The corps was established. The exclusive hunting missions for the corps were also activated.
In theory, Allen should have seized the momentum, taken Hughes and the others to Killer Lake, blown the drowner whistle, and drawn his silver sword. A thrilling hunt between the witchers and drowners should have ensued. Unfortunately, the mountains were buried in snow.
Allen had already suffered enough from the deep snow yesterday. If not for the snow reaching his knees, making movement difficult, he wouldn't have almost fallen into the hands of the swamp hag. Thus, Allen not only decided against inviting Hughes and the others to hunt monsters in the wild, but he also planned to stay away from Kaer Morhen until the snow melted. However, the past few days had been sunny.
So, amidst the "crackling" sounds of wooden sticks clashing, Allen looked up at the bright, warm winter sun and speculated: "With such bright sunlight, the snow should melt in three or four days, right?"
----------
Seven days later.
At the top floor of the main castle of the Ancient Sea Fortress. Allen sat at the end of the black long table, looking wistfully at the snowflakes outside the window.
Who could have imagined that the clear weather after the highland trial was just the snow god taking a brief nap?
The sky over Kaer Morhen was clear for only four days before heavy snowfall resumed. Day after day, without a moment's pause. For the first time, Allen, who was born in the south in his previous life, experienced what it was like to have snow as high as a person. Throwing Hughes off the city wall of the Ancient Sea Fortress was like tossing him into a white ocean, disappearing into the snow instantly. Afterwards, it took a lot of effort using the Aard sign to blast a path back to the castle.
Quite interesting!
However, based on Allen's memories, this snowfall would continue for at least another five days. That would bring them to the seventh day of the Month of Rebirth. By then, it would be just two months before the spring equinox and the duel between the apprentices of the Wolf and Cat schools. The journey alone would take at least a month and a half…
The time left for him to familiarize himself with the company and enhance his strength was running out!
"Allen, is the snowfall good?" Vesemir's voice suddenly came from across the table.
"Fun…" Allen instinctively replied.
Then he realized something and turned to glare at Vesemir.
"Hahaha..."
The black long table burst into laughter.
Allen noticed, somewhat awkwardly, that the master witchers had all arrived at some point. They must have misunderstood his wistful gaze at the snow, thinking he wanted to go play in it with Hughes and the others!
"No problem! No problem!"
"Master Allen, that's perfectly normal."
"Otherwise, if you keep pushing yourself so hard, you'll eventually run into trouble!"
White-haired Whitelock laughed heartily and then kindly advised.
"Old Whitelock is right. No need to worry too much. Even if the sky falls, we old guys will hold it up. You won't have to."
Master Aristo also stroked his beard and comforted in his rough voice.
Vesemir, Danthe, the chief, and the other master witchers at the table all looked at him warmly. Like old wolves watching over their cubs. The awkwardness melted away under their genuine concern, filling Allen's heart with warmth, as if soaking in a hot spring. But he still hastily explained: "I was just thinking about something else, not planning to go play in the snow!"
Danthe laughed again, "Alright, alright. It seems our Master Allen is very busy!"
"In that case..." He turned to the head of the table and said, "Chief, let's get started!"
"Let's get started, let's get started!" The master witchers clamored, like a group of children hundreds of years old. Seeing this, Allen knew there was no explaining this away. He sighed and covered his face, giving up the struggle. As the commotion at the table subsided, the chief nodded slightly and called softly, "Vera!"
"Snap!"
A snap echoed from the dark corner of the room. Instantly, a full mug of clear, blue liquid appeared before each witcher. The master witchers looked at each other, unsure of the chief's intention.
"Drink it," the chief said.
Without hesitation, the master witchers exchanged glances and drank the liquid.
"Hmm?"
Almost immediately after drinking, some master witchers reacted.
"Did our strength increase a bit?"
Danthe asked, uncertain.
"Not just strength," Aristo, with his bushy beard, disagreed, "It seems our constitution improved more."
Strength and constitution enhancement.
Indeed, The blue liquid conjured by the sorceress with a snap was drowner heart essence. And by Allen's estimation, each mug contained about ten standard essence doses, increasing one point in strength and two in constitution. For master witchers, the enhancement was minor but perceptible.
Whitelock, in charge of the Wolf School's finances, glanced at the sorceress in the corner and said tactfully: "Chief, the potion is very effective, but it doesn't seem worth such an expense."
The chief shook his head and said: "This potion isn't expensive, just one drowner heart per dose."
"What!" The witchers stood up in shock.
They were distinguished master witchers and had consumed many potions over the years to enhance their physical qualities. Each bottle was worth a fortune. Though the potion they just drank had minor enhancements, similar potions would cost at least 800 orens each, if they could even be found. Such potions required a high level of alchemy skill to produce. Yet the chief claimed it only cost one drowner heart!
This was unbelievable!
"No wonder Lady Vera's alchemy skills have improved again," Vesemir praised.
The table buzzed with astonished whispers.
At this moment, a cool female voice emerged from the dark corner.
"My alchemy skills have indeed improved, but I didn't create this potion..."
She paused playfully at the critical moment, then proudly announced: "It was Allen!"
"Allen created this formula!"
"What!"
The master witchers turned their eyes to the end of the table. Under their amazed gazes, Allen felt a mix of satisfaction and embarrassment, holding his beer mug slightly to cover his face.
"Didn't expect the other master witchers to have never used drowner heart essence," he thought.
Allen glanced at the slightly smiling chief and the graceful figure in the dark corner, feeling a touch of gratitude. He knew they were paving the way for him. And if he guessed correctly, this meeting would bring even more surprises.
...…
📢20 advanced chapters on p@treaon📢
For advance chapters: p@treon.com/Uchiha_Itachi007 (replace @ with a)
118. The Rise of the Wolf School!
119. The Captain's First Operation!
120. Ritual Studies and the Ceremony.
121. Flesh Golem.
122. Not the Drowner King?