Geralt rode on his mare Plotka with his unchanging cold expression, his golden, cat-like eyes scanning the forest surroundings. Although he knew that no monster would dare to enter a wizard's forest, in his long life, he had learned that everyone can be stupid.
Being in the forest in the Riverlands, the smell of wet earth, damp forest, and animal feces hung in the air. The trees were large and dark brown. Curiously, there weren't many bushes, and a solid road was under Plotka's hooves.
Geralt knew that the wizard had reshaped the entire forest like a god reshaping the world. Remembering the thirteen-year-old boy he first met, he still found it hard to believe that a child of that size could burn a werewolf with just a flick of his magic wand.
Suddenly, feeling like he was passing through a thin but watery film, Geralt raised his head and saw a gigantic black tower rising into the sky like a pillar that seemed to support the sky itself. The tower looked like it was made of blackened stone that exuded a warm aura.
The Witcher knew that five years ago, in the same place, there was no Black Tower, especially one so large and majestic. But, in less than five years, this majestic structure had actually appeared in this world. Which seemed totally impossible, but Geralt knew that magic made things possible.
The road to the Black Tower was winding, covered with polished and elegant tiles, and an impeccably beautiful garden accompanied the road. Water fountains sprayed water while the statues of nude women looked inviting.
Even though he was used to the scene, Geralt had to admit, the boy knew how to live his life. Whether it was the Tower or the Garden, they were things that even strong and rich Noble Houses could not afford.
Arriving in front of the gigantic stone gates, Geralt dismounted from his horse and stroked the horse's slender neck with a little more force. Horses had thicker skin, so if the caress was too light, the horse itself would think it was a mosquito touching it.
"Good girl." Geralt spoke in a slightly gentler tone, which was rare for the cold and indifferent Witcher. He opened the bags and began to take out countless items. The bags looked normal, but they seemed endless. Geralt spent a lot of money to buy these bags from the wizard.
After taking out an absurd amount of items, which could only be pulled by a carriage, Geralt knocked his fist on the door, making a loud, old, and long sound.
The Witcher didn't have to wait long. The gates opened, and a young adult appeared before Geralt. He was wearing an intricate purple shirt with silver patterns. Over the shirt, a luxurious black vest outlined his slightly muscular, but still slender, figure. He wore black gloves on his hands and a smile on his lips.
In terms of appearance, he looked around twenty years old, with pale skin due to the lack of sun exposure. His hair was black, completely black, like a raven's feathers. Silky and shiny strands fell below his eyes. Besides the impressive appearance, what mattered most were his dark green eyes like beautiful emeralds.
Geralt thought the wizard was from Essos, probably a descendant of Old Valyria; common people and other human races were not so beautiful. But, that was not his problem.
"Geralt, my old friend! Come and drink with me!" Cadmus was very happy with the Witcher's arrival; he was one of the few acquaintances and friends he had. "I created a drink that will make you never want to drink the horse piss you drink in the North again."
Geralt just grunted and pointed to the goods. Without caring about the Witcher's indifference, Cadmus looked at the jars containing the most important parts of the monsters with a satisfied look. They were not just monster parts, but also some herbs that could only be found in distant and dangerous places.
Drawing his wand, Cadmus flicked his wrist, and all the jars began to float in the air and disappeared from Geralt's sight. If it were anyone else, Geralt would never have allowed that to happen, but he trusted the wizard. Besides, he had an idea of how much everything was worth, so he was never worried about being cheated.
Cadmus took Geralt to the top floor of the tower, his quarters, and served the Witcher a glass containing Irish Whiskey prepared by himself.
"Behold the drink of the gods. You can put an ice cube in it, but I advise you to drink it neat." Cadmus commented with a smile as he poured a glass for himself.
Geralt didn't hesitate, and despite the high alcohol content, the taste was not as strong but more aromatic than any other drink he had had, but it went down his throat so perfectly that the Witcher took another sip.
Cadmus was satisfied with the Witcher's reaction. Taking another sip, he looked at the Witcher and said with an amused tone. "I'll give you a bottle for free. Enjoy it, because you'll have to buy from me later."
"Any work has to be paid for." Geralt said with his deep, hoarse voice.
Cadmus smiled, but soon showed a solemn expression. "The mission I gave you."
Geralt also showed a solemn expression and spoke with a deep tone. "I only found traces. It seems the creatures noticed I was investigating and disappeared. But they still exist; they exude a smell of death and ice."
Cadmus looked at the dark golden liquid in his glass and gently swirled the glass in circular motions, watching the liquid begin to spin. He narrowed his eyes and was not surprised. The mission he gave Geralt was to investigate further Beyond the Wall in the North.
Naturally, Cadmus wanted a Wight, or even a White Walker, but it seemed the blue necromancer didn't want to be found so soon. As for why he didn't go personally, it was simple: he loved living and didn't want to enter combat with a being of unknown and powerful strength.
That was stupidity, and wizards shouldn't be stupid like a certain Harry Potter who wasn't afraid of anything.
"It's alright. They will eventually advance further towards the Wall and won't be able to hide anymore." Cadmus looked at Geralt and asked with a calm tone. "Did you receive any peculiar visits? A Raven or a Child of the Forest?"
Geralt frowned and shook his head. He would have noticed if he was being watched by a raven, although he was undecided if he could notice a Child of the Forest watching. After all, it was a legendary race that could practically become invisible in a forest.
'It seems the Green Seer is hesitating or cannot speak at this moment.' Cadmus narrowed his eyes and thought. Again, it was not surprising. The Three-Eyed Raven, or Brynden Rivers, was a busy man fighting the Night King.
Shaking his head, Cadmus flicked his wrist, and a small leather pouch landed in Geralt's hands. "A thousand golden dragons, your reward for traveling so far." He said with an amused and relieved tone.
Geralt took the money and nodded his head, feeling satisfied. Working with wizards was a good thing; they paid well and were not as ignorant as the commoners who reluctantly paid a dozen copper stars to kill some monsters.
In comparison, now he had a thousand golden dragons just for completing a mission. With this money, he could put even more silver on his sword and buy potions for the most diverse situations.
"Did anything noteworthy happen recently?" Cadmus asked during the conversation, curious about the sudden increase in people passing through the forest. Something he had only recently noticed.
"The king is preparing a tourney at Harrenhal to celebrate the engagement between Prince Aegon and Lady Margaery of House Tyrell." Geralt said with an indifferent tone, without any hint of interest in the celebration.
"That prince who is rumored to be a Pillow Biter?" Cadmus asked curiously while lamenting Margaery's poor fate. Marrying two gay men in two different universes is not just bad luck; it seemed destiny wanted her to be frustrated.
"What could be expected from a Dornishman?" Geralt shrugged and was not surprised. Dorne's reputation for lust and decadence was known even in Essos.
Cadmus smiled and did not continue the subject. Both men began to talk, but Cadmus narrowed his eyes and thought it was a good opportunity to finally enter the main stage of this world.
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Read my other books:
Game Of Thrones: The God-Emperor of Planetos (500,000 words written).
Percy Jackson: Godwyn the Golden.
Game Of Thrones: The King's Court Mage