The Witcher: Lord of the Empire

As he listened to Lann reveal more and more secrets of Kaer Morhen, Vesemir became more and more amazed.

Mousesack, on the other hand, was already used to it, raising his glass with a smile. "The Elder Blood, huh?"

After a long while, Vesemir came back to his senses and silently raised the wine glass to greet Lann.

Lann was about to return the greeting with his own cup, but realized it was empty.

A hand rested on his shoulder, and he looked up to see it was Lambert.

"No wine?" Lambert asked with a mischievous grin as he pulled out two bottles and began mixing the drinks in Lann's glass. After a moment, he passed it back to him.

"Try this, I call it Iron Glove," Lambert said with a smile. "It's a mix of equal parts schnapps and White Gull. I learned this recipe in a small, unnamed town. The ladies have already retired, so it's time for some manly drinking."

Without hesitation, Lann took the cup and toasted Vesemir before taking a gulp. A fiery wave ran down his throat, and an intense heat immediately filled him from his stomach to his head.

"Now that's strong!" Lann exclaimed, letting out a puff of hot air.

Lambert burst into a satisfied laugh, and began to prepare more drinks for his companions, receiving a series of applause and cheers.

The atmosphere at the table immediately became heated, as if the alcohol content of the drink were spreading its intensity to everyone.

"Vesemir, Lann, stop talking about business. Seeing your serious faces just now, I don't even feel like drinking. We killed the Old Speartip today, it's time to celebrate despite everything, let's put aside those annoying things!"

...

The Wolf School was about to move. Although the witchers insisted they had no attachment to the place, now that departure was imminent, they couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic. They looked at the stone walls, the same ones they had looked at for decades, almost a century, and the words came more easily.

Lann had already finished discussing his business with Vesemir and, looking at the atmosphere around them, he admitted to himself that he was enjoying the moment.

It had been a long time since he felt so relaxed. Even when he had just transmigrated to this world, his days were filled with assignments in the capital of Cintra, improving his skills with the sword. And then, when Cintra fell, he had fought almost non-stop, mired in increasingly burdensome errands and political missions.

In the rare moments of rest that he had, it had never been like today. Even in a tavern or brothel, Lann usually drank in moderation, watching his servants and soldiers banter from the corner. But tonight, he was surrounded by his peers, drinking, laughing, and sharing stories without a care in the world.

He liked this atmosphere, and for a moment he remembered the feeling of playing video games in his past life.

"I want to share a story." Lann took the initiative to say.

Among witchers, the topics of conversation always revolved around hunting and women. And if both topics were combined, even better.

"Once in Toussaint, I received an assignment. I wasn't a witcher yet, but Geralt was present." Lann said, looking at the White Wolf. "The capital was having trouble with a succubus, and the duchess promised a large sum of money for us to take care of her. But do you know what happened? Geralt, why don't you tell us the rest?"

Geralt laughed openly. "Later, two knights found us, promised us more money and asked us not to care about this matter, and assured us that the succubus was harmless and even conducive to the stability of the duchy. In the end, they were driven out by Lann together."

Everyone laughed out loud.

Lann continued: "Speaking of which, the succubus actually appeared later and ran into my servants, helping them with the task I had assigned them."

Eskel smacked his lips and suddenly asked: "A succubus? Is she still in Toussaint?"

Lann shrugged. "Probably. There are few places like Toussaint that are suitable for them to exist... I think the knights there are a little shaky. Fortunately, Toussaint is a place far away from war."

After listening to this story, Lambert suddenly sat next to Geralt and patted his shoulder.

At Geralt's doubtful look, Lambert said: "Although you didn't complete this commission and get the money, at least you learned a good truth, right? For example..."

"...Stay away from dangerous women." He finished with a mocking tone as he glanced sideways in the direction where Yennefer had gone.

Geralt's face, which had been cheerful a moment ago, became serious.

Shaking off Lambert's hand, he replied in disgust: "You're never going to stop bothering me about Yennefer, are you?"

Lambert threw up his hands, as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world. "Until she gives me reasons to trust her, that is. With all due respect, Geralt, you've thrown yourself into the fire for her time and time again, but she only uses you when it suits her."

Even Eskel nodded in agreement with Lambert's words. "Most sorceresses are like this. It's obvious that Yennefer doesn't like us, so why should we take the initiative to please her?"

His comrades in arms, men with whom he had shared life and death, had decided to attack the woman who was linked to his destiny, leaving Geralt at a loss to vent his anger. He had no choice but to drink in silence, unable to vent his frustration.

Finally, Vesemir intervened sternly, putting an end to the subject. "Don't forget that Yennefer is here to help us, boys! Without her teaching, Ciri would be in danger!"

Without proper training, Ciri's magical power could overflow and lead to her destruction.

Geralt, annoyed by the scornful glances of his companions, slammed the table. "Enough! Look at how you talk, as if you were experts in love. None of you have ever been with a sorceress!"

Eskel shrugged. "And that's the problem, White Wolf. Only you have done it…"

His words hung in the air, as if he had just remembered something. Slowly, he turned his gaze to Lann, and soon everyone at the table did the same.

Lann, glass half raised, stood still, unsure of how the roles had suddenly changed.

"Don't play dumb, we all know what happened between you." Lambert jumped to Lann's side and sat down, patting his shoulder hard. "Do you think we haven't noticed the way Merigold is looking at you? You can't even hide it from us!"

"Tell me…" Lambert approached Lann, and suddenly whispered: "In the future, you will be with Ciri, right? You will be a prince, and she will be a queen, or a king and a queen, whatever… But you are destined to be together, aren't you?"

Lann nodded. "Yes."

"Then what about you and Merigold?"

"..."

Looking at the silent Lann, Lambert's eyes became dangerous. "Now you really look like a nobleman… with all those aristocratic flaws…"

In the end, it was Vesemir who rescued Lann. He slammed the table heavily. "Let's stop talking about this topic. Haven't you spent enough money on this outside?"

"Okay, okay." Lambert shrugged helplessly. "Let's leave the white wolf and the lion alone, they are already pouting with stinky faces, it's really unbearable..."

...

The young witchers fell silent, while Vesemir shook his head. This was the first time the Wolf, Viper, and Gryphon schools had met at Kaer Morhen. Who knows, maybe it would be the last, too, and he didn't want them all to end up fighting.

"We have wine, meat and company; this should not be the atmosphere, boys." Raising his glass, Vesemir proposed. "Let's play a game, one I learned in Oxenfurt."

"Someone says 'Never have I ever…' and completes the sentence with something they've never done. If someone at the table has done it, they drink a drink and then choose the next person." Vesemir smiled. "What do you think, lads? Up for it?"

Lann felt a strong premonition that this game would end with everyone on the brink of embarrassment.

But Lambert was already excited. "Of course! I played this in Oxenfurt too. I'll start."

Vesemir gestured to give him the floor.

After thinking for a moment, Lambert suddenly looked at Lann with a smirk. "Never have I ever… slept with a succubus."

Lambert seemed to think that Lann had hidden some follow-up in the previous Toussaint story, and this time he wanted to make Lann look bad.

Lann, however, remained impassive, while the resigned sound of toasting could be heard at his side.

Lambert looked over and saw Eskel and Vesemir raising their glasses.

"What's wrong?" Eskel asked, his tone defiant. "I like women with horns."

Vesemir shook his head. "Don't ask, Lambert. Don't ask anything."

Lambert seemed more pleased than if he had forced Lann to drink. "This is really unexpected! Eskel, Vesemir, you have hidden it so well!"

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