Capítulo 308: 309. "I'm Your Elder, Can You Trust Me a Bit More?"
Creak~
The heavy iron-bound wooden door opened.
As they stepped into the castle hall, the three of them naturally ended their casual chat.
Although Allen thought that the future development of the Witcher Corps was the main matter, Vesemir and Aristo clearly considered the matters concerning the goddess Melitele to be the most important.
Not only did they stop Allen from talking about it casually by the roadside on their way out of the training grounds, but the two Witcher masters also seemed eager to cleanse themselves, change clothes, burn incense, and pray before hearing his recount.
This made Allen feel a bit out of place.
In his past life, he recalled that in the original story, neither Geralt, Yennefer, nor other main characters truly believed in the gods. In fact, they even doubted whether gods really existed.
So...
How had this stark difference come about?
"Allen, tell us… how did you encounter the goddess Melitele that night?" Vesemir asked, interrupting Allen's train of thought as he closed the door, lit the hall's torches with an Igni sign, then sat properly at the long oak table, looking at Allen with eager anticipation.
Seeing the expectant looks in Vesemir's and Aristo's eyes, Allen thought for a moment and began to speak:"On the night of my knighthood, I returned to the statue room..."
Of course, he couldn't mention "Divine Dreamwalking," but Allen still described the sensations of his soul sinking, piercing through the membrane, and descending into the deep sea — every detail from his "dreamwalking" up until he entered the divine realm.
He skipped over the conversation about the frozen divine realm and the impending White Frost apocalypse.
He described in vivid detail the boundless fields of golden wheat in Melitele's realm, the goddess's transformations between a maiden, a mother, and an elder as the conversation unfolded, and the lightness with which her divine power lifted the evil curse.
Allen hoped that these two experienced Witcher masters might help him uncover any clues about the effects of "Divine Dreamwalking."
To his surprise, the two masters remained silent throughout.
The details Allen provided only seemed to make the story more believable to them.
Aristo's expression shifted from slight skepticism to hesitant belief and finally to longing fascination.
Allen also modified the tale of inheriting the roar of the one-eyed giant, weaving it seamlessly into the story. This managed to divert Aristo's attention from his original goal of pursuing the legend of King Kanu and rationalized the source of the Beast Roar technique.
After all...
Aristo didn't consider himself as fortunate as Allen to have had a chance to meet a goddess.
It was just… incredible!
Completing a divine trial, entering the divine realm in a dream, and receiving a blessing from a true goddess — he wouldn't dare dream of such things. Yet a mere fourteen-year-old boy had accomplished feats that were only sung about in epics.
"...So, that's roughly what happened in the divine realm."
Allen let out a long breath.
Although he hadn't uncovered any information about the source of "Divine Dreamwalking" or the origins of the Witcher Manual, he'd managed to dispel the suspicions about the giant golden-beast King Kanu that had surfaced in Aristo's mind when Allen had unleashed "Beast Roar: Berserk."
This at least achieved his initial goal.
And more than that.
Allen discreetly observed the now-enthusiastic Aristo.
Judging from the changing expression on the black-bearded Witcher master's face, if Aristo were a member of the Witcher Corps, Allen's vivid description of Melitele's divine realm might have increased his loyalty by at least five points.
It was even possible that Aristo would be the first Witcher master to join the Witcher Corps before Vesemir did.
Speaking of Vesemir…
For some reason, ever since earlier, Vesemir had been sitting with his head down, staring at the grain of the oak table.
"It's getting late." Aristo glanced at the fading light outside the window, then clapped his hands on the table and stood up.
"Those mischievous little brats… I wonder how well they're practicing…" Aristo let out a hearty laugh and extended an invitation, "Captain Allen, would you like to join me to check on the apprentices?"
"Master Aristo, please just call me Allen," Allen scratched his head. "But I have a few things to handle right now. I'll go see the apprentices tomorrow."
"Today, I still need to trouble you with them…"
At this point, Allen felt a little guilty.
After all…
Aristo, though serving as the vice-captain of the Witcher Corps and perhaps representing the school's oversight, was mostly there to prevent the corps members from wasting time during Allen's absence.
Now, on the second day of his return, Allen hadn't taken on the responsibility yet, which was somewhat inappropriate.
Still…
The sky was already darkening; following them wouldn't have been of much practical use.
Besides, after testing the impressive power of "Beast Roar: Berserk," Allen was eager to practice maintaining it.
He wanted to see how much it could improve his stats and if it could enhance his control when he actively activated "Beast Roar: Berserk."
"No problem..." Aristo waved his hand dismissively, interrupting Allen, then firmly patted Vesemir on the shoulder. "Five bottles of the usual. Get them from Lemon whenever you feel like drinking, I'll let him know."
"And..."
Aristo paused, casting an envious glance at Allen before whispering: "You're really lucky!"
Without waiting for a response from Vesemir, Aristo turned and walked out of the castle hall.
---------------------------
Creak~
Thud!
The heavy, old iron-bound wooden door opened and closed, slamming against the doorframe with a dull thud. The fireplace remained unlit, leaving the castle hall slightly dim.
After the sound of the door faded, the empty space felt a bit desolate.
Turning his gaze from the door, Allen saw that Vesemir was still looking down, seemingly lost in thought.
Eager to practice the Beast Roar technique, he was about to bid him farewell and head back to the south tower.
"Master Vesemir…"
"Did the goddess Melitele truly only bless you without saying anything else?" Vesemir suddenly looked up, interrupting Allen.
What did he mean? Allen was startled, and his heart skipped a beat.
Of course, the goddess Melitele had said other things — quite a lot, in fact.
Or rather…
In the story he had just told, none of the goddess's lines about summoning him to her realm to reward him for saving Ellander and removing the curse of an evil deity were true at all.
The real message was about the divine realm being frozen, the Wild Hunt accelerating the arrival of the White Frost…
Every day, this world—where Allen had only been for two weeks—was inching closer to a doomsday known as "Frost, White Frost, and White Light."
But what good would it do to share this with Aristo and Vesemir?
The Wolf School couldn't even handle the threat from mages and nobles. Meanwhile, the Wild Hunt awaited down the line…
Sharing news about an imminent world-ending catastrophe would only cause harm.
Not only would it be useless, but given how much respect Aristo and Vesemir had just shown towards the goddess Melitele, sharing that her divine realm was frozen and that the goddess herself could barely communicate with her followers might even shatter their faith. Such a revelation could prevent them from overcoming their current challenges.
After all…
Even in his previous world, where people had received quality education, many still went mad over doomsday rumors. Here, the doomsday was real.
Of course…
The most likely reaction would simply be to deny it all: deny the gods were sealed, deny that the end was near. So, until the threat from Kaedwen's mages and nobles is resolved, Allen decided not to mention these fearsome revelations.
For the future of the Wolf School, of the Northern Continent, and the witcher world, he, a half-trained witcher and an outsider, was already bearing so much.
But back to the question at hand…
How had Vesemir detected something?
How could he cover it up...
Wait, no!
Did Vesemir actually catch on?
Allen slightly lowered his head, his piercing blue eyes glancing at the witcher master through the hair that veiled his face.
He mentally reviewed the story he'd just told…
"No way…" Allen thought to himself.
His story shouldn't have had any gaps!
Or rather, it would be tough to find a logical flaw in such a classic fantasy narrative.
Could it be that he doubted whether Allen had actually met Melitele?
That didn't seem right, either…
If Vesemir truly thought that, he wouldn't have phrased it as, "…Did the goddess not say anything else to you?"
"Maidenly innocence, motherly love, elderly wisdom…" Vesemir suddenly spoke, interrupting Allen's thoughts.
These were the most common descriptions of Melitele's three aspects on the Northern Continent.
Allen, having lived at Melitele's temple for some time, naturally knew this as well.
So then…
Why did Vesemir mention it?
"That's the most widely circulated version of Melitele's three aspects," Vesemir said, his amber cat-like eyes locking onto Allen, making the younger witcher flinch slightly, "but it's not quite accurate…"
"The maiden, carefree, bestows blessings on her followers…"
"The mother, compassionate and nurturing, offers protection and growth…"
"The crone, strict and wise, enlightens believers, punishes the rebellious, and guides the lost…"
Allen pondered Vesemir's words, realizing they matched the nature of each of Melitele's forms he had encountered in the divine realm.
He was beginning to understand where his story might have tipped Vesemir off.
In the witcher master's eyes, complex emotions flickered as he sighed and said:
"My time in Melitele's temple library wasn't for nothing. The documents I found there were all related to Melitele's teachings."
"Melitele's followers recorded many of the prophecies her saints witnessed when they had audiences with her…"
"If she only intended to give blessings, the maiden form would appear. When divine protection was needed, the mother form would emerge, but the crone…"
Vesemir paused, looking gravely at Allen.
"Whenever the crone appeared, it was always accompanied by a prophecy of disaster…"
Allen fell silent at his words.
Seeing his response, Vesemir didn't press further or even look directly at him.
Instead, he raised his gaze toward a narrow window where a faint orange twilight shone through, his expression distant.
The castle hall was dimly lit, with only a few torches flickering on the walls, casting unsteady, interwoven shadows of the two witchers onto the gray stone walls.
The crackling of firewood in the torches filled the otherwise silent hall.
"Should I tell him about Melitele's 'prophecy' of the end times?" Allen stared blankly at the dark wood grain of the table.
In truth…
There was nothing to hide about Melitele's words, especially not from the man before him, who was the closest person Allen had in this world of witchers.
If it were just Vesemir, Allen was confident that sharing the facts would not shake his belief.
But…
Was there really a need?
Sorcerers, nobles, the Wild Hunt, the Alder Folk, and even the White Frost, a doom that even the gods could only await helplessly…
Layer upon layer of pressure; was it necessary to weigh down the one close to him?
At least not now, not so soon.
Otherwise, Vesemir's shoulders would be shackled with the weight of a mountain from the start, his eyes opening each day to a bleak future, unable to enjoy even fleeting moments of happiness…
That would be too cruel.
So Allen chose silence, listening to the firewood crackle and break into embers.
"Aristo said I was lucky." Vesemir suddenly rose from his seat.
Allen looked over to see him smiling, a stark contrast from his earlier expression.
"He's jealous that I have a journeying apprentice like you, a 'prodigy' who could well be considered a 'monster.' Although in this half-year journey, I haven't been able to fulfill all my duties as a mentor or even have the strength to protect my student…"
"Vesemir, Master…"
For Allen, Vesemir had already done enough.
Teaching him swordsmanship, signs, tracking, meditation…
Sharing his valuable network with him, even hiding his own brilliance on purpose most of the time…
Not to mention protection.
Allen knew that if he ever faced a life-or-death situation, Vesemir would be ready to trade his life for Allen's, just as he had saved Ciri.
How many witchers would go this far for their apprentices?
Hearing what sounded like a hint at severing their relationship, Allen hurried to deny it.
But Vesemir raised a hand, signaling for him to stop.
"I truly am lucky, Allen…and though I may not have done the best job, I am still your journeying mentor…"
"So…"
Vesemir paused, looking at Allen with sincerity: "As your elder, can you trust me a little more?"
.....
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310. Lone Wolf's Death, Birth of the Pack.
311.How a Magical Lady Should Cleverly "Charm" a Handsome Gentleman.
312. Allen, Do You Want to Know Who Your Parents Are?
313. A Good Mother Like Vera.
314. The Situation Has Changed! The Wolf School is Moving to Aedirn!
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