Bear School Astartes

This camp is vast in area, and its interior decor is so luxurious that it would be considered top-notch in the palaces of the Northern Kingdom.

Members of the Talent and Skill Association, Alto Tranowa, used illusion techniques to create many handsome men and beautiful women to serve as attendants.

The dark and ambiguous colors and lighting make it feel less like a military camp about to go into battle, and more like the famed Cleopatra in Novigrad.

Incidentally, that’s the name of a high-class brothel on the edge of the Saint Gregory Bridge.

The warlocks maintain their lavish lifestyle even in the camp, causing considerable resentment among the soldiers and officers.

It is considered one of the reasons why the battle is imminent.

Veltrest vaguely feels that if these warlocks and the now tense soldiers continue to provoke each other, a major disruption might occur even before they encounter the Niflgaard people.

Francisca sits in the shadow of the candlelight and does not respond to Tishaya, instead giving her a strange look up and down.

The gaze made Tishaya feel uncomfortable, squirming in her seat.

She gave a dry laugh, ”Why are you looking at me like that, old friend?”

Francisca still said nothing, her eyes motionless as she looked at her, simply bringing the wine glass to her lips for a sip.

”You are bolder now, Margaret.”

The Elf Grand Mage suddenly spoke.

”Daring to play your illusion technique in front of so many powerful wizards? It’s fortunate that everyone is dizzy from the pressure of war, otherwise your cover would have been blown on your first day here.”

’Tishaya’s’ face suddenly stiffened, then leaned forward, drawing closer to the already near Francisca.

”What are you talking about?”

Francisca took another sip of East of East wine from the glass.

”I said: the last time we fought side by side wasn’t three hundred years ago, but over a hundred years ago during the Farjia rebellion.”

”And there’s a bottle of red wine and two glasses on the small table in front of us, arranged neither symmetrically nor attractively, yet you haven’t looked at them once, let alone tidied them... Want me to continue?”

’Tishaya,’ or rather Margaret, suddenly deflated.

She let out a long breath, and the chest of the light blue dress representing Tishaya was pulled taut and high.

Francisca watched the scene with interest.

”Wearing Tishaya’s clothes is tight, isn’t it, holding your breath must be painful? Although Tishaya’s figure is quite good, it’s still a little...”

Realizing she’s been found out by Francisca, Margaret decided not to pretend anymore.

She comfortably nestled into the woolen armchair, no longer hiding her figure except for still wearing her teacher’s face.

The elegant style of Tishaya’s dress stretched too tight at the chest and hips, revealing breathtaking curves.

”Do you still have the time to talk about this? It seems you’re not anxious about this war at all?”

Margaret was well acquainted with Francisca, talking to her even more casually than to her teacher.

The Elf Grand Mage tucked a strand of golden hair behind her pointed ear, speaking calmly.

”I’ve seen humans conduct massacres even more insane than now, Niflgaard people cannot scare me.”

This clearly refers to the systematic slaughter humans once carried out against elves.

Margaret shook her head, not wishing to discuss this matter further.

”Since the Niflgaard people don’t scare you, what made you come to join in? Many are here because they were frightened, joining unhesitatingly to help, like Triss and Yennefer. Others are here paying back favors owed to Viggo Fortez, lending him support. Which type are you?”

”Viggo Fortez sought me out, and to get me involved, he offered very intriguing terms, which I accepted.”

Margaret noticed Francisca’s reluctance to elaborate on the specifics of the terms, so she refrained from pushing further.

Wizards are, after all, people with many secrets.

Secret experimental projects, secret collaboration relationships, secret bank accounts... delving deeply is simply impossible to enumerate completely.

But just because Margaret didn’t want to delve into it doesn’t mean others won’t.

”Enough about me, tell me, what brought you into this mess?”

Francisca observed Margaret, who bore Tishaya’s face but had her own figure.

”Has Airetusa clarified its stance? No, if that were the case, you should be here with your own face. After all, you are the current dean, more representative. Not Tishaya who’s already resigned and joined the Talent and Skill Association as a female warlock.”

The Elf Grand Mage speculated, then promptly denied herself.

Margaret, too, holding her wine glass, touched her cheek with the rim.

”You’re right, so neither I nor this face represents Airetusa. ’Tishaya’ entered the battlefield as a member of the Talent and Skill Association.”

”And her student, Margaret?”

”Her student is still at Airetusa amidst this frenzy and chaos, safeguarding the safety and freedom of every girl exploring magic. That’s what having two great mages at one academy benefits, isn’t it?”

”Huh.”

Francisca chuckled, clinking glasses with her, ”Seems you don’t wish to share why you’re here, but that’s alright. As this meat grinder of a battle starts, no one will care about these things.”

”I am just a little surprised that there exists something besides your students that would make you abandon a stable, luxurious life to step onto the battlefield. I recall you being easily satisfied and not very daring.”

Margaret didn’t dispute Francisca’s perception but merely smiled, ”Still afraid, but things have to be done anyway.”

According to the secretary’s records, ’Tishaya’ joined the camp of the Northern Alliance Army two days prior, and this renowned Great Mage brought a boost to everyone’s morale.

That day, the Great Mage spoke face-to-face with King Veltrest, seemingly looking for information about someone.

But in the end, the Great Mage silently held intelligence from a recently famous guerrilla group in her hand.

She subsequently left her camp in the military ground, indicating her participation in the battle.

The joining of a mage already famous sparked not only encouragement among countless ordinary soldiers but also considerable reactions among the wizards who’ve already been in place.

Triss, Yennefer, [Coral] Rita Nid, and others who graduated from Airetusa and subsequently served various royal courts in the Northern Kingdom visited in succession.

Under the pressure of the looming war, everyone’s anxiety and fear are even visibly discernible.

They are seeking any available spiritual solace at this moment.

At this point, their spirit is no more courageous than ordinary people despite the resonance of chaos magic power.

Everyone is like a death row convict already sentenced, merely awaiting the execution date.

And on the morning three days later, the ’execution’ time finally arrived.