The Witcher: Wolf School's Hunting Notes

The more Allen thought about it, the more he felt compelled to act.

Here in Ellander, no one had seen the anomaly from a few nights ago. By the time they received news of the attack on Ban Ard, it would be at least half a month later, and the details would undoubtedly be heavily distorted.

Even if he only rode the royal griffin to observe from afar, he could gather significant information about the Wild Hunt.

For example, if Ban Ard remained completely unscathed, it would signify one level of power; total destruction would indicate a completely different level. The extent and nature of the city's damage could clearly reflect the strength of the sorcerer Hen Gedymdeith and the Wild Hunt.

If he could hear from witnesses about the battle's events, even fragmented details would be immensely valuable.

"Let's do this!"

Having made up his mind, Allen quickened his pace toward the longhouse where the witchers resided.

Leaving without saying a word could cause chaos due to unforeseen circumstances, but convincing the stubborn Vesemir would be a massive undertaking, and he needed to save time.

-------------------------

About ten minutes later...

"What? You agreed?" Allen's eyes widened as he stared at Vesemir.

Unexpectedly, when he reached the longhouse and found Vesemir, the moment Allen mentioned his plan to investigate Ban Ard, Vesemir immediately agreed.

Well... not immediately. The usually stern Vesemir had lowered his head and silently pondered for a moment, fiddling with his black wide-brimmed hat.

But even that brief hesitation was entirely uncharacteristic of the overly cautious Vesemir Allen knew.

In Allen's mind, Vesemir would at least insist on accompanying him. Allen had even prepared arguments in his head to persuade him otherwise.

"What's the matter?" Vesemir rolled his eyes. "Do you want me to refuse you, or are you hoping I'll go with you?"

"Of course not!" Allen replied loudly.

At that moment, feeling guilty for his unspoken thoughts, Allen even got the illusion that Vesemir could read his mind.

"Allen," Vesemir said, his gaze bright and full of pride as he looked at him. "I've said it before—you've passed your Trial of the Path. You're no longer an itinerant apprentice who needs a witcher mentor to guide your actions and show you the way. You are now a qualified... no, an outstanding witcher."

"I have no reason to interfere with or obstruct your decisions."

"Besides," Vesemir added, placing the black wide-brimmed hat on his head and letting out a soft sigh, "when we were tracking the sorcerer the night before last..."

He closed his eyes, pausing for a few seconds, seemingly recalling the event: "You've surpassed me in tracking. You've reached a level I can't even comprehend."

"Whether it's the Cat School's silent footsteps for assassination and stealth, magical tools, potions, or even direct combat with swordplay and signs, you've already surpassed me…"

"Allen," Vesemir concluded with a resigned yet proud sigh, his tone tinged with melancholy. "If I followed you, I'd only slow you down."

"Vesemir…" Allen couldn't help but respond.

But Vesemir raised a hand, cutting him off. "Don't try to comfort me. For a witcher mentor, nothing is more rewarding than teaching a student who surpasses them."

"And I'm still a witcher master. It's just that in matters of stealth and intelligence gathering, I can't be much help."

"If you were going to hunt a monster, I wouldn't let you leave so easily…"

"If it were a monster hunt, I'd shamelessly drag you along," Allen joked, grinning. "After all, my Trial of the Path isn't over yet. I need to squeeze every bit of knowledge out of you before letting you go!"

"Heh."

The witcher master tilted his hat dramatically, revealing a glint of his golden cat-like eye, and let out a satisfied chuckle.

"Of course. I was the youngest witcher master before you. I've got plenty of skills you still need to learn."

"You'd better treat me well if you want me to share them. Got it?"

"Of course, of course," Allen laughed. "I'll treat you well, oh mighty youngest wolf-school master of your time."

"You'd better!" Vesemir mock-scowled.

Then, unable to maintain his stern facade, he burst out laughing.

Allen joined him, and the hearty laughter between mentor and student drew the envious gaze of young witchers practicing swordplay and signs nearby after lunch.

"What are you staring at? Focus on your training!" Vesemir barked at them, turning back to Allen with a gentler expression. "Come back soon. Since we've already promised Duke Mason, try not to break your word."

"I know. I'll just take a look from the skies and be back. I might even make it in time for dinner."

"Good."

"Then I'll be off?"

"Go ahead."

Allen turned and walked away. But after taking a few steps, he heard Vesemir's voice again.

"No information is worth more than your safety. If something unexpected happens, don't rush back. I'll explain everything to Duke Mason and the high priest. Eight witchers are more than enough to deal with a few necrophages…"

"In short, stay safe, Allen!"

Allen didn't turn back. He simply waved a hand behind him and walked out of the temple without looking back.

The young witchers, who had been trying to avoid interrupting the conversation, finally pieced things together.

"Stay safe… explain to Duke Mason and the archpriest…"

Ernie, pushed forward by his fellow witchers, cautiously approached. "Master Vesemir, where is the commander going?"

Vesemir was silent for a long time.

"He's going to fight for a future... not just for the Wolf School, but for humanity."

The young witchers exchanged puzzled glances. "Huh?"

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After leaving the temple, Allen headed to the mountain clearing where they had landed the previous night. Then he walked another ten minutes deeper into the Mahakam Mountains.

It was midday, unlike the dim twilight of yesterday evening.

"All this fuss, and I'm only gone for half a day. Vesemir made it sound like a tragic farewell."

Allen shook his head in amusement, brushing off the odd sense of loss in his heart as he surveyed the area.

Massive boulders blocked the view of the temple and Ellander. The granite ground in the sparse woodland created a wide, open space.

This was characteristic of the Mahakam Mountains.

Unlike the Blue Mountains, Mahakam was rich in minerals and rocky terrain. The further in one went, the sparser the vegetation compared to the dense forests of the Blue Mountains.

Even so, the wildlife was abundant, providing ample food for the griffin and plenty of perches for it to land on.

"This will do!" Satisfied, Allen tapped into the green psychic link in his mind that connected him to the griffin.

This was the same link he had fought against when subduing the griffin.

But unlike back then, the griffin could no longer use the psychic connection to attack him. Instead, he could now control it through this link—or even force it to end its own life.

"Skreee~"

A familiar screech echoed in his mind, and Allen could feel the griffin rapidly approaching.

"What an incredible tool!" he marveled, not for the first time.

Compared to the psychic connection with his wolf medallion, which faded beyond ten meters, or his magic pearl, which maxed out at about thirty meters, the psychic link with the griffin was astonishing.

Allen suspected that even if the griffin were in Kaer Morhen, he could summon it with this link—and that might not even be its limit.

"Skreee—"

A piercing screech announced the griffin's arrival as a massive shadow engulfed the clearing.

Birds nesting in the trees scattered in panic, their cries echoing through the forest.

The griffin had arrived from its roost.

Allen glanced at the sky, estimating the time.

Yesterday, it had taken about an hour and a half to fly from Vengerberg.

Today, without navigating along the Pontar River or avoiding terrain, the griffin had made it in under thirty minutes.

"Plenty of time," Allen thought.

"Boom!"

The griffin landed, causing the ground to tremble.

Allen patted its lowered beak and praised it through the green psychic link in his mind. "Good girl, right on time!"

"Skreee!"

A deafening screech echoed through the link and the clearing.

While the psychic link was merely loud, the griffin's cry was nearly enough to blow Allen away. He barely managed to grab its mane in time.

Straightening his hair as if nothing had happened, Allen decided not to tempt fate with further praise. He gestured for the griffin to lower its wings and was about to climb onto its broad back when he suddenly stopped as he had a idea.

[Ding! Consumed your skill points: Portal LV1 has been upgraded to Portal LV2 (0/500).]

[Name: Portal]

[Type: Spatial Skill]

[Level: LV2]

[Active Effects:]

1. Portal: Consumes mana to open a portal connecting to a saved coordinate. The distance between the caster and the coordinate must be less than 120 km (+20). The portal can allow up to 4 people (+2) to pass through.

2. Save Coordinate Points: You can now store up to 4 (+2) coordinates.

What does 120 kilometers mean?

The distance from Aerlande to the capital of Temeria, Vizima, is about 200 kilometers. To the royal capital of Aedirn, Vengerberg, is about 400 kilometers. To reach Ban Ard, it's approximately 1,000 kilometers, and Kaer Morhen is even farther.

Of course, these are straight-line distances.

If Allen wanted to use a portal to travel to Ban Ard, he'd need to carefully pinpoint and memorize at least nine coordinates along the route.

Clearly.

Even after the upgrade, he still doesn't meet the conditions. In fact, he's far from meeting them.

For now, the portal is not practical. This is another reason Allen has seldom used it—apart from hiding his spatial abilities to avoid being discovered by sorcerers and the Wild Hunt.

The latter, of course, is the main reason.

Still, even though he can't use the portal to return directly from Ban Ard, it at least opens up another option in case of an emergency. With a range of over 600 kilometers, it could save a significant amount of time.

And the cost of this new option?

[Experience Orbs: Small Experience Orb ×1 (-10)]

"I'm officially broke." Allen helplessly looked at his personal panel, which was now empty of resources.

Since his arrival in the Witcher world, this was the poorest he'd ever been.

"When I get back from Ban Ard, I'll make those necrophages pay and grind experience orbs out of them!" Allen leapt onto the broad back of the griffin. "Let's go, girl. Time to move out!"

"Cawww—"

The griffin flapped its wings, leaping into the air and tearing through the low-hanging clouds toward the blazing sun above.

------------------------

For his journey, the Witcher did not follow the usual low-altitude route along the Pontar River, looking for city landmarks as he flew toward Ban Ard.

That would be too conspicuous—and dangerous.

The griffin took off from Mahakam, heading straight toward its nest in the Adrel Mountains. From there, it followed the Blue Mountain range northward.

Flying at high altitude, it avoided detection from humans on the ground and reduced the need for frequent terrain navigation, shortening the travel time to the destination.

However, because of this, Allen missed the sight of the army and supply convoy streaming out of Vengerberg like a long dragon, heading for the frontlines under his influence.

He also missed the sight of the many strongholds along the Pontar River, where, by King Demavend II's orders, forces were mobilizing for a massive assault on Kaedwen.

Perhaps none of these mattered to him.

By now, he could already see the dark smoke staining the clouds above the Tower of Ban Ard.

At the same time, beneath the darkest part of those clouds…

The tower of Vilgefortz received a visitor.

A sorcerer, graceful in demeanor but clad in a starry robe marred by soot and burns, his face poorly concealing his weariness despite attempts to freshen up.

Of course.

Vilgefortz and Lydia looked much the same—though the extent to which it was genuine or feigned was anyone's guess.

"Thank you, Lady Lydia, but there's no need. I'll just ask a few questions and leave," the weary sorcerer said politely, declining the porcelain cup Lydia offered him.

Vilgefortz and Lydia exchanged a glance before the latter gave a slight nod.

With that, Lydia bowed slightly to the sorcerer in a traditional mage's greeting and exited the room, shutting the door behind her.

"Bang."

The elegant white door closed.

"Sunny, it's a relief to see you unharmed," Vilgefortz began.

"I didn't expect to survive myself," Sunny replied with deep emotion. But he quickly cut to the chase, violating the etiquette of a guest mage. "Forgive my rudeness, but time is of the essence, so I'll get straight to the point."

"Go ahead."

"I heard you've just returned from Aedirn."

Vilgefortz maintained his composure and nodded slightly. "Yes, I was in Vengerberg when I received the academy's alarm—"

"Perfect," Sunny interrupted with raised brows, sitting up straighter and speaking faster. "We've received a rather absurd report from the frontlines. I need you to verify it. Is it true that a griffin attacks Aedirn's royal capital, Vengerberg, daily?"

"A griffin?" Vilgefortz frowned. It wasn't the Witcher he was asking about.

.....

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365. The Wild Hunt – A Sorcerer's Coveted Treasure: A Legacy from an Old Friend.

366. While two dogs are fighting for a bone, a third runs away with it?

367. The Guiding Hand of Fate.

368. Hunting the Wild Hunt.

369. The First Battle with the Wild Hunt.