Spirit Controller

Alan's worry had been entirely unnecessary. The person sitting beside him proved through his actions that he was a clueless amateur outside the world of Mystics.

Kraun exclaimed excitedly, "Witchers are a Transcendentalist profession dedicated to destroying evil creatures, right? How do you fight? Do you think I could become a Witcher?"

After those three questions, Alan felt reassured.

That roast leg of lamb is mine!

Geralt was somewhat taken aback. Through his spiritual perception, he could sense that the other man had already manifested a mental attribute. That sunny feeling was proof enough.

Ordinary people, and even novice Mystics who weren't known for their spiritual perception, couldn't detect such manifestations.

He'd clearly already entered the world of Mystics, so why didn't he know some basic facts?

Could he be a wild Mystic who had only stumbled into the supernatural by chance?

The Witcher compared the traits of various Transcendentalist professions and concluded that he was a Warlock who had awakened by accident.

A Warlock!

Geralt let out a quiet sigh in his heart.

Not all these chosen ones were powerful. Some were absurdly strong, while others could only end up performing magic tricks in a circus.

"Here are your roast legs of lamb," Abel said, carrying over a large platter with two golden-brown legs of lamb on it.

"Thanks, Abel."

The waiter set down the food and turned to leave.

"Come on..." Kraun was about to invite everyone to share when he saw Alan's dagger flashing. In no time, the meat had been carved from one of the legs.

"Big brother, I'm digging in," the boy said, picking up a fork and spearing some lamb, ready to put it in his mouth.

"Don't rush. Answer my questions first. How do Witchers fight, and how can I become a Transcendentalist?"

He interrupted Alan's meal, leaving the boy to gaze longingly at his teacher.

"I'll answer you. There are only a few Transcendentalist professions: Knights, who have undergone an ascension of their life essence; Witchers, who have endured mutations; Spirit Controllers, who bind Evil Spirits within their bodies; Exorcist Priests from the various churches; and Warlocks, who have awakened their bloodlines."

"We Witchers mainly fight with swordsmanship and Signs. Our physical abilities far exceed the limits of ordinary people, and we can also cast Signs using spiritual power. As for you, you're already a Mystic; you just don't know it. Through my spiritual perception, I can sense that your mental attribute has manifested a sunny quality. You should be an awakened Warlock."

"If this change didn't happen on your fourteenth birthday, then some other intense, life-threatening stimulus must have released the power buried deep in your bloodline. Warlocks can wield natural magic and cast spells such as lightning, fire, ice, poison, and gales."

"You should find a teacher to learn how to control this power. Newly awakened Warlocks don't know how to restrain their abilities, which can cause a great deal of trouble in their lives. I could try to introduce you to a beautiful lady who could teach you. Interested?"

Kraun shook his head. After hearing the Witcher's explanation, he understood that he wasn't a self-awakened Warlock, but someone who had bound an Evil Spirit inside his body.

As for the sunny manifestation of his mental attribute that the Witcher had mentioned, it was probably just a passive effect of the Golden Light Incantation skill.

After all, the core Divine Will of the Golden Light Incantation Visualization Method was to become the sun, radiating light to illuminate the world.

It was just a beautiful misunderstanding.

"I don't feel like I have any special abilities at all."

"Is that so?" Geralt replied quietly.

Perhaps his new friend's abilities weren't strong enough to support a powerful spell. He might have to seek his fortune in a circus.

"How do Spirit Controllers fight? They bind Evil Spirits. Are there no side effects?"

"Everything comes at a price. The gifts fate bestows have their cost marked in secret long before they're given."

"Like Witchers, Spirit Controllers are the second kind of fighting machine the Warlock Association has created in recent years, to deal with the constant threat of evil creatures."

"Humans take special potions made by Alchemists to make Evil Spirits possess their bodies."

"If they complete their trials without being consumed by evil thoughts, they achieve symbiosis with the Evil Spirit. Then they can naturally use its power. After all, the spirit has become their other half."

"The price is having to endure their other half's habits. Living creatures' vitality and the many intense negative emotions of humans are the Evil Spirits' favorite food. If they want to grow stronger, they have to strengthen the Evil Spirit, too."

"Every day of a Spirit Controller's life is spent fighting the evil thoughts of their other half."

"Many Spirit Controllers eventually lose control and go mad, their bodies transformed into Evil Spirits. A quarter of the paranormal incidents handled by the various churches and supernatural incident bureaus are caused by Spirit Controllers losing control."

Geralt stopped speaking. He silently added in his heart:

And a large number of Mystics lose control because of Witchers.

An inexplicable sadness settled over them. Neither of the two felt like talking anymore. Amid the clamor of the tavern, everyone at their table fell silent, leaving only the sound of the boy chewing.

"I'll be back tomorrow night to complete my trade with the Gisai. I can spare you four sprigs of Black Sage."

Perhaps everything the Witcher had said was common knowledge, but Kraun, still hovering outside that world, had nevertheless found it enlightening. Giving him four sprigs of the herb was also a small gesture of goodwill.

From what his new friend had said, they would be staying in Zack Town for a few more days, searching for an Evil Spirit that had probably already turned into an hourglass of time inside his body.

Kraun decided to wait a few more days before asking them if there were other ways to enhance a Spirit Controller's abilities.

"Will you have enough for yourself?"

Geralt sat up straight, his ocher eyes as deep as a secluded pool. "Oh, I wouldn't want to put you out."

I don't think you're the least bit worried about that. Klaan shook his head and picked up his knife and fork.

If he'd been any slower, there wouldn't have been enough meat left for him even to gnaw on the bones.

The skin was too charred, while the inside was still undercooked. The fire had been too hot, and the thyme hadn't had time to soak into the meat.

As soon as the lamb entered his mouth, Kraun noticed all the ways the roast leg of lamb fell short.

Maybe I should try roasting some lamb skewers or legs myself, and grill a few kidneys while I'm at it. Otherwise, my Cooking skill will go to waste. I'm getting a little tired of eating nothing but rice and stewed vegetables every day.

After eating and drinking his fill, Kraun said goodbye to the Witcher and his student.

As he walked along, the new moon shone overhead, scattering its clear light across the ground.

When he got home, he was surprised to find that even without turning on the lights, he could see everything inside clearly by the few slivers of moonlight filtering through the door.

A Spirit Controller bound an Evil Spirit inside his body, so there had to be some negative effects. Why couldn't I sense any lingering thoughts from the Evil Spirit?

He thought it over for a while but couldn't figure it out.

He went to the potion-making room and lit every oil lamp, arranging them around the worktable. Their pale light cast a faint shadow of him across the room.

Tonight, I'm working through the night and turning all my spare herbs into finished products!