NOVEL SIMPLE 207. Alder Knights
Witchers of the School of the Wolf weren't that petty. They wouldn't get upset over a privately held bet. On the contrary, Radek and Bogdan's generous nature and their equal treatment of witchers quickly helped them blend in with a few younger witchers.
Once they were familiar with each other, Fred asked a question everyone was curious about: "Radek, Bogdan, aren't you apprentices of Ban Ard's sorcerers?"
"Returning at this time is for…?"
"Fleeing!" Radek bared his teeth and replied without hesitation.
"The king is dead, and Ban Ard will undoubtedly become the center of Kaedwen's political struggle. We don't want to get involved in that mess."
Bogdan nodded in agreement. However, intentionally or unintentionally, his gaze lingered on Allen more often than it did on the other witchers.
"And your studies?" Hughes poked his head out from beside Fred on his horse, "What about your courses when you return?"
"And your mentor?"
"You're just leaving like that, and he doesn't care?"
The Ban Ard sorcery academy was Hughes' childhood dream. Before reaching Ban Ard, he had always been deeply curious about the sorcerer's academy.
Although the mystery of the place had since been revealed to him, anything related to the academy still piqued his interest. Vesemir, who was riding at the front, slowed his mount upon hearing Hughes' question.
He, too, was curious.
From his many years of knowledge:
At Ban Ard, the sorcerers held strict control over their apprentices. Most of the apprentices at the academy were practically slaves to the sorcerers. Just like how Mary served Lady Vera. So for two apprentices to escape Ban Ard, it was unheard of.
"Heh heh heh~"
Radek chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head in embarrassment as he said: "I'm too weak to qualify for a mentor."
"Bogdan is more talented than me, but he hasn't reached the point of choosing his own research path. He's still taking general education courses."
"So…"
Understood!
They were ignored slackers.
The witchers of the School of the Wolf exchanged knowing glances and, understanding the situation, didn't probe any further. They continued riding toward their destination.
However.
Not long after, Allen felt a gaze fixed on him.
After several times, he couldn't help it anymore and turned to meet Bogdan's eyes. Frowning, he asked: "Why are you staring at me?"
Bogdan, caught, didn't avoid Allen's gaze. With a sheepish grin, he scratched his head and asked: "Allen… uh… Master…"
"Do you think… I could become a witcher?"
-----------------
The atmosphere suddenly grew cold.
Several witchers unconsciously tugged at their reins, bringing their mounts to a halt. Becoming a witcher was like having one foot in the grave. This was common knowledge throughout the Northern Continent. None of the witchers on horseback had voluntarily chosen to become witchers, so…
"Is this some new joke from Ban Ard?"
After all, Bogdan was a friend of Vesemir's client. Though Bogdan's words were somewhat offensive, Allen wasn't going to dwell on it. He planned to laugh it off and let the matter slide. But Bogdan wasn't joking.
He tensed up, ignoring Radek's subtle tug on his sleeve, and stared into Allen's blue cat-like eyes, saying: "Master Allen, I'm serious."
"I truly want to become a witcher like you…"
"Do you think I have a chance?"
Seeing the sincerity in Bogdan's eyes and feeling his admiration, Allen exchanged a glance with Vesemir, both feeling strange.
After a few seconds.
Allen organized his thoughts and said: "Sorry, at your age, becoming a witcher would be certain death!"
That was a lie.
With the essence of the drowner's heart, the survival rate of older witcher candidates had greatly increased.
However.
Even though Bogdan seemed like a naive fanboy and had gotten along well with everyone, without the arrogance typical of sorcerers, Allen wasn't about to reveal the School's biggest secret to a stranger.
Bogdan fell silent at Allen's words.
He didn't speak for a long time.
So.
They continued forward.
Everyone could tell this sorcerer's apprentice had a story to tell. But it seemed he wasn't ready to share it yet. Allen and the others didn't mind.
In this world, who didn't have a story?
-----------------
Along the way.
The witchers encountered several flattened, blue corpses scattered along the road.
"Clack clack," a group of drowners screeched as they charged at them. Only to be effortlessly beheaded by the witchers, who didn't even bother dismounting their horses. It was clear that the remnants of the interdimensional fusion extended far beyond the sorcerer's city.
Seeing these summoned drowners, Allen was puzzled. He couldn't help but think about a question he had been deliberately ignoring.
What was the purpose of the Witcher's Journal?
On one hand, it constantly used tasks and rewards to urge the host to hunt monsters, as if it wanted to eradicate all monsters in the world. On the other hand, It opened the gates of the Conjunction of Spheres, a feature that clearly caused more monsters to appear in this world. This morning's interdimensional fusion didn't even bother pretending anymore.
It directly summoned three large monsters and a swarm of drowners.
If a task like "Drowner II" could summon this many creatures, it was hard to imagine what completing "Drowner III" would bring. How many monsters would be summoned then?
"Could it be that all the monsters from another world will be transported to the witchers' world?"
Allen speculated inwardly.
To be honest.
He had a strong feeling. That everything would happen exactly as he imagined.
But…
"Why…"
"Why does the 'Witcher's Journal' seem so contradictory in its intentions?"
"What is the deeper reason behind this?"
Questions bubbled up in his mind like a series of popping bubbles. Compared to these issues, the strange desire of a sorcerer's apprentice to become a witcher seemed trivial.
-----------------
Back at White Orchard.
After helping the villagers deal with the stray drowners and a few ghouls attracted by the blood, Allen excused himself, citing illness, and returned to his room. The questions swirling in his mind were beyond what he could solve at the moment.
However, Allen's understanding of the 'Witcher's Journal' had not remained stagnant.
At the very least…
[Ding! Absorbing fragment of the Gate of Aard Gaeth…]
He opened the 'Witcher's Journal' in his mind.
Looking at the system notification that had been absorbing fragments for more than ten days, he comforted himself.
"At least I now know the Gate of Aard Gaeth is an important part of the 'Witcher's Journal'."
Allen lowered his head and pondered.
Could it be possible to trace back the origin of the Witcher's Journal through this?
"The Gate of Ard Gaeth… The Gate of Ard Gaeth…"
He muttered a few words under his breath, suddenly feeling as if he had forgotten something incredibly important.
But after racking his brain and getting no results, Allen sighed, shifted his attention from the Witcher's Journal to his inventory, and decided not to waste time on fruitless thoughts.
[Inventory: Drowner Heart Essence 287, Drowner King Heart Essence 2, Bog Nymph Heart Essence 2, Experience Bead 12, Drowner King Treasure Chest 5, Bog Nymph Treasure Chest 5, Drowner Treasure Chest *5]
A big haul!
Even though he was feeling down, looking at the abundant spoils in his inventory made it hard to contain his excitement.
Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his state of mind.
[Ding! Would you like to use Drowner King Heart Essence *2?]
The cold liquid slid down his throat and exploded directly in his stomach. The Drowner King Heart Essence, which once severely injured Allen the first time he used it, no longer posed a threat to him. A cool, rapid, explosive sensation burst in his stomach.
Allen instantly felt the satisfaction of drinking ice-cold soda after intense physical exertion.
"Ah~"
Thick, white, cold mist escaped from Allen's mouth. A thin layer of frost instantly formed on the room's floor.
[Attributes: Strength 38 (+2), Agility 33 (+2), Constitution 33 (+2), Perception 33 (+1), Mystery 45 (+4)]
[Affinity: Water 9 (+2), Earth 3, Space Affinity 2]
The effect of the Drowner King Heart Essence had weakened again.
Checking the previous usage records, even though it granted five fewer points than the last time, it still boosted Allen's attributes by eleven points. But judging by this rate of diminishing returns, it seemed that ten Drowner King Heart Essences would be the limit.
After a brief adjustment, Allen focused his attention on the Bog Nymph Heart Essence.
[Ding! Would you like to use Bog Nymph Heart Essence *2?]
The cold liquid passed down his throat.
The strong sensation of cold mixed with a heavy feeling, and the dual attributes of water and earth fused. As soon as it hit his stomach, it spread throughout his body. The intense force surged through Allen's internal organs and limbs, invigorating every cell and bone in his body.
A powerful sense of strength flowed into his limbs, and even the mutated organ next to his heart started to grow.
"Huh?"
A soft exclamation escaped.
The effects of the Bog Nymph Heart Essence had just worn off. The bone-chilling cold pierced deep, as if it emanated from the marrow, soaking into every bone in his body.
"What's going on?"
Surprised, Allen willed the Witcher's Journal to open.
[Attributes: Strength 42 (+4), Agility 37 (+4), Constitution 35 (+2), Perception 35 (+2), Mystery 53 (+8)]
[Affinity: Water 11 (Magic Source·Water 1%), Earth 5 (+2), Space Affinity 2]
Magic Source·Water?
Allen knew about the Magic Source.
This was the most powerful talent a sorcerer could possess. It granted the wielder the ability to commune with spirits and enter the dreamworld. From glimpses of fleeting visions, they could unknowingly speak prophecies.
It also allowed the wielder to access magic and convert elements like water, earth, wind, and fire into primal magic, which could be stored within their body and used to cast "primal" spells, far stronger than regular magic.
Of course, the primal magic could also be broken down into the four basic elemental magics: water, earth, wind, and fire. The possessor of the Magic Source could even cast powerful spells without structured incantations or hand gestures, relying solely on extreme emotional fluctuations.
Of course, this ability, or more precisely this "loss of control," typically occurred when the Magic Source awakened for the first time.
In the original story:
Ciri's mother, Pavetta, during a betrothal feast turned chaotic, had an emotional outburst. In her Magic Source's uncontrolled state, she released such terrifying energy that it almost razed Cintra's castle to the ground.
-----------------
The Magic Source held many unknown powers. At least, Allen hadn't seen a complete definition in the books or games he played in his previous life. But that didn't diminish the Magic Source's strength. A more recent example would be Hen Gedymdeith, who was also had a magic Source.
When he appeared suddenly in the arena, he didn't even make a move, and Allen felt an overwhelming sense of danger. It was like standing at the base of an active volcano about to erupt.
Allen didn't even dare to cast an appraisal spell on Hen Gedymdeith; his instincts screamed that if he did, the volcano would instantly spew molten lava and kill him. Even now, recalling that moment sent a slight shiver down Allen's spine.
And now...
Had he become a Magic Source too?
-----------------
The sky was red, and so was the ground.
A large group of cavalry galloped across this barren land of red stones and yellow sands. The leader of the cavalry was a black-haired elf. He rode a deep brown stallion that resembled a dragon in appearance.
The stallion wore a bull-shaped helmet on its head, and its horse blanket was embroidered with golden scales. The other elves also had black hair and wore red jackets underneath their armor. Their armor was made of interlocking steel rings so small they looked like woven wool, fitting tightly to their bodies.
Amidst whistles and shouts, the riders sped off.
It seemed as though they were chasing some enemy, or perhaps searching for rare treasures. But this barren world didn't even have a single blade of dead grass.
Clip-clop~ clip-clop~
The sound of hooves echoed across this dying world, only to be swallowed by the red void.
Suddenly.
The black-haired elf at the front sharply pulled on the reins woven from black jade. He raised his left arm, clenched his fist.
Neigh! Neigh!
With a loud neigh, the nearly thousand-strong cavalry stopped as one.
In an instant, the desolate red land fell silent, even the sound of hooves vanished.
Silence reigned.
Moments passed.
The black-haired elf removed his skull-shaped helmet, frowned, and looked up at the sky.
The next second.
Woom~
Red, translucent ripples with a mournful hum began to resonate far off in the sky. The fierce black-haired elf knights, without blinking, watched the thin red clouds weave across the sky. As if they were witnessing the weaving of fate itself.
For a long time.
The humming that echoed through the red world finally faded, but the black-haired elf leader continued to gaze at the web in the sky.
Then.
His brow relaxed.
"Hahaha!"
The black-haired elf laughed, revealing small, sharp, and menacingly white teeth.
"The Great Gate has appeared!"
"Knights of the Alder Folk!"
"Let us find it and reclaim the glory of the Aen Undod!!!"
The knights, seeing this phenomenon and hearing the black-haired elf's rousing words, were greatly invigorated. They raised their weapons high, showing beautiful yet eerily cruel smiles, and loudly responded: "Aye! Aye! Aye!"
"Alder King! Alder King! Alder King!"
"Reclaim our glory!!!"
....…
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209. Another Prophecy!
210. Mary is a Good Girl.
211. Necromancy.
212. Pale Widow.