Chapter 1: A Gateway to the Future

The air was warm as the sun rose on the capital city of Nilfgaard. Summer was in full swing and the bustling city showed it. Hawkers were pitching up their stalls, blacksmiths were lighting their forges, cabbies watered their horses and crowds flooded the docks to witness a momentous day in history. People from across the empire, from the heartland and outlying provinces, came to bear witness. After all, today would mark a once in an era event. Today was to be the day Cirilla Fiona Ellen Riannon would be crowned Empress of the Nilfgaardian Empire.

Gossip spread through the crowd like a plague, growing stronger with each additional body. There were many who thought it improper that the Princess intended to hold her coronation in Novigrad rather than in the capital. Others were perplexed as to how she would manage this at all. It would take several months of travel by land or sea to reach Novigrad from Nilfgaard. If the heir-apparent intended to be crowned this day, then certainly there was no way she could reach it in time. Or could she? There were many rumors saying that Princess Cirilla was a sorceress, and that she was tutored by an elven sage. Many reasoned that she intended to use magic to teleport there, however that didn't align with the fact that she had prepared a small fleet and an imperial flagship to escort her to Novigrad.

The fleet in question floated casually on the bay. From the docks, soldiers could be seen barking orders and making preparations to set sail. It was a small fleet, consisting of only fifteen ships. After all, this was only meant to be an honor guard. However, their number did nothing to detract from the imposing figures that the ships cut. Each ship on the bay was a tall, sturdy, ornate, and exceptionally well-equipped Nilfgaardian Battleship, some of the best in the Imperial Navy in fact. Most noteworthy, however, was their rather unorthodox equipment. Instead of catapults or ballista, the ships were armed with a device that resembled a cross between a ballista and a slingshot. Just what these devices were intended to be used for, no one knew for sure. What was known was that it was Princess Cirilla's doing. In the past year, the princess had taken on a number of initiatives that no one outside the court's inner circle knew the purpose of. Most notable among them was the giant stone arch that overlooked the entrance to the bay.

The arch was a work of grand beauty. Spanning the entire breadth of the bay and nearly a hundred feet high. It was constructed from black marble imported from Etolia and carved with elven and alchemic runes that were inlaid with gold from Vicavoro. At the zenith of the arch was a platform with a smaller arch on top of it. If one looked closely enough at the platform, a cross-shaped structure at the very top could be discerned. It was overall a beautiful structure made more impressive by the fact that it had been done in the span of a year. The princess had put every mage in the empire to work on assisting the laborers with constructing it as quickly as possible. To what end no one knew for sure. The mages who assisted had installed a variety of spells into every block of the arch. What these spells were meant for the mages were forbidden to say. However, rumors had flown in from the north that a similar arch made from red sandstone was commissioned by the princess in Novigrad. There the project had been met with significantly more resistance as the people of Novigrad detested magic of any kind. Still despite whatever speculation people attempted to make, no one could know for sure what the arch was for. No one that is except for Princess Cirilla who at this time was pacing frantically within her cabin on her Imperial Flagship.

"Where is she? Where is she?" the ashen haired young woman murmured as she paced back and forth.

"Calm yourself Zirael," said an elf sitting at a table in the back of the cabin.

"Oh shut up Avallha'c," Ciri snapped, "you can't possibly expect me to be calm on a day like today. You know what's at stake."

"Yes I do," the elven sage answered nonchalantly as he filled his goblet with fine Beauclair Red. "And by my estimation, not much."

"Not much!? It's my bloody coronation!" Ciri answered angrily.

"You stopped the White Frost singlehandedly," Avallha'c said as he took a sip. "Compared to that, any trouble that comes your way from here onwards is meager."

Ciri sighed then took the seat opposite to the elf. The sage filled another goblet and passed it to her. She accepted it thankfully and began musing as she drank. "You know, I didn't really stop it. Not permanently at least. The best I could manage to do was stall its progress."

"That is still more than anyone in the countless millennia of fighting against the frost has ever achieved," the elven sage countered. "The seal you put on it will last a hundred years at least."

"I thought a century was little more than the blink of an eye for your kind," Ciri responded taking another sip.

"True," Avallha'c contended, "however, much can change in the blink of an eye."

"That was cryptic," Ciri said sarcastically.

"Well, I am a sage."

There was a knock on the door of the cabin, followed by the call of a deeply nasal accent. "Your grace, Phillipa Eilhart has arrived on deck," General Voorhis said through the door.

"Finally," Ciri said under her breath before answering the General, "I'll be right out!"

"As you will, your grace," Voorhis said before leaving.

Ciri turned to Avallha'c, "you think he bowed to the door before leaving?"

"Most likely," the elf answered, "that one clings tightly to protocol. I actually rather like that about him."

"That makes one of us. In any case, shall we?" Ciri asked as she got up.

"Let's," the elf answered as he followed her.

Ciri walked over to the door but before she could leave Avallha'c called to her, "Zirael, aren't you forgetting something?"

"Hmm? Oh right."

Ciri raised her hands above her head as they began to glow with green energy. She waved her hands over her body and her simple white woolen shirt and brown trousers began to melt away and were summarily replaced by a long flowing black gown with silver embroidery.

"I must admit, it's rather astonishing how refined your control of the power has become in such a short time," Avallha'c commented.

"You can thank the White Frost for that," Ciri said.

"How so?"

"Hmm, it's hard to explain, but ever since I faced the frost I've felt this overwhelming sense of humility."

"Humility?" the elf asked puzzled.

"Like I said it's hard to explain. But when I was out there in that never-ending blizzard, I let go of everything...fear, sadness, guilt, doubt, pride. All of that shattered in the face of that storm. Everything that was holding me back was gone, and it was just me and the Frost. No collateral damage to worry about, or innocents to get caught up in the middle. So I let loose. I hit the Frost with every last ounce of power I had. And, in the end, well it just wasn't enough," she said with a slight laugh.

"You certainly don't seem disappointed about the fact," Avallha'c noted.

"That's because for the first time in my life I was finally able to let go of the idea that I was special."

"That makes no sense," Avallha'c responded, "most people lament at the fact that they are not special and are doomed to live pointless lives."

"Those people don't know how good they have it. For most of my life my specialty has only ever brought me pain and suffering, as well as the weight of responsibility that I never asked for. Not to mention the fear I've always felt of someone getting hurt because I couldn't control my power. Facing the Frost made me realize how arrogant I had been, and it made me realize that as strong as I am, there are still forces in the universe more powerful than anyone could possibly comprehend."

"And because of this, you no longer fear yourself or your power?"

"More or less. Anyway, come, there is work to be done," Ciri opened the door and walked up to the ship's deck.

Up on the deck the crewmen actively went about their tasks. Tying knots, prepping the sails, stacking cargo boxes, and washing the deck. The men sang rude sea shanties in rhythm to their work but held their tongues as soon as they saw Ciri was on deck. "You don't have to clean your language on my account," Ciri called to them laughing. "This is a ship, not the court."

"I'd prefer if they did," came a snooty voice from up at the ship's helm.

"Ah, Phillipa, I've been waiting for you," Ciri said answering the snooty voice as she walked up to the helm.

When Ciri saw her, she noted the scarlet red dress she wore with white lace trimmings and high neck frock collar that covered her no doubt to hide the enchanted choker that was meant to keep her in line. She was wearing a new blindfold today, a ribbon of red satin with white lacework interweaved in to match the dress. Phillipa's eyes were gouged out long ago by the mad king Radovid. That wasn't to say she didn't deserve it though. Phillipa had built her career as a schemer with some hidden agenda or another and she had wronged a great number of people in her pursuit of her own ambitions. Ciri and Emhyr had made it a point to keep her on an extremely tight leash lest she start getting ideas again.

"Are the preparations in Novigrad ready?" Ciri asked.

Phillipa answered haughtily, "Yes, but I just want to say that I still think this entire endeavor is madness."

"We already achieved the proof of concept with the palace models," Avallha'c pointed out. "Furthermore I'll remind you that constructions such as this are commonplace in Tir'na'Lia."

"This is not the world of the Aen Elle," Phillipa countered. "The palace models were small, any mage worth their salt could operate them. Something of this scale would require thirty fully trained mages at least."

"Then I suppose it's fortunate that I'm worth a hundred," Ciri quipped laughingly.

Phillipa was not so amused, "You have only just started to learn to control your power. You've only been studying for three years now. At your current level most magic authorities would only consider you an adept. It'll take decades more training before you truly master it."

Ciri raised her hand to silence her, "Phillipa, your concerns are valid. They are. But as it stands, I really need this project to go through. This arch is part of the crucial first step in my plans for the Empire. Once it's up and running this will change the world. It'll revolutionize our economy, our military, and diplomatic relations."

"It's not that I don't understand what you're trying to achieve, but why the rush?" Phillipa asked.

"Because we only have the blink of an eye to be ready for what's coming," Ciri answered.

Phillipa gave Ciri a quizzical expression. It was always an odd experience watching Phillipa make faces without any eyes. She could still see just fine since the Lodge of Sorceresses had found a way to simulate eyesight for her through the use of powerful illusion magic. But still it was odd watching how her eyebrows arched above her blindfold responding to commands from muscles that weren't actually there.

"Anyway we've talked enough," Ciri said. "Let's get going."

"I do hope you have a moment for me before you set off," came a deep masculine voice.

As soon as they saw who the voice belonged to, every member of the crew dropped whatever they were doing and kneeled down on one knee. The crew's gesture of fealty told her immediately who had just boarded before she even saw the man whom the voice belonged to. His head of smooth slicked black hair with streaks of gray showed first as he walked up the stairs. Then his hard angular face with a jaw that looked like it could have been cut from stone. But most notable of all were his eyes. His brown eyes were so light they almost appeared golden. They were hard set, the eyes of a man who commanded respect. And his gaze made it clear that it was in your best interest to give it. This man was Emhyr var Emreis, Emperor of Nilfgaard, and Ciri's father.

Avallha'c and Phillipa did not kneel as the crew did but they did give the emperor the formal bow that was customary in the Nilfgaardian court. The only one who made no such formality was Ciri who greeted him with a simple, "your majesty."

"Cirilla," the emperor answered in response.

The two stared each other down for a few minutes as if they were building a bridge made of ice between them. They looked more like a pair of rivals about to duel than father and daughter. "You two go on ahead," Ciri said, "I believe my father would like to have a few words with me."

Avallha'c and Phillipa gave a quick bow to denote their leaving. Then Phillipa raised her hands up, charging them with orange magical energy. When she brought her hands down, a portal opened. She and Avallha'c walked through without a word.

"Do you mind?" Emhyr asked as he pointed an index finger upwards and spun it in a circular motion.

Ciri raised her hand to her breast and charged it with green energy. She whispered a word, "silencieux". A thin bubble of transparent green energy spread out from her hand and grew until it enveloped the entire rear portion of the ship.

"No sound within this barrier can be heard from outside," she explained.

Emhyr observed the thin green bubble that surrounded them. Finally, he took a deep breath and leaned back on the balustrade of the ship.

"You look beautiful Cirilla," Emhyr said as he attempted to melt the ice between them.

"Thank you, Emhyr," Ciri said casually. Ciri only called Emhyr 'father' when others were around. She hadn't forgotten the fact that Emhyr was responsible for a great deal of hardship in her life, not least of all being the death of her mother and grandmother.

If the casualness with which Ciri addressed him bothered him at all he didn't show it. He looked towards the slingshot-like device to his left. "This weapon of yours, it's…rather unorthodox."

"The engineers came up with the firing mechanism, my idea was the ammo," Ciri responded.

"Ah yes, the ammo. Those bombs that the witchers taught you how to make. Now those will revolutionize naval warfare. I read the reports about what those bombs can do to a ship. I expect we'll find the Skelligers easier to deal with."

"I thought we already discussed this," Ciri said impatiently. "We're not going to war with Skellige."

"You might want to tell that to Hjalmar an Craite then," Emhyr responded sharply. "Even as we speak he leads his raiding parties on the shores of the Northern realms."

"I will," Ciri responded bitingly. "As Empress."

Emhyr lightly chuckled at her last bit.

Growing annoyed Ciri asked directly, "Why are you here, Emhyr? It can't be to muse on the slingshots."

"Your deductive abilities are excellent, Cirilla," Emhyr responded casually as he turned to face her. "Though your poise still requires improvement."

"I have poise enough with a sword in my hand."

"Was that a threat?"

"No, just a statement."

"A statement can mean many things. You should remember that if you intend to rule."

Ciri stared him down silently for a few moments as Emhyr paused his speech. She knew what the game was. Showing up unannounced to catch her off guard. Starting a conversation about something unimportant to set the frame. He was making a power move. He was here to reinforce what they had agreed on.

"I haven't forgotten the arrangement we agreed to if that's why you're here," Ciri said.

"It's not your memory I doubt, but your understanding."

"What's there to understand? I'll wear the crown and carry the title of Empress but you'll still be running things in the background. I'll, in turn, use the power that the appearance of being Empress gives me to pursue my own agenda."

Emhyr closed his eyes, took a deep breath and sighed. "If that's all you think there is to this arrangement then you truly are not ready to be Empress yet."

"What do you mean?" Ciri asked.

Emhyr didn't answer immediately. Instead he leaned back against the balustrade and looked wistfully to the east. "Have you heard of the Nihon Empire?"

"Never heard of it," Ciri answered.

"It lies to the far east of here. Even further then Zerikania."

"You thinking of expanding east now that the North is conquered?"

"Not at the moment no. However, about two years ago I met with a rather interesting fellow. A merchant from Zerikania who had travelled there. When he came back he brought with him a rather interesting tale. Apparently this land had just recently become unified after two centuries of civil war."

"Good…for them I suppose," Ciri said hesitantly. Emhyr had thrown her off completely now. She had no clue where he was going with this.

"Here is the interesting part. The man who had succeeded in unifying this land, Eyasu. That was the name the merchant gave me. He only held the reins of power for two years after unification."

"Let me guess, assassination?"

"No, he retired."

"Retired? After only two years?"

"I thought the same when the merchant told me this as well, but when he explained further I realized the genius of it."

"This I have to hear."

"Apparently he passed the title of ruler to his son and gave him some responsibility while still running his empire from the shadows. By doing so he secured his power on two fronts. He made himself a smaller target for coups and assassins, and he ensured that his heir would be a capable ruler in his own right by easing him into the role and not overwhelming him with all the power at once."

"And that's what you intend for me?"

"Precisely, I have achieved all that I wish to achieve in life. Nilfgaard is currently the strongest it has ever been. Aside from Kovir and Skellige the empire now rules this side of the world. Now my only concern is to ensure that the future is secure. To that end I'm giving the crown and some of the power that goes with it to you. Once you're ready I'll happily wash my hands of politics all together."

"And just what do you intend to do once the soap has dried?"

"Hmm, there is a castle in the south end of the heartland where a fair haired young women awaits me."

"My stand-in?"

Emhyr nodded.

"Hmm, you know I wasn't around for the fallout when you brokered the news to the court and public. How did they react when they found out the Cirilla you were married too was a fake?"

"Surprised, but it's not as if there was anything anyone could do. The throne of Nilfgaard and Cintra is yours by rights. The rest is yours by conquest. You'll have people constantly trying to put a dagger in your back, but no more than would be usual for someone in your position. Make it a point to have those people eliminated as soon as they crop up."

"Thanks, I think, I'll make a note of it."

"See to it that you do," the Emperor said as he turned to leave.

The two stood silently for a moment, neither certain of what to say next. The silence thickened between them until Emhyr broke it. "Tell me Ciri, just what kind of ruler do you want to be?"

Ciri met Emhyr's gaze for a moment as she thought his question over. She knew the answer. She had already asked herself that same question and spent several days thinking about it before coming to a conclusion. However, she had never voiced her plans aloud to anyone before. "Do you want the honest answer or the one I intend to give out publically?"

"Honest please, I'll hear whatever the public version is when it's released to the public."

This time it was Ciri's turn to take a deep breath. "I've travelled far and wide Emhyr. Do you know what it is I have consistently seen no matter which country I go to?"

"I can guess but I'd rather you tell me."

"Pain and suffering. No matter where I go, there are always people who are suffering. People who have been wronged or cheated because of their race or social status. I've seen children offered up as food for woodland crones because their parents couldn't afford to keep them. I've had friends who have been harassed and murdered because of their height or the shape of their ears. Yet despite that, they all continue to soldier on. They do the best they can despite the poor hand that fate has dealt them. I want to be a ruler who reshuffles the deck. I want to end the suffering and make sure everyone has a fair chance at the game of life. That's what I want people to think of when they think of my rule. A century from now I want the historians to say that the regime of Cirilla Fiona Ellen Riannon was a time marked by hope and prosperity. That is the kind of ruler I wish to be."

Emhyr stood silently for a moment as if deep in thought. Then he gave his reply, "I think it sounds naïve and childish. It's highly unlikely you'll ever stamp out all the suffering in the world."

Ciri looked at him with a touch of anger furrowing in her brow.

"Still, I think you should give it a try. At the very least you'll be able to do some good. And right now more than anything, that's what the world needs. Some good." With that Emhyr turned and left the green bubble. A plank was laid down so that the Emperor could cross ships.

Ciri watched him leave, "even walking across a wooden plank he looks like a panther." She disappeared in a flash of green.

When the flash subsided she was standing on the platform at the top of the arch. Phillipa and Avallha'c were waiting for her. Each of them had already taken a position within the runic array that spread throughout the platform in a circular pattern. In the center of the platform was a pedestal made of the same black stone as the rest of the arch. Atop the pedestal was an aquamarine orb made of infused crystal.

"Is Cynthia's team in position in Novigrad?" Ciri asked.

"They're on standby, waiting to receive the signal," Phillipa answered. "Are you sure it was wise to leave Cynthia in charge? Fringilla is more experienced by far."

"Fringilla already has the hardest job on that team," Ciri answered. "Cynthia just needs to receive the signal and make the connection. Fringilla will be in charge of directing the power she'll need all her concentration there."

"And what about that new boy you stuck with them? Nial?" Avallha'c asked.

"Nial is there mainly to provide support on his end. We only really need two people on the receiving end but having one more mage provides a little extra insurance. Besides, Nial worked on the palace models with me he has a full grasp on how this is supposed to work."

"But he's only an adept," Phillipa said.

"So am I, yet here we are. Now then, if you're done questioning my leadership decisions we need to get this show on the road." Ciri assumed her position within the circle. The three of them formed a triangular position around the orb in the center of the circle. "Alright you all know what to do. Phillipa you will send the signal to Cynthia and establish the link. I'll draw the power and Avallha'c will direct it."

Phillipa nodded then raised her hands which began to pulse with blue energy. She uttered the incantation. "Aeca`emn aine aep ban. Aine stra`ede aep tedd. Aine stra`ede aep ca`erme." The orb in the center was silent and stationary at first. Then suddenly it began to pulse and glow profusely.

"Looks like Cynthia got the signal," Ciri said. "I'll draw the power now. Brace yourselves this is going to be intense." Ciri took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I am the flash that cuts. Heir to the elder blood. I call upon the forces of time and space and command thee to forge the path beyond thine boundaries."

"Is she casting a spell using common speech?" Phillipa asked bemused.

"Ordinary rules don't apply to Zirael," Avallha'c answered.

Ciri opened her eyes which were now glowing green and brimming with power. With a voice like thunder she commanded, "Come to me now! HEN ICHAER!" A column of energy burst forth from where Ciri was standing. The sky darkened as the power stretched up into the clouds. The wind began to howl threatening to blow the sage and sorceresses off the platform. Then the runes that formed the circle beneath their feet began to glow.

"I believe that's my cue." The elven sage raised his left hand up and began drawing the ambient energy that Ciri was generating toward himself. With one hand in the air, he directed his other hand toward the orb. Moments into the process Avahalla'c began sweating profusely.

"You holding it together sage?" Phillipa asked, half-mocking half-genuine concern.

"Zirael's power threatens to tear me asunder. I must establish a funnel straight towards the conduit before it does so." As Avallha'c spoke the power gathering above his left hand spiraled out further, and the stream he directed towards the orb grew more erratic. It whipped and flailed about like the tail of a wounded slyzard. "I just need to unite the poles."

Avallha'c began to draw his hands together. His hands moved slowly and seemed to resist coming together, as if he were dragging two lodestones through a pool of tar. When Avallha'c finally managed to clasp his hands together a quick flash circled around his knuckles. He immediately let go. A funnel had now formed between Ciri and the orb. All of her energy went straight into it. As she fueled the orb, green energy began to spread throughout the workings of the arch. Within minutes the entire construct was alight with power.

The portal opened in the center of the arch, and the fleet blew its horns to greet the free city of Novigrad.

A/N: Goddamn, finally I got the first chapter up. If you actually read all the way to the end of this first chapter, congratulations. I promise they won't all be this long. I really need to set the scale and tone for what's at stake in this fic so that's why this chapter took as long as it did. On top of that I'm taking a longer process. I wrote this chapter by hand first on pen and paper. I've actually written the first three chapters down by hand. Doing things this way takes longer, however I'm able to better control the quality of my writing this way. This way I can't skip editing and redrafting since I have to go over my work and correct my initial mistakes. This is going to be the last fanfiction I ever write so I want it to be the best thing I've ever done. If you read all the way to the end, thank you, I hope you'll stick with me as I embark on this final journey into the world of fanfiction.