บท 177: 178. Unspeakable Family Affairs.
"Young man, you come in too!" Granny Asha said with a cheerful smile, glancing at Allen.
From another perspective, the elf "Granny Asha" glanced down at the place where the Mirage Pearl hung on Allen's chest. She pressed her slender, smooth index finger to her lips, making a quiet gesture.
Allen paused for a moment, then instinctively glanced at Francesca and nodded.
Granny Asha's smile deepened as she gently pulled Allen by the arm and welcomed him into the room.
Upon entering, Allen immediately saw the elderly man lying in bed. He was emaciated and looked weak, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, as if the pure, youthful gaze of a boy were set in the face of an old man. He was looking at Granny Asha with a gaze full of love, watching her as she walked back step by step.
Unlike Granny Asha, however, this old man was real, not an illusion. He was truly an elderly human male.
What surprised Allen even more was that, in the magic view of the Wolf Medallion, the trail of black magical energy seemed to end somewhere on this man's chest, although it was obscured by the blanket.
Who exactly were these two?
No! More precisely, who were this human and the elf who called herself Granny Asha?
Allen was puzzled.
[Ida Emean: Find a human couple near Ban Ard and help them safely leave Kaedwen!]
[Allen: There are human couples everywhere; how will I know which ones?]
[Ida Emean: When you meet them, you'll know!]
The words of the red-haired elf suddenly echoed in his mind.
Allen looked at the old man and Granny Asha. He had a strong feeling that the "human" couple he was supposed to find was right in front of him. Especially Granny Asha—her ability to create an illusion of the entire Orchard must mean she held a significant position among the elves, which made it reasonable that Ida Emean had come to rescue her.
But…
Does an illusionary Orchard really count as a village near Ban Ard?
Without the abilities of the Wolf Medallion, who could have imagined that the "human couple" they were searching for would be hiding in an abandoned mine?
[Allen: Who are you? What mission? Why me?]
[Ida Emean: Destiny has chosen you.]
Destiny has chosen me...
Destiny...
Allen couldn't help but sigh.
Was Ida Emean a prophet?
In the original story, though she was a member of the Aen Seidhe, Allen didn't recall seeing her exhibit any prophetic abilities. And if Ida Emean were truly that powerful, how could the elves of Dol Blathanna have been so easily used and discarded by Nilfgaard?
Allen shook his head, dispelling these unresolved thoughts for now. The key thing was to get these two people out of Kaedwen.
Allen glanced at the frail old man, who seemed too weak even to sit up, and wondered: "Is he strong enough to survive the journey through a portal?"
"I'm sorry, I'm not well, so I can't get up to greet you."
Seeing Allen and Francesca enter, the elderly man gave them a kind smile.
"No worries at all," Allen and Francesca replied hastily.
"Asha, I remember the Viscount brought us two pieces of cake this morning. Why don't you bring them out for our young guests to try?"
"Sure, sure," Granny Asha replied, gently patting the blanket over the old man as if comforting a child. She then turned to Allen and Francesca with a kind smile.
She took out two pieces of cream cake from a nearby cabinet and placed them on the table, enthusiastically offering them to her guests.
Granny Asha now looked just like an ordinary, loving grandmother, thrilled to have young visitors and excitedly offering treats she would usually save for special occasions. Yet, in Allen's Mirage Pearl view, the "grandmother" role played by the old woman had shifted to that of a young and beautiful elf, making the scene somewhat surreal.
"No need, Granny Asha…" Francesca stammered, feeling out of place.
"We're here because—"
"Eat the cake first!" Granny Asha interrupted gently, though her tone left no room for argument.
Francesca, speech halted, glanced at the expressionless Allen and obediently complied. The cake wasn't an illusion. It smelled delicious and tasted sweet. After all, both the witcher and the elf hadn't eaten anything all day.
Under the warm gaze of the two elders, the pair finished the cake in just three minutes.
"Granny Asha, are you the master of this illusion?" Francesca asked nervously, clutching her sleeve.
Granny Asha smiled and nodded.
Francesca's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she couldn't help but ask excitedly: "Then do you know an elf named Sadia? She has blue eyes like mine and dark golden hair…"
The more Francesca described her, the more peculiar Allen's expression became. After all, she was basically describing Granny Asha's appearance. However, given how the elf, who bore an eight-out-of-ten resemblance to Francesca, occasionally glanced at him, Allen didn't dare voice this observation.
Just then…
"My apologies for the spectacle," a gentle voice whispered into Allen's mind, as if carried on the wind.
He froze, then looked up, locking eyes with a pair of bright blue ones.
At some point, Granny Asha's illusion had dissipated. Instinctively, Allen glanced at Francesca.
"Daisy of the Valleys" was still eagerly describing Sadia's appearance to Granny Asha.
"Don't worry, Enid can't see us."
Enid?
Was that Francesca's nickname?
"No, that's Enid's real name. Her Elder Speech name is Enid an Glenna, meaning 'Daisy of the Valleys'"
Huh?
So that's where "Daisy of the Valleys" comes from?
He had always thought it was a poetic description of Francesca's beauty, like a daisy blooming in a valley.
Allen froze.
Given that Granny Asha resembled Francesca, that she knew Francesca's Elder Speech name, and that Francesca was searching for an elf…
It all added up...
"So, are you the Sadia that Francesca is looking for?" Allen asked.
Granny Asha smiled meaningfully.
"What you really want to ask isn't that."
Allen blushed, cursing himself for forgetting about her mind-reading ability, and quickly cleared his mind.
"But yes, I am the elf that Enid is searching for, and I am also her birth mother—Sadia an Glenna."
Sadia curtsied gracefully, lifting her rough linen skirt like a true elven princess.
Enid's birth mother?
Allen was stunned.
He looked at Francesca, then at the old man in bed, his expression growing increasingly complicated. Although he had suspected it, hearing it confirmed by Sadia herself left Allen awkwardly speechless. No wonder Francesca had only mentioned looking for an elf, without specifying whom.
"Um… thank you for healing my injuries the other day…" Allen chuckled awkwardly.
"No need to thank me, most of it was Enid's doing. And besides..."
"Moreover..." Sadia's eyes scanned Allen up and down before continuing, "Given your recovery, maybe we weren't needed at all, right?"
"By the way... what's your relationship with Enid?"
"Are you really siblings? I don't remember having a Witcher child."
From Grandma Asha to Sadia, Francesca's mother, her tone had also become much more direct. Leaving Allen unable to respond. Under Sadia's playful gaze, the Witcher's scalp tingled.
Who would have thought Francesca would come up with such a cover story? And the worst part was the sensitive identity of the person involved.
No... This was Francesca's story, why are you asking me?
Allen could only laugh awkwardly, steering the conversation back on track: "Lady Sadia, I am Allen, a Witcher of the School of the Wolf."
"The elven sage Ida Emean tasked me with ensuring that you and this... uh... gentleman, leave Kaedwen safely."
"As for Francesca... we just happened to meet outside the mine, and due to some... um... incidents, ended up traveling together."
"Just happened to meet?" Sadia seemed to latch on to Allen's last sentence, "But the way Enid was washing your bandages, brewing medicine, and tending to your wounds doesn't look like something you do for a mere travel companion."
Allen stayed silent.
Francesca likely did all that out of guilt.
After all, most of his injuries were probably caused by her recklessness. Had it not been for that "hot bath" from the mountain rocks, they could have easily passed through the Rock Troll's cave. But thinking about it again...
If they had passed through smoothly, it might have been them facing the soldiers instead of the Rock Troll. It wouldn't necessarily have been easier than the current situation. But there was no need to explain all of that to Sadia.
"Please don't joke, Lady Sadia."
"The Kaedwen army has already clashed with the Rock Troll outside. It won't be long before they push through."
"We should really think about leaving now."
As he spoke, Allen took out the last vial of "Verdant Sigh" from his potion bag and said:
"This potion is called 'Verdant Sigh.' It can rapidly heal injuries, allowing the gentleman to pass through the portal. Please, give it to him, and then we'll leave through the portal."
This was the only way Allen could think of to get the frail old man out through the portal. Though "Verdant Sigh" was precious, it was obviously less valuable than the friendship of the elves.
"The 'Verdant Sigh' can indeed heal Hode's physical injuries, allowing him to pass through the portal."
After pondering for a moment, she gently shook the elegant crystal bottle and asked: "What is your relationship with Vera?"
"I studied alchemy and rituals under Lady Vera..." Allen was momentarily confused, "But that's not important now. Quickly give him the potion, and let's get out of here."
Naturally, he was curious about the relationship between Sadia and Vera. But now wasn't the time for idle chatter or trying to establish connections.
Three days ago, the Kaedwen army hadn't realized their target was hiding in the mine near their camp. That might no longer be the case.
Allen feared that the king and mages had already caught on and were using spells to seal the area, preventing them from teleporting.
"Let Francesca take you and leave." Sadia shook her head, handing the "Verdant Sigh" back to Allen.
"What do you mean?"
The Witcher frowned, not accepting the bottle.
"Melesko's Vengeance Ring—it's a cursed artifact used for tracking," Sadia sighed. "The living are sacrificed in pain, and wraiths are reborn through resentment..."
"To capture us, the King of Kaedwen and the Ban Ard sorcerer joined forces and slaughtered everyone in Viscount Hudson's castle."
"The countless humans in the castle died and were turned into wraiths through the sorcerer's ritual."
"Their resentful spirits were absorbed by Melesko's Vengeance Ring. If we leave this abandoned Hudson's mine, Melesko's ring will track us down."
"I can escape alone, but Hode... Hode can't survive two teleports."
"Wait," Allen caught on to something. "What if the wraiths in the castle have all been laid to rest?"
"Laid to rest?" Sadia was confused.
"I mean destroyed," Allen explained. "A few days ago, I, along with a master Witcher from the School of the Wolf, cleared out all the wraiths in Viscount Hudson's castle."
Sadia's eyes brightened instantly, but she still seemed doubtful: "You cleared them all?"
"As I recall, if more than five wraiths are destroyed, Melesko's ring reacts violently within a day."
"The Ban Ard sorcerer would rush over immediately. You..."
Allen paused at that.
"We cleared out the castle in less than half a day."
Seeing the doubt still lingering on Sadia's face, he added, "That's impossible! To destroy wraiths, you need silver and a method to disperse their spirits. There were at least forty or fifty wraiths in that castle..."
Allen didn't argue. Instead, he recalled the image of him and Vesemir gathering and burying the bones of the victims in the castle.
Sadia's voice faltered. Then Allen recalled their battle with the wraiths, where they coated their blades with specter oil.
"What... What kind of potion is this?"
"How did it only take three strikes to kill a wraith!"
Sadia was shocked.
"Specter oil. A little trick of the Witchers. But none of that matters. What matters now is that without those wraiths, you should be able to leave, right?"
Sadia lowered her head in thought for a moment and then nodded.
She took the "Verdant Sigh" and walked over to the elderly man.
"Ah..."
For some reason, after sitting down, Sadia sighed before finally lifting the old man and administering the potion.
At this moment, Francesca had also ended her conversation with the illusion of Grandma Asha. She walked over to Allen, looking downcast, as if she hadn't received the answer she was hoping for.
"What's wrong?" Allen asked.
"Nothing... It's just that I was wrong again this time. It seems even prophecy masters aren't always right, are they?" Francesca forced a smile.
Allen couldn't help but feel a bit of pity, and instinctively looked at Sadia.
Sadia met his gaze and shook her head firmly.
"Enough about me. Did you find your target?" Francesca asked.
After all, this was a personal matter. And Francesca probably wouldn't want to hear about her mother in such a manner, in this particular setting. So Allen stayed silent for a moment, then, seeing that the old man had already gotten out of bed, nodded: "Yes, I found them. I'll need your help escorting them out of Kaedwen."
Francesca instinctively nodded but then realized something: "What about you?"
"Aren't you coming with us?"
....…
📢20 advanced chapters on p@treaon📢
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179. The New Item.
180. As You Wish.
181. The Unbreakable Shield.
182. Vera is Here.
183. The Strange Male Sorcerer.
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