Witcher Master in Pursuit

There is a story hidden in Vesemir's sigh.

But clearly, this is not a happy story.

Therefore, since Vesemir did not reveal anything, Ailin did not intend to ask.

Moreover, he could guess that the story's background was related to the country of Kedwen, where the School of the Wolf had been rooted for nearly a century.

When Soyer placed the widow and orphan of Kedwen on the throne, the School of the Wolf had only recently broken away from the Witcher Conclave...

Perhaps it cannot be called detachment...

Thirty years after the founding of the Witcher Conclave, the dangerous and chaotic world gradually stabilized due to the presence of the Witchers. Alzure and Cosimo had new ambitions, so they retired from the Order after achieving their goals.

With the loss of its leader, the stability of the order began to be tested, and its superficial unity began to dissipate.

Finally, in a certain year, Anahad, unable to bear the noble ideals of the cult, harmed his companion in a struggle for the mandate.

His conflict with the creedists of the Order, represented by Eran, was so intense and irreconcilable that it escalated into a large-scale bloodshed, splitting the Order in the most undignified form of civil war.

Anahad led the Witcher who shared his ideas out of the Kaer Trolde Mountains and founded the School of the Bear.

Then came the second group of like-minded witchers who sought higher social status and liked to wear cat-head pendants.

These young, passionate witchers went south and became the founders of the School of the Cat.

Next is the school that most adheres to the spirit of the Order, Eran and his thirteen close friends, who uphold the code of chivalry.

Ailin had no idea what kind of struggle Eran, the most famous Witcher of the Witcher Conclave and one of Witcher Conclave founders, went through as he looked at the increasingly gloomy and tense atmosphere of Moghlag Castle and the increasingly dejected Order, all because of his conflict with Anahad.

However, in the end, he left, heading west to the Kaer Seren, where he founded the School of the Griffin.

And the School of the Wolf...

The Witchers of the School of the Wolf were the last to leave Moghlag Castle Witcher Conclave.

in other words.

They watched helplessly as the Witcher Conclave, their spiritual anchor, crumbled step by step, despite the Witcher Conclave School of the Wolf's slightly different but shared core beliefs.

Ailin really can't imagine what kind of mindset Soyer had when she left...

Reluctant to part, absolutely determined, or relieved?

The Witcher Master of the School of the Wolf are deliberately avoiding discussing the past of the Witcher Conclave, so it must be very difficult for them.

therefore...

Why did they choose Kedwen and Kaer Morhen?

What were the attitudes of the local villagers, nobles, and the king?

It couldn't be this attitude now.

Perhaps the former Chieftain Soyer also saved humanity from the crises that destroyed villages and cities time and time again, and was once elevated to a high position amidst the gratitude and cheers of the crowd.

The king even created a court monster advisor specifically for the School of the Wolf.

The witchers who followed Soyer out of Moghlag were also surrounded by admirers and given one prestigious title after another.

Ultimately, the reason why Kedwen has the resources to discriminate against Witchers is because the School of the Wolf has done an excellent job of exorcising demons.

Witchers are Long-lived race, while humans are forgetful.

Respect for heroes cannot outweigh the mundane realities of daily life, the interests of the nobility, and the king's lust for power.

The Greater Griffin cried out, interrupting Ailin.

The sun sank into the embrace of the mountains, pouring its last drop of molten gold onto the temple's shoulders.

The wisps of prayer rose from all directions, keeping the fervent atmosphere of Arland outside the high walls of the temple.

Ailin looked at the scene before him and found it quite amusing.

The most peaceful place in all of Arland is actually the most fervent religious site—the Temple of Meritellie.

"Perhaps it's because of Ianna and Nannick ..." Ailin thought to himself.

"Thump~"

"Thump~"

Several heavy thuds broke the tranquil atmosphere as objects fell to the ground.

With more than ten meters to go, the young witcher couldn't resist unbuttoning his clothes and jumping off the Greater Griffin's talons.

"Finally back!" Kray lay flat on the grass as soon as he landed.

Klar looked around without saying a word.

This area is deep within the temple complex, so of course there would be no one there.

Ianna may have foreseen this, and two or three days ago, she arranged such a place for the "Good Girl".

However, the Good Girl never spent the night here; she always flapped her wings and flew back to her old nest in the Adria Mountains.

She still has eggs to incubate; she's a caring and devoted mother.

Seeing that no one was around, Klar breathed a sigh of relief and tidied her hair, which had been ruffled by the strong wind.

"Stop looking," Aias chuckled and patted his shoulder. "Your Nina is probably eating in the cafeteria right now. If you go now, you can still make it in time..."

"Shut up!" Klar glared at him.

However, perhaps because he had been running around all day, or perhaps because his relationship with the priest apprentice named Nina had been completely exposed, he decided to give up.

After glaring at him, Klar only gave Aias a token kick and made no other move.

"Commander, what's the surprise?" Ernie looked left and right, then walked toward Ailin, puzzled.

The other young witchers also stopped their playful fighting and looked in the direction of the Greater Griffin.

"Go try the Oterrohp Sign ..." Ailin stepped down from the Good Girl and patted its wings.

"Bah!"

The Greater Griffin immediately took off and quickly disappeared into the sky.

"Oterrohp Sign?"

The young witchers paused for a moment, then exchanged a knowing glance, and all the fatigue of the day seemed to vanish in an instant.

They guessed what the surprise was—"The Witcher's Eye's Gaze".

Although the Oterrohp Sign is not used often, who can resist the rapid improvement of their own skills?

Especially since they had just been provoked.

After greeting Ailin and Vesemir in unison, they couldn't wait to find a corner, pair up, and verify their identities with the Igni and Alde Sign.

As twilight cast gilded patterns on the temple pillars, Vesemir leaned against the ancient oak trunk, stroking the silver wolf-head pendant.

In the Witcher Master's dark golden pupils, the magic dancing at the fingertips of the young people was reflected—the pale purple glow of the Oterrohp Sign blocked the surging red sparks.

Such exquisite manipulation of elements should have been the culmination of five years of hard work, but the experience seemed to have appeared out of nowhere and grew wildly like ivy.

"It's like a miracle sown by Meritellie herself."

Watching the traveling apprentices become increasingly skilled in the Oterrohp Sign, their progress seemingly taking months in the blink of an eye, left Vesemir somewhat bewildered.

Even though similar scenes had occurred several times, whether involving swordsmanship or magic seals, he still found it incredible.

In the past, it would have taken years, or even decades, of arduous practice to allow the body to memorize the best hand seal techniques, but now they were mastered quickly and silently.

Of course I'm envious.

If he had had a captain like Ailin when he first passed the Trial of the Mountains, the time it would have taken him to become one of the Witcher Master would have been shortened by at least half.

But all the extra emotions were gone.

Because he knew that if that ability could be used on him, Ailin would have used it long ago.

This is reasonable.

You cannot teach others skills you don't know.

His skills are currently superior to Ailin's, and Ailin certainly cannot help him improve quickly.

Moreover, such rapid improvement must come at a price; otherwise, Ailin wouldn't have waited so long before casting his "Witcher's Gaze."

"Perhaps it won't be long before Kray, who can fall asleep even while sitting on a horse, surpasses me..."

Vesemir felt he should be happy for the bright future of the School of the Wolf.

But the bitter vines climbed up the walls of his heart.

The emptiness he felt now seemed to have gained weight, pressing down on his heart and making it hard for him to breathe.

"Vesemir?"

"Vesemir?"

"What?" Vesemir snapped back to reality and saw Ailin looking at him with concern.

"Are you alright, Vesemir?"

"It's nothing, I was just thinking about something," Vesemir said, wiping his face with both hands. "What's wrong, Ailin? Do you need me to coach Ernie and the others and have them spar with them?"

"Kray, Igni of Aias, and Ald are still too weak to test the limits of the Oterrohp Sign ..."

"Are you really alright?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Vesemir glanced at Ailin. "I didn't catch a single ghoul today, what could possibly happen to me?"

"Right now, I can take down all seven of them, including Ernie, all by myself..."

"At least five times!" He held up five fingers wearing a leather glove.

"There's no need for that," Ailin thought the words on the Greater Griffin's back had stirred up memories of Vesemir's past, and didn't pay it any mind. "Let them practice here, we'll go back first..."

Go back now?

Vesemir paused, glancing in confusion at the young witchers locked in a heated duel in the corner.

Inside the temple, the Witcher's quarters.

"What is this?" Vesemir shook the large crystal bottle in his palm.

The pale red liquid swayed, with a faint magical glow flickering within it.

"Here's ten portions of the Giant Ghoul's Heart Essence Fluid," Ailin explained, leaning against the wall. "I actually prepared it before the Summoning Ritual, but I was worried that the attribute boost would be too fast and dangerous, so I'm giving it to you now."

After speaking.

With a thought, Ailin gave Vesemir an assessment.

Name: Vesemir

[Attributes: Strength 53, Agility 63, Constitution 68, Perception 84, Mysticism 54 (+1)]

Hmm~

Ailin was somewhat surprised.

The last assessment was during the ambush of Vilgefortz.

In just half a month, Vesemir's mysterious attribute actually improved by a little.

This doesn't match the rate at which Vesemir's attributes are increasing.

"Perhaps it was the heightened perception that caused the mystery to suddenly increase..." he wondered to himself.

"No, leave it to someone else," Vesemir shook his head and handed the crystal bottle to Ailin. "It's not that I'm being polite, but after taking your potion last time, I could feel that this body has reached a critical point."

"Even without any side effects, it's still reckless..."

"It's not a waste," Ailin pushed the Giant Ghoul's Heart Essence Fluid back. "I've already finished my share. Last time, my perception increased, but drinking the Giant Ghoul's Heart Essence Fluid will increase my strength and physique."

"But first, take a small sip, just one serving, and see the effect..."

Ailin wasn't 100% certain that once perception reached its limit, other attributes could definitely be improved.

Therefore, it's best to be cautious.

in addition.

The door was open.

The Witcher's residence was not only close to the houses of priests such as Ianna and Nannick, but also not far from the temple's infirmary.

At Ailin's speed, if anything goes wrong, he can get Vesemir to Ianna in two minutes.

Meritellie's Divine Art could save Vesemir's life under any circumstances.

This is also why Ailin had Vesemir take it after he returned.

Otherwise, since the Heart Essence Fluid of the Giant Ghoul's heart has no other manifestations of Essence Fluid or Purification Spirit, it could be used to correct the apprentices' spell-casting skills while drinking the Essence Fluid like sugar water.

Strength... physical constitution...

Vesemir hesitated for a moment, then stopped refusing, uncorked the crystal bottle, and lifted it to pour.

The pale red water, like a red line, slid into the throat of the Witcher Master out of thin air.

"How about it?"

Ailin stared nervously at Vesemir's face, ready to give the Witcher Master a princess carry and run away at any moment.

Vesemir frowned slightly. "It seems... it seems there's no problem..."

What does "no problem" mean?

No effect?

Ailin gave another appraisal, slapping Vesemir on the forehead.

Name: Vesemir

[Attributes: Strength 56 (+3), Agility 63, Constitution 71 (+3), Perception 84, Mysticism 54]

Efficient!

Ailin breathed a sigh of relief.

"It works, all..." Before he could finish speaking, Vesemir seemed to sense something.

Its dark golden Cat Eyes gleamed with excitement.

"Gurgle~ gurgle~"

Vesemir couldn't wait and drank all the Heart Essence Fluid of the Giant Ghoul's heart from the crystal bottle in one gulp.

Name: Vesemir

[Attributes: Strength 64 (+8), Agility 63, Constitution 78 (+7), Perception 84, Mysticism 54]

The numbers on the translucent panel on Vesemir's forehead jumped rapidly.

Seeing that his physique and perception were also approaching 80 points, Ailin couldn't help but take another step closer to Vesemir, raising his hands, even though this small distance wouldn't save much time if a real problem arose.

A short while later.

"Phew~"

Vesemir let out a soft breath.

That stale breath, like a sharp arrow, blew out the wall lamp from three meters away, leaving a clearly visible scratch on the wooden wall.

"How... do you feel?" Ailin quietly withdrew her raised hands, a smile involuntarily curving her lips.

"Like a new life."

Vesemir laughed heartily.

Laughter echoed through the hut, causing the wooden amulet on the roof to shake back and forth.

"It can work," Ailin thought.

The One-Eyed Nekker's Purification Spirit was only due to its perception reaching its limit, not because Vesemir had reached his limit.

Next, all he needs to do is find the Essence Fluid and Purification Spirit to enhance his strength, agility, and mystery, and with the addition of the Roaring Way, Vesemir's strength will catch up quickly.

I'll catch up soon...

Ailin couldn't help but repeat the sentence in his mind.

Name: Ailin

[HP: 100%, Stamina: 680/680, MP: 840/840]

[Attributes: Strength 80, Agility 64, Constitution 68, Perception 85, Mysticism 84]

Unbeknownst to him, the goal he had longed to catch up with while still at the Ancient Sea Fortress had quietly fallen behind him.

Watching Vesemir excitedly experiment with his power, Ailin took a deep breath.

"Vesemir has finished his upgrade and his weakened state is over. It's time for me to turn the spoils into strength."

[Inventory: @#￥%&'s Element @#￥%&*1, Summoning Ritual's Flesh Core *1, Heart Essence Fluid of Corpse Lord *1, Monster's Nest's Core Nucleus *5, Spiked Fiend's Heart Essence Fluid *7, Grave Hag's Heart Essence Fluid *1...]

I don't know what effect "@#￥% @#￥%&'s Element" actually has...