Since she was young, Yennefer had known...
That people were different. Some people were born to the love of their parents. They had new shoes and clothes, clean beds to sleep in. They were greeted with smiles and care from neighbors, both familiar and unfamiliar…
They could run with children their own age in the village, sneak to the river to fish and swim…
When caught by their families, they'd get a scolding, followed by warm soup and gentle warnings...
----------------------------
But not everyone.
Some were even hated by their own parents. Not only did they lack new shoes and clothes, but they were also forced to live among the stinking livestock. Whatever they did, it was met with insults and beatings.
They had no friends or playmates. Children their age would only shout "Monster! Monster!" at them, spitting and throwing stones.
Even the most familiar neighbors showed only disgust and disdain…
Some people had no one who liked them.
Since she was young, Yennefer had known...
But one day, things changed.
Someone saved her from the beatings of her own father…
That person carried two swords and had eyes more beautiful and clear than the river by the village. He bought this "monster" with gold far beyond what she could earn in a year of washing clothes. But what awaited her wasn't more beatings or endless labor…
Instead, there were new shoes and clothes, warm, delicious soup, and soft bread…
He took her to a group of beautiful people.
In that group, not a single person showed her disgust or disdain. Sister Mary took care of her, washed her, and applied medicine to her wounds...
Uncle Vesemir, though stern-looking, didn't avoid her while teaching knowledge to the others...
Following this group, she left the village…
She saw a bustling city, stayed in a house like a palace, and boarded a ship larger than the entire village...
"Don't be afraid. Not having talent is normal."
"Even if you don't show any magical talent, Mother Ianna will take you in and teach you herbs, healing, and midwifery..."
That person comforted her, gently ruffling her hair. The warmth seeped into her sparse hair, like the warmth of a mother in her memories. The old woman called Mother Ianna looked at her.
Kind and gentle.
Just one glance made Yennefer feel a sense of trust. Before coming to Aretuza, Sister Mary had introduced her to the temple of the goddess Melitele. So she knew that staying there wasn't a bad option…
No...
Even staying in the temple to learn was a future she couldn't have even dreamed of before leaving the fisherman's village.
But...
She didn't want to leave. She wanted to be useful and stay by that person's side.
"Take off the black cloth," said a particularly beautiful woman who had approached, "Don't worry, it'll be quick…"
Through the black cloth, Yennefer raised her small head to glance at Allen. Then, she took a deep breath, forcing herself to fight the discomfort in her heart. Trembling, yet resolute, she loosened the black cloth, allowing her ugly, deformed body to be seen by the others.
"I want to be useful!"
She repeated the phrase in her mind to summon the courage.
At that moment...
She saw that beautiful woman take another step closer, standing right in front of her. Those deep red eyes seemed to see straight through her soul.
"Don't be nervous. Open your heart. Accept it fully…"
The woman's cold voice seemed to echo in her mind, making Yennefer instinctively fearful.
"Accept what?"
She reflexively responded in her mind, only to realize the next moment that her mouth hadn't moved.
Just as she was about to speak...
Snap!
A finger snapped.
"Accept the oldest force in this world — Chaos magic."
Why can she speak in my mind?
The thought flashed through Yennefer's mind.
In the very next instant…
She saw the abyss!
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Buzz… Buzz...
The medallion of the Wolf School, the roaring wolf-head pendant, vibrated softly in the simply decorated room.
After learning of Yennefer's background that afternoon from Mary, Lysa looked pityingly at the suddenly unconscious girl and softly asked the priest beside her: "Priest Nenneke, can this girl become a sorceress?"
Nenneke shook her head and looked at Ianna.
"The chances are slim," Mother Ianna gently patted Lysa's head, "and even if she does, it's not necessarily a good thing…"
"I would prefer if she didn't have that talent."
The warmth of Ianna's hand made Lysa narrow her eyes in contentment, like a little kitten. But the high priestess's words made her cautiously glance at Vera and Mary. Fortunately, the two sorceresses were focused on Yennefer, allowing her to relax.
Lysa turned her head towards Ianna, her face full of curiosity as if to ask, "Can such words really be said aloud?"
"It's alright," Ianna shook her head gently and said, "This is a shared belief."
"Magic is a weapon and a tool for vengeance, a key to unlocking forbidden doors."
"Behind that door lurk nightmares, terror, and unimaginable calamities."
"In fact, ever since the Conjunction of the Spheres and humanity's discovery of magic, the world has been cursed. The world will inevitably collapse, and humanity is doomed to extinction."
"Huh?" Lysa looked at Ianna in astonishment.
She couldn't imagine words like "the world will inevitably collapse, and humanity is doomed to extinction" coming from the high priestess of the temple of Melitele. She turned her head toward Nenneke. Nenneke showed no surprise, as if she had long accepted this "shared belief."
She looked at Yennefer with pity. But Lysa now felt that her pity wasn't directed at Yennefer alone.
However...
"If magic is destined to destroy the world, why... why..."
Lysa's voice was small. She had thought of a word but felt it wasn't her place to say it.
"Why not forbid everyone from using magic?" Ianna calmly finished her sentence.
Her voice wasn't loud, but just right for everyone in the room to hear. Aside from Vesemir and Allen glancing at them, it seemed Vera and Mary hadn't heard. Lysa shrank her head, not daring to speak further.
"Because it cannot and should not be forbidden," Ianna sighed for the first time.
Before Lysa could ask more, she continued: "The gift of magic is not so much a gift as it is a curse."
"Those with this talent unconsciously absorb the chaotic magic in the air from a very young age."
"Chaos magic is not friendly to humans and often leads to illness and deformities."
"The more gifted someone is, the more magic they unknowingly absorb, and the more they suffer."
"If that magic isn't released after accumulating to a certain level, it will suddenly erupt…"
Ianna paused here, glanced at Vera and Mary, and sighed: "Many sorcerers' closest loved ones died during that time…"
Lysa shuddered at the thought.
The memory of her parents dying before her eyes had haunted her dreams for nearly ten years. It had only gotten better for her over the past two months since arriving in Ellander. She couldn't imagine what it must feel like for those who wake up one day and realize they accidentally killed their closest relatives.
"So..." Ianna continued:
"Becoming a sorcerer is a necessary way for those children to save themselves and help others."
"And before the witchers were created, it was these sorcerers, despite the pain caused by their crude spells, who defeated the invading monsters and protected human settlements..."
"Thus, they are also human, and also Lady Melitele's children..."
Ianna looked seriously at Lysa and instructed, "You must always remember this, do you understand?"
Lysa didn't know why Ianna suddenly became so serious, but she still nodded firmly: "I understand, High Priestess."
"Good child!" Ianna smiled kindly again and patted her on the head.
At that moment—
"Buzz! Buzz!"
The two Wolf School medallions began to vibrate violently.
Vera's red eyes suddenly lit up, and she glanced in surprise at Allen beside her, her expression becoming serious.
Snap!
A snap of the fingers.
A blue shield appeared around the floating little monster.
Then, the next second—
"Ahhh—"
A piercing scream erupted.
Blood-red, irregular ripples exploded from the little monster's body. It was like a lake struck by a boulder under a blood moon.
Dangerous and terrifying.
However, once the ripples left the little monster's body, they were dissipated by the blue magic shield cast by Vera, which also rippled in response.
After nearly half a minute, the anomaly happening to the little monster finally subsided.
"Is this a sign of talent?" Lysa asked softly.
Nenneke nodded: "Not only that, for her to have accumulated such powerful magic at this age, her talent is quite remarkable..."
Lysa immediately brightened up.
Curses of the world, human extinction—all of that seemed too far away for her.
Even though she was part of the Temple of Melitele, she still felt that becoming a sorcerer was the best path for Yennefer. There were many ordinary people in this world, but people like Allen, Nenneke, and Ianna were rare, even within the temple. So, for women, appearance mattered greatly.
Therefore—
If Yennefer had no talent, she wouldn't be happy staying at the temple, even with the help of her and the other priestesses. And while the medical knowledge passed down in the Temple of Melitele was the most advanced on the Northern Continent, they didn't have the ability to change someone's appearance.
The anomaly ended.
Yennefer gently floated down and was softly caught by Allen, who had been watching attentively from the side.
"Impressive talent!"
The cold voice made its assessment.
Vesemir and Mary both gaped at the sight, remembering Allen's certain judgment after adopting Yennefer.
But even Vesemir knew—
Before a sorcerer's magic awakened, only special methods could detect a child's potential talent. And since the blood-red fox also said the talent was impressive, Yennefer was at least going to be another Mary in the future.
Vesemir thought to himself.
Allen nodded slightly, then, after hesitating for two seconds, looked toward the sorceress:
"Lady Vera, since her talent is promising, could I ask you to teach her?"
"Of course."
The sorceress's response was straightforward and without hesitation, surprising Mary beside her.
"Such a lucky little one!" Mary thought.
She could still recall the hardships of competing for Vera's apprenticeship at Aretuza Academy. And Yennefer was able to bypass all those difficulties just because of one word from Allen.
Mary couldn't help but feel a little envious...
Wait...
I'm also the blood-red fox's apprentice!
Never mind, then!
At that moment—
"Do I have talent?"
The little monster suddenly woke up and asked groggily.
"You have great talent!" Allen said with a smile.
"Then can I stay?"
Allen was taken aback, thinking that the little monster wanted to stay at the Temple of Melitele. However, when he saw the longing and fear in her violet eyes, he somehow understood. The witcher smiled gently and said softly: "Of course, Yennefer!"
"Of course, you can stay!"
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After Yennefer had fallen back asleep, Allen handed her to Mary, who took her back to her room.
By now, night had fallen.
"Master Vesemir, where is my room?" Allen asked, tilting his head after seeing Mary gently close the door.
"It's in..." Vesemir started to reply but was interrupted by a smiling Ianna: "For the next few nights, you'll be resting in the sanctuary!"
"Although there aren't any beds there, witchers of the Wolf School are supposed to use meditation instead of sleep, right?"
As soon as Ianna finished speaking, the room fell silent. Lysa opened her mouth as if to say something but was stopped by a smiling Nenneke.
Vera squinted at Ianna, who still had a kind smile, and said nothing, though she seemed deep in thought. Allen glanced at Vesemir, and seeing him frozen as well, he knew this change was likely due to the unexpected events after leaving the sanctuary.
But since Ianna didn't explain, and Vera stayed silent—
He didn't ask further, nodded, and said: "Indeed, witchers of the Wolf School replace sleep with meditation..."
"Shall I head to the sanctuary now?"
"Yes, yes," Ianna approached, tidied Allen's clothes, and said, "Go on, dear child, Lady Melitele will protect you."
"Nenneke, see him off for me."
"Yes, High Priestess," Nenneke agreed and then led Allen and Lysa out of the room.
Thud~
The door closed gently.
The room fell into silence.
Vesemir sensed something was off and wanted to ask about the sudden change in arrangements. After thinking for a moment, and exchanging a glance with Vera, he decided against it. With a frown, he bid the two women farewell and left with Clay in hand.
Thud~
Now, there were only two people left in the room. This was Ianna's room, so Vera should have been leaving by now too.
After a few seconds of silence—
"Allen..."
"Don't worry," Ianna interrupted Vera, "He should be fine, we just need to be more cautious."
"Should be..." Vera sighed softly, not pressing the matter further.
Thud~
Now, there was only one person left in the room.
The bright moonlight, like flowing water, streamed in through the window.
Ianna looked at the mottled light spots on the floor and let out a long sigh.
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After leaving Ianna, Vera stood in the corridor for a long time before heading toward her residence. Passing through the orphanage, where children's laughter still echoed, and a small garden—
The sorceress finally arrived.
Just as she was stepping onto the stairs, she suddenly looked toward the shadows of the building: "Who's there?!!"
....…
📢20 advanced chapters on p@treaon📢
For advance chapters: p@treon.com/Uchiha_Itachi007 (replace @ with a)
250. The Little Priestess's Gift.
251. Who's Calling Me?
252. The Destroyer of the World.
253. What Wolf Doesn't Eat the Lamb at Its Doorstep?
254. The Echo of Falka.