Chapter 1432 - 1397: Reconciliation

With a splash, water droplets flying, the revered Dean of Airetusa, Lady Margarita, emerged from the bath.

Ciri stared at her body intently. The girl had seen Yennefer’s naked body many times, having bathed together, with the mature female warlock teaching her various gender-related knowledge.

Ciri thought there couldn’t be another body in the world more voluptuous than Yennefer’s, but she was wrong.

In the face of the bare Lady Margarita, even the marble statues of goddesses and nymphs would pale in comparison.

The truth was just as Dandelion and Lann had described.

Ciri had just been carrying a tray and walked into the underground bathing area of the Silver Swan Tavern when she opened the door to this striking scene.

Lady Margarita unabashedly played the role of a beauty emerging from water.

Triss, with her red hair wrapped in a hairnet, tugged at the only towel on her body, like someone eagerly unwrapping a gift.

The two female warlocks mischievously looked toward the doorway of the bath.

But upon seeing that it was merely a girl who entered, they both let out a simultaneous, disappointed "oh."

Yennefer was also wearing nothing, displaying a similarly bold disregard for whoever entered, though at least she sat below the bathwater’s surface.

Another female warlock Ciri hadn’t met was also only covered by a towel but sat calmly by the small table at the bath’s edge.

Though disappointed, Triss and Margarita still approached the somewhat awkward girl.

Margarita pinched her cheek, "Is this the little friend who ’fainted’ at a most opportune time? Quite clever."

"Come on, put down the wine bottle, take off your clothes, let’s soak together."

For the next few hours, the five of them soaked in the bath and took turns entering the steam room, chatting the whole time.

After steaming, Ciri jumped back into the rosemary-scented bath.

"She swims like a little seal," Margarita said with a smile, "Her physique resembles that of a water nymph. Are you planning to hand her over to me, Yana?"

"Why else did I bring her here?"

"Which class should I put her in? Does she have a foundation?"

"She does, but she can start from scratch like everyone else; it’s beneficial for her."

"That’s wise," Tishaya was focused on arranging the glasses and bottles on the small table into a symmetrical pattern, "Laying a strong foundation is never a bad thing. She’ll find learning advanced knowledge easier then."

"But don’t take too long," Triss pouted from the side, "Otherwise, she’ll feel left behind compared to her peers."

Tishaya shook her head at Triss, "You’re always in such a hurry, Triss. I’ve told you, your talent is good but not the best, this is the age for accumulating gradually, that’s the hope..."

"Alright, alright!" Margarita swiftly grabbed a glass from the neatly arranged set before Tishaya, laughing as she drank, "Thankfully, we’ve graduated and can interrupt the teacher’s lecture at will!"

Tishaya sighed but instinctively started arranging the disordered glasses and bottles again.

This made Ciri slightly anxious about the prospect of studying under Tishaya.

But after some joking, Margarita looked meaningfully at the girl swimming in the bath and spoke softly.

"So this is Calanthe’s granddaughter. An important figure destined to influence the world, just an ordinary little girl."

Yennefer, who had been casually splashing water and wiping her shoulders, had her violet eyes contract almost imperceptibly.

For a moment, her movements stiffened, but she tried hard to cover it up.

"Rita, what are you talking about?"

Yennefer pretended not to have heard and seemed indifferent, a demeanor met only by Margarita’s knowing gaze.

"Look at you, Yana." Dean of Airetusa folded her arms to alleviate the discomfort of her ample chest, "If I hadn’t known beforehand, I couldn’t imagine you would become like this."

"You’re even trying to hide it from us... like a protective mother wolf."

Yennefer’s expression transitioned from feigned composure to gravely serious, only to be met with lighthearted laughter from the other three female warlocks.

"Ha, my heavens!" Margarita laughed so hard she quivered, "You think we know nothing? Aren’t aware of what the legendary Shirela looks like? Or whether she’s awakened to the magic source?"

"Come on, Yana. Lann knew this girl long before you did; we’ve talked plenty about her in bed, and he even asked us to look after her."

"Though I think this little girl seems a bit devious, it doesn’t matter." Margarita chuckled playfully, "I will take good care of her regardless."

Yennefer felt deflated but upon reflection, did indeed meet Ciri after Lann did.

In the current situation, there was nothing unreasonable or conspiratorial.

"Don’t scare me like that, Rita," Yennefer sighed, placing a hot towel over her face, "I’ve been on edge lately."

"When the meeting starts tonight, it’ll be over once it’s finished." Triss said from beside, "After the meeting ends and the Academy is back to normal operations, Ciri can enroll. At that time, no one outside will be able to touch her."

"Let’s hope so." Yennefer could only nod, "Let’s hope so."

-----------------

By the time the chaos at the Silver Swan Tavern was over, it was already noon.

There was only an afternoon left to prepare before the welcome banquet of the Wizard Summit began.

During this time, the remaining warlocks, who hadn’t arrived yet, would rush here through the portals from all directions.

The preparation for the banquet wasn’t simple, and the same was true for the attendees.

Yennefer’s three dresses had been delivered to her room, and these were just the minimum standard: one for the pre-banquet, one for the meeting, and the post-banquet couldn’t be the same.

Yennefer and Geralt had a conversation in the room the female warlock had just opened, surprising and delighting Dandelion with their tidy clothes and equally composed expressions upon exiting.

If the two of them had gone to bed in that room, Dandelion might’ve worried that it was just them indulging in the desire fueled by missing each other’s bodies.

But since they hadn’t gone to bed, it meant they engaged in verbal and emotional communication, which was indeed pleasing in progress.

As a friend of Geralt for decades, witnessing the tangled, yet unresolved feelings between him and the female warlock, Dandelion now nearly felt a sort of elder-like satisfaction.

"If you keep looking like a child who finally learned how to visit a brothel, I’ll punch your teeth out, Dandelion."

Geralt threatened the poet beside him with a tilt of his head, expressionless.

The poet didn’t care: "Hey! Lann, this guy said he’d knock my teeth out! Do you agree?"

"I don’t find anything wrong with that." Lann said quietly, "Perhaps if you lost a couple of teeth, you’d focus on writing instead of singing. Wouldn’t that be great?"

The three were now on Sandy Island, on the first level of Airetusa Academy, Luoxia Palace.

This place originally functioned as the Academy’s external reception and guest accommodation.

According to rules, during the Wizard Summit, those without an invitation should not enter.

However, the men and women at the banquet needed partners to look proper, so these people could also enter the Academy.

Geralt was actually a little surprised now; he didn’t expect Yennefer to invite him as a male partner for the welcome banquet after their long talk.

But surprised, he was not overly shocked.

Yennefer had invited him many times before to attend various sorcerer banquets. He had steadfastly refused before.

Because previously, he firmly believed that even the kindest sorcerer would only see him as a freak and a spectacle. As for those with narrow minds, they’d directly regard him as an intruder and a lowlife.

Yennefer mocked his thoughts but didn’t press further.

From what Geralt understood about Yennefer, once the woman had decided, nothing could change it, so Geralt was even more convinced his thinking was quite reasonable.

"But you agreed this time." Dandelion commented with a near-singing tone, "And without hesitation, not a moment’s doubt!"

"Only because the conversation was lengthy, emotional, and sincere, restoring your past intimacy and melting the ice of resentment, pride, and stubbornness on both sides."

"Admit it, Geralt. After that conversation, even if Yennefer maliciously asked you to fall into Hell with her, to drink burning tar with a demon ablaze, you wouldn’t hesitate!"

"I definitely wouldn’t hesitate."

Geralt thought to himself.

They had reconfirmed their love for each other, and two people in love dared to walk towards any place together.

Somehow, the already self-aware aging White Wolf felt his heart beating fiercely at the moment.

Just like a chick who’s never tasted or seen anything, directly plunging into a passionate love.

As for Ciri, the key girl who sparked this conversation, Yennefer was simply thinking to send her to the Academy immediately under the pretext of safety.

Someone was investigating Ciri, and this person could command a warlock named Reins.

No matter how petty Reins was, he was ultimately a warlock. Who could be capable of commanding him?

Only at Airetusa, Yennefer and Geralt felt they could be a bit relieved.

With the Dean Airetusa, the former Dean, the youngest member of the Warlock Supreme Council, the Temerian Royal Advisor, four renowned female warlocks returning to Luoxia Palace, the group undoubtedly attracted the most attention.

Geralt was profoundly uncomfortable, while Lann and Dandelion remained unfazed.

Luoxia Palace was already crowded, filled with representatives and their entourages; a large palace had at least dozens of small circles gathered together.