And a new entry had appeared in the talent column:
[Intermediate Self-Healing with Mutation]: While possessing relatively strong self-healing abilities, your body will also mutate continuously, eventually turning you into an emotionless monster. Notice: 200 Energy Points can be used to remove the mutation and modify the self-healing ability, but there is also a risk of completely eliminating this talent.
Dick naturally did not hesitate. He was a witcher; he could hardly turn into a monster.
In an instant, 200 Energy Points vanished, leaving Dick with zero Energy Points.
Then it felt as though a clear spring were flowing through his body, a tingling sensation spreading everywhere.
A moment later, Dick opened his eyes and found that his fingers had returned to their original appearance, as though they had never changed.
He touched his right temple. The swelling in his skull had completely disappeared, and the talent entry on the panel had changed again.
[Intermediate Self-Healing]: Relatively strong self-healing ability. Energy Points required to upgrade: ×400.
Simple and clear, with no extra explanation.
This was an upgradable skill similar to those in the combat category.
Dick reasoned:
Combat skills required 800 Energy Points to reach grandmaster level.
By that calculation, [Intermediate Self-Healing] had two more levels before reaching its maximum.
Although the Broom Witch had beaten him badly, she had provided him with two abilities this time, greatly increasing his strength again.
Feeling a little pleased, Dick turned around with a smile.
Behind him, Xiya had watched the bulges at both his temples slowly disappear. Seeing that Dick showed no abnormalities now, she was overjoyed.
As she relaxed, her earlier exhaustion, combined with her completely depleted mental power, made her vision go black before she could say what she had been about to say, and she fainted.
Dick swiftly stepped forward, caught her as she pitched forward, and scooped her into his arms.
Several sets of footsteps sounded nearby, and Dick stopped to wait.
Through his Witcher Senses, he already knew the approaching people were friends, not enemies.
A moment later, Kebi arrived beside the witcher's courtyard with dozens of soldiers.
Looking at the ruined courtyard and damaged cottage, Kebi and the soldiers wore expressions of astonishment.
Fortunately, the thunder from Xiya's lightning strikes and the explosions of the Dimeritium Bombs had drawn them over. Otherwise, these soldiers would not even have known that monsters had invaded the castle.
"Dick, what happened? What's wrong with Xiya?" Kebi asked urgently.
Odinburg was at a critical juncture, and for both personal and practical reasons, he did not want anything to happen to Xiya.
Dick explained slowly, "A monster invaded. I've already dealt with it.
"Xiya and I dealt with it together. She only fainted from exhaustion. She won't be able to help defend the castle tomorrow.
"Also, you must be very careful. The Jatu have already colluded with monsters. There might be more than just two Stone Trolls tomorrow."
"Are you hurt, Dick?" Kebi stared at Dick's damaged armor.
"No, I'm perfectly fine. Don't worry. I'll defend the castle with you tomorrow. Right now, I'm taking Xiya home."
"All right. I'll send two men with you, in case any other monsters invade and threaten Xiya's safety."
Dick considered it, then nodded slightly.
After taking a few steps, he turned back and said, "There's a vendor at the market who sells breakfast."
"I know," Kebi said, puzzled. "Is something wrong, Dick?"
"He's dead. A monster killed him. Please bury him."
With that, Dick turned away again and slowly walked off, carrying Xiya in his arms.
Dick gently pushed open the door to Xiya's bedroom with his shoulder.
In the darkness, the witcher's eyes glowed faintly. A casual glance showed him that the room was clean and tidy, and the fragrance of perfume lingered in the air.
Two stuffed toys sat at the head of Xiya's bed-a tawny bear and a pure white rabbit.
He gently laid Xiya's delicate body on the bed and arranged her hair. Seeing the sweat covering the trainee sorceress's face, he knew it had been caused by her forcing herself to cast spells to save him earlier.
Dick suddenly felt a pang in his heart and slowly withdrew from the room.
A moment later, he returned with a wooden basin in his hands and a towel draped over its side.
Crouching down, he soaked the towel in clean water, slowly rubbed it a few times, and gently wrung it out.
Once the towel felt neither dry nor wet, he went to Xiya's bedside and gently wiped the sweat from her face and neck.
Only after a while did Dick's eyes show relief.
He gazed at the trainee sorceress, a thousand feelings stirring in his heart:
Never mind this world-even in my previous life, no one but close friends and family would have pushed themselves to save me over and over.
Xiya already expressed her feelings for me at that little restaurant. Back then, I was focused only on completing commissions and gaining energy. I never considered anything like that-or rather, I stopped myself from considering it.
But given the situation, no matter what, I need to tell her where I stand once she wakes up.
Xiya had made no small sacrifice tonight.
By forcing herself to cast spells when her energy was already nearly depleted, she could very well have caused permanent damage to her body.
At best, she would recover after a few days of rest, with only some lingering mental fatigue.
At worst, it would damage her ability to communicate with the elements in the air, affecting her advancement to a full-fledged sorceress.
Pressing his lips together, Dick picked up the wooden basin and left the room without a sound, slowly closing the door behind him.
Then he walked into the courtyard and looked at the two soldiers guarding the entrance.
"You two must take good care of her for me. Don't let anyone come and go as they please. Understand?"
The two soldiers nodded hastily, respect and admiration in their eyes.
They had seen how fierce the fighting in that courtyard had been. The strength of the witcher before them was unfathomable.
This was a world where the strong commanded respect. Having someone like him lead them sent the soldiers' confidence soaring. They felt certain they could defend Odinburg.
"Rest assured, Master Dick. Even if I die, I'll block Miss Xiya's doorway and keep any enemy from hurting her."
"Well, there's no need for that." Dick gave a faint smile and gently patted his shoulder.
Then he prepared to rest for a while to face the coming crisis.
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard. Someone knocked on the gate, and two soldiers entered.
"Master Dick!"
"What is it?"
One soldier handed Dick a bag. "These are things you left behind in the courtyard, including some unidentified materials left by that witch. Young Master Kebi said you witchers and sorcerers might have a use for them.
"And we brought back the silver sword you lost as well."
"Sorry for the trouble."
Dick took the bag the soldier handed him and glanced inside, finding many materials:
Drowner brains, spinal fluid from an unidentified monster, and a jumble of assorted flowers and herbs, all giving off a strange mingled smell of animals and plants.
Dick did not recognize many of the materials, but he knew they were all good alchemical ingredients:
I should give Xiya a share, too. After all, the spoils from killing the Broom Witch should rightfully be split equally between us.
"Also, Master Dick, your silver sword was chipped while you were fighting those monsters. We'll have to wait until we've defended Odinburg and driven off the Jatu before finding a blacksmith to repair it for you."
Dick took the sword and touched the uneven notches in its blade with a pang of regret. His old companion had been badly wounded, all from his clashes with the Broom Witch.