Little Monster's Light

From a young age, Yennefer knew...

People are different.

Some people are pampered by their parents from birth.

There are new shoes and clothes, and a clean bed.

Neighbors and villagers, whether you know them or not, will greet you with smiles and show their concern...

You can run around the village with peers of similar height, and secretly go to the river to fish and swim...

After being caught by your family and given a scolding, you'll be greeted with a warm bowl of soup and a comforting warning...

But some people are not.

Some people are even hated by their own parents.

Not only did they not get new shoes or clothes, they also had to live in the same place as the family's smelly livestock.

No matter what I do, I will be insulted and beaten.

She had no friends or playmates; her peers would only shout "Monster, monster!" and spit at her and throw stones at her.

Even the closest neighbors will only show disgust and dislike...

Some people are disliked by everyone.

From a young age, Yennefer knew...

But one day, things changed.

Someone saved her from the beatings by her biological father...

The man carried two swords on his back and had eyes that were even clearer and more beautiful than the Fara River in front of the village.

He used the money she earned in a year washing clothes to buy this monster.

What awaited her was not a beating or endless labor...

Instead, it was new shoes and clothes, along with warm, delicious broth and soft bread...

He led her to a group of beautiful people.

Not a single person in this group showed her any disgust or aversion.

Mary's sister was asked to take care of her, to bathe her, and to apply medicine to her body...

The uncle named Vesemir, though he looked fierce, didn't shy away from teaching her younger brother while also being very respectful of her...

She left the village with this group of people...

They saw bustling cities, stayed in palace-like houses, and boarded giant ships larger than villages...

"Don't be afraid, it's normal not to have talent."

"Even if your talent isn't detected, it doesn't matter. Mother Ianna will take you in and teach you herbs, medicine, and midwifery..."

The man was stroking her hair to comfort her.

Warmth seeped into my sparse hair, like the warmth of my mother in my memory.

An old woman named Ianna was watching her.

Kind and gentle.

It makes people feel dependent on it at first glance.

Before arriving in Arland, Mary had introduced him to the temple of the Goddess Meritellie.

So all she knew was that staying was a good option...

wrong...

Even if it's just staying in the temple to study, it's a future she never dared to imagine before leaving the fisherman's village.

but...

She didn't want to leave.

She wanted to become useful so she could stay by that person's side.

"Remove the black cloth," a remarkably beautiful woman approached. "Don't worry, it'll be quick..."

Through the black cloth, Yennefer raised her little head and glanced at Ailin.

Then, taking a deep breath and suppressing her discomfort, she trembled but firmly released the black cloth, allowing others to see her ugly and deformed body.

"I want to be useful!"

She used this phrase in her heart to encourage herself.

At this moment.

She saw the beautiful woman take another step closer and stand in front of her.

Those deep red eyes seemed to see right through her heart.

"Don't be nervous, relax, and accept it wholeheartedly..."

The cold female voice seemed to echo so closely in her mind that it made her instinctively a little scared.

"Accept what?"

She instinctively responded in her mind, but the next second she realized that her mouth hadn't opened.

Just as he was about to speak...

Smack!

A snap of the fingers.

"Accept the oldest power in the world— the Chaos Magic."

Why can she speak in my heart?

A thought flashed through Yennefer's mind.

The very next instant...

She saw the abyss!

"Buzz~"

"Buzz~"

The wolf head emblem of the School of the Wolf howls softly in the simply decorated room.

Lyra, who had learned about Yennefer's background from Mary that afternoon, looked at the girl who had suddenly fainted with pity and whispered to the priest beside her:

"Priestess Nannick, can this girl become Sorceress?"

Nannick shook his head and looked at Ianna.

"The probability is very small," Ianna said, patting Lyra's head affectionately. "Besides, becoming Sorceress isn't necessarily a good thing..."

"I would rather she didn't have this talent."

The warmth of Ianna's palm made Lyra squint her eyes in enjoyment, like a kitten.

But the High Priest's words made her glance cautiously at Vesemir and Mary.

Fortunately, the two Sorceress were focused on Yennefer, which relieved her.

Lyra turned her head to look at Ianna, her face clearly saying, "Can you just say that out loud?"

"It's alright," Ianna gently shook her head and said, "It's a consensus!"

"Magic is the weapon of chaos and the tool of revenge; it is the key to open the forbidden door."

"That door conceals nightmares, fears, and unimaginable calamities."

"In fact, ever since the world merged and humanity learned magic, the world has been cursed. Therefore, the world will inevitably collapse, and humanity will inevitably perish."

"Huh?" Lyra looked at Ianna in surprise.

It is unimaginable that such words as "the world will surely collapse and humanity will surely perish" would come from the mouth of the High Priest of the Temple of Melitele.

She turned her head to look at Nannick.

Nannick wasn't surprised at all; he must have known about this "consensus" all along.

She looked at Yennefer with pity.

But Lyra felt that she wasn't just looking at Yennefer with pity.

but...

"Since magic is destined to destroy the world, why... why..."

Lyra spoke softly; she thought of a word, but it seemed inappropriate for her to say it aloud.

"Why not ban everyone from using magic?" Ianna continued gently and frankly.

Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but just loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.

But apart from Vesemir and Ailin glancing at them, Vesemir and Mary seemed not to have heard a thing.

Lyra shrank back, not daring to speak.

"Because it cannot be prohibited, nor should it be prohibited!" Ianna sighed, a rare occurrence for her.

Before Lyra could ask any further questions, she continued to explain:

"The talent for magic is less a talent and more a curse."

"People with this talent will unconsciously absorb the Chaos Magic floating in the air from a very young age."

"Chaos Magic is not friendly to humans, often causing illness and deformities."

"Moreover, the more talented one is, the more magic power one unconsciously absorbs, and the more pain one will experience."

"If magic power accumulates to a certain level and cannot be released, it will suddenly erupt at a certain moment..."

At this point, Ianna paused, glanced at Vesemir and Mary, and then sighed:

"Many warlocks' closest relatives died around that time..."

Lyra trembled upon hearing this.

Her father and mother died in front of her, giving her nightmares for nearly ten years.

Things only got better after I came to Arland in the last two months.

She couldn't imagine what it felt like to wake up one morning to find that you had unintentionally killed the child of your loved one.

"So..." Ianna continued:

"Becoming a sorcerer is also a necessary way for those children to save themselves and others."

"And before the Witcher was created, it was these sorcerers who, amidst the pain of crude magic, eliminated invading monsters and protected human settlements..."

"Therefore, they are also human beings, and also Ms. Meritellie's children..."

Ianna looked at Lyra seriously and said, "You must always remember this, understand?"

Lyra didn't know why Ianna had suddenly become so serious, but she still nodded vigorously:

"I understand, High Priest."

"Yes, good child!" Ianna smiled kindly again and patted her head.

At this moment.

"Buzz! Buzz!"

The two Wolf School Emblem suddenly began to vibrate violently.

Vesemir's red eyes suddenly lit up, and she glanced at Ailin beside her in surprise, her expression turning serious.

Smack!

A snap of the fingers.

A blue shield appeared around the Little Monster floating in mid-air.

Then the next second.

"Ah--"

Amidst the piercing screams.

Irregular, crimson ripples erupted from the Little Monster's body.

It's like a lake being struck by a boulder under a blood moon.

Dangerous and terrifying.

However, the ripples that emerged from the Little Monster's body were neutralized by the ripples that appeared from Vesemir's blue magic shield.

Nearly half a minute later, the strange behavior that had occurred in the Little Monster disappeared.

"Is this a talent?" Lyra asked softly.

Nannick nodded:

"Not only that, but to be able to accumulate such powerful magic at such a young age shows considerable talent..."

Lyra immediately became happy.

World curses and the extinction of humanity are too far removed from her.

Even as a member of the Temple of Melitele, she felt that becoming a sorcerer was the best path for Yennefer.

There are many ordinary people in this world, and people like Ailin, Nannick, and Ianna are a minority, even within the temple.

Therefore, appearance is very important for women.

therefore.

If Yennefer didn't have the talent, she probably wouldn't be happy staying in the temple, even with her and the other priests' help.

While the medical skills taught at the Temple of Melitele are among the best in the Northern Continent, they do not possess the technology to alter people's appearances.

The change has ended.

Yennefer landed gently and was embraced by Ailin, who had been watching closely.

"Good talent!"

The comment was made in a cool, detached voice.

Vesemir and Mary both gaped, remembering Ailin's confident assessment after they adopted Yennefer.

But even Vesemir knew.

Before magic awakens, only special methods can be used to screen out potential sorcerers' talents.

Moreover, even the Bloody Red Fox said that she has good talent, and Yennefer will at least be another Mary in the future.

Vesemir thought to himself.

Ailin nodded slightly, then hesitated for two seconds before looking at the Sorceress:

"Lady Vesemir, since she has such talent, could you please teach her?"

"Can."

The Sorceress's reply was swift and decisive, drawing attention from Mary was standing nearby.

"What a lucky little guy!" Mary thought to herself.

She can still remember the difficulties she faced when competing for Vesemir's apprenticeship at the Aretuza Academy.

Yennefer overcame so many difficulties and obstacles just because of a single sentence from Ailin.

This made her a little envious...

etc...

I am also an apprentice of the Crimson Fox!

That's all!

At this moment.

Do I have talent?

The Little Monster suddenly woke up and asked groggily.

"You have great talent!" Ailin said with a smile.

"Can I stay then?"

Ailin was taken aback, thinking the Little Monster wanted to stay at the Temple of Melitele.

However, after seeing the longing and fear in her violet eyes, I inexplicably understood.

The Witcher smiled gently and said softly:

"Of course, Yennefer!"

"Of course you can stay!"

Quietly hand the Little Monster, who had fallen asleep after listening to Ailin, to Mary and take it back to her room.

By then, it was already late at night.

"Master Vesemir, where is my room?" Ailin asked, tilting his head as Mary gently closed the door.

"Exist..."

Vesemir was about to answer when he was interrupted by a smiling Ianna:

"You should rest in the sanctuary these next few nights!"

"Although there are no beds there, the Witchers of the School of the Wolf probably use meditation instead of sleep, right?"

Ianna had barely finished speaking.

The room fell silent instantly.

Lyra opened her mouth as if to say something, but was stopped by Nannick, who was smiling.

Vesemir squinted at Ianna, who was still smiling kindly, without saying a word, lost in thought.

Ailin glanced at Vesemir and saw that Vesemir was also stunned. He knew that this decision must have been changed at the last minute because of the changes after leaving the Sanctuary.

However, since Ianna didn't explain, Vesemir didn't say anything either.

He didn't ask any further questions, nodded, and said:

"Witchers of the School of the Wolf do indeed replace sleep with meditation..."

"Should I go to the Sanctuary now?"

"Mmm," Ianna approached, straightened Ailin's clothes, and said, "Go on, my good boy, Ms. Meritellie will protect you."

"Nannick, please see him off for me."

"Yes, High Priest." Nannick replied and led Ailin and Lyra out of the room.

"Thump~"

The door was closed gently.

The room fell silent.

Vesemir sensed that the atmosphere was a bit off and was about to ask why the arrangements had been changed.

After thinking for two seconds and glancing at Vesemir again, he said goodbye to the two of them.

He frowned, took Royce's hand, and left.

"Thump~"

Only two people remained in the room.

This is Ianna's room; Vesemir should be leaving by now.

A few seconds of silence.

"Ailin..."

"Don't worry," Ianna interrupted Vesemir, "He should be fine, we just need to be a little more careful."

"Should I..." Vesemir sighed and didn't ask any further questions.

"Thump~"

There was only one person left in the room.

The clear moonlight, like flowing water, shone through the window.

Ianna looked at the mottled bright spots on the ground and sighed softly.

After leaving Ianna, Vesemir stood in the corridor for a long time before heading towards her residence.

After passing through the orphanage where children were still playing, and then through a small garden...

The Sorceress arrived at her destination.

Just as she was walking up the steps, she suddenly looked into the shadows of the building:

"Who goes there?!"