"You probably would have died. The chaos magic is poisonous to any person who isn't well versed with it." The druid said with a deadpan expression.
"No, thanks to you." Liam begrudgingly said that.
"The magic that sustains you is… unnatural. And now I know why." The druid said while looking deep into his eyes. Liam smirked at the words of the druid. This man, no matter how knowledgeable he was, would never in million years would be able to predict the abilities he possesses.
"You know nothing about me. So don't act like you do. And if that is all you want to say, then you are done and now get the hell out of here, because last I checked, it was you who threw us out of the forest for hurting your precious doll." Liam said. The druid didn't seem fazed by the harsh words at all.
"Child, do you know what you possess?" The druid asked, circumventing the fact that Liam just told him to step out of his space.
"You mean the scent of an elf that you get from me? Yeah, I know that. You didn't think I was that dumb. Did you?" Liam said. For sometime he had come to know, with the help of Triss and Keira, especially after taking a small vacation in the world of MCU, that the affects of the wraith was always present.
In fact, there were other lingering specters in his body since he possessed magic from different dimensions. The only reason the power of elves was very apparent and in forefront was because of the fact that the magic they knew was very closely related to the Aen Elle. Hearing the answer of Liam, the druid, for the first time was a bit surprised but then he saw Triss and vaguely guess what might have happened.
He breathed out a sigh before saying.
"I am sorry for the actions of my fellow friends."
"Hmph.. You aren't really sorry. You are just annoyed that Liam here knows what he is doing." Triss came behind Liam and took him back to the bed. She was more annoyed than Liam here.
"Liam.. So that is your name. My name is Cathbad." The druid didn't take the harsh words again to his heart. This man really had a thick skin. "Their power lingers in you. It is no mere trick of magic or armor. It is in your blood, in your very essence."
Liam scoffed at it, as he knew what it was. But he refused to explain further. The old druid had seen many things in his lifetime, but never had he encountered a human who carried such a deep connection to the Aen Elle. Maybe that descendant of Lara Dorren.
Liam, on the other hand, didn't care for the scrutiny. He leaned back against the makeshift bedding Triss had prepared for him. Though his body still ached from the brutal fight two days prior, his mind now was as sharp as ever.
"You seem to think you know a great deal about me," Liam said. "But you're mistaken if you think I care about your opinions."
"Perhaps. But the energy within you—it's not something that can be ignored. Tell me, how did you know about its presence?" Cathbad said. Liam exhaled slowly, debating how much to say.
"I was once taught by an elvish smith," Liam said. "He had a way with magic, weaving it into steel. I picked up a few things along the way."
"But your armor doesn't follow the magic of the Aen Elle." The druid said.
"He doesn't need to explain himself to you." Triss chimed in.
"Perhaps not. But I sense that you both came looking for druids for a reason. What is it you seek?" Cathbad turned to Triss.
"I want to learn how to control the chaos magic." Liam replied.
"You already possess magic." The druid said.
"Yes, but I want to master it. The kind of magic this world offers. My abilities don't exactly come with a manual, and there's no one I can turn to for guidance." Liam said.
Cathbad regarded him in silence for a moment, then turned toward the crackling fire at the center of the hut.
"And you thought the druids of Kovir would teach you?"
"Something like that." Liam replied.
"It is true that we are among the few who still understand the deeper mysteries of magic. But after what happened in the forest, do you truly believe they would accept you?" Cathbad said.
"I don't care anymore. After what your friends have done. I don't give a flying fuck." Liam said. The words of Liam came as a bit of out of place for Cathbad and even for Triss as the words chosen by Liam wasn't common tongue at all. But Triss knew why it was that.
"You are brash, reckless, and carrying power you barely understand. Under normal circumstances, no druid would take you as a pupil." Cathbad said. "But these are not normal circumstances."
"The presence of the Aen Elle within you... it is troubling." Ccathbad said.
"What do you mean?" Liam asked.
"Have you heard of the Wild Hunt?" Cathbad asked.
"What about them?" Liam wasn't scared at all. The words Wild Hunt would normally invoke fear or disbelief. But Liam didn't seem bothered by the those specters at all and even seemed to know them.
"Seems like you have some knowledge about them. The descendant of Lara Dorren.." The druid said.
"You mean Ciri." Triss interrupted.
"Yes, that cursed girl, is already being hunted for her abilities. It won't take much time for the Wild Hunt to get a scent of you and come after you." Cathbad said. This just put a smile of Liam's face. Wasn't this what he wanted. He was trying to use Ciri to get to the Wild Hunt, and now he was hearing that there was a chance the Wild Hunt would come for him.
That was what he was waiting for.
"I would like to see them try." Liam replied.
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