Chapter 46: Spring's Arrival
POV: Adam
The snow's retreat revealed Kaer Morhen's mountain paths like secrets emerging from winter's concealment, ancient stones that had supported generations of careful feet now accessible to travelers whose purposes couldn't wait for perfect weather conditions. Adam stood on the fortress battlements watching meltwater carve temporary streams through terrain that spoke of seasons cycling regardless of human preference or convenience.
Spring. Winter's protection is ending.
The isolation that had provided sanctuary for months of training and relationship development was dissolving with systematic inevitability, natural forces demanding return to world that had continued turning despite their temporary withdrawal from its complications.
Planning. Time for spring planning.
The discussion that gathered in Kaer Morhen's great hall carried weight that went beyond simple travel logistics, decisions that would determine whether winter's education translated into practical capability or remained theoretical knowledge untested by real application.
Contracts. Geralt has contracts waiting.
"Three offers in Temeria alone," Geralt said, spreading correspondence across the hall's main table with movements that spoke of professional assessment rather than casual planning. "Griffin near Oxenfurt, wraith in Vizima's cemetery, reports of leshen activity near Flotsam."
Real work. Professional monster hunting that pays actual money.
Yennefer's obligations lay elsewhere—political maneuvering that required her presence at courts where magical expertise influenced decisions affecting kingdoms. Her departure felt like losing resource they couldn't adequately replace, capabilities that extended far beyond what their group could provide.
Accompany Geralt. Vesemir suggests we accompany Geralt.
"Continued training while traveling," the old witcher said, his voice carrying approval for arrangements that balanced education with practical application. "Learn to fight monsters in their natural environments rather than controlled fortress conditions."
Eager. Ciri's eager to leave, I'm uncertain about losing sanctuary.
The contrast between their reactions revealed different relationships with safety—Ciri viewed the fortress as temporary shelter that had served its purpose, while Adam understood it as refuge that might prove necessary when larger forces inevitably discovered their location.
Fallback. Kaer Morhen remains fallback sanctuary.
[Decision: Travel with Geralt, part ways with Yennefer, maintain fortress access]
The final week transformed Kaer Morhen into intensive preparation laboratory, each witcher contributing specialized knowledge that formal education couldn't provide. Lambert's dirty fighting instruction emphasized survival over honor, techniques that ignored conventional rules in favor of practical effectiveness.
Stab anything that looks at her wrong. Lambert's philosophy condensed to essential principle.
"Remember," Lambert said as he demonstrated joint manipulation that could disable opponents twice Ciri's size, "fair fights are for people who can afford to lose. You can't."
Truth. Harsh truth about what survival actually requires.
Eskel's tracking lessons revealed how professional hunters read environmental signs that told stories about creature behavior, territorial patterns, and feeding schedules that could mean difference between successful hunt and becoming prey.
Knowledge. Practical knowledge earned through decades of experience.
Vesemir's philosophical instruction addressed questions that technique couldn't answer—when to fight, when to flee, when to negotiate, and how to maintain humanity while practicing profession that required killing things that might once have been human.
Wisdom. Different from knowledge, more valuable than technique.
Adam's elemental training reached new levels of integration, discovering synergies between air and water that created ice manipulation, water and earth that produced mud control, combinations that conventional understanding couldn't predict or counter.
Evolution. My capabilities are evolving beyond simple single-element techniques.
[Experience Gained: 300 XP]
[Title Gained: "Winter Student" - +5% learning speed for combat techniques]
[Level Progress: 23 (65% toward 24)]
The departure ceremony revealed emotional depths that witcher culture typically concealed beneath professional competence, acknowledgment that bonds formed through shared hardship transcended simple educational relationships.
Sentimentality. They don't do sentimentality, but they're doing it anyway.
Lambert's gift to Ciri was blade forged specifically for her proportions, steel that would serve when conventional weapons proved inadequate. His instruction came with characteristic bluntness that couldn't disguise underlying affection.
"Stab anything that looks at her wrong," he said, his voice carrying authority that made the advice feel like blessing rather than simple tactical guidance.
Practical affection. Love expressed through practical preparation.
Eskel's contribution was knowledge rather than equipment—oil recipes and maintenance techniques that would keep their weapons functional when professional service wasn't available. Information that could prevent equipment failure during moments when such failure meant death.
Preparation. Everything they give us is preparation for survival.
Vesemir's blessing carried weight that spoke of someone who'd watched too many students leave without returning, understanding that education meant nothing if the educated didn't survive to apply their knowledge.
"Come back," the old witcher said, his voice carrying command rather than request. "Next winter, come back and tell us what you've learned."
Promise. Promise to return if we survive.
[Relationship: All Witchers +10 each]
[Vesemir: 35/100, Lambert: 60/100, Eskel: 65/100]
The descent from Kaer Morhen felt like graduation ceremony conducted on mountain paths that had supported countless similar departures, ancient stones witnessing transition from protected students to practitioners who would test their education against reality that didn't grade on curve.
Three people. Party of three traveling toward whatever challenges spring provides.
Behind them, the fortress walls shrank until they became memory rather than physical presence, ancient sanctuary holding warmth that distance couldn't diminish. Ahead lay world that had continued developing during their winter isolation, political forces and personal enemies that wouldn't pause for their convenience.
Changed. We're all changed by winter's education.
Looking at Ciri's profile as morning light painted her features with gold that competed with mountain snow, Adam understood that some education couldn't be measured in levels or statistics—growth that came through shared hardship and mutual support that transcended formal instruction.
Ready. More ready than we were, approaching ready enough for what comes next.
The valley spread below them like promise written in green and growing things, spring's arrival bringing responsibility to apply everything winter had taught them about survival and protection.
Together. Whatever challenges await, we face them together.
Some lessons could only be learned by leaving the classroom and testing knowledge against world that graded failure with death.
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