Chapter 208 Ciri wants to grow up quickly.
As one of the four northern kingdoms, the Kingdom of Kaedwen is famous for its vast land and sparse population. Even its king Henselt may not have finished measuring the land of Kaedwen, so there are too many mysteries in this land.
In the far north of Kaedwen, one of the few forgotten corners of the world, part of the endless Blue Mountains, lies Kaer Morhen, the stronghold of the Wolf School of Witchers.
Today, this forgotten corner once again welcomes visitors.
The fiery red portal spread in mid-air, and Lan rode Black Wind out of it first. Without the onlookers of the Sintra crowd, this time one person and one horse no longer had to keep their expressions tight. At this moment, they all turned pale and dizzy, staggering and almost fell to the ground.
Following Lann came out the four members of the Snake Faction, and their condition was no better than Lann.
The last person to walk out of the portal was Mossak. He looked happily at the various witchers in front of him. He stomped the ground with the heavy oak cane in his hand, dissipating the portal behind him into nothingness.
Kaer Morhen is also a place that needs to be kept secret and does not accept unexplained visitors. Therefore, Lan En only brought a few people with him on this trip, and even the attendants did not come with him. They were just visiting friends.
Kolgrim sat down holding a stone to relieve the dizziness that hit his head. With a force, he actually broke off a stone. He unconsciously handed the stone to his eyes, and in a daze he saw lines on it that looked like fossils. Those lines connected with each other, depicting the shapes of shells and fish.
"I must be too dizzy, the distance of this portal is too long... How can there be fossils of fish and shells on the Blue Mountain..." Mossack
looked at Kolgrim amusedly, and said: "No, this is Marine fossils. This mountain range was once a sea, and it became what it is today after the evolution of the earth's crust. 'Kaer Morhen' means 'ancient sea fortress' in the ancient language." The old druid took two steps forward
. , pointing to the castle in the mountains: "I have been here many times. I could have teleported you directly to the castle hall. But considering that it is your first time here, I think it is better for you to watch this. The overall view of the fortress is better."
Following Mossack's fingers, the sights of the demon hunters (and the demon-hunting horses) were directed towards a stretching mountain river and a winding circular mountain road. Further up, there is a defensive wall that collapsed with only its scaffolding, the remaining towers and gates, and the heavy and thick cylindrical main tower.
The castle almost blended into the snow-capped mountains, faintly but exaggerating the weight of human history that enveloped everyone's hearts. The unrepaired city wall still retains traces of the battle. Just looking at it seems to recall the ever-changing sounds of fighting in your ears.
.........
The Wolf School is the most peculiar school among all the demon hunter schools.
Normal schools of demon hunters basically have their own characteristics. They will choose one or a few techniques to study in depth based on their own environment, life and combat needs.
The Cat sect is good at swords, especially dexterous light strikes, and pursues a fatal blow to people; the griffon studies magic seals, so it begins to delve into magic. The masters in the sect even surpass the sorcerers in spell knowledge; the Snake sect is obsessed with poison and sword oil , they carry forward these skills and can often kill people invisible; the Bear Faction, which has not yet appeared, is said to be good at swords, but they like to work miracles with force, and they have specialties in the defensive [Quen's Seal].
As for the Wolf Faction, they know a little bit of everything. A mature wolf sect demon hunter can use his sword to defeat a long-established swordsman head-on. He can also use sword oil and magic potions to fully prepare himself before hunting demons, and be able to use them skillfully after he actually starts hunting. Signs and bombs to help kill enemies quickly.
This kind of person who "knows a little bit of everything" is theoretically the easiest person to have a protagonist.
The reason why the Wolf Sect is so knowledgeable and complex is largely due to their history - the Wolf Sect is known as the "orthodox inheritor of the Demon Hunter Order", and this is also true.
After the founder of the Demon Hunter Order, Master Arzu, left the Order, conflicts arose among the Demon Hunters within the Order due to conflicting ideas, and subsequently they left in large numbers to establish schools around the world.
The remaining demon hunters took all the experimental equipment, mutation materials, and experimental manuals, and carefully packed up the demon hunter order with the alchemists and warlocks who were willing to help them, and then arrived at the Blue Mountains and established the Yi The impenetrable castle "Kaer Morhen".
They are the most standard witchers, not as extreme as the Cat Faction, nor as selfless as the Griffins. They abide by neutrality and moderation, do things unfairly, never get involved in politics, and do not train apprentices on a large scale. The most prosperous Wolf Faction has no more than fifteen demon hunters, and no more than thirty apprentices in training.
But in Lann's eyes, these wolves are all patients with borderline personality disorder, and may have a tendency to self-destruct.
The Wolf Faction can be said to have the most abundant resources, the most spellcasters, and the most orthodox inheritance among all schools, but they have never sought development. Faced with the rumors against the demon hunters in the later period, they never wanted to quell them, but only wanted to prove themselves through time and action.
In the end, just like the Griffin School, the Wolf School ushered in the covetousness of the warlocks and the fear of the rulers. The mastermind behind the scenes instigated the mob to attack Kaer Morhen and killed almost all the witchers, warlocks and alchemists in the castle. , only the last great master Vesemir escaped.
And when Vesemir trained a new generation of wolf sect demon hunters, these demon hunters all lacked recognition of their identity as demon hunters. They hate the witcher mutation that took away the lives of most of their companions, and they keep secret of the pain they have suffered. They are not willing to train the next generation of demon hunters, even if there are a few "accidental children" along the way, they are not willing to bring them back to train them.
In the end, even Grand Master Vesemir succumbed. He destroyed most of the school's alchemical instruments used for mutation, and only kept a few of them in dust for contemplation. In the original history, the Wolf Faction also quickly disappeared from the world.
But Lan knew that Vesemir, an old mentor who had experienced the heyday of the Wolf sect, still hoped to revive the sect in his heart. His attitude was more of a disillusionment with the times and painful memories of the past. of surrender.
Lann hopes to reawaken the only spark of passion left in Vesemir's heart.
Leisuo looked at the mottled city walls and dilapidated castle, and felt deeply in his heart: "Can't all the base camps of demon hunters escape the fate of being destroyed?" Then the current leader of the Snake Faction looked at Lann again
. From behind, the lion-like young man was looking at the majestic castle, with thousands of emotions mixed in his eyes. The sunlight hit his half-long pale golden hair, and the reflected light was even more dazzling than the snow on the top of the mountain.
"Is the future of the Witcher...here?"
...
Triss is in Kaer Morhen at the moment. She serves as a teaching assistant during the day and is responsible for Ciri's magic courses with Yennefer. The red-haired sorceress had communicated with Mossak in advance about the time of her visit, so the people in the castle knew early on that there would be visitors today.
Because of this, Xili was out of state all day today, and her potions class in the morning almost turned into an alchemy bomb preparation class.
She was sitting in the classroom, but her heart had already flown to Lan En's arms.
The windows and doors of the classroom were wide open, and suddenly the sound of horse hooves floated in from outside. Immediately afterwards, Yennefer, who was teaching her, saw the girl with mouse-grey hair put on her griffon cloak like a gust of wind, and rushed out of the door at a speed that was invisible to the naked eye.
Normally, Yennefer would definitely get angry and start yelling at this moment, and maybe even start sarcastic towards Geralt. But today she started to sip her wine with a smile, leaning on the window sill and looking at the group of people walking into the yard. The
blond knight and a group of warriors with amber snake eyes walked in from the outside world wrapped in the snow mist. The white-haired old demon hunter who walked out of the hall opened his arms in a welcoming gesture.
The old man in front of him is Vesemir, the mentor of the Wolf School.
Unlike Geralt, who has milky-white hair caused by mutations, Vesemir also has white hair. But it was time and old age that bleached his hair, and few witchers lived as long as he did.
The eyes of this old demon hunter with stories engraved on his face lit up when he saw Mossack. When he saw the blond lion-eyed demon hunter beside Mossak, his eyes brightened even more.
Lan was about to get to know the owner of this castle under Mossak's introduction, but suddenly he felt a gust of mouse-gray wind blowing in front of his eyes, and then a familiar touch crashed into his arms, and then A familiar voice sounded in my ears.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah by Lann!!"
It can't be said that it is too familiar. At least the weight of this body is much heavier than when they were separated. Judging from the touch coming from the fingertips, it seems that It also started to have some curves.
The little girl is starting to grow up. The surprise on Lan En's face quickly turned into a smile, and he quickly reacted and hugged the girl in his arms. And Xili's body and heart finally merged into one at this moment.
Mossack, Vesemir standing at the door, and Yennefer leaning against the window all showed almost unanimous smiles when they saw this scene.
Lan gently patted Xili in his arms, knowing that there was no way he could pull out the girl whose limbs were embedded in his body like tree roots.
He kept holding Ciri with one hand and greeted the owner of the castle in front of him.
"Hello, you must be Master Vesemir. I am Lann of Cintra, Lann Lannister Wrenlan. It is a pleasure to meet you." "You must have heard
from many channels and from all angles . You told me." The old demon hunter, also known as Vesemir, showed an intriguing smile on his face, "I have also heard about you from many people." The
old demon hunter looked towards Lan in a smart way. Waving his hand: "There is no need to address me with honorifics. I can't bear to hear such words as 'Mr.', 'Mentor' or the like. Our wolf cubs all call me by my name directly." Indeed, unlike the Gryphon school of thought that values etiquette,
Wolf The party paid little attention to this kind of verbal courtesy, even a little bit. But the emotional connection between them is the closest.
"Well, I'm glad to finally meet you, Vesemir." Lan quickly followed the Romans and shook hands with Vesemir with his free right hand.
Then Lan's hand holding Xili exerted a little force, and he lifted the little girl up unsteadily and walked aside, revealing Lei Suo behind him.
If Lann is visiting as a family member or even with a political mission. Then the people of the Snake Sect are simply communicating among the demon hunters.
"If you have traveled a long distance, you must be tired now. If you have passed through the portal, then you need to rest even more now." Vesemir laughed, "I will take you to your respective rooms. If you are willing, you can You can visit Kaer Morhen. My boys went out to hunt and prepare a sumptuous dinner for the Serpent brothers, druids, and Ciri's family who rarely come here." Lann smiled and said: "I have
already I'm starting to look forward to it."
"I know you have a lot to say to me. Let's talk about it together during dinner." Vesemir obviously had something in mind and said solemnly to Lan.
Then he changed his expression to a warm one, as if the seriousness just now was just an illusion, "Ciri, you will take Lan's room to her, and I will be responsible for the other guests!" "Okay!" Ciri's muffled
voice Coming from Lan En's arms, it's really hard for her to be able to respond to the outside world's orders.
.........
After the initial clinging, Ciri quickly got off Lan En, but her hand still held Lan En's arm firmly.
She didn't look back, just walked away. Lann didn't notice anything strange at first, and wanted to tease the little girl, but soon he saw Ciri's expression again.
I saw that after the initial ecstasy, Xili became worried again.
Lann tried to say hello to Ciri several times, but the little girl didn't respond at all.
What's going on? Are you having trouble?
Until they entered the room prepared for Lan and closed the door, Shirley kept her back to Lan.
"What's wrong, my princess?" Lan En looked around the room unnaturally and said with a smile, "Are you still blaming me for leaving you here and never coming to find you?" Lan En said sincerely: "If that's the
case If so, I apologize to you."
Facing Lan's reaction, Ciri wrinkled her nose where Lan couldn't see it.
"That's not it. You are very busy. I know that everything you do is for Cintra. I can stay here because you are outside to protect me from the wind and rain. Yennefer and Triss told me I have read a lot of stories about the lost princess, and I am lucky to be here now." Xili said.
"So I worked very hard in Kaer Morhen and never asked to leave here, because I wanted to make myself useful quickly, fulfill the responsibility of a princess, and help you as soon as possible." Hearing Ciri's
words , the expression on Lan En's face gradually melted away.
He walked forward gently, put his two elbows on Shiri's shoulders, crossed the girl's collarbone with his left hand to hug her shoulders, and gently stroked the soft hair on her head with his right hand: "But you are still angry, right? Right? I know, it's one thing to understand the truth, but it's another thing to actually encounter things in life." "
No, that's not what I'm angry about." Shirley's brows frowned tighter and her lips wriggled. After a while, he spit out a name.
"Triss!"
Lan's face and hands froze at the same time.
Only now did he remember that he had come all the way to Kaer Morhen and yet he had not met Triss. With the red-haired sorceress's personality, she would have appeared long ago under normal circumstances, and would even take over Mossak's job to introduce Vesemir to Lann.
But she hasn't shown up yet, so I don't know if she is hiding something.
"I'm a child, yes, but I'm not stupid." Ciri sniffed, as if she was catching a cold, and said in a muffled voice, "Since Tris helped you in Novigrad, , she changed when she came back. She was a lot more reserved with me and would avoid me; when she had to give me lessons, she seemed to deliberately give in to me and please me." "I did this when I was at
Brochlon Be mentally prepared. I will take care of Triss at that time, and I will also let you take care of Triss."
"Some things... have already happened, right?"
Faced with Ciri's question, Lan was silent, not only that it had already happened .
"I also know some things. Although my grandma and Mossak didn't teach me deliberately when I was a child, I know it. For example, political marriages and other things, I have heard and learned them from books and everyone's conversations. , I also know that this is a necessary way."
Shiri seemed to be taking the initiative to find reasons for Lan, and her voice became more and more dull: "I'm just very unhappy, because I am also trying to grow up. As long as Five more years... no, four, three... three years, as long as three years, I will grow up!"
"Can't you just wait a little longer..."
Lan lowered his head, not seeing each other for a long time, Ciri at this time His height reached to his chest.
But Ciri...if it was only three years, it was still illegal in my previous life. If it were written into a novel, even historical themes might be banned...
Lann tried to organize his words, but Ciri didn't wait for him to give a reaction. After making this call, the little girl seemed to vent some of her emotions and finally turned around.
She first hit Lann hard with her head, but then her head and forehead were hit by the strong breastplate, and she couldn't help but cry out in pain; when Lann came forward to check with concern, she nimbly dodged it. He used his newly acquired witcher fighting skills to hammer Lann's body hard several times.
Then she rubbed her aching little hands, put her hands on her hips and said, "You only have three years, Lord Lannister! Do you know? In these three years, I allow you to use all means to strengthen Cintra and serve us." Fight for all the allies you can! But when I grow up in three years, you will no longer be able to do this, you know?" The
little princess raised her head: "Because by then, you will be the prince of Cintra. Yes! Or you can be the king if you want... In short, you are the lion of Sintra, this is your responsibility! Moreover, you are also my knight, this is also my order to you, do you understand? "
Ciri tried her best to tighten her face, but Lan could see that her hands were shaking slightly, whether because of pain or other emotions.
Lan sighed, stepped forward and held Ciri's little hand. These hands are no longer as delicate as the princess's before. They are even rougher than those of farm children of the same age. They are covered with calluses and burns caused by various magic experiments.
Maybe the sorceress will be able to use magic to restore the delicateness of these hands later, but at this time, it faithfully shows the suffering that its owner has endured during this period.
"Of course, my princess." Lann said, "I will follow your instructions."
The cold wind outside the window seemed to become a little quieter at this moment.
Unfortunately, the ceremony between the princess and the knight did not last long. There was a knock on the door soon, breaking the atmosphere in the room.
"Dong dong dong -"
Ciri wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction: "Geralt and the others have gone out, are they the Snake brothers you brought here?"
Lann shook his head: "If it is Kolgrim and the others, You won't knock on the door at all."
"That's Vesemir, maybe for your demon hunter order." Ciri patted Lan's hand, "Go, knight, and complete your mission. , for Cintra!"
Lann shook his head and chuckled.
After opening the door, to their surprise, outside the door was not any member of the Wolf Faction or Snake Faction as they had expected.
Outside the door was a demon hunter wearing a cotton robe. He was neatly dressed and his hair was neatly tied into a bun at the back of his head. Although he was indoors, he still wore an iron gauntlet. He didn't know what his personal hobby was.
The moment the door opened, Lann and the other party's eyes touched for a moment, and then moved downwards in tacit understanding, concentrating on the other party's chest.
The two gryphon badges swayed slightly, as if they were echoing each other.
"Keen?" Lan En recognized the other person's identity at the first sight. The gryphon demon hunter who appeared at the wolf faction's base camp had no one other than himself.
In other words, apart from himself and the founder of the sect, Elan, who may not know where he is wandering, the only other gryphon demon hunter outside of Kaer Siren is the one in front of him.
Cohen has a beard and looks rugged. But his temperament has a bit of elegance that he learned from Kelda, so he looks very calm, making people trust him at a glance.
"You must be Lan." Cohen smiled. He reached into his arms and grabbed the corner of a notebook. "Teacher Kelda often mentioned you to me. I know you are coming to Kaer Morhen today, so I ended my hunt early and came back early."
[Gryphon School Contact Notes], Jeron could dig out two of them from the snowdrift, so there was no reason why Kelda, who had been guarding the Kelseren, couldn't. It is also natural to give it to one's own disciples.
As he said that, the gryphon demon hunter looked into Lann's room: "It seems I came at the wrong time?" "
No, you came at the right time." Ciri ran out of the room like a gust of wind, and Cohen said He was a member of Xili's swordsmanship instructors for a while, and his teasing eyes made Xili a little unbearable.
"I'm going back to continue my Potions class. Yennefer can't wait any longer. Please help me introduce Kaer Morhen to Lan~" The
little princess ran very fast, leaving only a string of tail sounds in the corridor. echoed inside. Lan En and Cohen couldn't help laughing when they saw this.
"We all like her." Cohen looked at the direction in which Shiri left. "She is very sensible and works hard." It
was Shiri who was obviously being praised, but Lann's mood also became better.
The young lion-eyed demon hunter took a step back and made an inviting gesture towards the senior outside the door: "Please come in, I think we have a lot to talk about."
(End of Chapter)