Spring's return to Kaer Morhen brought with it a revelation that would reshape their understanding of what it meant to be witchers. During a routine monster hunt—pursuing a small pack of wolves that had been raiding livestock in the valleys below—Geralt and his companions demonstrated a level of coordination and effectiveness that surprised even Vesemir.
The enhanced serums had done their work well over the winter months. Each of his friends now possessed Strength approaching 20 and MP reserves over 150—levels that put them on par with experienced witchers despite their youth. But more than individual enhancement, they had developed an almost supernatural group coordination.
"Watch their formations," Vesemir murmured to Visenna as they observed from a distance. "They move like a single organism with five parts."
It was true. Geralt anticipated threats and directed responses before his friends consciously noticed dangers. Eskel anchored their defensive positions with rock-solid reliability. Jacob adapted their tactics to unexpected situations with creative flair. Dick maintained their morale and communication through humor and encouragement. Vicky provided analytical insights that revealed weaknesses and opportunities others missed.
The wolves—twelve adults defending a den of cubs—should have presented a significant challenge for apprentice witchers. Instead, the encounter was resolved with minimal bloodshed and maximum efficiency. Using Vicky's suggestion, they relocated the pack to an unpopulated valley where they could hunt without threatening human settlements.
"Extraordinary," Visenna commented as they returned to the fortress. "I've never seen such coordination among witchers so young. It's as if they share a collective consciousness."
That evening, Vesemir called them together for what he termed a "family discussion"—a phrase that would have been unthinkable months earlier but now felt natural.
"You five have achieved something remarkable," he began, his voice carrying pride and amazement. "In my centuries here, I've never witnessed apprentices developing this level of tactical integration so early in their training. You fight like veterans, think like scholars, and support each other like... well, like family."
Geralt felt the familiar warmth of achievement, but also the weight of hidden knowledge. His secret enhancements had contributed to their success, but the deeper bonds came from genuine care and shared experiences.
"Master," Eskel said formally, "what happens to groups like ours after we complete training? Do we stay together, or do we follow separate Paths?"
Vesemir considered the question carefully. "Traditionally, witchers work alone. The mutations make us... difficult companions for most people. We're too different, too dangerous, too marked by our transformations. But traditions exist to serve purposes, and when purposes change, traditions should adapt."
He leaned forward, his ancient eyes reflecting firelight. "You five have created something new—a witcher pack that enhances rather than limits individual capabilities. There's precedent for it, but it's rare. Very rare."
"Are you saying we could stay together?" Vicky asked, hope coloring his voice.
"I'm saying you've proven that together, you're stronger than the sum of your parts. The world needs witchers, but it might need your kind of witchers especially. Traditional lone wolves are dying breeds—literally. But a pack that can coordinate, adapt, and support each other... that might be the future of our profession."
Over the following days, they discussed the practical implications of remaining together after their formal training. Contracts could be shared, with different members handling aspects that matched their particular strengths. Resources could be pooled, reducing the financial pressures that drove many witchers to take unnecessarily dangerous jobs. Most importantly, they would maintain the emotional support that made the witcher's traditionally lonely existence bearable.
"We'd need to establish protocols," Geralt pointed out during one planning session. "Chain of command, resource distribution, decision-making processes. We can't just assume good intentions will handle everything."
"Geralt leads tactical decisions," Eskel said immediately. "He has the best instincts for reading situations and people."
"Vicky handles research and monster identification," Jacob added. "He knows more monster lore than some full witchers."
"Dick manages group dynamics and external relations," Vicky suggested. "People trust him instinctively."
"Jacob adapts our methods to unusual circumstances," Dick agreed. "He thinks outside traditional approaches."
"And Eskel anchors everything," Geralt concluded. "When things go wrong, we rally around him because he never breaks."
Vesemir listened to their discussion with growing amazement. "You're creating a new model for witcher cooperation. This could revolutionize how our schools approach training and deployment."