The Divine Hunter

dear good friend,

I haven't heard from you since the last time we saw each other on the night of May Day two years ago. After the Battle of Keso Mountain, rumors abounded that the Brotherhood of Northern Warlocks suffered heavy losses.

I couldn't contain the worry in my heart. I went to the Hill of Eight to see it in person. When I confirmed that your name was not on the monument, the joy was indescribable.

I have to admit to you, Ye, I will never forget you. In the boring and peaceful life in the past, you were a rare bright spot. Without your company, I was often lost, and your face appeared in my mind for no reason. Cloves and gooseberries, black hair, a mole on the corner of your mouth.

I just want to make sure, how are you doing?

I heard that you also participated in that huge war. Are you injured, are you seriously injured? Do you need someone to take care of it?

As long as you say a word, I will accompany you.

But my dear friend, if you are in good health, are you willing to come to my house to gather at my house? The unexpected "gift" brought by fate that you mentioned to me last time has been found by me. and brought home.

Her name was Ciri, and now it was Falgar.

There are very few warlocks I know, but you are the most trustworthy, and you should be able to keep it a secret for me.

Come and see, right in Novigrad...

I look forward to your visit.

Your friend, Geralt.

...

The white envelopes were closed in front of the dresser.

The sorceress in a black dress and white lace blouse looked in the mirror at her pale, tapered face, her violet eyes glittering seductively behind her black lashes, and her thin lips turned upward.

That guy Geralt was never good at expressing his feelings, he hid everything in his shell like a tortoise, and only showed up for you to see him when the weather was fine and the sun was shining.

Moreover, he loves detours, and he absolutely can't say such direct and disgusting love words. It's almost three words short.

"Geralt, where is the master pointing you behind your back?"

But I have to say that the sorceress who finished reading the letter was quite happy, the stubborn guy finally bowed his head to himself, and he followed his advice and found the unexpected daughter.

You should also give him some sweetness to taste.

Hillary?

The slender eyebrows are slightly furrowed, and the name is impressive.

It has recently been circulated between the management of the Brotherhood of Warlocks and the kings of the north.

The woman quickly put on the shiny lipstick, put on the black leather lady's gloves, stood up, waved back, and the fingertips shot out a dazzling magic aura.

Amidst the loud bang, a square space door appeared in the center of the extravagant and delicate room.

The sweeping wind blew black velvet ribbons around her sleek neck.

She just stepped in.

...

The carriage drove through the muddy path behind the Seven Cats Hotel in the south of Nuocheng, and stopped in front of a dense alder forest.

A dark high-heeled shoe fell to the ground, and the petite sorceress walked slowly along the forest path, her eyes flickered with a hint of surprise. The road deep in the dense forest was actually paved with bluestone slabs, not at all rough and dirty in the countryside. .

Every few dozen steps, you can see the naive human-shaped road signs, so that people will not get lost.

And along the alder side, colorful spring flowers bloom and fragrant nostrils, people are exposed to the sea of ​​flowers and trees, and the short ten-minute journey is not enough to appreciate this splendid scenery.

At the end, Yennefer couldn't help but be dazzled as he looked down the plaque with "Gao Wen's House" hanging there.

Is this really a desolate, silent, run-down witcher academy?

In the fence wall, exquisite log cabins gleamed in the sunlight, blue sky and white clouds were painted on the walls, and children's graffiti of children dancing and singing hand in hand.

A black-and-yellow dachshund wandered lively in the yard, his big fan-like ears twitched, his tongue stuck out, and a low bark.

Two complete strangers were teaching three children to shoot arrows on the edge of a field.

In a room that looked like a blacksmith's shop, the grizzled master Vesemir was sweating with a blacksmith's hammer, beating the prototype of a chest guard on the iron felt.

The sound of reading aloud came from the classroom, and the silhouettes sitting upright almost made her mistakenly think that she was in some noble private school.

Under the willow tree on the right side of the yard, seven children under ten years old were fighting one-on-one swordsmanship, or dodging the double pendulum like a windmill, showing sharp skills beyond their age.

"Hu-hu-"

There was a terrifying loud noise in the sky.

Yennefer's expression tightened, and a brown-yellow griffin flew out from the top of the alder forest, hovering in the sky above her head, its wings flapping wildly and roaring cheerfully.

Where exactly is this place, there are monsters haunting in the daytime?

The witchers in the yard are all decorations?

The sorceress's pretty face was covered with a thin frost, and she pressed the obsidian pendant between her necks like an enemy.

Magic runes flickered, and a shield enveloped her slender body.

"Ms. Yennefer? Don't be nervous, Golphin won't hurt you!"

The witcher, wearing a hood, a leather armor, and a face as thin and simple as a peasant, came from the field and smiled kindly and warmly at her.

"Welcome to Gawain's House! I'm Ox of the Witcher Brotherhood," the man stretched out his hand, and the sorceress gently tapped her fingertips in a reserved manner.

In the field, another witcher with an aquiline nose and a slightly gloomy face, and the three children cast curious glances here.

"Where's Geralt?" The sorceress had a slightly sullen face, and the griffin named Golphin landed on the ground and immediately rushed to the training ground by the willow tree.

The seven children swooped on top of her, hugging him affectionately, stroking his furry, warm body.

It completely lost the majesty and pride of the top predator, roaring and carrying a few children around the stake.

The cry was full of helplessness.

The sorceress's eyelids jumped, but she controlled the magic. She had never seen such an "approachable" griffin. Is this a fake griffin?

"Geralt didn't know you were here today, and you were working outside with five puppies."

"Work?"

"Those five cubs have passed the trial and started to learn to be self-reliant."

"I take the liberty to ask," Yennefer followed Oaks into the conference room on the west side, during which a bald man with a sturdy temperament and a man with a scary scar on his face nodded at her, and it was a demon hunter again. people,

"What on earth is this place? Why are there so many children, and there are so many witchers, not only the wolf pie, but I saw the snake pie?" Yennefer glanced at the Twisted Serpent pendant on Ox's neck. Can't figure out how witchers of different schools come together.

Unheard of.

"Didn't Geralt explain it to you? That's right, he must think that the explanation in the letter is unclear. Gawain's House is simple and simple, and complicated and complicated," Oakes said shaking his head, "You can understand it as advanced benefits. Homes where homeless orphans can learn knowledge and make a living. Everyone is a teacher-student relationship.”

"Those kids who were exercising under the willow tree didn't look normal, some... too healthy."

"Ma'am, your vision is so accurate!" Oaks did not hide it. "They have taken some medicines that are beneficial to the body and mind, the witcher's secret formula... but they have not yet entered the mutation stage."

"When did the witchers switch to charity?" Yennefer looked directly into his eyes and pursed his lips, "I think you are building a secret academy for training witchers on the outskirts of Nuocheng!"

"Didn't you notice? The children in the house didn't receive any modification." Oaks pulled the rope of the hood and said sincerely, "We respect personal wishes and never force them. Only very few are willing to embark on the road of trials. Part of...you don't have to worry."

Yennefer's black hair swayed, temporarily suppressing his doubts.

"So who is Ciri among these children?" The sorceress's cold and proud voice added a little tension.

"She's studying in the classroom, I'll show you."

...

Ciri was wearing a light blue dress, and her mouse-grey hair was neatly tied into a ponytail.

There was a smile on the corner of his mouth, and his small chin was supported by his left hand.

Green eyes swept across Mr. Kaian, who had scars on his cheeks on the podium, and the dedicated classmates around him.

After leaving Christidade's house in Livia, it was only more than a month before she came to Gawain's house.

She has fallen in love with this place.

Dozens of friends of the same age play, study, and enjoy ordinary but delicious food every day.

If you have time, you can also tease the little black dog in the yard and the griffin in the alder forest.

Exercise with boys.

This is the life she once dreamed of.

It's a pity that I don't know when I can go to see my grandmother at Skellige.

Ciri pursed her lips.

Turning his gaze to the right window sill, a sorceress with an unfamiliar and beautiful face stood there - petite and slender, with a pointed chin naturally raised, looking proud.

There are dozens of boys and girls in the classroom.

But Yennefer's eyes were fixed on the little girl with mouse-gray hair.

He recognized Ciri at first sight.

It was as if there had already been some kind of hidden but firm connection between them.

At the same time, a strange longing rose in his heart to approach her and take care of her.

...

"Ox, who is she?" During the break, Ciri was called to the conference room by the witcher alone, her big eyes flickering at the sorceress, full of curiosity.

"Geralt mentioned to you," Oakes looked out the window at the students in the yard teasing black dogs and chasing roosters, "Yennefer, the sorceress from Vangerborg, is here to help you."

"Oh—" Ciri's voice was long, her big eyes were rolling with a hint of ridicule, and it made Yennefer blush for the first time, like an elder who had been exposed to a scandal. "Geralt said..."

The little girl took small steps, rushed to Yennefer's side, held her slightly cold and smooth hand, and flattered awkwardly, "He thinks of you like crazy, misses you during the day, and hugs me at night when he sleeps, Calling your name too."

"Pfft..." Yennefer laughed so hard that the indifference he tried to maintain on his face was broken, and his fingers in black gloves tapped the girl's head lightly.

Ciri immediately covered her little head and blinked her eyelashes innocently, pitiful.

"Little mouth is sweet, but don't try to lie to me. Even if Geralt had Dandelion's mouth, he wouldn't be able to say such pretty words."

Ciri was exposed to the lie and stopped talking for a while.

Yennefer turned to Oaks again, "What are your plans for this child? Her identity is extremely sensitive, so she is now called Falgar..."

Violet eyes swept the girl up and down, and from those eyes, Ciri saw beating flames, raging winds, shaking earth, rushing river... She was a little afraid of the sorceress's scrutiny.

"That's why we invited you here. We want to discuss her future together." Oakes touched the package on the leather jacket and said sincerely, "The witcher brotherhood's resident mages are too busy with a lot of experimental projects. , can't find time to guide her alone. I can only ask you."

"Other warlocks?"

"Rita Nieder, Lady Triss Merigold, and Kalkstein, but Triss isn't here at the moment."

"Triss actually has contact with you? So my best friend has seen Geralt long ago, and she has kept it from me for so long!" If it's wrong, Coral has never appeared in the Warlock Brotherhood for more than a year, nor has he responded to Wigford's call to participate in the battle of Sol Mountain.

Oaks wiped his cold sweat and felt that he revealed too much unintentionally, "You can ask them face-to-face if you have the opportunity."

"Ms. Yennefer, do you possess powerful magic? Stronger than Grandma Rita and Grandpa Kalkestein?" Ciri interrupted suddenly,

Oaks covered his face.

"Giggle, did I hear it right?" Yennefer giggled while covering her red lips, "You're actually called Granny Coral, who made you call it that?"

"Mr. Lambert."

"No wonder, that stinky mouth will cause him death sooner or later. Speaking of which, if you ask about magic, I will be a little bit like that."

"Then can you," the girl asked shyly, blushing, "use magic and spells to turn me into a boy?"

"What did you say?" Yennefer's eyes became stern.

"Being a boy, I can learn how to be a witcher, practice swordsmanship with Monty and Carl, jump on wooden poles, and kill water ghosts, which is much more interesting than reading and literacy!"

"Don't even think about it!" Yennefer interrupted her coldly, her black hair jumping on her shoulders, "The witcher's mutation will ruin your ability and bloodline, I can teach you stronger skills!"

Oaks' face was displeased, how despicable the witcher was, how could he ruin Ciri's talent?

Suddenly, some unusual noises came from the courtyard, attracting the attention of the sorceress.

Five sturdy boys in dirty leather armor and steel swords walked out of the alder forest and into the yard.

The slender muscles of their long, exposed forearms are streamlined, healthy and vigorous.

The oldest is less than thirteen years old, full of heroic spirit, with a childish look on his face, but there is a chilling air that many adults do not have in Gu Pan.

Their pupils were amber, dark gold, and scarlet, with beast-like vertical pupils.

The witcher's exclusive badge is worn around the neck, but it is not uniform: cat, wolf, griffin, viper... gleaming with magical light.

They are like a group of heroes returning from the battlefield

The children at recess and the children exercising under the willow tree all gathered around, shouting and reaching out for gifts.

A pair of small hands are passing some small and exquisite objects, the claws and teeth of wild animals or some kind of monster...

Even Ciri couldn't wait to get out, but was caught by the back of the neck with a blow from Oaks.

"Laughing at you, these five children have just passed the green grass trial, and they can only reluctantly go to the sewers to find lost cats and dogs, and deal with water ghosts and evil ghosts. Just in case, Geralt also followed them. "

The white-haired witcher stepped out from behind them, expressionless.

Glancing over the five apprentices who were showing off to their companions with stinky faces, then turned to the left, a surprise that was caught off guard.

For more than two years, the face that had only appeared in his dreams, and the scent of cloves and gooseberries that he could not forget, reappeared.

Dark cat pupils stopped on the sorceress.

Yennefer smiled back.

"Ye...you're here, you're still the same, and you haven't changed a bit from two years ago."

"Dear good friend, you have changed a lot, the wrinkles on your face have been reduced a few times, and you look much younger. You just don't know that you are often with children, and your mentality has become younger?"

She brushed the hair that covered her forehead, her curls were no longer in the blond hairnet, but spread over her shoulders, and as always she was dressed in only two colors - black and white.

A trace of embarrassment appeared on Geralt's face, and he scolded himself in his heart.

Originally, Roy strongly suggested that he call the letter "Dear", but Geralt had to add the word "good friend" awkwardly. In fact, this was the only one in the whole letter, Geralt. self-determined content.

Now comes retribution.

Her lips pursed into a line, and she suddenly reached out and pulled Ciri in front of her, blocking the gap between herself and the witcher, and the little girl subconsciously reached out and grabbed the witcher's rough and thick hand. There is a strong and wonderful connection.

"You know, every letter from you will bring me endless joy, so I'm here to thank you for the 'happiness' you give me."

The sorceress said meaningfully, "You're doing the right thing, Ciri... oh no, Falgar is a sensitive person, and only someone she can trust can guide her."

Emerald green eyes looked between the two.

Ciri felt that Geralt's aura was significantly shorter than Yennefer's, as if he was kneeling at the lady's feet.

The corners of her mouth could not help but she found a good way to deal with Geralt.

"But first, you have to explain to me clearly, what is the Witcher Brotherhood? What is your purpose?"

"The process is a bit long."

"It's okay, I have patience."