Witcher: The Half Elf

Time flew by at Aretuza Academy, and more than a month passed in the blink of an eye.

During this time, aside from the occasional clandestine tryst with the enchanting Principal Margarita, Wayne spent most of his days immersed in learning magic and secretly copying spells and magical tomes from the library. Thanks to his close relationship with Margarita, nearly all the academy's resources were open to him. Barring the expressly forbidden tomes, Wayne was free to read whatever he desired, without any restrictions or supervision.

His agreement with the sorceress Raani was half-fulfilled.

Naturally, Wayne wasn't the type to take advantage without reciprocating. In return for the liberties afforded to him, he made arrangements that benefited the academy. With Margarita's endorsement, the Wayne Chamber of Commerce was set to replace the academy's existing suppliers. A stronghold for the Chamber would be established in Bridge Town, a settlement near Aretuza, ensuring a steady supply of high-quality goods.

The Chamber of Commerce pledged not only to offer superior products from across the Northern Kingdoms but also to provide them at preferential rates to Aretuza. In addition, the Chamber committed to offering protective services for the academy's students, many of whom traveled frequently.

This partnership was mutually beneficial. For the Chamber, the alliance brought legitimacy and access to a steady stream of talent. Female students from the academy, particularly those in their final years or unable to secure prestigious positions, would be employed by the Chamber of Commerce. These magic apprentices would use their specialized knowledge to provide services such as magical divination, psychic rituals, communication spells, and limited teleportation.

In an era as brutal and underdeveloped as the Middle Ages, even a novice sorceress could prove invaluable. These apprentices, while not as gifted as elites like Triss or Yennefer, could still perform tasks far beyond the capabilities of ordinary men.

Wayne's foresight was simple: by fostering goodwill with these sorceresses during their apprenticeships, he was investing in a future network of skilled operatives and allies who might be inclined to work with the Chamber after graduation.

It was a profitable arrangement for all involved.

...

Wayne's life at Aretuza had been peaceful—focused on study and quiet enterprise. However, while he remained engrossed in his work, the rest of the Northern Kingdoms was shaken by an unexpected turn of events.

A month ago, the defeat of Earl Karn had led to half of the Kingdom of Kaedwen falling into the hands of King Demavend of Aedirn. This outcome, while dramatic, was not wholly unforeseen by the rulers of the North.

What no one could have predicted was what followed: within weeks of Demavend's triumph, a mysterious and powerful army dressed in black crossed the Pontar River. In an astonishingly swift campaign, this army overwhelmed Aedirn's defenses, seizing several cities and routing noble forces.

The speed of their advance left the entire North in shock. By the time Demavend received word, nearly one-third of Aedirn's territory had fallen into the invaders' hands, plunging his kingdom into chaos.

The true shock, however, was the scale of this army.

Demavend's campaign in Kaedwen had involved what was considered a substantial force for the region: over 10,000 soldiers, with only a fraction being well-trained elites. The rest were largely conscripted peasants, pressed into service and barely equipped for prolonged warfare.

The invaders, however, fielded a force of unprecedented size and quality. The logistical strain of maintaining such an army was inconceivable to the Northern rulers, whose feudal economies relied heavily on subsistence farming. The cost of feeding even a small standing army strained most kingdoms, let alone sustaining a well-equipped force like the one now rampaging through Aedirn.

In the Northern Kingdoms, only a handful of noble lords could afford to maintain a retinue of retired soldiers and knights. Some wealthy merchants might employ private guards to ensure their safety and protect their assets, but the scope of these forces was limited.

Even kings found it challenging to muster armies exceeding a few thousand men in a short amount of time. Mobilizing such numbers often required weeks, sometimes even months, to gather the necessary resources, conscripts, and supplies.

However, the army that had crossed the Pontar River from the south defied all expectations. Not only were its weapons and equipment sophisticated, but its sheer size was staggering. According to reports from scouts, the invading force numbered over 40,000 soldiers—a figure that dwarfed the total military strength of the Kingdom of Aedirn. This army had more than twice the manpower of Demavend's forces, creating an insurmountable gap in numbers.

Even if King Demavend could immediately rally his troops from Kaedwen and return to Aedirn, the disparity in strength would make it impossible to reclaim his territory. For the first time, the king's victorious fervor was replaced by confusion and dread.

Worse still, Demavend was completely in the dark about the origin of this southern army. The suddenness of the invasion left him no time to gather intelligence, and he hadn't determined which nation or faction was behind the assault. All he knew was that the force hailed from the south, but even that information was uncertain.

Confusion spread like wildfire through the Northern Kingdoms. Territorial disputes were common among the north's monarchs, but they rarely escalated beyond small-scale skirmishes. The rulers of the north, focused on protecting their limited territories, paid scant attention to the politics or movements of the southern nations. Only a few kings with active trade ties to the south had any real knowledge of their affairs. For the rest, this invasion was an enigma.

In their desperation, northern rulers scrambled to send scouts and deploy agents to uncover the truth behind this mysterious army. They hoped to identify its origins, its intentions, and, most importantly, its master.

Meanwhile, Wayne, stationed on Thanedd Island, was not among the confused. Years earlier, he and the elven sorceress Francesca had begun establishing a robust intelligence network in the southern kingdoms. They had forged trade routes and planted agents throughout the region. While their influence was not all-encompassing, they had access to reliable information about major developments in the south.

Wayne and Francesca had anticipated that a civil war in the south might erupt eventually, but they believed it would take years to materialize. As such, their focus remained on other matters, leaving the southern kingdoms as a lower priority.

What Wayne hadn't anticipated was the usurper's abrupt mobilization of forces just a month earlier. Without full preparation, the rebel leader had launched a bold campaign that defied conventional wisdom.

The usurper, newly crowned as the Southern Emperor after seizing the throne through military rebellion, proved to be a cunning strategist. Capitalizing on King Demavend's expedition to Kaedwen, which left Aedirn vulnerable, the usurper struck decisively. With Demavend's forces stretched thin and his homeland undefended, the southern emperor gained significant ground with minimal resistance.

This was a masterstroke—an exceptional start to the Civil War.