Witcher's Atelier

“…The spacious stone buildings, colored window glass and dome-shaped ceilings make up the magnificent ‘Vizima Palace’! It is a fine embodiment of the engineering skills of the Mahakam dwarves.

And the ‘Pure White Hall’! It is undoubtedly the best among the buildings. Its name is easy to understand, in memory of the well-known ‘Pure White Rafad’…”

Rodrick’s guide, a court lady, walked in front and introduced the history and stories of the palace to Shani and Angouleme, bringing a good atmosphere to the two newcomers.

The last time Victor came, he didn’t have such a good experience. It is estimated that the Lily Knight didn’t expect that the boy would step into the palace again.

At that time, in Rodrick’s mind, Victor looked like a disposable consumable, an entertainment clown that the superiors wanted to see for fun and forget after watching.

It was completely unexpected beforehand that he would make a big splash and win the praise and recognition of King Foltest!

Today, the Dragonborn poet has a very good reputation in the northern countries, especially in Skellige, where he far surpasses Master Dandelion.

But the interesting point is that his great reputation is because of "Dragonborn", not because of "poet". This is really an amazing and hilarious story. The Lily Knight immediately thought that the intelligence personnel were talking in their sleep when they reported the content!

Killing a bear with bare hands? Giant killer? Killing a hundred people with a sword? All of these are fake deeds, but considering the fierce folk customs of Skellige, this is a very normal phenomenon.

Just as Toussaint was founded on knights, it produced knights with all five virtues; the islanders who advocated bravery, of course, produced a large number of mighty and heroic warriors. This kind of thing is normal. There will be new wonders every few years. At most, Victor, the object of bragging this time, has a unique title and is a part-time bard.

It must be emphasized that the above-mentioned impolite thoughts are only spinning in Rodrick's mind. On the surface, he still likes and respects the Dragonborn poet.

In this way, the five people were happy and entered the pure white hall with laughter.

After completing the task assigned by the princess, the Lily Knight said goodbye to the three people politely and went to report to Yada first. The maid who was in charge of the guide also bowed and left.

Looking around, Victor roughly estimated that there were hundreds of people on the scene. The walls of the hall were decorated with tapestries, garlands and pennants, which fluttered from time to time in the spring breeze.

Today's arrangement was in accordance with tradition. The dining table was placed in a semicircle in the center of the hall. The exquisite plates and dishes for food were decorated with flower arrangements and ornaments on the side, and placed on the gorgeous tablecloth.

Turning to look at Ms. Shani and Ms. Angouleme, they looked calm. The senior sister had seen the world at Oxenfort University, and Angouleme had also attended many banquets in the Toussaint Palace. Apart from the unfamiliarity of the environment, they were not the type who needed to be taken care of.

Moved calmly, the three walked to the dining table to get food.

Taking a bite of bread and chewing, Angouleme whispered, "Rodrick is not red."

"Take him as Red Alert! Unreliable sources indicate that he is not that simple." Victor answered decisively.

After a brief exchange of opinions, the leader and the members discussed Rodrick in a low voice, because there was no need to let the senior know about such things.

After getting a glass of red wine for Shani, Victor then poured himself a glass of grape juice. He would sing poetry later, so he would not drink stimulating drinks first.

After getting the food and drinks, they walked to the side to chat. The boy originally thought that the three of them would be isolated islands in this banquet. After all, it was like this last year. Without the identity accepted by the nobles, no one would come to talk to you.

Unfortunately, things are different now. The reputation of the Dragonborn poet is loud enough, and he rarely appears in public, so there is an endless stream of people who take the initiative to come forward to talk to him.

At the banquet, avoiding conversation is an unforgivable impolite behavior, which is a social obligation.

Nobles kept recognizing Victor and came forward to ask about his well-being, with a tone that was both warm and hypocritical. It started with a kiss to the air or a weak handshake, followed by a standard smile and pleasant compliments, followed by a dull and meaningless conversation.

The boy soon felt very uncomfortable. Although he had no intention of talking to anyone and soon expressed his implicit farewell, he spent a lot of time just listening to their expressions of admiration and love.

Silently, Shani and Angouleme were even squeezed to the edge.

And the beautiful lady, here refers to Shani, who usually relies on the "plague doctor" costume to intimidate the crowd. It is rare for her to change into women's clothes today, and she can be said to be a luminous body with her own traffic.

Soon several men came forward to chat, but there was nothing to worry about in such occasions. Courtship should be gentlemanly. They were all guests of Yada, and the princess's identity could calm the situation, and Angouleme was there to help.

After a while, Victor finally dealt with a middle-aged couple again. After a short break, he rushed a few steps and led Shani out of the pile of nobles who were showing their favor.

Hiding in a more secluded corner to rest, recalling what happened just now, the three of them smiled knowingly.

Suddenly, the senior sister stretched out her finger to point at the junior brother's arm, and then pointed to Dandelion not far away, "Look! Senior is there."

"Wrong! Senior is courting." The boy corrected the vagueness to be precise.

He rolled his eyes at Victor. Shani meant whether to go forward to talk, and he meant not to disturb others.

Checking the time, explaining a few words to them, asking Angouleme to take good care of Shani, Victor left alone.

In the last little time before the performance, he wanted to talk to Kayla Metz. He had something important to tell her. The last meeting in Zapopan ended in a bad mood, and they didn't contact each other afterwards.

When he arrived at the Pure White Hall earlier, he saw the sorceress talking to Mayor Verelade. The young man was looking for an opportunity to break the ice and ask her about the investigation he had previously entrusted to her.

…

Not long after, Victor found Kayla by the floor-to-ceiling window. Metz, she was leisurely sipping a glass of red wine. There were two male nobles beside her who were fawning over her. The appearance of the two handsome men competing with each other and striving for performance made her giggle.

Moving forward, she met the sorceress's eyes. The moment she saw the boy's ordinary face clearly, Keira's smile disappeared and her lips pursed slightly.

Seeing this, without hesitation, Victor "stroked his chest and bowed deeply", which was exactly the ultimate tiger landing style! He relied on this trick to survive many times, and rolled with the lazy donkey and was known as a unique skill.

On the other side, they found that the sorceress had changed her face. The male nobles didn't know why, and they thought who had said the wrong thing, and they were all frightened.

Fortunately, their uneasiness did not last long. Keira quickly shook off the two of them and walked towards someone who was bowing not far away. She stretched out her right hand and hung it in vain. The other person gently held the front of the fingers and symbolically kissed the joints on the back of the hand.

Then the sorceress walked out of the pure white hall side by side with the young man.

The two people who were left there and ignored suddenly knew that there was no chance. They glared at each other and left.

…

In the late spring garden, Victor and Keira were sitting on a bench, keeping a proper distance between friends. Suddenly, it occurred to them that they seemed to be sitting here with Triss last time.

"You look so good dressed like this today!" The boy's voice sounded sincere.

"...Really?" The sorceress's voice sounded a little cold, but compared to the silence when she came, it was already a valuable improvement.

After dealing with Kayla several times, Victor had some experience. No matter what, it would never be wrong to praise her first when meeting her.

Compliments will make her feel better, and it will be easier for her to talk if she is in a good mood. On the other hand, if this step is missed, her mood will get worse, and then their communication will become very unsmooth.

"It's true. You look good dressed like this and it suits you very well." The boy continued to praise more. Although the sorceress cannot read her own mind, she can easily tell whether she is telling the truth or a lie.

In fact, Kayla's outfit today is indeed in line with Victor's aesthetic. She is wearing a high-necked sleeveless pink dress, a silk scarf around her neck, white arm gauze sleeves, and zircon Anka shining on her chest.

After hearing what the young man said clearly, the sorceress tilted her head and stared into his eyes for a while, then said in a rigid tone: "Forget it... tell me, what happened today? You won't come to me if it's okay!"

It wasn't an illusion, Victor read complaints from Kayla's words, she was complaining that she hadn't contacted her since the last time.

From the boy's point of view, he felt that the sorceress was moody and worried that contact would be counterproductive, so he chose to let her forget on her own.

But now it seems that Keira is more concerned about Victor not keeping in touch. Considering that this kind of thing is really difficult to explain, it is better not to explain it and just start with a topic that can divert her attention.

"There is something I need to report to you, Kayla. Today I met Taller in Natalis Square. He informed that the Salamander Gang is colluding with the Scoia'tael and is promoting the rebellion of the Inhumans!

If this is true, the Salamander Gang's troubles are not limited to biochemical experiments. I'm worried that when a riot occurs, these biological weapons will be released to add fuel to the flames and worsen the situation.

I suspect this may be the main reason for the decline of Temeria in the prophecy! "

Hearing what the young man said was solemn, the sorceress closed her eyes and thought. Under the moonlight, she could clearly see that her eyelashes were very long and they were fanning slightly.

"Keep talking..." she said softly.

Then Victor began to describe his observations on the way back to Vizima. He happened to meet Zoltan outside the city and witnessed the hostility of humans towards non-human races. During his conversation with Lansmit in the Hairy Bear Tavern, he learned that weapons may flow into the hands of civilians. The boy didn't mention Yaevin or Toruvel, but he hinted at the intentions of some inhuman friends.

Of course, the most important thing was Thaler's warning. Although Victor said at the time that he did not believe the other party and needed verification, in fact, Thaler's intelligence provided the last piece of the puzzle. In his heart, he was certain that the riot was inevitable.

And now I am telling Keira because I want to ask the royal advisor to tell the king and let Foltest make a last-ditch effort.

Victor believed that as the monarch of this country, the king who had been undefeated for decades, if he knew the true situation, he would definitely respond appropriately.

"Do you think this is the prophesied burning of Temeria?"

"I believe this matter is not too small!"

Notice how the anger in Keira's brow has dissipated, and she's actually an easy sorceress to get along with? Victor suddenly thought so.

Stretching and sighing, Kayla raised her hands to reveal her smooth armpits, "Okay! Thanks to you, my wonderful night is over. I originally planned to listen to what you were going to sing tonight, but it seems I have to leave.

The news you brought today is very valuable. I want to thank you. If it can really prevent certain disasters from happening─"

She suddenly sat close and put her lips against Victor's ear. The scent of rosemary filled his chest and Victor couldn't help but take a breath.

"──I will give you a very generous reward! The reward you want most. Oh~"

From solemn to enchanting, this attack came too suddenly. Victor's mouth was dry and he didn't expect the sorceress's next question to be even more bizarre.

"By the way, the woman you brought today is very beautiful. Doctor Shani from Redania, is she your girlfriend? It seems that you started dating last year, and you used this to attack Taller for being jealous and framing you, am I right?"

- Danger! A strong sense of crisis!

Keira smiled sweetly when she spoke, but Victor III was a person who extracted countless wisdoms of martyrs from his past life memories, including but not limited to: "Beautiful women are especially deceiving!", "Pink is black when cut!", "Never mention another woman in front of a woman!"

"This is a misunderstanding. I said this last year to protect myself. Ms. Shani and I are not dating, we are just good friends, and as you know, I have decided that I will soon mutate into a witcher."

Given the sorceress's ability to read minds, Victor carefully ensured that every word he said was true. He could not lie, but he could mislead.

"Really? I saw you and her come to the banquet together, and you acted quite close. I actually felt that there could be something going on. Besides, you haven't mutated yet?"

Victor blinked, and the faint sense of crisis became stronger. Kayla actually saw everything he did after entering the hall! ?

"Not yet... but she will mutate eventually. I'm not the best choice. She and I are more suitable to be friends."

Kayla narrowed her eyes and stared at Victor for a long time, probably to verify the truth of his words.

Reaching out to ruffle the boy's hair, "You're a nice person!" said the sorceress.

Victor touched his nose.

"I'm still looking for documents for the matter you entrusted me to investigate last time. It may take some time." Kayla's voice became very brisk. The faint sense of crisis finally disappeared.

"It doesn't matter. I'm already very grateful that you are willing to help. Didn't Triss come to the banquet today?" Victor asked casually, getting up from the bench and suddenly thinking of the last scene.

Recalling the situation from last time, Keira smiled brightly and cast a spell to open the portal. "Triss doesn't have time to attend. She is busy venting her long-pent-up maternal love and disciplining the child, Yawen, brought by Geralt. So this matter can only be left to me, Keira Metz."

When Victor heard the boy's name "Yawen" again, he was startled. Just as he was about to ask for details, Keira had already passed through the portal and disappeared into the back garden.