The Truth

"It wouldn't feel right, Your Majesty. I'm just a humble commoner."

"You're not just a humble commoner to me."

"Goodbye, Your Majesty."

Then, Serena wiped the blood off of her mark and pulled her sleeve back down. She exited the broom cabinet and silently glided back to Tissaia's office.

There, she knocked on the door.

"Enter."

Serena opened the door to find Tissaia alone. The Rectoress looked up.

"Serena."

"I'm sorry for my outburst earlier, Rectoress. It was immature of me."

"You just lost your mother. It would be very painful."

Serena just nodded.

"I have news," she said.

"About?"

"The Nilfgaardian army. They're headed for Ban Ard second, Aretuza is their main goal at the moment."

"And how do you know this?"

"Because I'm stubborn."

Tissaia chuckled and said, "Yes. That you are. Good work, Serena."

Serena thought to herself, I will let Emperor Emhyr decimate Ban Ard, but not Aretuza. Now that my mother is dead, this academy is the only home I have.

"Serena."

"Hmm?"

"I asked you if you knew anything else?"

"Oh, no. All I got was their destination. But I have gathered from bits and pieces that they've passed through Sodden Hill and are on their way here now," she lied.

"Good. I shall call for Stovren. Get most of the sorcerers here to help with our fight. Then, we will go with them to Ban Ard if Nilfgaard heads for Kaedwen."

Serena nodded. "When will Uma and Nera and other sorceresses get here?"

"Soon, hopefully. Uma is already here, and Nera will be here tomorrow. Others are trickling in."

"That's good."

"Yes. Now, I have to call an emergency Conclave of the Mages for further reference on what to do."

"Of course, Rectoress. I shall be in the council room when the Conclave is set to begin."

Tissaia nodded, and Serena left. She returned to her old room and looked around. It was the same, but she had changed so much in the past few months, searching for Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri.

Serena looked at herself in the mirror. There was no trace of the baker girl from the City of Golden Towers any longer. She sighed and laid down on her bed.

The next morning, she heard a knock on her door. Serena rubbed her eyes, got up and opened the door to see Yennefer standing in the doorway.

"The Conclave has started."

"Okay."

Serena followed Yennefer to the Council room, and they entered. Rector Stovren was arguing with Tissaia at the moment. They stopped when Serena and Yennefer walked in. Everyone turned to them, staring at Serena.

"What?"

Stovren burst out, "This Nilfgaardian doesn't belong here! She'll probably just relate back to Emperor Emhyr whatever we say."

Serena's fists tightened as she said, "So what if I am Nilfgaardian? When have I ever shown my loyalties to anyone other than the Brotherhood? I have abided by their rules and regulations."

"You went rogue," Nera said. "You went to find the Lion Cub of Cintra after you learned Rectoress de Vries wasn't giving you a position on a royal court."

"No, I specifically asked for her to go and find them," Tissaia butted in. "I ensured that she would not have a position on a court in order for her to be free to go find Yennefer and company."

Yennefer added, "And she found us. Despite you hiding us away in your dungeons."

Nera looked enraged. Serena raised her head.

"I have never corresponded our plans to any Nilfgaardian. To keep my identity a secret, I even killed a good friend of my late father's. So don't say I haven't done anything for the mages or the Brotherhood, because I have."

"Serena is good. She knows Nilfgaard is in the wrong," Tissaia said. "And she will help us in defeating Emperor Emhyr and his forces should they descend on Aretuza."

Then, a young man ran in and cried, "Help, please, it's Ban Ard! The academy's under attack. Nilfgaard is destroying it as we speak."

Everyone looked at each other. Then, many started to teleport out to go save Ban Ard. Tissaia turned to look at Serena, who was reticent.

"You said that they'd attack Aretuza first."

The only ones left: Yennefer, Triss, Tissaia, and Valentin, all stared at Serena.

She shrugged and said, "So I lied. What of it?"

"Ban Ard could fall!" Valentin cried.

"I told you, Valentin. I warned you that retribution would come. For taking my mother from me, I would take from you."

"I don't understand."

"Yesterday, you asked me if I was a spy for Emperor Emhyr. Well, I wasn't. I hadn't been these past three years. I was at Aretuza and never once said anything to anyone. But everything changed yesterday after Stovren killed my mother. I was hurt, angry, and wanted revenge. So yesterday, I called in a favor."

Serena's eyes flicked to the mages left. They all looked uncomfortable. She rolled her eyes and sighed.

"I assure you, he knows nothing of our plans. I made sure not to say anything about them. Instead, I actually got information from him. The original plan was to head to Ban Ard first, then Aretuza. So I asked him to destroy Ban Ard out of justice for my mother. But I will not let him touch Aretuza, it's the only home I have now."

"Who?" Yennefer asked quietly.

She remained silent.

"The truth, Serena," Tissaia said.

"Emhyr var Emreis, Emperor of Nilfgaard."