with her.

"Well, we can stay like this for another half hour. But know that after that, I get up whether you are happy or not." So I won't argue more with Yennefer because staying another thirty minutes is unimportant. Especially since I'm not in a hurry and I'm fine here with my wife.

I continue to massage Yen's hair and head while closing my eyes.

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Saibus POV

I am currently in the Forge of Hephaestus. In front of me is a hologram of two swords of Eden. The first is beautifully made of gold, silver, and meteorite. The pommel and my guard are entirely made of gold. The pommel is engraved with ridges to hold the hand of the wearer. The blade is made of gold for its power, silver for the monsters, and meteorite for the Man.

The second sword is very different from the previous one. It is not luxurious in appearance but unique. The sword has a cold color and is also made of silver, gold, and a meteorite. But it has only three golden lines on its blade and twists on the pommel. On the edge of the sword, three pieces of meteorite have been welded. The meteorite bars are twisted and on the blade's outside to go down to the guard. The sword has a grayish steel color, and the blade's tip is black.

Underneath each hologram is the name of their creators and their names. Both were forged by the same person, the most creative Isus and the one who gave his name to this place, Hephaistos.

Underneath the first sword is its code name because Hephaistos did not give it a name. It is called the Sword of Eden n°25. The sword also has two powers given by its Creator. The first one allows it to fight the effects of illusions made against its bearer. The last power, probably the most destructive of the sword, is the ability to project lightning bolts of energy and teleport quickly if the wearer is an Isus or an Isus hybrid.

The other is a mighty sword worthy of the world's greatest master sworders. The blade is Excalibur, one of the most powerful swords forged by Hephaestus. It allows the wearer, if he is of the lineage of Isus, to create blinding explosions of light and to manipulate light itself. The wearer becomes the Lightbearer.

(Image Sword n°25)

(Image Excalibur)

This is not the first time I read about these two swords, but I am amazed at their power each time. I can't imagine the intelligence, creativity, and mastery of forging and technology that Hephaestus had to show to forge his two masterpieces. Unfortunately, these swords could become the reason for war if they fell into the wrong hands. Fortunately, only people with Isus blood can activate their powers.

While I was thinking about the powers of these swords, two rays of light from the bottom of the vault stopped in front of me. Then, the holograms disappeared, and Excalibur and No. 25 hovered before me, surrounded by golden light.

I take n°25 in my right hand. I make some movements in the air with it. I slice up and down, slice diagonally, slash, and pierce. The air whistles as #25 split the air. She's perfect. I sheathe it in a sheath on my back.

I then take Excalibur with my left hand. As soon as I pick it up, I feel that it is heavier than my other sword and that I have to handle it with my dominant hand, the right one. So I make a few rolls with it, taking it with one and two hands.

Perfect, my two swords are excellent. They quickly replaced my previous blades or at least my last sword since one of them broke. I also sheathe Excalibur and look behind me.

"No, don't mind me. Keep playing with your new swords. You look like a child getting presents for his birthday." says Hecate, trying to tease me.

I remain unmoved by my grandmother's childishness. Of course, she can be childish sometimes, but I like it.

"Thank you for her gifts, grandma." I smile at her and play with her childishness.

"It's nothing, boy. It's my job to spoil you. Any grandmother worth her salt has to spoil her grandchildren. So come on, hug grandma." playing her role as grandma, Hecate opens her arms and invites me to hug her.

I obey and take her in my arms. She stays for about ten seconds in my arms before withdrawing. Then, she resumes her usual expression. "The joke is over, but I hope you still like these swords. In my world, they are among the objects created by Hephaistos and his protégé Consus during the Unification War."

"Yes, these weapons are potent and have a long history behind them. Forged to protect and stop a war, they have only caused destruction." I continued.

"Yes, this brings much grief to Hephaestus and Consus. That's why I want you never to leave them when you go outside. That's why I want you to bind yourself to these swords so that she can never leave your body and be separated from you." the grandmother said sternly.

"You know we have had this discussion, and I agreed. However, I also know the risks of these swords," I say seriously.

"I know, but I wanted to make sure you were still okay with it, or you wouldn't have gone back with those swords on your back. Come, follow me. I'll take you to the Ritual Room." Hecate then walks out of the Forge with me at her side.