I'm not a Witcher anymore.

Vesemir and Geralt were both taken aback.

Geralt's first thought was that his earlier joke about opening a tavern had actually persuaded Sieg.

It's not surprising that young people are easily distracted by the outside world.

After all, he himself had thought about it when he was young.

At that time, Kael'thas seemed cold and empty to him. The roads, towns, monsters, and commissions outside the mountains were all more interesting than the stone walls and training grounds.

When I hear something interesting, I get carried away and want to go and try it out.

Therefore, Geralt believes that Sieg's words may have been a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Vesemir, however, did not think that way.

Over the years, he has spent the most time with Zieg.

Therefore, Vesemir knew better than anyone that Sieg wasn't the type to blurt out whatever came to mind.

Many children are young and speak and act with an impulsiveness that lacks direction, but he was never like that.

He is usually quiet and methodical. Once he makes up his mind, he won't hesitate.

Therefore, this statement could not have been made casually.

The hall was quiet for a moment.

The firewood in the fireplace crackled softly, sparks leaping upwards before quickly falling back into the embers.

Vesemir stared at him, as if trying to find something in his face.

"Where do you plan to go after you come down the mountain?"

"Novigrad belongs to no kingdom; it's a neutral, free city. It's populous, wealthy, and full of opportunities."

After listening, Vesemir nodded slightly.

This child is quite clear-headed.

Novigrad is the largest city and main port in the north, so it's no wonder it's called the city the world longs for.

That place is a melting pot of all sorts of people: merchants, mercenaries, adventurers, swindlers, sorcerers, priests—they all flock there.

As long as you have the skills, you won't starve to death.

Witchers are not well-received anywhere, but in a place like Novigrad, at least they can make a living by taking on commissions.

"Once you arrive in Novigrad, how do you plan to earn a living?"

This is a very real problem.

If a stranger from out of town, with little to no savings, goes to such a strange and big city without any plans in mind, he will soon be swallowed up by that place, leaving not even bones behind.

Sieg didn't think for long: "Use the sword."

This answer wasn't unexpected.

With his current skills, making a living with his sword after leaving the mountain would be the most logical path for him.

But Vesemir wasn't entirely at ease about it.

He spoke slowly:

"I have no worries about your swordsmanship."

"But swordsmanship is one thing, the body is another."

"Those things outside won't show mercy just because your swordsmanship is good. You haven't gone through the Trial of the Grass; some gaps can't be bridged by skill alone."

"I don't mean to scare you, I just want you to know what you're going to face."

Sieg met Vesemir's gaze: "I understand, so I plan to go and take the final trial of the Witcher's Trials, the Mountain Trial, right now."

Vesemir didn't speak immediately, but just looked at him.

"Zig, are you sure?"

"Yes, teacher. I'm sure."

Vesemir sighed and took a wolf head badge from his pocket.

It was a silver badge with a wolf's head baring its fangs, the edges showing signs of wear.

"I didn't expect to need this badge so soon." Vesemir placed the badge on the table. "If you can really take this badge, cross the mountains, and reach the Elemental Ring—if you want to come down the mountain, I won't stop you."

"Vesemir!" Geralt jumped to his feet, staring at the old Witcher in disbelief. "How could you agree to this? He's just a child who hasn't even taken the Trial of the Grasses!"

Vesemir looked at Geralt: "He's sixteen now. Since he's made his decision, we shouldn't stop him."

As he spoke, he turned to look at Zieg.

"Every Witcher must walk their own path. All I can do is make sure you're truly prepared."

Zig reached for the wolf head badge on the table and put it away.

"Thank you, teacher. I won't let you down."

After he finished speaking, he didn't linger and walked straight out of the hall.

Vesemir watched as Sieg walked out of the hall, his figure disappearing at the top of the stone steps leading to the back mountain.

Geralt stood to the side, but didn't say anything more. His gaze remained fixed on the doorway until he could no longer hear any footsteps outside.

……

Zig hadn't gone far after leaving Kael'Morhan when he suddenly stopped.

Zig turned around and looked at the deserted mountain path behind him.

"Geralt, I thought you had already passed the mountain trial and wouldn't have to take it a second time."

The mountains and forests were silent.

The only sounds were the rustling of the morning breeze through the pine forest and the distant cawing of crows.

"Geralt, come out, I can already see you."

There has still been no response.

Zig walked straight to a dense thicket of bushes beside the mountain road.

The branches and leaves of that shrub were in a tangled mess, as if something had just crawled inside.

He drew Langrisser, still in its sheath, and gently poked it into the bushes.

A figure suddenly leaped out of the bushes, a few leaves still clinging to his clothes, looking completely bewildered.

White hair, amber cat eyes, and wearing Wolf School leather armor.

Geralt emerged from the bushes.

"How did you find out?"

Geralt brushed the leaves off his body, looking puzzled.

He had naturally heard Zieg's shout.

But he originally thought it was just a test.

It should be noted that witchers who have undergone the Trial of the Grasses make almost no sound when they walk, and when they deliberately conceal themselves, the sound of the wind in the forest is louder than their movements.

Zieg didn't respond to him; his gaze remained fixed on Zieg's face.

"Geralt, when your class participated in the Mountain Trials, were there any seniors secretly following and protecting you along the way?"

"Of course not!" Geralt scratched his head somewhat awkwardly. "You brat, I was just worried something might happen to you!"

"Then I'll leave it to you, Geralt."

Both of them possessed superhuman physical abilities, and even while talking and traveling, they were not slow.

Soon, a vast lake came into view.

The lake surface shimmered with a dark blue hue in the morning light; its depths were unfathomable, and it was surrounded by steep mountain walls.

Cross this lake, and then through the deep cave on the opposite shore, and you'll reach the summit of the Elemental Ring—the end of the High Mountain Trials.

It looks simple, but it is actually fraught with danger.

This short journey is inhabited by all sorts of dangerous monsters—water ghosts, swamp witches, mist sprites, harpies, forked-tailed dragons, and so on. A single misstep could cost you your life.