Allen shook his head, bringing his inflated ego back to its original state. He took a pure white towel from the rack and wiped the water off his body. The sorceress had really prepared everything, even new clothes folded neatly on the bed.
"Has Lady Vera taken me as her own child?" Allen wondered as he changed into the white silk pajamas and lay down on the bed. With the almost meticulous care, he really felt as if he had gained a mother. Although he was an orphan in both his past and present life and had never experienced maternal love, he imagined that a mother would be like this: organizing everything in life, worrying about his future, rejoicing in his achievements...
"Sigh~" Allen sighed. Was this just his wishful thinking, or a regret shared by both his lives?
But, what about the future? Sorceresses might currently be like this, but would they remain so? Raising him when interested, neglecting him when not—he had seen many such cases in the orphanage in his past life. The orphans who were sent back often couldn't recover. Luckily, in this world, he had already secured a place for himself and had the ability to survive without relying entirely on the sorceress's favor.
However, "Such heavy kindness, how should I repay it?" Allen sighed again.
---
The next morning, Allen woke up on time. The biological clock he had developed over the past month, or even years, woke him up without the need for any alarm.
"Creak~" The balcony door opened. The biting cold wind, carrying the unique freshness of the forest and snow-capped mountains, blew through the robe and filled the dim room, instantly clearing the accumulated stale air.
Allen stepped forward slowly, lightly touching the gray-white marble railing, and looked into the distance. The sky was blue. Satin-like clouds floated leisurely. They floated among the mountains, the forests, and before the terrace, almost within reach.
The snow over the past few days had painted the mountains and forests white, creating an ice and snow kingdom. "It's so beautiful!" Allen couldn't help but exclaim. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting the breath of the mountains and forests take away his thoughts.
He suddenly realized that water element affinity had another benefit—resistance to cold. With five points in affinity, he could stand in this wind in just a robe for at least two hours.
"Pa~pa~" The sound of a wooden stick hitting something, accompanied by light grunts, interrupted Allen's communion with nature. He opened his eyes and looked down. On the apprentice training stakes, a figure in leather armor, blindfolded, was dodging the swinging stakes. It was Hughes.
To be honest, this kind of apprentice training was useless for them, who had undergone the Trial of the Grasses. Hughes undoubtedly knew this too. But every dodge and sword swing he made was very serious and focused.
"Sigh~" Allen sighed but didn't speak, turning back into the room to wash up and get ready. About ten minutes later, Allen, now dressed in the new clothes and freshly cleaned leather armor provided by the sorceress, left his room.
"Pa~pa~" Hughes was still training on the stakes, blindfolded. However, his effortless movements clearly indicated the training was ineffective. For Hughes, this training could only maintain his current level, nothing more.
For witchers, there were only two ways to enhance their strength: one was the natural growth of their mutated organs with age, improving their attributes, or through constant life-and-death battles, honing skills and stimulating the growth of these organs.
Allen watched in silence, knowing why Hughes was doing this pointless exercise. Yesterday on the ship, he had noticed the obvious frustration, helplessness, and hatred for his weakness in Hughes's words, despite his usual support and admiration for Allen.
Hughes had grown up with Allen, facing life and death together. For Hughes, Allen was like a brother, his only kin in Kaer Morhen and this world. Leaving his beloved brother behind and fleeing in disgrace was not something Hughes could easily accept, even if it was Allen's order, even if no one would blame him.
Training over, Hughes removed his blindfold and immediately saw Allen smiling at him. "Allen? What brings you here?"
"I woke up and saw someone training, so I came down to check," Allen replied, pointing to the direction of his room. Hughes looked slightly embarrassed. "Did I disturb you?"
Allen shook his head, looking seriously into Hughes's green cat-like eyes. "Hughes, do you want to increase your strength?"
Hughes was stunned, remaining silent for a while. Allen didn't urge him and casually used an identification spell on Hughes.
[Name: Hughes]
[Attributes: Strength 6.4, Agility 7.6, Constitution 8.2, Perception 8.4, Mystery 4.3]
Too weak! Allen sighed inwardly. With such strength, Hughes couldn't even be considered a qualified witcher. At least, a Quen shield cast with 4.3 Mystery couldn't withstand a normal drowner attack.
"Of course I want to, but you only have one silver sword, right?" Hughes's eyes wandered over to Elsa, his face full of expectation.
"Ahem~" Allen coughed lightly, stepping back with his right foot to block Hughes's eager gaze. "Not a weapon," he said hastily.
Hughes looked disappointed but was still curious. "Then what is it?"
Allen smiled mysteriously and took out a crystal vial from his potion bag. The liquid inside was light red, slightly viscous, like some kind of oil. It was the essence of a drowner's heart.
Hughes treated Allen as his dearest family, and Allen valued Hughes, the child he saw the moment he opened his eyes in this world. Hughes, along with Bonte and Fred, were the foundation of his existence in the School of the Wolf.
Even the protagonist Geralt in stories called upon friends for help with difficult monsters and challenges. Allen, too, understood that in the witcher's world, people were the greatest strength. So, he had long planned to enhance the strength of those around him, starting with Hughes, despite his mediocre talent.
"Is it a potion like Killer Whale?" Hughes asked curiously, accepting the essence.
At Allen's nod, Hughes, without any hesitation, drank the essence in one gulp. Allen cast another identification spell.
[Name: Hughes]
[Attributes: Strength 6.5 (+0.1), Agility 7.6, Constitution 8.4 (+0.2), Perception 8.4, Mystery 4.3]
"Allen! Is this a potion for instant recovery?" Hughes exclaimed in surprise.
Allen smiled lightly, glancing at Hughes's updated attributes. "Hughes, its effects are much better than you can imagine..."
.....
📢20 advanced chapters on p@treaon📢
For advance chapters: p@treon.com/Uchiha_Itachi007 (replace @ with a)
87. Opening the Box.
88. Darkness is watching you.
89. You're Quite Good!
90. The Fall of the Wolf School.
91. Stuck in a Deadlock.