Demon Hunter: School of the Wolf.

Chapter 659 A Kind Child, A Despicable Witcher
"Aelin, you said this morning that you were looking for an elf who once lived in the Ring of Maidalui?"

Erin was stunned when he heard this.

This morning, when he saw Jerón Morú off, he happened to run into Izbi Ortega returning with several druids. A sudden inspiration struck him, and after Jerón Morú left, he remarked, "Master Jerón's mother once lived in the Ring of Maidal..."

He then casually asked Simmons and Olga, naturally setting the stage for the subsequent investigation and questioning; in reality, it was only a sentence or two.

I didn't expect Izebi Ortega to bring this up at this time.

“That’s right,” Erin nodded calmly, suppressing his excitement. “She is the mother of Jerón Morú, the Griffin School Witcher Master who left this morning. I only know her name is Lydia, Master Ortega. Do you know her?”

Izeby Ortega did not respond, but instead asked, "However, I've heard that once a Witcher becomes a Witcher, they are no longer bound by any fateful blood ties with their past..."

The druid didn't finish his sentence.

Erin understood what he meant. After a moment of contemplation, he apologized to Jerón Morú in his heart and then briefly explained how he found Jerón Morú, the circumstances of Jerón Morú's imprisonment by his father for decades, and his premonition about how Morú's colossus was created.

“What a poor child!” Izebi Ortega said, his eyebrows lowered as he stroked his beard.

Simmons and Olga were outraged by Thomas Morui's ruthlessness, which even targeted his own son.

“Even cultists who sacrifice their emotions to evil gods are not as ruthless as Thomas Maul, who actually treated his own son like this.”

“Thomas Morlu has received the punishment he deserved,” Erin said softly, then looked at Izeby Ortega. “The information that Lydia once lived in the Ring of Maidalui was something I found from the colossus that imprisoned Master Jerón, but Master Jerón himself was unaware of it.”

No wonder Jerome Morui hasn't shown any unusual behavior these past few days... Izebi Ortega, Simmons, and Olga nodded.

Erin continued, "I did hesitate at the time about whether to tell Master Jerron this news, but firstly, Lydia's death at the hands of Thomas Morlu was just a premonition and guess I got from the golem. The fleeting images could not prove that Lydia had really passed away."

"Secondly, revealing such uncertain information will only cause Jerome more pain, and he may then become obsessed with finding his mother's whereabouts. Once confirmed, it will be another kind of harm."

"but……"

Erin paused, then looked intently into Izebe Ortega's aged yet wise dark eyes:
"Although, as you just said, once a Witcher becomes a Witcher, they are no longer bound by blood ties or destiny with their past..."

"But even though witchers are witchers, they are still human beings with flesh and blood. We sometimes think about our former families, wondering about their whereabouts and their fate..."

“Jeron helped me a lot.”

"So I want to help him find Lydia, at least to confirm whether she is alive or dead, and if she has really met with misfortune, to collect her belongings."

"Wait for the right time, then tell him everything..."

"I think it's best if I, an outsider, handle this matter..."

There was a moment of silence under the oak tree.

Golden sunlight streamed through the thick canopy, casting dappled patterns of light on the young witcher's short-bearded face, swaying in the breeze.

"You are a kind child."

The wrinkles etched by time on Izebi Ortega's face gave him a kind and gentle look.

He gently patted Erin's shoulder, his dark eyes darting around before he suddenly changed the subject: "I don't believe that the loving Mother Nature would reject a child like you."

Upon hearing this, Erin paused.

“Try meditation again. Don’t give up so quickly. Maybe you just need a little more time,” Izebi Ortega said earnestly.

“I will.” Erin nodded subconsciously, then couldn’t help but ask, “Nelydia?”

Izebi Ortega didn't answer. After glancing at the sky, he stood up: "It's almost sunset, let's end the lesson here for today..."

"As for Lydia..."

He winked at Erin: "That was decades ago. Forgiving an old man takes time to go through those memories that have been gnawed away and yellowed by the worms of time."

"Tomorrow, or at the latest the day after, before I leave the Ring of Maidalui, I will give you everything I can find about Lydia."

“Thank you, Mentor Ortega.” Erin stood up from the grass, expressing his sincere gratitude.

Izebi Ortega waved his hand with a smile: "Druids are human beings with flesh and blood too."

Erin was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and opened his mouth.

But before he could say anything more, Izebi Ortega winked at him again.

With a flick of his wooden staff, he transformed into a crow, flapping his black wings that shimmered with iridescent light in the setting sun, and flew into the forest.

"Don't forget to meditate." The old, kind voice echoed through the woods.
-
After Izebi Ortega left, Erin, along with Simmons and Olga, headed towards the outer ring road.

In fact, Izebi Ortega's teaching location was also on the outer ring of the Maynard Rui'i Ring, specifically in an oak grove closest to the inner ring within the outer ring woodland.

It is said that the success rate of the first meditation session is the highest in this oak forest, especially in the outer ring.

It's a bit mystical, because when we arrived, the oak grove was completely deserted.

Simmons and Olga each had their own residences on the outer ring road, which were not in the same place as Erin, so the three of them soon parted ways.

In a daze, bathed in the brilliant golden light of the setting sun, Erin felt as if he had returned to his past life. In his past life, after school, he and his friends would walk towards the sunset in the same way until he was the only one left to return to the orphanage.

With a thousand thoughts swirling in her mind, Erin returned to the treehouse.

The remains of last night's campfire are still there, charred wood piled up in the clearing between the treehouses and the woodland, bits and pieces of roasted meat and bones scattered about, and wood chips from crushed wooden cups...

As you pass by, in addition to the burnt aroma of pine resin from burning pine wood, you can also faintly smell the aroma of wine.

The joy and pleasure of the feast can be vividly recalled at every step.

Vesemir and Dante sat cross-legged on the ground, bragging to Geron Mollus. Francesca Fantaby and Marie each had their own thoughts and seemed to have something to say to him, but they held each other back and drank silently without moving.

Simmons and Olga were a bit reserved as "newcomers," but they quickly bonded with everyone over drinks.

In the midst of his drunken revelry, he even issued a provocative challenge to Colin, only to be snapped back to reality by a single look from Vincent.

It seems that Vincent didn't drink, Erin doesn't quite remember.

He only remembered that Vincent seemed to be touching her belly and glancing at him several times, so it was very likely that she was really pregnant.

However, after thinking about it, he didn't say anything.

Say what?

Because of his existence, their destinies were already different. Vinsenna might still be carrying Geralt, but the fates of Vinsenna and Colin had become unpredictable.

In the story, Colin died at the hands of bandits who stole the forbidden druid magic from Freginar, a traitorous druid. Now that they have all left the Amel Mountains, it's hard to imagine that Colin would ever turn back.

Although Colin may not die as in the story, the conflict between Vincent and Colin is gradually becoming visible.

Vinsenna is the mistress of the Ring of Maidalui. She has not given up on the Ring of Maidalui and Colin's desire to elope. To be honest, Colin's life here is not good.

As Izebi Ortega said, druids are also human beings with flesh and blood.

Druids do not advocate asceticism; on the contrary, they admire more natural, wild desires.

The beautiful mistress of the Ring of Maynard Rui has countless suitors in this beautiful land, thus giving Colin countless rivals.

Challenges like yesterday's banquet have occurred countless times in the past few days.

Erin could tell that Colin was already planning to leave, and that he would definitely leave.

Once a wandering knight leaves the Ring of Maidalui, he may die in various ways, some traditional, some bizarre.

Erin will offer some help, after all, Vincenta and Colin are his saviors.

But he couldn't help them choose their lives.

Even if Colin survives, will Vinsena, the mistress of the Ring of Maidruid, ultimately not send Geralt to Kaer Morhen?

no one knows.

"Do your best..."

Erin sighed softly and crossed the clearing between the treehouse and the woodland.

There's no need to clean up the spilled drinks and food scraps; the natural circulation within the Druid's Circle will quickly metabolize them.

The treehouses are still arranged in a staggered manner at the roots of the oak trees, and the tulips, daisies, roses, sage, safflowers and other flowers in the flowerbeds and herb gardens are still blooming vigorously.

The departure of Vesemir, Dante, and a large group of others had diminished the atmosphere of daily life, leaving the Witcher somewhat disoriented.

A few days ago, you'd see Vesemir and Dante learning swordsmanship and signs from Jerón Morú, surrounded by a group of bearded druids cheering. If Colin were there, he'd challenge him to a duel, only to be chased away by Vinsenna...

Francesca Fantaby and Marie would also time their greetings perfectly, opening the door at just the right moment.

Ada Emin would sometimes stand with Francesca Fantaby, and sometimes she would wait for him inside the house, teaching him ancient languages ​​before it got dark...

And now...

The area in front of the treehouse was empty.

Erin shook his head, clearing his mind of the strange sensations, and focused on the important matter at hand:
"Vera has been gone for four or five days now. The meeting about the expedition to the Demon Cave should have yielded results by now... I wonder what the final agenda will be..."

"Convincing Vera to agree to my going is still a problem, but it's not too difficult. Vera will eventually agree, it just takes some effort... I wonder if Tisaya will come back with Vera..."

"The expedition to the Cave of Ten Thousand Demons will likely have some impact on my original plan to succeed as the Grandmaster of the Wolf School during winter..."

"Who knows? If the expedition to the Cave of Ten Thousand Demons requires enough demon hunters, we could ask Soy to arrange some unfamiliar demon hunters and master demon hunters... Hmm, that might be even better... The friendship between warriors is always best forged in battle..."

"But before that, we need to find the belongings of Jerón's mother, Lydia, and ideally, we should find clues about the Daughter of Spring, Gwendolyn, and the prophet, Islinne..."

"If only I could find the rune clue that allowed Islinne to travel through time, then I wouldn't have to go looking for Vigfortz anymore..."

"I don't know if it's because the image of Vigorfortz from my past life is too deeply ingrained, but I really can't feel any goodwill towards the respectful genius demon source. I always feel like he's plotting something..."

"On another note, Wigford, for some unknown reason, has somehow mastered a staff technique that even Vesemir admires..."

……

Erin let his mind be filled with a jumble of thoughts; he was already used to thinking this way.

However, before opening the wooden door of his little treehouse, he suddenly paused and squatted down.

Several fat gray cats were blocking the doorway, snoring and fast asleep.

"It's better to be a cat, you don't have to think about so many troublesome things..."

Erin sighed and rubbed a sleeping fat cat. The fat cat, which was woken up, hissed a few times in dissatisfaction. Erin then picked up the fat cats one by one and gently placed them in the tulip flower bed by the door.

One of them didn't even wake up the whole time; it just rolled over and started purring again in the flowerbed.

Erin shook his head with amusement, petted a few fat cats to wake them up, and then got up to open the door.

"Bang~"

The wooden door was gently closed, shutting the enraged fat cats outside.

Erin looked around the familiar yet unfamiliar room, let out a long sigh, and then the problem arose.

What should we do next?
After these few days of instruction from Vera and Ida Emin, and with my existing foundation, although I haven't yet reached the level of a master of Ancient Chinese as Ida Emin has, basic communication is no longer a problem. Further learning will require continuous and consistent instruction.

Aida Emin's departure was partly due to the call of the free spirits. The mountain people were in dire straits, and a knowledgeable person was crucial for both defending against external enemies and stabilizing the wavering morale of the people.

If Erin hadn't just saved the free spirits, Ada Emin would never have stayed this long.

On the other hand, further research into ancient languages ​​has already touched upon specific directions, and Vera won't be away for too long, so let's just stop here.

Ancient language should be sufficient to deal with the memory crystals of immortals.

Erin thought for a moment, then decided not to open the Demon Hunter's Notebook.

He took off his leather boots, sat cross-legged on the bed, and listened intently to the sounds around the cabin for a while.

After confirming that no one was approaching, he took a deep breath and began to breathe rhythmically, following the rhythm taught by Professor Izebi Ortega.

Unlike in front of Izeby Ortega, almost in the instant of rhythmic breathing, the Witcher's mind connected with a loving and majestic will.

He is the mother of all living beings, He is the will of nature, He is life and death...

The Witcher sensed that overwhelming will, remained silent for a long while, and then sighed softly:

"I'm such a despicable person..."

(End of this chapter)