Ciri and Yen.

"So you are already up. Good. Go wash your face and prepare for morning meal." - came a voice, that made her stiff recently, but recently sounded very kind.

"Okay, I'm going..." - she said with some reluctance. Enjoyable sleep was something very dear to her. A real luxury. She was always busy with studying and responsibilities in the monastery.

One day she needed to help in the kitchen, another to sweep the front yard. And with all that, she had to find enough time to train with the sword, to have proper running sessions and to talk with friends.

"Are you done? Ciri, look at me? Something bothering you?" - Yennefer sat near the mirror and with gentle motions was combing her hair. They straighten for a second and got curvy again like coiled snakes.

"Mmm, can I ask you anything? We promised, right?"

"Yes, honestly, and openly. What is it?"

"Well, you see... it's about you a Geralt... are you really... well Alan parents?"

There came a long exasperated sigh.

"Jaskier, that goddamn jerk... I swear on chaos I will rip him in pieces one day." - Yen whispered and then turned around to Ciri, taking in her vision her full figure. Maybe because of training or witcher elixirs, she developed earlier and looked several years older her own age. That wasn't bad, as currently her figure became very attractive. - "No, Ciri, we are not his parents. I never knew him before and I don't know where he came from. But he seems like an interesting boy full of talents. Satisfied? Now undress and dive into the bath. Quick, Ducky, we have no time to spare."

"Oh, okay." - Ciri agreed readily but noticed unsettled emotions deep inside. She felt very uncomfortable hearing Yennefer praise Alan, but didn't know why.

Ciri loved bathing, especially when Yennefer added her own soap and beautification products. She entered the water like a little hurricane, immediately enshrouding herself in a cloud of foam and felt her mood improve further. - "Milady Yennefer, can I ask a question?"

"You can, but first stand up for me to see."

"What is there to see?" - she asked perplexed, but stood up.

"Hm, not bad. You are growing for sure." - she traced her hourglass figure with her elegant hands and noticed the envious gaze of the girl. - "What? Stop staring, if you have something to say it. But please, if it is again talking about virginity and inability to use magic because of it, don't ask."

"It is not!" - Ciri screamed. - "Well, not about the inability to use magic because of it."

Yen rubbed her forehead and gave another exaggerated sigh.

"Sorry if I made you angry." - Ciri hung her head. - "Don't be angry with me."

"I'm not. Unlike many rumors about myself, making me angry is no easy feat. I'm not easily angered, feel pity... fall in love. I am a bitch who doesn't have a heart, remember?" - Yen said evenly. She didn't mind calling herself like that, but if one traced her expression, it was easy to find a slight dejection deep within her violet eyes. - "Thus, something so trivial won't make me angry. We promised to talk about anything and not hide a single thing between each other, remember? Speak up, what is it you don't understand?"

"Well... girls keep gossiping about Beletein and how it is time and that they have done it already and I'm small and..."

"Okay, I understand. Looks like girls there talk too much these days." - frowned Yen.

'How dare they corrupt my Ducky!? Should I seal their mouths?'

"Well... but I never did it with a man and I know nothing. Should I really do it? Is it necessary? When is it time to do it?" - Ciri fidgeted on the wind of the open window.

"Okay, I saw everything I need to see. Your figure is already forming. Give it a short time and you will become an outstanding lady. But let's speak about your question. Ciri, why are you still standing, continue washing up! And don't forget your hair, do it twice, your pale color easily got dirty. Come, turn around, let me rub you back." - Yen placed a chair near the bathing tube and looked at her ward for some time. - "When you started thinking about it, that's when the time came."

"But... I don't like anyone, they all are so boring and weak. And really not attractive at all."

"I never told you to do it. I just said you can. For those things you need a suitable partner."

"But I really don't want."

"If you don't want then don't do it, what's the problem?"

"Girls in the monastery keep telling me I'm small and virgin and not adult and can't take care of myself because I know nothing."

"Ciri, there is no need to rush. You can do it when you feel the time is right or when you find a boy you like to do it with." - said Yen.

"But how do I... well... understand that the man is the one I need?"

"If you even have a variety to choose from, you can judge their beds."

Ciri gasped in surprise and stared at her mentor with incredulity.

"What? Beds? There is such a magical way of finding a man?"

"Of course. First, if a man didn't even have one, that's a direct no-go. Next, you see if it's dirty or small, such are no good either. Among the ones with a clean and big bed you chose who looks better."

"Are you joking?"

Yen looked at her with a slight smile.

"From tomorrow onwards you will sleep with me every night."

Ciri nodded and felt relieved. So, there was no need to rush and she can take her time.

'But why do I keep thinking about him all the time when we are talking about such strange things?' - her face grew red suddenly. - 'But... but... he is just the best. Hmm, should I ask him to do it when I have a chance?'

"What are you thinking about with that red face?" - Yen gave her a slight smile. - "By the way, I didn't tell you, I went to see Alan sometime ago."

"What?" - Ciri pouted severely and clenched her fists. She suddenly felt very uncomfortable, as if something was twisted inside her belly. - "And you didn't tell me?"

"Want to hear the story? Alan killed a manticore already. And got himself alias. Want to know?" - Yen teased her but found that Alan seemed to be a very sensitive topic to the inexperienced girl. She was all over the place with unstable emotions.

"Don't want to. What is so good to hear?" - she pouted with traces of water in her eyes. - "He better tell me that himself. I miss him very much."

"Like Geralt?"

Ciri only shook her head, not knowing how to explain. She seemed to miss them equally but differently at the same time. It was rather confusing.

"Okay, stand up from the bath and dry yourself. Breakfast is soon. And don't go to Jarre. Don't play with the boy, Ciri."

"I'm not! I don't even like him. And he doesn't interest me one bit. We are just friends and just talking."

"Don't think I don't know what is going on. It just talks for you, but Jarre drools all over the floor every time he sees you."

"But I..."

"Ciri, with your looks you don't even need to do anything. Should I remind you that nothing, not even a tiny fault can be found about your identity? Jarre is a smart kid, you might make a mistake and he will pick up, investigate. If your actual identity comes to light, we will endanger everyone."

"I know!" - said Ciri, while putting on her working clothes. - "I know and behave carefully, I swear!"

"Of course you do. But Ciri, if you don't like someone and sure that he is not the one you want to be with, it is better to be direct and strict about your denial. That way you won't get into unnecessary trouble and don't give false hope."

"I understand..." - Ciri sat in front of the mirror and Yennefer combed her hair. Her movements were gentle and one can see a rare trace of a tender smile on her face. - "Milady Yennefer, can I ask something else?"

"Sure." - answered Yennefer calmly. She never grew angry or irritated at Ciri and always answered everything to the best of her abilities. A baby girl liked their time together and lengthy conversations.

She felt loved and needed. Felt at home.

"Mmm... girls said that war is coming." - Yen stopped her motions but resumed them a moment later.

"Wars will never stop Ciri." - she said.

"But they say it is terrible... it will be like in Cintra. I don't want the war... I remember it. Wars are bad, they only bring suffering. Why people wage wars?"

"It is both hard and easy questions to answer."

"How so?"

"Because the answer is short but hard to understand. Wars are human nature." - sighed Yen. - "I too don't want to participate in another war. But what is to come, will come."

"So, is it true? The war is coming."

"Yes. And soon." - said Yen directly. That was her motto in the relationship between them. Absolute trust and honesty, no pretense or two-faced attitude. So even with such a sensitive topic, Yen answered truthfully.

Ciri hang her head and seemed to drown in her own thoughts.