Time to Choose

Serena stood, rooted in place, shocked by what Tissaia had said.

"Are you forgetting something, Rectoress?" she asked. "He knows me."

"That's what I'm planning on."

"What? For him to stop and stare whilst I kill him?"

"How quickly did you kill your father's friend?"

"I had to make it look realistic, not like murder."

Tissaia groaned. "Think, cupcake. You're the strongest mage on the Continent. You are a Conductor. Simply electrify him, and then the war will be over."

Serena shook her head. "I won't do it."

Tissaia's eyes narrowed.

"Perhaps I overestimated your loyalties to the mages. That's my fault. But this isn't."

Tissaia waved her hand and an image of Serena's mother being tortured by Stovren hovered in front of Serena. She shook with fury.

"It's time to choose a side, cupcake. Which will it be?"

Her eyes flared, and she teleported out of Tissaia's office. She appeared in her mother's bakery. Stovren was there, and so was Valentin.

"Leave her alone!" Serena roared.

She pulled on the chaos around her and shot a bolt of pure energy straight at Stovren. Valentin wrapped his arms around her waist as the Rector of Ban Ard was incapacitated for the time being.

"No! Let me go, Valentin! Let me go!"

Serena tried to wrestle her way out of his arms, to no avail.

"You're Nilfgaardian," he breathed quietly in her ear. "Are you a spy for Emperor Emhyr?"

She went still. Then, Serena flung her head back and hit Valentin in the nose. He immediately released her and clutched at his face while she ran over to her mother. Serena felt desperately for a pulse, but she did not feel one. Sadness washed over her, and she sat back on her heels.

"I'm so sorry, Mother. I didn't mean for this to happen. I hope you can forgive me," she whispered.

Then, Serena stood and looked down at the unconscious Rector of Ban Ard. Disgust filled her features, and she turned back to Valentin, who was holding his now bleeding nose.

"Did he really have to kill her?"

"She said she had no idea who you were."

"That's because I erased her memories of me. It was meant to spare her."

Valentin looked away. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Your Rector just killed my mother. Don't think I won't find some retribution for it someday soon. I will take everything you hold dear away from you. Let's see if the only thing you can say then is sorry."

Then, Serena disappeared. She returned to Tissaia's office.

"You let it happen!" she screamed at Tissaia. "How could you?!"

"Nilfgaard is not your destiny, nor your home."

Serena shook and swept out of the office. Storming up the nearby stairs, she headed for the battlements of Aretuza. Once out in the fresh air, Serena took a deep breath in and let it out.

"Serena..."

"I don't want to talk to you."

"Look, we got off on the wrong foot from the very beginning. Can we start over?"

She turned around to face Valentin.

"Why would I want to?"

He sighed and looked at her.

"I'm truly sorry about what happened with your mother. And," Valentin paused. "Your secret's safe with me."

"Why would you help me?"

"Because, I noticed what you did with Stovren. That was pure energy that hit him."

Serena scoffed. "So what?"

"What is your true affinity? Because at your Ascendant ceremony, you did such a basic, beginner's spell."

She wavered, unsure of whether to tell him or not. But then, Serena made up her mind.

"There's no need for me to tell you anything."

He took a step towards her, and she stepped back.

"Just leave me alone, Valentin. Please."

"Serena," he said sadly.

She shook her head, stepped around him and headed back down the stairs. In the halls of Aretuza, Serena wandered. Her eyes scanned the corridor, and she used her magic to sense for anyone near. With no indication of bodies present, she slipped into a nearby broom cabinet.

In her years at Aretuza, she had ensured that no one had seen the mark on her left wrist. Only the Enchanter knew about it because she had asked him not to mess with it. But the mark was of a small sun, and if a drop of her blood was spilt on the sun, it would glow, and she could then communicate through telepathic connection with the person who had the same mark.

"My mother thought she had protected me enough. But she didn't make it to me in time," Serena whispered to herself.

She pulled up her sleeve, created a needle and pricked her finger. A drop of her blood fell on the sun, and it began to glow.

Then, she heard a voice, "Ahh, Serena, my sunshine. I was wondering when I would finally hear from you. What can I do for you?"

"Are you headed for Temeria?"

"Yes, why?"

"Are you headed for Aretuza or Ban Ard?"

"Why do you ask, my sunshine?"

"Because the Rector of Ban Ard killed my mother today. I want justice and retribution for her."

"Oh, Serena. I'm so sorry."

"I just, I want to show them that I will not be walked upon. That I'm not weak. That they should learn to fear me."

The person on the other end chuckled.

"I will be there soon, my sunshine. Ban Ard cannot hide from me forever. I will destroy that school and make its Rector watch as I do so. Then, I will march on towards Aretuza."

Serena smirked.

"I appreciate you doing this for me."

"Of course, anything for my beautiful sunshine."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Please, Serena, how many times do I have to say it? You can just call me Emhyr."