Chapter 20

Note: I removed the note chapter about me having to work double shift for a month. After that I added chapter 19. This might have caused some problems so check to see if you read chapter 19.

One other thing, I must apologize for irregular updates . I live in Iran. our government loves to be a pain in the ass so we might get times without interne. Between that and my job and the problems with the world, these things happen so sorry for that.

Anyways, enough of that, here is the next chapter

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Andries and his group galloped onward as the Wild Hunt riders closed in, their chilling presence weighing heavily on the air. The half-undead mutants clustered behind Andries, forming a protective shield as they rode. Those armed with bows fired back at their pursuers, while the others used their bodies as living shields, taking the brunt of the magical attacks.

Umbra and Nyx worked in tandem, their psionic powers manifesting as invisible barriers that deflected some of the Wild Hunt's spells. Yet the enemy's assault was relentless—lightning crackled through the air, ice shards and boulders were hurled toward them. Three of the half-undead fell under the barrage, their bodies crumpling into the snow, while two of the Wild Hunt's hounds were lost in the chaos.

Andries, his mind sharp despite the pressure, turned in his saddle, allowing Umbra's telepathic guidance to steer his horse. He raised his hand, summoning a torrent of lightning that crackled toward the pursuing riders. The bolts struck several of the armored figures, knocking some from their mounts, but most remained relentless in their pursuit.

The bitter cold clung to them, as if the very air was an ally of the Wild Hunt. Andries, feeling the icy grip tightening, activated his necromantic device. Dark energy pulsed through the ground, sending waves of necromantic shock outward. His command was clear "RISE".

Bones from long-dead creatures stirred beneath the earth. Skeletal forms began clawing their way out, half-rotted beasts and ancient warriors alike, their brittle bones snapping into life. Though few in number, they were enough to momentarily distract some of the riders, who hesitated at the sight of the dead rising from the frozen soil.

But the Wild Hunt riders were fast, too fast. Their steeds thundered toward Andries, and it became clear that they had singled him out as the primary threat. Three of the riders surged ahead, bearing down on him with weapons drawn. One swung his sword, aiming for Andries' head. With reflexes honed by countless battles, Andries raised his staff, the metal ringing as it clashed with the rider's blade. He immediately felt the rider's unnatural strength, this was no ordinary foe, stronger than any human or intelligent race he had encountered.

Before the rider could strike again, Mathies intervened. With a snarl, the hulking mutant grabbed the rider by the head, his massive hand crushing the skull helmet like brittle stone. Blood poured from the helmet's eye slits as Mathies slammed his fist into the rider's face, the force of the blow enough to pulverize bone.

Without hesitation, Mathies hurled the rider into the air, caught him by the leg, and swung him like a flail. The limp body crashed into another rider, knocking him off his horse. With a final heave, Mathies flung the corpse at a third rider, sending him tumbling into the snow.

Meanwhile, Umbra and Nyx focused their psionic powers, ripping apart the frozen road behind them. Chunks of earth and ice shattered under their telekinetic force, causing some of the Wild Hunt riders to lose control and fall, but still, the others pressed on.

Andries, thinking quickly, gave a mental order to Umbra and Nyx. They were to use their telekinesis to gather the most important items from the saddlebags of the half-undead. Monster parts, tools, and the Wild Hunt corpses were distributed between Umbra's horse, Nyx's horse, Blightborn's, Wyrmblood's, and Andries' own. Mathies' horse was already burdened with his massive weight, so it was left unencumbered.

Then came Andries' final command, the half-undead that weren't part of his favored group were to turn and attack. The remaining undead, loyal and without fear, obeyed without question. In a sudden, synchronized movement, they wheeled their horses around and charged the Wild Hunt, engaging the riders in brutal combat.

The surprise attack disrupted the Wild Hunt's formation. The undead had no fear, no hesitation, only a relentless drive to obey Andries' will. The riders, though powerful, were forced to defend themselves against the mindless fury of the half-undead.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Andries turned and whispered an incantation. A flaming skull materialized in his hand, its hollow eyes glowing with eerie fire. With a flick of his wrist, Andries hurled it into the fray. The skull exploded upon impact, engulfing the battlefield in a wave of searing flames. The half-undead didn't flinch as the fire licked at their rotting flesh, they fought on, unfeeling, until their bodies finally gave out.

The flames and chaos gave Andries and his core group the cover they needed. Spurring their horses, they fled into the night, leaving the burning wreckage of the battle behind. Andries glanced back, only slightly regretful for the loss of his creations. They were valuable specimens, but the fight had bought him time and for now, that was enough.

As Andries and his group distanced themselves from the Wild Hunt, he checked on Felix without stopping the horses. Nestled in his bag, Felix slept soundly, but Andries sensed something odd—the necromantic energy Felix had absorbed earlier was now leaving his small body and retreating into the crystal embedded in Andries' device. It was fascinating but concerning; Felix seemed to be feeding on the energy around him.

They rode hard for what felt like hours before gathering by the Yaruga River. Andries cast an intricate illusion around their encampment, one that would ensure anyone outside the circle wouldn't notice them. The group settled in, and Andries gave orders to remain vigilant while they made certain no Wild Hunt forces had tracked them.

Once he was convinced they hadn't been followed, Andries knelt beside one of the Wild Hunt corpses. He had been eager to investigate these mysterious creatures. With a deep breath, he removed the helmet from the body and his eyes widened in shock.

Beneath the cold, skull-like armor was not some otherworldly being or a phantom but rather an elf. Yet, not an ordinary one, this elf was larger, with blue eyes that glimmered faintly with frost. Its features were more robust, almost alien, yet undeniably elven.

"What is this?" Andries muttered, his voice trembling with curiosity. "A mutant elf? But where could they possibly come from?"

"Mountains?" Mathies suggested bluntly.

"Why mountains?" Andries looked up at him.

"Cold there," Mathies responded simply.

Andries considered the possibility. "Maybe... but this is remarkable! We need to get back to the lab. There's too much here to explore, mutant elves, possibly some hybrid of magic and frost, and not to mention the wyvern parts. I have so much to work on!"

Excitement bubbled up inside him. He had expected a long adventure, but now he had an opportunity for discovery he couldn't pass up. The Wild Hunt soldiers, the hounds, the royal wyvern, they would provide hours of study, and the thought made him almost giddy.

Andries had no intention of tearing apart the elven bodies, yet. Instead, he decided to preserve them. With the help of Nyx and Umbra, he began a complex ritual, channeling Ether energy into the world. He etched protective runes on the elves' armor, similar to those he used for his storage jars. These runes would prevent the bodies from decaying. However, the hounds were a different story, he couldn't preserve them intact.

Reluctantly, Andries resorted to dismembering the hounds for storage. Their bodies were dense, the stone-like skin resisting his blades. Mathies proved invaluable here, his brute strength breaking through bones and toughened hide so that Andries could extract the vital components. Only two hounds were stored due to limited space, everything else had been left behind during their flight from the Wild Hunt.

With his specimens preserved and the team rested, they resumed their journey. The added weight slowed their progress, and it took them five days to reach Dillingen. As they approached the town, Andries remembered the promise he'd made to the wraiths there. But as they drew near, his hopes were dashed.

The town was frozen solid, an unnatural winter gripping every building, every street. Instead of the eerie, intelligent wraiths he had encountered before, Wild Hunt hounds now prowled the icy ruins. Andries' heart sank. The mutated wraiths had been a potential discovery of their own, a glimpse into the effects of the rift's magic on spirits. And now, they were gone.

He sighed heavily and turned north, steering clear of the ruined town. "It's a waste," he muttered to himself, still thinking of the wraiths. "They were fascinating, a mutation of the soul itself, perhaps." He pondered the implications of that thought as they rode on. Could a soul, something intangible, really mutate? The question gnawed at his mind, adding another layer to the mysteries he now sought to unravel.

Though Dillingen was lost, Andries knew his work was only beginning. With the specimens in tow and the puzzles of magic, mutation, and necromancy swirling in his mind, he rode north, eager for what lay ahead.

Andries' return to his lab was a moment he'd been anticipating the entire journey back, eager to dissect and explore his new specimens. Though he had wanted to grab a basilisk, storage space was limited, so he contented himself with the wild hunt bodies and the wyvern parts. The journey took over a week, and by the time they reached home, it was night. The town had grown larger in his absence, with more guards, both mutants and non-mutants and the wooden walls had expanded as well.

Despite this, the human guards failed to recognize him. Fortunately, the mutants did and allowed him entry. Ignoring the rest of the town, Andries made straight for his lab. As soon as he entered, Mathies and Felix collapsed into a corner, sleeping off the fatigue of the trip. Andries, however, along with his half-undead companions, got straight to work.

He began by cataloging and storing the royal wyvern parts, ensuring they were properly preserved. Then he moved on to the wild hunt hounds, carefully preparing and storing their parts in jars, though he was still frustrated at the loss of the other hounds during their escape.

Finally, Andries turned his attention to the wild hunt riders. The armor was the first thing that intrigued him. To his astonishment, it had begun to repair itself, even working to destroy the protective runes he had carved into it. Fortunately, the runes still held strong enough to prevent the bodies from rotting. His initial analysis suggested the armor was somehow symbiotically linked to its wearer, capable of magical regeneration.

When he removed the armor, Andries found the wild hunt elves more muscular than any elf he'd encountered. These weren't ordinary elves, they were stronger, denser, and clearly augmented by some form of magic or mutation. As he opened one of the bodies to examine its anatomy, he drained the blood and compared the density of the bones, finding them far more robust than any human or elven bones he had studied before.

He spent the rest of the night experimenting, casting spells, applying potions, and using necromantic energy to better understand the wild hunt elves. Comparing the blood to Blightborn's,another elf mutated beyond recognition, Andries noted shared traits, particularly when exposed to necromantic magic. Both took the same amount of time to decay under his spells, but there were also striking differences. The wild hunt elf's blood responded better to Ether energy and displayed greater resistance to both fire and freezing.

By morning, Andries had already lost two of the six bodies due to the intensity of his experiments. As he was contemplating his next move, a knock sounded on the door. He ordered Wyrmblood to open it, and there stood Vesperia, dressed in a modest gown that covered her entirely.

"Oh, hey, Vesperia," Andries greeted her, still buzzing from his discoveries.

"Andries? You're back sooner than I expected," she replied, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern.

"I was attacked by the Wild Hunt," Andries said, his excitement palpable.

"What?!" Vesperia's eyes widened in shock.

"Come in. Let me show you," Andries said, motioning her inside. She stepped in and saw the elf corpses laid out on the tables. "These are the Wild Hunt. They weren't phantoms or legends. Their ghostly appearance was frost magic. These are real, mutated elves."

Andries went on to recount his adventure, describing everything that had happened with great enthusiasm, though he conspicuously left out any mention of the wraiths. He still wasn't ready to share that discovery just yet.

Vesperia took a moment to process everything before speaking. "Okay, that was a lot. I'll need to inform the others, but while you're working, I'd like to take one of these bodies and get your notes on them."

"Yeah, sure," Andries said without hesitation. "By the way, can you get me some elf blood? Or even better, a fresh elf corpse?"

Vesperia nodded, her face serious. "Our scouts managed to clash with some Scoia'tael. We've got their bodies stored in magically sealed warehouses to keep them fresh for your... experiments."

"Perfect," Andries said, already imagining the possibilities. "Get me a couple of those."

Vesperia nodded once more before leaving, while Andries turned back to his lab, his mind racing with new ideas. Between the Wild Hunt, the wyverns, and now the Scoia'tael, his experiments were about to reach a new level of complexity. He smiled to himself, anticipating the next phase of his work.

As Andries continued his work, two mutants arrived, bringing in the corpses of normal elves, their bodies draped in fabric to avoid suspicion. Upon examining them, Andries noted that these elves were physically weaker than the Wild Hunt elves, with far less muscle mass and a frailer bone structure. Their blood, however, bore some resemblance to Blightborn's, although it lacked the enhanced qualities of the Wild Hunt elves.

Determined to understand the differences, Andries worked tirelessly to extract mutations from both the regular and Wild Hunt elves. The mutations he uncovered were unlike those he'd found in monsters and mutants, but they fascinated him. They were subtle, possibly due to the elves' natural affinity for magic, and the power seemed more controlled, less volatile than monstrous mutagens.

As he finished his analysis, Vesperia's apprentices arrived to collect the notes and the elf corpse Andries had promised. They carefully wrapped the body in fabric, concealing its nature, and left without a word. Andries turned his attention back to his true goal, Blightborn.

He administered a series of potions to Blightborn, using the wild hunt elf's mutation to accelerate the transformation. Borrowing from techniques used by witchers to trigger rapid mutation, he amplified the process further with his spells. The changes were slow but evident, Blightborn's body grew larger, and white hair began sprouting from his previously bald scalp. Using his psionic powers, Andries checked the sigils embedded inside Blightborn's skull, ensuring they remained intact.

Just as Andries was lost in his work, a knock at the door drew his attention. He opened it to find Eldrin, looking healthier than before but still frail, flanked by two large mutants.

"Andries, welcome back," Eldrin greeted with a smile.

"Hey, Eldrin," Andries replied, stepping aside to let him in. "Did Vesperia tell you about the discoveries I made on my 'short' journey?"

Eldrin chuckled lightly. "I wouldn't call it short, but yes, she told me. You've uncovered some incredible things. I was hoping you could explain the magic you witnessed in more detail."

"Mind if I work while we talk?" Andries asked.

"Not at all," Eldrin said, settling in as Andries resumed his experiments.

While preparing the new mutagen agents, Andries described the magic he had seen. The elven mutagen, unlike the familiar green monster mutagen, was a pale blue liquid. Andries tested it with spells, carefully monitoring the results while also watching Blightborn's mutation. He recounted the Wild Hunt's frost magic and their unnatural teleportation methods, emphasizing how different they were from any portals he had seen before.

"Ice magic?" Eldrin mused. "I've heard of people dabbling in it, but it's usually weak. What you're describing sounds much more powerful."

"It was," Andries confirmed. "The teleportation was strange too. It didn't feel right, the color and feeling of it was simply different from what I've seen."

Eldrin nodded thoughtfully. "I'll send some of my apprentices to investigate the area. By the way, Draugor has returned. He's been hitting Nilfgaardian supply lines in Cintra, and we've managed to resupply because of him. He used the river to get there. He's planning to take the siege weapons we captured and attack that basilisk-infested town you saw. He intends to bring the corpses back."

Andries grinned at the thought. "That would be perfect. Just make sure he doesn't kill all of them. We need more monsters for future experiments."

"Of course," Eldrin replied with a nod. "Before I go, I need to ask, can you stay in town for at least a month? We're expecting some important guests, and it would be best if all council members were present."

"Sure, why not," Andries agreed.

With that, Eldrin departed, leaving Andries to focus once more on his experiments. His work on the elves and Blightborn continued deep into the day, driven by the anticipation of what new power and knowledge he might unlock.

Andries carefully extracted the mutagen agent from the royal wyvern blood, observing its vibrant, iridescent color as it settled in his flasks. With precision, he used it to further mutate Wyrmblood, enhancing the creature's abilities, and prepared potions for his own gradual mutation. By the time the first rays of dawn filtered into the lab, he had taken his initial dose, feeling the subtle shift in his body as the potent concoction began its work.

The mutation process for both Wyrmblood and Blightborn eventually came to a halt, their bodies needing time to adapt. Satisfied with the results, Andries decided they all needed rest. Even the half-undead, who seldom showed signs of fatigue, had begun to slow. He roused Mathies and Felix, and the group left the lab. Once inside the mansion, Andries ordered the servants to prepare baths. The warmth of the water washed away the grime and blood of their journey, and after a meal, they all retired to their rooms, exhausted from the relentless pace of their experiments.

The next morning, Andries was the first to stir. His thoughts immediately turned to Wyrmblood and Blightborn, and he went to check on them. Both had changed significantly. Wyrmblood's size had increased, his tail now sporting venomous glands, the sickly gleam of poison visible at the corners of his mouth. Blightborn had also grown, his muscles thickening under his pale skin, but it was his eyes that stood out, the deep blue color of the wild hunt elves. His once bald head was now crowned with coarse, white hair, which had grown to his ears.

Their clothes strained against their newly expanded forms, but their masks remained intact, concealing their grotesque transformations. Andries handed them fresh robes to cover their bodies and ordered food to be brought to their rooms. After ensuring everything was in order, he left to find Seraphina.

She was easy to locate, already approaching him as if she had anticipated his search. Dressed in revealing leather armor that hugged her muscular frame, her wild eyes betrayed a hint of fatigue.

"Morning," Andries greeted her.

"Morning, Andries," she replied, stifling a yawn. "Lady Tissaia contacted Eldrin. She wants to meet with you. When we told her you were back, she didn't wait, teleported here immediately. She's waiting in the dining hall."

Andries raised an eyebrow. "That... sounds urgent. Alright, I'll see her now. In the meantime, can you help Blightborn and Wyrmblood? I've... made some adjustments, and they'll need clothes that actually fit and time to adjust to their new size."

Seraphina's eyes flicked toward the two mutated figures. "Yeah, they're definitely bigger. Did you do the same thing to the others that went with you?"

"They're dead," Andries said simply, as if discussing the weather.

"Oh," Seraphina blinked, pausing briefly before continuing, "Alright. I'll handle them. Just tell them to listen to me."

"They will," Andries assured her. "They're more than capable of understanding what's going on."

Seraphina nodded and guided Wyrmblood and Blightborn away. Andries watched as Wyrmblood struggled to adjust to his new bulk, his movements awkward and stiff compared to Blightborn, who seemed to be adapting with relative ease. They were now close to Mathies's formidable size, their imposing figures casting long shadows in the dim corridors.

Andries made his way to the dining hall. Four human servants greeted him at the door, one of them hurrying off to inform the kitchen of his arrival. Inside the grand hall, Tissaia sat at the head of a long table, her figure as regal and composed as ever. She was meticulously rearranging the dishes and silverware, her focus intense, as if this small act of order was of utmost importance.

"Lady Tissaia," Andries greeted, taking a seat across from her.

"Andries," she replied with a slight smile, looking up from her self-appointed task. "It's good to see you. Sit. We have much to discuss."

He nodded, settling into the chair beside her. "I've got quite a bit to share as well."

They exchanged a glance, both knowing that whatever they discussed next could shape the course of their future dealings.

Tissaia leaned forward, her expression carefully neutral as Andries began recounting his recent exploits. His tone was full of enthusiasm as he detailed the rift, the Wild Hunt, his work on monsters, and the side projects he had taken on. Her face, however, grew more tense with every revelation. When he brought up the intelligence wraiths and his theory on mutating souls, Tissaia's lips tightened, her eyes narrowing with concern. At one point, she unconsciously bit her thumbnail, only to stop herself as if realizing how out of character the gesture was.

"Andries," she said slowly, rubbing her forehead as though fighting off a headache, "this is... concerning."

"Concerning?" Andries echoed, clearly surprised. "This is incredible news. We've confirmed the existence of other worlds. We know intelligent races exist beyond our own. We might even be able to mutate souls. And I've started to work on developing method of mutating elves in a different way. What's not to celebrate?"

Tissaia sighed, shaking her head. "Under normal circumstances, I'd agree. But the timing, Andries, you're nowhere near as powerful as you need to be to survive the storm that's brewing."

"What storm?" Andries asked, his voice skeptical.

"A lot has changed," she replied, her voice heavy with concern. "Rience, one of Vilgefortz's former apprentices, has taken over his castle and his tools. He's growing unnaturally powerful, and we don't know how. On top of that, Nilfgaard has issued a decree, mutants are to be hunted down and killed on sight."

"Another reason to fight Nilfgaard," Andries said with a shrug.

"That's not all," Tissaia continued. "Philippa Eilhart has formed a new magical order, the Lodge of Sorceresses. It's an all-female council from across the continent. At first, she presented it as a way to protect magic, but I knew there was more to it. A few days ago, they found Yennefer and she revealed the truth about the girl, Ciri. She is the child of elder blood. Philippa plans to marry Ciri to the prince of Kovir. She wants to establish a magical kingdom."

Andries frowned. "What does that have to do with me?"

Tissaia hesitated before responding. "This is where I owe you an apology. They asked me about you next. I didn't disclose everything, your devices or your more dangerous projects, but they already knew more than I expected. Philippa said she once scried on you and saw you surrounded by an army of undead. That was... news to me. They've come to the conclusion that you can't be controlled and they want you out of the picture."

Andries raised an eyebrow. "So they want me dead?"

Tissaia's expression was grim. "Yes."

"And wouldn't you meeting me like this be an issue?" he asked, his mind racing. "What if they scry on you and see us talking?"

A small laugh escaped Tissaia's lips. "Don't worry. I taught most of those girls their first spells. I know how to hide from their efforts. Besides, they already know I'm meeting you. They want me to keep tabs on you, spy for them. But of course, they don't trust me fully. You should expect other eyes on you as well."

Andries shook his head, trying to process the layers of intrigue. "I... I don't even know how to feel about that."

"You should feel cautious," Tissaia warned, her tone sharp. "These women are powerful. If they decide to attack you here, you won't stand a chance. Each of them is powerful enough to kill you in a one on one battle. The only thing keeping them at bay is the fact that some of them saw you deflect one of Vilgefortz's spells and kill him with the help of your mutants. They think you're far stronger than you actually are. By the way, how did you manage to deflect his spell?"

Andries smirked. "I wrote runes into my bones."

Tissaia blinked, clearly taken aback. "Your bones?"

"Yeah, my hand bones. I use them to store magic, then release it. It lets me cast strong protection spells when I need them."

"How did you write runes on your bones?" Tissaia asked, her voice laced with both curiosity and concern.

"Well," Andries began casually, "I first cut my hand off."

Tissaia blinked in shock, but he continued before she could respond.

"Then, while casting a healing spell to speed up the regrowth, I etched the runes onto the exposed bone. It was... extremely painful," Andries said, almost as an afterthought. "I used a bit of necromancy to keep the runes from healing over, but I think they've healed anyway by now. Seems like having powerful healing abilities has its downsides."

Tissaia stared at him, her expression a mixture of disbelief and apprehension. "You're far too calm for someone who just described self-amputation and necromantic rune carving."

Andries laughed. "Calm? No, I'm excited! This is fascinating stuff!" He paused, then asked, "Oh, by the way, what happened to that golem mind we created back at Aretuza? Is it still functional?"

"That's actually something I wanted to bring up," Tissaia replied, her brows knitting together. "It spoke a few days ago. It asked for its creator. I think it meant you."

Andries's eyes widened in genuine surprise, followed by a grin. "It talked? Did we create intelligence, or is there already intelligence in the magic itself? I've seen wraiths with cognitive abilities…what if there's a link? Hmm, I've got a few theories I need to test."

"Well," Tissaia said, leaning back in her chair, "the golem mind spoke only once, asking for you. I'd like you to meet it, but that would raise too many questions, with the situations coming up lately. Best to avoid that, for now."

"Yeah, sure," Andries nodded, already lost in thought. "I have other ways to test my theory anyway. All I need is more half-undead and maybe a few wraiths. The Witchers owe me some favors, maybe I can get them to help."

Tissaia sighed, giving Andries a long, weary look. "Your plans get crazier by the minute." Despite herself, she smiled faintly.

Soon, food was brought for Andries, Mathies, Umbra, and Nyx. They ate together, the conversation flowing easily, though Tissaia frequently scolded Andries for his table manners, choosing to overlook Mathies's equally chaotic eating style.

When breakfast was over, Tissaia stood up, smoothing her robes. "I'll return to Aretuza," she said, giving Andries a final glance. "Be careful with your experiments. I don't want to hear about you blowing yourself up."

Andries chuckled, finishing his last bite. "No promises."

With that, Tissaia teleported back to her academy, leaving Andries with his thoughts and a renewed sense of purpose. He returned to his lab, his mind buzzing with possibilities, eager to finish the experiments he had started.