Plans Never Keep Up with Changes

In fact, the elves who had stepped into the traps had mostly recovered from their injuries several days ago, and the Phantom Troupe had been free to leave. They only stayed a few extra days because Angoulême wanted to attend the summer festival, while Victor saw that a little instruction would earn him plenty of free helpers to gather herbs.

Thus, on the morning of the festival's second day, the troupe resumed its journey to Vizima. They would travel overland to Ellander first—a city east of Vizima that had once been a duchy and was now a vassal principality of Temeria.

The ones guiding them out of the forest on foot were Xilang Isni Blue, deputy commander of the Floating Harbor Squirrel Party, and Toluvel Aep Saecil, leader of the herbalist camp.

The reason the troupe had changed its original plan, abandoning the trip to Floating Harbor to sail there in favor of traveling overland, was simple.

"Yesterday, that bastard Loredo suddenly sealed off the area around Floating Harbor and sent armed search parties into the forest. We don't know what he's up to, but it's best not to approach Floating Harbor by land for now. Lord Iophis rushed to the front line overnight to oversee things personally, so he couldn't come see you off. Sorry," Xilang explained apologetically.

Bernard Loredo, commander of the Floating Harbor trading post guard—Victor had often heard that name during his stay at the camp.

In the elves' words, he was a hypocritical, despicable racist: a villain who claimed to accept nonhumans while, in truth, exploiting them.

"Though the land route isn't as comfortable or fast as traveling by water, Ellander has the largest Temple of Melitele on the Continent. I remember that its high priestess, Lady Nenneke, is also deeply knowledgeable about herbs. You should pay her a visit. I've wanted to go for a long time, but that city isn't friendly toward nonhumans." Toluvel introduced Ellander with light, easy steps and an unhurried manner, as though Victor's attack last night had nothing to do with her.

"Thanks, I'll take a look. But is it really alright for two officers like you to come see us off? Can Iophis manage on his own?" Victor replied calmly, his feet planted firmly and his stride steady, as though he had not been subjected to a brutal gauntlet of battles the night before.

"It's fine. Loredo has never gained an advantage in the forest. I don't know why he's making such a spectacle this time, but it's bound to come to nothing." Xilang's handsome face bore a trace of pride as he spoke, revealing his absolute confidence in Iophis.

"I bet it's because of that giant octopus! If something like that is roaming the Pontar River, Floating Harbor's trade is definitely going to take a huge hit. Hey, how did you make such a huge monster? Can you control it?" Angoulême had been playing with the hawk all the way and seemed not to be paying attention, yet she suddenly cut into the conversation.

Victor smiled faintly at this. He had not expected this silly girl, Angoulême, to prove useful for once—she had actually asked what he had long wanted to know. He had been wondering how the Squirrel Party had produced that giant octopus, but when facing Iophis, he had been unable to ask because of the unspoken understanding between clever people.

As a friendly guest, he would not pry into Iophis's secret of creating the giant octopus—just as Iophis had never asked why the elves under Victor's command, so skilled at forest warfare, had kept stepping onto the crudely placed bear traps Victor had set.

At Angoulême's question, Xilang's expression turned somewhat awkward and bashful. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "I'll tell you privately: that giant octopus actually has nothing to do with us. We don't know where that thing came from either. But its appearance obviously intimidated Loredo, so we simply didn't deny the misunderstanding."

Hearing this unexpected answer, Victor turned to Toluvel with a questioning look.

She nodded, signaling that it truly had nothing to do with the elves. Then she smiled and switched to a teasing tone. "What? Is our 'master witcher' interested in slaying monsters and demons?"

Victor answered without hesitation. "I'm not, I don't, don't talk nonsense. A monster that size would probably require at least a high-ranking mage to hold the line, plus a real master witcher to make preparations before it could be dealt with. An apprentice like me would just be going there to die."

Xilang gave a cold chuckle. "That sounds like good news. It won't be easy for that scum Loredo to find a high-ranking mage and a master witcher to help him."

Victor did not respond. By his judgment, if Loredo truly was the scum the elves claimed he was, then damage to Floating Harbor's trade would surely be a disaster for the nonhumans living in the city.

So, whether for humans or nonhumans, the boy did not think it was good news. Unfortunately, some things could not be explained clearly.

Evening—brilliant sunset—the edge of Floating Harbor Forest—

As the time for parting drew near, Xilang Isni Blue clearly had no intention of hiding it any longer. After apologizing to Victor, he pulled Angoulême aside to whisper with her. But seeing the girl play with her hawk even while talking to him, the troupe leader estimated that Xilang's prospects were bleak.

Just as the boy was watching this little youthful drama with great interest, Toluvel lightly tapped his shoulder from behind.

He turned to meet her eyes. Her tattooed brows were exquisite, and beneath her smooth forehead, her dark eyes were alluring and deep. Without hesitation or shyness, Toluvel matter-of-factly reached out and freely explored the boy's face for a while. Then she said with a smiling gaze, "Looking closely, I really did drink too much yesterday."

On a summer evening, warm wind brushed against their faces, carrying a faint, drifting fragrance.

Victor had vaguely expected the elf woman to say something reluctant or sentimental. He had not expected that answer, and immediately laughed aloud. In high spirits, he quipped, "Don't you know that some things shouldn't be said?"

The elf woman's smile bloomed like a flower.

"Actually, I didn't leave after things ended yesterday. I stayed outside the tent, planning to go in and chase them away to rescue you once you couldn't take any more." Toluvel's voice was sweet and flirtatious.

Victor shook his head with a quiet laugh. "Then I really disappointed you. You didn't get the chance to show off."

The elf woman rested her left hand on her waist and touched her ear with her right. "I was indeed quite surprised. I'd heard that witchers were physically strong enough to satisfy even sorceresses, but I never expected an apprentice like you could already manage that much..."

As the sun set, the scene suddenly made Victor want to crack a joke, so he did. "A senior of mine, Eskel, once told me that we train our bodies so that even in the unfavorable situation of one against three, we can find an opportunity to turn things around and defeat our opponents in battle."

With a snort, the elf woman caught the second meaning and swayed with laughter. Still smiling, she pressed on, "Then what about one against five, with the other side using props?"

"To stay alive and look for a chance to escape."

"But what if there's no way to avoid it?"

Victor answered smoothly, "With sufficient sleep, potions, and breathing techniques, a witcher can achieve astonishing results, though victory cannot always be guaranteed."

Toluvel giggled. "You really are good at jokes. Looks like I really shouldn't have covered your mouth last night."

She was a formidable flirt. Victor choked on the subtle implication in those words and broke into a violent coughing fit. His coughing not only interrupted Toluvel's possible follow-up attack, but also drew the attention of Angoulême and Xilang.

And so, it was time to say goodbye.