Chapter 36: Winter's First Lesson
POV: Adam
The morning sun painted Kaer Morhen's courtyard in shades of gold that made ancient stones look younger than their centuries, though the chill in the air spoke of winter drawing closer with each passing day. Adam knelt beside the training dummy that Lambert had demolished during yesterday's sword practice, his hands glowing with soft blue light as waterbending worked to heal bruises that the wooden construct couldn't actually feel.
Practice. Everything here is practice, even healing imaginary injuries.
Vesemir watched from the shadows with attention that felt like being studied by concentrated time, his golden eyes cataloging every movement as Adam channeled water magic through techniques that still felt new enough to surprise him. The old witcher's presence carried weight that spoke of someone evaluating capabilities for purposes that hadn't been revealed.
Assessment. He's assessing how this changes the dynamic.
"Interesting," Vesemir said, stepping into sunlight that revealed scars mapping decades of conflicts across his weathered features. "Healing magic changes training protocols. Care to demonstrate on living subjects?"
Living subjects. Meaning himself.
The sparring session that followed was unlike anything Adam had experienced at Kaer Morhen—Vesemir using controlled violence to produce injuries that required immediate healing, each technique designed to test both Adam's combat capabilities and his medical response under pressure.
This hurts. Educational violence, but it still hurts.
Steel found flesh with surgical precision that spoke of someone who understood exactly how much damage could be inflicted without causing permanent harm. Shallow cuts, controlled bruising, impacts that would normally require days of recovery time but could be addressed through supernatural intervention.
Healing Touch. Channel water magic through physical contact.
The technique worked exactly as intended, warmth flowing from Adam's hands into damaged tissue while cellular repair accelerated beyond normal biological limits. But the magic demanded payment in magical energy that drained his reserves faster than combat abilities ever had.
Expensive. Healing costs more than fighting.
"MP management becomes critical," Vesemir observed as Adam swayed from magical exhaustion, his weathered voice carrying approval that felt earned rather than given. "But utility value is significant. Healing magic changes everything about extended operations."
Approval. Grudging, professional approval from someone whose standards are measured in survival.
Ciri's training revealed powers that made the temperature in Kaer Morhen's great hall fluctuate like weather trapped indoors, her Elder Blood responding to emotional states with manifestations that defied conventional understanding of magical limitation. Small objects drifted toward the ceiling while she meditated, drawn by forces that her conscious mind couldn't control or direct.
Elder Blood. This is what Elder Blood looks like when it's not properly contained.
Vesemir worked with her on breathing techniques designed to create calm rather than power, his instruction carrying urgency that suggested immediate necessity rather than long-term development goals.
"Emotion triggers manifestation," he explained as a pewter cup rose from the table without anyone touching it. "Fear, anger, love—they're all catalysts for forces that can reshape reality."
Love. Love is a trigger. That makes our relationship dangerous in ways I hadn't considered.
Adam felt the Kindred Spirits bond humming with shared sensation as Ciri struggled against memories of Cintra's fall, her emotional turmoil bleeding through their connection with intensity that made his chest ache with sympathetic pain.
Stabilize her. My presence helps contain the power surges.
He moved closer, taking her hand while magical pressure filled the room like atmospheric disturbance before storms. The physical contact provided anchor that allowed her to regain control, Elder Blood subsiding to manageable levels as her breathing returned to normal patterns.
Connected. We're connected in ways that go beyond normal relationships.
"Better," Vesemir said, his voice carrying relief that spoke of someone who'd witnessed uncontrolled magical manifestations and understood their potential for catastrophic consequences. "Your bond helps contain her power. Interesting development."
Useful. Our relationship is tactically useful beyond emotional support.
But looking at Ciri's face—seeing exhaustion that came from fighting battles against forces inside herself—Adam understood that containing Elder Blood would require constant vigilance from both of them.
Growing stronger together. Literally growing stronger through connection.
Lambert's approach that evening carried none of his usual sarcasm, the younger witcher's expression suggesting someone processing revelations that challenged assumptions about effective combat methodology.
Serious conversation. Lambert wants a serious conversation.
"Your magic," Lambert said without preamble, settling beside Adam on the battlements where winter stars wheeled overhead in patterns that spoke of approaching cold. "It's different. Not inferior—different."
Acknowledgment. He's acknowledging that unconventional doesn't mean inadequate.
"Different how?" Adam asked, genuinely curious about perspectives from someone whose training emphasized traditional witcher approaches to supernatural threats.
"Flexible. Adaptive." Lambert's voice carried thoughtfulness that his reputation suggested he didn't often display. "I knew a witcher once—Keldar. Best swordsman in three kingdoms, could take down griffins with his eyes closed. Died because he couldn't adapt when something new came along."
Adaptation. Survival through innovation rather than rigid adherence to established methods.
The story that followed painted pictures of a competent professional who'd relied too heavily on proven techniques, facing supernatural threats that required creative solutions he'd never developed. Death through inflexibility rather than inadequate skill.
"You fight like everything's new," Lambert continued, his voice carrying approval that felt earned through demonstration rather than assumption. "Like you're solving puzzles instead of following procedures."
Puzzle-solving. Maybe that's what airbending really is—approaching each situation as unique problem requiring creative solution.
"Maybe because it is new," Adam replied. "Every fight teaches me something about what the magic can do."
"Good attitude. Keeps you alive longer than thinking you know everything."
Friendship. Real friendship instead of professional tolerance.
[Relationship: Lambert +15 (now 25/100 - Friendly)]
[Relationship: Vesemir +10 (now 15/100 - Friend forming)]
[Relationship: Ciri +5 (now 135/150 - supported through difficult training)]
Evening found them on Kaer Morhen's highest battlements, Ciri's power flickering around them like aurora borealis made of pure possibility. The manifestations were beautiful and terrifying in equal measure—visible proof that she carried forces capable of reshaping reality according to principles that mortal understanding couldn't adequately map.
Dangerous. Beautiful, but dangerous.
"I can feel it growing stronger," Ciri said, her voice carrying wonder mixed with fear as magical energy danced between her fingers like captured starlight. "Every day, it gets harder to contain."
Stronger every day. That's not sustainable long-term.
"Vesemir says control comes through understanding," Adam replied, watching magical forces respond to her emotional states with precision that suggested consciousness rather than simple reaction. "Maybe we need to understand what it wants."
What it wants. As if Elder Blood has purposes beyond the vessel that carries it.
They stood together in comfortable silence while winter wind carried scents of snow and possibility, both understanding that training had revealed new capabilities alongside new dangers. The power growing within Ciri represented potential for protection or destruction in equal measure.
Ready. More ready than yesterday, less ready than tomorrow needs us to be.
But readiness, Adam was learning, was always temporary. Each day brought new challenges that tested everything previous training had made possible.
Together. Whatever comes, we face it together.
The stars wheeled overhead, cold and distant and beautiful, while magical energy painted the night in colors that had no names but spoke of futures that might be shaped by love and determination in equal measure.
[Experience Gained: 200 XP total]
[Waterbending Practice: +50 element XP]
[Level Progress: 20 (30% toward 21)]
+1 CHAPTER AFTER EVERY 4 REVIEWS
MORE POWER STONES == MORE CHAPTERS
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