Chapter 11: Chapter 11:Negotiating with a legendary sorcerer
In the classroom, Vice Chancellor Mardin closed the book he was holding and said, "The class is over, you may leave now.
The other trainees left the classroom, leaving only Viltz and the vice chancellor.
Vice Chancellor Mardin looked at Viltz with satisfaction and commented, "I am very pleased with your performance during the classes,you have managed to master Elder Speech in just six months and you take the classes very seriously,unlike some of your classmates.
"I'm just trying my best to learn. "Viltz replied humbly.
Mardin stroked his beard and commented, "You look like you want to tell me something, go ahead and don't hold back."
Viltz hesitated a bit before speaking: "It's like this vice rector,before coming to Ban Ard,Mr. Zavist and i met a group of witchers who ended up dying in a confrontation with another group,since i saw that they were already dead i asked Mr. Zavist to remove their eyes.
I originally wanted to study these eyes but I lack sufficient experience and knowledge to be able to study them.
"So you gave up on them?"
Viltz nodded and continued, "I know that for some people these eyes can be very valuable so I thought I would sell them for some money, plus they only have another six months left before they start to rot.
I've heard about the great master Ortolan, I know he was the one who created the eye regeneration potion, I think he will be very interested in them, I was wondering if you could put me in touch with him."
Mardin nodded with satisfaction and spoke, "Very smart of you,this way you can earn some money with some materials that are of little use to you and at the same time meet one of the legendary wizards of this era.
No problem,i am sure that the great master Ortolan will be interested but it may take some time to contact him due to the fact that he is almost always busy with his magical experiments,when i can contact him i will inform you,ok?"
Viltz nodded gratefully before leaving the classroom.
...
A week later,when Vice Chancellor Mardin's class was over,Vice Chancellor Mardin handed him a crystal ball.
Viltz looked at the crystal ball in confusion as Mardin explained, "I have contacted Grandmaster Ortolan and he is willing to negotiate with you, you can contact him tonight through this crystal ball."
Viltz got a little excited but quickly calmed down, thanking Vice Chancellor Mardin sincerely.
"Don't thank me,it's just a trivial thing,now go away."
Viltz bowed before leaving.
When evening came, Viltz lit the candles in his room and sat on the bed with the crystal ball in his hand.
He imbued it with his mana and waited a few moments before the face of an old man appeared in the crystal ball.
The old man looked at Viltz and started talking before the latter could even introduce himself or say hello.
"You must be the boy Mardin told me about right? well, let's skip all the empty talk and get to the point."
Viltz nodded and began to speak, "That's right master Ortolan,I have four pairs of warlock eyes in good condition but the preservative I have can only keep them in good condition for another six months,since they are useless to me and i didn't want to waste them I thought you might be interested in them."
Ortolan stroked his beard and said, "Can you show them to me?"
Viltz picked up a bottle with eight amber eyes inside and showed it to Ortolan.
Ortolan looked at the eyes and nodded.
"They are quite well preserved, what do you want in exchange for them...Money? Knowledge? as long as it is of equivalent value I am willing to buy them from you."
"Half of these eyes I can sell them to you directly."
"And the other half? "Ortolan asked stroking his beard.
"In exchange for the other four i want you to come to Ban Ard and perform organ transplant surgery on me."
"What kind of organs?"
"I want you to exchange my left eye for another eye I have ready."
"Is it the eye of another witcher? "Ortolan asked curiously.
"No,it is the eye of an ordinary human,but it is mutated and has certain magical qualities that allow it to see through illusions. "Viltz lied matter-of-factly.
"Interesting, though I think it's a waste,an anti-illusion spell would be just as effective."
"I'm determined to get the implant, it's useless to make me change my mind. "Viltz refuted decisively.
"Haa...You young people today are all so stubborn, but whatever, that's your decision.
Okay, i agree with the deal, but i don't like the atmosphere of the academy so we'll have to meet somewhere else to do the exchange and surgery."
"Okay, the vice chancellor allows us to roam around the city on Saturday afternoons.
We can meet this Saturday afternoon at the Three Spruces Inn."
"Good. "Ortolan nodded before his face faded from the glass.
Viltz put the bottle full of eyeballs back in its place, placing the crystal ball next to another one he had stashed in his closet.
He then rummaged through his clothes,pulling out a small bottle with a single, completely purple eye floating inside.
It was the eye of Ivar Evil Eye,as for the other eye,he simply reduced it to ashes so that the old man would not suspect his lie. Now the only one who knew that the purple eye belonged to a witcher was Zavist, but the latter was busy at Kovir's court.
Viltz watched the floating eye for a while before carefully putting it away again.
The next morning Viltz woke up and continued with the same routine as always, studying from early in the morning until late at night, and so the days went by until Saturday afternoon arrived.
...
"Tonight we have to bring back some bottles of liquor."
"Yes, yes, we have to find some way to sneak some bottles in without the vice chancellor catching us."
"Do you have any ideas Vilgefortz?"
The group of boys who were arguing among themselves turned in unison and looked at the youngest among them.
Watching the boy walk around in a daze while carrying a bag on his back and a couple of thick books in his hand,not paying attention to them,a fat boy next to him shook him again and again while shouting in his ear.
"Hello! Vilgefortz!!!I asked you if you had any ideas on how we can smuggle in some booze without the vice rector catching us!"
"Eh? Why are you yelling at me Artaud? I heard you perfectly well, besides, i just turned eight, i literally can't drink.
You think i care about your liquor?
And on top of that you scream at the top of your lungs right outside the academy that you want to smuggle alcohol in, as if no one can hear you.
I'd rather not participate in your little adventure and end up grounded without being able to leave the academy for who knows how long and do more important things instead."
"Come on Viltz,i used to be fed with Toussaint wine instead of breast milk,now look at me,big and strong,a little alcohol won't do anything to you. "Artaud commented as he ran his hand over Viltz's shoulder,as if he were a different person than the one who always sought to provoke him just a few months ago.
"It's true Vilgefortz, you have to think of a way,we've all been thinking for the past few days without coming up with anything,you have to think of a way to help your friends. "Sorel spoke with abandoned puppy dog eyes.
Seeing their hopeful faces, Viltz could only sigh before he winked at them and said with mock impatience: "I already told you, i'm not interested, see you tomorrow."
Atraud,seeing their actions,feigned regret and said to the others beside him, "Forget it guys,i don't think it's possible this time."
The others just shook their heads,sighing as they followed Viltz out of the academy,entering the city.
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