Chapter 15: 15. Quen.
After Vesemir and the Chief left, Allen sat on the bed, thinking about how to leave Kaer Morhen.
"Maybe I'm not cut out to be a witcher?"
Allen turned towards the voice and saw Hughes lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Hughes's talent was indeed very poor.
At this moment, Fred and Bont had already finished dinner, and Hughes had just recovered from lunch. By the time he digested dinner, he would be slower than the others. Combined, Hughes slept no more than four hours each night.
Although Vesemir was a good person, he wouldn't accommodate apprentices with poor talent. This was the rule for witchers training their apprentices. It seemed like the only trial left for the apprentices was the Trial of the Grasses. But the selection process was ongoing.
"Not to mention someone as naturally gifted as you, even compared to Bont, I'm far behind..." Hughes turned his back.
Allen couldn't see Hughes's expression, so he just patted his shoulder to comfort him: "It will get better."
...
Morning.
On the road to Kaer Morhen.
"Do you guys feel it?" Hughes rubbed his eyes and asked, puzzled, "Does today feel clearer than yesterday?"
Fred wiped his face, unsure: "Now that you mention it, it does feel a bit clearer."
"No way?" Bont touched his forehead, "I don't feel any different. Maybe it's just your imagination?"
The three seemed to have differing opinions, but the atmosphere was harmonious.
After Allen's impressive feat of taking on three at once yesterday, the relationship among the four apprentices had improved significantly. Or rather, they had become more familiar with each other.
Allen and Hughes had been friends since childhood, starting witcher training together at four years old. Then came the Selection, the Trial of the Grasses, and the Trial of Dreams.
After several trials, saying they were comrades in life and death was not an exaggeration.
Bond and Fred didn't know each other. But it only took a small event for children to bond.
The Chief's custom leather armor served as that event. Though the armor had yet to be delivered, the four had already formed a small group with Allen as the leader.
Seeing Bond and Fred's differing feelings, Hughes curiously tilted his head and asked: "Allen, what do you think?"
"Do you feel clearer today than yesterday?"
Allen didn't get a chance to respond before Bond interrupted.
"Hughes, you call this clear?" Bond patted Hughes's little head, "You forgot Allen isn't affected by the potions, you just mentioned it."
"Oh, I forgot..." Hughes said with an embarrassed smile.
...
Chatter... chatter...
Even the bone-chilling wind couldn't silence their chattering.
Allen felt like he was walking with a group of chatterboxes, not witcher apprentices. They had been talking non-stop since waking up, making Allen's head spin. But he had only himself to blame. If he hadn't acted impulsively last night, these little guys wouldn't be so energetic now.
Yes, Allen had drugged their water last night.
After taking the water bag from the Chief and before entering the dormitory, Allen had mischievously poured a quarter bottle of heart extract into it. He had just resolved to mind his own business at noon, and by evening he had broken that resolution.Reflecting on it afterward, Allen couldn't understand why he had acted so impulsively.
They wouldn't have died without the extract. At most, they'd suffer a bit longer, doze off more during lessons, and face a slightly higher risk of death during the Trial of the Grasses.
Could it be the influence of the original Allen?
Allen sighed deeply.
In this lively atmosphere, Allen and the others arrived at the apprentice training ground.
Vesemir was already there. Wearing a black wide-brimmed hat, he sat alone on the stone where he had lectured yesterday. Seeing the apprentices full of energy, Vesemir was very satisfied: "Very good, you all look very energetic!"
"Looks like no one will be sleeping through my class today," Vesemir said, turning his gaze to Hughes, "What do you think, Hughes?"
The intense gaze made Hughes stammer: "I... I don't think so?"
Vesemir's face was expressionless: "Are you asking me?"
"N-no... not maybe, definitely not. No one will sleep during your class." Hughes shivered and quickly corrected himself.
"Very well, let's begin today's lesson." Vesemir nodded and started the lesson on signs.
"Signs are simple spells that can be cast quickly with one hand during combat..."
"We use this technique to support fast-paced battles, but always remember that it's just a supplementary measure; your sword is your most reliable partner..."
"There are six signs passed down in the School of the Wolf."
"Today, we'll be learning one of them—Quen."
"Quen is a defensive sign that forms a protective shield of magical energy around you, absorbing physical damage..."
"... As beginners, Quen is the most suitable sign for you."
"It can safely help you locate your magical organ and lay the foundation for learning other signs..."
As Vesemir began his lecture, Allen heard a familiar mechanical sound.
"Ding, a clue to the skill [Quen] has been discovered."
"Would you like to spend 100 small experience orbs to unlock the skill?"
Selling the signs individually?
Monster Hunting Notebook, you really are something!
Allen had thought the six signs would be learned as a whole. The option to unlock the skill made Allen even more focused.
"The specific gesture is to bend the thumb and little finger, bring the middle and ring fingers together, and push forward..."
"Would you like to spend 64 small experience orbs to unlock the skill?"
"... Remember that the symbol for the Quen sign is a triangle, the most stable structure discovered by sorcerers. When constructing it in your mind..."
"Would you like to spend 32 small experience orbs to unlock the skill?"
"Now, I'll demonstrate. Watch my hand gestures and use your witcher senses to feel the flow of magic..."
...
About half an hour later, Vesemir stopped his lecture. Now it was time to practice.
After attempting for a while, Allen realized it would take him at least half a day to master this sign. But the witcher apprentice schedule required him to excel in order to increase his chances of leaving Kaer Morhen.
So.
"Would you like to spend 8 small experience orbs to unlock the skill?"
Allen didn't hesitate any longer and clicked with his mind.
"Ding! You have learned the skill: Quen LV1."
As the notification sounded, a flood of unfamiliar memories of training in Quen filled Allen's mind. It felt as if he had trained in this sign for a year.
After assimilating the information, Allen opened his status panel.
[Name: Allen]
[Age: 13]
[Title: Miracle Child]
[Witcher Level: 3]
[Health: 100% Stamina: 71/71]
[Attributes: Strength 5.8 (+0.3), Agility 5.9 (+0.3), Constitution 7.1 (+0.9), Perception 8.4 (+0.5), Mystery 3.9 (+0.4)]
[Special Skills: Monster Hunting LV1, Appraisal LV1]
[Skills: School of the Wolf Two-Handed Sword LV2 (0/500), Quen LV1 (0/100)]
[Formulas: Killer Whale (unusable)]
[Items: Drowner Heart Extract1, Rotten Flesh3, Small Experience Orbs23, "A Brief Discussion on 23 Cooking Methods for Drowners"]
[Evaluation: Weak!!]
The attribute increase came from dinner and the three-quarters of the drowner heart extract.
In total, it added 2.9 points to his attributes, which, although 0.3 less than yesterday's noon, was still quite considerable.
Upon waking up, Allen could clearly feel his improved stamina. Walking from the apprentice dormitory to the training ground, he didn't even feel out of breath.The increase in attributes was addictive, and Allen could now sense the surging power within his body. However, this pleasant feeling ended when he checked the item column.
Seeing the lone drowner heart extract was glaring. Even though he had planned for it, he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.
"Only one drowner heart extract left. Whether I can leave Kaer Morhen will depend on how effective the newly acquired Quen is."
.....
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16. The Witcher Master and Night Succubus's Thousand and One Nights.
17. Fate.
18. Just This?
19. Before My Father's Father.
20. Current Offense.
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