Preparations

Starting the next day, the mages all began to prepare for the inevitable battle that would come to Aretuza. This was their last stand. Should Aretuza fall, the whole Northern society would crumble under Nilfgaard's rule.

The strongest mages fortified Aretuza's walls with spells, while others prepared herbs and explosives. Everyone was running around the halls, getting ready for the fight of their lives.

Yennefer was busy directing mages every which way.

"No, not there! I want protection spells over here. We don't want them to throw fireballs anywhere, but especially not here!" Yennefer yelled, but then gasped and ran over to somewhere else. "Wait, don't do that! You'll blow up the entire school before Nilfgaard even gets here!"

Meanwhile, Tissaia made sure that no students would be present during the battle.

"You all will go to the remains of Ban Ard. There are cellars below it in which you can hide."

They all nodded. Then, Rectoress de Vries created a portal and sent all of the students through it.

Geralt had disappeared to who knows where, and Ciri had left with Triss to go back to Kaer Morhen where Vesemir and the other few Witchers could keep her safe from Nilfgaard's clutches.

Serena and Valentin both tried to help in any way they could. She put up protection spells while he prepared the ground mages for battle. At one point, Serena was helping a few mages created weapons for them to use in hand-to-hand combat if needed.

Unsure of what to do, Valentin taught her how to properly hold a sword and the correct stances that would give her the best balance. They sparred once she had somewhat gotten the hang of things. Eventually, he decided she was proficient enough that she could probably manage.

"Thank you, Valentin."

"It's my pleasure, Serena. Just don't get into a sword fight though, okay? I don't want to see you lose."

She laughed, "Okay, but are you so sure I would?"

He was just about to respond when suddenly, a mage cried out, "Quickly, hide the preparations! Fringilla's coming!"

Tissaia, Yennefer, and Serena joined together on the battlements and put up a strong illusion spell to make it look like Aretuza was completely unprepared and bare of traps and hidden accessories. As the Nilfgaardian sorceress neared, the three strengthened their illusion as much as they could.

Others watched as Fringilla examined the academy and scouted it out, seemingly unnoticed. After a while, she turned and walked away. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Once Fringilla had teleported out, Yennefer, Tissaia, and Serena dropped their illusion. They leaned against the walls of the battlements, wearied from all of the chaos they had been channeling.

Preparations continued as more mages arrived to help defend the academy from Nilfgaard. Traps were set around Aretuza and the Tower of the Gull. Tissaia enacted a spell that made sure no mages could enter through Tor Lara once the battle had begun in order to keep the fighting more congested in the front of the academy. After having learned from their mistakes at the Battle of Sodden Hill, they prepared for smoke and brainwashing snakes along with any other manipulations Nilfgaard may have.

Serena kept tabs on Emperor Emhyr's progression and told the others everything she learned. They only main things were how far they were getting each day. But she did tell them when she learned of Fringilla's reunion with the army.

The Nilfgaardian army drew nearer and nearer with each passing day. Consequently, the mages were starting to get worried and anxious.

"What if we're overwhelmed?"

"What if Aretuza falls?"

"Is there any hope for us?"

Tissaia walked around, listening to the fears and doubts of the others. She kept reassuring them that everything would be okay. They barely believed her though, thinking that they would need a miracle to win against Nilfgaard. But Tissaia knew it wasn't a miracle they need, but something else. Something more realistic.

One evening, Serena was sitting and eating supper with the other mages when Tissaia asked for a private word with her. She nodded, got up, and followed Tissaia to her office.

"What is it, Rectoress?"

"Has Emperor Emhyr expressed any wishes to you?"

"What do you mean? How so?"

Tissaia shot her a pointed glance. Serena swallowed and knew what the Rectoress was getting at. She nodded.

"He mentioned something along the lines of me being a good fit for queen."

Tissaia's eyes darkened, and she took a deep breath.

"I want you to go and find him, cupcake."

Serena was taken aback. "What?!"

"Find Emperor Emhyr."

"Why?"

"Because I have a plan."

"What, other than me killing Emperor Emhyr?"

"Yes. We need someone on the inside."

Serena sighed and folded her arms. "Let me guess, me?"

Tissaia nodded. "He knows you."

"So does Fringilla."

"Don't worry about her. She'll do whatever Emhyr says. If you can get him to keep her quiet, she'll stay quiet."

"Aren't you underestimating her?"

"Maybe I am. But that could be a good thing."

Serena gave Tissaia an unbelieving look, but then sighed and gave in. She looked Tissaia right in the eyes.

"Then what's the plan? What do you want me to do, Rectoress?"

Tissaia smiled a devious smile. Serena grew afraid. She had never before seen Tissaia so purposefully cunning and manipulative. It scared her.

"Cupcake, you're going to agree to become his Empress."