119. The Captain's First Operation!
Shua!
All eyes turned to Allen.
Just moments ago, he had been filled with passion, becoming the first captain of the Wolf School's Witcher Corps, yet now, Allen felt a bit awkward. He scratched his head and lifted his beer mug to hide his face.
In truth, he didn't regret killing Old Speartip, which disrupted the School's Mountain Trial. On the contrary, killing that Cyclops was the best decision Allen had made since arriving in this world.
"Cyclops, huh?"
The Grandmaster gave Allen a sidelong glance, his expression unreadable as he lowered his head in thought. This was indeed a difficult problem to solve quickly.
According to the School's tradition, one month after the Trial of the Grasses, apprentices were supposed to undergo the Mountain Trial. They relied on their strength and luck to swim across the Drowner's Killer Lake, traverse Old Speartip's cave, and pass through the Rock Troll's camp, ultimately activating the School's emblem. But now, with heavy snow sealing off the mountains, Killer Lake was surely frozen over, and Old Speartip's cave no longer had Old Speartip...
Of the three stages of the Mountain Trial, only the Rock Troll's camp remained. This made the trial not only less challenging but also meaningless.
"Since the participants of the trial are members of the Witcher Corps, why don't we have the Witcher Corps join in as well?"
Allen's sudden proposal left everyone stunned.
"This trial is a rite of passage from death to life for a Witcher. It cannot be softened," Vesemir spoke up, sensing Allen's intent.
"I know, Master Vesemir," Allen nodded, explaining, "A lone wolf dies; a pack of wolves survives. Instead of just talking about it and letting the new members only understand it through thin words, why not have the Witcher Corps join in, letting them experience the trial together? Show them the truth with reality: when wolves gather together, they can conquer any challenge."
As soon as he finished speaking, the room erupted into discussion.
"But you all have already passed the trial?"
"This doesn't align with tradition..."
"I think it might work..."
The Grandmaster tapped his knuckles on the table, and the room fell silent again. He looked at Allen with interest and asked, "What's your plan?"
"The starting and finishing points remain the same, Killer Lake and the Circle of Elements, but the route can be selected by the Grandmasters in advance based on our strength. For example, given the current situation, considering the strength of the Witcher Corps, the route can be set along the banks of Killer Lake. Then, on the day of the trial, those who passed the previous trial would lead the trial participants along this route..."
Allen spoke clearly and concisely, laying out his thoughts.
The Mountain Trial wasn't necessary. No twelve or thirteen-year-old apprentice should die in this trial. They had already endured the torment of the Grasses and the Choices. This had always been Allen's belief. Moreover, this trial did little to strengthen a Witcher's connection to the School.
The earlier trials altered their bodies and enhanced their strength, which made sense. But the Mountain Trial was merely a test, one that also gambled with their lives. Even in the game, Lambert had been a Witcher for decades, yet still harbored resentment towards Vesemir because of a close friend's death in the Mountain Trial. Now, in Kaer Morhen, there were surely even more who shared similar sentiments.
But the Grandmasters of the Wolf School, who clung to tradition, including the Chief himself, would never accept this viewpoint. So Allen needed to take a detour, using his Witcher Corps's status as apprentices to make his case. As for the Witcher's blessing of fate, he believed in it, but only somewhat. Since he had come to this world and had the ability, he would do his best to change things.
Compassion...
As Vesemir listened, thoughts of the knight's five virtues flashed through his mind.
"Allen wants to take the trial again, hoping to guide the apprentices through it, much like in the Mountain Trial," he mused.
The other Grandmasters weren't fools either. They also sensed the deeper meaning in Allen's words. Thus, the room fell silent once more.
Until...
"Considering your strength, the route will undoubtedly be more challenging. There might be unexpected troubles on the shores of Killer Lake that even we haven't anticipated..."
"Allen, you've already passed the Mountain Trial. Are you sure you want to take this risk?"
The Chief's deep voice broke the silence as he looked at Allen seriously.
"I'm sure!"
"Then it's settled!" The Chief nodded, no longer wasting words, and directly ordered, "Vesemir, Aristor, you will choose the route... As for the timing..." The Chief lowered his head in thought, "Since the apprentices no longer need to digest the 'Mushroom Soup,' the trial will take place in twenty days..."
"By then, the snow should have melted, and after the trial, Allen and the others can descend the mountain and participate in the apprentice combat tournament in Ban Ard."
"Any objections?"
Everyone shook their heads.
"Then today's meeting is adjourned!"
---------------
Winter.
Snow fell continuously.
Confined to Kaer Morhen by the relentless weather, Allen's daily routine was very structured.
In the morning, he would wake up and train the new members of the Witcher Corps along with Hughes, Bond, and Fred. The Witcher apprentices, who had initially been shy and scared when they met him, quickly grew closer to Allen after learning he was the "legendary" Witcher Grandmaster who created the Drowner Heart Essence formula.
When the news about the revised Mountain Trial rules was announced, they became even more attached to him, much like Hughes had been before. Whenever he appeared on the training grounds, they would flock to him, calling out, "Master Allen, Master Allen," until training officially began, at which point they would return to their positions for drills.
If there hadn't been only two spots left in the Corps...
If the LV2 identification only showed the loyalty of the Corps members...
Allen guessed that every Witcher apprentice's loyalty score on their attribute panel would be at least 85.
This was another reason Allen had proposed modifying the Mountain Trial during the Grandmasters' meeting. At present, the Corps's systems and reward mechanisms were not yet fully established, and only three people in the Corps fully trusted him. If a large number of Witchers he had no connection with suddenly joined, his authority might be diluted, at least to some extent. After all, the Corps still had a vice-captain he wasn't familiar with.
To a newly graduated Witcher, should they be closer to a veteran Grandmaster or an outstanding peer?
That was indeed a question. Therefore, every opportunity to boost his reputation within the Witcher Corps had to be seized, even if none existed—he would create them. Moreover, having the Grandmasters choose the trial route saved him the trouble of hunting down monsters after the snow melted to boost the Corps's strength.
Allen believed that the experienced Witcher Grandmasters, Vesemir and Aristo, would undoubtedly find the most challenging monsters suitable for their Witcher Corps and place them along the Mountain Trial route.
A classic case of killing several birds with one stone!
In the afternoons and evenings, Allen would leave Hughes and the others to continue training the apprentices while he headed to the alchemy lab to concoct potions. He would also teach the slightly foolish yet proud Mary "Madame" how to brew the Drowner Heart Essence.
During these sessions, he would also have to fend off her persistent questions like, "Allen, am I really that stupid?"
"Allen, did I get my head knocked silly?"
"Allen, how do you come up with so many potion formulas?"
"Allen, if I were as smart as you, would Lady Vera like me more?"
The rest of the time, he would listen to the sorceress explain "Ritual Studies" and watch as the number of experience beads required to activate his skills decreased faster day by day.
And so, time flew by, and four more days passed.
[Celestial Conjunction – Drowner, Cooldown time: 0 days 12 hours 31 minutes.]
The final Celestial Conjunction before leaving Kaer Morhen was approaching!
...…
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120. Ritual Studies and the Ceremony.
121. Flesh Golem.
122. Not the Drowner King?
123. The Headmaster of Ban Ard Academy.
124. Are the Inhumans Elves?