The fall of Cintra sent a chilling tremor through the Northern Kingdoms, a stark, bloody testament to Nilfgaardian might. News reports, often delivered by terrified survivors, painted vivid pictures of burning cities and merciless legions. The common folk huddled in fear, while kings, paralyzed by disunity and suspicion, merely tightened their own borders. Aizen, however, saw not tragedy, but a strategic vacuum, a new, chaotic environment perfectly suited for his next phase of manipulation. The "Child of Elder Blood," Ciri, was now adrift, a pawn of immense power flung onto the chessboard, ready to be maneuvered into his grasp.
His daily routine in the Dravograd Scriptorium continued, but with a heightened sense of purpose. Alaric now delved into the most obscure and dangerous texts. He found a collection of forbidden scrolls, written in an archaic dialect, that detailed the subtle art of "soul-binding" – not in the crude, necromantic sense known to common mages, but a theoretical method of linking one's essence to an external source of power, drawing from it without being consumed. The texts were fragmented and highly theoretical, speaking of esoteric energy matrices and the delicate balance required to avoid self-destruction. This research directly fed his ambition for transcendence, hinting at a path beyond the Hōgyoku equivalent he sought.
Beyond the Scriptorium's confines, Aizen's influence in Dravograd was nearing its peak. Torvin, the merchant prince, now subtly directed the flow of vital wartime supplies, diverting resources away from traditional Northern strongholds and towards regions Aizen wished to destabilize or observe. Captain Roric, his vigilance amplified, had established a robust spy network within the city, unwittingly feeding Aizen a constant stream of intelligence on local dissidents, visiting dignitaries, and any unusual activities that might affect his plans. Dravograd was a perfectly controlled environment, a secure base of operations.
The time had come for Alaric to broaden his reach beyond the confines of Dravograd. The focus of the war was shifting, drawing attention away from smaller settlements. This presented an opportunity to secure a new, more strategically located base. His gaze fell upon the kingdom of Temeria, a powerful realm ruled by the ambitious King Foltest, a perfect target for the next stage of infiltration.
To facilitate his move, Aizen needed a new, convincing cover story, one that would grant him access to higher echelons of power. He focused his Kyōka Suigetsu on Lady Seraphina, a visiting noblewoman from a minor Temerian house, who often sought Master Elgan's advice on historical lineage. Seraphina was a woman of moderate intelligence but considerable vanity and a yearning for social validation.
Aizen meticulously orchestrated her perception. During her visits, he would subtly make Seraphina "see" him in a new light: not just a quiet, intelligent boy, but a child with an almost ethereal purity, touched by tragedy, yet possessing an undeniable, if fragile, nobility. He'd make her "hear" faint, comforting whispers in her mind when she observed him, suggesting a lost innocence, a quiet strength. He even created fleeting, illusory 'memories' in her mind of having encountered Alaric's 'family' years ago, suggesting they were distant, forgotten relatives of her own house, now tragically lost.
The subtle campaign took weeks, a gradual, imperceptible weaving of new beliefs into Seraphina's mind. She began to view Alaric with a profound, almost protective affection. Her vanity led her to believe that discovering and nurturing such a 'pure' and 'noble' child would elevate her standing among her peers.
One afternoon, Seraphina declared to Master Elgan, her voice thick with conviction, "Master Elgan, this boy, Alaric... I believe he is a distant kin, a lost branch of my own family. His demeanor, his intellect... it is undeniable. I intend to take him back to my estate in Temeria. He deserves a proper upbringing, away from the dangers of this war-torn city."
Elgan, though saddened by the thought of Alaric's departure, found himself inexplicably swayed by Seraphina's passionate conviction. He felt a vague sense that this was 'right,' that it was 'destiny' for the boy. He offered no objection.
Aizen observed his success with a detached satisfaction. Lady Seraphina was not particularly powerful, but her connection to Temerian nobility was precisely what he needed. His position as a 'ward' in a minor noble house would grant him privileged access, allowing him to subtly influence the larger political machinery of Temeria without drawing undue suspicion. The city of Dravograd, its purpose served, was now merely a closed chapter. The true theater of war and political intrigue, the heart of the Northern Kingdoms, awaited his arrival. The invisible strings were now connected to a larger, more intricate set of puppets.