Veridian Sigh

The top floor of the main keep.

The reception hall of the Chieftain's residence.

"Riiip—"

Starting from the severed neck, a silver dagger-like blade sliced in a straight line through the chest and abdomen.

Even though it had been dead for a long time, the muscles in the corpse's abdomen remained taut, exposing its internal contents to the air.

The unique fragrance within the reception hall was instantly overwhelmed by a stench of decay.

However.

The two people squatting beside the corpse paid no mind to the sudden foul odor.

"The King of Ice really is a scavenger."

"Although the blood carries a peculiar fragrance, the smell inside the abdominal cavity is very similar to that of a corpse-eater."

"Chieftain, our judgment last night was correct."

Vesemir casually grabbed a piece of black cloth, wiped the dagger, and looked up at the Chieftain.

After roughly discussing the material processing direction for the "King of Ice" with the Chieftain last night, they had agreed to deal with the monster together today.

The School of the Wolf Chieftain nodded slightly and said:

"Since the monster's type has been roughly confirmed, let's process it according to the method for corpse-eaters first."

Vesemir nodded, then plunged his hands into the chest cavity and pulled outwards forcefully.

"Crack—Crack—"

The Drowner King's ribs snapped one by one.

The peculiar fragrance once again masked the fishy stench from the abdominal cavity.

Before long, the headless Drowner King opened its heart to everyone.

"How is this possible!"

Vesemir exclaimed, his dark golden cat-like pupils instantly constricting.

Within the bright red chest cavity, the center, surrounded by thick, arm-thick blood vessels, was empty.

The Chieftain frowned slightly at the sound and lowered his head to carefully examine the connection point of the severed arteries and veins.

...The cut surface is neat... yet there's very little blood...

"This heart was taken."

"What!" Vesemir was shocked.

"Yes, it was taken."

The School of the Wolf Chieftain, as if recalling something, furrowed his brow and muttered the words again.

Vesemir was about to ask further.

But the Chieftain suddenly changed the subject at this moment.

"Vesemir, what do you think of Ailin, the apprentice?"

"Has he been acting strangely recently?"

"Ailin?" Vesemir looked at the Chieftain strangely.

Could it be that Ailin took this heart?

But how could he have done it?

Could it be the Witcher's Eye again?

However, he couldn't discern anything from the Chieftain's expressionless face, so he pondered for a moment before carefully choosing his words, saying:

"Ailin is a very excellent apprentice, a natural Witcher."

"Although his behavior is occasionally unconventional, not only is his talent extremely high, rarely seen in the world."

"He is also warm-hearted and kind, selflessly teaching his peers, and has developed special techniques through his own exploration of Signs..."

Vesemir recounted.

"Clang—"

An orange Portal suddenly appeared, interrupting Vesemir's further words.

The Witcher Master's gaze was subconsciously drawn to the light of the Portal.

A conservative white linen long dress, a delicate blue gemstone pendant...

No, it's not a pendant.

That... that looks like a bottle of blue potion...

Vesemir was suddenly a little confused.

Is this the new fashion among Sorceresses? Didn't they used to favor those strange bone crafts?

"Soyer..."

The sorceress stopped short as she emerged from the portal and saw another person in Soyer's residence.

The Chieftain of the School of the Wolf gave a reserved nod.

Then, he let Vesemir, who had already stood up and was preparing to leave, continue speaking.

Vera would surely be very interested in Ailin's evaluation as well.

The Witcher Master halted, his gaze shifting slightly.

However, the Chieftain and the sorceress were already looking at him.

He had no choice but to clear his mind, focusing entirely on his memories of Ailin these past few days.

He wouldn't think about things related to Witcher Leto.

After a brief recollection, Vesemir realized that Ailin's actions over the past few days seemed to perfectly align with the eight virtues of a knight that the Chieftain had spoken of during his travels. He said:

"Chieftain, you once told me about the Path of Honor."

The Chieftain and Vera exchanged glances, unsure why Vesemir had suddenly brought up the Path of Honor when evaluating Ailin.

Curiosity piqued, they both turned their gaze to the Witcher Master.

Vesemir looked earnestly at the Chieftain of the School of the Wolf.

"Yes, I did tell you," Soyer admitted after a few seconds of thought, nodding.

"During my travels across the Northern Kingdoms, I have always yearned for the path you described, and I have been striving to approach it..."

"I originally thought that perhaps only you could walk this path now, until..." Vesemir paused for a few seconds and said, "I met Ailin."

"In my nearly a hundred years of life, I have never seen such an apprentice..."

"Humility, honesty, compassion, bravery, justice, sacrifice, honor..."

"Except for humility, which seems to have a slight issue, the other virtues seem to perfectly describe Ailin himself..."

The Chieftain and Vera instinctively glanced at each other again, their eyes seeming to convey much.

The sorceress gently touched the potion vial at her chest and turned towards the window.

However, from Soyer's perspective, he could see Vera's lips curving upwards uncontrollably.

In fact, he was in a good mood too, until Vesemir said the next sentence.

"...So, Chieftain, the Trial of the Mountains..."

"Vesemir!" The Chieftain of the School of the Wolf interrupted the Witcher Master, "If you truly believe Ailin is a born Witcher, you shouldn't say such things!"

Vesemir fell silent.

He had been presumptuous this time.

But thinking of the Trial of the Mountains, thinking of Ailin...

The Witcher Master sighed and turned to leave.

Since the sorceress had arrived, they couldn't possibly act rashly in front of her.

"Wait!"

A clear, cold female voice called out to the Witcher Master.

Snap

With a snap of her fingers, a bottle of exquisite, emerald-green potion appeared in the sorceress's hand, looking identical to the two Ailin had drunk.

Snap

Another snap of her fingers.

The potion gently floated into Vesemir's palm.

The Witcher Master instinctively caught it, looked down at the potion, and after a moment of stunned silence, looked up at the sorceress.

Vera nodded slightly and said:

"This is for you, Vesemir."

"Take good care of Ailin."

Vesemir then looked at the Chieftain of the School of the Wolf, who had his arms crossed.

"Accept it. This is the Veridian Sigh. Drinking it will slow aging and increase lifespan."

"Of course, for us Witchers, its most important effect is the complete healing of old injuries."

After a pause, Soyer continued:

"On the black market, its value is no less than your Elsa."

Upon hearing this, Vesemir couldn't help but look down at the potion, no bigger than his thumb.

The emerald liquid shimmered with a captivating vitality, and every cell in the Witcher Master's body seemed to crave it.

However, Vesemir suppressed this urge and carefully held the potions as he walked towards the sorceress.

"Taking care of the apprentices is my duty..."

Snap

A snap of fingers.

The badges on Vesemir and Soyer's chests simultaneously jumped out from their collars, vibrating wildly and emitting a humming sound.

Both Witchers instinctively slightly bent their thumbs and index fingers, drawing a triangle in the air before them.

Quen Shields appeared one after the other, instantly generated.

The next moment.

Vesemir felt his body lighten.

He quickly tightened his grip on the potions in his hands, afraid of dropping them.

Immediately after.

The Witcher Master heard the sorceress say, "This is what you deserve."

Then, she swiftly floated out of the room.

Bang!

The door to the Chieftain's residence closed.

Inside the room, as Vesemir "departed," the gentle expression on the sorceress's face instantly turned to ice.

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