Witcher: The Half Elf

On a battlefield dominated by cold weapons, disparities in individual combat abilities and troop numbers are starkly evident.

A knight skilled in martial arts and clad in plate armor could easily dispatch a dozen unarmored soldiers. Meanwhile, a unit of well-trained heavy cavalry often proved capable of routing infantry forces numbering in the tens of thousands. Such superiority not only symbolized an advanced industrial base capable of producing vast quantities of armor and weapons but also indicated the wealth required to domesticate warhorses and sustain a large force of professional soldiers and low-ranking officers.

In recent decades, the Nilfgaardian Empire had leveraged its military strength to annex neighboring territories, solidifying its reputation as a military juggernaut. By plundering conquered lands, enslaving defeated populations, and promoting a system of military aristocracy, the southern empire had achieved both unparalleled military dominance and rapid industrial and commercial growth, laying the foundation for what appeared to be the early stages of capitalism.

The steady influx of wealth from these wars allowed the usurper emperor to transform Nilfgaard into a powerful theocratic empire where politics and religion were deeply intertwined, and the populace adhered strictly to imperial authority.

For the common people, military service became a source of pride and ambition. Many yearned for battlefield glory and the possibility of being elevated to the rank of military nobility. This cultural fervor for conquest left the Nilfgaardians unafraid of war and eager to expand their dominion.

Although the Nilfgaardian expedition to the north was hastily prepared, it did little to dampen the empire's fervor for conquest.

Half a month later, when Wayne returned to Cintra after completing his stay at Aretuza Academy, Syanna brought news of a catastrophic defeat for the Kingdom of Aedirn's army.

Nilfgaard's infamous "Black Army" had proven terrifyingly efficient. Local forces in Aedirn fell one after another as the invaders advanced. In less than a month, Nilfgaard had occupied more than 60% of Aedirn's territory, and over half the kingdom's cities had fallen under their control.

King Demavend, desperate and outmaneuvered, was forced to abandon the recently conquered Kaedweni territories. Frantic for reinforcements, he sent urgent pleas to the other northern kingdoms while tirelessly reorganizing his remaining forces. He managed to return to Vengerberg, the capital of Aedirn, just ahead of the advancing Nilfgaardian army.

Once in the city, Demavend immediately ordered his soldiers and citizens to work through the night constructing fortifications around Vengerberg. These efforts barely slowed the Black Army's advance. However, the disparity between Aedirn and Nilfgaard was insurmountable. Even discounting the superior equipment and training of Nilfgaardian soldiers, their sheer numbers were overwhelming—the Black Army outnumbered Aedirn's forces by more than four to one.

In the era of cold weaponry, such a numerical disparity was almost impossible to overcome, barring catastrophic errors by the opposing commander.

The situation for Aedirn was grim. Unless the northern kings acted with uncharacteristic nobility, selflessness, and urgency, their reinforcements would not arrive in time. Mobilizing armies required significant preparation—assembling troops, gathering supplies, and organizing transport—all of which could take months. Demavend's only hope lay in the faint possibility that he could hold Vengerberg long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

For Wayne, however, this news was of little immediate concern. Neither he nor the Witcher Order had chosen a side in the conflict. For now, they remained neutral.

To Wayne, the northern kingdoms and Nilfgaard were two sides of the same coin. The northern rulers were barbaric and greedy, while Nilfgaard, despite its self-proclaimed civility, was no better. Beneath its polished veneer of progress lay the exploitation of countless lives.

The Nilfgaardian Empire's prosperity was built on a foundation of cruelty. Slavery was widespread, and the empire maintained numerous bands of slavers to capture civilians from conquered territories. These individuals were stripped of their freedom and used as cheap labor to fuel Nilfgaard's industries and infrastructure.

While the world marveled at Nilfgaard's power and apparent sophistication, Wayne understood the grim reality. Beneath its grandeur lay the bones of countless slaves.

If one were to compare the moral failings of the two sides, while not identical, they were certainly on equal footing.

Unless absolutely necessary, the Witcher Order would not foolishly take sides as the Brotherhood often did—only to be used, betrayed, and ultimately left to fade into history like a forgotten relic.

Upon returning to Cintra, Wayne received an update from King Eist.

Princess Pavetta's delivery had gone smoothly. Under the meticulous care of Archdruid Mousesack, the baby girl carrying the blood of the ancients was born. Poor Pavetta, now free from the burden of her ancient lineage, had part of her memory sealed. She no longer recalled her kidnapping or the traumatic circumstances surrounding her forced childbirth. Without the ancient blood in her veins, she was finally free to live as a carefree princess, unburdened by the dangerous and complex supernatural world she had been tied to.

Queen Calanthe, however, appeared deeply repulsed by the newborn child. She refrained from meeting Wayne personally, delegating the task of delivering the infant to Chief Hake, who carried out the deed under the cover of night. The baby girl was handed over to Wayne at the luxurious inn where he was staying, with little ceremony or care.

The child was left unnamed, treated as nothing more than an unwelcome burden. Speculation surrounding her origins only added to the disdain—many believed her biological father was none other than Vilgefortz, the disgraced sorcerer whom Wayne had defeated and driven into hiding.

Although Archdruid Mousesack suggested that the child was not conceived naturally but rather as the result of a sinister magical ritual, the Cintran royal family viewed her as a shameful stain they wished to bury and forget.

As for Vilgefortz, his life had taken a sharp turn for the worse.

Though Queen Calanthe refrained from publicly disclosing the full details of the princess's abduction, the pressure exerted by both the kingdoms of Cintra and Skellige forced the Brotherhood to act. After Vilgefortz repeatedly failed to respond to their summons and clear his name, the Brotherhood severed all ties with him, expelling him from their ranks. They issued a public warrant for his arrest across the northern realms and forbade all sorcerers from offering him any assistance.

This move significantly undermined Vilgefortz's influence in the north, leaving him isolated and vulnerable.

However, the modest bounty offered by the Brotherhood paled in comparison to the explosive impact of the Wayne Chamber of Commerce's million-gold-coin reward. Endorsed by the kingdoms of Cintra and Skellige, the staggering bounty instantly captivated the entire northern continent.

The authenticity of the reward, guaranteed by the two kingdoms, left little room for doubt. Nobles and commoners alike—whether farmers in the countryside or beggars in the cities—were awestruck by the astronomical sum. Mercenaries, bandits, and even some ambitious nobles couldn't resist the allure of such wealth, and they too joined the hunt.

In less than a month, Vilgefortz became a household name, eclipsing even the kings of many nations in notoriety. Across the north, his name was whispered in taverns, shouted in marketplaces, and etched into the collective consciousness as the target of the most infamous bounty ever offered.

Countless people fantasized about capturing this infamous fugitive, claiming the staggering reward of one million gold coins, and ascending to a life of luxury akin to that of a king.

Driven by the allure of unimaginable wealth, tens of thousands—perhaps even hundreds of thousands—of northerners set out to hunt Vilgefortz. The promise of the bounty spurred a frenzy that transcended class, with mercenaries, knights, and even commoners joining the hunt in hopes of changing their destinies.

News of the bounty didn't remain confined to the northern realms for long. It spread like wildfire, carried by travelers and merchants who served as unwitting heralds. As the story traveled south, it erupted across the human kingdoms of the southern continent like a depth charge, shaking their societies to their core.