Alvin crouched low, stepped across the wooden stakes, and rushed toward the Windmill Dummy.
Under the boost from [Dual Soul], every sense in his body was pushed to the limit.
In his vision, the three Pendulums tore through the air with sharp, urgent whistles.
Alvin raised his sword to block, using the blade to knock aside the first Pendulum striking from the side.
He turned forward and twisted his wrist.
Faster.
Just a little faster!
[Drowner Mutagen] gave him a burst of speed.
His training sword swept sideways, deflecting the second Pendulum coming from the flank.
His open field of vision was quickly filled by the third Pendulum rushing straight toward him.
Alvin swiftly lowered his body.
The Pendulum whistled over his head, whipping his hair wildly in its wake.
He was only one step away from striking the Windmill Dummy.
Alvin’s heart raced, but he did not look up.
His ears moved slightly.
He could hear the sound of the Windmill Dummy’s wooden rods cutting through the air, far to near, near to far, chaotic yet patterned.
Alvin’s mental focus sharpened to the extreme, and in his mind he traced the Windmill Dummy’s attack path.
The gaps between the rods grew clearer and clearer.
His gray cat-like eyes flared suddenly, and the muscles in both arms tightened.
Now.
He struck with all his strength.
Thrust!
Clang!
The longsword pierced the air, and its edge slammed hard into the Magic Stone on the Windmill Dummy’s neck.
Crack!
Under that forceful blow, cracks began spreading across the smooth surface of the Magic Stone.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
The Windmill Dummy stopped swinging and kept rattling in place.
The chains extending from the tower suddenly pulled taut, dragging the swinging Pendulums swiftly back into the air.
Silence fell over the scene.
“Huff…
huff…”
Alvin could hear only his own breathing.
[Wolf School Witcher Swordsmanship Experience +20!]
The system notification rang out.
Alvin tightened his grip on the sword and puffed out his chest, nearly letting out a long howl.
Twenty experience points in one go.
It felt incredible.
This visible sense of growing stronger was like poison, constantly driving him forward and tempting him on.
“He did it…”
Geralt murmured, his eyes full of disbelief as his hand slowly loosened from his sword hilt.
He looked toward Vesemir, whose cat-like eyes held the same surprise and delight.
“Oh!
Three Pendulums!
Alvin did it!”
“Did you see that?
Alvin did it!”
As Alvin’s close friend, Paul shouted while waving his sword.
The other apprentices had long since fallen open-mouthed.
“I saw it, Paul.
Put your sword away.
You nearly hit me.”
Horton complained, and Paul laughed loudly.
Behind the apprentices, Aiken pressed his lips together.
After the shock faded from his cat-like eyes, they began to dim.
His shoulders slowly slumped, and he looked somewhat lost.
He was a proud person and had always considered himself the strongest Witcher Apprentice of this group.
But after seeing that scene, he knew he had lost.
Alvin jumped down from the “comb,” his steps a little unsteady.
Vesemir did not hold back his praise.
“Well done, child.”
Geralt nodded in satisfaction as well.
Alvin put away the training sword and gave an Apprentice’s salute.
The apprentices quickly crowded around him, and Paul pulled Alvin into a bear hug.
“Hiss!”
Alvin sucked in a sharp breath.
Paul had pressed right against the wounds on his body.
Paul hurriedly let go, his face full of apology.
“My brother, I’m sorry.
I got too excited.”
Horton said, “You actually got through those three Pendulums and struck the dummy.”
Brad said, “Alvin, you were as fast as the wind!”
The apprentices kept clamoring around him, and Alvin could tell they were truly happy for him.
After all, they were companions who had lived together for six years.
Even Aiken had closed his mouth for now, envy hidden in his eyes.
Alvin said, “It was luck, just luck.
Without Master Vesemir, I would have fallen long ago.”
Vesemir smiled.
“Hah, Alvin, you’re too modest.
That isn’t something luck alone can do.”
“You even shattered the Magic Stone on the dummy.
Among all the apprentices we’ve had, no more than five have managed that.”
Alvin sniffed, a little embarrassed.
Then Vesemir’s tone shifted.
“But don’t get too proud.
There are nine Pendulums in the tower.”
“If you can break through this Windmill Dummy under the assault of all nine Pendulums, then your Wolf School Witcher Swordsmanship will count as having achieved something.”
Nine Pendulums!?
Hearing that, Alvin accepted the lesson humbly.
“I’ll work hard, Master Vesemir.”
“Wolf School Witcher Swordsmanship?”
Aiken suddenly looked up after hearing that exchange.
Vesemir explained, “Wolf School Witcher Swordsmanship, also known as the Wolf School Sword Dance, is a special sword technique of Kaer Morhen.
It places extremely high demands on footwork and was designed specifically for fighting many enemies at once and dealing with monsters.”
“After seeing Alvin, there’s no need for any of you to lose heart.
He’s only one step ahead of you.”
Only then did the apprentices understand.
Aiken’s breathing quickened.
“Then Master Vesemir, how can we learn this swordsmanship?”
Vesemir gave a faint smile.
“As long as you can successfully stop the Windmill Dummy on the ‘comb,’ it proves your Apprentice Swordsmanship has been properly trained, and you may learn Wolf School Witcher Swordsmanship.”
“Geralt, once Windmill Training is over, you’ll teach the apprentices who pass.”
“Those who don’t pass will keep doing Windmill Training until they do.”
After hearing this, confidence reignited in Aiken’s unwilling cat-like eyes.
So Alvin had learned a more advanced sword technique ahead of time, which was why he was stronger.
He believed he could do it too.
Alvin sensed Aiken’s fighting spirit, and the corner of his mouth twitched helplessly.
Although Aiken had been provoking him at every turn these past two days, Alvin knew he was only arrogant by nature and did not really hide any malice in his heart.
Just like earlier, Aiken had only wished in his mind that Alvin would fall into the haystack below the inner wall, not over the outer wall and down the cliff.
“All right, enough chatter.”
“Windmill Training continues.
Next, Paul.
You were the most excited just now, so you’re up.”
Paul stiffened, lingering fear showing on his face.
The other apprentices all revealed little looks of gloating.
Alvin patted him on the shoulder and encouraged him.
“Go on.
You can do it.”
Paul froze for a moment before slowly nodding.
Vesemir said, “Alvin, since you’ve passed the training, don’t stay here showing off.
Go into the castle and find some ointment to put on yourself.
Your back still hurts, doesn’t it?”
Alvin gave an awkward smile.
“Should I go find Lady Vries?”
“Lady Vries?” Vesemir paused.
Geralt stepped forward and added, “Alvin became Vries’s alchemy assistant yesterday.”
Hearing this, Vesemir’s stern face did not change, but Geralt clearly caught the deep astonishment that flashed through his amber cat-like eyes.
As a Full-fledged Witcher, even Geralt did not know exactly how old Vesemir was.
There were even rumors that Vesemir was older than the fortress of Kaer Morhen itself.
For something to surprise him showed just how unusual it was.
Alvin also sensed that something was strange, but Vesemir quickly returned to himself.
“Of course, child.
Go find her.”
“Yes.”
Alvin’s expression did not change.
After saluting, he headed toward the passage leading down to the ground.
Once Alvin had gone some distance, Geralt could not help asking in a low voice.
“Vesemir, who exactly is this Vries…”
Vesemir did not answer.
He only used his cat-like eyes to indicate the wolf’s head medallion on Geralt’s chest.
Geralt understood at once, and his blood quickened.
Magic.
Sorceresses.