NOVEL SIMPLE 33. Killer Lake.
Upon confirming that the drowner whistle was the work of the Blood Red Fox, Vesemir followed the suggestion of the Witcher apprentice and arrived at a narrow lake. It was noon, and the wind was calm.
Allen walked to the shore. The gentle breeze couldn't even ripple the lake's surface. The smooth, mirror-like lake reflected the blue sky and white clouds, set against the green grass and trees. Peaceful and serene.
"It's a place where one can let go of all worries," Allen thought. The Witcher apprentice took a deep breath, the fresh and fragrant air of the grass and trees filling his lungs. The faint anxiety in his heart subsided a little.
In this tranquil state, Allen asked, "Master Vesemir, doesn't such a beautiful place have a name?"
Perhaps because he had seen too much, Vesemir wasn't moved by the scenery. Hearing Allen's question, he casually replied: "Killer Lake."
"If you want, you can call it that."
"Killer Lake?" Allen repeated.
Why give such a beautiful place a name filled with such killing intent?
Curious, the Witcher apprentice directly asked, "Why is it called that?"
Vesemir was silent for a moment, then sighed and said: "This is the starting point of the Trial of the Grasses."
Upon hearing this, Allen instinctively glanced again. The scenery remained the same, but in Allen's eyes, it was no longer peaceful. A thick sense of killing and the breath of death seemed to lurk beneath the calm lake water.
"According to you," Vesemir broke the silence, "this is the best place I can think of to use this whistle."
Just now, after praising the drowner whistle's exquisite design and the sorceress's well-deserved reputation, Vesemir had been excitedly asking where to use this magical tool, like a child with a new toy.
"The place with the most drowners, naturally."
That was Allen's answer at the time.
Indeed, Vesemir had chosen well. There was no place more suitable near Kaer Morhen. But was it really appropriate to bring an apprentice to the trial grounds in advance?
The Witcher apprentice glanced at Vesemir. The Witcher master's face showed no expression. After a moment of contemplation, Allen drew Elsa and nodded to Vesemir.
"Then here it is. And... thank you... Master Vesemir."
The Witcher master didn't respond to the second half of Allen's sentence. He raised the drowner whistle and, following the method taught by the Witcher apprentice, gently shook it.
"Kwa-la, kwa-la."
A sound resembling a drowner's cry came from the cylindrical whistle. It wasn't loud. After shaking it twice, the Witcher master put the whistle into his chest and drew a silver sword from his back. It was a training silver sword for apprentices.
About half a minute passed, and the surface of "Killer Lake" remained smooth as a mirror, with no wind or waves.
Had it failed? The Witcher apprentice couldn't help but think.
Could the system contain defective items?
This was a blue-quality item.
Another minute passed.
Even Vesemir glanced suspiciously at Allen, reaching into his padded armor to shake the whistle again.
Allen silently cursed the Witcher's Hunting Notes for shoddy goods, awkwardly holding Elsa, unsure whether to sheath his sword.
Just then, the lake surface seemed to stir. The green mirror-like surface suddenly rippled, with waves spreading in circles towards Allen and Vesemir.
Allen was stunned. Then, he saw Vesemir stop reaching into his leather armor. The Witcher master watched the spreading ripples on the lake, as if observing something.
A few seconds later, Vesemir's face changed dramatically. He grabbed the still-stunned Allen and ran in the opposite direction of "Killer Lake."
The Witcher apprentice was about to ask, but Vesemir shouted: "Run!"
"Run to the mountains, quickly!"
Hearing this, Allen quickly followed Vesemir's lead, running towards the forest. Seeing Vesemir so anxious, the Witcher apprentice vaguely sensed something, turning to glance back. The ripples shattered, intersected, and dissipated upon touching the shore.
Allen had never seen such a sight. The once mirror-like lake surface was now covered with blood-red fins. The once clear, greenish lake water turned blue. It was a different kind of blue than the sky and sea. It was three-dimensional, with shadows and spots.
Unpleasant, nauseating, and hair-raising.
"Kwa-la, kwa-la."
In a few seconds, the faint sound became loud, finally deafening. Hordes of drowners piled upon each other emerged from the water, crawling onto the shore, charging at the fleeing Vesemir and Allen.
No need to ask the Witcher master. Allen realized that if they couldn't outrun the monsters behind them, he wouldn't have to worry about the Trial of the Grasses.
"Allen! Didn't Lady Vera mention any precautions when she gave you the tool?"
The Witcher master didn't look back. The rushing wind carried his shock and confusion. The Witcher apprentice could barely keep up with Vesemir, held by his collar.
Allen, focused on the terrain, leaped over a shallow pit and dodged low branches. He couldn't spare the energy to answer Vesemir's question. The Witcher master didn't need an answer; he was just shocked with countless questions unspoken.
"Damn!"
A loud curse. Hearing Vesemir rarely curse, Allen's heart skipped a beat, almost tripping over a rock.
"Master Vesemir, what's wrong?" the Witcher apprentice shouted.
"Shut up! Keep close! Watch your step!"
No time to think, Allen saw Vesemir suddenly change direction. Startled, the Witcher apprentice was yanked off the ground by a strong pull on his collar. In an instant, he curved and landed smoothly. No time to breathe, they quickly ran towards a mountain hollow.
...
Soon, Allen and Vesemir moved into a cave. The cave seemed to be a dead end, well-ventilated but surrounded by solid rock except for the narrow entrance. Even the narrow entrance could only accommodate two people.
"Hu—hu—hu—"
Allen bent over, tightly gripping his silver sword, breathing like a broken bellows. Vesemir ran so fast that Allen had no time to sheathe Elsa.
"Allen, are you okay?"
After catching his breath, the Witcher apprentice shook his head.
"Mas...ter Vesemir... I'm... fine..."
By the light streaming through the entrance, Allen saw that Vesemir wasn't even winded, his face just slightly flushed. It was as if the intense chase was just a warm-up. The Witcher master stood with his sword at the cave's center, eyes fixed outside.
After about two minutes, Allen finally exhaled deeply, stood up, and joined Vesemir at the entrance. At this moment, the noise of "kwa-la, kwa-la" grew louder outside. A large group of drowners were coming!
...….
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34. The Conjunction of the Spheres.
35. The Drowner King.
36. Allen, Dead?
37. Demon Hunting.
38. Slaying the Drowner King.