Killer Lake (Thanks to readers "Xie Yu Cheng Shi," "Li City Lord," and "Pastoral Flowers" for their monthly tickets)

After confirming that the Drowner Whistle was the Crimson Fox's handiwork, Vesemir followed the Witcher Apprentice's suggestion and came to a long, narrow lake.

It was noon, and the wind and water were perfectly still.

Ailin walked to the shore.

Even the gentle breeze could not stir a ripple across the lake. Framed by lush green grass and trees, the smooth, mirror-like surface reflected the blue sky and white clouds.

Quiet and serene.

This is the kind of place where someone could forget all their worries, Ailin thought.

The Witcher Apprentice took a deep breath, letting the crisp air, fragrant with grass and trees, fill his lungs.

Even the vague anxiety in his heart faded somewhat.

In that relaxed mood, Ailin asked, "Master Vesemir, doesn't such a beautiful place have a name?"

Perhaps he had seen too much, but Vesemir was unmoved by the scenery. Hearing Ailin's question, he answered casually:

"Killer Lake."

"If you like, you can call it that."

"Killer Lake?" Ailin repeated.

Why would such a beautiful place have such a murderous name?

Puzzled, the Witcher Apprentice asked directly, "Why is it called that?"

Vesemir fell silent for a moment, then sighed.

"This is the starting point of the Trial of the Mountains."

Hearing that, Ailin instinctively turned to look again.

The scenery was still the same, but in Ailin's eyes, it had lost all its former serenity.

A dense killing intent and the stench of death seemed to lurk beneath the calm lake water.

"By your own words," Vesemir broke the silence, "this is the most suitable place I can think of to use that whistle."

Earlier, after the witcher had praised the Drowner Whistle's exquisite craftsmanship and acknowledged the Sorceress's well-earned reputation, he had eagerly asked where they should use this magic item, like a child with a new toy.

"The more drowners there are, the better."

That had been Ailin's answer.

Actually.

Vesemir had indeed picked a good place.

There was nowhere more suitable near Kaer Morhen.

But was it really proper to bring his apprentice to the trial grounds ahead of time?

The Witcher Apprentice glanced at Vesemir.

The Witcher Master's face was completely expressionless.

After pondering for a moment, Ailin drew Elsa and nodded to Vesemir.

"Then let's do it here. And... thank you... Master Vesemir."

The Witcher Master did not respond to the latter half of Ailin's words.

He raised the Drowner Whistle and gently shook it according to the method the Witcher Apprentice had taught him.

"Gwala~ Gwala~"

A sound resembling a drowner's cry came from the cylindrical whistle.

It was not loud.

After shaking it twice, the Witcher Master tucked the Drowner Whistle into his chest armor and drew a silver sword from his back as well.

It was a silver sword used for apprentice training.

About half a minute passed. There was no wind, no waves, and Killer Lake's surface remained as smooth as a mirror.

Did it fail? the Witcher Apprentice could not help wondering.

Could the Witcher's Handbook's chests produce defective items too?

This was a blue-quality item.

Another minute passed.

Even Vesemir cast Ailin a doubtful glance or two, reaching into his Cotton Armor to shake the whistle again.

Internally cursing the Witcher's Handbook for passing off inferior goods as quality merchandise, Ailin awkwardly held Elsa and wondered whether he should sheath his sword.

Then, the lake's surface seemed to catch the wind.

The emerald mirror suddenly rippled, circles spreading from far away toward Ailin and Vesemir.

Ailin froze at the sight.

Then he saw that Vesemir's hand inside his leather armor had stopped.

The Witcher Master stared at the spreading rings on the lake, as though observing something.

A few seconds later, Vesemir's expression suddenly changed drastically.

He grabbed the still-stunned Ailin and bolted in the direction opposite Killer Lake.

The Witcher Apprentice was about to ask when he heard Vesemir shout:

"Run!"

"Up the mountain, now!"

Hearing that, Ailin rapidly pushed off the ground with both feet and followed the Witcher Master's back into the depths of the forest.

Seeing Vesemir so anxious, the Witcher Apprentice vaguely realized something was wrong and glanced back.

The instant the ripples reached the shore, they collided, crisscrossed, and vanished.

Ailin had never seen such a sight before.

The lake, calm as a mirror moments ago, was suddenly covered in bright red fins.

The clear, pale green water had also turned a deep, watery blue.

It was unlike the blue of the sky or sea.

It had depth, shadows, spots.

It was sickening, nauseating, and scalp-crawling.

"Gwala~ Gwala~"

Within seconds, the faint cries grew louder and louder until they became deafening.

Hordes of drowners, piled atop one another, surfaced from the water, crawled onto the shore, and charged after Vesemir and Ailin.

There was no need to ask the Witcher Master.

Ailin deeply realized that if he could not outrun the monsters behind him, he would never need to worry about the Trial of the Mountains again.

"Ailin! When Lady Vesemir gave you that item, didn't she mention any precautions?"

The Witcher Master did not look back.

The howling wind rushing past his ears carried his shock and confusion.

The Witcher Apprentice could barely keep up with Vesemir's pace only because Vesemir had him by the collar.

Focusing entirely on the terrain beneath his feet, Ailin leaped over a shallow pit and dodged the low branches that suddenly appeared before him...

He had no attention to spare for answering Vesemir's question.

The Witcher Master did not need Ailin's answer either. He was simply so shocked that countless questions clogged his throat, demanding to be voiced.

"Fuck!"

A loud shout rang out.

Hearing Vesemir curse so rarely, Ailin's heart lurched, and he nearly tripped over a rock.

"Master Vesemir, what is it?" the Witcher Apprentice shouted.

"Shut up! Stay close! Watch where you're going!"

Before Ailin had time to think, he caught sight of the figure ahead suddenly changing direction.

In his shock, a tremendous force tugged his collar, pulling both his feet off the ground.

In the blink of an eye, he swept through an arc and landed steadily.

Before they could catch their breath, the two raced toward a mountain hollow.

Not long afterward, Ailin and Vesemir had retreated into a cave.

The cave seemed to be a dead end. Though it was well ventilated, apart from the entrance through which the witcher and his apprentice had entered, it was surrounded by hard stone walls.

Even the narrow entrance could only accommodate two people at once.

"Huff—wheeze—huff—wheeze—"

Ailin bent over, gripping his silver sword tightly as he panted like a broken bellows.

Vesemir had run so urgently that Ailin had not had time to sheath Elsa.

"Ailin, are you all right?"

After taking two breaths to steady himself, the Witcher Apprentice shook his head.

"Master... Vesemir... I'm... fine..."

By the light streaming in through the cave entrance, Ailin looked up and saw that Vesemir was not even breathing hard. His face was only slightly redder than usual.

As though that desperate escape had merely been a warm-up.

The Witcher Master stood in the middle of the entrance with his sword raised, staring intently outside.

About two more minutes passed.

Only then did Ailin let out a long breath, straighten up with his sword in hand, and stand shoulder to shoulder with Vesemir.

At that moment, the noisy cries of "Gwala~ Gwala~" gradually drifted in from outside the cave.

A huge group of drowners.

Had arrived!

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