Cliff or Meritellie?

"Don't worry!"

He can't see you!

A cold, clear voice echoed in my mind.

Upon hearing this, Ailin instinctively released his right hand, which was already gripping the hilt of the steel sword.

The next second.

Although the strange male wizard looked confused, his gaze did indeed wander away.

"It's just the instinct of powerful sorcerers; they will notice unusual attention, but they usually won't delve into it."

The Sorceress explained.

"Why?"

Ailin turned to look at the Sorceress and asked curiously.

"Path of Shadows, that is the name of the spell I just cast."

"It's difficult to explain exactly how this spell works in a short time."

"You just need to understand it as us being hidden in the shadows right now."

"So for Jens —the mage you just met your gaze—the attention he felt did not originate from this world."

"No wizard would dare to pursue such strange looks without being prepared."

Upon hearing this...

Ailin subconsciously touched Meritellie's Amulet, thinking of the large eyeball in her dream:

"Because they don't know what is being looked at?"

The Sorceress nodded.

"When studying the path of magic, it is difficult to avoid encountering some Unnamable Existence."

"To live a long life, the most important thing is to recognize your own strength, curb your curiosity, and not do things beyond your capabilities."

The Sorceress's eyes were full of warning.

She seemed to be explaining why the male wizard gave up on investigating further.

But Ailin knew.

The Sorceress's purpose in saying these words was still herself.

The gist of it is: You're just a Witcher who's just passed the trial, so take care of your own life first before worrying about the school!

Sigh~

Ailin sighed inwardly.

He pretended not to understand anything and turned to continue observing the army going down into the mine.

In that instant, he actually spotted someone he knew.

The School of the Wolf's chief Witcher Master, Soyer, followed behind the wizard, passing right in front of Ailin and the Sorceress.

"Buzzing~"

The chief's unique wolf School Emblem hummed softly.

But Soyer merely frowned, glanced briefly in Ailin's direction, and then continued with the group as usual.

"In places where many spellcasters exist, do not blindly trust your School Emblem," Vesemir warned.

Ailin nodded.

A faint sense of grievance welled up in the image of the Wolf Emblem in his mind.

The School Emblem can only serve as a warning of any magical flow in the vicinity.

It was impossible to discern what was causing this unusual flow of magic.

However, his Wolf Emblem is naturally different.

After growing for a few months, the Wolf Emblem has acquired an intelligence equivalent to that of a three-year-old child.

He could basically discern the source of the perceived magical flow to Ailin through vibrations and the transmission of emotions in his mind.

However, since the Sorceress's reminder stemmed from concern, he felt no need to refute it.

After calming the Wolf Emblem, which was behaving like a child, Ailin turned his attention back to what was in front of him.

After the wizard and the chief passed by, they became the elite of Kedwen's army once again.

Knights, spearmen, archers...

Etc!

Ailin sensed that something was wrong.

Although the mine was only dimly lit by torches, the slight disharmony in the knights' formation was magnified and made very noticeable by Ailin's attention.

Several "knights" are being isolated.

Ailin squinted and stared intently in that direction.

He discovered that the knights' eyes, hidden beneath their helmets, were all cloudy, dark yellow Cat Eyes.

The Witcher of the School of the Cat!

What are they doing here?

Why hide it so deeply?

Realizing something was wrong, Ailin immediately turned to look at the Sorceress.

"Lady Vesemir, there are several witchers among the spearmen!"

"I've seen their eyes. All the eyes of the School of the Cat Witchers are cloudy like this, there's no mistake!"

The Sorceress furrowed her brows.

The attention that had been focused on Ailin has now shifted to the Witcher of the School of the Cat.

"Their target is Soyer!"

After observing intently for a moment, the Sorceress's cold voice appeared in Ailin's mind.

Ailin paused for a moment.

Although the Sorceress had not yet explained the basis of her judgment, he already believed it to a great extent.

It's unlikely that the School of the Cat, known for its despicable hunting of humans, is following the army because they're preparing to switch careers and compete with the School of the Wolf by hunting Rock Troll.

Upon closer inspection, Ailin indeed discovered something amiss.

Those School of the Cat witchers deliberately diverted their attention.

But during the march, he was right behind Soyer, yet he didn't even glance at him, which was highly suspicious.

"Is he the King of Kedwen?"

"It can only be him."

"First they sent people to torture and kill the young demon hunters of the School of the Wolf, and now they're trying to assassinate the School of the Wolf's leader..."

What deep-seated grudge does Haxor have against the School of the Wolf?

As he asked and answered his own question, Ailin couldn't help but clench his fists, then anxiously thought to himself:

"Lady Vesemir, do you have a way to contact the chief? Quickly..."

The Sorceress shook her head:

"Don't worry! They won't stand a chance. Weren't the Rock Troll already teleported away?"

"Without a sneak attack, these few witchers alone think they can assassinate Soyer..."

The Sorceress paused, a disdainful expression on her face:

"Not enough!"

Upon hearing this, Ailin felt reassured, but still couldn't help asking:

"Aren't there still so many male witches and soldiers..."

That's still not enough!

The Sorceress withdrew her gaze and looked at Ailin.

His tone was resolute.

"If it were a flat, open area, it might be possible."

"But in this network of mines, relying on just these few people to besiege Soyer is simply courting death!"

Ailin remained silent.

All he knew was that Soyer, the Witcher who could become the Chief of the School of the Wolf and was known as the Dragon Slayer, must be very powerful.

But just how powerful it was... he had never witnessed it.

but...

Ailin glanced furtively at the Sorceress who was rumored to have had a romantic entanglement with the chief.

Since Lady Vesemir has said so.

Then there's definitely nothing to worry about.

But the next second...

Ailin suddenly realized.

If neither he nor the Sorceress were present, the Rock Troll... especially the Big Stone, would not have been teleported away.

While the chief is locked in fierce battle with the trolls, or after successfully hunting a monster, the School of the Cat demon hunters suddenly appear and assassinate the chief when he is off guard.

Grandmaster Soyer can also...

Thinking of this.

Ailin couldn't help but put his thoughts into his mind, and then looked at the Sorceress.

The Sorceress's eyes sparkled.

But after a long silence, no answer was given.

then.

Ailin understood.

A cold sweat suddenly broke out on my forehead.

He didn't spend much time with the Chief, so his feelings for him were certainly not as deep as those for Vesemir and Vesemir.

but.

If Grandmaster Soyer really was ambushed here...

Ailin could hardly imagine how low the morale of the Kaer Morhen witchers would fall.

In more serious cases, it might disintegrate prematurely.

Smack!

A snap of the fingers.

The moment the two returned to the mine from the "Path of Shadows," the soundproof shield seamlessly connected.

The snap of his fingers also interrupted Ailin's thoughts.

Sometime later, Kedwen's army had disappeared into the mine tunnels.

"Let's go. I'll come back and remind Soyer after I see you off."

The Sorceress seemed somewhat distracted and stopped nagging Ailin, quickly leading him out of the mine.

The camp outside the mine was brightly lit.

Elite soldiers patrolled everywhere, and the level of security was several times stronger than when he had sneaked in.

However, most of these guards were surrounding a lavishly decorated tent.

Therefore, even without Sorceress.

Ailin could also use the cover of night to leave this place.

then.

"Lady Vesemir, let's stop here," Ailin said, turning his head slightly. "I can walk the rest of the way by myself."

The Sorceress looked around and then nodded.

Ailin breathed a sigh of relief and was about to say goodbye to the Sorceress.

Smack!

A snap of the fingers.

An ornament that appeared to be made of pure gold appeared in the Sorceress's palm.

The ornament was carved with a majestic middle-aged man holding lightning.

"This is the Amulet of the Sky Father."

Vesemir handed him the glittering gold jewelry.

"Although I can't read minds, I can tell that you definitely won't just give up the arena tournament and go to Arland to remove the curse first."

"So wear this amulet well, just like Meritellie's, and never take it off."

Even when you're sleeping, you know?

Ailin nodded subconsciously, letting the Sorceress place the Amulet of the Sky Father around his neck.

Ailin knew about the religion of the Father of the Sky.

Originally Cliff Church.

Besides being known as the Father of the Sky, Cliff is also hailed as the embodiment of thunder and lightning.

Compared to Meritellie, this deity's influence is much weaker.

Because He requires His followers to challenge themselves, eliminate their own distractions and weaknesses, and fight against evil with extremely strict precepts.

With such strict doctrines, the number of believers was naturally less than that of the "loving" Meritellie.

but.

Although it has fewer followers than the Goddess Meritellie, the Cult of Cliff is indeed a recognized orthodox religion in the northern countries.

Even because of the doctrine of opposing evil.

Most of the clergy of the Cliff Cult have the ability to exorcise demons.

Perhaps the Amulet of the Sky Father is even more effective at blocking the vision of Evil God than the Goddess Meritellie's Amulet.

only...

Ailin looked down at the amulets lying side by side with the gold and silver pieces.

I was somewhat confused.

How could an "evil" witch, rejected by major religions, have so many amulets of righteous gods?

and.

The world of Witcher is highly religiously exclusive.

Is it really safe for a witcher who isn't even a novice to wear the amulets of two different sects around his neck?

but.

When Ailin looked up, intending to ask a question, the Sorceress had already vanished.

"Since the Sorceress didn't warn us, then everything should be fine, right?"

Ailin thought to himself.

Then, he determined the direction and walked towards the Hundred Fruit Garden.

The commission is almost complete.

I also don't know what kind of commission I wanted most, as Ada Emin did.

Is this really what he wants most?

About an hour later.

Outside the largest tent in the camp.

An obese middle-aged man wearing oversized armor hesitated outside the tent for almost a minute before finally deciding to go inside.

"Jaquell, what you said..."

"Nothing at all... what does that mean?"

Haxor put down the steak in his hand and looked up at the deputy commander of the King's Guard, his younger brother who had caused him a lot of trouble, with a puzzled expression.

He came in and said he had nothing to say, but who could understand that?

"Well... it's not like there's nothing at all..."

The middle-aged man, referred to as Jaquell, looked panicked and was drenched in sweat.

"The wizards say there is an illusion there, but... but it's empty."

Haxor's worm-like eyebrows looked like they were about to be twisted together.

What does "empty" mean?

Is Jaquell crazy?

What illusion, what emptiness...

Why can't you even speak clearly?

Have they been driven mad by those nobles who lost their children?

Jaquell explained honestly:

"There were no people or spirits in the illusion, but I went in and saw it. Although it was an illusion, the scene inside was just like the real thing..."

Haxor realized something seemed wrong there.

"Where are those monsters?"

"You weren't here because of a huge group of... those rock giants..."

"It's Rock Troll," Jaquell corrected.

"It doesn't matter. What about those Rock Troll? Were they all killed by Soyer? And what about Soyer? Did the wildcats succeed?"

Haxor is obese and leans forward.

As his own brother, Jaquell naturally knew about his hiring of the School of the Cat witchers to assassinate Soyer.

Haxor even arranged for Jaquell...

If Soyer was only seriously injured by the School of the Cat's Witcher, but did not die...

You must find a chance to avoid the Sorceress and kill her.

Jaquell lowered his head, his voice trembling slightly:

"Your Majesty the King..."

"No... there are no Rock Troll. Those Rock Troll just suddenly disappeared."

"Bang!"

Haxor slammed his fist on the table.

"Gone?"

"How could so many monsters just suddenly disappear?"

Jaquell buried his head even deeper:

"Indeed, it has disappeared, Your Majesty."

"The bodies of the previous squad of soldiers are still there, but these Rock Troll have vanished. The knights, soldiers, and sorcerers all witnessed it..."

"How could they suddenly disappear? What about Soyer?" Haxor asked hurriedly. "Have those School of the Cat witchers made any moves?"

Jaquell seized the opportunity and quickly complained:

"No, I've urged Treyis countless times, but he just won't make a move. He says that without the trolls to wear down Soyer, they're not confident, unless..."

"Unless those male witches join in..."

Although he had already guessed the ending, Haxor still suppressed the burning anger in his heart and interrupted:

"Didn't you ask those damned wizards?"

"I asked!" Jaquell emphasized loudly.

"But Jens refused to intervene because Lady Vesemir was nearby."

"Those damned male witches!"

Haxor launched into a tirade of profanities.

However, since things had come to this point, Haxor could only continue asking questions to get to the bottom of things.

After learning the details from Jaquell.

The entire tent fell silent instantly.

After a long silence, Haxor's calm voice finally broke the stillness:

"In other words..."

"We lost nearly three hundred elite troops here, and the prestige of the royal family has been greatly diminished..."

"Result..."

"Not only is Soyer not dead, but we've also lost track of that damned elf?"

Is that what you mean?