Too many strong wills gathered in one place in the great hall of Kaer Morhen, the fire burned steadily in the hearth while Yennefer stood near the center of the hall, her violet eyes rested on Ciri, piercing in a way that made it impossible to look away for long.
"So," she began, her voice smooth, "Geralt's Child of Surprise… is the lost princess of Cintra."
Ciri stiffened slightly.
Yennefer tilted her head, studying her.
"My… a great many important people are looking for you as we speak."
Ciri didn't answer, her fingers curled faintly against her sleeve, gaze lowering just a fraction in thought.
"Not important enough," Geralt said, his tone calm and firm. "She's safe here. Kaer Morhen isn't easy to reach."
"Nilfgaard's still far south, they haven't made any progress since Cintra."
Yennefer's lips curved faintly, "You'd be surprised," she said. "The Emperor.. the White Flame is not a patient man. If he desires something…"
Her eyes flicked briefly to Ciri.
"…he gets it. Eventually."
"Yen," Geralt said, a warning threaded into the name.
She exhaled lightly, waving it off.
"Oh, don't start," she replied. "I'm not frightening her, I'm stating facts, facts that reminds us that we need to be careful."
A slight shift in her tone.
"If anything, I've taken a liking to the girl already."
Ciri looked up at that.
Yennefer met her gaze again, this time, something warmer flickering beneath that sharpness of hers.
"It's a good thing you came to me," she continued. "The others… mages, sorceresses… they aren't to be trusted."
Her expression hardened just slightly.
"Some are already dancing in Emhyr's grasp."
Vesemir crossed his arms, his voice steady.
"We didn't have many choices."
Yennefer inclined her head faintly.
"No," she agreed. "You didn't."
Her gaze returned to Ciri.
"And your power…" she added, quieter now. "It isn't unique by the way."
That drew a reaction.
Eskel's brow furrowed slightly. Lambert straightened just enough to pay attention.
Geralt spoke, slower this time.
"I've seen something like it before," he said. "Her mother."
A memory passed behind his eyes.
"I think it was… similar."
Yennefer nodded once.
"The blood of Lara Dorren," she said.
"Elder Blood."
The words settled in their minds, even the fire seemed to crackle quieter.
Yennefer stepped slowly, circling just enough to keep Ciri within her focus.
"The power to control space and time itself," she continued. "A very ancient power."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"Pure."
"There are many in the past who researched it, but no mage I know can truly control something like that," she added. "Not even me."
Ciri blinked, in confusion.
"I… still don't understand what you're saying."
Sebastian, leaning against one of the stone pillars, spoke up then.
"I've read about it," he said.
That drew Yennefer's attention immediately.
"When I was younger. In Nilfgaard. Something about a prophecy… the end of the world. It mentioned Elder Blood."
Yennefer's eyes sharpened.
"Ithlinne's prophecy," she said.
A small, intrigued pause.
"…interesting."
She looked him over again,
"You've read it?" she asked.
Then, with a faint, teasing tilt of her head,
"And you say 'when you were young'… when was that? A week ago?"
A flicker of amusement crossed her face.
Sebastian opened his mouth,
Then closed it.
For once, caught off guard.
Ciri snorted faintly despite herself.
"Hey, he is smart," she said quickly. "For a witcher."
Sebastian glanced at her sideways.
"I'm not sure that helped."
Lambert let out a dry chuckle.
"Great. Now she's insulting all of us."
Yennefer actually smiled at that.
Then her attention returned to Sebastian.
"On a more serious note," she said, her tone shifting again, "you are interesting as much as Ciri."
A step closer.
"Geralt mentioned your… background. Nilfgaardian. Noble, no less."
Her gaze narrowed slightly in curiousity.
"And yet…"
"You don't quite fit."
Sebastian shrugged lightly.
"I get that a lot."
Yennefer studied him a moment longer.
"If anything," she continued, almost thoughtfully, "it explains Nilfgaard's sudden rise. If their youth are this… cultured."
Geralt exhaled quietly.
"I've met many Nilfgaardians over the years… I'm sure he's an exception."
"Seb's brilliant."
Vesemir shifted slightly, bringing the conversation back to its purpose.
"Will you train her?"
Yennefer didn't hesitate.
"Of course."
Her gaze returned to Ciri.
"It benefits all of us. She learns control…"
A faint glint passed through her eyes.
"…and I learn more about this power."
Eskel huffed quietly.
"Mages and their ulterior motives."
Yennefer turned, pointing a finger at him without missing a beat.
"It's hardly ulterior if I state it plainly."
Then, more serious now,
"And it is necessary. That power she carries…"
Her gaze flicked briefly to the stone walls around them.
"Forget this keep… it could tear this mountain apart while we sleep if left unchecked."
Her words were blunt and too real.
Ciri's expression fell, the earlier spark in her eyes dimmed, replaced by a sad defeated look.
She turned away without a word.
Then walked out of the hall.
The sound of her boots faded into the stone corridors.
Yennefer watched the doorway a moment longer than she intended.
"I…I shouldn't have said it like that."
Lambert scoffed lightly.
"No shit."
Sebastian exhaled slowly, watching the empty doorway.
'Yennefer…' he thought. 'She may be inhumanly Beautiful… but I forgot how she can be...'
Geralt moved.
But before he could take more than a step,
Yennefer spoke.
"I'll go."
He stopped.
She didn't look at him.
"It was my mistake."
And then she was gone, dark hair trailing behind her as she disappeared into the corridor.
Eskel stretched slightly, breaking the awkward situation.
"I'll be heading out tomorrow," he said. "Back on the path."
"And hopefully when I return… the keep's still standing."
Lambert snorted.
"I'll drink to that."
He made a pause before adding. "Actually.. I'll be leaving too."
Vesemir nodded slowly.
"As much as I dislike it… she's right."
His gaze shifted toward Sebastian.
"Ciri needs to learn how to control her gift."
A small pause.
"You… are a walking sun, yet you hold it together."
Sebastian shook his head slightly.
"It's not the same," he said. "What she has… it's different."
Vesemir's expression didn't change.
"With discipline," he said calmly, "anything can be controlled."
Geralt stood quietly for a moment, eyes still on the corridor where Ciri had gone.
Then, "I'm staying."
The others looked at him.
"No point leaving now," he continued. "Yen and I will train her."
Lambert leaned back in his chair, he eyed Geralt for a moment, then gave a small, crooked smirk.
"Well," he said, pushing himself upright, "you do you, Geralt."
"I hope you two don't blow this fortress up while trying to 'teach' her."
His tone was light, though there was genuine concern beneath that sarcasm.
He grabbed his gloves from the table, tugging them on.
"Either way," he added, glancing toward the doorway Ciri had disappeared through, "I really hope it works."
"See you next winter."
Geralt gave a small nod with no words, none needed.
Lambert understood.
Eskel had already drifted closer to the exit, slower in his movements, he spared Geralt a look, then Vesemir.
"Take care of her," he said simply.
"We will." Geralt replied.
Vesemir stood by the hearth, hands resting behind his back, watching them all with the same calm look he always wore. But behind his gaze, age, experience… and carefully hidden concern.
Sebastian had remained silent through most of this talk.
Leaning slightly against the stone pillar, arms folded, his gaze distant.
Thinking, and finally, he pushed himself off the wall.
"I'll go rest," he said, his voice calm.
Geralt glanced at him briefly, giving a short nod.
"Get some sleep."
Vesemir added, "Yes you should, I'm surprised you can still walk after what happened some days ago."
Sebastian inclined his head slightly then turned.
His steps echoed softly against the stone as he made his way out of the hall, the warmth of the fire fading behind him with every step.
He exhaled slowly.
'An elven sage… that's what she needs right now.'
The thought came unbidden and persistent.
'Someone who's spent a lifetime studying her power…'
His brow furrowed slightly as he walked.
'Avallac'h.'
The name lingered in his mind.
That was not just a scholar.
Sebastian's fingers flexed faintly at his side.
'But how are we supposed to find him…?'
Kaer Morhen felt isolated enough as it was, cut off from the world, hidden among the blue mountains, north of Kaedwen.
Finding that elf… one ancient being who likely didn't want to be found…
That wasn't a path, it was something impossible at the moment.
His steps slowed.
There was another thought.
One he didn't like.
'The Wild Hunt.'
Even the idea of it made something tighten deep in his chest.
'If she learns to control her powers…'
His jaw set slightly.
'She might also become easier to find.'
'The more she understands it… the more they'll notice.'
He stopped near one of the narrow windows, the cold night air brushing faintly against his face.
Sebastian's gaze hardened slightly.
'Doesn't matter.'
'I'm here now.'
Not in Nilfgaard. And not in whatever past he'd left behind.
Here, with them.
Ciri, Geralt, all of them.
This broken, stubborn place that still somehow felt like… something worth protecting.
His fingers curled into a loose fist.
'I'll protect them.'
'No matter what comes.'
Sebastian turned from the window and continued his way down the corridor.
/-\
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