Chapter 334: Our Ranks Grow Stronger
Druids in this world, just like those in other fantasy settings, can communicate with animals. When necessary, they can even possess an animal's body. Unlike witchers, druids are not bound by a code of neutrality.
"Young man, if you are Geralt's kin and have proven yourself to be a friend of the Isles through your actions, then the Druid Circle welcomes your presence." Mousesack's shrewd gaze settled on Lynn. "However, I suspect that in your last days on the Isles, you wouldn't have sought out the Circle just to say hello or pay a visit, would you?"
Lynn carefully chose his words. "In fact, I've come with a request."
Mousesack nodded. "Speak. If it is within our power to help, the Druid Circle does not turn its back on its allies."
"I would like to invite you to Kaer Morhen to assist us with a certain research project."
"Kaer Morhen? That's the stronghold of your School of the Wolf, isn't it? Would it be proper for an outsider to visit?"
"It would be no trouble at all. You and Geralt are old friends, and I'm sure my mentor, Vesemir, would have a great deal to discuss with you."
"Hmm," Mousesack mused. "It's been a long time since I saw my old friend. If the hosts don't mind, then a trip might be in order. But what is this research you speak of?"
Lynn hesitated for a moment but quickly made up his mind. Mousesack's portrayal in the books and games proved he was a trustworthy person. Besides, druids and witchers had no conflicting interests, unlike sorcerers and witchers.
So, he decided to be upfront. "The improvement of the witcher's Trial of the Grasses."
It took at least ten years to train a witcher apprentice before they could undergo the mutation to become a true witcher. The First Northern War would begin in 1263, only eleven years from now. Thus, the mass production of the witcher mutation was something that needed to be put on the agenda as soon as possible.
There were countless children suitable to become witcher apprentices. In this backward, ignorant, and feudal era, there was no shortage of children displaced by the whims of ambitious nobles. But if they wanted more than four out of ten apprentices to survive, then the Trial of the Grasses had to be improved now.
"Of course, this is merely a request, not a demand. So if you are unable to leave the Isles in the near future, I will understand. But if that is the case, I must ask you to keep this a secret."
Why was Lynn so confident that the Trial of the Grasses could be improved? Because a regular practitioner like Thomas Morreu, who wasn't even a core member of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers, was able to create a secondary mutation with only his own limited resources. This was proof enough that there was still significant room for advancement in witcher mutations.
During his time with Gerd, Lynn had learned more about the early days of the witcher brotherhood and the so-called "Fathers of the Witchers." After Alzur and Cosimo created the first witchers, the mages discovered that they did not possess magical abilities as they had originally envisioned, so they abandoned the witcher project and cut off all funding to Alzur and Cosimo.
This meant that the entire brotherhood was then supported solely by Alzur and Cosimo's own funds. This lasted for thirty years. Just as the witchers had finally earned some measure of acceptance, Alzur and Cosimo developed new ambitions. They abandoned the brotherhood to pursue new goals. The departure of the two witcher "fathers" not only left the brotherhood leaderless but also triggered a financial crisis.
The fledgling brotherhood was still a mere child, with Alzur and Cosimo providing for all of its needs. But before the child had even reached adulthood, its "fathers" left, cutting off its source of income.
Larvik of Erland, who would later go on to found the School of the Griffin, was a member of the brotherhood at the time and tried to solve the problem by persuading nobles to provide regular funding to keep it running. Unfortunately, all of Erland's attempts failed.
It could be said that from the moment Alzur and Cosimo left, all research into witcher mutations came to a complete halt. The subsequent splintering of the brotherhood and the rise of the different witcher schools led to an even greater decline in research.
This is why each school's Trial of the Grasses was different and why each witcher school had different characteristics. Their mutation recipes were not complete versions salvaged from the original brotherhood. This is why the survival rate was so low.
But Lynn was different. Even though he was only a baron in Toussaint, the production of rosé wine from his Casteldaccia estate made him richer than any count in the Northern Kingdoms. And with Dudu's burgeoning business empire in Novigrad, he could afford any amount of money the research would require, no matter how much.
"Improving the Trial of the Grasses? Are you trying to… I see." Mousesack did not finish his thought. He was well aware of the witchers' low status. He had a great deal of sympathy for their plight. After all, having lived for several hundred years, he had witnessed firsthand how the witchers had fallen from glory into the abyss. Even though he was a mage himself, Mousesack had a deep distaste for the actions of his peers.
It was akin to this: first, they had a child and looked down on it for its lack of talent. Then, the child, through its own effort, slowly earned the respect of others. The mages, feeling overshadowed, decided they had had enough.
They personally stepped in, spreading rumors and lies to ostracize and slander the child who had done nothing wrong. And as the child suffered through the world's cold shoulders and hardships, they showed no sympathy or compassion. Instead, they laughed and told everyone, "I told you that child would never amount to anything."
And that was the kind of dirty business his fellow mages were doing. Mousesack's understanding of this made him appreciate Lynn's intentions all the more.
"I understand. Yes, I accept your offer."
It was Lynn's turn to stare, a look of disbelief on his face. "You… you agreed just like that?"
"I once received a great kindness from an old friend. He was a witcher. Without him, I would have died long ago. Now that his kin has come to me, I suppose this is my chance to repay that debt."
Lynn had been prepared with several different lines of argument. He was even ready to be rejected. After all, Mousesack was an influential character in the original story. And he wasn't like Tissaia.
Lynn knew that both Tissaia and Margarita valued their academy and their students more than their own lives, which gave him leverage to sway Tissaia. But Mousesack was different. He had no particular obsession in the original plot, and Lynn had no surefire way to convince him. He could only try his best.
He hadn't expected Mousesack to agree so easily. But no matter what, a good result was all that mattered.
(End of Chapter)
.......
AN: Check out my P@treon For +120 extra chapters.
Thank You For your Support!!
👉 Join now: patreon.com/Chaos_God