The Divine Hunter

Chilly winds started howling once more, chasing the stars into obscurity. The signs of Draco and Sagittarius were blown away.

“A minute more of your time, Coen.” Roy noticed Coen’s incessant glancing at Igsena’s room. “The Griffins are masters of Signs, and sources say you possess skills strong enough to rival a mage’s spell. I’d like to see if the rumors are true if you don’t mind.”

***

“Ah, you flatter us. Every school has its own specialty. We put more of our time into Signs compared to say, swordplay and alchemy. And we did make some progress. Though it might not be as much as you say it is,” Coen said humbly. Not an ounce of arrogance even showed.

But Roy thought he should be proud. The elements are what made this world. Witchers who specialized in the power of the elements like Signs had a better future than any other witcher.

“Keldar did say I can teach you all the basic stuff, and I’m more than happy to oblige. Our Signs are different mainly because of the three secret arts.” Coen started explaining, and Roy listened closely.

“Dual Signs, mutation, and the powerup provided by ‘Roar,’ or as I like to call it, ‘Wingflap.'”

Coen stared at Roy, and the young witcher fell deep into his thoughts.

Coen continued. “Dual Signs is something our school spent many years perfecting. It’s a skill that gives you the ability to cast Signs with both hands. Not different Signs on both hands, however.”

Letho, Serrit, Vesemir, and Geralt could cast Signs with two hands, but they were different Signs. Technically, they were consecutive castings, not concurrent. Roy tried to do that, but his Signs were only at Level 3. He lacked skill. He could cast Signs normally with his left hand, but his right would lag behind by a beat.

“Dual Signs require you to cast a single Sign using both hands. You’ll expend more mana in the process while multiplying your Sign intensity.”

Coen waved his arms in the air, performing swift gestures that almost left afterimages. Roy thought he was seeing a flower bloom, and moonlight shone on a crimson sign blossoming in the center of that flesh-colored flower.

As the witchers’ pendant vibrated violently, a burst of flame hurtled through the air, tearing apart the darkness of the night, shining upon Coen’s face.

The flames flew across the air turning a snow mound five yards away into a puddle of water. Coen pulled his hands back, ending the Sign. The flames died down, but a horizontal trail of smoke appeared between the air and the snowy ground.

“No. I let Keldar down. All I have is the Dual Sign art.” He shook his head, smiling bitterly. “An elemental’s roar is not to be understood in the normal sense. Anyone who hears it will undergo a change, physically and mentally speaking. Only those who possess expert meditation skills and special traits can pass the change safely. People with an iron will, or those who are Sources to begin with.”

Coen sighed. “If anyone who lacks those qualities were to attempt the change, they might self-combust, freeze their innards, turn into stone, or even break into little pieces. Roy, if you possess the qualities to undergo that change, perhaps Keldar might give you the opportunity to witness The Hunt and feel the elemental’s voices.”

Roy massaged his temples. Okay, so I guess the requirements are: level of Meditation, high Will, and elemental affinity. I allocated all my skill points to Meditation. Most witchers don’t even have that kind of level of meditation. Guess I make the cut? No problem in the Will department. I have a higher Will than most living things. And I’ve awakened Elder Blood. That ramped my elemental affinity up. Sign mutation is practically made for me. I’m taking it.

***

“Wingflap is a modification of the elementals’ roar. It’s designed to support the Signs.” Coen paused for a moment. “Do you know why Signs are weaker than spells?”

Roy leaned forward to listen closely.

“Because Signs expend the mana within us, and we only have a limited reserve of mana. That limitation limits our Sign’s power.” Coen’s eyes glinted. “While mages also expend their own mana, it’s not the only source of their spell’s power. Their own mana is nothing but a guide. Once their spell is released, it takes in the chaos energy lingering in the air. And chaos energy is infinite. Limitless. It’s why their spells are a few magnitudes more powerful than Signs.

“But of course, there are flaws in that spell system as well. They need a longer time to prepare, their spells require complex steps to cast, and they also require complex materials, incantations, and talismans to aid them in spellcasting.

“Erland was a Source. He did extensive research on Signs and spells, listing out their pros and cons. Eventually, he improved our Signs.” There was deep respect in Coen’s eyes. “He simplified our Signs and fused them with the modified roars. It’s akin to adding a simple incantation, but without the chanting. We can still cast the Signs as swiftly as ever.”

“The modified Signs, when cast, can tap into the chaos energy lingering in the air, strengthening them.” Coen explained, “These modified Signs resemble the first time a bird flaps its wings to fly. It chirps and flies into the air, traveling to a new horizon. Once modified, these Signs will be as potent as spells, and with a significantly faster casting speed compared to their spell counterparts. But just like Sign mutation, Wingflap involves the roar of the elementals. You’ll need to possess some specific qualities to access it. Expert meditating skills, an iron will, or being a source.”

Roy heaved a sigh, and he said nothing for a long time. These secret arts were more powerful and complex than he imagined. Sign mutation and Wingflap, especially, seemed to be designed for him. I need to get my hands on those.

Coen looked at the house again. “Roy, I do not possess the power to master the remaining arts. Therefore, I cannot put on any demonstration. That will be it for today. You need time to sort out all the information I just told you, so I’ll leave you at that.”

***

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