Chapter 90: Reconstruction
23 Birke 1208
After the introduction of Keldar and Desmond, Lyndis showed Arthur her future room before going to Keldar's office, where the others are. The office is quite simple. It consists of a desk in front of a window that looks out onto the back of the fortress. On the sides are two long bookcases filled with books on various subjects ranging from history to legends to fantasy stories.
On the desk, several plans are piled up, scattered everywhere. The plans have a lot of writing, such as annotations, measurement scales, descriptions, and drawings. Standing in front of the main chair, Keldar arranges the plans so they can all be seen without overlapping. Around the table with him, Saibus, Desmond, and Coën analyze and discuss them.
Lyndis joins them around the desk and looks at the plans. The plans are broken down into several floors and zones. There is a general plan for each floor and more detailed plans for each room. The future citadel will have six different feet. The ground level includes the ground floor of the buildings and the inner and outer courtyards of the fortress. The first basement of the buildings will either be a dark training area or a warehouse depending on the building. The second basement is a laboratory for future alchemists and witchers to experiment with herbs and test the specific abilities of the witchers. The last three floors above ground will contain the rooms, the library, dungeons, and other needs expressed by the wizards.
"Well, now that we are all here, let's see how we can arrange our future school," says Keldar.
"As you can see, we have already made plans with Keldar. We have focused on the primary needs of the witchers for now. But now that Coën and Lyndis are here, we can get their input on the plans if you have any ideas on improving the school and making life easier for you." Desmond points to the different parts of the plans as he looks at Coën and Lyndis.
The two witchers look at the plans for their future homes. Impressed by the clarity of the projects, and the ingenuity of Desmond and Keldar.
"I don't have any particular need except for a place where I can recreate the techniques, tools, and skills of the wizards of yesteryear," says Lyndis. Desmond looks at Lyndis and picks up a piece of paper.
"Have you thought about the layout of this place?" asks Desmond.
"No, not really, but I think a room that combines an office with a training side should suffice."
"Okay, I'll make a note, a room that's an office, a library, and a training area all in one," Desmond repeats, jotting down Lyndis' needs on his paper.
"I think we can set up this room in various locations in the basement or in the courtyard by creating a small outbuilding," said Keldar, patting the table.
"I'll leave it to you to decide. I trust your expertise. You're a much better architect than I am," Lyndis replies.
Keldar and Desmond then turn their heads toward Coën. "You know very well what I want, Keldar, where I can forge and maintain our equipment. I am, after all, the school's armorer. So I need a place insulated from the weather, an outlet for the smoke from the forge, a large space to set up the forge, the anvil, the racks, cabinets, and chests. If possible, I would need a source of water close by to soak my creations. Although it is less efficient than oil, we have too little of it at present to allow me to use it. It will also be necessary to create a complementary room to the forge where I can store materials and weapons, and armor. This room, too, must be insulated from the temperatures." Coën outlines his needs to the Griffin elder and the Assassin.
Keldar smiles, "I thought you would ask that we build a forge, and we know that is essential. That is why we have kept a space in the back courtyard for the forge. Next to the training, dummies for the signs. The forge should have a long sliding door so that you can open it wide and view the courtyard during hot spells or if you want to observe the courtyard," Keldar explains as he circles the backyard plan.
Coën sketches a smile at the former Griffin School witcher's prediction. "I can see that you know me well after all these years of sticking me with your sermons and the stories you tell from the Liber Tenebrarum."
"Years too many, believe me. If only you were a little more like Lyndis, you'd be much more bearable." retorted Keldar with a stern look.
"Oh, no, that's part of my charm," Coën supports with a sly smile. This interaction between her two elders makes Lyndis smile.
The discussion about the reconstruction plans of Kaer Y Seren lasted several more hours to finish the final details before starting the rebuilding of the Griffin school.
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12 Feainn 1208
It has been two months since the Griffin witchers and Desmond and Saibus decided on the plans. Two months in which the League's workers have not stopped working. Two months in which the citadel of Kaer Y Seren has come to life without end. In these two short months, the fort has evolved. The reconstruction of the outer walls is finished, and they have even been improved to make it a natural fortress. Anti-avalanche protections have been implemented by mixing magic and scientific technology developed by the League.
The construction of the castle facilities is progressing at a steady pace. The defenses have been completed. The castle rooms are being moved for reconstruction. A small forge has been set up as agreed for Coën, who is working on it. He is sharpening the League lumberjacks' axes that cut the wood around the fortress.
During these two short months, tremors could be felt throughout the castle. The earthquakes are caused by the miners digging the mountain to make the two basements. The members of the League or its affiliates are not the only ones working on this reconstruction. Keldar, Lyndis, and Coën also take turns helping with the monster hunt in the area, Arthur's training, and the restoration of this building.
Three people can be seen in the castle, in one of the spare rooms that serve as a small classroom for Arthur. Arranging the logs of a small fireplace, Saibus has his back to Arthur and Keldar. Keldar sits on a chair with a book in his hand while Arthur sits on the floor of the room on the carpet.
"Well, Arthur, let's pick up our last lesson where we left off," says Keldar with a stern look. Arthur nods shyly
"Can you tell me what we talked about last time?" questions Keldar.
"Yes, you told me about one of the different classifications of monsters," replies Arthur, intimidated by Keldar.
"And what can you tell me about that classification?"
Arthur hesitates for a moment before staring at the wall behind Keldar.
"The classification is done by categories of monsters such as necrophages which include monsters, most monsters that haunt graveyards and battlefields and eat the dead."
"Can you give me examples of necrophages?"
"Ghouls."
"Well, do you know the other categories of monsters?"
"Uh..." Arthur hesitated, but a stern look from Keldar made him nod directly.
"Yes."
"Beasts, Cursed Creatures, Elementals, Ogroids, Spectres, Vampires... Drac...noids..." the longer the list goes on, the more Arthur loses confidence under the inquisitive gaze of his lesson master.
"You're missing three," says Keldar, flipping through the book, staring at Arthur with his eyes.
Arthur gets lost in his memories.
"Insectoids?!"
"Is that a question or a statement?" asks Keldar at the child's uncertain tone.
"A statement." Keldar then nods, indicating that this is a good answer.
"Only two more to go."
There is then silence apart from Saibus stirring the logs in the fire.
"Wouldn't you have loved riding a griffin as a Griffin wizard Arthur?" asks Saibus.
"Hm," Arthur, surprised by the question, turns around, unfocused by the Assassin. He sees Saibus smirking at him.
"Ah, I know, hybrids!" says Arthur excitedly as he turns around in his chair for the second time.
"Correct, but I'd like it if it came from you next time and not him. You're lucky that everyone thinks I must tone down my training methods. And the last one?" snarls Keldar.
A moment passes before Arthur admits he doesn't know.
"The last class of monsters is the Vestiges which are extremely rare, powerful monsters that are extremely old" (AN: Vestiges are relatively sparsely described in TW3, so I went with what I understood.)
"Suitable, though you lack poise and confidence. You must not hesitate to recognize a monster's classification, or you will become its meal. Remember so much." says Keldar as he turns the book towards Arthur.
"Let's continue our lesson on monster classification. There is a classification by monster type and dangerousness in battle. However, even the smallest Nekker can kill the most prepared wizard because of a second of inattention," says Keldar sternly.
"The rankings are: low for a Nekker, which is why he acts in a band. Then the medium monsters are stronger and can have weak monsters with them, like the chief Nekker. Finally, the Strong monster like the wyvern." Arthur listens carefully to Keldar's lesson, not wanting to be argued with by the old wizard anymore.
"Behind this representative classification of the dangerousness of monsters, there is one that is very related. It is the difficulty rating of the monsters in their categories. It is classified as follows: Simple, Complex, and Difficult. The simple stage is for monsters to act instinctively, so you can kill them easily using your brain. A monster in this category is the drowner."
"Complex monsters are easier to beat if you take the time to prepare like the mermaids. If you drop them to the ground and protect yourself from their screams, you can more easily kill them, but you will have had to prepare beforehand."
"Finally, avoid going after difficult monsters you don't know. Otherwise, you might end up dead at the first opportunity without knowing how it happened. A difficult monster is no joke. Most of the time, if the wizard is not prepared, he ends up impaled against a Leshen or with his head split open by the hoof of a Fiellon." The examples Keldar gave did not seem to please Arthur, who winced as he pictured the scene in his mind.
"Don't grimace. I'm preparing you so that your thought doesn't come true. Now take this bestiary and read it. I will ask you questions about it tomorrow."
AN:
I thank ArtoriasPendragon for allowing me to use his creation Lyndis in my story.
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