At Lan's suggestion, everyone ended the dinner in time.
"If this continues, I'm even worried that someone will suggest stealing Yennefer's clothes and then use the portal to run around."
"Haha, Lane, you are really drunk. Who would do such a ridiculous thing?" Lambert laughed loudly and mocked Lane's thoughts.
The others, however, began to seriously consider what Lann had said, and shuddered.
It was indeed a great night, and everyone staggered back to their respective rooms.
…
As soon as Lan opened the door, he seemed to have entered another world, and a warm breath mixed with the familiar smell of perfume hit him in the face.
Take a deep breath, it's a mixture of orange, gardenia, and cedar perfume.
Looking up, I saw Triss squatting in the house. The red-haired sorceress was adding firewood to the fireplace. Her jade-like face was roasted red by the flames, but the temperature on her face was higher than the flames.
"Back? A little later than I thought."
Seeing Lann push the door open, Triss smiled and opened the window for ventilation, then poured a glass of water, slowly walked to Lann and handed it to him.
Even though Lan En was used to the service of servants, this feeling, this scene, and this person still made him feel a surge of emotions he had never experienced before.
He sipped the melted snow water bit by bit and asked Triss, "Are you here to check on my progress in magic learning again tonight?"
This had almost become a secret code between the two of them. Triss had long passed the time of being embarrassed. She nodded first, then shook her head:
"More than that, I actually came here to... say goodbye to you."
Lann's movements suddenly paused. He had never expected to get this answer.
"Goodbye? Where are you going?"
Based on Triss's past reactions, she should have tried every means to stay with Lann, just like what happened in Novigrad.
Now that Ciri has left Kaer Morhen and is with him, and Brokilon is about to join forces with Marshal Vissegerd, there will be a real general in charge. In this situation, Mossak and Triss can be freed.
Lann had originally wanted to take Triss with him to Skellige.
“I have two reasons.” Triss explained softly, and it was obvious that she was also extremely reluctant. “The first is because Ciri…she will be with you for the rest of the time, right? I think it’s better for you to have some time alone.”
The sorceress raised her finger and gently touched Lann's lips, blocking his words: "I know Ciri doesn't mind... us, but she will still feel uncomfortable. She has been separated from you in Kaer Morhen for a long time, and she will come back soon, so I hope she can enjoy this time."
“Anyway.” Triss smiled. “After she returns to Kaer Morhen, I’ll have plenty of time to find you. After all, I know how to use the portal—and she’ll still need a long time to learn.”
Lann sighed and said, "You are such a good sister, Triss."
That’s not right. In terms of seniority... maybe you are the younger sister?
It's a headache.
"You have two reasons. What's the second one?"
"The second one." Triss laughed and hugged Lan gently. The scent of orange and cedar became stronger.
"I am the royal advisor of Temeria. Have you forgotten? I am going back to Temeria."
Lann was really stunned this time: "You haven't resigned yet? You have been running around for me, and Temeria has no objection?"
Triss shook her head. "I can't say I don't have any opinions. It's just that I'm not the only royal advisor in Temeria, and now the kings don't trust warlocks as much as before. It doesn't really matter whether I'm here or not..."
At this point, she chuckled and said, "Don't get me wrong, I am now... half Cintra. Returning to Temeria was the result of a joint discussion between Mossak and I. I know that Temeria's attitude towards you is very problematic now, and I hope to mediate and win allies for you as much as possible."
"Not only Temeria, I also hope to increase the favorability of the warlocks towards you. You know, King Fortestai has a whole advisory group, and he is currently rejecting the warlocks. I think I can take this opportunity to win over the companions who have been neglected by the king."
Lann fell into deep thought. He didn't care much about Triss's suggestion to win over Temeria. After all, Temeria had Princess Adda, a staunch ally...
Instead, he was more interested in Foltestai's Royal Warlock Advisory Group.
Lann suddenly slapped his forehead. Triss had just avoided Ciri and turned around to look for Adda again. This feeling... was a bit subtle.
"What's wrong?" Triss asked in confusion as she watched Lann's sudden big movement.
He definitely couldn't tell Triss what he was thinking now, so Lan could only change the subject.
"No, no, nothing. I was thinking about the warlocks of Temeria. If I remember correctly, Keira Metz was one of them."
"Why, do you have any thoughts about her?"
If I remember correctly, Keira Metz was one of the founders of the Sorceresses' Coven, which was the largest gathering of warlocks in the North after the dissolution of the Brotherhood of Warlocks. In a sense, Keira was also one of the top ten warlocks in the North at that time, and was worth winning over.
Lan nodded without any defense: "I met her once and had a good impression of her. And her strength seems to be..."
The sentence came to an abrupt end because Lann suddenly sensed the bad atmosphere in the room.
The badge on his chest began to tremble violently, and the temperature in the room began to soar. Chaos energy quickly condensed in the room and then transformed into surging fire elements.
Lann felt the sorceress in his arms gradually becoming hot.
"The person I'm talking about is Fekaert. He's currently a member of the Warlock Supreme Council and he's quite powerful."
Lan nodded seriously: "I think so too. Although I have never met him, I have heard of him. He is a powerful warlock."
Triss continued, "Of course, Kayla is also good. I have a good relationship with her. If you are particularly eager to win her over, I am also willing to talk to her."
The temperature in the house got higher.
Lann sighed, knowing that this topic was not suitable to be discussed any further.
He hugged Triss fiercely and said, "Actually, I think having you is enough. But if you insist, I'll listen to you and you can make the arrangements."
Triss wanted to speak, but her lips were blocked. She was lost in thought for a while, but then she regained consciousness and used her fists, which Lan could hardly feel, to punch a few times and try to pull the head out.
"The window is still open and it's snowing!"
"Never mind it. Just keep the fireplace burning."
…
The dry wood was thrown into the fireplace, and the fire came into being. The trembling flames licked the grain of the wood, igniting it inch by inch, making it heat up gradually, until the two were completely integrated, bursting out with powerful energy.
Flame is mankind’s first worship, the shelter of human life, and the most primitive and fanatical pursuit of mankind.
It is hot and fierce, but also continuous and gentle. If the firewood is arranged in the right order and structure, it can burn until dawn.
The temperature in the room reached its peak at this moment, and this time it was not due to magic.
…
…
[Character level increase +1]
The next morning, Lan was suddenly awakened from his dream by a chant that sounded like a holy sigh. He looked up and saw that the sky outside the window was just getting light, and the sorceress beside him was still sleeping soundly.
What's going on? Could it be that we can now gain experience from this kind of thing?
This absurd idea just popped up in Lan's mind, but he immediately dispelled it. He just chuckled twice and hit his head to laugh at his own bizarre idea.
If you don't kill any enemies and don't complete any quests, then the only ones who can bring you quests are your followers.
He adjusted his posture so that Triss, who was mumbling, could lean more comfortably in his arms, and then he gently opened the system panel to check the status of his followers.
The first thing that comes into view is the animal Black Wind, the newly contracted Troll Demon, and the soul Alice in the painting. These three have their own special situations, and there are no special changes in the panel.
But as he looked further, Lan's eyes gradually froze.
The following are sorted by level:
[Follower: Levin Brot
Level: 5
Mission: Bloodline Continuation Part 2, Racial Bridge, Town Revival]
It seems that Levin, a young man from a small town, has received the main mission?
…
[Follower: Milva (Maria Barin)
Level: 7
Mission: Walking with Lions Part 2, One Hundred Bows, Archery Instruction]
Female follower Milva, the last two tasks are fine, but what's the situation with this first one that seems to be a main task? And how to complete it?
…
[Follower: House Linewich
Level: 10
Missions: Last Wish · Part 3, Master Quint · Part 2, Heart of the Demon Hunter, Fortress Reorganization]
Only House is the one that Lann is most assured of. It was said that Lann had spent a year exploring in the capital of Cintra before he reached level 10. Unexpectedly, House had reached this level in less than half a year after obtaining the panel. It seemed that he had two main quests at the same time.
The ingredients are quite complex though.
…
[Follower: Kaiyan
Level: 10
Missions: Novigrad's Good Neighbors · Part 2, Drama Tour · Part 2, Blazing Fire, Cats' Home, Dream Walker, Midnight Ghost, Shapeshifting Thief]
凯亚恩的等级提升也很喜人，虽然契约得比较晚，但是毕竟起步就是超过一般猎魔人的特殊天赋随从，兰恩估计他一直接的也是经验远超一般支线任务的狩魔任务，进度快点正常。
有时间兰恩打算回诺维格瑞看看他，从任务列表来看似乎还有不少的意外收获。
……
【随从：艾斯·艾洛曼·奥曼
等级：12
任务：骑士之道、小画家、学徒考核、容颜焕发、第二梦、升学考试、红色高跟鞋、两个人的日记、空谷幽兰、美人鱼传说、小岛深处、成为焦点、倾听者】
兰恩沉默。
精彩！
……
……
日上三竿，众人聚在凯尔莫罕城堡前门，这是兰恩一行人准备回辛特拉的时候。
“我很想说让你们多留几天，但是一想到之后我们也要去辛特拉，就略过这些繁琐的礼貌了。”维瑟米尔拍了拍兰恩的肩膀，“我们回头见。”
兰恩点头，最后环视这座古朴的城堡：“不用有太多不舍，反正之后还是要回来的。等空出时间来之后就由我们出资来重建、修缮这座城堡，一定会比现在更好的。”
维瑟米尔闻言摇摇头不做反应，反而是朝着身后狠狠招了招手：“杰洛特，你怎么比希里还要害羞了？快出去！”
“我不是害羞，而是想到一会要经过传送门。”
面对导师的奚落，杰洛特面色凝重。
希里跳着把白狼拉到兰恩的身后，而叶奈法一边摇头一边笑着也跟了上去，加入去辛特拉的队伍之中。
狼派虽然要留下整理行李，但是依旧派出杰洛特暂时跟随兰恩。
或者说是杰洛特半推半就地主动要跟过来，毕竟希里都走了。
而白狼一走，叶奈法自然也没有留下来的道理，这个浑身散发着丁香与醋栗香味的女术士乐得如此。
“正好路上给希里继续魔法课程，兰恩你也可以一起。”
特莉丝和兰恩听到叶奈法说这句话的时候脸色都变了一下。
而希里则是成了苦瓜脸，她还以为这是一个难得的休假，没想到老师会一路追这么远。
伴随莫斯萨克的橡木手杖狠狠跺地，红色的传送门在庭院中打开，狂风将积雪和长发一起吹动。
兰伯特幸灾乐祸地看着杰洛特的背影消失在一片红光中，突然想到了什么，转头朝着维瑟米尔说道：“我们之后去辛特拉能不能骑马去？”
“……我们行李很多，或许要在路上花费一个多月的时间。”
“我知道，但是我宁可这样。”
“……先去收拾东西吧，之后再说。”
……
……
失重感，眩晕感。
落地，但是这次兰恩没有干呕。
不是因为兰恩已经适应了传送门的副作用，而是兰恩的眼前此刻站着一个很久都没有见过的人。
这个人和老管家恩斯显然已经在这里等待许久。在见到一行人落地的时候，他脸上立刻露出了惊喜而恭敬的表情，随后施了一个标准的宫廷礼：
“公主殿下。”
希里愣了一愣，双眼也随之露出了惊喜的光：“维赛基德？”
“是的，殿下。”
正在行礼的人看上去很苍老，头发和胡子都已经花白，但是身形依旧健壮，没有人会怀疑这种身材的人是否可以上阵杀敌。
他穿着一身在全辛特拉只有他能穿的高级板甲，左胸有一个小型的狮头浮雕，披着藏青色的斗篷，左腰别着一把狮首长剑，右腰别着一把匕首。
他就是辛特拉的元帅，狮子王国的军营里面声望第二高、权利第二大的人——之所以说是“第二”，是因为以前卡兰瑟牢牢把握住了军权，而现在则是兰恩的声望无人能及。
在原本的时间线中，辛特拉全境沦陷，一度变成尼弗迦德的行省。而维赛基德率领的辛特拉残部则成为了狮子王国最后的火种，他们盘踞在布洛奇隆森林边上的布鲁格王国静待复国的时机，可惜最后在第二次北境战争中他们的仇恨被利用，被北境诸国当成了消耗的炮灰。
所以毫无疑问，这是一位忠心耿耿的老将，兰恩一直期待着见到他，现在终于如愿。
而在向着希里致敬之后，维赛基德元帅直起了身子，他的视线在莫斯萨克和兰恩之间犹豫了一下，最终选择了兰恩作为第二个打招呼的人：
“许久不见了，兰恩。”
哪怕脑中还盘踞着眩晕感，兰恩还是强忍着挤出得体的微笑：“我也很想您，元帅。”
与希里不同，兰恩虽然也是王族，但是在以前的辛特拉依旧只是属于“小辈”，至少在维赛基德这位一人之下的元帅的眼里是这样的。
哪怕维赛基德此刻肯定已经从莫斯萨克的口中知道了兰恩的功绩，但是一些固化的观念还是需要一些时间扭转过来。
兰恩对此不甚在意，有的是机会的。
随后，维赛基德又和莫斯萨克、甚至杰洛特打了招呼。
他们是相识的，维赛基德这么老的资格，在当初是参加过希里母亲——帕薇塔的订婚宴的，那正是杰洛特与希里命运开始纠缠的地方，也是莫斯萨克决定留在辛特拉的起因。
“少爷，殿下。”老管家恩斯朝着兰恩和希里分别行礼，随后解释道，“元帅阁下是在你们外出的时候到来的，我按照您之前的吩咐给他在府邸里面安排了客房。而莫斯萨克顾问通知我今天是您归来的时期后，所以我们就决定在这里迎接您。”
……
新来了不少客人，其中甚至有三头令人感到荒谬的巨魔。但是老管家依旧波澜不惊地给把所有人引进了府邸，给所有人安排了住处。
而兰恩和维赛基德两人早就憋了一肚子的话，他们径直走向了兰恩的书房。
“我带来了大概两千人。”维赛基德的第一句话就交了底，“当初都城沦陷后，我一路北上，收拢那些还没来得及与陛下汇合的军队。本来大概有五千人，可惜这一路牺牲了不少勇士，但是留下来的都是百战精锐！”
这是之前被兰恩和莫斯萨克等人统计过的，兰恩没有丝毫的意外。
但是接下来维赛基德的话就让兰恩意外了，他说：“兰恩，接下来我要掌管所有的军队。”
这是要夺军权了？
兰恩面不改色，通过来辛特拉这一年的几次相处再加上前世的记忆，他相信维赛基德不是这样的人。
退一步讲，以他现在的威望，维赛基德还真的没有办法将他排斥在军武体系之外。
看到兰恩的表情之后，维赛基德露出了意外却又欣慰的表情，顿了顿停顿一个呼吸之后，他主动解释道：“兰恩，你不用担心我是在夺权，事实上我是在交权。”
“在辛特拉光复之前，我不会再作为一名元帅了，而是作为一名将军，去冲锋陷阵。”维赛基德自嘲道，“现在的辛特拉没有需要一名‘元帅’的兵力了。”
“而你，兰恩，你需要承担起更加重要的责任，你不要再事事亲为，而是要开始注重自己的安全了。事实上当我听到这一次的北境会谈你只带了这么几个人就出去的时候，我吓出了一身的冷汗。”
“明天我会向着公主殿下宣誓效忠，而随后将军权全部移交给她。所有的军权又会在公主的命令下移交给你，所有的士兵会向你行礼，包括我在内。”维赛基德诚恳地说道，“所以你不用担心我会威胁到你，在辛特拉光复之前我也不会允许我们内部出现矛盾。”
“我只是担心你的安全，希望你以后不要再亲自上阵杀敌了——至少在公主殿下成年以前，你不能再冒险了。”
兰恩明白了，这果然是正狮子旗老辛特拉人的毛病——崇尚刀剑技艺，迷信军队武力，对于魔法在内的一切超凡力量都有所轻视。
因此哪怕维赛基德已经听了关于兰恩的种种传闻，此刻依旧说出了这种话，他还是将兰恩当做一个常规意义上“武力超群”的骑士看待。
某种意义上维赛基德的认知没错，这片大陆的主角是凡人，军队足够碾压一切。
但是兰恩早就已经脱离了所谓的“常规”。
“元帅，你的意见很中肯。”兰恩诚恳地说道，“军事方面的事情我远不及你，我也希望以后能够跟在你身边多学习行军打仗的知识。”
“但是……我可能跟你常规认知中的骑士有一点点区别。”
兰恩用拇指和食指比了一个“一点点”的手势，继续说道：
“这样吧，我给你示范一下我的能力，我们找个稍微空旷一点的地方。”