The sprawling, imposing presence of the Nilfgaardian court in Vizima, for all its pomp and might, had become a mere extension of Aizen's will. Emperor Emhyr, once a formidable and unpredictable force, now found his focus narrowing, his grand strategies subtly twisted by the Architect of Lies. His relentless pursuit of Ciri became an obsession, consuming more and more imperial resources, diverting attention from the true consolidation of the conquered Northern Kingdoms. Aizen expertly managed the flow of intelligence, creating tantalizing, often contradictory, leads that kept Emhyr's forces constantly searching, always moving, but never quite closing in on Ciri's true path until she was precisely where Aizen needed her to be.
The internal discord Aizen had meticulously sown within the Nilfgaardian high command began to fester. Marshal Menno Coehoorn, once a loyal general, now nursed a gnawing resentment towards Emhyr, believing his strategic insights were unjustly dismissed. Other generals found themselves at odds over seemingly trivial logistical issues, their suspicions amplified by Aizen's imperceptible nudges. This nascent friction was a safety measure, ensuring that even if Nilfgaard achieved total external victory, its internal cohesion would be fatally compromised, making it an easier target for Aizen's eventual full takeover.
Aizen's research in Vizima's vast and newly accessible imperial archives now delved into the most jealously guarded secrets of Nilfgaardian power. He found fragmented records of ancient, forgotten rituals used by the Elder Races, methods of drawing upon raw magical energy from the land itself, and disturbing accounts of their attempts to manipulate the very fabric of existence. These rituals, often requiring immense sacrifice or tapping into places of profound suffering, provided Aizen with a chilling blueprint for harnessing the chaotic spiritual energy he perceived from the ongoing war and its aftermath. He was not just seeking power; he was seeking the ultimate formula for reality manipulation on a cosmic scale, a true understanding of the fundamental forces that would allow him to transcend.
He also discovered a series of highly encrypted Nilfgaardian intelligence reports detailing their own extensive research into the Elder Blood. These reports contained detailed observations of Ciri's unpredictable bursts of power, her accidental jumps between worlds, and the terrifying potential of her uncontrolled abilities to shatter reality. More crucially, they pinpointed the exact locations of several highly potent nexus points across the Continent, correlating them with historical magical anomalies and instances of dimensional instability. Aizen's own research had identified one such nexus – a desolate, ancient ruin in the far north, shrouded in legend and rarely disturbed. He knew, with absolute certainty, that this was where Ciri's chaotic journey would culminate.
The final phase of herding Ciri towards this specific nexus was now in full swing. Aizen subtly influenced various groups – a band of common brigands, a desperate group of refugees, even a minor Lodge mage – to cross Ciri's path at calculated moments. He didn't control their every action, but rather their perceptions of opportunity or threat, ensuring each encounter, each close call, pushed Ciri further along her predestined route, her power growing more volatile with every strain. The chase itself was a crucial component, forcing her to push her limits, making her a more potent catalyst.
Back in Vizima, Aizen continued to refine his control over the city's collective psyche. He began to project a low, continuous frequency of Kyōka Suigetsu that subtly warped the perception of time for the populace. Days felt longer, weeks passed as if in a daze, and the relentless pressure of the occupation seemed to stretch into an eternity. This bred a profound sense of weariness and resignation, diminishing any lingering will to resist or even contemplate rebellion. The city was a vast, slumbering organism, its dreamscape subtly manipulated by an unseen hand.
One cold afternoon, a heavily cloaked figure arrived at the castle, demanding an audience with Emperor Emhyr. It was Letho of Gulet, the infamous Kingslayer, a Witcher known for his cold efficiency and formidable power, now in Nilfgaard's employ. Aizen's spiritual perception immediately registered Letho's unique aura: not just the familiar Witcher mutations, but a distinct chill of immense physical power, honed by years of brutal combat. Letho was a dangerous variable, a physical force that Kyōka Suigetsu could influence, but not necessarily outright control in a direct confrontation.
Aizen observed Letho during his audience with Emhyr. Letho spoke with a directness that bordered on insolence, discussing his missions, his observations about the Northern kingdoms, and, crucially, his own encounters with Ciri. Aizen subtly influenced Emhyr's perception of Letho, making the Emperor appreciate his brutal honesty and efficiency, thereby increasing his trust in the Witcher's reports. This was a calculated risk. By bringing Letho closer, Aizen gained a new channel for information, and a powerful, if unaware, operative who could potentially deliver Ciri directly to the nexus.
"The final pieces are moving," Aizen thought, observing Letho's imposing frame as he departed Emhyr's chambers. "The hunt, the chaos, the despair. All converging. Ciri, a volatile beacon of cosmic potential, approaches her designated crucible. And when she arrives, when her power peaks, the veil will thin. And then, the true evolution begins."
He could feel the distant hum of the nexus, a faint, growing resonance across the Continent, drawing him towards it. The war was nearing its end, its purpose served. The kings and queens, the generals and mages, the very empires themselves – they were all just disposable elements in the grand design of his transformation. The Architect of Lies was ready to discard his disguise, to step out of the shadows, and to claim his ultimate inheritance.