After dispatching the two ghouls, Wayne maintained his vigilance, clutching the blade tightly as he waited for its magical power to fully recharge. He knew that the ghouls were merely minions, and the true mastermind behind the soldiers' deaths had yet to reveal itself.
Three minutes later, as the magic power in the electric blade replenished, Wayne gripped the blade firmly and ventured deeper into the mine.
The mine boasted a long history and vast interior space, its origins lost to time. Covered by a cave roof, it typically served as a warehouse. Inside, various stone building materials were stored, illuminated by burning braziers scattered throughout the cave.
Instead of rushing, Wayne proceeded cautiously, following the scent of death deeper into the mine. His exploration led him to a recently excavated corridor where a grim scene awaited. Dozens of soldier corpses, dressed in tatters, lay scattered both inside and outside the tunnel. Most had met gruesome ends, their bodies mutilated by sharp weapons, rendering them almost unrecognizable. These grisly discoveries aligned with the characteristics of evil spirits.
Evil spirits, born from intense negative emotions, suffered endless and indescribable pain. Filled with anger, hatred, and jealousy, they harbored a deep-seated desire to annihilate humanity, envying the living and seeking to exterminate them.
As with other malevolent spirits, evil spirits were invisible and impervious to conventional weapons like fire, poison, or blades, making them formidable adversaries against whom only magic wielders and skilled witchers stood a chance.
Upon encountering this situation, Wayne's vigilance heightened further. He promptly reinforced himself with an enhanced version of the Quen shield before proceeding down the corridor.
The corridor wasn't particularly long, stretching only about 50 meters before reaching its end. Observing the scene ahead, Wayne quickly discerned the root cause of the entire incident.
At the corridor's terminus stood a brick-made stone wall, now breached to create a sizable gap allowing passage. While Wayne refrained from venturing deeper, merely peering through the breach, he identified an underground tomb of indeterminate age beyond the wall. Neatly arranged within were numerous coffins intricately carved—a large joint burial tomb.
Wayne could sense the airflow within the tomb, indicating the presence of other exits. Evidently, the excavation accident had unearthed the catacomb's outer wall, triggering the attack by the evil spirits within.
Reflecting on the unfortunate fate of the investigating soldiers, Wayne lamented the lack of foresight in the situation. Had the full extent of the incident been reported beforehand, professionals like sorcerers would likely have been entrusted to resolve the matter instead of sending ill-equipped soldiers to their demise.
With the pertinent information gathered, Wayne opted against further exploration, slowly retracing his steps out of the tunnel. While the matter remained incompletely resolved, he recognized that it wasn't solely his responsibility to address it.
Ten minutes later, Wayne returned to the surface and relayed all the information he had gathered to Keira and Triss, who had been patiently waiting. Upon hearing the details, the sorceresses were initially surprised, then expressed disdain for Baron.
Evidently, the baron had intentionally concealed the matter, unwilling to shoulder responsibility for his mistakes. By downplaying the incident as an accident, he sought to evade accountability. However, Keira and Triss refrained from accusations, recognizing that it wasn't their role. Instead, they planned to report the truth to King Foltest upon completing the commission, allowing him to determine the appropriate course of action.
Impressed by Wayne's report, Keira regarded the witcher with admiration, acknowledging his prowess as a witcher.
"As expected of an excellent witcher, Wayne. Entrusting this matter to those soldiers would have been far less efficient and likely resulted in casualties."
With the adversaries identified primarily as evil spirits, Keira requested additional time to prepare before tackling the catacomb.
"Now that we know our foes are primarily evil spirits, please allow us some time to prepare. Once we're ready, we'll cleanse that catacomb."
Indeed, regardless of one's combat profession, preparation is key to success as a witcher. Armed with pertinent information and a targeted strategy, victory becomes attainable with greater ease. Anticipating the nature of the enemy, Keira and Triss planned to equip themselves with magic props tailored to restrain evil spirits, facilitating the catacomb's cleansing.
Similarly, Wayne, as a seasoned witcher, made meticulous preparations for combat. Opting for recovery-type swallow potions, and tawny owl potions for increased mana recovery, he ensured he was well-equipped for the task at hand.
Initially considering the cat's eye potion for improved dark vision, Wayne ultimately dismissed the idea. With Keira and Triss capable of illuminating their surroundings using magical techniques, he deemed the potion unnecessary. While Wayne could withstand the toxicity of the potion, he recognized the discomfort associated with excessive potion consumption, prompting him to forego the cat's eye potion for the mission ahead.
After completing his meditation and applying elemental oil to his silver sword, Wayne joined Keira and Triss, who had also finished their preparations.
"Wow, Wayne, you look quite frightening. Your face appears pale and bloodshot like you're seriously ill," remarked Keira, visibly surprised.
"Yes, I've read about such phenomena in books. Witchers can use their unique organs and specialized potions to mimic the abilities of certain monsters, enhancing their own strength," added Triss.
"These findings were the result of research conducted by warlocks of the cult during the era of the witchers. It's unfortunate that much of this knowledge was lost or destroyed when the Cult was disbanded," continued Triss.
Observing Wayne's altered appearance after consuming the witcher potion, the sorceresses exchanged low whispers, delving into their knowledge of the witchers.
In this era, sorcerers were revered as elite talents, embodying a combination of mage, scientist, researcher, and healer. Unlike witchers, who typically underwent over 20 years of rigorous training before becoming a full-fledged witcher, warlocks might spend three to four decades immersed in knowledge acquisition and magical experimentation before graduating. Renowned warlocks were esteemed scholars, possessing vast repositories of knowledge.
As the sorceresses conversed, Wayne's thoughts turned to Aretuza Academy on Thanedd Island in Temeria. He reflected on how much of the witcher's accumulated knowledge had been lost during a tumultuous period centuries ago. Consequently, contemporary witchers relied largely on remnants of the cult's teachings for survival. The dissolution of the cult led to its fragmentation into numerous factions, scattered across the globe.
However, many years had passed, and there had been no significant advancements in the technologies utilized by witchers. Furthermore, the number of witchers was thinning due to the deaths of many practitioners. Wayne pondered the potential wealth of knowledge that might be harbored within the longstanding Aretuza Academy, yet he hesitated to pursue this avenue. At present, the Warlock Brotherhood was at the zenith of its power, boasting numerous formidable members across its various institutions. Any attempts to seek assistance from the academy could potentially invite further suppression from the warlocks.
As the trio conversed, they continued to advance, retracing Wayne's earlier route until they reached the stone wall marking the end of the corridor. As the only male and the designated protector of the group, Wayne took the lead, positioning himself at the forefront. With a gesture of his hand, he invoked an Aard sign, causing the softer bricks of the stone wall to tremble and create a gap large enough for ordinary individuals to pass through.
The commotion stirred the vigilance of the spirits inhabiting the catacombs, prompting eerie wails to echo through the corridors. In response, Keira retrieved a magical item resembling an oil lamp from her pocket. Through continuous incantations and the infusion of a substantial amount of magical energy, the extinguished lamp was soon engulfed in a faint blue flame. As the flames flickered, a semi-circular blue magic shield materialized, centered around Keira.
Observing the impressive shield with a diameter of nearly five meters, Triss marveled at its effectiveness.
"Wow! A shield? Is this a magical protection item of your own creation, Keira?" she inquired.
"With this shield, no monsters or spirits within the catacombs will be able to approach us until it is shattered," Keira explained confidently.
Upon hearing Keira's proud proclamation, she lifted her chin with confidence and emitted a satisfied hum before speaking.
"Triss, have you forgotten? I received the highest accolades from the academy for protection. Even Dean Margarita falls short of my expertise in this domain."
Triss nodded in agreement. Among the female sorceresses dispatched to serve the kings, each was a top graduate of the academy, contributing to the formidable reputation of the Warlock Brotherhood.
With Keira's shield providing a secure barrier, Triss could focus on casting spells without worry. Retrieving a fiery red orb resembling a ruby from her palm, she addressed Wayne, who stood at the head of their group, with a smile.
"Hurry inside, Witcher. Let's wrap this up quickly so we can enjoy a relaxing bath at home. I'm eagerly anticipating your dinner tonight."
Wayne acknowledged her words, casting a glance at the powerful magical items wielded by the two sorceresses. Even to an outsider, the potency of these artifacts was unmistakable.
As the battle unfolded, Wayne was taken aback by the efficiency of their strategy. Initially expecting a challenging confrontation against a horde of spirits, he was surprised to find that Keira's shield remained impenetrable, preventing any attacks on the trio. Meanwhile, Triss's fiery red orb unleashed a relentless barrage of flame magic, swiftly dispatching multiple foes simultaneously.
With Keira focused on defense and Triss on offense, Wayne found himself relegated to a supporting role. Armed with his silver sword, he remained vigilant, guarding the sorceresses against potential threats.
In a mere half hour, the trio successfully cleansed the tomb and then the entire catacomb without incident. Wayne couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment. Despite his thorough preparations and consumption of potions, he found himself relegated to a mere spectator, as the two sorceresses effortlessly led the mission to victory without needing to draw his sword even once.
As Wayne reflected on the dynamics of battling spellcasters, he gained a newfound appreciation for the intricacies of the warlock profession.
Just as witchers relied on preparation and surprise to gain the upper hand, the key to defeating spellcasters lay in disrupting their incantations. Severing their hands or silencing their tongues before they could complete their spells often spelled victory. However, there was one notable exception—the demeritium, a natural foil to a caster's powers. With sufficient demeritium and the opportunity for close combat, even an ordinary soldier stood a chance against formidable mages.
From the dialogue between Triss and Keira, Wayne discerned that they had stumbled upon an ancient elven tomb, likely dating back thousands of years to the era of Vizima's original elven city. Though not as opulent as the royal family's tomb, it still held valuable artifacts. After deliberation, they agreed to divide the spoils evenly among themselves.
Despite his limited role in the battle, Wayne eagerly took on the task of searching through the coffins and gathering spirit dust. Delving into the ancient remains held a certain allure for him, akin to unlocking a treasure trove one coffin at a time. With each discovery, he felt a sense of excitement akin to winning a lottery, unencumbered by any moral qualms about disturbing the long-dead elves.
It was disappointing to find that the tomb yielded only modest treasures due to weathering and poor preservation. After scouring through the spoils for over an hour, Wayne uncovered gold and silver jewelry worth less than a thousand orens, along with some precious stones devoid of their former value. However, the real prize lay in the valuable spirit dust, divided equally among the sorceresses and excluded from the spoils of war.
As dusk approached, the trio completed their task and returned to Keira's mansion. While the sorceresses headed to the city hall to claim their rewards, Wayne finished his expert-level commission from Keira, gaining experience points and an expert-level treasure chest. Rather than immediately opening it, he took Maisie to a nearby high-end food material store to purchase ingredients for dinner.
Taking a moment to visit Lala, Wayne exchanged gifts and asked her to relay a message to her brother Fitz. He explained that the appointment needed to be postponed by a day, hoping for understanding and flexibility in their plans.