Geralt and Yennefer
Next to the new farmhouse of Liam, on a slightly elevated hill with a better view of the lake, Geralt and Yennefer had gotten themselves as house. It was a modest ho made of stone and glass—half-modern, half-cottage. His sword still hung over the fireplace.
Yennefer loved the city… but she loved this more.
Here, she could build a vineyard which she always wanted. Practice magic if need be. Drink wine with old friends and not hear screaming in the distance. Sotis, she and Geralt would sit in silence for hours. Other tis, they'd argue passionately about the politics of this world, but most of the tis it was a wrestling match.
They had chosen peace. And peace, so far, had chosen them back.
Ciri
Ciri moved to Kamar Taj, just like Triss but she joined as an apprentice and even then she had privileges. The Ancient One had taken her under her wing and made her learn magic diligently. Of course, that didn't an that she was like Doctor Strange.
She was allowed to connect and go to her friends when needed which was more than expected as none of the apprentices were allowed that privilege. But she did get so flak from so fellow apprentices as they were filled with a bit of jealousy that she was allowed to go anywhere.
But then again, Queen Frigga herself ca down and wanted to take her away. It ant that she had a very powerful background which they didn't know of.
And Liam
Well Liam was busy practicing chaos magic. Now that he had full range of emotions and was able to access to all forms of chaos magic, he wanted to learn more. But before all of that he needed to torture Caranthir.
Eredin wouldn't be touched. At least not until the war starts, but Caranthir was different. At first he forced Caranthir to spill out all of his knowledge on chaos magic.
Liam didn't ask. He commanded.
The cell where Caranthir was kept was layered in sigils. All of it crafted by Liam himself using his own magic and also making the cage and the locks made of Ditrium. The only tal from their world which could stop magic flow altogether. Caranthir hung from the ceiling by chains of glowing Vibranium laced with Diritium and inscribed with binding runes. His once regal armor had long been stripped away, replaced with scorched rags and blood-soaked bandages.
"You think I'll break?" Caranthir snarled the first night.
Liam didn't speak and instead summoned so rats and placed it on his body while caging the rats around the body of Caranthir. These rats would eventually grow angry and there would no way to escape and the only way to do so was through the body of Caranthir himself.
The phycological and the physical pain was way too much for Caranthir. He gave up in one day itself. One had to give Caranthir the respect though. This guy survived until the rat went till his rib cage and finally gave up.
He started spilling.
Nas of ancient constructs. Theories about the fracturing of Ley Lines. How the Wild Hunt had once stolen power from dead worlds—how chaos magic could be bent. Liam took notes. ticulously. He wasn't just interested in the spells. He wanted structure. Theory. Systems of power Caranthir thought lost to ti.
After a week, Liam brought in mirrors.
"Look at yourself," Liam said coldly. "Look at what your so-called superiority has beco." The rib cage wasn't yet healed and normally magic would heal his wounds but the shackles wasn't allowing him and the only reason he was still alive was because he was an Aen Elle.
Any other species would have died by now.
This was the last ntal attack of Liam and he had done so without using his own magic but rather age old torture. Humans were known to be evil and this was just one of them. Aen Elle were brutal for sure since they saw everyone beneath them, but humans were different. They knew they were evil and thus learnt away to spread it.
While Aen Elle thought that they were nobles. Soon Caranthir spoke like a student begging to please the teacher.
"Please… the Void Thread—it's hidden in dual resonance. Two opposing spells sung together," he muttered. "You can breach the Pale Realm with it, but you'll need a living anchor. Soone strong… soone bound to ti and death both…"
His spells and knowledge of Quenya was givem out and it took a month to note down everything. He didn't add it to the network of EDITH but rather books. The old ways that is.
Finally, Liam stood over the elf one last ti.
"You've served your purpose," he said flatly.
Caranthir flinched.
But Liam didn't kill him.
Instead, he locked the chains tighter, reinforced the runes, and turned the cell cold as a tomb.
"You'll remain here. Forgotten. Screaming into the void you once called ho."
Death was just an escape, it was living that haunted most people. Now Caranthir would be haunted everyday. Of course, he would be provided with food but he would be ntally tortured as freedom wouldn't be on the cards. Ever.
So days had passed since their strange little family had found peace in this new world. Liam was at his own place. And he wasn't alone.
Ciri was visiting.
"I survived Kaer Morhen and all I got was this hoodie." In one hand, she held a skewer of grilled chicken and pineapple as she said that.
"The trick is to not to care for the hood. Perfect for hiding." Liam joked. Ciri rolled her eyes as she continued eating and making sure the food wasn't spilled on it.
"Okay, but the idea of ti not being linear still sses with ," she said, mouth full, "Like, how is it both a river and a circle?"
"It's both," Liam replied. "And neither. The answer lies in perception. Also, stop asking about their magic. I don't know anything." He didn't want to speak about ti. That wasn't in his cards, nor did he want. Ti was always a ssy subject.
"Fine."
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