The Sorceress's True Nature

Watching Leto's figure slowly melt into the crimson sunset, Vesemir suddenly asked:

"Do you know why Leto insisted on leaving?"

Ailin withdrew his gaze and asked, "Why?"

Vesemir adjusted his Black Wide-brimmed Hat, picked up the four sacks of drowners on the ground, and explained as he walked toward the castle:

"These are the rules. Leto offended a veteran Sorceress, one of the most influential figures on the Northern Continent. He had to pay the price for it. It had nothing to do with Lady Vesemir's temperament."

Ailin carried his own sack of drowners and followed behind Vesemir. "Even if he didn't mean to?"

"Even if he didn't mean to."

Vesemir paused before continuing:

"A year of self-exile was already the lightest punishment. If he stayed and outsiders found out, then even if Lady Vesemir had no intention of doing anything, his fate would have been far worse than it was now."

"You may not understand this yet, but even someone as powerful as Lady Vesemir cannot do whatever she wants. She represents a... group of interests..."

Ailin raised an eyebrow at that.

A group of interests?

The Sorceresses?

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

"Why am I talking about this with a thirteen-year-old apprentice?"

He turned and stared into the apprentice's eyes, giving him a serious warning:

"In short, don't come to hate Lady Vesemir because of what happened to Leto. Leto brought this trouble on himself by not watching his mouth. He had only himself to blame."

"Staying on good terms with Lady Vesemir will be of tremendous help to your future."

Seeing the concern and sincerity in Vesemir's eyes, Ailin felt warmth rise in his heart.

"I understand, Master Vesemir."

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

About half an hour later, the sky gradually darkened.

The banquet in Kaer Morhen's main keep seemed to have reached another climax. Even from the apprentice training grounds, the lively din could be faintly heard.

"Just throw the drowners in here." Vesemir opened the cages.

Thud.

The drowners were tossed into the metal cages.

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

"All right. Go collect your dinner from Lady Vesemir, then head back early and get some rest." Vesemir patted Ailin on the shoulder.

Ailin nodded, then headed for the southern tower.

Knock, knock, knock.

He gently knocked on the Alchemy Room door.

Creak—

Mary opened the door. Lady Vesemir did not seem to be in the Alchemy Room.

"I came to collect the apprentice's dinner," Ailin said.

Mary nodded and went inside, returning with the exquisite waterskin.

Ailin took the waterskin. Just as he was about to leave, he remembered those experimental records and asked:

"Mary, has Lady Vesemir finished reading those experimental records?"

At his words, Mary's childish little face immediately tightened.

Her expression instantly became grave and serious, as though Ailin had said something utterly outrageous.

"Witcher 'apprentice'!"

"You should call me Lady Mary."

"Although I am still studying magic under Lady Vesemir, I became a genuine Sorceress two years ago."

The girl deliberately stressed the word "apprentice" slowly.

Clearly, she was deeply displeased that Ailin had called her by name.

Ailin looked at the "genuine" Sorceress Mary, who was at most fifteen, shrugged, and said:

"All right, esteemed Lady Mary, may I ask you to answer my question?"

Mary was quite pleased with this witcher apprentice who corrected his mistake. She gently brushed aside the loose strands before her forehead, revealing her slightly raised brow, and said in a pretentiously mature tone:

"Of course. Lady Vesemir has not started reading those experimental records yet."

"I see."

Ailin sighed regretfully and prepared to leave.

He did not have the nerve to compete with Lady Vesemir for books.

Just then—

"Ailin, why are you here?"

A deep male voice came from behind him.

The Witcher Apprentice turned at the sound.

The one speaking was the Chief of the School of the Wolf.

Lady Vesemir, who had been following close behind him, also came around the corner.

Seeing Ailin standing at the Alchemy Room entrance, the Sorceress froze for a moment. Then she somewhat unnaturally put more distance between herself and the Chief.

"Chief, Lady Vesemir," Ailin greeted them. "I came to collect dinner."

"You came at the right time. There are some things I need to discuss with you." The Sorceress nodded, then turned expressionlessly to the side. "Soyer, I will keep what you just said in mind."

"All right, I'll be going." The Chief nodded. After acknowledging Ailin and Mary, he turned and left.

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, Ailin asked, "Lady Vesemir, did you ask me to stay because you needed something?"

Leto had merely teased the Sorceress a few times, yet he had been forced into self-exile.

The shock of that incident had still not faded from Ailin's heart.

At that moment, even his tone became unconsciously cautious.

The Sorceress did not notice anything unusual about Ailin. She tucked the loose hair by her temple behind her ear and tilted her head toward the Alchemy Room, signaling that they should speak inside.

After entering and sitting down, Ailin felt uneasy. He had no idea why Lady Vesemir had stopped him.

He could only guiltily empty his mind and avoid thinking about anything related to Leto.

That loose-lipped Witcher had not even gone far yet.

The Sorceress did not sit down.

She leaned against the wall beside Ailin, lowered her head to look into his eyes, and asked:

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

The Witcher Apprentice instantly perked up.

Here it comes at last!

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

The Sorceress had taught him alchemy after all because of Witcher's Eye!

Emptying his mind and following the explanation he had prepared long ago, Ailin said:

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

The Sorceress stared into his eyes as though she were reading his mind.

"It is fine. Just tell me what you felt after the Trial of Grasses that was different from the other apprentices."

Ailin did not dare let his attention wander for even a moment. He continued to empty his mind as he said:

"Yes, Lady Vesemir. In battle, once I concentrate, I can vaguely see the direction of a monster's magical energy flow..."

This was what the Chief had said when he first used his monster-hunting skill.

It was also the only trait Ailin was certain belonged to someone who possessed Witcher's Eye.

Yet before he could finish, Lady Vesemir interrupted him with a raised hand.

Why did she stop me?

Did the Sorceress discover something?

Ailin's emptied mind instantly froze, and cold sweat sprang across his forehead.

However, after raising her hand to signal him, the Sorceress merely ordered behind Ailin:

"Mary, write that down."

"Yes, Lady Vesemir."

Mary's voice sounded obedient and gentle, even slightly affected, with none of the bearing of a "genuine" Sorceress.

But at that moment, the witcher apprentice had no desire whatsoever to mock her.

Once he realized it had merely been a false alarm, he desperately emptied his mind again, terrified that the Sorceress might read something she should not.

Even if she only read something related to Leto, that would not do.

Who knew whether the Sorceress's true nature was the intelligent gentleness she showed in class, or the cold-blooded terror Vesemir and Leto had described?

Ailin did not want to gamble.