Seeing the worshipful expressions on the three little sparrows' faces, Ailin secretly felt delighted.
Unfortunately, he could not take Vesemir's place and teach them.
For one thing, he had his own things to do. After learning Signs in the morning, he had to go to the Alchemy Room to study alchemy.
For another, although his teaching style was simple and unadorned, Vesemir truly was a conscientious and responsible mentor.
Because of the gap in strength between himself and the apprentices, Vesemir might have found it difficult to correct the finer details of their mistakes.
But at least when explaining Signs, Vesemir did everything he could to impart as much of his knowledge as possible to the apprentices.
That was enough.
Ailin could correct their mistakes when he returned at night.
That would actually be more efficient.
After much effort, he finally coaxed the apprentices into bed and got them to drink their dinner with added ingredients.
Lying in bed, Ailin reflected on everything that had happened that night.
Now that the Sorceress's purpose in giving so selflessly had been revealed, Ailin finally felt as though a weight had been lifted from his heart.
At least for now, neither the chief nor Lady Vesemir seemed to mean him any harm.
As for the prophecy?
Could the future really be predicted?
In a daze, Ailin heard the Sorceress's cool, distant voice again.
"To know what the omen foretells..."
"First... Filius Miraculi—the Child of Miracle—will be born in a land of bitter cold..."
"Death and rebirth; one who is not human will bring blood and fire..."
Ever since Ailin had returned to bed, those words had lingered in his ears like a curse.
"Born in a land of bitter cold... death and rebirth..." Ailin muttered. "Those have already happened. They aren't important for now."
The key was, "one who is not human will bring blood and fire..."
Was that one who was not human referring to him?
And what did blood and fire mean?
War?
Forget it!
Ailin let out a long sigh. "How could anyone see the direction of the future from such vague words?"
The most important thing now was passing the Trial of the Mountains. As for that inexplicable prophecy...
He could think about it after passing the trial...
After learning of the prophecy, Ailin's life did not change.
The next day, Ailin went to the apprentice training grounds with the other apprentices as usual, then attended Lady Vesemir's lessons before practical combat class began.
Yes, Vesemir had excused Ailin from "practical combat class."
"You no longer need this kind of practical combat. Don't waste the drowners we worked so hard to catch."
Those were the Witcher Master's exact words.
After alchemy class at noon, Vesemir would proactively come to the Alchemy Room to find Ailin and take him out of Kaer Morhen to hunt drowners.
The Witcher Master seemed to have forgotten that taking Ailin out of Kaer Morhen yesterday had only been incidental. His main purpose had been to capture drowners as material for practical combat class.
Ailin did not remind him. He simply kept this kindness silently in his heart.
After returning from hunting, he collected meals, drugged them, practiced the mirage orb, taught Signs, took stock of his gains, and slept...
The Witcher Apprentice's daily routine became increasingly regular.
Except that the next day, when his character level rose to Level 5, it triggered a hunting quest to kill 200 drowners.
For an entire week, Ailin lived at that pace.
He had thought those days would continue all the way until the Trial of the Mountains.
Unfortunately,
on the seventh day, an accident came.
Snap.
A finger snap.
The books on the alchemy table slowly returned to their original places.
Ailin had already seen this scene nine times.
As usual, he rose to say goodbye to Lady Vesemir and Mary when the Sorceress suddenly stopped him.
"Ailin, starting tomorrow, I'll be leaving Kaer Morhen for some time."
Ailin, who had nearly reached the door, instantly turned around and looked at Lady Vesemir in surprise.
The Sorceress was leaving?
Then what would happen to his alchemy?
The prompt to unlock alchemy still lingered in the corner of his vision.
Spend 7,120 Lesser Experience Orbs to unlock the skill?
It was different from what he had initially imagined.
Ailin had thought that unlocking skills would depend on hunting drowners, while the reduced requirement from alchemy lessons was merely a bonus.
Yet ever since the fourth alchemy class, when Lady Vesemir had let him practice brewing the simplest Hemostatic Potion, the requirement had begun dropping at an alarming rate.
Meanwhile, his hunting progress had stalled because of the hunting quest to kill two hundred drowners.
Hunting quests did not increase his subjugation rating, while Ailin's level had risen because of several Sign skills.
As a result, each hunt rewarded very few Experience Orbs.
Therefore, the reduction of nearly three thousand Lesser Experience Orbs made Ailin feel much better about hunting drowners every day.
At this rate, even if he stopped hunting drowners, he could still reliably unlock alchemy before the Trial of the Mountains.
After a brief pause, Lady Vesemir explained further.
"I'm not entirely sure how long I'll be gone... This is something your chief has asked me to investigate..."
What could a witcher apprentice say?
The Sorceress was free, and she was also an important figure. She certainly had her own work and social obligations.
Ailin had known that from the very beginning. He had simply taken it for granted and ignored it because of the Sorceress's kindness.
Besides, even if it was an investment in his future, Lady Vesemir had already done more than enough.
After a moment of silence, Ailin forced out his most sincere smile and said,
"It's all right, Lady Vesemir."
"I'm already deeply grateful that you were willing to teach me alchemy."
Hearing that, Lady Vesemir silently rose and walked over to Ailin.
The scent of oranges mixed with cardamom gradually grew stronger.
The Sorceress raised her right hand lightly, as though she wanted to stroke Ailin's hair.
Ailin froze for a moment, but he did not dodge.
Over the past few days of lessons, even someone as suspicious as Ailin could feel Lady Vesemir's goodwill.
The Sorceress had so earnestly taught him so much. What was wrong with letting her pat his head a couple of times?
But to Ailin's surprise, the Sorceress's hand did not come down.
Instead, after seeing him obediently lower his head, it trembled slightly before slowly withdrawing.
Then,
the Sorceress simply stood there, quietly and intently looking at the witcher apprentice's face for a long time.
Though her expression remained blank, the complexity in the Sorceress's eyes was difficult for even Ailin, who had lived two lives, to understand.
He could only stand there awkwardly, not daring to think about anything in his mind.
After letting out a long sigh, Lady Vesemir turned her head and called out,
"Mary!"
"Lady Vesemir, I'm here," Mary answered instantly.
"For the next few days, you'll teach Ailin alchemy."
"Ah?"
"What? You're unwilling?" Lady Vesemir turned and glanced at Mary.
The moment that utterly emotionless gaze fell upon her, the "genuine article" Sorceress's hairs stood on end, and she hurriedly replied,
"I'm willing... I'm willing..."
After withdrawing her gaze, Lady Vesemir hesitated for a moment before turning to ask,
"Ailin... do you still insist on brewing potions yourself?"
New author, new book—please follow, comment, bookmark, and vote!
Before you continue