Anya's "discovery" of the Elder Blood prophecy sent immediate ripples through the Lodge of Sorceresses. Her urgent reports, subtly infused with Aizen's guiding influence, were received with the intense scrutiny and burgeoning ambition typical of the powerful mage collective. He knew they would not share this knowledge with kings or commoners; it was a secret power to be hoarded, nurtured, and eventually exploited for their own designs for the Continent. This was precisely the outcome Aizen desired: a powerful, independent faction doing his unwitting bidding.
His research in the Scriptorium continued to delve into the very fabric of existence, moving beyond mere ley lines and ancient artifacts. He began to pore over texts that hinted at the manipulation of causality itself, subtle theories about how events could be nudged, probabilities shifted, and fate subtly rewoven. These were incredibly abstract concepts, often couched in philosophical or theological terms, but Aizen's mind effortlessly sifted through the archaic language, extracting the cold, hard mechanics of influence. He viewed destiny not as an unchangeable path, but as a vast, intricate river that could be diverted with the right leverage and enough pressure.
The Northern Kingdoms' situation spiraled further into chaos. King Foltest, incensed by Redania's aggressive posturing near Novigrad, began to pull forces away from his southern borders, leaving them perilously exposed to Nilfgaard. King Demavend of Aedirn, convinced of both Temerian and Redanian betrayal, adopted an isolationist stance, hoarding his own strength. Aizen observed these decisions, these predictable responses to fear and perceived slight, and felt a cold satisfaction. The fracturing was complete. The North was now ready to be harvested.
A new opportunity presented itself in Dravograd. A small delegation from Cintra, desperate for allies against the looming Nilfgaardian invasion, arrived in the city. Led by a seasoned, world-weary diplomat, Master Perlin, they sought to plead their case for military aid from any sympathetic Northern lord. Aizen saw not a plea, but a crucial vulnerability, a direct link to the very lineage that carried the Elder Blood.
He began his subtle work on Master Perlin. During the diplomat's discreet meetings with local officials, Alaric would position himself nearby, seemingly engrossed in a Scriptorium text. He would weave a low-level, continuous Kyōka Suigetsu, influencing Perlin's emotional state. He subtly heightened Perlin's feelings of desperation and urgency, making him more prone to overstating Cintra's dire straits and more receptive to 'unconventional' ideas for aid. Simultaneously, Aizen would subtly plant a nagging sense of mistrust towards the very lords Perlin was trying to sway, making their assurances seem hollow and their intentions suspect.
Perlin, already stressed, found himself increasingly agitated. His pleas grew more impassioned, his distrust of the Northern lords more pronounced. He began to mention Cintra's 'unique heritage' and 'special lineage' more frequently, hinting at secrets that might convince reluctant allies, believing these were his own strategic insights. His desperation made him careless, allowing snippets of vital information about Cintra's royal family to slip in conversations he believed were private.
Aizen absorbed every detail. The mentions of Queen Calanthe's stubbornness, the tragic fate of Princess Pavetta, and the vague, yet persistent, whispers surrounding Ciri, the granddaughter. He understood the profound significance of Ciri's survival, her hidden power, and her central role in the prophecy that Anya was now so vigorously pursuing. His own path to transcendence now had a clearer, living target.
He also ensured that, through subtle misdirection and amplified distractions from the ongoing war rumors, Perlin's frantic attempts to secure aid ultimately fell on deaf ears. The Northern lords in Dravograd, already stretched thin and consumed by their own burgeoning conflicts, remained stubbornly uncommitted to Cintra's plight, their inattention subtly reinforced by Aizen's unseen nudges. Cintra was to be isolated, its powerful lineage left exposed.
The day came when the news of Cintra's fall reached Dravograd, brought by terrified, scattered refugees. The city erupted in a grim chorus of shock and despair. King Foltest raged. King Vizimir ordered heightened border security. The destruction of Cintra was seen as a horrifying harbinger of Nilfgaard's true might.
Aizen felt no shock, no despair. Only a deep, cold satisfaction. The first major piece of the global chessboard had been removed, and the highly valuable pawn, Ciri, was now adrift, vulnerable, and moving directly into the chaos he had so meticulously cultivated. The stage was being set for a confrontation that would reshape the very nature of power on the Continent. And he, the silent architect, would be pulling every string.