Ban Ard was indeed very close to Orchard. Carrying the gifts from the villagers, the ride took no more than half an hour. The tall green city walls and the ancient towering spires soon appeared in Allen's sight.
Of course.
As these sights drew nearer, a foul stench, enough to make one sick, began to assault the witchers' sensitive noses.
"What an unpleasant city!"
Vesemir, riding on his horse, frowned and sighed. Since they weren't in a rush, the witchers hadn't set off early. By the time they reached Ban Ard, they had just avoided the most crowded time of the morning, when people queued to enter the city.
"Halt!"
Vesemir, pulling on the reins, was stopped by two guards.
"The entrance fee is five coppers..."
Noticing the amber cat-like pupils under Vesemir's wide-brimmed black hat, the guard's tone faltered. He instinctively took a step back, tightening his grip on his spear.
"What's wrong, Lys?"
The other guard frowned and asked.
"Those damned freaks are back again!"
Although Lys spoke softly, his words did not escape the witchers' sharp hearing. Even the young witchers behind Vesemir heard it clearly.
A moment ago, Hughes, Bond, and Fred had been lively, chatting and comparing the villagers' compliments. But now, they all fell silent. Just half an hour ago, they had been warmly sent off by the villagers at White Orchard. Now, half an hour later, they were being insulted as freaks by guards they had never met!
The contrast was too stark.
If Bond hadn't held Fred back, the hot-tempered witcher might have already reached for his steel sword.
"Can we enter now?"
Vesemir, his face stern, was clearly in a foul mood. Nonetheless, he pointed behind him and handed over twenty-five coppers, which he had prepared in advance, to the guard.
"There are five of us, and we're together!"
The guard, who had been exposed due to Lys's retreat, instinctively accepted the coin pouch.
Upon realizing who Vesemir and the other witchers were, his gaze landed on their unsettling cat-like eyes. The guard leaned against the wall as if avoiding the plague, covering his mouth and waving them through.
"Clip-clop~ Clip-clop~"
Amid the sound of hooves, the witchers entered Ban Ard. The guards' unsettling, hostile stares lingered on them, accompanied by whispers they thought no one could hear.
"Damn it, why are those damned monsters here again?"
"Don't you know? Tomorrow, the Wolf and Cat Schools are having some kind of duel..."
"How do you know? What's all this about Wolf and Cat Schools? Why do these cursed monsters even have schools?"
"Uh, didn't you see the notice the lord sent out a few days ago?"
"Uh... I can't read... Never mind that. So, these freaks are going to be living in the same city as us for the next few days? Who in their right mind thought of holding that competition here in Ban Ard? These cursed freaks will bring doom upon this city..."
"Shh! Are you insane? The king is the one hosting it!"
"Ah..."
The guards' chatter was gradually carried away by the wind. But neither Vesemir nor the young witchers felt any better.
The stench in the air, the human and animal waste scattered on the ground, and, most importantly, the hostility from the streets and alleys that was even stronger than the first time they had come.
"Those cat-eyed monsters are back again, don't get too close!"
"Watch the children! I heard from my cousin's friend's aunt who works as a cleaner at Ban Ard Academy..."
"These freaks can't have kids of their own, so they like to steal other people's."
"They can't have kids? Oh my, these cursed monsters... May the goddess Melitele protect us..."
Ban Ard...
This city was hostile toward them!
In the face of the city's animosity, the witchers led their horses silently forward, their moods growing heavier and darker.
At that moment...
"Allen!"
"Allen!"
Who's calling me... Allen followed the voice. A man in a black cloak stood behind the city walls, waving at him excitedly.
"Robin!"
It was none other than Robin, the former apprentice sorcerer of the Wolf School and the librarian of Kaer Morhen.
"Hahaha, it's me, it's me!"
Clearly, Robin was very happy to see an old friend after so long and quickly ran over.
"Master Vesemir!"
Once he approached, Robin greeted Vesemir somewhat nervously. Then, smiling, he looked at Allen and said: "I heard you came to Ban Ard about ten days ago. Why didn't you come find me?"
Allen was slightly taken aback.
"Uh..."
"Last time we were here, all the inns were full, and we couldn't find a place to stay... Uh... Let's not talk about that now..."
"So, why are you here? Did you come to meet us?"
After briefly explaining, Allen changed the topic. To be honest, if Robin hadn't come over, he wouldn't have even remembered that he had a friend in Ban Ard.
Maybe it was because his impression of the city was always so poor that he subconsciously felt his friend couldn't be in such a place?
Or perhaps it was because of his growing distrust toward sorcerers that he instinctively distanced himself from his friend, whose identity had changed?
After all...
The tale of the sorceress and her elf friend parting ways due to opposing stances was too vivid. Allen thought to himself. However, looking at Robin now...
With his awkward and clumsy demeanor, it was hard to imagine any situation where Allen would end up at odds with this bookworm.
"How could all the inns in Ban Ard be full?"
Robin scratched his head, mumbling in confusion. Then, he nodded and said: "Yes, Farouk—the sorcerer who picked me up from Kaer Morhen—told me yesterday that you would be arriving in Ban Ard today, so he asked me to show you around the Ban Ard Academy."
Allen wasn't surprised that the sorcerers knew of their movements. After all, ever since the king had sent them the ingredients for the Northern Wind bomb, if not earlier...
Their whereabouts had already been exposed.
"Originally, I was just going to wait for you at the academy gate, but I figured since you hadn't been here before, I'd come meet you..."
As he spoke, Robin led them toward the inner city. Along the way, the witchers felt the city's disdain toward them more acutely. However, after hearing from Robin that the crazed Cat School witchers had recently slaughtered an innkeeper for refusing them lodging, the witchers were no longer surprised. Though the city hadn't exactly welcomed them last time either.
Aside from the intensified hostility toward witchers...
Half a month clearly wasn't enough to change the city's appearance.
Human waste, garbage, and suspicious brown stains still boldly littered the alleyways, street corners, and even the main roads. This made the witchers extremely uncomfortable.
"What an unpleasant city!"
This was the consensus among all witchers.
After entering the upper city, the smell diminished somewhat, but for some reason, Robin gradually became quieter
"Does it feel strange?" Allen asked.
Allen nodded.
"The capital of Kaedwen, Ard Carraigh, smells the same. Someone once told me it's the scent of a city, the fragrance of prosperity..."
Fred couldn't help but interrupt Robin: "Whoever said that was talking nonsense. This is just the smell of feces, isn't it?"
Robin adjusted his glasses and smiled: "It was Faruk who told me that..."
"But I agree with you!"
Allen noticed that something seemed off with Robin.
"What's wrong?"
"Is your life here not going well?"
Robin remained silent for a rare moment before speaking: "Lady Vera recommended me to come here, so naturally, I have no issues with work or daily life."
So, it's something else that's bothering him... Allen patted Robin on the shoulder: "We're friends. If you have something to say, just tell me directly. Maybe I can help."
Robin hesitated for a moment, then looked at the group of witchers with a complicated expression: "It's not me with the problem... Allen... it's you guys who are in trouble!"
The witchers looked at each other in confusion.
They had been facing quite a few troubles recently, but which one was he referring to?
The king? The sorcerers? Or the Cat School witchers?
Without noticing the witchers' perplexed expressions, Robin glanced around cautiously. After ensuring there was no one else nearby, he whispered: "Allen, has your school offended a sorcerer or the king?"
"The sorcerers from Ban Ard have brewed a batch of Eske's Disguise Potion, and they sent it to your opponents a few days ago."
"Eske's Disguise Potion?" Vesemir frowned.
Robin nodded.
"Yes! It's the one that can disguise your age, making you look three to five years younger."
"This potion may have a weak effect, but it lasts a long time and is very hard to detect."
Robin's face grew serious as he looked at Allen: "In tomorrow's apprentice combat tournament, your opponents won't be witchers who have just finished their trials like you. They're seasoned Cat School witchers!"
After Robin finished speaking, he thought Allen would be shocked and ask for more details. But to his surprise, neither Allen nor the other five witchers reacted at all.
"I'm serious. Why aren't you reacting at all?"
Robin started to get anxious.
"I heard that the Wolf School's swordsmanship can't beat the Cat School's. They're a witcher school specifically trained to kill..."
"Allen, why don't you just withdraw from the tournament?"
"This is too dangerous..."
"Hmph!" Allen snorted, cutting Robin off.
Only now did the former Wolf School sorcerer apprentice realize what he was saying. He glanced at Vesemir and the other young witchers, awkwardly chuckled, and said: "Well... the Wolf School is different from the Cat School, after all. Your swordsmanship is for protection, for justice..."
"But this tournament is really too dangerous. You guys really shouldn't participate!"
Seeing Robin's anxious expression, Allen felt a warmth spread through him. Although he and Robin were friends, they had only known each other for a few days. For Robin, who had already pledged loyalty to Ban Ard Academy, leaking such a secret was tantamount to betraying the sorcerers.
If he were caught...
Well, in the eyes of the Ban Ard sorcerers, Robin was probably considered Lady Vera's man. So, his life would still be safe. But it didn't change the fact that Robin had taken a huge risk to warn him.
As for why the witchers weren't shocked or worried about this news?
It was because they were confident.
Looking five years younger?
That meant their opponents were probably around twenty years old, which, for the Wolf School, was about the age just after completing the trials.
What was there to worry about?
With Allen's experience of two Cat School witchers' memories, he knew that even the most talented Cat School witchers couldn't reach Level 2 in dual-wielding swords in five years. And as for their sign magic, there was even less to worry about. So, not only Allen, but Hughes, Bond, and Fred also felt no pressure. Even Vesemir, who was usually the most worried, seemed completely at ease.
"How did you find out about this?" Vesemir asked, changing the subject.
Robin looked around cautiously again before saying: "After I came to the academy, due to my background in the witcher schools and my knowledge of mutagens and potions, Faruk assigned me to the potion warehouse to manage materials."
"But..."
"Maybe they didn't know about my background."
"A few days ago, a few sorcerer apprentices came to my warehouse to register for materials."
"During small talk, they complained that their mentor made them go to the foul-smelling lower city to deliver the Eske Disguise Potion to those lunatics from the Cat School..."
Confidential information related to the king and sorcerers had thus been leaked in casual conversation. Sure enough...
No matter which world you're in, these so-called prestigious organizations are still just a bunch of amateurs. Filled with flaws. Allen thought to himself.
But it was also possible that the sorcerers simply never saw witchers as a threat. After all, in the minds of most sorcerers, whether they were from the Cat School or Wolf School, witchers were just creations of sorcerers.
Why would a creator bother keeping secrets from their creations?
Allen had a feeling that the latter reason might be closer to the truth.
"Don't worry!"
He patted Robin, who looked anxious and was almost jumping on the spot.
"Now that we know, nothing will happen."
"Thank you for telling us!"
Robin still seemed worried, but since Allen said so, he didn't press the issue further.
"After all, I was born and raised in Kaer Morhen..."
"If I didn't have much higher talent in magic than you guys, and wasn't much luckier, chosen by the school sorcerers, I might have been a Wolf School witcher myself!"
"That's not necessarily true," Allen joked back, "You might have died during one of the trials..."
Robin shrugged, not offended: "That's more likely, but who knows?"
"Let's keep going."
When they returned to the main road of the upper city, Robin didn't bring up the apprentice tournament again. Instead, he gave Allen and the others some tips about the academy.
And so.
The group soon arrived at a place filled with towering spires, the only sorcerer academy in the Northern Continent.
Ban Ard Academy.
"Oh, right!"
At the academy's gate, Robin suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at the witchers: "Be careful of the sorcerers at Ban Ard..."
"Whether it's the senior sorcerers or the apprentices..."
"They might not be too friendly to witchers!"
....…
📢20 advanced chapters on p@treaon📢
For advance chapters: p@treon.com/Uchiha_Itachi007 (replace @ with a)
195. Alzur Tower.
196. The Cat School is Here!
197. Sword and Sword.
198. The Match Isn't Over, But the School of the Wolf Has Won.
199. Where Did the Celestial Convergence Come From?