After the Pact

"Tell me about your story," Philippa Ehrhardt interrupted his doubts. "We'll be partners for a long time, and we can't stay strangers like this forever."

"What do you want to know?" Ailin asked calmly.

The idea of "letting the wolf into the house" is, after all, just speculation.

While Philippa Ehrhardt's current thoughts are difficult to fathom, her underlying tone has always been clear: to rise and seize power by all means.

Due to limited political resources, male sorcerers and Sorceress were implicitly mutually exclusive.

Given her current position, the benefits of betraying Tissaia de Veres are far less than those of remaining loyal to her.

Philippa Ehrert has character flaws, but she is definitely a shrewd and astute person.

"Everything."

Philippa Ehrert turned her gaze away from the view outside the terrace and stared at him.

"Godslayer, Great Griffin Knight, Son of Meritellie, Witcher favored by Tissaia de Veris, Alchemy Apprentice of the Crimson Fox, the youngest Witcher Master..."

"To be honest, I'm very curious about everything about you."

"But I can't tell you everything." Ailin stared blankly into Philippa Ehrhardt's eyes.

Philippa Ehrert was silent for a few seconds, then sighed, "It seems we haven't established a basic level of trust yet, so let's start with me."

The Sorceress looked away, her gaze following the soaring Sparrowhawk for a moment before settling on the distant snow-capped mountains.

I watched like that for quite a while.

"My story isn't as exciting as yours," she suddenly said. "I was born in a small port town called Denesle in Riedania, the child of an ordinary fisherman."

"My father, like all fishermen by the sea, had a temper as volatile as the ocean during a storm, and he was an alcoholic and abusive."

"My mother was an ordinary peasant woman..."

"After living an ordinary life in a small town for six years, my parents died in an accident, and I awakened my magical talent as a result..."

Ailin raised an eyebrow, not expecting Philippa Ehrert to start from the stage before she awakened her magical talent.

Moreover, it was as if she had opened her chest, revealing to him the most unspeakable family matters.

According to unspoken rules, the two only need to share their recent, less sensitive experiences—for Philippa Ehrert, it's the experience of stealthily gathering information during patrols, and for Ailin, it's combat experience—so that they can have a general understanding of each other's strengths.

Starting from his childhood, he showed great sincerity, but also subtly made demands on his storytelling.

certainly.

These stories could very well have been fabricated to elicit sympathy from a fourteen-year-old child; well, that possibility seems more likely.

"Riedania has always been a conservative country. Before I was burned to death by the ignorant villagers, Dean Tissaia de Veris saved me and sent me to Aretuza."

"Then came seven years of tedious study and training. After leaving Aretuza, I was noticed by the Brotherhood of Sorcerers's patrol department because of my outstanding talent in polymorph and illusion magic, and served as a patrol warlock for three years..."

As she spoke, Philippa Ehrert demonstrated in the room.

Amidst the almost inaudible buzzing of the Wolf Emblem, an extra Sparrowhawk appeared unnoticed as it soared outside the terrace.

The Sparrowhawk chased after a flock of black ravens, startling the birds into screaming and scattering in all directions.

The Sparrowhawk approached the terrace, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a raven.

A raven flew onto the terrace, its flapping wings carrying a damp mist that seemed to come alive.

"The job of patrolling warlocks is not simple," Philippa Ehrhardt said, watching the raven land lightly on her fingertip. "Warlock organizations that cross the line will always find ways to evade and be wary of patrols from the Brotherhood of Sorcerers."

"The work was difficult and dangerous at first, but once I mastered illusion magic and could combine it with polymorph, there were few places I couldn't get into."

"Very skillful control of magic," Ailin agreed.

"Thank you." Philippa Ehrert smiled and waved her hand.

The nimble raven, which was observing Ailin, froze for a moment, then quietly dissipated like mist.

"I also know some basic offensive spells, Fire Element and air spells, but I'm best at polymorph and illusion."

"So..."

Philippa Ahart paused, her bright eyes looking at Ailin, her gaze seemingly filled with sincerity:

"Now, do we have even the most basic trust?"

Since things have come to this point, Ailin certainly wouldn't refuse.

"My story isn't particularly exciting," he said. "Before the Trial of Grasses, I was just an ordinary apprentice born in Kaer Morhen."

"Born in Kaer Morhen?" Philippa Ahart turned her head in surprise. "You don't know your parents?"

"You think I have a prestigious background?" Ailin raised an eyebrow, knowing what the Sorceress meant.

In the context of the Witcher world, it is common practice to trace a person's excellence back to their bloodline and ancestors.

"That's right." Philippa Ehrert nodded honestly.

"No," Ailin shook his head, "I was just an abandoned baby picked up by a witcher."

In this day and age, abandoned babies are not born into any noble family.

Philippa Ahmed nodded, signaling him to continue.

"Adopted and raised by the Witchers of Kaer Morhen, then joined the Witcher's Trial of Choice at the appropriate age, followed by the Trial of Grasses, the Trial of the Mountains..."

Ailin described his experiences after descending the mountain in chronological order.

Of course, these are all well-known experiences, most of which have been written into ballads. The process of subduing the Greater Griffin and driving away the Evil God is only briefly mentioned in a lighthearted way.

Even so, the sheer amount of experience he had over the course of more than half a year still left Philippa Ahhart speechless.

At first, she pretended to swirl the wine in her glass and take a couple of sips, but after the May Festival Wild Hunt, the glass of red wine seemed to be stuck to her hand, and she never swirled it again.

Only after everything was over did he take a big gulp to calm his nerves.

"It's hard to believe this happened in just six months, and even harder to believe you're only fourteen," Philippa Ehrhardt swallowed her drink. "If this isn't a compelling story, then what is mine?"

"The most boring and tedious 'History of the Development of Magic'?"

She gave a bitter smile.

Ailin didn't say anything; he had perfectly achieved his goal.

If he doesn't reveal just how awesome he is, how can the Brotherhood of Sorcerers's chosen ones possibly listen to him obediently?

Given Philippa Ehrhardt's "past record" and the current state of the School of the Wolf, such boasting cannot be limited to this one instance.

"A good start," Philippa Ehrhardt stood up and looked at him solemnly.

"I'm starting to have some confidence in our mission."

Ailin nodded and turned to look out onto the terrace.

Time flies; it seems like only a few words have passed before the sun sets.

The snow-capped peaks of the Blue Mountains, which are covered in snow all year round, are now illuminated by the sunset and shine as brightly as flowing gold.

"It's dinner time, shall we go down for dinner together?" he suggested.

"No," Philippa Ehrert smiled slightly. "An owl can't eat at a long table like a normal person."

"Besides..."

She gazed into Ailin's eyes:

Do you really want me to go?

Castle Hall.

The fire in the fireplace was blazing, but it couldn't compete with the heat on the long table.

Generally speaking, the most lively time in the castle hall is during the dead of winter, when witchers who have been traveling abroad return home to spend the winter, releasing the suppressed emotions from a year of travel and danger, feasting and reveling all night long.

Normally, Kaer Morhen only has a few witchers and a large group of apprentices facing the dangers of the Trial of the Mountains.

With only a few witchers, the atmosphere was naturally not lively.

The rigorous training and the threat of death made the young apprentices feel like they were carrying a heavy burden every moment.

However, the emotions that seemed to be igniting at the long table at this moment came from a large group of exceptionally young faces.

In truth, this is all thanks to Ailin.

Although the intensity of training remains the same, the mortality rate in the Trial of Grasses is close to zero due to the Drowner Heart Essence Fluid and the Trial of the Mountains is close to zero due to Ailin's reforms.

Without the fear of stepping into a death trap, the apprentices were naturally less lifeless during meal breaks.

especially...

The young witcher, returning from his descent, also brought back fascinating stories.

"Countless Ghoul, baring their sharp fangs, charged at me, followed closely by Rotfiend oozing murky yellow liquid, and then Giant Ghoul lurking in the woods, watching with sinister intent..."

Do you know about Giant Ghoul?

"That's a standard large monster in Monster Economics, about the height of two people, covered in sharp, black spikes, and the ground shakes when it walks..."

The deliberately low voices, designed to create a dangerous and suspenseful atmosphere, caused the atmosphere to fall into silence, yet subtly grew more restless.

A young figure carrying two swords on his back stood with his right foot on a chair, waving his arms excitedly and gesturing at a huge object.

"We know, we know, so what?" An impatient voice broke the silence from the long table.

"Did Master Vesemir make a move?"

"It's more likely the leader. I remember the leader hunted a Giant Ghoul."

"Why not Master Dante? I remember he came back with Master Vesemir and the commander."

It is quite obvious that there are two groups at the oak table.

The seven were witchers standing close to the man on the chair, wearing standard leather armor and carrying two swords.

They crossed their arms over their chests, leaned back in their chairs, and looked either indifferent or proud.

Others, about twenty people, were young apprentices dressed in linen clothes with their hands empty.

However, these unarmed apprentices were far more enthusiastic than the witchers who carried two swords.

Their arms were pressed against the wooden table, their buttocks lifted off the chairs, and their bodies leaned forward.

The cacophony of voices caused the roaring fire in the fireplace to flicker and tremble.

"No!" The young witcher, who was standing on the chair, laughed loudly and denied it. "It was us! The seven of us killed all those countless Ghoul, Rotfiend, and Giant Ghoul!"

There was a moment of silence at the long table.

"You? You killed the Ghoul, the Rotfiend, and the Giant Ghoul?"

"Of course!" The young witcher said, hands on his hips and head held high.

The young apprentices looked at each other in silence.

"What? You don't believe me?" The young witcher frowned, his eyes looking down at him.

"Brother Spencer," one of the older apprentices spoke up, "It's not that we don't want to believe it, but three months ago, you couldn't even handle a few water ghosts and almost got bitten, and now..."

"Things are different now than they were three months ago!" Spencer interrupted, his face flushed and his emotions running high, as his embarrassing past was unearthed.

Ernie and Klar couldn't sit still any longer and chimed in, "While Spencer's estimate of the number of Ghoul and corruption demons is somewhat inaccurate, we did indeed work together to kill a Giant Ghoul."

The apprentices remained silent, still looking at them with suspicion.

Although they haven't passed the Trial of the Mountains yet, they've spent a lot of time together and are quite familiar with each other.

Going from a water ghost to Giant Ghoul in two or three months? You can't fool a fool like that.

Progress always takes time; not all Witchers are monsters like the leader.

"I... I..." Spencer's face turned bright red.

The promotion granted by the commander is a secret that cannot be discussed even within the Witcher Company.

But if they don't say it out loud, how can they prove their strength?

Are we supposed to go outside and get into a fight?

"Squeak~"

The sound of a door that hadn't been lubricated for a long time opening made everyone at the long table instinctively look in the direction of the sound.

Spencer did the same, and then immediately waved happily:

"Captain, Captain, tell me, did the seven of us hunt down... Lady Vesemir together?!"

Vesemir's face darkened instantly upon hearing this as she stepped into the castle hall.

Everyone at the long table stared wide-eyed at the audacious Spencer.

He immediately moved to the sides, standing right next to Xilo and Kray, as if afraid of getting splattered with blood.

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Ailin quickly rebuked.

Spencer then realized what was happening, his face turning deathly pale. He apologized repeatedly, "I'm sorry, Lady Vesemir, I meant the Giant Ghoul. We hunted a Giant Ghoul together."

Ailin glanced at the long table in front of the fireplace and immediately knew they were bragging.

He didn't refute Spencer's politeness, nodded slightly, and then looked at Vesemir, who was waving her hand casually:

"Lady Vesemir, let's have dinner first and wait for Ian Hill..."

Before he could finish speaking...

"Bang!"

A strange noise was heard, and a sudden gust of wind howled outside the door, sending sand and stones flying.

An orange-red portal suddenly appeared outside the door.

Francesca Fantaby stepped gracefully out of the portal.

Unlike in the morning, she changed into a rose-red dress, her long hair was solemnly tied up, and the moment she stepped out the door, the howling wind seemed to stop instantly as if it had received a command.

"Ailin!"

Good day, Lady Vesemir.

When Francesca Fantaby saw Ailin, her eyes lit up instantly, and then she gave him a graceful bow, just as she had when she saw Vesemir.

Vesemir nodded slightly, glanced at the sky, and then looked at Ailin:

"Let's have dinner after the alliance is signed..."

She paused for a moment, then said, "At that time, I had some things to tell you."