Bear School Astartes

Ciri is an uneducated Magic Source Mage.

This didn’t surprise Belengar and Lann.

Because this can hardly be considered a secret.

The Ancient Blood passed down from Laura Doron into the human race, as long as it is a dominant trait, is a Magic Source. This is already an academic conclusion.

Yes, many know that Ciri carries the Ancient Blood within her.

After all, her grandmother, Sintra’s Lioness, Calanthe, was known for being tough and renowned in international affairs.

Back then, her mother also experienced an outburst of uncontrollable Magic Source power at a public banquet due to mental stimulation.

If Geralt hadn’t been invited by Calanthe and was present at the event, using his insight, experience, and reflexes to calm Pavetta’s outburst...

The Royal Palace might have been demolished by Ciri’s mother, Pavetta’s unconscious power.

If everyone at that banquet had died, the Skellige Islands and Sintra would have directly gone to war. The entire world situation would have irreversibly slid onto another path.

Because during that banquet, there were two couples who announced their love.

One has already been turned into a ballad sung far and wide, Princess Pavetta and the cursed Prince Hedgehog.

The other is Calanthe and King Bran of the Skellige Islands’ brother, East Tursek.

Mother and daughter both found love at the same banquet.

Pavetta’s outburst at the banquet was the most recent recorded outbreak of the Ancient Blood.

But honestly... it didn’t cause much of a reaction or attention.

Because when Magic Source Mages lose control, it’s usually this kind of scene.

The Ancient Blood, in people’s eyes today, even in those of high-level warlock researchers, is just a special ’Magic Source’ that can be passed through bloodlines.

However, as Geralt sighed while pinching his brow, Lann and Belengar exchanged a silent, secret glance.

A wordless hint was exchanged between their eyes.

Ordinary people, even high-end warlock researchers think the Ancient Blood is just a slightly special ’Magic Source’ lineage.

But the two of them had seen... witnessed it with their own eyes!

The grown-up Ciri had barged into the tavern where they were resting!

At that time, Belengar hadn’t even seen the young girl, yet she was already comfortably eating and drinking in front of the Old Demon Hunter.

The Ancient Blood isn’t simply a mere ’Magic Source lineage.’

It seems to be linked with a great power that transcends time and space!

But because Lann and Belengar both admit their understanding of time and space is quite shallow, they do not want to speak of what happened then.

Moreover, Ciri is already sought by many now, letting more people know about the power in her bloodline and attracting more ill-intentioned eyes would only harm her.

At least for now, the unknown force plotting and investigating Ciri, along with the intelligence agencies of a few Northern kingdoms...

They seem only interested in her identity as ’the Sintra Royal Family’s legal heir.’

They aren’t too concerned or truly aware of what kind of power the Ancient Blood holds.

This is a good thing.

”So,” Lann smoothly changed the topic after exchanging a silent glance with Belengar, without leaving any trace noticeable to Geralt.

”Ciri is going to follow Yennefer to Sandy Island? For enrollment?”

”That’s good.” Lann nodded, ”I’ll notify Lady Margarita, you can directly give Ciri’s enrollment information to her then, she’ll place a forged, concealed identity in the academy’s archive.”

”Even inside Airetusa, we need this much caution?” Geralt frowned, feeling a bit worried.

”Airetusa, despite being enclosed, is just an enclosed academy, Geralt.”

Lann shrugged nonchalantly.

”Isn’t it normal for students to have a ’spy’ part-time or internship before graduating?”

”Precisely because the academy doesn’t restrict, allowing anyone to offer employment opportunities to the trainees, the graduation benefits for female warlocks have become so high now.”

”Everyone wants to gather information about the warlocks, so why not open it up and play together?”

”The benefits for female warlocks in recent decades are indeed higher than those for male warlocks.” Belengar commented, smacking his lips.

”Lady Tishaya and Lady Margarita manage well, over at Ban Aide Academy, the Codwin intelligence department can only catch expelled students at the academy gate to be magic spies.”

”From being dismissed to receiving a salary, a seamless transition, hehe.”

”These apprentice male warlocks who can’t even graduate are currently dragging the reputation of the entire male warlock group downward. What good reputation can spies have?”

Belengar shook his head, with an expression akin to telling a joke.

”Especially if they are clumsy spies.”

”Those are things of the past.” Lann waved his hand within the joke, unconcerned. ”The poor learning atmosphere in Ban Aide Academy before was due to the dean’s bad health, lacking energy for management, so relaxation was from top to bottom. That’s no longer the case now.”

”Just wait, in just a few years, Ban Aide students’ quality will catch up with Airetusa.”

Geralt raised his head, full of surprise, ”Henry Gemitis is unwell? I never heard of that! This is big news!”

Henry Gemitis’s mastery of magic, combined with his age, makes him the oldest warlock among humans.

He is akin to a nuclear weapon within the entire warlock community.

Even though he usually keeps a low profile and does nothing significant.

As long as he exists, the warlocks can maintain a certain superiority over secular society.

Tishaya is younger than him by a considerable margin, yet she already looks down on the current generation of warlocks with disdain.

How terrifying he truly is, no one knows, and no one wants to know.

But given the contemporary warlocks’ general conceit, the Henry Gemitis they imagine is certainly not on the same level as the elderly man in reality.

The news of his heart problem would be akin to ’a major country’s nuclear weapon being poorly maintained’ in Lann’s home world.

And it’s the only nuclear weapon.

Yet, when this old man’s heart really is unwell, the news would undoubtedly be strictly sealed.

But when his health improves, such supposed confidential news also turns into a casual joke.

Even the attitude of ’joking about it’ itself can be seen as a signal by some.

”You know Henry Gemitis?”

Geralt looked at the young demon hunter with astonishment.

He recalled back outside the Brokilon Great Forest, he had imparted advice saying, ’The longer you live, the more people you need to know.’

Do people know such figures to this degree now?!

”Not really,” Lann replied courteously and proudly, waving his hand, ”Old man is great, has a heart problem, and asked me to completely replace it with a new one.”

The other two demon hunters knew this lad was boasting, but they couldn’t refute it.

Henry Gemitis, anyone who knows him inevitably has to boast about it!

”When are Yennefer and Ciri arriving at Gos Velen?” Lann asked casually. ”Will they take the portal on the day of the meeting or arrive a few days earlier to settle in?”

”I’m not sure,” Geralt shook his head, holding his cup, ”Since learning someone is investigating Ciri, we’ve had little communication.”

”Magic may be eavesdropped on, messengers are living clues... The few letters we exchanged contained only codes and memories.”

”That’s why I’m here keeping watch. They might arrive tomorrow.”

”Then your stay has been a bit too long,” Lann frowned and reminded Geralt. ”You’re likely credited with staying hidden due to the demon hunter’s nomadic lifestyle.”

”But you’ve stayed at Gos Velen for too long now.”

”Currently, you can claim it’s because you have old friends here, thus staying for a few more days to catch up. But if you stay longer...”

Lann didn’t finish his sentence, but he believed Geralt understood what he meant.

If he continues to stay, those watching Geralt will conclude their target is about to arrive in this city.

Geralt also furrowed his brow, appearing troubled.

Being secretly investigated, those who haven’t experienced it can’t imagine such pressure.

Hemingway, a quintessential American tough guy, was driven to mental exhaustion from covert investigation, eventually leading to his suicide by gun.

The harm brought by psychological pressure isn’t inferior to that of physical pressure.

”But I can’t... I can’t be too far from here,” he said, torn. ”They need protection.”

”No one’s asking you to go far,” Lann reached out and patted his shoulder. ”Coincidentally, Belengar is heading to my castle to help with some tasks... You know what it’s about. You can go help too.”

Midway through speaking, Lann fixed his gaze on Geralt’s eyes, conveying an unspoken hint.

Under that hint, Geralt immediately recalled following Lann to the Embers Knight Order’s base at High Hill Castle.

That was when Lann diverted the order’s supplies to sustain his own financial operations.

And during that time, he learned of the knights’ pursuit of the Cyan Grass Trial.

High Hill Castle isn’t far from Gos Velen, just rather remote. And as the Embers Knight Order’s base, it’s virtually equivalent to Lann’s castle.

Safe, secluded... very suitable.

So, Geralt gulped down the Temeria rye in his cup and nodded.

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

”We mustn’t make mistakes.”

In Haji Fortress of the Ponta River Valley, King Vizimir of Redania said.

His hand supported his forehead, pressing against his temple.

”We can’t afford the consequences of making mistakes again.”

And in the room, the others seated at the table with King Vizimir remained silent.