Chapter 36: Lecture.
—
[Fifteen minutes later.]
Looking at Ciri, who was practicing Thunder Breathing recklessly in one of the empty sections of the island, Richard let out a defeated sigh. It seemed that, even without the influence of other Mythic Paths or divinity, her conviction to get stronger remained unchanged. Not knowing how much time had passed, when Ciri finally saw him in the corner of the practice area, she instantly moved toward him.
"Richard, are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere? Is the healing done by Yggdrasil's sap complete?"
Outreaching both of his hands, Richard replied, "As you can see, there isn't a single scar."
Letting out a breath of relief, Ciri, with visible tears in her eyes, said, "Good, good! I am glad you are okay."
Noticing the visible scars on her muscles, Richard couldn't help but ask, "Why are you training Thunder Breathing so hard, Ciri? I mean, you could take it slow to learn it."
Shaking her head, she answered while looking at the ground, "It didn't work."
"Huh? You mean?"
Looking into his eyes, Ciri repeated, "It didn't work. The Thunder Breathing didn't work in the Ethereal Realms. Not even a single spark of electricity. I couldn't do anything when you were being toyed with by the demon lord. Even after I passed out, the breathing still didn't work. And I could only watch you being maimed without ever doing a single thing. I am use—"
"Do a horse stance."
"But—"
"Just do as I say."
"..."
"Feel this rhythm."
"..."
"Done?"
"Yes."
"Now, feel it the opposite way."
"..."
"..."
"I don't feel a thing. It doesn't work."
Looking at the granule of breathing that was very much the polar opposite of his Sun Breathing, Richard then walked to her back and placed his hands over it, saying, "You already have it. Your damaged genes from a very, very long time ago just make your sensitivity dull. Now, I want you to feel the rhythm once again."
Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. After some time, she finally felt a deep freezing sensation in every part of her lungs. Stunned and breaking concentration, Ciri looked at Richard questioningly, wanting to know why this was happening, why the White Frost she had painstakingly battled to destroy in this universe was still inside her body.
"Yennefer never told you what I did, did she?"
"No."
"Sigh. Basically, when you wanted to destroy the White Frost with your Elder Blood, I decided to guide it to become part of you. And for you to become one with it."
"Oh."
"..."
Looking directly into Richard's eyes, Ciri then asked, "Will this power help me fight beside you?"
Nodding his head, Richard explained, "Yes. I figured that in the Ethereal Realms, only something we truly own, or our direct authority, allows us to display power to our hearts' content. It can even be boosted to some degree. And—"
"Made me."
"Yes?"
"Made me into becoming your blade."
—
[Fifteen minutes later.]
Gazing at the weakened Yennefer lying on the bed inside one of the huts, having already finished making the wish to fix the Conjunction of the Spheres, Richard couldn't help but ask, "What is the drawback?"
"Oh, not a big deal. I just won't be able to use teleportation magic for one hundred thousand years... two... three... basically for my entire lifetime," Yennefer replied nonchalantly.
Seeing her stubborn determination to bear the drawback herself to complete the wish, even though they had all agreed to share the burden, Richard sighed in defeat. He knew she did this out of concern for her daughter's safety in the Ethereal Realms and wanted to finish the wish as soon as possible. Though he didn't know the detailed story, Ciri's expression when he asked about it suggested something detrimental to their relationship must have occurred.
[Science Cybersecurity: Backup and Disaster Recovery.]
[Detail: Create a backup system capable of restoration in case of disaster.]
Flipping open his translucent watch and launching the program he had created long before Huginn and Muninn were born, focusing on every aspect of Yennefer's being except her memories, Richard saw Yennefer restored to her peak state in an instant before she made the wish. Before she could realize what had happened, he told her, "This is just between you and me. Don't tell anyone except Margarita and Ciri."
"I know you'll be the first person capable of fully utilizing the Sa'angreal and becoming a god who can do whatever they like," Yennefer smirked from the corner of the bed, continuing, "Don't worry. My lips are sealed."
Shaking his head, Richard further explained, "No, it's just a small trick that works only within the protective domain. Outside of it, I'm still just a swordsman who produces suns, nothing more."
"Huh, humble bragging, are we? Tch, tch," Yennefer shook her head, then stood up from the bed and expressed her gratitude, "Thanks a lot, friend. Without you, I'd probably be the only mage here who could be easily killed."
"Don't mention it." Remembering something, he then asked her, "Oh yeah. How's the Conjunction? Is it fixed?"
"Yes, the issue of someone from another world entering this one is already fixed," Yennefer assured him. Continuing, she added, "Time and gravity, which I estimate will return to normal in the next week to a month, is also fixed," she sighed dejectedly, "Sadly, the natural disasters are still ongoing. It might take anywhere from one to ten years—I don't know how to calculate the specifics—before everything returns to normal."
Nodding his head, still pleased with the outcome—or, more accurately, very satisfied considering she had only performed the rituals for two days straight—Richard then told her the other reason for his visit. "By the way, I wanted to tell you that I plan to journey across the Continent," he said, noticing her lack of expression. He added the last part firmly, "With Ciri."
"What?! No, absolutely not! I just found her and—"
"Yen! This is my decision!"
"Don't you dare Yen me, little girl!"
"Oh yeah? Then why do you call me little girl? I am clearly old enough to protect myself!"
"And where has that gotten you?! Directly into the Wild Hunt's Naglfar!"
"No... As I said..."
"Really now... Clearly..."
Leaving them alone after Ciri barged into the room from outside the hut, Richard spotted Geralt standing in the distance. Dread unknowingly filled the entire being, Richard just followed him into the distance to be lectured like the one inside the hut.
—
Weekly Power Status
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