Chapter 40: A Chosen Path

"Geralt." Eithné slowly turned her head. "Please don't get me wrong. I know you and respect you. I know that you never harm dryads, hamadryads, leprechauns, pucks and other nymphs such as rusalki. You even offer them your help often. But that does not change anything."

"We are so different, our worlds are completely different. I don't want to and can't make an exception for you in terms of how I do things. No exceptions can be made for anyone."

Eithné looked at Lann again and said: "Look, you talked to me about fate yesterday, and now this room is full of people who are entangled with fate."

Indeed, there are only four people in the house now, Geralt, Ciri, Lann and Eithné herself.

Eithné pointed at the witcher and said as if introducing: "The news about Brokilon is not closed. I have heard rumors about witchers. When asking for payment, witchers sometimes ask the other party to make a strange oath: 'Whatever he had left at home without knowing or expecting it' or 'That which you already have but do not know'. Does it sound familiar to you?"

"You are trying to change the course of destiny in this way. You are trying to find a child destined for you, to inherit your legacy and thus avoid death and oblivion. So why are you surprised by my approach, Geralt? I only worry about the fate of the dryads. What's wrong with it? For every dryad a human kills, I must take a human girl."

Eithné was quite dissatisfied with the behavior of the witcher coming to negotiate peace on behalf of the Kingdom of Brugge. At the same time, she also seemed concerned about Geralt's distaste for Ciri's transformation into a dryad. Therefore, she made a special explanation, apparently trying to convince the witcher to take her side.

The witcher shook his head: "We follow the Law of Surprise, but we do not interfere with fate. In fact, our school has not trained any witcher apprentices for decades - even if our number is getting smaller and smaller."

"But you, Eithné, by doing this, you will only provoke hostility and desire for revenge."

Eithné buried her nose in Ciri's hair: "Human hatred... is not something new anymore. Besides, she is so healthy, it's hard to find someone like her."

"Hard to find?" Geralt asked.

The dryad's silver eyes turned to Geralt.

"Humans abandoned sick girls in the woods. diphtheria, scarlet fever, laryngitis, and recently even smallpox. They are attacking us with diseases. But we are stronger, we have immunity to these diseases. Therefore Brokilon will take care of their daughters."

"And now, I finally have the son of the Elder Blood." She said: "Yes, Geralt, the son of the Elder Blood still exists. And you, you told me that the era is over... and that we can't continue... I also thank you, Geralt, this is your credit. You failed to give my daughter a child, but you finally gave me the Elder Blood."

Eithné finally helped Ciri comb her long hair. She turned to look at Lann and Geralt and shouted as if taking an oath: "Today, the Elder Blood will join the blood of the dryads. This is the guide of destiny."

Eithné snapped her fingers. Braenn appeared like a ghost from the shadows and ran into the room. She held a silver goblet in both hands.

After killing the witcher Jad Kaladin of the Cat School, Lann obtained his steel sword, which was later recast as a gift for Ciri, his silver sword, and most special to Lann, the Cat School medallion.

Each school of witchers has their own medallion with a unique shape to help witchers explore magical reactions. When magic fluctuations appear around, the medallion will vibrate violently. Lann thought that this prop could help him find the Source of magic power.

For example now.

Lann covered his right chest, where the witcher's medallion vibrated slightly. He turned to look at Geralt, whose wolf head medallion was also trembling slightly.

All because of the silver goblet brought in by Braenn... There's magic in it!

Eithné took the silver cup from Braenn's trembling hands and raised it.

"White Wolf, little Lion. Do you know the ancient runes?"

The witcher nodded and said: "I know."

Every witcher is a senior student of mysticism. Only witchers who have studied in the strongholds of their own schools for decades and are familiar with the knowledge will be able to go out alone.

Eithné said: "Then read the words engraved on it."

"Duettaeán aef cirrán Cáerme Gleddyv. Yn esseth."

"Do you know what it means?"

"The sword of fate has two edges...you are one of them."

"The son of the Elder Blood." The dryad's words carried an unquestionable command tone, revealing ruthless will. "Drink it. This is the water of Brokilon."

Ciri raised her head and looked in the direction of Lann. There seemed to be doubts in her eyes: ' Is this the dryad's transformation magic?'

Lann nodded, stepped forward and spoke a few words in her ear, with encouragement in his eyes.

Geralt pursed his lips, looking into Eithné's silver eyes. He avoided looking at Ciri, whose lips were already on the rim of the glass.

The scene before him evoked the scars in his heart. He knew what was coming next. He had seen the same scene before convulsions, hiccups, horrifying shouts, but these were ignored and finally faded away. Then, emptiness, numbness and indifference will slowly emerge in those eyes. He's seen them all.

Geralt even glared at Lann angrily. He was angry that the princess's guardian knight did nothing during the process, and even contributed to the situation. Even though the witcher knew that all efforts were useless, he felt that the other party should not have this attitude.

Doesn't this young earl know how much Ciri trusts and relies on him?

Ciri took a small sip of the water in the goblet. Perhaps because of nervousness, her face turned slightly red, and then she started coughing.

"Cough... Cough..."

She seemed to have drank a little too quickly and choked.

She did it on purpose, because just now Lann whispered in her ear: 'Let me touch that cup later.'

She didn't know the reason for doing this, but since Lann said it, she would do it.

'This was the moment!' Lann mentally applauded Ciri.

Lann stepped forward quickly, patting Ciri's back while fending off the silver goblet anxiously. The moment his finger came into contact with the silver goblet, the system's beep sounded:

[Source of magical power discovered, absorption can grant ability points.]

Sure enough! Lann knew what was going on.

He could absorb the Source of this water at that moment, but he held back. He knew that he must wait so that his actions could offer maximum effect.

On the other side, the Dryad Queen also reacted when she saw this.

"It's enough."

Eithné took the goblet and put it on the ground. She stretched out her hands and stroked the little girl's long ashen hair that fell around her shoulders.

"Child of the Elder Blood." She spoke. "Choose. Will you stay in Brokilon, or will you follow the path of destiny?"

The witcher's eyes suddenly widened and he looked at the scene in front of him in disbelief - Ciri's breathing became rapid and her face turned red, but that was all. That's all.

Ciri looked straight into the dryad's eyes and said with determination: "I want to follow the path of destiny, and I want to go home!"

With these words, it seemed like a storm hit the minds of everyone in the room... well, not everyone, just in the minds of Eithné and Geralt.

'This is impossible!' The two thought at the same time, but their faces remained expressionless.

The Dryad Queen looked at all this blankly, looked at Ciri, and then looked at the remaining Brokilon water in the goblet.

The witcher looked at Ciri, and then at the Dryad Queen, seeming to understand something in a daze.

"Thank you, Eithné." The witcher said sincerely. He thought it was the Dryad Queen who had deliberately changed the water in the goblet. This shows that the Dryad Queen also wanted Ciri to return home, so she played the so-called destiny and achieved a result that not only followed ancient rituals but also ensured peace.

Ciri took two tentative steps and found that no one was stopping her, so she trotted to Lann's side.

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