Down a few wooden doors and through some twists and corridors they went. Eventually, they came to the left wing, where the kitchen stood. There was a basket of vegetables and rows of dried pork and meat hanging around.
An elderly man was working in front of the cauldron in the center of the kitchen. He was wearing armor made of cotton, chains, leather, and metal. The man was muscular, and his hair was slicked back. His hair was brown, and he looked younger than Geralt. There was a little mustache hanging above his lips.
Deep worry lines and stress lines decorated his face, but his skin was glistening, and his eyes were glimmering. He looked a lot younger than his age, and if Roy had to say, this man looked like a regular fifty-year-old guy. Even though he was no longer as handsome as he used to be. Roy could see that this man was as big a heartthrob as Dandelion was back in the day.
But this guy is almost as ancient as Kaer Morhen itself.
‘Vesemir
Gender: Male
Age: Three-hundred and four years old
Status: Wolf School grandmaster (proficient in all Wolf School skills)
HP: 200
Mana: 160
Strength: 22
Dexterity: ?
Constitution: 20
Perception: 15
Will: 10
Charisma: 8
Spirit: 16
Skills:
Witcher Signs Level 10, Alchemy Level 10, Meditation Level 8, Cat School Swordplay Level 10, Wolven Swordplay Level 10, Ursine Swordplay Level 10, Witcher Senses Level 10
Crisis Sense (Passive)
See More…’
“And who is this lad, Geralt?” Vesemir placed his ladle into the stew and looked at the young witcher gently.
“It’s an honor seeing you, Vesemir. I’m Roy from the Viper School. My companions and I just got here.” Roy gave the grandmaster a look of respect and smiled at him. He had always wanted to see Vesemir, especially after the Battle of Kaer Morhen in the game.
“It’s been decades since I’ve seen a witcher as young as you. Or was it a decade or so?” Vesemir pinched his mustache and laughed. “And you’re handsome too. Reminds me of my younger days. Can you come closer? I wish to relive my youth for a moment.”
Roy approached the grandmaster, and Vesemir gave him a quick bear hug, and then he shook Roy’s hands. “Welcome to Kaer Morhen, Roy. We’re going to have some long talks down the road. It’s been a while since these walls have seen any guests.”
“Of course.”
“I envy the Vipers. They come all the way from the south and still managed to get a new apprentice who passed the Trial.” Vesemir noticed the slight difference in Roy’s eye color, and then he was reminded of the dire situation his school was in. “But why do you look at me like I’m an old friend, boy?”
Geralt nodded. Eskel downed his alcohol solemnly.
“Letho has a point. You seem to be calm and reasonable people. We’d be happy to build a partnership.” Vesemir paused. “As long as we never go against our creed of neutrality in politics. And I’d say don’t pin too much hope on us. The whole Wolf School is just the four of us, including me. We can’t do much.”
“You’re being modest, Vesemir,” Letho said. “You might be the oldest living witcher yet. Your experience alone is worth three or four witchers in weight.”
Vesemir nodded and drank some alcohol. “We’ll talk about the terms later. After all, time is on our side.” I need some time to observe these Vipers.
“A toast!”
“Tell me how you guys managed to convince this kid into joining you.” Lambert frowned. “Law of Surprise isn’t as useful as it used to be. I tried using it for decades, but nobody would join us. How did you find one in less than a year?”
“Patience. You’re still young. There’s much to be seen,” Geralt answered.
Vesemir and Eskel took the chance to finish the remaining meat in the cauldron.
“You’re still relying on the Law of Surprise to get new blood, Lambert?” Auckes suddenly shouted, and it gained everyone’s attention. “The Law of Surprise is outdated. We need to keep abreast of the times.” He raised his mug, the light from the flames shining on his face. “Roy’s not a product of the Law of Surprise. How he joined us is a story worthy of a page in the history book of witchers.”
Letho choked on his beer, and Auckes said mysteriously, “But that’s a tale for another time.” If I bring that up now, the kid’s going to also bring up the brotherhood.
“Very well. I shall await your tale.” Lambert didn’t press for details. “So how are you planning to rebuild your school? First, you’ll need coins. A lot of coins.” Lambert counted his fingers solemnly. “And you’ll need an officially certified land. Getting a kingdom’s seal is not something coins can solve. Third, how are you going to recruit new blood if you’re not going to rely on the Law of Surprise? The people are going to think you’re kidnappers.”
Vesemir stopped eating, and the wolves listened closely.
“We have enough coins. Our business in Novigrad netted us a whole treasure trove,” Serrit said. “And land isn’t that hard to find.” We still have that lab under the Temple Island if push comes to shove.
A smile curled Serrit’s lips. “And this is a big world. There are plenty of orphaned, starving children who would clamor to join us as long as we extend an olive branch to them.”
“But these children can’t form a bond of Destiny. They’re no Unexpected Children.” Geralt put his cutlery down and argued, “The Trial is nothing but a death sentence for these kids.”
“But I’m an exception.” Roy looked at Geralt and Eskel. He argued, “So what about Unexpected Children? Not like they’d become apprentice witchers anyway. We need to change if we want the schools to continue existing.”
Eskel touched the scar on his face, and Geralt froze. He was reminded of the girl he left back in Cintra.
“We shouldn’t talk about something to somber during dinner.” Vesemir knocked on his plate. “Let’s talk about something lighter.”
“And we’re gonna start with Geralt!” Lambert gushed. I have been waiting for a long time. Time to tell our guests about our luck with women. “How many women have you slept with this year? And then I’ll talk, and then it’s Eskel’s turn.”
“Are you sure you want to bring that up?” Geralt shot his friend a look of disdain. If his face could make an expression of disdain, that was.
“You’re not going to say anything? Why? Did you stay celibate for a year?”
“Why don’t I go first?” Auckes asked. “I dated a sorceress in Aretuza earlier this year. She’s a petite blonde.”
The sconce flames and candlelights shone on a few lewd faces as they exchanged their ‘experiences.’
Vesemir even stopped taking the meat and slowly moved toward the discussion area.
Roy heaved a sigh. Looks like it’s going to be a long night.
***
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