Bear School Astartes

Eventually, Lann was convinced by Geralt to extract Ciri from the ritual of transforming into a tree spirit.

Because Geralt told him he underestimated the intensity of the racial conflict between tree spirits and humans in today's world.

Sintra's Lioness, the formidable woman named Calanthe, is a queen renowned for her wars.

After losing Ciri, Sintra will inevitably go to war with Brokilon.

By then, Ciri will shoot arrows at her former subjects, and her former subjects will mercilessly trample Ciri's skull under their horses.

If Ciri truly becomes a tree spirit, that day is not far away.

At night, three demon hunters arrived punctually at the tree chamber where Aisne was conducting the ritual.

It was a simple yet comfortable room, illuminated by a special kind of bright fireflies encased in cages.

In the middle of the room, Aisne was sitting on the carpet with Ciri, while the Silver-Eyed Queen was combing her frizzy mouse-gray hair.

"Come in, demon hunters."

The old, middle-aged, and young demon hunters walked in. After surveying the room, they sat cross-legged on the floor.

"When are you planning to leave?" Aisne asked straightforwardly, without the human-like beating around the bush. "When are you going back? How about tomorrow morning?"

"Lann, you can leave whenever you choose. But honestly, while I respect your contributions to nature and the world, Dun Kanar hasn't hosted outsiders for a long time, and staying long will make both you and us uncomfortable."

"You cannot give the tree spirits' children, so the reasons ordinary human males linger here do not apply to you. The tree spirits may admire your appearance, but will not desire your body."

Vesemir and Geralt remained silent; this was the second time Aisne mentioned Lann's so-called 'significant contribution.'

They weren't clear about what this excessively young demon hunter had done, and now they were hearing with confusion.

But the three had discussed outside, and Lann would assess the situation and use his 'contribution' at the crucial moment to take Ciri away.

So, the three demon hunters nodded, indicating they would leave the city of the tree spirits the following day.

"Aisne, please reconsider. Return this girl to me, let her return to the outer world, the world she should go to."

Learning about Lann's 'contribution,' or rather his reputation having such weight, finally allowed Geralt to make his request to the Tree Spirit Queen without psychological pressure.

Vesemir no longer stopped him.

The Tree Spirit Queen's response was as straightforward as ever.

"No, White Wolf. Her coming to Brokilon is destiny, and fate is something you should understand."

"Me?"

"Yes, you."

Finally, those silver eyes glanced away from the comb for a moment.

"Information in Brokilon isn't closed off; I'm very aware of your presence ten years ago at the Sintran court banquet. You invoked an age-old unwritten law."

Geralt's body began to shift uneasily, and Lann's eyes narrowed seriously.

Aisne continued speaking.

"The Law of Surprise."

"You resolved a curse at that banquet and used the Law of Surprise as compensation for your work, ultimately... you were destined to gain a child."

"You attempt to combat demon hunters' physiological flaws with destiny, possessing a destined child to avoid post-death oblivion and resist life's void. How is it that you and I engage in the same act, yet you cannot understand it?"

During Aisne's speaking pauses, Lann leaned towards Geralt's ear, his expression calm but gritting his teeth, murmuring: "You never mentioned! Ciri is your child of surprise!"

White Wolf's expression matched Lann's: "It's just superstition! There's no such thing as destiny!"

If Lann hadn't interacted so much with entities like the Lady of the Lake or Gant Odim, he likely wouldn't take a mere customary law seriously.

But hanging from his waist now is a divine-made armament of a conceptual god, and the Law of Surprise has been circulating in the world since humanity's appearance.

Lann is an atheist and materialist, but the first principle of materialism is not to ignore the facts before you!

Destiny holds power!

If not for being in an alien world then, he never would have jokingly said that to Edd Stark.

Lann and Geralt's whispers couldn't escape Aisne's attention, but she didn't mind. Instead, she continued to speak to herself.

"No, I will not return this child to you, Geralt. She is so healthy, strong, not many girls like her there are nowadays."

Vesemir didn't involve himself in what he saw as two 'kids' bickering, only furrowed his brows and asked Aisne.

"What does 'not many' mean?"

The silver eyes returned to the comb.

"Humans abandon sick girls in the forest, with diphtheria, scarlet fever, and lately, even smallpox. They think the tree spirits in the forest lack immunity and assume they can use widespread infectious diseases to exterminate us, or at least significantly reduce our numbers. But they are wrong, terribly wrong. We possess something stronger than immunity, Brokilon will take care of its daughters."

Hearing of using infectious diseases for racial extinction, Lann couldn't help but cover his forehead once again.

The actions of humans regarding racial conflict in this world intensified his sense of déjà vu.

"Alright, alright, the local humans are damn bastards."

Lann rubbed his forehead and sighed, immediately drawing everyone's attention in the room onto him.

"Truth be told, Lady Aisne, I initially thought letting Ciri stay in Brokilon would be a choice fitting her temper, but now it seems too dangerous."

"You wish to take her away from me."

Aisne's expression showed no surprise.

Lann didn't hide his intentions either.

"I find her pleasing, she isn't a lone soul without ties, she has connections in bloodline, and in destiny."

"If it's you asking, of course, I would let go. Most beings in the world should offer you a reward, whether others know or not, but if you ask me, I will give. But wouldn't you like to hear it? The direct statement from this child of ancient blood."

Lann's brows furrowed unintentionally, 'Child of Ancient Blood' sounded like something formidable.

But since the cards are laid on the table, he decided to shelve the question, bowing in courtesy to the Silver-Eyed Queen with a face as calm and cold as ice.

"Thank you very much, it would be best if Ciri herself could speak up."

"Then repeat it, Ciri. Repeat what you said to the White Wolf, to Geralt of Livia, Child of Ancient Blood."

"Revered, Most Honorable Lady." Ciri spoke haltingly: "Please don't force me to stay, I want... to leave, to follow Geralt together... I must... follow him."

"Why, Ciri?"

"Because it's my destiny."

Lann breathed a sigh of relief; his request from Aisne was also Ciri's own wish, making the young man feel he hadn't made a mistake.

Beside Lann, Geralt's face turned pale upon hearing the word 'destiny,' as if he was a husband suddenly informed his wife was pregnant without prior preparation.