ALL NOVEL 58. The Last Day.
In the snowy landscape, Hughes trudged behind Allen, glancing at Vesemir ahead before quietly asking, "Allen, tomorrow is the mountain trial. Why is Master Vesemir bringing us out here now?"
Fred and Bond walked nearby, secretly listening in.
"You'll find out soon," Allen replied with a mysterious smile, keeping the secret.
Hughes hesitated, knowing if Allen didn't want to talk, nothing could pry it out of him. Cursing himself for asking, he continued moving forward, feeling increasingly anxious.
"We're here!" Vesemir's voice called out from the front.
All the witcher apprentices except Allen looked up, bewildered. They found themselves by a lake, the pristine white snow transforming the once-green shore into a blanket of white. The calm water reflected the snowy banks, the white sky, and the snow-capped mountains, creating a layered, serene landscape. The snowflakes falling on the lake's surface created ripples, making the scene look like a beautiful, icy world behind a mirror.
"Wow!" Hughes exclaimed, his face flushed with awe, his mouth agape at the breathtaking view. Fred and Bond were similarly wide-eyed.
"What's this place?" Hughes asked Allen eagerly, "A place this beautiful must have a name."
"Killer Lake," Allen paused before adding, "This is where apprentices undertake the mountain trial, so the Wolf School witchers call it Killer Lake."
The excitement on the three apprentices' faces quickly faded. Seeing their spirits drop, Allen felt no pity, unlike usual. Killer Lake held a heavy significance for the Wolf School witchers. However, after tomorrow, they would no longer fear or be saddened by this place. Perhaps future Wolf School apprentices wouldn't either.
With a series of soft clinks, Allen took out four thumb-sized crystal bottles from his belt and handed them to the bewildered apprentices. Vesemir watched silently, arms crossed, a smile playing at his lips.
"Drink it," Allen said with a smile.
Trusting Allen, the three apprentices drank the golden liquid in the crystal bottles in one gulp. Allen drank his share too and nodded at the others before diving into the icy lake.
Underwater, the soft green water plants, schools of fish, and colorful pebbles appeared vividly in the "Killer Whale" potion's glowing vision. The only eyesore were the drowners floating in the distance, but they didn't notice Allen.
"It works!" Allen thought excitedly. When he last used the "Killer Whale" potion, all the drowners in Killer Lake had been turned into leech jerky by the sorceress. Though he knew the potion worked well, he had still been nervous. Master Danthe's prohibition on returning to Killer Lake, fearing all drowners would be killed, had made Allen unsure. But now, he had his chance.
Allen swam towards the nearest drowner, which was still drifting aimlessly, unaware of him. As he got closer, the drowner remained oblivious, and Allen's anxiety melted away. With three splashes, Allen looked back to see the surprised faces of the apprentices, their mouths agape even wider than Vesemir's had been.
After letting them adjust for a while, Allen pointed to their mouths, noses, and eyes, then indicated for them to approach the drowners. Finally, he signaled for them to get out of the water.
Emerging from the lake, Allen shook off the water from his leather armor, specially treated to be lightweight and not hinder movement. The expression on Vesemir's face when he had given them the armor suggested its great value.
"Allen! Allen! Can we use this potion tomorrow?" Hughes asked eagerly.
"Yeah, Allen, will we have more of that stuff tomorrow?" Fred and Bond chimed in.
"This is a potion Allen made, so of course you can use it tomorrow," Vesemir replied with a smile.
A chorus of amazement rose from the three apprentices. Allen felt a surge of satisfaction seeing their young faces filled with joy, trust, admiration, and awe. While he didn't know how many of these apprentices survived the original timeline's mountain trial, he was sure he had saved at least one life, and the "Killer Whale" potion would save more in the future. A smile spread across his face.
Due to his increased attributes, Allen had unknowingly grown taller than the other apprentices. Seeing Vesemir's rare smile, he joked, "Master Vesemir, since we're here, why not kill a few drowners before we leave?"
Vesemir's handsome face darkened, and he rolled his eyes, letting out a light hum before smiling without a reply, knowing Allen was joking.
After a brief playful exchange, the witcher master and his apprentices started back to Kaer Morhen.
Back at the ancient fortress, Allen said goodbye to the others and went to the alchemy room on the second floor of the west tower. He wasn't there because the "Killer Whale" potion was running low. He had spent an afternoon a few days earlier making potions, much to sorceress Mary's pale-faced dismay. Now, he hoped to see if Lady Vera had returned.
With a soft knock on the door, Allen waited with an inexplicable sense of anticipation. The door creaked open, revealing Mary.
"Allen... what brings you here?" Mary asked nervously, leaning against the door, seemingly reluctant to let him in.
Seeing Mary, Allen knew Vera hadn't returned but still asked, "Has Lady Vera come back?"
"Not yet. Is there something you need?" Mary replied.
Allen shook his head, bid farewell, and prepared to leave when a clear voice called from behind, "Allen! You'll definitely pass the trial tomorrow."
Turning, Allen saw Mary's face full of earnestness and well wishes, warming his heart. He smiled and said, "Don't worry, Lady Mary. I'll definitely pass the trial!"
...…..
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59. The Trial of the Mountain Begins.
60. The Gap Between Witcher Apprentices.
61. The Foglet.
62. Will You Surrender?
63. Are You Full?