Secrets and Lies

Finally! Serena thought.

"Who are you?" Geralt's deep voice growled.

"I'm Serena, and I've come to free you. Was magic placed on this cell that you all could not just portal out?"

Yennefer nodded. "They made sure that Ciri's and my powers were stifled."

"Well, come on outside. We need to get out of here before more guards come. Or even worse, Nera."

"How do you know Nera?" Yennefer asked.

"We were initiates together at Aretuza."

Yennefer's eyes widened.

"Now, come on," Serena prodded. "I'm not going to turn you all over to anyone. I have orders from Rectoress de Vries herself to find you. She believes Aretuza needs your help."

Yennefer walked towards Serena.

"Where are you from?"

Serena swallowed and looked Yennefer in the eye as she said, "Aretuza."

"Hmm," Geralt hummed.

Ciri stepped out from behind Geralt.

"Are you a friend?" Ciri asked.

Serena nodded. "Yes, I am."

Ciri seemed to accept that and walked towards Serena. Yennefer and Geralt still looked uneasy. Serena sighed.

"What can I do to make you trust me?"

"Stop lying, for one," Yennefer said.

"I'm not lying."

"Yes, you are. I can sense it."

Serena's eyes flashed.

Suddenly, she heard, "So this is your private business."

Serena groaned and turned around.

"What do you want, Nera? We're on the same side."

"Are we? Rector Stovren seems obsessed with finding everything out about you that he can. But Rectoress de Vries hasn't revealed anything. Now, what could she be hiding for you?"

Fear crept up Serena's spine. She knew that no one could know anything.

"Maybe I'm just not important. Have you thought about that, Nera?"

"Yes, but Tissaia even has refused to say where she collected you from. Stovren has been pushing her for information, and she won't budge."

Thank you, Rectoress, Serena thought.

"Aretuza is my only home. Why would I need to swear allegiance to any country?"

Nera's pet hawk suddenly flew in and landed on her arm. She closed her eyes, communicating with the animal. When she opened her eyes, Nera smirked.

"Now what were you doing in Cintra?"

She sensed the trio behind her tense up.

"I was looking for the Lion Cub of Cintra and her caretakers. Obviously, they weren't there."

"And why do you need them?"

Serena gave a humorless chuckle. "Now that's private."

Nera glared at her. Serena just rolled her eyes and took the energy from the guards' torches until the flames went out, casting the cell into darkness. Then, using much of her strength, Serena teleported herself, Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri out of Ard Carraigh. They reappeared just outside of Tissaia's office in Aretuza.

She turned around and put a finger to her lips. The others nodded, and Serena knocked on the door.

Tissaia's voice rang, "Come in."

Serena opened the door and the trio followed her in. Tissaia's eyes widened, and the Rectoress quickly put up a sound barrier.

"Well done, Serena."

"Thank you."

Tissaia turned to Yennefer. "We thought you had died at Sodden."

"Well, I didn't."

The Rectoress then looked over to Geralt and Ciri.

"Welcome to Aretuza."

Geralt nodded and Ciri looked at the ground.

"Serena."

"Hmm?"

"Stovren and Valentin are searching for clues about your past. Go and ensure that they never find your mother."

Serena bowed. "Thank you, Rectoress."

Then, she was gone. Serena appeared in Ban Ard and asked around for the Rector. After finding out that they had gone to Cintra, Serena shook with fear.

If they get to Sir Gaellin, they'll know for sure, she thought.

Then, a tear ran down her face.

"I'm sorry, Father," Serena whispered quietly.

She teleported to Cintra, snuck up behind Sir Gaellin, and murmured in Elder. He started to choke on his food. The soldiers around him tried to help, but it was too late. Sir Gaellin doubled over. Serena merged back into the shadows, sadness in her eyes.

"I'm sorry."

Then, she left Cintra and went to find her mother. As she stepped into the bakery, her mother's eyes lit up with joy upon seeing her daughter. But Serena knew that in order to erase her past fully, she would have to do an unspeakable thing to her mother.

"Serena! You're back."

"I am."

"How long can you stay this time?"

"Oh, not long."

Serena embraced her mother and whispered quietly in Elder. Then, she pulled back and watched as a dazed look crossed her mother's face. Her bottom lip quivered.

I love you, Mother, she thought. I'm so sorry.

Then, Serena quickly left the bakery and turned back one last time to look at her childhood home.

"I'm never coming back here," she said shakily.

Then, she portaled out of the City of Golden Towers and returned to Aretuza. Back in Tissaia's office, Serena appeared.

Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer were still in the room when she returned. Tissaia turned to look at her.

Tears were threatening to fall, and her voice cracked as she spoke.

"I tied up all of the loose ends. I met an a friend of my father's in Cintra weeks ago, and I had to make sure Stovren couldn't question him."

Tissaia looked at Serena, expressionless.

"So, did you kill him?"

Serena nodded.

"And your mother?"

"I couldn't bear to hurt her. And I knew that there was no way I'd ever take her life. So instead, I removed myself from it entirely."

"You took her memories of you," Tissaia realized.

Serena nodded.

"I had to. If they were to somehow find out the truth, I don't want my mother to have to pay the price."

Tissaia nodded. "Good girl. Now, Nilfgaard is close to Sodden once more. King Foltest has said that his army is no match for Nilfgaard's anymore."

"So what does that mean?" Yennefer asked.

"If Nilfgaard wants to invade Temeria, it can."

Everyone shivered.

"What is their destination?" Ciri asked.

"I would assume the academies," Tissaia began. "The mages were what stopped Cahir and his soldiers before. But, Emperor Emhyr has thrown Cahir in the dungeons, according to a reliable source. This time, Emperor Emhyr himself is leading the march. We must fight back."

The trio nodded while Serena remained eerily quiet.

"It is possible that they will got to Ban Ard first. But seeing as Stovren has put a masking spell over the school, Emperor Emhyr may decide to come to Aretuza first. If Aretuza falls, so will Ban Ard."