Chapter 32: Genius and Innocence
The caravan creaked and groaned as it departed White Orchard, driving south along the muddy path. Claire and the Blue Stripes had left earlier, setting off for Vizima two days prior. Perhaps due to her child, the widow was frighteningly resilient.
Arthur and Adda were playing a game of slapping hands in the carriage, while Kolgrim leaned against the back, intently staring at a blueprint in his hand, his expression bordering on nostalgia.
Triss sat down opposite him: "These are the two blueprints you risked your life to retrieve? What are they used for?"
"To forge a Witcher's sword."
"Many people believe your swords are forged with magic and have a remarkable efficacy against all sorts of monsters." A charming aura emanated from Triss. Kolgrim's voice sounded like a hypnotic murmur:
"That's certainly true. The magical power contained in a Witcher's sword is extremely lethal to monsters. With just a slight swing, they tuck their tails between their legs and run off!"
"Then have you considered sharing these equipment schematics?" Triss's voice sounded like a lure. Arthur once again felt that buzzing sensation of insects flying, but Kolgrim seemed utterly unaware:
"Why should I share them? And with whom?"
"With zealous, upright Ranger Knights. They don't lack the courage to cleanse the people of evil, but they lack the power and weapons to punish monsters."
"Also, those villages hidden in the forests and swamps. Their locations are so remote that even Witchers rarely visit. If they had your swords, they could defend themselves from monsters…" Triss continued in a soothing, lullaby-like voice, leaning forward to look at the blueprint in Kolgrim's hand.
Whap! Kolgrim flipped his palm, and the two blueprints vanished.
The Witcher looked coldly at Triss, no longer showing any sign of being charmed, his voice laced with sarcasm: "What, you want to secretly copy a set from me to submit to the Council?"
Triss immediately choked up with frustration: "I never thought that!"
Kolgrim: "That's strange. The Council always encourages this kind of intellectual theft. Are you planning to defy the Council's will?"
Triss: "Your prejudice against the Council is too deep!"
"The Council's original intention was to ensure that knowledge beneficial to the public is widely disseminated. We believe that magic should not be a tool for personal gain but should serve the welfare of all humankind. If every village had a Witcher's sword, ordinary people would have the ability to defend themselves against monsters!"
Kolgrim stared at her for a long moment, slowly shaking his head with a look of pity: "I'm afraid you will be disappointed. Your proposal would destroy the foundation of the Witcher's livelihood. At that point, whether they are Griffins, Wolves, or Vipers, they will all be forced to follow the path of the Cat School maniacs and earn money by killing people."
Triss considered this, then said: "I can propose to the Council to find you more suitable employment opportunities."
Kolgrim gave a cold sneer and said no more.
Seeing that the subject was closed, Triss excused herself to get some fresh air and left the carriage.
"Does your sword really have magic? Why didn't I notice any fluctuations when you swung it?" The moment Triss left, Arthur leaned closer.
Kolgrim snorted a laugh: "Magic? Where is there any magic? It was just bravado the guys came up with to pass the time during the winter at Kaer Morhen."
"Then your sword…"
"It's forged from steel, just using the most advanced forging techniques of the Dwarves and Gnomes."
"Just steel, no meteorite?"
"Kid, even now, there are over a hundred Witchers active on this entire continent. Where are we going to find that much meteorite?"
"However, you had better not deny this in front of outsiders. If the peasants hear that a Witcher's sword is made of ordinary steel, they won't be willing to pay."
"Oh…" Arthur was greatly shaken, surprised that Witchers had such business acumen.
But the question he really wanted to ask was something else:
"You usually talk so little, so why are you constantly arguing with Triss now?"
Kolgrim was expressionless: "Am I?"
Arthur pointed to the blueprint the Witcher had put away: "In White Orchard, you treated that thing as more important than your life, yet now you're looking at it right in front of her. Aren't you doing that on purpose?"
"I heard that emotionally immature boys deliberately bully girls they like. Could it be that you…"
Come to think of it, Kolgrim had mentioned that most Witchers left their parents before they were ten. Since then, their company consisted only of monotonous, arduous training and thick monster bestiaries. They truly were greenhorns when it came to matters of the opposite sex…
Kolgrim curled his finger and delivered a painful flick to the top of Arthur's head: "What nonsense are you thinking! Do you think I'm that white-haired one from the Wolf School?"
"I just think she's a good person, and it would be a shame for her to fall into the mire."
Arthur doubted: "Her life is better than yours, so how is she falling into the mire?"
The carriage roof dipped slightly, and Kolgrim cooperatively raised his voice a notch: "Do you remember that communicator she was helping the Blue Stripes research earlier? As far as I know, most Sorcerers still rely on familiars and telescopes to transmit messages. The former is only suitable for short distances, and the latter is too cumbersome…"
Arthur interjected: "And the communicator combines the advantages of being compact and long-range, making it a high-end item even in the world of magic!"
Kolgrim nodded: "Exactly. Most Sorcerers can't even afford that thing, yet she could tell the superiority of the runes—this girl has deep magical skill!"
Arthur jumped up and pointed at Kolgrim, shouting: "And you still won't admit it! You've obviously got a crush on her!"
Slap! Kolgrim unceremoniously smacked Arthur's hand down: "Is that the point?"
"The point is, I've been wandering the North for over a decade, and I only recently heard of her existence! Now, think about her naive pronouncements. Isn't it obvious?"
"She is another genius who only cares about academic research. She's a kind person, but she trusts those empty, grandiose slogans too much. The Council of Sorcerers will ruin her sooner or later!"
"Mr. Kolgrim, you worry too much. My loyalty to the Council of Sorcerers is based on my agreement with its ideals."
"I will strive for a better tomorrow, but I will never sell my life for someone else's ambition." Triss's voice drifted from the front of the carriage, through the canvas awning.
Kolgrim curled his lip: "You better be able to stick to that."
It should have been Triss's turn to retort, but the sound that reached the carriage was a jarring horse whinny.
The caravan came to an abrupt stop without warning, and the contents inside dangerously tilted forward. Fortunately, the three passengers reacted quickly and were not injured in the sudden halt.
"Good heavens, Madam, do you know what you're doing? That was incredibly dangerous!" The coachman yelled in a rough voice, sounding like he'd encountered the otherworldly version of a sudden stop.
On this secluded path in the wilderness, where no one had been seen for half a day?
The more Arthur thought about it, the more something felt wrong. He exchanged a look with Kolgrim and jumped off the carriage. Because the trees lining the path were very dense, he did not take his two-handed greatsword but grabbed the hand-and-a-half sword, which was more convenient.
Before he could reach the front of the carriage, a loud woman's voice echoed through the forest: "How many people are in your carriage? Make some room for me. My carriage broke down on the road!"
"Those of you inside, hurry up and get out to help! You are being spoken to by Sir Everett's wife!"
...............
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