The Witcher World: The Path to Domination Begins in Velen

Chapter 103 Return to the Manor and Changes in Territory

In the afternoon, the Seagull sailed slowly into the river bend behind the manor along the gentle current. The sentries on the tower had noticed the ship flying the lion flag early on. The dull sound of horns echoed in the wind, and the heavy iron-clad oak doors opened to both sides with the creaking of the winch.

Karl was already waiting at the dock with his guards. Kayla stood to the side with Gretka by her hand. Gretka stood on tiptoe, looking towards the river bend, her head with a small braid bobbing back and forth.

Ron was the first to step off the gangway. The wind from the riverbank carried the scent of earth and grass. His eyes fell on Carl, Kayla, and Gretka, who was rushing towards them like a small cannonball.

"Oh, isn't this our lord?" Kayla crossed her arms, a mocking smile playing on her lips, and looked Ron up and down. "Finally decided to come back? I thought you were so captivated by the pretty girls of Novigrad that you forgot where your own territory was."

Ron didn't reply. He strode forward, and before Kayla could react, he wrapped his arms around her slender waist, gently lifted her up, and lowered his head to seal her lips with his.

Kayla struggled symbolically for a moment, then quickly softened in Ron's arms. The kiss lasted much longer than she expected, until she felt she could hardly breathe, at which point she forcefully pushed Ron's cheek away.

"Okay, okay, I forgive you." Kayla's cheeks flushed, and she glared at Ron reproachfully. "Put me down first, there are a lot of people here."

Gretka tilted her head back, her eyes wide open. "Teacher, why are you pressing your mouths together?"

Kayla's face turned even redder. She reached out and lightly tapped Gretka on the head, pretending to be stern as she spoke.

"Children shouldn't ask so many questions!"

Margarita watched this scene with a teasing smile. "Kayla, I was worried about your situation before I came, but it seems... you're doing quite well."

Kayla paused, recognizing the voice all too well. She leaned out, her gaze passing over Ron and landing on the blonde woman being helped off the gangway by two soldiers.

"Margarita...?" Kayla's eyes widened instantly, her face filled with disbelief, and she stammered, "How did you get here? Weren't you...?"

"I really want to talk to you properly, but I don't think Xier and my students can hold on for that long. They need to receive treatment immediately." Margarita sighed, her gaze sweeping over the sorceresses behind her, who were supporting each other and looking anxious.

Ron turned to Kayla and explained, "I just rescued them from Dalrei prison. The witch hunters of Radovide tortured them terribly. I'll tell you the details later."

Kayla's gaze fell on Shirley lying on the stretcher, her expression shifting from surprise at their reunion to worry. She walked toward the stretcher and carefully examined Shirley's injuries.

"Such serious injuries! Quickly take them to the medical room and let Aina give them emergency treatment first. I'll go and prepare a potion."

Without lingering, Kayla immediately summoned her servants and led Margarita and the sorceresses hurried toward Aina's hut.

Watching their departing figures, Ron turned to the tall and upright Carl. "Carl, how's the recruits' training going?"

Karl stepped forward, pounded his chest with his right hand, and gave a standard military salute. "Your Highness, with the aid of the enhancement potion, the recruits' training progress is very fast. Their basic formation coordination has reached the standard, but they lack combat experience and are far from being considered elite."

"It will be soon," Ron said, his gaze turning south, his eyes slightly cold.

"Next, we will face the regular army of Nilfgaard. They will not lack combat experience. Before that, we must squeeze out every bit of their potential."

"Understood!" Karl's voice was as firm as iron.

Ron unfastened the longsword from his waist and handed it to Karl. "Here you are, a gift. This is a masterpiece crafted by an elven master swordsmith. It is called the Sword of Biz Town."

Karl gripped the hilt and drew the blade a short distance. The blade gleamed with a cold, watery light, and Elvish inscriptions were engraved on the hilt. He looked down at the inscriptions and remained silent for a moment.

"What a magnificent sword." Karl gently stroked the spine of the blade. "I've heard Erin say that elves can live for hundreds of years. The skills they accumulate over time are unmatched by human blacksmiths. This sword is completely different from Brom's style; it's more like flowing water—light and resilient."

Ron patted him on the shoulder and turned to Erwin beside him. "Have someone send everyone's gifts over, and don't forget about Weiss and the Blue Guards."

"Distribution has already begun, everyone has received some, and Brom is very satisfied with the batch of wine," Erwin said, closing the notepad.

"Where's mine! Where's mine!" Gretka suddenly jumped out from the side, waving her little hands frantically. "Do I get a present?!"

Ron crouched down and ruffled her little head a few times. "Of course! I brought you lots of toys, candy, pretty clothes, and... textbooks."

"Wow! Toys! Candy! And a dress!" Gretka's eyes lit up like stars. She hugged Ron's neck and gave him a big kiss, then toddled away on her short legs.

Ron wiped the drool off his face helplessly and called out to the small figure as he walked away, "Don't forget, there are still textbooks."

'

Gretka ran even faster, disappearing at the end of the pier, clearly selectively ignoring the word "textbook".

When Ron pushed open the door to Aina's hut, several herbalists in burqas were cleaning and bandaging the sorceresses' wounds, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of alcohol mixed with strong herbs.

Aina was squatting beside Shirley's bed, checking her injuries. Hearing the door open, she looked up and nodded to Ron.

"Aina," Ron walked to the bedside, "is this alcohol? When was it put in?"

"It was Henry who taught me. His alchemy is amazing. There are many things I've never seen before. This alcohol is stronger than the dwarven spirits, which can prevent wound infection and has helped me a lot."

Ron nodded. "How are the sorceresses doing?"

Aina stood up. "Ms. Shirley's condition has stabilized. Ms. Kayla just gave her a healing potion. The others' injuries are not too serious, but their mental state is a bit poor and they need to rest for a while. My herbalists will take turns looking after them."

Ron looked around and was somewhat surprised to find at least seven or eight busy doctors in the room. "When did we get so many herbalists?"

Aina smiled and explained, "My lady, they are all priestly apprentices of Meritelli. Since the temple was sealed off by Nilfgaard, many people were driven out. Later, as your reputation spread further and further in the north, many people gathered at Calard Manor to admire you."

They had received comprehensive medical training at the temple and were very skilled at treating external injuries and preparing medicines, which relieved my stress. With the significant increase in the number of soldiers, we were already short-staffed, but their arrival has made things much better.

Aina turned to look at the gray-robed apprentices. "I suggest they write to the herbalists and apprentices they can contact. If we can recruit these people, our medical team can expand quickly."

"Sure, go for it." Ron agreed without hesitation. "We'll take as many as you have. I'll only worry about not having enough doctors, not having too many."

Aina smiled and nodded, then turned to check on the other wounded.

Ron pushed open the laboratory door, which was filled with glass flasks and distillers of all sizes.

Kayla stood with her back to the door, intently mixing the medicine at the lab bench. She was very focused, muttering something under her breath, probably the formula proportions.