"One good news and one bad news. Which one would you like to hear first?"
Vesemir nodded slightly in greeting to Mary, then looked at Allen.
Good news?
Bad news?
Allen froze for a moment.
Although he had expected that the witcher grandmaster would come straight to him when he approached, he couldn't think of what this might be about. Over the past few days, except for leaving Kaer Morhen twice when the Conjunction of the Spheres' cooldown ended, Allen had been at the keep the whole time. He was busy training apprentices while pondering how to avoid the negative effects of reducing the trial's mortality rate to zero.
What could involve him to the extent that there was both good and bad news?
"Is it about the Wild Hunt?" Allen's expression became serious. It was the only possibility that came to mind.
"It has nothing to do with the Wild Hunt," Vesemir gently shook his head and stopped beating around the bush. "Houghton Qui-Gon sent a letter—your armor has been completed ahead of schedule."
"Armor?" Allen was momentarily stunned, then his eyes lit up.
His Wolf School Grandmaster set had been completed!!!
Of course.
Houghton had mentioned it would take only two or three months to forge, but Allen hadn't expected it to be this quick.
Last month, when Allen agreed to go down the mountain with the witchers of the Witcher Corps, it wasn't just for training, monster hunting, and strengthening himself. One important reason was to retrieve the Wolf School Grandmaster set from Vergen.
He hadn't expected to receive this good news so soon after the start of June.
However, as the initial excitement subsided, Allen noticed the faintly teasing expression on Vesemir's face, and he began to feel that something was amiss.
Why would Houghton Qui-Gon send the letter to the Old Sea Fortress?
When leaving Ellander, Allen had used a portal to return directly to Kaer Morhen instead of wasting time riding back, as Vera had happened to be present.
They hadn't even sent a message to the dwarven master blacksmith in Vergen.
Houghton shouldn't have known Allen's whereabouts.
Moreover...
For Houghton, there didn't seem to be a reason to specifically notify him of this, right?
After a moment of thought, Allen curiously asked, "How did Master Houghton know we are currently at Kaer Morhen?"
"He doesn't," Vesemir sighed. "That's the bad news..."
"Vergen is under siege by the Kaedweni army."
"Houghton's letter is actually a plea for help."
----------------
Clang~
Clang~
The sound of swords clashing echoed through the training grounds as the battles grew intense. Meanwhile, silence fell over the railing on one side of the field.
After a long moment, Allen frowned and asked: "How did Vergen come under siege?"
"Even though there's a passable trail, the terrain is rugged and mountainous, unsuitable for a full-scale army."
"Kaedwen and Aedirn usually fight near Ban Glean to the west of the Pontar River, or in the Pontar Valley at the borders of the three kingdoms, right?"
"The letter didn't say," Vesemir shook his head. "I suspect that even dwarves, who only know how to swing hammers and drink alcohol, are unaware of the reason."
As for war-related intelligence beyond the letter, Allen didn't need to ask to know that Vesemir was just as clueless as he was.
Such was life at the Old Sea Fortress, deep in the Blue Mountains.
The Wolf School's access to information about the outside world was limited to messages carried by pigeons with witcher contracts or the annual tidings brought back by returning witchers at the year's end.
After all.
Witchers, who adhered to neutrality, had no need for real-time updates on the dynamics of the Northern Realms.
For them, war was either a topic to chat about over drinks or a tool to predict the routes of ghouls drawn by bloodshed and corpses.
These scavengers, whose migratory paths were obvious due to the allure of war's carnage, were, alongside drowners, a primary source of contracts for ordinary witchers.
---------------
Sigh~
Allen exhaled softly.
The matter of slow information flow was something that couldn't be addressed for now.
The distinctive traits of witchers and the current size of the Wolf School made it impossible to solve quickly.
"What do you intend to do, Vesemir?"
Hearing this, Vesemir scratched his head awkwardly, hesitated for two seconds, then whispered: "Dwarves are prone to exaggeration and boasting."
"But if it weren't an emergency, Houghton wouldn't have resorted to desperately sending a letter to Kaer Morhen, knowing that most witchers were away on the Path."
"Kaedwen has always discriminated against non-human races. If they truly break into Vergen, a dwarf like Houghton won't stand a chance."
"Not to mention the Wolf School Grandmaster set he's forging for us—its materials are precious, and the forging process is demanding. If it's lost now, it'll be difficult to replicate in the short term."
"And Houghton himself is closely connected to the School..."
"Master Vesemir, just say what you're thinking..." Allen interrupted Vesemir, who had been rambling about the dwarf's importance. "I'm inclined to help Houghton as well."
This was the truth.
Moreover, a few metallic golems that appeared during the Conjunction of the Spheres had recently helped locate a silver mine with good reserves and quality.
But the blacksmiths at Kaer Morhen were only skilled enough for basic repairs and couldn't fully utilize such high-quality resources.
If Houghton could be rescued, there was a chance they could recruit him to the Old Sea Fortress.
Not to mention that the Wolf School Grandmaster armor was waiting for him in Vergen.
Relieved by Allen's agreement, Vesemir hesitated again and glanced at Mary, who was pretending to focus on the heated duels on the training ground but whose small ears twitched as she eavesdropped. Finally, he awkwardly said to Allen:
"Vergen is too far from Kaer Morhen, and it's too close to the battlefield."
"Could we ask Lady Vera to use a portal to transport us there?"
No wonder Vesemir looked so hesitant—it turned out he wanted to ask for Vera's help.
Allen immediately understood.
However...
If Vera were at Kaer Morhen, Vesemir could have directly asked her, and she would likely have agreed without hesitation.
The problem was...
Allen exchanged a glance with Mary, who looked just as puzzled, then shrugged at the expectant Vesemir: "Lady Vera left Kaer Morhen a week ago."
"What?!" Vesemir exclaimed in surprise. He instinctively turned to Mary, who was closest to the sorceress, and asked urgently, "Where did Lady Vera go? When will she return?"
"I don't know..." Mary responded reflexively to the witcher grandmaster's anxious gaze, while Allen simultaneously replied, "Toussaint."
Vesemir was baffled by the contradictory answers: "?"
He glanced at Mary, then back at Allen.
Caught in Vesemir's confused gaze, Mary froze for a moment before realizing:
"My... mentor didn't mention her destination or when she'd return when she left."
"She opened a portal and departed."
Allen fell silent for a few seconds, avoiding Mary's complex gaze as he quietly added: "Uh... it's definitely Toussaint. Lady Vera told me personally a week ago."
After a pause, he continued: "It's not clear exactly what I'll be doing, but I probably won't be back until September."
With that, the girl beside Allen let out a faint sigh.
To Allen's surprise, Mary merely sighed softly and said nothing more. Her expression quickly returned to normal, as if she was already used to it.
He couldn't help but wonder—used to what?
"Then it's definitely too late…" Vesemir shook his head in disappointment, his brows furrowed with worry.
It was only June now, and waiting three months to head to Vergen would make it far too late, even with the speed of a teleportation portal.
"Let's just ride there directly. Follow the usual route, push the horses to their limits, travel day and night, and we can make it in ten days at most," Allen suggested. "Since Houghton sent a message all the way to Kaer Morhen, ten days should be enough."
"It's not just a matter of time," Vesemir said hesitantly.
The Wolf School maintained a strict neutrality.
For a long time, no matter how chaotic or violent the wars on the Continent became, they had little to do with the Witchers of the Wolf School.
He himself had often ventured onto battlefields between warring nations during ceasefires to eliminate the monsters attracted by the carnage.
The opposing armies wouldn't chase him away; instead, they'd welcome his arrival with wine and songs, and after he dealt with the monsters, they'd see him off the battlefield before resuming their war.
But now…
The Wolf School's animosity with certain nobles of Kaedwen and sorcerers was almost out in the open. Even the Duke of Mason in Temeria had heard about it.
The days of safe passage through battlefields were long gone.
What's more, if they accidentally stumbled into an enemy-controlled warzone, there was a high risk of being accused of espionage and attacked by soldiers.
No Witcher, no matter how strong, could face an entire army alone.
Allen's enhanced potions had time limits. If he were surrounded and held down, it would mean certain death.
If it were just him, Vesemir wouldn't hesitate to go, whether for the armor set Allen had or for his long-standing friendship with Houghton. But Allen clearly intended to go with him.
Vesemir knew his apprentice's personality well. Even if he refused now, if Allen didn't see him in Kaer Morhen tomorrow, he would definitely follow.
"I shouldn't have told Allen about this if I'd known Vera wasn't at Kaer Morhen…" Vesemir thought regretfully. "Or I could've just gone to Mary instead…"
Vesemir's internal conflict was easy to read.
Allen felt warmth in his heart but refrained from trying to persuade him further. Instead, he focused his thoughts and activated his Mirage Pearl.
"Buzz~"
"Buzz~"
The badges of dozens of Witcher schools buzzed one by one, according to their distances.
The sound attracted the attention of nearby Witchers and apprentices, who shifted their gazes toward him.
Even the combat training in the field paused, as if by tacit agreement.
The next moment—
Hearing the buzzing, Vesemir instinctively curled his thumb and forefinger, sketching a triangle to cast a Quen shield on himself. Suddenly, his vision blurred.
With just a blink—
Allen, Mary, Erni, Claral… Everyone around him disappeared.
"Whoosh~"
"Whoosh~"
The mountain wind howled through the now-empty, ancient training ground. The fortress of Kaer Morhen seemed as if no Wolf School Witchers had ever been there.
In a daze, Vesemir instinctively looked down at his hands, now soft and youthful, without a trace of calluses.
When he looked up again, his viewpoint had dropped, and his mind was sluggish.
Everything that had happened seemed like nothing more than the daydream of a boy named Vesemir, chasing tales of salvation and glory.
Until…
"What do you think?"
A voice called out from in front of him.
The Witcher Master blinked in surprise.
Everything returned to normal.
His proud apprentice stood before him, smiling warmly.
The Wolf School had returned.
"What… What is this…" Vesemir asked hoarsely, scanning his surroundings.
Mary was staring at his apprentice with wide eyes and a gaping mouth, clearly shocked. The other Witchers, meanwhile, wore curious expressions, covertly watching the scene.
Some touched the snarling wolf badges on their chests, looking around in confusion, trying to figure out what had caused the vibrations.
"A magical device," Allen said softly. "It can make the target see illusions or create a mirage to obscure reality. Master Vesemir, I know you want to rescue Houghton from Vergen. You're just worried about the dangers I might face if I follow."
"However…"
He paused for a moment and then smiled. "Though I am your junior, I am also the traveling apprentice of the renowned Master Vesemir. Can't you trust me just a little more?"
Vesemir was stunned, then smiled wryly, shaking his head in self-mockery.
"You… You…"
"In front of the Blue Death, whose name strikes fear across Kaedwen, Aedirn, and Temeria, I can hardly be considered renowned…"
"But you're right. We need to trust each other a bit more."
Allen smiled and nodded firmly.
"Can we leave today?" Vesemir glanced at the bewildered Witchers and apprentices around him.
"A few words' worth of preparation."
"Alright, I'll go pack up my gear. We'll meet in the castle hall at noon and depart from there."
With that, Vesemir chuckled heartily. Without waiting for Allen to reply, he ruffled his hair, donned his wide-brimmed black hat, and strode toward the main keep.
"Carry on!"
"Don't tell me none of you want purified spirits or essence potions!"
Once Vesemir was out of earshot, Allen called out to the dumbstruck apprentices.
The training field once again echoed with the clashing of steel, resuming its lively atmosphere.
"Allen…" the girl beside him called softly.
"Mary, you can't come this time…" Allen turned to her. "You still have to teach Yennefer magic…"
"I didn't want to go!" Mary interrupted, puffing her cheeks in annoyance.
Allen was momentarily speechless.
Then why call me… he thought.
"Is there… Is there anything I can do to help here at Kaer Morhen while you're gone?" the girl asked hesitantly.
Allen stared at her serious expression for a long time.
Mary's face turned beet red under his gaze before he quickly began listing tasks—such as troop duties, potion brewing, and other responsibilities he had planned to assign to Master Aristo.
Mary listened intently and carefully noted each one.
After a long while, once Allen had explained everything clearly, he suddenly felt a strange impulse rising in his chest as he looked at the girl's earnest face.
"Why can't I take you down the mountain this time?"
.....
📢20 advanced chapters on p@treaon📢
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324. The Wild Hunt, Any News?
325. Exposure.
326. I Haven't Even Acted Yet, How Is It Over?
327. Were the Witchers' Tracks Exposed?
328. Encounter with the Sorcerer.