The Sorceress's Nature

As Leto's figure slowly melted into the red sunset, Vesemir suddenly asked, "Do you know why Leto had to leave?"

Ailin withdrew his gaze and asked, "Why?"

Vesemir lifted his wide-brimmed black hat, picked up the four bags of Drowners from the ground, and explained as he walked towards the castle, "It's the rules. Leto offended a senior Sorceress, one of the most important figures on the Northern Continent. He has to pay the price for it, regardless of whether Lady Vesemir is in a good mood or not."

Ailin, carrying his bag of Drowners, followed behind Vesemir and said, "Even if it was unintentional?"

"Even if it was unintentional,"

Vesemir paused, then continued, "Exiling himself for a year is already the lightest punishment. If he had stayed and outsiders found out, even if Lady Vesemir didn't intend to do anything, his fate would have been much more tragic than it is now."

"You might not understand this now, but even someone as powerful as Lady Vesemir can't do whatever she wants. She represents a... faction of interest..."

Ailin raised an eyebrow at this.

A faction of interest?

Was it the Sorceresses?

As he spoke, Vesemir shook his head and muttered to himself.

"Why am I telling a 13-year-old apprentice this?"

He tilted his head, gazing into the apprentice's eyes, and earnestly admonished him, "In short, don't resent Lady Vesemir because of Leto's situation. This is trouble Leto caused by not controlling his mouth; he brought it upon himself."

"Being on good terms with Lady Vesemir will be of great help to your future."

Looking at Vesemir's concerned and sincere eyes, Ailin's heart warmed.

"I understand, Master Vesemir."

Seeing that Ailin had truly taken his words to heart, Vesemir nodded with satisfaction.

About half an hour later, the sky gradually darkened.

The banquet in the main keep of Kaer Morhen seemed to have reached another climax, and the lively clamor could still be faintly heard from the training grounds.

"Just throw the Drowners here," Vesemir said, opening a cage.

Thump

The Drowners were thrown into the metal cages.

Vesemir locked each of the five cages one by one, and after checking them again, he picked up the black cloth from the ground and covered the cages.

"Alright, go get your dinner from Lady Vesemir, and then get back to rest early," Vesemir patted Ailin's shoulder.

Ailin nodded and then walked towards the south tower.

Knock, knock, knock

He gently knocked on the door of the alchemy room.

Creak~

Mary opened the door. Sorceress Vesemir seemed to be absent from the alchemy room.

Ailin said, "I'm here to pick up the apprentices' dinner."

Mary nodded and went straight into the room to retrieve the exquisite water pouch.

As Ailin took the water pouch and was about to leave, he suddenly remembered the experimental records and asked, "Mary, have those experimental records been reviewed by Lady Vesemir?"

Upon hearing this, Mary's young face instantly tensed.

Her expression immediately became serious and earnest, as if Ailin had said something utterly disrespectful.

"Witcher 'apprentice'!"

"You should call me Lady Mary."

"Although I am still studying magic under Lady Vesemir, I have been a genuine Sorceress for two years now."

The girl deliberately emphasized the word "apprentice."

Clearly, she was very displeased with Ailin addressing her by name.

Ailin glanced at Mary, the "genuine" Sorceress who was at most 15 years old, and shrugged, "Alright, respected Lady Mary, may I ask you to answer my question?"

Mary was pleased with the Witcher apprentice who knew how to correct his mistakes. She gently pushed aside the stray hair from her forehead, revealing a slightly protruding brow, and said with feigned maturity, "Of course. Lady Vesemir hasn't started reviewing those experimental records yet."

"Okay then."

Ailin sighed regretfully and was about to leave.

He didn't have the nerve to fight with the sorceress Vera for a book.

Just then.

"Ailin, what are you doing here?"

A deep male voice came from behind.

The Witcher apprentice turned his head at the sound.

He saw that the speaker was the Chieftain of the School of the Wolf.

Vera, who was right behind him, also came around the corner.

Seeing Ailin standing at the door of the alchemy room, the sorceress was stunned for a moment, then somewhat unnaturally widened the distance between herself and the Chieftain.

"Chieftain, Lady Vera," Ailin greeted, "I'm here to pick up dinner."

"You've come at the perfect time, I have something to discuss with you," the sorceress nodded, then turned her head expressionlessly and said, "Soyer, I'll keep what you just said in mind."

"Alright, I'll be going then." The Chieftain nodded, greeted Ailin and Mary, and turned to leave.

Ailin felt a little uneasy and asked, "Lady Vera, is there something you wanted me to stay for?"

Leto had only teased the sorceress a few words before going into self-imposed exile.

The shock from this event had not yet subsided in Ailin's heart.

At this moment, he couldn't help but become cautious even in his tone of voice.

The sorceress didn't notice Ailin's abnormality. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, tilted her head towards the alchemy room, and gestured for them to go inside.

After entering and sitting down, Ailin felt a little nervous. He didn't know why Vera had stopped him.

He could only guiltily let his mind go blank, not thinking about anything related to Leto.

The loose-lipped Witcher hadn't gone far yet.

The sorceress did not sit down.

She leaned against the wall next to Ailin, looked down into Ailin's eyes, and asked:

"Ailin, can you tell me what it feels like to have the Witcher's Eye?"

The Witcher apprentice's spirit immediately lifted.

Finally!

Ailin knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in the world.

The sorceress teaching him Alchemy was indeed for the Witcher's Eye!

Clearing his mind, Ailin spoke according to the prepared speech:

"I don't know what the Witcher's Eye is either."

The sorceress stared into his eyes, as if reading his mind.

"It's fine, just tell me what you felt that was different from other apprentices after the Trial of Grasses."

Ailin dared not be distracted for a moment, and continued to clear his mind, saying:

"Okay, Lady Vera. In terms of combat, after concentrating, I can vaguely see the flow of magic in monsters..."

These were the words the Chieftain had spoken the first time he used the [Monster Hunting] skill.

This was also the only characteristic of a Witcher's Eye owner that Ailin had confirmed.

However, before Ailin could finish speaking, Vera interrupted him with a gesture of her hand.

Why did she tell me to stop?

What had the sorceress discovered?

Ailin's blank mind instantly froze, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

However, after signaling with her hand, the sorceress only commanded the person behind Ailin:

"Mary, take notes."

"Yes, Lady Vera."

Mary's voice sounded obedient and gentle, even a little high-pitched, completely lacking the demeanor of a "genuine" sorceress.

But at this moment, the Witcher apprentice had no intention of complaining.

Realizing that it was all a false alarm, he desperately tried to clear his mind again, fearing that the sorceress might read something she shouldn't.

Even if it was about Leto, it wouldn't do.

Who knew what the sorceress's true nature was – the intellectual gentleness during class, or the cold-blooded terror described by Vesemir and Leto.

Ailin didn't want to gamble.

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