Before the appearance of Geron and Lann, and when Kelda was unwilling to leave the Siren of Kel, Cohen could be said to be the only remaining witcher of the Griffin school on the continent.
Naturally, when Coen was traveling around the continent, Kelda gave him all the good stuff. The old demon hunter equipped Coen with a full set of armor, sword oil, bombs, potions, and other equipment, but because Coen didn't have the same [Inventory] as Lann, he couldn't put too much in it.
This naturally includes the [Griffin School Contact Notes].
"I don't usually communicate much with my teacher. So I knew that once he contacted me, something big must have happened." Cohen laughed, "But I didn't expect it to be such a big deal this time - relying on the entire country of Cintra to revive the Griffin School and even the Demon Hunter Order, this is really..."
Cohen looked up and sighed: "It's really hard to imagine."
"I have heard rumors about you before, Lann, but you were not yet a Lion at that time. Your poems and songs could be heard in any big city in the North, and people believed that you would become the best knight in the North. Unfortunately, news of your death spread a few months later, and after a while, the news became more and more outrageous."
These outrageous rumors should refer to things like "the return of the dead" and "the power bestowed by the three lions flag".
Cohen said with an incredible expression: "But the most outrageous news was brought by Ciri. She told me that you are also a demon hunter of the Griffin School. I was really shocked at the time."
Lann got up and walked around his room, and found a pot of fresh water on the bedside table. It was obvious that everything he needed for life had been prepared in the room.
He poured himself a glass of water and then offered one to Cohen, prompting a thank you from his fellow scholars.
"I heard that Ciri has also been receiving your sword training recently? How is she?" Lan asked, "In a few years, she will be the queen of Cintra, and the plan of revival will fall on her shoulders."
"She is very good. She works hard, is kind, and is sensible enough to make people feel distressed," Cohen replied.
Lann covered his lips with the cup: "Will you help her?"
Cohen did not answer directly, but turned around and looked Lann directly in the eyes.
After three breaths, he smiled.
"Lane, you don't have to test me like this. Everyone knows that you are the one who has the final say in Cintra now. Even when Ciri grows up, she will definitely listen to you. And if we want to revive the Witcher Cult, the main force behind it will definitely be you who have united multiple schools."
"And if you want a definite answer, then - I am willing." Cohen drank the cup of water handed to him by Lann and pretended to drink. "Whether it is fighting for the North or fighting for the Demon Hunter Cult, I am willing."
In the original novel, Cohen can be said to be the most special demon hunter. This "special" does not refer to his strength, origin, etc., but to his worldview.
In the original timeline, the North and Nilfgaard would clash many times. In a decisive battle between the North and the South, Cohen, as a demon hunter, took the initiative to join the army to fight to defend the North, and eventually died on the battlefield.
Cohen's martial arts and character were praised by everyone who came into contact with him. After his death, his comrades even risked their lives to rescue his body and took it to the hospital for treatment. The people who were responsible for treating him at the time were Shani, who was thrown into Niubao by Lann to learn medical skills, and the halfling "Rust". When the doctor announced that Cohen was dead, his comrades almost took their anger out on the doctors because they could not accept the reality.
Not to mention being a demon hunter, even as a soldier and a knight, Cohen's character is outstanding. Lann was more than happy to have the support of such a companion.
Lann smiled brightly: "I'm glad you joined."
The two hands were clasped together tightly, and Lann finally had another griffin beside him.
In such a harmonious atmosphere, Lann suddenly thought of something.
"Cohen, Master Kelda doesn't want to travel around, right? He seems to only hang out around Kovir. My teacher is even more exaggerated. He doesn't even want to leave Kel Siren."
"Do you think there's any way to trick them both down?"
Cohen fell into deep thought after hearing this.
"Master Geron? I haven't been back to Kel Siren yet, and I haven't seen him. But this is indeed a problem... I have tried many times to persuade the teacher to go out and relax, but he refused."
Pulling himself out of his memories, Cohen's expression became serious: "I think we can plan this issue carefully."
"Of course." Lan nodded, and he and Cohen's hands tightened.
These two Griffins will definitely get along.
…
For the rest of the day, Lann stayed in the room discussing with Coen. The two Griffin School witchers had long heard of each other's names, but had never seen each other's true faces.
We finally meet now, and it feels like we met too late.
Their topics were also varied: the Griffin tactics that combined magic seals with sword skills, the specific plan for the reconstruction and revival of the Griffin School, fooling... no, the specific plan to persuade the mentor to go down the mountain, and so on.
Their conversation ended with a lingering feeling until the sun set and the rich golden color dyed the snow on the mountains into a warm hue.
Because all the demon hunters who were out have returned.
There are many prey in the mountains. In addition to the common snow hares and squirrels, you can even see snow wolves, brown bears and even fork-tailed dragons.
The demon hunters certainly wouldn't go after a fork-tailed dragon just for a meal, but they did bring back a bear. Together with some moss and mushrooms dug out of the snow, it was enough for a hearty dinner.
"The Wolf Clan is very hospitable, and everyone here is a good fellow." Cohen took the initiative to tell Lann, "They welcome demon hunters from other schools to spend the winter in Kaer Morhen. Although so far, it seems that only the griffins and the snakes you brought can come."
Lan smiled.
The firewood was quickly thrown into the stove, and the grill and hot pot were set up. The aroma of thick soup and barbecue soon filled the castle, announcing the start of dinner.
A long table large enough to accommodate twenty people was placed in the center of the hall. It had been a long time since the Wolf Sect received so many guests at the same time.
Vesemir sat at the head of the table, with Lan and Ciri sitting near him. As for the others, the seating order was messed up, but the Wolf Clan didn't care about that at all. In fact, if there weren't guests, they wouldn't even use the table to eat.
Lan saw Triss, and the sorceress smiled sweetly at him. Seeing that Ciri was still holding Lan's hand, she thought about it and decided not to come over.
Vesemir raised his glass and proposed to kick off the dinner: "First of all, let us thank the young man for the prey he brought."
Everyone stood up very cooperatively and raised the cups of different shapes in their hands above their heads in a ceremonial manner.
The witchers drank it all in one gulp, the sorceresses took a sip, but Ciri didn't allow any alcohol.
"I don't think I've introduced you to the guys from our Wolf Faction yet?"
In response to Vesemir's question, Lane smiled and said, "It's strange to say this, but I am somewhat familiar with you."
Vesemir raised an eyebrow. “It’s that… the Ancient Blood, right? I don’t know much about it, but it seems to be able to give you the constitution of a demonic source, and demonic sources all have a certain degree of predictive ability. Ciri has fully demonstrated this skill for us during this period of time.”
"You can understand it that way." Lan En smiled.
…
The four members of the Wolf School were extremely familiar to the players in their previous lives. They were just like the name of their school - "Wolf". They were surprisingly united and were willing to die for the brothers they recognized.
Geralt, one of the four, had known each other for a long time. He was sitting at the end of the table so that he could sit close to Yennefer, but Yennefer didn't seem to want to be too close to the other witchers.
Seeing Lan's gaze, White Wolf nodded at him:
"It's nice to see you again, Lann."
"Me too, Geralt."
The second is Vesemir, an old witcher whose hair is really gray due to age. Few people can tell his age for sure, not even himself.
In the previous life, when discussing the title of "The Strongest Demon Hunter", many people would nominate Vesemir. At least Lann knew that Vesemir was able to use the [Igni Sign] to melt the frozen lake in winter and create a spring scene a hundred years ago, which was something that Lann had difficulty doing when he first awakened the ancient blood.
…
There was no need to introduce myself to Vesemir again. Lann moved his gaze back and looked at a man with a horrible scar on his face.
He had medium-length hair parted in the middle and was wearing a red-striped rivet jacket. When he saw Lan's gaze, he raised his glass and said, "Nice to meet you, Lan from Cintra. I'm Eskar."
Eskar, a calm and composed warrior, is more like a Geralt with a less dramatic life, a more "standard" demon hunter. He is strong enough to fight multiple heavily armored warriors with swords alone; he is experienced enough to hunt monsters such as fork-tailed dragons alone, which are difficult for ordinary military teams to hunt.
据说他也曾经有过一个意外之子，而且也是王室的公主。但是和杰洛特的希里情况不同，艾斯卡尔最终没有把自己的意外之子带回来。
“很高兴认识你，艾斯卡尔。”兰恩和沉稳的猎魔人碰杯，饮尽。
……
至于最后一名狼派成员，他没等兰恩开口就自己嚷了起来：“好吧，好吧，我是最后一个被问好的人，我已经等不及了。所以不等你看过来就主动来跟你招呼了，让我们快点结束这个流程然后开始晚餐好吗？”
这人的话语很不礼貌，但是兰恩依旧不在意地笑了：“初次见面，很高兴认识你，兰伯特。”
兰伯特穿着黑色的夹克，小平头，脸上也有疤。
他生的很英俊，虽然依旧不及兰恩，但是和杰洛特能够不相上下。不过他和杰洛特两人的颜值不是一个风格的，杰洛特是沧桑的荷尔蒙大叔，而兰伯特有点邪痞流浪剑客的味道。
兰伯特的性格相当恶劣，这源自他对于自己猎魔人身份的排斥。但是他对于猎魔人的同伴却有着深沉的感情，虽然言语刺人，却也愿意为了学派的任何一人赴死。
这样的性格配合这种颜值，有点言情小说主角的味道了。
……
“好的，好的，我也很高兴认识你，因为你终于来了，辛特拉的兰恩。”兰伯特嘟囔着，和兰恩碰杯，饮酒。
希里看到兰伯特的态度，不满地皱起了鼻子。而兰伯特“哈”了一声，颇有兴趣张大眼睛对上小姑娘，两人隔空用视线玩起了瞪眼的游戏。
维瑟米尔摇摇头，不知道该怎么评价这一大一小两个孩子。众人一边用餐一边低声交谈，杰洛特和艾斯卡尔颇感兴趣地和蛇派众人聊上了，他们对于这个南方来的学派充满了好奇。
而维瑟米尔则再次对兰恩举杯：“我要感谢你兰恩，真的。”
“嗯？”兰恩露出意外的表情，“为了什么？”
维瑟米尔抿了一口酒，缓缓吐出一个名字：
“米诺乐。”
原本正在交流的餐桌，声音立刻低了两度，大家的语速都不由自主地放缓，开始心不在焉。
在玩瞪眼游戏的希里和兰伯特不再执着于把视线投向对方，而是缓缓往主座上面移动。
维瑟米尔叹了口气，面对众人或明或暗的目光脸不红心不跳，毕竟快两百年打造出来的厚脸皮不是这么容易就被攻破的。亦或者是这么些日子他早就已经习惯了狼派众人的调侃。
“我很感谢你帮我找到她、说服她、将她带回到我的身边。米诺乐是我的遗憾，因为她我才觉得自己枯燥的生活多了一丝色彩。”
正在偷听的兰伯特不满地砸了咂嘴，嘟囔道：“枯燥的生活……”
维瑟米尔猛地一锤桌子：“你以为我在说谁？给我停下你那该死的小孩子游戏乖乖吃饭！”
训斥着兰伯特的老猎魔人横眉倒竖，又怒又威。但是他很快转过头，一瞬间又换上了和蔼的表情。
维瑟米尔柔着语气继续自己的感谢：“所以我必须要说我欠你一次，兰恩。”
兰恩笑着摇了摇头：“你不用这么客气，毕竟希里这段时间也麻烦你们的关照了。她写给我的信中视你们为家人，那么我们也都是自己人，因此这种小事就不用感谢了。”
维瑟米尔的表情变得和蔼了。但是接下来他要说的才是正事，所以他很快调整好了自己的情绪：“但是想来你也知道了，这个过程中出了一些意外——凯尔莫罕的气候对于米诺乐来说太残酷了。因此我有一个请求，我想你帮我一个忙。”
维瑟米尔郑重地说道：“我想要加入你的猎魔人教团的计划之中去，我希望辛特拉以后能够有狼派的一席之地。也是我自己的私心……我希望能够有一个能够同时容纳米诺乐和狼派的地方，我想给米诺乐一个正常的家。”
……
哈！
兰恩笑了。
当初在诺维格瑞的时候，他还忽悠米诺乐去辛特拉定居来着。他原本是想要以此为筹码来拉拢维瑟米尔的，没想到现在还没等他开口，维瑟米尔自己就送上门来了？
兰恩深吸一口气，没必要按住上扬的嘴角了，这个时候正是露出惊喜笑容的时机。
他诚恳地说道：“不不，维瑟米尔，不是我帮你的忙，是你们帮了我们一个大忙。辛特拉现在正是需要援助的时候。我自己就是猎魔人，希里也是狼派的一员，我向你保证辛特拉对于猎魔人会毫无保留。”
维瑟米尔一半是苦涩，一半是如释重负地叹了一口气。他守了这座城堡不知道多少年，此刻终于做出了离开的决定，只希望能够拥有一个足够值得的结局。
而且他还有话没说完。
“但是。”维瑟米尔补充道，“我的小伙子们有一些意见。如你所见，我们狼派都是独立的个体，而不是一个佣兵团。我愿意去辛特拉，也愿意把狼派的传承带过去，但是这只代表我自己，我不能够替小伙子们作出决定。
“他们还有些想法要和你面对面谈谈。”
兰恩闻言挑了挑眉：“当然，我洗耳恭听。”
维瑟米尔这个狼派的灵魂都来了，其他人相当于半只脚都踏入辛特拉了，那些要“谈谈”的肯定也不会是太离谱的事情。
杰洛特叹了一口气，看了看希里，又看了看维瑟米尔：“别看我，兰恩。我已经牵扯进去太深了，甚至已经帮你们对抗过尼弗迦德。我会帮助你收复辛特拉，我逃不掉了。但是之后……我还是希望能够较少地参与政治，至少我不会参与对外的侵略战争。”
兰恩点头：“当然，杰洛特。你是我的同伴，是战友，还是希里的……‘意外之父’。这个词可能有点怪，我的意思是我不会像士兵一样命令你，你有着自主权，这是我对你的保证。”
希里绷着小脸应和道：“这也是我的保证，杰洛特！”
白狼扯了扯嘴角，叶奈法面带嘲讽地看了他一眼，一脸‘你看吧，我跟你说过的了’的表情。显然之前杰洛特对于这个问题有过担忧，此刻听了兰恩的话才放下心来。
艾斯卡尔是第二个提出要求的人：“我的诉求跟杰洛特一致。我们是猎魔人，而不是什么特种士兵。既然是要复兴猎魔人教团，那么我们恪守的信条不能忘记，我们终究是为了从怪物的爪牙下救助平民而生的，而不是为了统治者挥动刀剑的。”
“除此之外，我还听说了你在研究猎魔人突变，对吗？”
兰恩听到艾斯卡尔的问题后点头，他看向莫斯萨克和特莉丝，说道：“我探索了一个遗迹，获得了一个猎魔人二次突变的配方，它可以让猎魔人在现有的情况下再次加强。我们通过这个突变为参考，再加上我自己阴差阳错的突变为蓝本，正在尝试加强突变的成功率，甚至控制突变的方向。
兰恩笑道：“目前成果喜人，已经把突变成功率提升到了五成。”
“变强不重要，我觉得我们的力量已经够用了。”艾斯卡尔双手放在桌子上，“我的提议是这样：我希望在突变有着绝对……算了，至少是八成的成功率之前，不要再贸然进行突变了。我不想再看到学徒因为这种无法预测的事情失去生命。”
这不是问题，兰恩果断地点头应下：“我答应你，‘不造成无谓的牺牲’也是我研究突变的目的。事实上狮鹫学派现在就有一名学徒正在接受训练，但是因为突变的成功率还不够，所以我们一直没有给他进行突变。而如果实验不成功，我们也不会给他进行突变，这是我们学派一致认同的结果。”
兰恩的眼神诚恳，这个回答也足够让人满意。
“你们是狮鹫学派，我相信你们。”艾斯卡尔点头，“那我没有问题了，我愿意为你的猎魔人教团献出我的力量。”
“欢迎。”兰恩嘴角的弧度更大了。
最后兰恩把视线投到兰伯特身上。刺猬一样的猎魔人早已停止进食，也不再和希里玩闹。
他的身上此刻透露出一股压抑的气氛，似乎在酝酿情绪。
“我不在乎什么猎魔人教团，也不在乎我是不是要为一个国家上阵杀敌。帮助维瑟米尔、帮助狼派，我都没有问题。只要把这当成委托就好，干什么活不是干？”
“但是如果要狼派整个搬迁到辛特拉去，那么必须要把这里的手尾先处理干净了，我才能安心地走。”
兰伯特似乎回忆起了什么不好的事情，眼神开始变得凶狠。一个呼吸之后，他吐出一个名字：
“老矛头！”
这个名字一出，桌子边上所有的狼派猎魔人动作都顿了一瞬。
兰伯特接下来的话解释了众人的反应：
"That's a Cyclops. It killed many of our apprentices and companions. I must kill it before I leave here!"
Lambert stood up suddenly and opened his arms. "We have never been sure of our ability to deal with it, because we were worried that it would cause more unnecessary casualties. But now, there are ten demon hunters, two sorceresses, and a druid. Can't such a team deal with a Cyclops?"
"Lan of Cintra, if you want us to follow you, we can. But we have to kill the old spearhead. That's my condition!"
Lambert's impassioned words fell, and before Lann could react, the system's prompt sounded immediately -
[Discovery Mission - Wolf's Revenge:
Even demon hunters have monsters that they cannot deal with alone. For the declining school, the Cyclops named "Old Spearhead" is one of them. This monster killed too many apprentices, and the wolf school has never forgotten this hatred. If you want to gain the loyalty of the wolves, then help them to avenge themselves. Anyway, it is not difficult for you now. 】
Lann stood up solemnly and assured Lambert: "For the sake of those apprentices who died tragically, the Cyclops must die. I say it!"
Lambert clinked glasses with Lann vigorously: "Very good, Lann!"
Lei Suo also expressed his attitude: "It seems that the [Cyclops Decoction] has never been researched. I don't know if its tissue fluid can be used to refine any new poison. I am looking forward to it."
"Thank you, brother of the Snake Faction!"
"It's not easy to hear Lambert's words of thanks." Geralt muttered. He said sarcastically, but his hand holding the wine glass was shaking. Obviously, he didn't want to miss the opportunity to kill the monster.
The atmosphere at the table became lively.
Vesemir suddenly remembered something and said to Lann, "After passing through the cave where Old Spearhead lives, there is a place we call the 'Ring of Elements'. It has a unique terrain and condenses rich chaotic energy. Wolf-faction demon hunters use it to strengthen their magic signs. After killing Old Spearhead, you can also try it, Lann."