Vesemir’s voice had barely faded when four Drowners pounced at him.
Alvin held his training sword, his cat-like eyes narrowing.
With the powerful reflexes granted by [Dual Soul] and his mutation, his mind slipped once more into a state of intense focus.
Time seemed to slow.
Alvin rolled, dodged, and wove through the pack of Drowners.
“Rip!”
A gash tore open the linen shirt across his chest, and a burning sting flared across his skin.
“Hah!”
The Drowner crouched low, a snarl rumbling in its throat.
Alvin swung his sword and barely forced back the Drowner in front of him.
Fighting Drowners with a training sword was far too difficult.
Sweat covered Alvin’s forehead.
If this stalemate dragged on, forget the 75% Mutagen.
He might end up like Brad.
“Whoosh!”
A sharp rush of air sounded behind him.
In the corner of his eye, a silver streak flashed past like lightning.
“Clang!”
A slender blade stabbed into the ground.
Beneath its slightly angled crossguard, dim and obscure Runes were carved into the steel.
Alvin’s cat-like eyes flickered.
Without hesitation, he dropped the training sword and seized the hilt.
At the same time, a foul wind thick with the stench of fish rushed into his face.
Alvin rolled backward, and a message suddenly appeared in his mind.
The white talent [Blade Perception] activated.
[School of the Wolf Witcher Silver Sword: A silver sword from the Kaer Morhen Armory collection, with a steel core plated in silver.
The blade is engraved with low-level Runes and has thirty-seven flaws.
Total length: thirty-eight inches; blade length: twenty-five inches; weight: forty ounces; center of gravity: two and a half inches from the guard; suited for slashing attacks.]
It’s the Silver Sword!
Joy surged through Alvin’s heart.
He quickly stood, gripped the hilt with both hands, and in only an instant, the weapon in his grasp felt familiar.
“Hah!”
The Drowner lunged at him.
Alvin glared and swung.
The blade traced a silver-white arc through the air and struck the Drowner’s head.
“Clang!”
The moment the edge touched the scales atop the Drowner’s skull, the obscure Runes on the blade lit up.
“Sizzle!”
Like butter on a hot pan, the scales gave off a sharp hiss and melted in an instant.
The Drowner was split straight through the head, half of its skull flying past Alvin’s ear.
[Killed Drowner, obtained 25% Drowner Mutagen.]
Alvin had no time to be shocked.
Drowners were already closing in silently from both sides.
He spun, avoided their pounces, and swung his sword!
The entire sequence had long since been carved into his muscle memory.
Vesemir narrowed his cat-like eyes, watching every stroke of Alvin’s sword.
He could not help feeling impressed.
His Apprentice Swordsmanship was truly solid.
[Killed Drowner, obtained 25% Drowner Mutagen.]
[Killed Drowner, obtained 25% Drowner Mutagen.]
“Hah!”
The last Drowner lashed out madly with both claws.
Alvin raised his sword to block.
The power of the Silver Sword cracked the Drowner’s palms, but the heavy impact also left Alvin’s arms numb.
He stepped forward and turned to the side, then brought his sword down.
The Drowner’s shrill howl gradually died beside his ear.
Alvin stood there panting, staring at the ground before him.
Murky blood was everywhere, Drowner limbs lay scattered around, and entrails had spilled across the floor.
He lowered his gaze to the silver-white blade in his hand, tightened his grip, and swallowed silently.
So this was the power of a Silver Sword.
It was born to counter monsters like these.
That training sword he had been holding a moment ago was nothing but trash.
“Clap, clap!”
Vesemir walked over, clapping his hands.
“That was a fine display of swordsmanship, Alvin.
Your Apprentice Swordsmanship is very solid.
Well done, my boy.”
Geralt also stepped forward, nodded to Alvin, and held out his hand.
“Good work.”
Alvin knew the Silver Sword in his hand had been thrown over by Geralt, so he handed it back with some reluctance.
Geralt took it, flicked off the blood, and sheathed the blade.
Vesemir patted Alvin on the shoulder.
“No need to envy him.
Once you become a Witcher, you’ll naturally have a silver sword of your own.”
Vesemir saw right through Alvin’s little thoughts, and Alvin scratched his head in embarrassment.
Vesemir walked a few steps forward into the mess of Drowner corpses and lightly nudged the split Drowner head with the tip of his boot.
“Tsk, tsk.
That cut was very clean.
Rare, even among past Apprentices.
But it still wasn’t perfect.”
Geralt shrugged, knowing Vesemir was about to start teaching again.
Alvin, however, walked over with a serious expression.
Vesemir crouched down and pointed at the yellowish-brown mass of soft tissue.
“I remember teaching you alchemical knowledge related to Drowners before.
How much do you still remember?”
Alvin recalled his old alchemy lessons, along with his understanding of The Witcher, and quickly answered, “I remember that Drowner brains and Drowner tongues are alchemical ingredients.
They can be used to make Potions like Swallow’s Potion.”
“Correct.
But clearly, the Drowner brain in front of us can’t be used anymore.”
“A complete Drowner brain can fetch one and a half crowns from an Alchemist.”
“Crowns are one of the most commonly used currencies in the Northern Kingdoms.
Don’t look down on that one and a half.
It’s enough to get you a proper meal at an inn.
A hundred crowns can even buy you a passable horse.”
“And these, the Drowner’s scales, claws, and fangs.
Give them to the Quartermasters at the local barracks, and they can use them to make small weapons.
That can bring in a fair bit of coin as well.”
Alvin’s eyes flickered.
He knew Vesemir was passing on valuable Witcher experience.
Even Geralt, who was usually somewhat lax, was listening carefully.
For him, since he would soon be heading down the mountain, this was knowledge he could use right away.
Vesemir stood.
“All right.
That’s enough for this morning.”
Alvin and Geralt both gave the Apprentice’s salute.
Vesemir looked at Alvin.
“This afternoon is alchemy class.
Go for your run, my child.
Since you performed well just now, you may run five laps fewer.”
Alvin froze for a moment.
He had thought he had gotten out of the running, but Vesemir had clearly not forgotten.
“Yes!”
Alvin gave a light shout, then turned and ran toward the city walls.
Vesemir watched Alvin’s back as he left, a rare smile appearing at the corner of his stern mouth.
“That boy is humble and steady.
Truly not bad.
How did I never notice that before?”
Geralt murmured, “The Trial of the Grasses, Vesemir.
You said before that the Trial of the Grasses can change a person’s character.”
Vesemir nodded thoughtfully, then stretched his waist.
“That’s true.
Geralt, let’s deal with these Drowners.
Ah, this old back of mine.”
Geralt let out a breath.
“I’ll do it.”
Vesemir narrowed his eyes, clearly in a good mood.
Not far away, Alvin, who was jogging beneath the city walls, silently opened his interface.
[Detected 125% Drowner Mutagen.
Synthesize?]
Don’t let me down.
Synthesize.
[Obtained Drowner Mutagen x1.
Remaining Drowner Mutagen: 25%.]
[Drowner Mutagen (White): Installing this mutagen can slightly increase physical speed and grant the white talent Underwater Breathing.]
[Underwater Breathing (White): Your cheek muscles are strengthened, allowing you to filter oxygen from lake water and move freely in shallow water for 20 minutes.]
[Install mutagen?]