Chapter 1426 - 1391: Entering the City

At the crossroads leading to Gos Velen, which is precisely at the edge of a forest neither too big nor too small, nine wooden poles are nailed by the roadside, with a large wheel resting on top.

The spokes and rim of the wheel are tied with something, upon which stands a crowd of ravens and vultures, incessantly pecking down and raising their heads to swallow whatever it is.

Due to the height of the poles, spectators find it difficult to see clearly, but judging from the smell, there is no doubt these are corpses, and nothing else.

Ciri turned away, disgusted, holding her nose while on horseback.

"Truly a marvelous scene." Yennefer, on a taller horse, leaned forward slightly, sarcastically reflecting while spitting as if feeling tainted by the stench.

Completely forgetting how she had just scolded the girl for doing the exact same thing moments ago.

"A unique view, an agreeable smell. But why place it in such wilderness? Aren’t these usually set by city gates or walls, dear sirs?"

Maybe it was Yennefer’s dense black hair draped down, revealing her identity as a female warlock near Gos Velen’s border.

Or perhaps it was the beautiful long legs accentuated against the side of the horse despite wearing hunting breeches.

In any case, a traveling merchant who had just rested was diligently responding as he re-secured the harness of his packhorse.

"These are the Squirrel Faction, esteemed lady. They are elves."

"To intimidate the living Squirrel Faction, these poles are erected outside the forest rather than at the city walls."

"Does this mean when these elves were put here..." Yennefer asked with a frown, "they were alive?"

"Few in the Squirrel Faction would allow themselves to be captured alive, madam," the merchant explained, "just as someone like us would rather brace our necks against them."

"Indeed, there are live captures, but those are taken to the gallows in town, questioned and tortured publicly, so the non-human races in the city stay compliant for a few days, yet most are dead, and the bodies are hauled to places like this to be dealt with."

"Ha." Yennefer chuckled, her tone cryptic, speaking in a soft voice just loud enough for Ciri to hear clearly, "They stop us from practicing necromancy, claiming it destroys life and insults the dead, but now look?"

"What did you say, madam?" The merchant wasn’t close enough to catch her words clearly.

"Nothing, let’s go, Ciri, this odor is nearly clinging to my clothes."

"I think so too!" The girl rode swiftly around the merchant’s cart, "Let’s move faster!"

... Actually, the girl is a bit afraid of Yennefer’s cold expression now, for she knew that this beautiful, often scolding her, causing her rebellious mindset female warlock, had a quarter elf blood.

Trotting along, it wasn’t long before the road became increasingly crowded with travelers.

More merchants and passersby with heavy bundles of firewood on their backs were left behind.

As Yennefer’s hand left the reins, their pace slowed, and it was Ciri who held both horses’ reins, guiding the direction.

Meanwhile, floating in front of Yennefer’s horse above the horse’s neck, a small mirror hung in midair, maintaining a fixed position.

The young girl cast curious and awed sideways glances every now and then.

Having left behind a group of rough demon hunters, being taught magic by the female warlock allowed Ciri to learn things she couldn’t elsewhere.

She began to understand the power of magic, a force distinct from a warrior’s weaponry, and was gradually learning to revere such power.

Yennefer’s seemingly disordered yet extraordinarily charming curls required quite a lot of time and effort to manage.

"Ha, I get it! You want to doll up before entering the city?"

The young girl’s excitement earned only a dismissive ’hmm’ from the female warlock focused on her mirror makeup.

"I want to dress up too! Comb my hair, put on makeup!"

"No."

"Why?!"

"We’re on the road in disguise, and the journey is not yet complete."

"In disguise?" Ciri grumbled defiantly, "You’re all dressed up yourself? Only yourself?"

"We’re headed to a city called Gos Velen." Yennefer finally took her gaze off the mirror, smiling at Ciri, "There, I won’t need to disguise, or rather, I should be exactly the opposite. But you, you must leave no impression on anyone."

"But anyone watching you will definitely see me! We’re riding together in such proximity!"

"Ha. I’m afraid..." Yennefer gave that characteristic smile, laced with mystery mixed with slight mockery.

She cast a sidelong glance up and down at the girl: "In due time, no one will notice a bud not yet blossomed."

As she spoke, she took out a glass bottle from a bag on the horse’s back.

After opening it, the scent of lilac and gooseberry wafted out. She reached inside, seemed to dab at something, and then applied it to the corners of her eyes and neck.

On the drawbridge in front of the city gate, riders and livestock carts lined up in a long queue, and Ciri was just about to complain about the long wait.

But Yennefer showed no intention of waiting in line obediently.

Sitting proudly on horseback, her back straight, she squeezed ahead as if the crowd didn’t exist, her gaze only swept over people’s heads, unwilling to shift down a few inches to see their faces.

But the people at the city gate now moved aside, bowing their heads as she passed.

Noticing this, the guards in chain armor mixed with cotton armor immediately gave her passage, using the wooden pole of their spears to prod those who were slow to make way.

"This way, honored lady, this way!" a guard shouted, his cheeks turning red as he looked at Yennefer, "Please proceed this way. Move aside! You bunch of bumpkins!"

The captain of the guards came out to check the situation, his face gloomy and angry, but on seeing Yennefer, he immediately flushed, mouth agape before bowing deeply.

"Respected lady!" His mouth seemed unable to obey, eyes fixed on the female Warlock, "Is there something I may assist you with? Lead the way? Escort? Or find someone?"

"No need for trouble," Yennefer said lightheartedly, "I’m just going to spend a few days on Sandy Island."

"Of course, ma’am." The guard muttered, tripping over his own feet, his gaze unable to move away from Yennefer.

Ciri tried her best to stand tall yet realized nobody even glanced her way.

They quickly passed through the long line of people and entered within the city walls.

Ciri asked somewhat resentfully, "Did you cast Magic on them?"

"No." Yennefer turned her face, smiling lightly at the girl, "I cast Magic on myself."

Ciri almost involuntarily let out a gasp.

Yennefer’s eyes sparkled with violet light, her face radiant and bewitchingly beautiful. It was a kind of beauty that was alluring, dangerous, and unnatural.

"Control, Ciri. Don’t let the horse step into the puddles by the roadside again."

The girl’s face flushed as she turned her head, "I just wanted to wash the horse’s hooves clean."

"It hasn’t rained heavily here for a month; the puddles only contain slops and horse urine, not rainwater."

"...Ah ah!" Ciri suddenly cried out in frustration, "Tell me, why use Magic Cream? Is appearance that important to you... "

"This is Gos Velen." Yennefer reiterated.

"The city’s prosperity is thanks to Wizards, and you can see our status here. But I don’t want to announce myself, nor prove my identity. I’d rather they recognize me at a glance."

"But why do we have to come here?" the girl interjected.

"I told you before."

"That’s not a direct answer! I understand now, you want to send me to some academy or orphanage, right? I won’t go!"

"Be quiet; turn left up ahead; someone’s watching."

"They’re watching you! Not me! I’m not going to any academy! You promised you’d stay with me, and now you’re planning to leave me? I don’t want to be alone!"

"I never intended to leave you!" Yennefer abruptly turned her head, looking at the girl with utmost seriousness.

So serious that the sober, earnest gaze diluted the allure and charm brought by Magic.

Ciri couldn’t comprehend the complex, profound emotions in that gaze, merely mistaking it for strictness, and turning her head in slight fear and defiance.

Yennefer took a deep breath, "But you now need professional, systematic Magic education, only Airetusa can offer that. I am an accomplished graduate, but I am just one person."

"Also, you won’t be alone in the academy, there are many apprentices your age, you’ll make plenty of friends."

"I don’t want friends! I just want to be with you, besides, I thought we... "

"You thought what?" Yennefer turned to look at her.

"I thought we were going to find Geralt," Ciri challenged, lifting her head, "I know very well what you’ve been pondering along the journey, and why you sigh every night... "

"Enough!" Yennefer hissed, her angry gaze almost frightening Ciri’s defiant face into burying itself in the horse’s mane, "Do not overstep. Do I need to remind you? You’re still immature and foolish, not yet capable of defying me!"