Chapter Summaries

Ailin confronted Philippa Eilhart after discovering her disguised as an owl, and she delivered news of Tissaia de Vries’s effort to challenge the Rissberg Civil Conglomerate and the Roglides family. Their awkward conversation was interrupted by footsteps outside Ailin’s window, which he suspected belonged to Lyra.

• Ailin caught Philippa Eilhart spying in his room, held her at swordpoint, and saw through her attempt to provoke him by appearing naked.
• Philippa Eilhart changed clothes, and Ailin explained that her owl’s unusually expressive eyes had revealed her identity.
• Philippa Eilhart told Ailin that Tissaia de Vries had begun procedures to impeach the Rissberg Civil Conglomerate and the Roglides family before the upcoming mage conference.
• Philippa Eilhart and Ailin fell into an awkward silence as neither moved to end their conversation.
• Ailin heard footsteps outside the window and wondered whether Lyra had arrived.

Lyra visited Ailin’s room in the middle of the night, dressed elegantly and determined to act on her feelings before he left for Kaer Morhen. As she began undressing beside his bed, Ailin remembered that Philippa Eilhart was hidden in the rafters, and a mass of icy, blazing flame engulfed him from behind.

• Philippa Eilhart refused to leave Ailin’s room and transformed into an owl to hide in the rafters.
• Lyra approached Ailin’s window in glamorous clothes, resolved to take the initiative before he departed.
• Ailin pretended to sleep as Lyra entered, though both he and the hidden Philippa watched her nervously.
• Lyra realized Ailin’s snores were fake, reached his bedside, and began removing her clothes.
• Ailin remembered Philippa was still overhead, stood up to speak, and was engulfed by icy, scorching flame.

Lyra confessed her feelings to Ailin, but he refused to accept her because of the dangers surrounding his life, and she left promising to wait for him. The next morning, Ailin and the other witchers departed for Kaer Morhen with Philippa Eilhart, while Lyra watched them go.

• Lyra clung to Ailin and asked why he would not accept her, while Philippa Eilhart watched from the rafters in owl form.
• Ailin explained that his enemies and the threat of the White Frost made romance dangerous, but Lyra insisted that she would wait for him and called him the Promised Land Meritellie had given her.
• Lyra kissed Ailin and left, and Philippa Eilhart revealed herself and said she would travel with him to Kaer Morhen.
• Ailin spent the night meditating, then met Vesemir, Dante, Fred, Ernie, and the other young witchers before their departure.
• Ianna, Nannick, Lyra, Arthur, and Sala came to see the group off, and Arthur and Sala delivered a bounty larger than agreed.
• A Greater Griffin carried Ailin and the witchers away from the Temple of Melitele toward Kaer Morhen.

Ailin returned to Kaer Morhen with Philippa Eilhart and the witchers while Good Girl departed to hatch her eggs. On the way, Philippa explained Druid transformation, and the chapter ended with her transforming into an owl and leaving her clothes exposed on the ground.

• Philippa Eilhart excitedly questioned Ailin about Good Girl during the flight to Kaer Morhen, and he promised she could observe the griffin after her eggs hatched.
• Ailin, Vesemir, Dante, and the others arrived at Killer Path on Good Girl, then Good Girl departed after Ailin asked her to contact him if danger arose.
• Philippa Eilhart explained that Druid transformation was a nature-bestowed art used mainly for cultivation, while Sorceresses used spells to transform.
• Ailin considered learning transformation magic and asked about Druids, but Philippa Eilhart insisted that witchers could not become Druids or learn their transformations.
• Philippa Eilhart transformed into an owl outside Kaer Morhen, leaving her clothes on the ground and asking Ailin to pick them up.

Ailin returned to Kaer Morhen with Vesemir, Dante, and the young witchers, where the Witcher Company’s defenses and apprentices welcomed them. Spencer’s account of their monster hunts and Ailin’s role in driving away an Evil God made the apprentices see him as a living hero, just as Francesca arrived.

• Ailin picked up Philippa Eilhart’s scattered clothes after she teased him by pretending her owl form left her helpless.
• Vesemir explained to Dante that the Witcher Company’s reserve apprentices had taken over Kaer Morhen’s defenses, an effort led by Aristo and Mary.
• Kaer Morhen’s apprentices surrounded Ernie, Klar, Spencer, and the others, and Spencer boasted about the monsters they had fought on their journey.
• Spencer told the apprentices that Ailin and Vesemir had driven away an Evil God, while Ailin credited Vesemir, Aretuza’s Sorceresses, Melitele’s priests, and Duke Mason’s army with helping.
• The apprentices celebrated Ailin as a living hero, and Ailin prepared to check their loyalty before Aristo interrupted and Francesca arrived.

Ailin reunited with Francesca Findabair as the Aen Seidhe arrived to aid Kaer Morhen, while Aristo learned about the dragon-hide armor and Tissaia de Vries’s offer to enchant it. Francesca revealed that the agreement between the Free Elves and the School of the Wolf still needed Grandmaster Soyer’s signature, but they had not met him.

• Aristo questioned Vesemir and Ailin about their return, and Vesemir said their commission through Horton Quiggan had ended well without them accepting it.
• Aristo recognized Ailin’s armor as red dragon hide, and Ailin said Tissaia de Vries would enchant it before their rescue plan began.
• Francesca Findabair greeted Ailin, and the two reminisced about their past experiences together.
• Ailin learned that the Aen Seidhe had come to help defend Kaer Morhen, whose threats from the Rissberg Civil Conglomerate and a possible Sorcerer Kingdom remained.
• Francesca told Ailin that the Free Elves’ contract with the School of the Wolf still required Grandmaster Soyer’s signature, but they had not met him.

Ailin tried to learn why Chieftain Soyer had not met with the elves, then welcomed Vera, Aida Amin, and Mary back to Kaer Morhen. Aristo asked Vera to explain the chieftain’s absence, leaving the reason unresolved.

• Ailin apologized to Francesca Findabair for Chieftain Soyer’s absence and agreed to show her around Kaer Morhen later.
• Ailin introduced the owl Philippa Eilhart to Aristo as his partner on a contract commissioned by Tissaia de Vries.
• An orange portal opened in the castle hall, and Aida Amin, Mary, and Vera emerged with the elves.
• Ailin greeted the returning group, then used the Oterrohp Sign to shield his thoughts after suspecting Vera and Aida Amin had read his mind.
• Aristo asked Vera to explain what had happened to Chieftain Soyer, and Vera said Aida Amin knew more about it than she did.

Lady Vesemir questioned Ailin about Sadia’s decision to send her half-elf children to Kaer Morhen, then led him through a secluded corridor to see Soyer. She promised to explain everything afterward, leaving Ailin increasingly uneasy about what had happened to the Chieftain.

• Lady Vesemir sent Mary to escort Adda of Vengerberg to the Alchemy Room, then took Ailin upstairs and discussed witcher Signs and their development.
• Lady Vesemir asked Ailin what he thought of Sadia and revealed that she was descended from the last king of the Aen Seidhe.
• Lady Vesemir pointed out Sadia’s half-elf children training at Kaer Morhen and asked whether they would hate their mother for sending them there because of a prophecy.
• Ailin agreed that the half-elves would likely resent Sadia, and Lady Vesemir said Sadia had not asked about them during the recent visit to the Free Elves.
• Lady Vesemir declared that sins had to be brought to light and led Ailin toward Soyer, promising to explain everything without omission after he saw him.

Vesemir led Ailin through a secret passage in Kaer Morhen to meet Soyer, while discovering that Ailin had awakened Sorcerer Talent and proposing lessons. The passage’s enchanted door showed Ailin a terrifying vision of a red dragon before Vesemir revealed that the beautiful landscape of Toussaint was an illusion and led him onward to Soyer.

• Vesemir revealed a hidden passage and an Aetherium door beneath Kaer Morhen.
• Ailin cast Quen and Oterrohp, and Vesemir recognized the strength of his magic as proof that he had awakened Sorcerer Talent.
• Vesemir excitedly listed spells Ailin could learn, but Ailin redirected her attention to their meeting with Soyer.
• Vesemir opened the enchanted door, and Ailin was confronted by a colossal red dragon whose roar overwhelmed his defenses.
• Vesemir held Ailin’s wrist as the dragon vision burned away and revealed a colorful landscape of flowers and cottages.
• Vesemir explained that Toussaint was an illusion she had created and said they were still in Kaer Morhen before leading Ailin to see Soyer.

Ailin visited Soyer, who was secretly imprisoning himself in a shifting cabin because he had forsaken the path needed to surpass his limits. Soyer agreed to meet the Free Elves’ envoy in the evening if she came to him, and Ailin left with Vera before asking her about the Vessel of Great Deeds.

• Vera led Ailin through a Toussaint vineyard to a cabin where Soyer was bound in Aetherium shackles, though he held the keys and was imprisoning himself.
• Soyer explained that he had denied his ideals and forsaken his chosen path, causing him to fall into an abyss; he told Ailin to seek Vera when he was strong enough to understand.
• Ailin told Soyer that the Free Elves’ envoy had arrived to sign an agreement with the School of the Wolf, and Soyer proposed meeting her that evening.
• Vera forbade Soyer from leaving the cabin, and he reminded her of their promise to return to Toussaint and make wine together.
• Ailin suggested inviting Francesca Findabair to the cabin, and Vera and Soyer agreed to the plan.
• Ailin left with Vera and asked whether she had heard of the Vessel of Great Deeds.

Ailin told Vera about killing Ronnie Dickinson and recounted the dangers he had faced since descending the mountain, while they discussed Kedwen’s fall and how to protect Kaer Morhen. When Soyer’s pain tore through the illusion, Vera warned Ailin that learning about Soyer’s Vessel of Great Deeds could put him on an irreversible path.

• Vera questioned Ailin about how Ronnie Dickinson had told him about the Vessel of Great Deeds, and Ailin admitted that he had killed Ronnie and taken the information from him.
• Ailin recounted his recent journey and the events surrounding Kedwen’s fall, leaving Vera astonished at how much had happened in two months.
• Ailin and Vera discussed warning Kaer village, transporting supplies to Kaer Morhen, and delaying news to Soyer because of his condition.
• Vera agreed to deliver Ailin’s letter to Soyer and began explaining what she could about the Vessel of Great Deeds before Ailin’s Wolf Emblem sounded.
• A dragon roar and a red bolt of lightning tore through the illusion as Soyer groaned in pain, forcing Vera and Ailin to leave the courtyard.
• At the Aetherium gate, Vera said Soyer’s path could be discussed but warned Ailin that there was no turning back, then asked whether he truly wanted to become the next Soyer.

Vesemir explained how Vessels of Great Deeds let Sorcerers and witchers break past human limits, and traced the witcher method to Alzure’s work. She revealed that Alzure’s supposedly failed project produced one successful example: Soyer Henriette.

• Vesemir steadied herself after imagining the dangers Ailin would face, then left the hidden passage with him to discuss the Vessel of Great Deeds.
• Vesemir explained that praise and intense emotions inspired by great deeds were refined into Omnipotent Power and Sage Power, which could enhance physical abilities, perception, and mana.
• Vesemir told Ailin that Geoffrey Monk adapted an ancient method for Sorcerers to form Vessels of Great Deeds, but the dangerous experiments were later banned.
• Vesemir said Herbert Stamford eventually developed the current Sorcerer method, while Alzure created the witcher method by making human physical limits theoretically surpassable.
• Vesemir revealed that Alzure’s work produced only one successful example, Soyer Henriette.

Lady Vesemir explained how Soyer became the sole witcher to use the Vessel of Great Deeds to break through his physical limits, and how the Brotherhood of Sorcerers later concealed that history. She then described Soyer’s century-long effort to reproduce the achievement through the School of the Wolf, ending as she began to recount a disaster.

• Lady Vesemir told Ailin that the witcher project began as a way to find ordinary people with Sorcerer Talent for the Holy Grail experiments, and that the sorcerers treated ordinary people as expendable test subjects.
• She explained that Alzure adapted the Holy Grail ritual for Soyer after he reached his physical limit, allowing him to break through it and become a celebrated Child of Miracle across the Northern Continent.
• Lady Vesemir said that countless experiments failed to produce another successful witcher, after which Cosimo Maraspinna and Alzure abandoned the research and the Brotherhood concealed the past.
• She revealed that Soyer and the School of the Wolf later tried for a century to reproduce his breakthrough, but no witcher could meet the physical requirements despite their extensive use of potions, alchemy, and rituals.
• Lady Vesemir began to describe a disaster that occurred after their efforts stalled, and her quickening heartbeat alerted Ailin that something serious had happened.

Vesemir explained how a Vessel of Great Deeds was forged and recounted the catastrophe that befell Soyer’s witchers when they tried to create one. She warned Ailin about the dangers and revealed that Soyer’s broken vow and Dragon Slayer’s curse had left him vulnerable, just as Ailin asked whether another person’s Vessel could save him.

• Vesemir recounted how seven witchers who underwent Soyer’s experiment went mad, killing or crippling their companions before Soyer put them down, leaving twenty-six witchers dead.
• Vesemir gave Ailin three bottles of Veridian Sigh and outlined the three steps of forging a Vessel of Great Deeds: reaching one’s limit, accomplishing great deeds while swearing a vow, and completing a grand ritual.
• Ailin asked whether fabricated achievements could gather the emotions needed for a Vessel, and Vesemir explained that the world exposed deception when granting the Holy Grail.
• Vesemir said that breaking one’s vow caused the world to strip away the Holy Grail, and explained that Soyer’s Reverse Dragon’s Might was a fragment of a slain dragon’s soul that could attack him if his soul was severely damaged.
• Ailin asked Vesemir whether someone else’s Vessel of Great Deeds could help Soyer recover, and she suddenly stopped choking up.

Ailin revealed that he had obtained Ronnie Dickinson’s Vessel of Great Deeds and agreed to let Vesemir try using it to save Soyer, despite the uncertain odds. He also urged her to pursue Tomas Morra’s Second Mutation and its laboratory in Toussaint as another possible way to help the chief.

• Ailin explained that he did not intend to use Ronnie Dickinson’s Vessel of Great Deeds for himself and hoped to reach the limits of all five attributes before choosing a path.
• Ailin showed Vesemir the silver-white Vessel of Great Deeds, and she recognized the Sage Power within it.
• Vesemir warned that Ronnie Dickinson’s Sorcerer vessel might be incompatible with Soyer’s Witcher vessel, but Ailin gave it to her anyway.
• Ailin asked Vesemir to have Adda of Vengerberg investigate Tomas Morra’s Second Mutation and look for his laboratory in Toussaint.
• Vesemir began to cry, and Ailin comforted her as they agreed to keep searching for a way to save Soyer.

Ailin returned to Kaer Morhen with Philippa Eilhart, only for Mary's meal and Lady Vesemir's concern to turn the reunion tense. After Ailin explained that Tissaia had tasked him and Philippa with rescuing Henn Gedimidis from Ban Ard, Mary asked how Tissaia had arranged the mission.

• Ailin and Lady Vesemir found Mary preparing a lavish meal for him in Kaer Morhen's dining room.
• Philippa Eilhart revealed herself as the owl on Ailin's shoulder, and Ailin introduced her to Mary and Lady Vesemir.
• Ailin explained that Tissaia had commissioned him and Philippa to rescue Henn Gedimidis, imprisoned by Senne in Ban Ard.
• Lady Vesemir opened a portal to confront Tissaia, but Ailin stopped her and warned that Senne and the Rissberg Civil Conglomerate planned to establish a Sorcerer Kingdom.
• Mary worried that Ailin was too young and inexperienced for the mission, while Lady Vesemir listened to his reasons for accepting it.
• Philippa joined the tense gathering, and Mary broke the silence by asking how Tissaia had arranged the mission for Ailin.

Philippa Eilhart joined Ailin for a mission to Ban Ard, leaving Mary jealous and distressed despite Lady Vesemir’s attempts to reassure her. Lady Vesemir then returned to Soyer and decided he should learn everything.

• Philippa Eilhart said she would relay information and follow Ailin’s arrangements for the mission, then left Kaer Morhen after reassuring Mary that they were only partners.
• Mary and Lady Vesemir ate lunch together, and Mary admitted she feared she was too weak to accompany Ailin and cried over her feelings for him.
• Mary escaped through a portal when Kray, Aias, and Ernie approached, then angrily shut a cookbook and threatened the owl she believed might steal Ailin from her.
• Rumon refused the apprentices’ demands to hunt a Black Boar, and Aias noticed water on the table after they entered the hall.
• Lady Vesemir instructed Adda of Vengerberg to excavate the Toussaint laboratory from Tomas Morra’s memories, then returned to Soyer and resolved to tell him everything.

Ailin found Francesca Findabair and arranged for her to meet Grandmaster Soyer that night to sign the alliance, while Francesca’s attendants warned her the meeting might be dangerous. In the Wooden Hut, Vesemir and Soyer faced his approaching death and agreed that Ailin should learn the truth tonight, leaving Soyer to prepare for their son’s anger.

• Ailin tracked Francesca Findabair to her quarters and heard her attendants complain that the School of the Wolf had kept them waiting.
• Ailin explained that Soyer could sign the alliance that night, and Francesca agreed to go alone despite Zova and Carla’s objections.
• Vesemir watched Soyer suffer from his shattered soul and refused to use the Vessel of Great Deeds because she believed it could not save him in time.
• Soyer urged Vesemir not to make Ailin relive the pain of losing his parents, but Vesemir said Ailin would learn the truth and could kill Soyer to vent his anger.
• Vesemir left Soyer with the instruction to prepare himself that night.

Back in Kaer Morhen, Ailin learned that Soyer was gravely injured and weighed how to prepare for Second Mutation before rescuing Henn Gedimidis. Philippa Eilhart arrived and declared she would live with him, while Ailin grew wary of her interest in Soyer and the School of the Wolf.

• Ailin returned to his room, noticed Mary had been visiting, and reflected on Soyer’s condition and his plans for Second Mutation.
• Ailin assessed the limits of his combat abilities and decided he needed to choose monsters carefully to build attributes and collect Sword Oils before undergoing Second Mutation.
• Philippa Eilhart arrived at Ailin’s room and announced that she would live with him so they could build rapport.
• Philippa asked whether Soyer was ill, and Ailin answered vaguely while suspecting she was considering the School of the Wolf’s weakened position.

Ailin and Philippa Eilhart shared their histories as they began adjusting to working together, and Ailin’s remarkable exploits impressed her. At Kaer Morhen, the apprentices celebrated the Witchers’ progress until Francesca Findabair arrived to sign the pact, while Lady Vesemir asked to speak with Ailin afterward.

• Philippa Eilhart told Ailin about her childhood in Riedania, her studies at Aretuza, and her work as an inspection Sorceress, demonstrating her transformation and illusion magic.
• Ailin described his Witcher upbringing and the adventures he had experienced since leaving Kaer Morhen, leaving Philippa Eilhart astonished by how much he had done in half a year.
• At dinner, Spencer boasted to the apprentices that his group had killed a Giant Ghoul, and Ailin arrived as Spencer accidentally called Lady Vesemir a Giant Ghoul.
• Francesca Findabair entered Kaer Morhen through a portal, and Lady Vesemir said dinner would wait until after the pact was signed before asking to speak with Ailin.