On the third day, Wayne and Triss returned to Vizima through a portal. As King Foltest's royal advisor, Triss couldn't be away from the capital for extended periods. This mission had only been possible with the king's explicit permission.
Though reluctant to part ways with Wayne, Triss quickly made her way to the still-under-construction Vizima Palace. With several days' worth of work piled up, she faced a stretch of long hours to catch up.
Meanwhile, Wayne returned to his mansion. Upon opening the door, he found young Alex diligently tending to the yard with a small hoe, clearing weeds and stones. The boy's thin clothes were soaked with sweat, and he periodically wiped his brow with his sleeve to see clearly.
Seeing Wayne enter, Alex paused for a moment, then beamed, exclaiming, "Welcome home, Master Wayne!"
Unaware of Wayne's plans to take him on as an apprentice, Alex was content with his current role. The work was tiring, but the meals were excellent.
Never had Alex heard of a workplace where workers enjoyed such lavish meals of fish and meat daily. He was deeply grateful to Wayne for taking him in, even considering him a benefactor. After all, it was Wayne who had rescued him from those thugs in the Rat Tail Gang just days ago.
Wayne simply offered a gentle smile in response, saying nothing more. It was still too early to judge. Though satisfied with Alex so far, he needed more time to observe the boy's character before accepting him as his first apprentice. The standards for his first student would naturally be the highest.
Leaving the front yard, Wayne headed towards the blacksmith's workshop in the back. The rhythmic clang of hammer against metal reached his ears before he arrived. It seemed Berengar, the only other resident of the mansion, possessed blacksmithing skills. It made sense, considering he had designed a sword called Tor'haerne in the original game, though it was never completed before his disappearance.
Upon entering the workshop, Wayne indeed found Berengar wielding a hammer, crafting something. Seeing Wayne, Berengar nodded in greeting. "You're back, Wayne," he said. "The tools here were lacking, so I made some myself, along with training equipment for the boy."
After a brief pause, he asked, "Will there be more children joining us? Should I prepare additional training tools?"
Wayne considered the question, then answered honestly, "Yes, I plan to take in a few more apprentices in the future."
"There will be a few more children joining us in the future, but I'm not sure of the exact number yet," Wayne explained. "However, I won't be training them as witchers. Until our mutation process is perfected, I don't want to risk their lives."
"For now, we'll train them as ordinary swordsmen," he continued. "The witcher style is quite effective for ordinary people and will ensure their survival in dangerous situations."
Berengar looked at Wayne intently. He understood that this witcher didn't want any more children to suffer the same tragic fate he had endured. Berengar wholeheartedly agreed with this sentiment.
"I understand," he replied solemnly. "Leave it to me."
In the following months, Wayne received no major contracts. He made arrangements with Lala's brother, Fritz, for a daily fish-frying operation, hoping to reduce the fish people's numbers before they officially launched their attack.
Every afternoon, he would visit Triss's home to learn the fundamentals of magic, cook dinner, and engage in both physical and intellectual intimacy. He would share his magical questions with her, receiving expert guidance in return.
As a top graduate of Aretuza and a skilled sorceress, Triss proved to be an invaluable teacher. Her patient yet firm instruction, coupled with her extensive knowledge, made her explanations detailed and insightful. This was far more effective than studying alone.
Their shared time, mutual interests, physical and emotional connection, and joint exploration of magic deepened their bond. While not yet exclusive, their relationship blossomed into passionate love.
When the time was right, Wayne told Triss about the underwater city beneath Lake Vizima and the evil god Dagon residing there. He invited her to join him in the upcoming battle.
He didn't mention the Lady of the Lake's involvement, instead claiming he had been hired by a mysterious benefactor to eliminate the evil god's minions.
"By the way, Triss," he asked, "could you create a magical item for us? Something to help us move better underwater. Swords are severely hampered there."
"Perhaps a barrier to separate the lake water, allowing us to move freely?" he suggested.
Triss nestled against Wayne like a kitten, her fingers tracing the contours of his chest. After a moment of thought, she asked, "Have you told Keira about this?"
Wayne felt a pang of embarrassment. Since growing closer to Triss, he had been spending more time at her house than his own, and less with Keira. It seemed Keira had noticed, but never confronted him directly. They maintained their friendship, avoiding any deeper discussions.
After a pause, Wayne answered truthfully, "Not yet. Aside from my fellow witchers, you're the only one I've told."
"But," he added, "this involves an evil god, and it could be dangerous. I wanted to invite Keira to join us, but haven't found the right opportunity to bring it up."
Upon hearing this, Triss snuggled closer to Wayne's chest, as if claiming some kind of victory. She lifted her head, kissed the corner of his mouth, and said, "Don't worry about that now. I'll inform King Foltest about the dangers involved."
"The shores of Lake Vizima are so close to New Vizima City. Dealing with monsters in the lake should fall under the king's responsibility," Triss explained. "I'll convince His Majesty to issue a formal commission."
"Leave this to me," she continued. "Keira should accept the king's commission and work alongside me."
"You and your fellow witchers will receive a reward, so you'll get paid twice!"
Wayne was taken aback. His plan to deal with the underwateracolytes had been a way to repay the Lady of the Lake. He hadn't considered getting a reward from King Foltest, so this was a pleasant surprise. While Triss would undoubtedly benefit from this arrangement, it was a win-win situation. Why would Wayne refuse?
He looked at the kittenish sorceress, her alluring charm evident. He kissed her forehead and smiled. "No problem, I'll leave it to you. To be honest, I didn't know how to tell Keira. It's not my wish to put either of you in danger."
Triss met his gaze, exhaled a warm breath, and bit her lower lip. "I've rested, dear little apprentice," she purred. "Let's go for round two."
.....
A week later, Triss received a royal commission from King Foltest, tasking her with leading the effort to eliminate the evil god Dagon from the shores of Lake Vizima. The witchers assisting her would be generously rewarded. Keira would serve as her deputy, aiding her in this mission.
.....
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