The Divine Hunter

d strengthen their constitution.

If someone manages to see through multiple Trial of the Grasses from different schools, what kind of witcher would he become? Theoretically speaking, the body’s resistance toward poison would greatly increase after a trial.
So would it make a second trial easier? Or maybe the decoctions would repel each other, killing the user.
That was Roy’s hypothesis.

“Are you talking about multiple modifications?” Letho’s eyes gleamed dangerously, and he warned, “That idea is preposterous, boy.
In all my life, I’ve never heard of anyone who’d taken different Decoction of the Grasses.
Not even if they took it at a different time.
No such fool exists.
Even if they do, they would already be dead.
Right, you haven’t even gotten through the preliminary period, so stop thinking about useless things.” Letho calmed down and held the note that was on his knee.
“Tell me, do you feel any change in your body? The first time should bring some benefit with it.”

“Change?” Roy put his fantasies aside and looked at his character sheet.

‘HP: 30/55 (Poisoned)’

Damn.
I lost twenty points.
That’s one poisonous potion.
Compared to that, berbercane fruits and blowballs were nothing.
When he looked down, he arched his eyebrow, for he saw his Will had gone up to six points.
A 0.2 point increase.
Well, that was one hell of a painful experience, so this is normal, but it’s probably limited to the first time.

There was nothing else aside from that.
Could the lack of change be because of my body being better than an average adult’s? He thought he’d have a skill related to poison.
Was the potion insufficient? 

“Well, there is some change,” he said.
“I can feel my will and thinking becoming stronger.”

“I see.” Letho looked disappointed.
“I came up with the same result after the checkup.
Maybe it’s because of your age, but it doesn’t matter.
The final results will only be known after the first phase.”

***

After Roy had rested for two days and recovered from his ordeal, he was ready to leave Aldersberg with Letho.
He didn’t plan on going to the House of Cardell to say goodbye, since it would only make everyone sad.
Then Seville came.

He went up to them, laughing heartily.
Obviously, his life had been happy as of late, and his beard was well trimmed, and his hair slick.
He looked energetic, the traces of his insomnia nowhere to be found.
Seville held Roy’s and Letho’s hands at the same time with his own hairy ones, looking like he was reunited with his long-lost family.

“Thanks to your help, I now have no worries.
You must pay me a visit when you come back to Aldersberg.
I shall receive you with open arms.” Roy waved him away dismissively.
He’d already profited a lot from the delivery request.
Then Seville said, “Since you and Letho are going west, you’ll have to get through the Mahakams soon, but heretics have been causing trouble in the mountains, and the elder has set traps along the way.
Going there without anything would be troublesome, but I will not let my friends get into trouble.
Here, a letter of safe conduct.
Take it, and you should get through easily.
They show that much respect to me there.”

He then winked at Roy, and the boy took the letter, though he felt nervous.
“Do you have a goal of some sort, Seville?” He thought the wink was suspicious.

“Oh, of course not.
I am not an ungrateful dwarf.
I shall never trick my friends.”

Roy calmed down a bit after Seville’s multiple reassurances, and he read the letter.

‘My brethren in the Mahakams,

The people before you come from the Viper School, and they are skillful, distinguished witchers who have helped me a lot in Aldersberg.
They are now good friends of mine, so please show them the kindness and respect they deserve, and grant them passage through the Mahakam mountains.

Love,

Your brother, the squirrel of Mahakam, Seville Hoger

November 1260.’

Oh, it’s just a simple letter asking for safe passage for us.
Roy stopped getting hung up on that matter, and he hesitated for a moment before telling Seville his request.
He wanted him to take care of the people of the House of Cardell.
Seville agreed to it.

Not long after, Letho and Roy finished packing and rested their eyes.
There wasn’t much to pack.
Most were just Roy’s clothes, potions, and alchemy tools.
Two bags and a saddlebag were enough.
If this were in the past, there wouldn’t have been so many clothes.
Letho would have gone around alone.

The wilds were remote, and going for weeks without a bath was normal.
He’d just take one at an inn once two weeks had passed, then he’d share a fun night with a woman.
For the most part, he was just like the sailors, coachmen, and bodyguards.
The lowest echelon of society.

However, Roy was a lot more particular, so he took a lot of baths to prepare for the future, though that made Letho slightly uneasy.
As they talked, Letho and Roy left Aldersberg and walked west, where the Mahakams stood.