135. Descending the Mountain.

"Huh? I didn't know I had anything to say?" 

Allen was stunned and glanced at the sorceress, unsure why she was lying. The sorceress nodded and smiled, her eyes full of inexplicable encouragement. The witcher masters crossed their arms, their smiles intriguing, and their gazes kept switching between him and Mary. 

"Are they trying to match me with Mary?" 

The thought flashed by, and Allen immediately dismissed it. But then, another thought came to him. 

No… Maybe Lady Vira is, but the witcher masters are just watching the show. But he's only fourteen, and Mary is just sixteen! 

In his surprise, he instinctively looked down at Mary. They were only a step apart. Under the soft sunlight, the person opposite him had skin so fair it was almost translucent. The warm breeze, carrying a stronger orange scent similar to the sorceress's, brushed past him. 

At that moment, Allen realized he was now taller than Mary. When they first met, Mary was still taller than him.

"Maybe the various potions and essences have accelerated my growth…" 

Many inexplicable thoughts suddenly popped into his mind. 

"Snap!"

The faint red magical soundproof barrier rose again. 

Allen instinctively looked up, seeing Vira's expression full of understanding and encouragement, which made him feel a bit helpless. Noticing the regretful expressions of Vesemir and Danthe as they watched the soundproof barrier rise, his helplessness turned into awkwardness. However, with the impending crisis facing the School, he had no time for romantic thoughts. 

Seeing the sorceress raise the soundproof barrier, Mary thought there was something important to discuss, so her expression turned serious: "Allen, what do you want to tell me?" 

"Nothing much, just some things about the Witcher Corps. I wanted to go over the arrangements again!" 

He thought for a moment, then casually repeated the key points from the previous few days.Mary, out of her responsibility as the Corps' chief sorceress, also listened carefully and occasionally nodded. Soon, everything was covered. 

"…Well, that's about it." 

"Don't worry, Captain. I've got it all." Mary gave a reassuring smile. 

Allen nodded, feeling more at ease after going over the arrangements. Signaling to the sorceress to remove the soundproof barrier, he was about to walk towards Vesemir and Hughes when Mary's voice suddenly called from behind. 

"Allen, if you encounter danger outside, remember to use the carrier pigeon… to send me a message. I'll find a way to get help… Of course… you can also send a message even if there's no danger…" 

Allen turned back at her words, pausing for a moment before smiling and saying, "I understand, Miss Mary. Thank you." 

Seeing Allen's smile, Mary blushed slightly and hurried back to the sorceress. After bidding farewell to the two ladies, there wasn't much left to say to the others. He gave a brief motivational speech to the Corps members, nodded to the other witcher masters who came to see him off, and then followed Vesemir, along with Hughes, Bond, and Fred, slowly down the mountain. 

After walking some distance, he suddenly looked back. The ancient gray castle blended seamlessly with the majestic mountains. New sprouts had emerged from the vines entwining the walls, bringing a touch of spring to the cold stone walls. 

Could he really save this magnificent castle, which was destined to be reduced to ashes? 

Allen couldn't help but question himself. 

"What's wrong?" Vesemir noticed someone had stopped walking and turned back to ask. 

"Nothing, let's keep going down the mountain!" 

Allen shook his head and continued walking away from the Kaer Morhen Fortress without looking back. He was the child of miracles, born to create miracles. So he definitely could and must save Kaer Morhen. 

----------------

The pioneers of the School of the Wolf established Kaer Morhen Fortress deep in the Blue Mountains, using the terrain as a base for their school. Only a hidden path led to the witcher's stronghold. Like the lake used for the high mountain trial, this path was so treacherous and narrow that young witchers called it "the killer." 

From the path to the castle's heavy walls, Kaer Morhen was easy to defend and hard to attack. However, the pioneers' long-term goals couldn't withstand the practical needs of the witchers. This was understandable. Witchers spent the entire year traveling, hunting monsters, so shouldn't they be able to come back and enjoy themselves at the end of the year? 

Over years of peace, this path was gradually widened. Though still not wide enough for a horse, it had become passable for people carrying goods up and down the mountain. 

After all, witchers didn't farm. While they could hunt in the mountains for meat, fruits, vegetables, and grains couldn't be sourced there. 

So… 

Yes, there was a village at the foot of the Blue Mountains. 

The name was easy to remember—Kaer Village. 

Kaer, as in Kaer Morhen. 

"Master Vesemir, heading out to slay monsters again?" 

"This year, you've brought apprentices too? How about we have a drink at the tavern…" 

"Master Vesemir, you're late this year. The young lads have already taken all the village's contracts…" 

As they entered the village, which had about a dozen households, Allen was surprised to find Vesemir greeting almost every passing villager skillfully. The villagers of Kaer Village seemed to know Vesemir well, showing him respect in their lighthearted conversations. 

When the village children saw them approaching, they didn't shy away. Instead, they crowded around, calling out, "Grandpa Vesemir," and asking him to tell them stories. 

Some bolder ones, not afraid of strangers, even circled around Allen, Hughes, Bonte, and Fred, reaching out to touch the two swords on their backs. This left the freshly descended witchers flustered, dodging the kids in embarrassment. 

It wasn't until the parents arrived, apologizing profusely while using canes to drive the children away, that the witchers were finally saved. The scene was far from the grim image Allen had imagined, where witchers were driven away by villagers wielding pitchforks. But after thinking for a moment, Allen understood. 

Whenever monsters attacked, the witchers were the first to respond. The entire village's livelihood largely depended on the few dozen witchers and apprentices in the mountains. And, of course, the witchers of the School of the Wolf generally had good personal conduct and principles, never troubling the villagers. With that, it was hard for the villagers not to have overwhelming goodwill towards the witchers. 

"Perhaps the negative portrayal of witchers hasn't spread here yet." 

Allen recalled the argument at the banquet after the first drowner hunt. 

The sun was setting. 

The sky gradually darkened. 

Though the killer path had been widened, the mountain road was still difficult to traverse. By the time they reached the village, it was already evening. After a brief tour led by Vesemir, they arrived at the village's inn, which doubled as a tavern. 

"Master Vesemir, what'll it be?" The innkeeper was also familiar with Vesemir. 

After ordering dinner in a few words, Vesemir found a long table and said seriously, "It's time we talked about our goal for this trip… The duel tournament between the apprentices of the School of the Wolf and the School of the Cat."

...…

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136. Even if the Price is the Life of a Trainee.

137. The Cat School's Caravan.

138. First Arrival at Ban Ard.

139. Aen Saevherne.

140. The Abandoned Castle.