Chapter 1
This may sound weird to most people, but I love books. I mean truly loved books. More so than movies which I thought were just fine and dandy and TV while could be fun from time to time. But books were to me always better than the rest. As a good book could do any number of things for you. They could teach you things you never knew before, help you get lost in a world of your imagination, or inspire you to do great or terrible things. It was the written word that changed the world and books where the keeps of those words that shaped the world.
It was why whenever I heard of anyone burning a book or dictating to others what they should or shouldn't read, that I got so furious. True, if you were to look at it objectively the world would perhaps be better off if certain books never came to be. But that is a foolish and silly way to look at it for a book is neither evil nor good. They are neutral, for they hold nothing but the words of the person who wrote it. It was why I never had a problem with reading the Bible, the Torah, Quran, Mein Kampf or the works of Karl Marx. No matter the dirty looks people gave me I read them openly for it was only through reading them that you could truly understand those who believe in them. And while I could never accept those who read these books and committed evil in their names, I at least understood them to a point.
For books where neutral and it was only in how you used them that dictated if something was evil. That was why I didn't blame books as I laid under a pile of them after a self fell over during a earthquake. Steadily breathing my last as word started to go dark. It was funny to die under that which I loved most. Some would call it ironic, but I just found it fitting. After all I was a old man when the books fell on me in the library I volunteered at and loved so much. I found peace in dying here more so then I would have if I had died in a bed unable to move under my own power.
As I started to breathe my last breaths, I thought to myself if I could do it all again I would love noting more then to continue reading. Perhaps even help own my own bookstore I run a library. Helping those like I had been for the last 50 years find books that would either help them escape the grim realities of life or help them learn a skill they so desperately were seeking. Yes, that would be what I would like to do if I could do it all over again. I thought as the darkness of death took me.
-Aedirn-
In the city of Gulet in the Kingdom of Aedirn a women of remarkable beauty made her way down a dirt path with a frown on her face. A frown that did nothing to take away from her beauty. As long raven hair seemed to float in the air and her violet-colored eyes shined with both power and intelligence. She was clearly a remarkable woman and by her dress style more than likely a noble woman of high birth. Or so it would seem from the outside looking in. But in truth she was a witch and royal advisal/babysitter to the current king of Aedirn.
Her name was Yennefer of Vengerberg and life in court was really not turning out to be what she thought it would be. In her mind's eyes she had pictured a life of power and luxury and while she had one the other not so much. As she had traded one life of contempt for another. A royal ass wiper was what she was. Cleaning up the mess of grown children who should never have left their mother's tit. It was why she was in this small town. Cleaning up another mess caused by her so-called king. Who had managed once more to piss of some noblemen who's support he desperately needed.
Which was easy to do, all things considered. While noblemen where quick to anger they were also easy to placate. So long as you know what it is they wanted and more often than not it as a stroking of their ego. So simple minded the so-called highborn were. Still while it was easy it didn't mean was enjoyable. Often more than not it felt degrading to bow down to these people. But what was done was done and now all she had left to do was wait for her carriage to be fixed. Then it was back to the capital to continue playing royal ass wiper.
"There had to be more to life then this?" Yennefer thought to her self as she continued to walk down the dirt path with nothing better to do to fill her time.
That is till she spots a peculiar building up the road. It was one of the few nicely built two-story buildings in this little city. So clean and out of place among the squalor of the adjacent buildings. But what really made it stand out was the sign above the door. It had the symbol of a book on it and right next to it the words ready Ceaser's Bookstore. It was very peculiar to see a bookstore here of all places. Books where rare and expensive things. Often costing more than what a peasant could afford in several years wages. Even the most boring and dry books were the things owned by noble's. There forward you only ever found bookstores in the largest of cities.
"So what was one doing way out here?" Yennefer wondered as she walked towards the store. Thinking they can not have much to offer no matter how nice the building was.
However, once she enters is slightly taken aback but what she finds. Row upon row of books line the walls on shelves made of oak from one end of the store to the other. She had seen royal libraries with less books and the one in Aretuza was bigger, didn't feel as welcoming. Is it any wonder that she had completely missed young man who was currently sitting at a table reading a book and sipping tea.
Upon hearing the chime of the bell above the door I marked the books I was reading and put it down. Looking up with a smile on my face. I had thought it was going to be another slow day today in this small little town I was currently living in. With so few illiterate people around, I got very little foot traffic expect for a few curious people who came in from time to time and my regulars. So, when I heard the doorbell, I immediately perked right up. And even more so when I saw who it was who entered my store.
As one could imagine, I was quite surprised when I had died and ended up standing before a dark being in the afterlife. Telling me that my wish had be granted and that I would get to live again as bookstore owner. Why was I getting this gift some may ask? I did not know. And why some would ask I had expected such a gift from what most likely was an evil being? Well to put simply I didn't' actually get a choice. One moment I was dead and the next I was alive in this store in the small town of Gulet in the Kingdom of Aedirn. A name I was sure I knew but could not place till just now.
I was not a big fan of the Witcher series when it had come out in the 1990's of my old world and had never played the game or watched the TV series. But I had read them and few characters stood out as much as the lovely yet highly dangerous and complicated as Yennefer of Vengerberg. I had remembered seeing a poster of her game like appearance once and thought it was well down. And the actress who played her in the Netflix adaptation of the books was hot. But the women before me was a mix of both, that in a word made the other two pale in comparison. There were really no words to describe her beauty and sadly I now wised I had read the books a few more times before I had died. If only to know more than a few highlights I could recall.
Oh well not that it really mattered. As I didn't die and become a bookstore owner just so I could cuck Geralt of Rivia. So, stepping forward I say, "Good afternoon my lady. Can I help you find anything."
And like a spell had been broken Yennefer wakes from the daze she had found herself in just moments before. Turning around to face the man that she hadn't even known was there till just now. Not that she shows such a thing on her face. "Yes, tell me are you the proprietor of this fine establishment?"
"That I am my lady. Gaius Julius Caesar at your service." I give a slight and respectful bow of my head to her.
And before anyone asked, not that she would, that was my real name. My father and mother, both being big history buffs, had named all their kids after historical figures. Me being after the great general and dictator the Romen Republic. If anyone thought my name was bad, they should have met my brother Motecuhzoma who we just called Monty for short.
"Gaius Julius Caesar." Yennefer says as if tasting my name on her lips. Which I don't need to say sounded very sexy. "A strange name. Are you foreign by chance?"
Smiling at her I answer, "Indeed I am my lady. I settled her oh about a year ago."
"And you decided to open a bookstore in this little hovel?" Yennefer asks with a raised eyebrow.
Shrugging my shoulders I says, "It seemed like a good idea to me Lady?"
Realizing she has yet to introduce herself Yennefer says, "Right my apologies, Yennefer of Vengerberg. It is a pleasure to meet you Gaius."
"Please Lady Yennefer calls me Caesar. Everyone else does and I admit I am not quite fond of the name my parents gave me." I say making a bit of a face.
Which in turn makes her smile just a bit. "Very well Caesar it is and you may just call me Yennefer."
"As the lady wishes." I say to her making her smile just a bit more, "Now please tell me what has brought you in to my store today? Looking for a book to read. If so I can give you several recommendations from my personal favorites. Not that I dare to presume our tastes in literature a line with each other's."
Smiling see the game he is playing with her Yennefer can tell right away I am fluting with her all me it in a different way to most. Appealing to her more intellectual side. As it was not hard to tell she was well educated. Even a compete moron could tell that much just by how she presented herself.
"Of course, you wouldn't. As that would be to bold between two individuals who have just met. But to answer your questions my carriage broke down and I was just looking to pass the time. Not that there is much to do or see in this small little town, but then I saw your bookstore and wondered what it was doing here. Most bookstores are only found in the largest of cities."
"And you wish to know why I set up shop here I take it?" I asked her.
"It would help pass the time." She answers me.
"I am afraid there is not much of a story Yennefer. Not one of any real interest anyways. Tea?" I say to her while holding up an expensive looking tea pot.
"Yes please." She answers and goes to take a seat at the table I was seating at before she walked in. Walking with all the grace of the finest noble ladies and sitting with the air of queen.
Placing a cup in front of her I pour her a cup of tea and take my seat right across from her. As she takes a sip of said tea and says, "Mmmm this is quite good."
"I am happy you like it Yennefer. In truth I was worried you would find it no good. As a woman who is clearly use to the finer things in life I didn't know if you would find my tea to your liking. Seeing as I have just started to learn to make it myself." I say to her. Feeling proud of myself.
"You made this yourself?" Yennefer asks in surprise.
"Indeed, though I owe it all to this book I am reading." I say to her while handing her the book I was reading.
Looking at it Yennefer reads the title of the book and looks at me with a raised eyebrow.
"How To Make Tea for Dummies. Well, I guess I don't have to ask what the book is about." She says with a smile hint of amusement.
"Yes, a very straightforward title if there ever was one." I say with some amusement myself. Always loving the dummy books if for no other reason than for how straightforward they were.
"Rare is the man who admits he is an idiot." She says before placing the book back on the table.
"A fool thinks himself wise, while the wise know they are fools. I am a fool but one willing to learn." I say to her and again make her laugh this time a bit louder.
"Then perhaps there is hope for you yet. Seeing as you have to be a fool to open a store here of all places." She says to me.
"Oh, I don't know. I think I picked a wonderful spot. You asked me why I opened my store in this place. Well, the answer is simple. I love to read, and love sharing that love with others." I say to her.
"Yet most places like this don't know how to read so you efforts are in vain." Yennefer says to me.
"Only if I refuse to teach them now to read." I say back to her.
Rasing a eyebrow at me she says, "You teach people how to read?"
"When they let me." I answer her.
It only takes a moment for her to understand my meaning, "You don't mean you teach them to read for free, do you?"
"Is that so odd that it is worth being surprised at?" I ask her.
Taking a sip of her tea she answers, "I could think of better things a mage could do with his time?"
"Mage?" I ask her.
"Come now do not think me a fool. I can feel the magic in some of these books." Yennefer says to me.
"Me think you a fool. Never, but then I don't know you that will Yennefer. But to call me a mage would be incorrect. I am a dabble at best and a charlatan of cheap tricks at worst." I say to her.
Though Yennefer very much doubted that. One of the reasons she felt so entranced when she first entered this place was because of the magic she could feel in some of these tomes. Some of it felt positive ancient and powerful. They were the type of books that Brotherhood of Sorcerers would see locked away in fear of what they may hold. And yet here was this man, who was clearly a mage no matter what he said displaying them for all the world to see like it was nothing. Was there some powerful spell on the books to make sure they could not be removed without his saying so or was he just that confident in his own power. She did not know and before she could think of it longer, she hears the chime of a doorbell ringing.
Looking over she sees a young elf girl come into the shop. All dirty and ragged and in her arms, she is clinching a book. Did this human mage give a book to an elf. How unusual.
Standing she watches as Ceaser approaches the girl with a smile on his face, "Ah Naglee my dear girl back so soon."
Looking over at Yennefer for just a moment the girl looks a bit worried before looking back at Ceaser, "Yes, here is your book back Ceaser."
"Why thank you my dear and did you enjoy it?" I ask her.
"Oh yes very much so. In fact I couldn't put it down and my mother as well. Do you got something else I can read?" Naglee asks me.
"Why of course." I say and take walk over to my shelves and grab a book then bring it back handing it to the young girl.
"This is a sequel to the book you just read. I hope you and your mother enjoy it." I say to her before leading her out of the room.
Watching from where she is sitting Yennefer can't help but smile at the pure joy on the young girls face as Ceaser gives her the book her had taken down for her. It was so simple so pure, for a moment she saw herself in that girl or thought that could have been her own child. Something she had not really thought about before now.
When the girl leaves and Ceaser takes his seat once more Yennefer just sips on her tea before saying, "So you give books to elves as well do you?"
"Not just give. I taught that girl how to read. My first and brightest of students. She is a remarkable treasure." I say to her.
"That is quite the risk you are taking teaching her." Yennefer points out not unkindly.
"Hmmmm? Oh, you men the common rabble. Yes, yes I know but what could I do. It was her who had the courage to walk though those doors. So curious and scared. Daring to enter the shop of a full-blooded human all because her mind cried out the desire to read. I could do no less then teach her in turn for such bravery." I say to her.
"That is radical thinking for a mage and a human. Many will not like it." Yennefer points out again.
Waving her off I say, "I know, and I fear my time in this little town is quickly coming to an end. It will soon be time for me to move on. But before I leave let me help you find a book of your own."
Getting up once again Ceaser once more goes to his shelves and says, "Hmmm by your dress style can I safely say you are not afraid dark?"
Getting up herself Yennefer says, "I am not a child if that is what you are asking."
Her tone was mocking and somewhat condescending. Something I find I kind of like. "I never said you were but even adults still fear the dark. All be it lesser than children or perhaps more so and they are just better at hiding it."
Watching him take down a book he places in front of her and Yennefer reads the title on it. "The Book of the Shadows."
She says out loud and feel the black book release just a bit of the power found within. Then the shadows in the room start to grow larger and thicker. Before it slowly starts to recede back to as they were.
Looking at Ceaser, Yennerfer says in a even tone of voice, "This is a powerful book."
"Is it now? I always thought it was more a book for beginners." I say in a uncaring tone.
A tone that hits to Yennerfer how powerful the mage before he was. It was well known that magical books and artifacts carry in them hits of the magic that formed them. But rare was it that just by speaking its name would say artifacts effect the world around them. It was a frighting amount of power for one book to have and what more for someone to have in their possession and just offer it to someone they do not know. Yet she was not a fool was not about to pass up the chance to get ahold of such a book.
"How much for the book?" Yennefer asks.
"Oh, don't worry about price. Consider on loan to you till you decide to return it." I say to her with a smile.
It is a smile that Yennefer does not trust. Oh, he was nice enough she supposed but behind every simile was a hint of deceit among man, women and some children. And it was as the old saying goes nothing is ever given for free.
So giving him a suspicious look Yennefer says, "How come I feel I catch that I am not seeing?"
"Because most of the time there is always a catch but not this time. As I said I am a lover of books and lover to share that love with others. Actually, that reminds me." I say grabbing the book Naglee brought back I hand it to Yennefer. "That this one as well. Its one of my favorites."
Taking the book Yennefer reads the title, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."
"Something more mundane for your enjoyment. Now if you excuse me it seems I have some unwanted guests." I say to her much to her confusion.
"Hey elf lover get your ass out here." We hear a voice yell from outside.
Letting out a sigh I make my way outside and immediately spot 3 men and a small group quickly gathering around us. In their hands are clubs and makeshift weapons. Their attentions are clear by the looks on there face but still I say, "Why good day Haabel. Is there something I could do for you?"
My tone so pleasant and kind that he throws off the other to men but not the one I just mention by name. As shown by how aggressively he tells me, "Ya, you can get you elf loving ass out of our city."
That however only makes me smile just a bit in amusement and I say, "Such callous words. My I inquire what has brought this about?"
My smile seems to aggravate Haabel who says, "You know goddamn what has brought this own."
Letting out another sigh I says, "Oh for crying out Haabel for the last time nothing happened between me and your wife. She only wished to learn to read. Really you need to stop being so insecure."
This only servers to infuriate the man even more. As he had indeed accused me of having an affair with his less then attractive wife. Which in turn lead to a beating I gave him when he confronted me about it and refused to believe me. Now to be clear I am not the type to go around starting fights but nor am I to ignore someone who hits women without reason. It may be the norm here, but it was something I was unwilling to allow to happen before my eyes. Call me old school but I was raised with a certain type of principles and followed them mostly, that is.
Sadly, for Haabel it was as I said a beating more then a fight. As an unarmed civilian against a trained ex-US Ranger and Vietnam War vet stood little chance on his own. Hell, even if others had joined him he would still have stood little chance. And because of the complete humiliation he suffered at my hands I had made an enemy for life. Who took every chance to talk shit about me even if he didn't do it in front of my face. He called me all sorts of things that most people just ignored but once he found out I was teaching Naglee he had found something people could back him up about. As racism was alive and well in this word.
With a now red face Haabel says, "That is not it you fucking prick. This is about you teaching that elf girl how to read. It at right to be teaching her kind nothing."
I just roll my eyes at this. Now normally I would ask questions such as why it was wrong and listen as the stupid and idiotic couldn't give me an answer. At least not one pass just because. A weak and pathetic answer only said but the truly stupidest of people. So instead, I say, "The blind will always lead the blind but I shell do you a favor. I will allow you to take your leave unmolested and forget that you have brandished weapons in front of me. If you do not however leave I will be forced to defend myself."
I say then with a wave of one of my hands an 8inch Colichemarde appears in my hand. Its steel shining in the air with a deadly edge. Momentarily making the men before me back up with a hit of fear on their faces. All the while Yennefer watches with a keen eye at my bit of magic. Easily about to tell that the sword was no transfiguration or illusion in my hand. But a very real sword that I pulled out with my magic. Pulled out from where she had no idea but it was very fascinating.
"Fucking mage. You think we are scared just because you have steel in your hand. Well think again come on lads." Haabel says to his friends, companions, or whatever they were. But they do not move.
"It appears you accomplices are indeed afraid Haabel. For even the biggest of fools know not to take on a mage of any skill without a plan. Now once more run along or die where you stand. For I am out of mercy for your kind." I say in a casual dismissal.
Which seems to be the straw that broke the camel's back. "Go to hell you demon fuck."
He then charges me like the fool he is. Perhaps he though I wasn't serious about killing him or forgot about how easily I bested him before. Whatever the reason for his foolishness he quickly finds out how serious I am when I easily parry his sloppy switching and remove his head from his shoulders with but a simple swing of my sword. Which makes everyone gasp or cry in shock at the death of poor stupid Haabel.
I however feel nothing for his death. Having spent to much time in the company of death in Vietnam. Killing or seeing those killed did nothing to me. So, I instead look at Haabel's two companions and asks, "Well do you two wish to join Haabel in death?"
And like the cowards they were the both of them drops their weapons and run for their lives instead of trying to avenge their friend's death. Showing they were a bit smarter then Haabel and not really that good of friends. Not that I blame them. When push comes to shove most people were not really your friends and would ditch you when the going got tough.
Looking at the crowd I say, "Well, shu shu, go away nothing to see here."
My nonchalant attitude makes them feel very unnerved. If I had shown signs of aggression or anything else, they may have been angry. Tried to run me out of town but all felt to scared to do something so stupid. So, they left without a fuss.
It is when they leave that I hear Yennefer speak up and says, "Was that really necessary. You know the towns people will be back in force to drive you out now, right?"
With a smile still on my face I turn to her and say, "Yes, yes but they will calm down once I leave. Him however." I point to the head on the ground, "Would have targeted young Naglee if he could not find me. With his death she will be left alone mostly. As none of the towns people really had any problem with me teaching the girl till he started making a fuss."
Nodding her head Yennefer says, "Ah so that was why you mention the supposed affair and beating you gave the man. So, people would think this was more personal then blatant discrimination. Very smart of you."
"Thank you." I say to her and walk over to my shop and lock the door. Then with a snap of my finger it shrinks before her eyes.
Which only earns me a raised eyebrow. "Well, that is new."
I hear Yennefer say to me and I say, "Yes, I suppose it is. Perhaps upon next time we meet I will loan you the book on how to perform such magic."
"I would like that very much. Till next we meet Ceaser." Yennefer says and finding she actually meant it.
Taking her hand in mine I gave it a light kiss and say, "Till next we meet my lady."
I then let go over her hand and pick up my house by a handle at the top of it and walk off. Leaving both her and this town behind. Completely sure that we would meet again.
-Aretuza-
With class done for the day Tissaia de Vries had returned to her bedroom to relax and have a glass of wine when she felt a portal open up behind her. And from it the most unexpected individual walks through it.
"Ah little piglet, I was wondering when it was, I would see you again. After that showing you gave last time." Tissaia says to her former student Yennefer.
"Save you condemnation, Tissaia I didn't come here for a lecture or forgiveness." Yennefer says what bitterly. After they last parted there felt like a river of things that needed to be spoken about between them, but she was not here to mend bridges.
"Of course, forgive me for thinking for a moment that would come to visit just to apologize. Fool is me. So, what do you what little piglet?" Tissaia says in a almost dismissive tone and it would have been if it was anyone but Yennerfer.
Ignoring the dismissive tone in her ex-teachers voice Yennefer says, "Have you ever head of a mage by the name of Gaius Julius Caesar prefers to go simply by Caesar?"
"I can't say that I do my little piglet, but the world is vast. Even the Brotherhood can't know about every mage in it. And that says nothing about the elves." Tissaia says truly having never head the name before.
"Then perhaps a bookstore by the name of Caesar's Bookstore?" Yennefer asks her.
"Again, my little piglet I am afraid I do not. Why do you ask." Tissaia asks no thinking about Yennefers questions till she turn around to face her student and notices a perplex if not slightly worried look in her eyes.
Standing up immediately Tissaia makes her way to Yennefer and asks, "Yennefer what is wrong?"
Looking at her teacher Yennefer says, "Northing, it is nothing. I will take my leave now."
"Yennefer waits." Tissaia calls out to her and when Yennefer does, she says "Yennefer you have never been the type to just seek me out for no reason. Who is this man you are asking about. What does he mean to you."
Tissaia picks her words carefully. Saying neither how scared or unnerved Yennerfer seemed right now. She knew her pupil too well to dare say anything that could hurt her pride. Least she takes off without telling her what was wrong. However, she didn't expect her pupil to just pull out a book from a satchel she had on and hold it out to her. Upon seeing it Tissaia eyes widen ever so slightly at the black book with gold letter telling her the title of it. Unlike Yennerfer however she doesn't dare speak it out loud.
No instead she takes the book from her student's hands like it was some kind of viper and asks, "Were did you get this?"
"From the very man I asked you about. At first, I thought he was just some run of the mage who was hiding from the Brotherhood. Well educated and charming in his own way but harmless." Yennerfer says to her.
"I will take it by your tone that changed rather quickly." Tissaia says as she looks over the book after placing it on a stand. Not yet opening it. Just looking at it. Studying it.
"Indeed, at first it was nothing too special. As once I entered his shop, I immediately noticed a number of magical tomes on his shelves. Again, nothing special as you could find that in any two-bit mage's home, though they were out in the open for all to see." Yennerfer says to her teacher.
"Strange but not unusual. I assume there was some type of spell on the books to keep people from stealing." Tissaia says.
"I am unsure. If there was a spell on them then it was very well done as I could not tell if there was one or not." Yennerfer admits but it didn't make sense for any mage to such books unguarded. Even in their own home where one didn't want to fight a mage.
Tissaia thinks about this a bit and comes to two conclusions. Neither of which she liked, "He is either very powerful or incredibly naïve."
"I thought much the same but am leaning more toward first then the last." Yennerfer says.
"Because of the book?" Tissaia asks.
"That and because of the magic he displayed. At first I thought was simple conjuring. Making a sword though magic through magic is not all that difficult. Making one that could that could stand up to a real sword a bit harder. But that was not what he did. After thinking about it and analyzing his spell he had somehow summoned a sword from a different place so flawlessly that no portal was used. Or one so small that I couldn't see it. That however pared in comparison to what he did next." Yennerfer says to her.
"Which was?" Tissaia asks.
"He shrunk a two-story building to about the size of a small case. A feat I don't believe I have ever heard of before." Yennerfer answers.
Making Tissaia stop for a moment and look at her to see if she is being deceived but sees no lie in Yennerfer face. For she too had never heard of such magic. That spoke of a very powerful mage. She then opens the book before her slowly and when she does, she feels a tremor of power. Marking it as a powerful magical artifact.
"Yennerfer please tell me you did not steal this book from him." Tissaia says now a bit worried herself.
Shaking her head much to Tissaia's relief, Yennerfer says something far worse. "No, he gave it to me or loaned it to me where his words."
Looking at Yennerfer hardly Tissaia says, "Foolish girl you know you should not just accept gifts from strangers, nonetheless if that stranger is made of unknown power."
"I know I fucked up but….."
"But the temptation proved to much for you to ignore." Tissaia finishes for her then adds, "Your desire for power and knowledge has always been great Yennerfer but you go too far now. Did you not think for a moment his generosity would not come with strings attached."
There had been many times when Yennerfer had irritated her. If she were to try and count them off it would in her mind take a lifetime. But it had not been since the night she tried to kill herself that she had truly been angry with her pupil. So shortsighted, always running from control while thinking she was running towards it. So, she should be excused if it took her a moment get control of her emotions.
When she does however, Tissaia says, "Have you read the book?"
"I have, well what parts of it I could understand. It is complicated. The book speaks of things I was never taught here." Yennerfer says.
"And noting untoward has happened to you?" Tissaia asks, fearing the worse.
"Not that I could tell but here is the thing." Yennefer steps forward and using her grabs the book and tossing it out the window.
Much to the shock of Tissaia who is about to say something. That is till Yennerfer holds up her hand and the book reappear in it.
"A binding spell?" Tissaia asks.
Shaking her head, "No something more. It was shortly after I started to read the book that I knew I had made a mistake. The book is dark, very dark and while I hesitate to it evil it whispers to me. It wants to be read, needs to be read. So naturally I immediately tried to get rid of the book."
Nodding her head at this in approval Tissaia says, "Seeing as you still have it I am guessing that proved fruitless."
"Indeed, no matter what I did, from tossing it into the sea, to burning it. The book always reappears before me. I have tried every spell I could think of to make it go away but nothing I do works." Yennefer says to her teacher.
"So you wisely brought here hoping Brotherhood could." Tissaia says.
Now looking like her pride was hurt Yennefer admits that she did with one word, "Yes."
Letting out a sigh Tissaia says, "Then we shell she what can be done."
-Elsewhere-
As I walk down a tunnel whitling I happy little tune I for not the first time think I should really find something to do this type of stuff for me. I mean really while I wasn't claustrophobia walking down a wet and damp tunnel in search of a Earth Elemental wasn't my idea of a good time. But there was little I could do about it. While I loved my bookstore, I mean really loved it some books just couldn't be read without a little bit of held. And in this case the book I was looking to read required the sacrifice of an Earth Elemental.
Fucking dark being and its hidden catch to owning a bookstore that supposedly housed all the knowledge in all of existence. I don't know if it had added this little catch because it had some nefarious plot I didn't know about or just out of its own amusement. Whatever the case this was truly annoying. As when I left Vietnam long ago, I had promised myself no more caves or underground shit. I didn't even go into underground parking lots in my old life. As it fucked with my PTSD. But my desire to read the books that I couldn't with out doing things like this were too great to ignore.
So I was very happy that I didn't have to travel very far and soon came to a dark chamber soon after entering the well hidden cave. Less happy when I saw the huge blob of solid rock and mud in the middle of it. Letting out a sigh I summoned a silver long sword to my hand. Then remind myself not to kill the thing before me. I had to sacrifice which meant keeping alive while I perform a ritual.
"Fuck this is going to hurt a lot." I say then charge the beat. Readying myself for a lot of pain in pursuit of my obsessions.