Chapter 45: Breaking Point
POV: Adam
Two weeks of Yennefer's training had transformed Kaer Morhen's great hall into laboratory for magical experimentation that pushed Ciri beyond limits that Adam increasingly believed crossed from education into systematic cruelty. Each session left her exhausted and shaken, Elder Blood manifestations growing stronger but less controlled despite the sorceress's insistence that stress was necessary for development.
This is wrong. Whatever she's doing, it's pushing too hard.
Adam watched from the hall's entrance as Yennefer guided Ciri through meditation that looked more like endurance trial, violet energy crackling between the sorceress's fingers while she maintained pressure that made Ciri's face pale with strain.
Breaking point. She's approaching breaking point.
"Focus through the discomfort," Yennefer commanded, her voice carrying authority that brooked no argument. "Power without discipline is chaos waiting to destroy everything you care about."
Necessary stress testing. She calls it necessary stress testing.
The Elder Blood responded to emotional pressure with manifestations that grew progressively more violent—temperature fluctuations that made ice form on stone walls, gravitational distortions that made objects float without conscious direction, and sounds that suggested reality itself was straining under forces it wasn't designed to contain.
Too much. This is too much strain for anyone to handle.
Ciri's scream shattered every window in the great hall simultaneously, glass exploding inward while magical energy tore space itself like fabric being ripped by invisible hands. The portal that opened beside her pulsed with hungry darkness that reached for anything within range.
Portal. Uncontrolled portal manifestation.
Adam moved without conscious thought, Air Jump carrying him across the hall while the dimensional rift pulled at his clothes with force that promised transportation to locations that might not support human life. He grabbed Ciri's shoulders, physical contact allowing their Kindred Spirits bond to provide anchor against whatever realm the portal connected to.
Pull her out. Use everything—physical strength, elemental magic, emotional connection.
Waterbending created barriers that disrupted the portal's edge effects while airbending provided propulsion away from the dimensional tear. But most importantly, their shared bond offered psychological stability that allowed Ciri to regain enough control to close the manifestation before it could expand beyond containment.
Closed. Portal closed, but the damage is done.
"Excellent progress," Yennefer said as reality settled back into normal configuration, her voice carrying satisfaction that made Adam's blood turn cold with fury. "Stress-induced manifestation followed by conscious control. Exactly what we're working toward."
Reckless endangerment. She calls nearly killing us 'excellent progress.'
"Are you insane?" Adam's voice carried rage that had been building through weeks of watching someone he loved being systematically pushed beyond safe limits. "That portal could have killed her! Could have killed all of us!"
Confrontation. This is direct confrontation with someone who could turn me into toad if she felt inclined.
"Control requires experience with loss of control," Yennefer replied, her violet eyes reflecting annoyance rather than concern. "Coddling her makes the power more dangerous, not less."
Coddling. She thinks protecting someone from unnecessary trauma is coddling.
The argument that erupted drew every witcher in the fortress, voices carrying through stone corridors while fundamental philosophical differences about training and protection clashed without hope of easy resolution.
Ultimatum. Time for ultimatum.
"Stop pushing so hard or leave," Adam said, his voice carrying finality that surprised him with its certainty. "I won't watch you break her in the name of education."
Practical necessity. She argues practical necessity trumps emotional consideration.
"Her power requires harsh training," Yennefer shot back, magical energy crackling around her fingers with implications that spoke of patience wearing thin. "Reality won't coddle her when real threats emerge. Neither can her preparation."
Mediation. Geralt's forced to mediate between history and present necessity.
The witchers divided along lines that revealed different philosophies about survival and sacrifice—Vesemir supporting Yennefer's experience-based approach, Lambert backing Adam's heart-centered protection, Eskel maintaining careful neutrality while evaluating arguments from multiple perspectives.
Choose. Ciri has to choose whose approach she trusts.
The silence that followed stretched long enough for winter wind to fill it, everyone understanding that whatever Ciri decided would determine not just training methods but power dynamics that shaped their entire group structure.
Autonomy. She's asserting autonomy instead of choosing sides.
"I'll train with Yennefer," Ciri said, her voice carrying decision that satisfied nobody while preventing complete fracture. "But Adam monitors all sessions. If either of you thinks the other is being unreasonable, we stop and discuss it."
Compromise. Nobody likes the compromise, but it prevents civil war.
The private conversation that followed took place on battlements where winter stars provided witness to discussions that couldn't be conducted in company, ancient stones offering sanctuary for words that carried weight beyond casual communication.
Agency. She's explaining why she needs to control this power regardless of discomfort.
"I need to learn control," Ciri said, her voice carrying maturity that made him remember she was fourteen despite circumstances that forced adult decisions. "The power is growing stronger whether I train it or not. At least this way, I'm learning to direct it."
Protecting her from harm versus respecting her right to choose that harm.
The struggle between protection and autonomy felt like being torn between equally valid principles that couldn't coexist without constant tension. Adam's instinct demanded removing all threats to her safety, while his respect for her intelligence recognized that some dangers required confrontation rather than avoidance.
Trust. This comes down to trusting her judgment about her own needs.
"I understand," Adam said, meaning every word despite the fear that accompanied them. "But I need you to understand—if she pushes too far, if she prioritizes results over your wellbeing, I'm stopping it regardless of what anyone else thinks."
Promise. She's making promise that acknowledges both positions.
"I promise to tell you if it becomes too much," Ciri replied, her hand finding his with warmth that spoke of connection deeper than simple romantic attachment. "And you promise to trust my judgment about what I can handle."
Deal. Difficult deal that requires ongoing negotiation.
[Experience Gained: 150 XP]
[LEVEL UP! 22 → 23]
[Free Stat Points: +5]
[Allocation: +1 STR, +2 STA, +2 AGI]
[New Stats: STR 39, STA 52, AGI 51, HP 390, MP 520]
[Relationship: Yennefer +5 (now 10/100 - earned respect through confrontation)]
[Relationship: Ciri +5 (relationship deepening beyond numerical measurement)]
[Relationship: Geralt +5 (now 80/100)]
Winter sunset painted Kaer Morhen in blood-red light that made ancient stones look like they'd been carved from crystallized violence, the fortress holding warmth that had nothing to do with fireplaces and everything to do with people who'd chosen to care about each other despite philosophical differences.
Learning. I'm learning that protection sometimes means trusting loved ones to choose their own dangers.
Adam held Ciri while they watched day transform into night, both understanding that some growth required risk that couldn't be eliminated through careful planning or superior force. Love meant supporting each other's decisions even when those decisions created fear that felt like physical pain.
Trust. Trust deeper than safety, stronger than protection.
The ancient keep settled around them with familiarity that felt earned rather than given, its corridors holding warmth that spoke of sanctuary maintained through compromise rather than dominance.
Together. Whatever challenges Yennefer's training creates, we face them together.
Some protections came from standing between loved ones and danger. Others came from standing beside them while they faced dangers that couldn't be avoided.
Ready. More ready than yesterday, approaching ready enough for whatever spring brings.
The stars wheeled overhead in patterns that spoke of continuity beyond human concern while magical training reshaped reality according to principles that formal education couldn't adequately map.
Spring. Spring will test everything we've learned about power and responsibility.
Some lessons could only be learned through confronting the forces that made them necessary.
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