Vesemir and Geralt stared at the lake.
When they saw Alvin walk out of the water, their cat-like eyes went still for a second, then their pupils suddenly widened.
Foul blood kept pouring from beneath the Drowned Dead’s hideous head, staining the river red.
Vesemir’s breathing grew slightly ragged.
An Apprentice Witcher had killed a Drowned Dead alone in the water.
If someone had told him that before, Vesemir would never have believed it.
He might even have laughed in their face for talking nonsense.
But now, the truth was right in front of him.
The moment Alvin left the water, his body had no time to adjust.
The sudden loss of buoyancy made him stumble.
Vesemir shot forward like lightning and caught him firmly.
“Alvin!?”
Geralt followed close behind.
Vesemir only glanced at Alvin before shouting.
“Geralt, he’s lost a lot of blood.
[Golden Oriole], quickly, get the [Golden Oriole]!”
Geralt swiftly took a black vial from the potion pouch at his waist and pulled out the oak stopper.
Alvin opened his mouth and bit down on the mouth of the vial, drinking all of the [Golden Oriole].
The bitterness seemed to bore into his throat, but the tearing pain across his body was soon eased.
Vries hurried over and said urgently, “Don’t stay here.
His body temperature is too low.
He needs a warm fire.
Take him to the camp.”
Geralt grunted in acknowledgment.
Whether Alvin agreed or not, he hoisted him up at once and sprinted at full speed toward the cliffside camp.
…
At the cliffside camp.
Vesemir formed the Igni Sign with his right hand toward the campfire.
The fire ignited instantly, sending up orange-red flames.
Geralt laid Alvin down on the wool blanket that had already been spread out.
“That’s enough.
Move aside and give me some room.”
Vries stretched out both hands, palms aimed at Alvin, and began chanting a spell.
Magic surged.
Green motes of light emerged from her pale palms, like countless fireflies drifting toward Alvin’s entire body.
Those frightening wounds were wrapped in green light and began healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
A comfortable breath escaped Alvin’s mouth, as if he had drunk a cup of warm tea on a cold winter day.
His whole body relaxed.
Geralt stood aside and watched quietly, undisguised curiosity and astonishment flashing through his cat-like eyes.
Aside from Vries flying through the air earlier and his own Signs, this was the first time he had carefully observed Chaos.
Vesemir was experienced enough to recognize it at once as [Healing Spell].
With someone of her status acting, Alvin’s life was no longer in danger.
Vries glanced at the two of them.
“Stop staring.
Go make something to eat.”
Vesemir turned and said, “Geralt, go heat the broth we prepared.
I’ll keep an eye on Aiken and the others.”
Geralt shrugged.
“Mm.”
Thirty minutes later.
Alvin had already sat up, clutching the wool blanket around him with both hands.
The flames of the campfire reflected in his cat-like eyes, and his stiff body had warmed considerably.
Geralt sat beside him, ladled a bowl of meat broth from the clay pot over the fire, and handed it to Alvin.
Alvin took it with both hands.
The camp was so quiet that the crackle of burning wood could be heard clearly.
Geralt said nothing.
He only patted Alvin on the shoulder.
Everything was understood without needing to be said.
Alvin knew in his heart that after this battle, he had truly become part of Kaer Morhen.
Not as an Apprentice, but as a Witcher.
“Rest well.
I’ll go have a look over there.”
After saying that, Geralt rose and walked toward the edge of the cliff.
Vesemir and Vries were watching the movements of the Apprentices below while speaking in low voices.
When they saw Geralt approaching, Vesemir asked, “How is Alvin?”
Geralt said, “He’s recovering well.”
Vesemir gave Vries a grateful look.
Vries said, “There’s no need to thank me.
I did it of my own accord.
Even if he had been a stranger, I would still have helped.”
“There is one thing, though.
Did either of you notice?
From the moment Alvin was dragged underwater by the Drowned Dead, nearly ten minutes passed.”
“That is enough time for a person to suffocate, even if they stayed completely still in the water.
Yet Alvin was able to fight underwater and even kill the Drowned Dead.
It truly is incredible.”
After hearing this, Geralt silently agreed with Vries.
Vesemir thought for a moment, then said, “Lady Vries, a Witcher’s mutations bring tremendous changes to the human body.
According to past records, those changes are not limited to the skin and cat eyes.
There are others as well.”
“Take Geralt’s hair, for instance.
That was the result of a secondary mutation, and it also gave him stronger bodily functions.”
“As for Alvin, perhaps his lungs underwent a secondary mutation, making them far stronger than those of an ordinary Witcher.”
Vries let out a soft laugh and did not argue.
She had lived for centuries and seen all kinds of bodies, but she had never heard of a secondary mutation of the lungs.
Vesemir was clearly saying this to protect Alvin.
He did not want her to interfere too deeply.
All at once, the three of them looked down.
An Apprentice had his back against the rock wall, surrounded by three Drowners.
The Silver Sword in his hand was visibly trembling, and the situation had turned dangerous.
Without the slightest hesitation, the three immediately moved.
Alvin sat beside the fire and finished the full bowl of meat broth, noticing the three of them leave.
Then he glanced at Brad, who was still unconscious not far away, before opening the System Panel.
Drowned Dead.
A BOSS-level Mutagen.
He could not help rubbing his hands together, anticipation rising in his heart.
[Drowned Dead Mutagen: Installing this Mutagen can slightly increase speed and grant the yellow talent Lesser Water Element Affinity]
Like the Drowner’s Mutagen, it slightly increased speed, but the talent that came after made Alvin’s eyes light up.
[Lesser Water Element Affinity (yellow): Gain affinity with the water element.
While in meditation, you can initially perceive the trajectories of the water element in the world]
Water element.
One of the Four Elements.
Lady Vries told me that because of their mutations, Witchers have great difficulty sensing the elements.
My earlier meditation proved she was right.
Two hours, and I did not gain even 1 point of experience.
But now, all of that is about to change.
Alvin could hardly suppress the joy tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Install the Drowned Dead Mutagen!
[Drowned Dead Mutagen installed successfully]
In that instant, Alvin felt a cool sensation spread from his spine through every part of his body.
He sensed something flowing in his vision, constantly gathering toward the Gwenllech beside him.
It’s the water element!
Alvin forced down his excitement and quickly closed his eyes.
Following the Meditation Method, he soon sensed those pale blue specks of light.
[Basic Meditation Experience +1!]
Hearing the system notification, Alvin’s heart beat faster with excitement.
His [Basic Meditation] experience had finally broken past 0.
From nothing to something.
This was a complete transformation.
Grind.
Keep grinding.