The rotten, bloody stench of the Drowner drifted across the training ground, and the yard fell into a brief, deathly silence.
Paul swallowed and spoke in shock.
“Gods, Alvin… he actually killed that terrifying Drowner.”
Horton, who had narrowly escaped the Drowner’s pounce after Alvin kicked him to the ground, stared at Alvin in disbelief, even forgetting to get back up.
Not far away, Vesemir’s amber catlike eyes were filled with the same astonishment.
Geralt sheathed his Silver Sword.
When his gaze met Vesemir’s, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly, as if to say that even Vesemir could misjudge things.
Vesemir cleared his throat.
“Everyone, over here!”
Alvin flicked his wrist, shaking the blood from his training sword, then walked quickly to stand before Vesemir.
Vesemir first checked Brad’s injury.
Then he took a small black vial from the lining of his jacket, pulled out the oak stopper, poured some of the liquid into Brad’s mouth, and poured more over the wound on his right arm.
Alvin watched closely with his catlike eyes.
The bleeding wound on Brad’s right arm quickly stopped bleeding and even formed a thin scab.
Alvin thought, ‘It’s a Potion.
For such a long wound to take effect this quickly… how amazing.’
Vesemir’s tone was reproachful.
“If you don’t have the skill, don’t try to show off like others.
You’ll only drag them down instead.”
“Have the wound bandaged later.
Rest for a few days and you’ll be fine.
Back in line.”
Brad nodded in shame and returned to the group.
Vesemir swept his gaze over everyone, and the air grew oppressive.
Even Geralt, standing to the side, became more attentive.
“The results of this training have surprised me in some ways and disappointed me in others.”
“Aiken, I know you work hard at swordsmanship every day and want to prove yourself, but your youth makes you reckless.
You lose sight of the danger right in front of you.”
Hearing this, Aiken first lowered his head, then muttered stubbornly, “Master Vesemir, if Brad hadn’t suddenly stepped in and thrown off my rhythm, that Drowner wouldn’t have hurt him, and I could’ve killed it too, just like Alvin.”
Vesemir frowned and stepped forward until he stood right in front of Aiken, his broad figure bearing down with heavy pressure.
“Oh, damn it.
Are you saying Brad dragged you down?”
Aiken’s pupils trembled.
He swallowed and unconsciously took a step back.
Vesemir pressed him.
“Aiken, raise your head and tell me.
What is the Witcher’s Code?
Say it loudly!”
Aiken was too frightened to speak.
Vesemir gave a cold snort, reached out, snatched the training sword from Aiken’s hand, and turned to Alvin.
“Alvin, you say it.”
Alvin went rigid and frantically searched his mind for the knowledge of the Witcher’s Code.
With the effect of [Dual Soul], he quickly remembered.
“Master Vesemir, it is to protect humanity and protect our companions.”
Vesemir said loudly, “Good.
Very good!”
His gaze fell on Aiken again, his eyes fierce and menacing.
He grabbed Aiken by the collar and lifted him straight into the air, speaking each word clearly.
“I remember telling you from the first day you picked up a sword that you must learn to help one another.
You learn the sword not to kill or be killed, but to save lives.
Your own life, and the lives of others.”
“And now you’re blaming your companion for dragging you down.
You should be ashamed.”
Aiken lowered his head, fists clenched, not daring to resist.
His eyes were full of unwillingness.
“I know I was wrong.”
Vesemir snorted coldly.
“Go back and think hard about it.
Until you understand this, you’re not allowed to touch a sword.”
Only then did he put Aiken down and sweep his gaze over the other Apprentices again.
Except for Alvin, all of them lowered their heads on their own.
The reason was simple.
They could all tell that Vesemir was very dissatisfied with how they had performed against the Drowners.
Vesemir took a deep breath.
“Today’s Drowner Trial is over.
I want you to remember the fear you felt today.
In the next Trial, Geralt and I won’t be there to watch over you.”
“All Apprentices, listen up.
Run twenty laps around the castle.
Anyone who doesn’t finish gets no lunch.”
“Yes, Master Vesemir!”
The Apprentices shouted in unison and hurried toward the castle walls.
Geralt watched their backs, as if recalling the days when Vesemir had trained them.
But among the Apprentices from his own group, aside from Eskel, who had been a little older than him, not a single other Apprentice had survived.
“Hm?”
Geralt made a sound of surprise when he realized Alvin, who should have followed the group, was still standing where he was.
Vesemir looked at him, arms crossed, the anger in his catlike eyes not yet gone.
“Tsk, tsk.
Alvin, I nearly forgot about you, my little hero.
Didn’t you hear what I just said?
I said all Apprentices.”
“Or are you like Aiken, thinking they slowed you down?”
“Or do you think killing one Drowner means you can ask me for a reward?”
Alvin’s mouth twitched slightly.
Now he knew where Geralt had learned that venomous tongue of his.
Most likely from this stubborn old man right in front of him.
Alvin first gave an Apprentice salute.
“Master Vesemir, when I was fighting the Drowner just now, I felt my swordsmanship improve a little, but I couldn’t fully grasp it in the moment.”
“So I wanted to ask how those four Drowners over there will be dealt with.
Could I… could I challenge the Drowners again?”
After hearing this, both Vesemir and Geralt’s catlike eyes narrowed slightly.
“Geralt, listen to what this boy is saying.
Truly impressive.”
Geralt straightened his back, properly looking at the Witcher Apprentice in front of him for the first time.
Alvin had not expected Vesemir to praise him so directly.
He scratched his head and gave a shy smile.
Vesemir clapped his hands.
“Since you’ve made that request, as a Witcher, I’ll certainly satisfy it.”
Geralt noticed Vesemir’s deliberate look.
A wicked smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he strode quickly to the wooden post.
Alvin focused, licking his dry lips.
‘If I kill three more Drowners, I can get the complete 100% Drowner Mutagen.
With Vesemir and Geralt here, this is the best chance I’ll get.
I hope they don’t disappoint me.’
Alvin had already begun imagining what kind of boost the Drowner Mutagen might bring.
But just then, Geralt circled around to the front of the Drowners, drew his sword, and cut through all the silver chains in a single stroke.
The four Drowners had long since been driven into a frenzy by the smell of blood.
Pairs of savage dead-fish eyes all fixed on Alvin, who was stained with blood.
Alvin’s body went tense, every hair standing on end, and he immediately shouted at Vesemir.
“No, Vesemir!
I meant one-on-one!”
Vesemir simply stepped aside.
“You fool.
Isn’t this the challenge you asked for?”
“One-on-one?
You already proved yourself just now.
Besides, out in the wild marshes, where would you find a place to fight monsters one-on-one?
If you want a challenge, of course it has to be exciting.”
“Don’t stand there gawking, Alvin.
Use your sword!”