Castle Ruins
"Master Vesemir, those three knights have been following us for a long time."
Ailin rode "Carrot" closer to Vesemir.
Not long after leaving the inn, the two witchers noticed the three King's Guard.
Rather than saying they were tracking Ailin and his group, it would be more accurate to say they were openly provoking them.
Without any attempt to conceal themselves, Ailin and Vesemir sped up, and they followed suit on horseback.
It landed right behind them, keeping a distance of about twenty meters.
"Yes, I know."
It must be Bob and Mary's unusual behavior that aroused suspicion... Vesemir's expression turned grave.
There's nothing to fear about the three human knights; the problem is that a slight misstep could attract the attention of the king and the sorcerer.
However, the more you are suspected, the less you should feel guilty.
"The destination remains the same. If asked, just say you've accepted a commission to scout out the castle's terrain and prepare to exorcise the vengeful spirits within."
"Vesemir said softly, then pulled on the reins to stop the horse," he said.
Ailin nodded slightly.
The three knights behind him slowly followed.
"Why are you following us?" Vesemir asked.
The middle-aged knight didn't answer, but raised his head and asked, "Where are you going?"
"Viscount Hudson's castle. Someone has commissioned us to exorcise the evil spirits from the castle," Vesemir said expressionlessly.
"Viscount Hudson?" The middle-aged knight frowned upon hearing this.
He was a nobleman from the northern part of the kingdom, and only half a month ago he received the king's order to come to Ban Ade to capture the roaming elves.
Even so, out of caution, he investigated the nearby nobles, but he had never heard of any Viscount named Hudson in the vicinity.
"It's that castle on the hill. Before it was abandoned, it belonged to Viscount Hudson."
The knight beside him leaned in and whispered, then paused and explained:
"He was Viscount in our House Val. Ten years ago, his entire family was burned to death in a fire."
Abandoned for ten years? The middle-aged knight glanced at him in surprise.
Due to years of war, many castles in Kedwen have been abandoned.
But usually, within one or two years, they will find an heir from a branch of their respective families...
The middle-aged knight glanced at the Val family knight again.
What a coincidence! While doing a mission nearby, I happened to have a member of the Val family transferred from the King's Guard to my side.
His noble instincts told him there was a trap involved, and he instinctively wanted to back down.
But...
"That haunted castle? Captain, we can go with them! That's the most likely place nearby where elves are hiding." Another knight chimed in with a suggestion.
The middle-aged knight's escape route was blocked.
The middle-aged knight could not shirk his duty to the king.
He sighed inwardly and said sternly, "Witcher, don't try anything funny. We'll follow you and investigate the Viscount's castle."
"The situation inside the castle is unknown, and I have an apprentice with me, so I'm afraid I can't guarantee your safety," Vesemir said helplessly.
Once the middle-aged knight made up his mind, how could he be swayed by such an excuse?
But he doesn't need to say anything.
Vesemir's advice sounded more like a dismissive remark to the hot-blooded young knight:
"Don't worry! The King's Guard has the best knights in Kedwen, and Captain Serio is the sword champion from two years ago. They will definitely be able to protect your young apprentice, the Witcher!"
As he spoke, the young knight patted the longsword at his waist.
Vesemir glanced at Ailin and could only reluctantly agree.
However, this didn't have much of an impact. They were only going to check things out in the afternoon, and the commission they received from Bob and Mary was indeed to eliminate the demon spirits.
They were telling the truth.
"Bowen, go find the mayor and write down our itinerary. We'll be waiting for you at the castle gate."
The middle-aged knight turned his head and gave the order expressionlessly.
The House Val knight named Bowen paused for a moment, glanced at the middle-aged knight, and then reluctantly tightened the reins and rode off towards the Hundred Fruit Garden.
Before leaving, he glared at Vesemir resentfully, as if the task of letting him leave was given by the Witcher Master.
"Let's go, Witcher."
The middle-aged knight withdrew his gaze and gave the order in a cold tone.
"Don't order me around! I'm not your soldier, knight!"
Vesemir grumbled, then squeezed his legs together and sped toward the Viscount's castle.
Dry ditches, stone paths overgrown with weeds, and dark, collapsed castle walls.
"Gah~ Gah~"
On a withered branch, the red eyes of a black crow stared intently at the group who had intruded into the secluded place.
It is a castle, but also a ruin.
Vesemir's mood remained low after passing through the crooked city gate.
Witchers are extraordinary not only in terms of strength and magic.
Their brains have also undergone transformation through dream trials.
The older and more powerful a witcher is, the better their memory becomes.
"Have you been here before?"
The middle-aged knight's words interrupted Ailin's reverie.
When Vesemir heard the knight's words, he paused for a moment, but did not try to hide it. "Yes, I came here fifteen years ago."
"Viscount is my friend, a very, very good friend."
"Fifteen years?" The three knights were all somewhat surprised.
"They really are a bunch of monsters..." the young knight named Bowen whispered.
But the volume was so loud that even the two humans next to them could hear it, clearly indicating that they were not trying to hide it.
However, Vesemir did not react, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
Ailin's mood was somewhat heavy.
Although discontent with the Witcher has not yet fully spread among the common people, the new generation of Kedwen Knights seems to have completely accepted these slanders.
Is this sign due to the king's deliberate propaganda, or to the madness of the School of the Cat?
Ailin thought for a moment and dismissed the hope that was deep in his heart.
Unable to numb themselves any longer, the King's Guard is arguably the closest noble group to the King, and to some extent, a barometer of the royal family's attitude.
The fact that these knights are so hostile to the Witcher must be at the behest of the king, or at least hinted at.
Otherwise, given that the School of the Wolf was an institution funded by the king, and the king's attitude was uncertain, how could these knights dare to slander the Witcher in front of them?
Aren't you afraid that during the apprentice competition, Ailin and his group might mention it to the king?
"Da~ da~ da~"
With each heavy footstep, Ailin's mood grew heavier.
The hope of winning over the king was fading, while the crisis of Kaer Morhen's destruction was drawing ever closer.
In a low mood, even the surrounding environment seemed to become gloomy.
Wrong!
Why does it suddenly feel cold when the sun is shining on me?
He stared at the clear shadow cast on the ground, a strong sense of crisis causing his heart to pound violently.
"Buzz~"
The Wolf Emblem suddenly began to buzz.