ตอน 144: Gathering
Time marched on, and March arrived—the time agreed upon by Wayne and the other Wolf School witchers. While learning magic from Triss, he had successfully acquired two new auxiliary skills: Spells and Magic Knowledge.
Spells LV1: Spell power +2%
Magic Knowledge LV1: Magic comprehension speed +1, magic casting speed +1.
These spells were quite practical, but unfortunately, they didn't fall under his witcher skills and were instead categorized as auxiliary. While waiting for his companions to arrive over the course of the month, Wayne also reached level eight through his daily tasks.
Wayne (18 years old)
Occupation: WitcherLevel: Level 8 (53/800)
Ability Value: 1 point
Attributes: Strength 28, Agility 33, Constitution 30, Spirit 33.
Exclusive Skills: Swordsmanship LV6, Signs LV8, Genetic Mutation LV6, Gwent LV6.
Special Bloodline: Elder Blood (primary unsealing), advanced unsealing requires 30 ability points.
Bloodline Powers: Witcher, Source Warlock, Time and Space Travel.
Auxiliary Skills: Archery LV4, Cooking LV6, Planting LV3, Alchemy LV5, Riding LV4, Blacksmithing LV5, Beast Taming LV1, Spells LV1, Magic Knowledge
During this time, not only had Wayne's exclusive witcher skills—Swordsmanship, Signs, and Gwent—improved, but several of his auxiliary skills had also seen some growth. However, none had reached the level five threshold for a qualitative leap.
After the initial unsealing of his Elder Blood, the ability points required for the advanced unsealing had increased to 30. Relying solely on leveling up would take over a decade to achieve this. This fueled Wayne's desire to find more magic nodes. Even if absorbing them turned those nodes into spatial rifts, he could report them to the Brotherhood of Sorcerers like last time or invite sorceresses to seal them. It was a temporary solution, but everything had a price, and gaining power was no exception.
Through his experiments with the sealed rift in the Leshen's lair, Wayne discovered that even a magically sealed rift didn't hinder his time and space travel abilities. However, using his ability points to widen the rift into a portal would break the seal and potentially cause further instability.
As his relationship with Triss deepened, Wayne considered the possibility of confiding in her about his Elder Blood. When they reached a point of complete trust, he could seek her help in locating other sealed rifts known to the Brotherhood.
Each spatial rift represented a new world, each new world brimming with infinite possibilities. The thought filled Wayne with anticipation for the colorful life that lay ahead.
That morning, having just returned from Master O'Henry's blacksmith shop, Wayne opened his door to find Geralt sitting on a stone bench in the front yard pavilion, leisurely sipping beer. Geralt's gaze was fixed on Alex, who was washing a horse, seemingly admiring the boy's diligence.
Clad in black armor with his weapons still strapped to his back, Geralt bore the dust of travel. It was clear he had only just arrived. Upon seeing Wayne, he simply raised a hand in greeting and continued drinking his beer. Among the Wolf School witchers, Geralt was closest to Wayne, their bond transcending the need for formalities.
Wayne nodded in acknowledgement, then joined him in the pavilion, pouring himself a glass of wine. Just as he was about to speak, Yennefer emerged from the backyard, seemingly surveying Wayne's home.
The sorceress wore a black and white leather jacket over a pair of form-fitting black leather pants. Her slender legs and ample bosom, which strained against the jacket, were quite a sight. She appeared a bit older than Triss, but her cold, arrogant demeanor exuded a captivating confidence.
Upon seeing Wayne, her expression softened slightly, a faint smile gracing her lips. "Wayne," she inquired, "when are you ready to act? I will join this battle."
"I will always remember the help your Lady of the Lake gave me," she added.
While Wayne had suspected Yennefer might join the operation, her actual presence still surprised him. Among sorceresses, Yennefer was unique—not driven by power or luxury, but fiercely passionate in matters of the heart, even willing to destroy the world for her lover.
Wayne nodded to her, then turned to Geralt. He retrieved the royal warrant from Triss and, considering Geralt's awkward relationship with the sorceress, handed it to Yennefer for inspection. She took it without acknowledging Geralt, causing a wry smile to appear on the White Wolf's lips.
After reading the warrant, Yennefer raised an eyebrow, looking at Wayne with a hint of surprise. "Are you acquainted with Triss, Wayne?" she asked. "She is a dear friend of mine, we've known each other for many years."
"I've also heard about this young Keira," she continued. "Quite talented in protective spells, I hear. Even Headmistress Margarita praised her."
'Very familiar, indeed. I know every inch of her body', Wayne thought to himself, but kept his words polite. Considering Yennefer was over ninety years old, far older than Geralt, calling Keira young was certainly appropriate.
"Triss and I have known each other for almost a year," he replied. "We're good friends."
A snort escaped Yennefer's lips as she appraised the handsome young witcher before her, clearly unconvinced by his answer. However, she didn't press the matter further. Turning to Geralt, she stated, "I'll be staying at Triss's place for the duration. You and Wayne can share this house. If anything comes up, I'll find you here."
With a brief nod to Wayne, Yennefer departed without a backward glance. Her departure seemed to lift a weight off Geralt's shoulders. He drained his beer in one gulp, a relieved smile spreading across his face. "Hey, Wayne," he said, "let's get some food and drinks in here. The journey from Redania took Yennefer and me almost ten days, and the food along the way was... Well, let's just say it left much to be desired."
"I'm craving some of your delicious cooking," he added.
Wayne raised an eyebrow, unconvinced by Geralt's words. Traveling with a wealthy sorceress like Yennefer, their provisions couldn't have been that bad. Besides, the journey from Redania shouldn't have taken ten days; they must have taken their time, indulging in diversions along the way.
With Geralt and Yennefer's arrival, Lambert and Eskel also made their way to Vizima within the following week. Wayne and Geralt played host to their somewhat impoverished brothers, even splurging on a night at the renowned Queen of the Night Club, treating them to the company of high-class courtesans. It was a lavish experience, costing hundreds of crowns, allowing them to indulge in the life of the rich and famous.
In the days that followed, George, having received Wayne's letter, also arrived from Velen. He formally met with the Wolf School members, fostering camaraderie among the group.
Vesemir arrived last, marking the first time in a long while that the old witcher had traveled so far for a mission. However, upon witnessing Wayne's comfortable lifestyle in Vizima, a spark of excitement reignited within him.
Wayne, with his upbringing steeped in respect for elders, patiently endured Vesemir's occasional lectures, though he secretly maintained his generous ways. He ensured his fellow witchers enjoyed a life of plenty, with fine food and drink, visits to various brothels, and even offering to cover the cost of repairs at O'Henry's blacksmith shop. It was a grand display of hospitality.
Finally, by mid-March, all participants in the operation to cleanse the city had arrived, their preparations complete. They awaited Wayne's signal to launch their joint effort against the scourge plaguing Lake Vizima's shores.
Before that, however, Wayne felt it necessary to meet formally with the Lady of the Lake, the primary beneficiary of this operation. While selfless dedication might be admirable to some, Wayne believed in the importance of acknowledging one's contributions. Giving without expecting anything in return was one thing, but letting others take your efforts for granted was quite another. It risked not only a lack of respect but also the devaluing of one's own hard work, potentially leading to being seen as dispensable or even taken advantage of.
Wayne was determined to avoid such a fate
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