The Witcher: Elder Blood

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The study of artefact studies went surprisingly briskly. It wasn't difficult to fill the artefacts created by the rector in advance - I learnt to infuse them with magic literally the next day. Only there was one nuance, it was necessary to fill them correctly and to use, let's say, the energy of one 'structure', in order to avoid accidents when using them and just for the sake of stable work of the object.

By one structure, I mean the type of energy. Take the energy directly from fire or any other element, or fill it up using Places of Power, relics left over from the Conjunction of the Spheres. Places of Power were like rune stones. Their nature is not known, but what is known for sure is the spatial energy emanating from them, weak, barely perceptible, sometimes also having different 'shades', but generally suitable for filling.

Filling artefacts is easier for me, I just can always take energy from my own source. The energy of the Sources, to which I belong, is a priori identical, well, in its mass, but my 'structure' is slightly different, not for nothing I can open portals to 'closed' worlds.

Yennifer had no such possibility, she had to take energy from the same sources, at least one source per artefact. She used water, simple and convenient.

She kept up with me in terms of advancement, and I was in no hurry, it was more interesting to learn together. We spent a fortnight in this routine, and eventually learnt the basics.

Hela Gedimdeit gave me simple artefacts, but each of them was created for different needs, had distinctive properties and the form of magic lines.

The book given to me contained all the basic knowledge of artefacting, spells and brief thoughts.

In the course of training I began to associate artefacts with material rituals. That is, a type of magic in which a pre-created spell is placed on an object, and then can be used further, spending the energy store in such an object, or transferred energy from outside. This is exactly what happens when creating artefacts, and when filling them, it is enough to subtly channel the altered Chaos energy.

Also, to more complex and durable artefacts apply methods of self-replenishing energy from the environment. The level, to put it mildly, is higher than our current one, but as knowledge for the future it is useful.

By the way, fun fact, the medallions of witches were created by wizards, and just used the method of self-repair. So the first artefact I encountered was a witch's medallion. It has only one function: to shake when approaching the active energy, from which it gains its reserve. It works, it regenerates, it's convenient. The cost is negligible.

Wizards have their own common artefacts, usually found on most of the long-lived magical brethren. The Rector and his deputy, for example, had megascopes for long distance communication in their offices.

A megascope was a device that looked like a simple mechanism, but was not. It consisted of two mirrors, a black curtain, two lenses, four lamps, a box or casket, and at least one diamond or crystal, the purer and larger and the greater their number - the better quality of megascope can be obtained. Such an artefact works as follows: light from lamps is focused by lenses and passes through the crystal, after which it is transformed by the wizard for his purposes.

A versatile and useful device valued by every spellcaster. Not everyone is able to make it, initial knowledge in artefacting is not enough, mostly they order it from proven spellcasters, or try to make an amateur version with limited functionality. Professional ones in their turn are able to perform various functions: from clear telecommunication with image and sound transmission, to improved and more accurate teleportation over long distances - which I don't need, but many warlocks rely on a megascope in this case - and also fulfils the role of output devices for magical scanning of terrain or mind, and whatever the imagination and skills of a warlock can come up with.

- So my little girl is number two on Tissai's list, right? - I decide to distract Jennyfer, who has been trying to figure out how to enchant her pendant for the past hour.

Tissai de Vries enchanted her pendant in such a way that it slightly resembled the amulets of witches, but not with the function of searching for active Chaos energy, but in the accumulation of energy in itself, thus maintaining the work of the artefact itself. The girl was studying her pendant too soon, and to tell her that without getting a 'stubborn sheep' in response, I had to start from afar.

The sorceress paused, sniffling unhappily. She put the amulet aside and turned to me.

- Are you going to memorise all of Sabrina's phrases now? - Ian's friend came round again yesterday. The usual sit-down conversation about nothing and everything at the same time. I was able to find out about a certain sorceress who's considered a top student in the eyes of the Rector of Arethusa. - Or have you suddenly got a thing for old women?!

- Whoa, easy Ian, I just wanted to find out about this Phillipa... and, are you serious now, 'old lady'? Your mentor should have heard you,' I shook my head with a slight smile, not taking my eyes off her gaze in my direction.

- You know exactly what I mean,' she rose from her seat and walked over to me, crossing her arms. - Philippa Eilhart is over a hundred years old. I don't know what Tissaya said, maybe she was having a flashback, so she blurted out at that meeting about Phillipa's superiority in training under her....

- It doesn't matter,' I pulled the sorceress into a hug. - Ian, leave your pendant alone. You'll come back to it later. For the second hour you've been sitting there with a wry face, staring at it to no avail.

- Pfft, I can replicate the structure... - I interrupt her with a kiss.

- Then, there are more important artefacts. Xenovox, the crystal ball. And just a reminder, in case you forgot, we agreed to make ten magic sensors, quality ones, before moving on to the others.

- Okay, I'll do the rest of the sensors, let go already,' her fingers grabbed my cheek, rubbing it weakly.

I released the sorceress from the tight embrace, received a second kiss, this time from her, and continued to watch the newly occupied sorceress.

Magic sensors, or probes, whichever one you prefer, equate to one of the simplest artefacts whose purpose is to search for magical anomalies. They look like small metal dolts, I ordered twenty of them from the local blacksmith. My batch was finished, only Yennifer was left, but she quickly lost interest in them and moved on to her pendant.

As for the xenovox, the association with the telephone immediately comes to mind: a magical item that allows you to broadcast your voice to another such item. It looks like a small metal rounded box. In terms of complexity of creation on the level of a professional megascope. At first glance it may seem strange that an artefact with one function is equal in complexity to a megascope, but here it is worth delving into the possibilities of xenovox: comfortable to wear - small size, and also works well underwater - hence the complexity of creation.

Last among the popular artefacts, but not in importance, is the crystal ball - an artefact used for communication. The orb has fewer functions than the same megascope, but then again, it is smaller. It is often used in conjunction with the megascope itself, as the orb itself has less range and accuracy, but it transmits pictures and sounds around the orb connected to it quite well. Crystal balls are tuned to each other, and thus connect the link, they are often used in banks, thus transmitting information between branches in different cities.

In the future I will definitely study all the listed artefacts, however, for obvious reasons, the first place on my list is occupied by protective artefacts, and I plan to study them in the nearest future.

- Done, - after an hour the sorceress finished with the creation of light artefacts - ten magic sensors are ready. We don't need them, but we'll keep them just in case, in any case, the training has been successfully completed. - I'm tired, shall we go and eat? We'll just have to cook, oh, maybe Galanthea's cooked something.

- Good idea, why don't we go for a walk? We've been staying indoors a lot lately. The Horn of Storms pub was a good place, we could go there. What do you reckon?

In big cities you can always find a good tavern, or as in the case of Wengerberg, a good pub. It's expensive, though, as it was created primarily for nobles, we went only twice, I definitely liked it. Nice quiet atmosphere, just the voices of small groups coming to sit in the pub for a chat. Good food to drink, complemented by an enticing entourage. The Horn of Storms could be called a restaurant with a bias towards alcoholic drinks if it were in the modern world.

- Yes, let's... - she stretched with pleasure, and then walked over to the dressing table. - Oh, I'll get cleaned up first.

- I see, it'll be a long time,' I whisper quietly, covering my eyes because of the half hour of waiting ahead. - I'll look for Galanthea, maybe she'll want to come with us. Don't take too long.

- Yes, yes, I'll be down soon,' I stopped listening to me and sat down in front of the mirror. Then we'll choose from the restocked clothes, and then we'll eat. Well, at least we'd get some air.