"You know, maybe she wouldn't be destroyed so easily if you would let her fall down and scrape her knees every once in a while," Jarek growled.

"Jarek, enough," Vesimir said, firmer this time. Jarek opened his mouth to complain, to ask why he had to remain silent while she insulted his friend but Vesimir then turned to Adrianna and said, "Adi, please. Stop baiting him." Jarek bristled at that but wisely kept his tongue.

"That is very disheartening, and I understand a little of what he must be going through. But, and unfortunate as it is, less than half of the boys that make it to this stage survive, that is a cold fact of life. This is a time where they should be coming together, not burning bridges with one another."

"You can take it from me, as someone who witnesses every single one of those deaths, that the statistics do not make it any easier. Especially when you take a personal interest in a child," Vesimir said quietly, directly to Adrianna so Jarek looked away, letting them speak. "There is still the grief and especially the guilt every single time."

"You say Gawel returns her feelings just as strongly. Alright then. Which one of you is going to volunteer to talk to him? If he truly loves her, I will not fight him and keep them apart. All I want is for my little Sara to be cared for and cherished, not cast aside and wounded every time he falls into a black mood."

Jarek sighed. "Well I'll be no good at that," he said, though there was a hint of bitterness in his voice and he squashed it down completely. "I'll leave that to you."

With that Jarek stood and took his leave, swiping a cherry tomato and popping it into his mouth as he left. He was left feeling useless and that woman didn't help matters at all. He went out to the beaten training yards and started going through the movements of a drill himself, much as Gawel had the other day, only his style was far faster and while the strikes had less force behind them, he made two in the time it would take Gawel to make one.

*

Vesimir sighed when Jarek left. He stood also but it was to take Adrianna's hand. "Let me tell you a story first, before you leave," he said softly and he led her to a couch before sitting down and pulling her towards him.

"You know that many of us have our emotions stripped during the process. Emotionless witchers make the best tools after all. They don't know and thus are not distracted or manipulated by greed or envy or lust, they have no memories of their family or former life so they are not swayed by personal loyalties. It paints us more as monsters but it is true. Gawel is unusual in that, barring a few exceptions, he had kept nearly all human emotions. He has only been out in the world for four years, but a blink in the lives of witchers, and sorceresses too," he added, bringing the story to be more personal to Adrianna. "Before that he was here, surrounded by those who, any emotions they did keep, are suppressed. Logic, strategy, a desire to better oneself, they are the qualities encouraged here. He never made many friends here because he felt so different, no doubt much like Sara, and the closest friend he does have has no idea about any of the emotions he's experiencing." He paused. "Jarek is the opposite. He is the only boy in my lifetime who has survived the mutation with the same reactions that Iwan is showing now. At a price. He has very little human emotion left, less than what is normal. And that includes no ability or understanding of love. They are best friends and I have never seen a better team, but they are emotional opposites and cannot understand each other."

He sighed then and held Ari close, welcoming the soft suppleness of her body against his, seeming to fit so perfectly. "I remember well when I first discovered that I loved you. The ferocity of the emotions, like nothing I had ever felt before, scared me. Terrified me in fact. I am rather average in my emotions, I have some and I have lost others, as I am sure you have noticed. Fear and love I keep. And I remember well how those two emotions seemed to feed off each other and make the other grow even stronger. And to someone like Gawel who has no one to speak to of such things, and possibly other emotions it brings in him that I have no knowledge of?" He shrugged slowly. "We are taught to have no fear, and where there is fear face it head on, with sword drawn and sign ready to be cast, with potions to strengthen us. Gawel can do none of that against this fear. So you understand why he acts as he does? Equal parts attacking and running? Perhaps it is a flaw in our teaching. Or perhaps I simply should have pushed him further at his own mutation to ensure that those emotions were taken as well..." Vesimir trailed off, uncertainty in his voice. He felt guilt for what was happening now, to one of his better students. He knew Adrianna wanted to go back to Sara, but he needed her comfort, reassurance and most of all, understanding especially for Gawel right then. Maybe she could explain to Sara what he had told her and help the girl better understand the one she had chosen to give her heart to.

"Ves, I really mean no insult to you or to Gawel, but I cannot stand by and allow this. She has endured so much pain, betrayal and grief in her very short time here. You know as well as I that Elves, even half Elves, live for a very long time. It seems insane and beyond comprehension that she should fall for a witcher, who may die on his next assignment." Her eyes met Vesimir's and twinkled. "I remember well when we fell in love, too. I asked myself the same questions she is asking herself now. Why is he so distant, so afraid? How can he say he loves me, when he seems to toss me aside so easily?" She placed her head on Vesimir's strong shoulder. "I know the pain it causes her. If I am completely honest with you, I am jealous. In the short time she has been with Gawel, she had made very long strides in her bearing. My once, shy, shuttered little girl has blossomed into a laughing and joyous young woman, one, who has mayhap unwisely, given her heart to your student. She has never opened up as much with me as she has with him, and when I see that love tossed back in her face like it means nothing, I am overcome with the urge to turn one of your best witchers into a pile of smoldering dust." She quirked a smile and lifted her head, meeting his eyes once again.

"Oh, my love. If only there was something I could do for poor Iwan, to lend him strength to survive, or to help ease his passing..." Adrianna's eyes widened, then narrowed in an impish smile. "I do have something." Looking back at her beloved, she tightened her grip on his arms slightly. "Would you allow me, blindfolded if need be, down to where the boy is? All I ask is half of an hour and then a bed and cool water. For me, I mean. I have an idea that will help give the boy some extra..." With a sharp motion, she bumped her hips into Vesimir's, a bit of excited heat playing in her eyes. "Oomph."

------

Sara awoke feeling light and refreshed, and for a moment, she forgot about her horrifying confession and Gawel's less than enthusiastic response. When it hit her, she found that while her heart ached, it was nothing more than a dull sensation. Maybe this is best, she thought as she pulled the covers off then stepped out of the warm comfort of the fur. She moved to the now dead fire and began to stir the ashes, trying to bring it back to life. She felt too empty to call on her magic, and since fire was the more dangerous of magics if not properly able to deal with it... well, she's just rather not be burned to a crisp.

After a few tiny flames began to lick at the kindling she was playing with, she stood and slowly peeled off her dress, having the urge to never wear it again. Gingerly, she folded it and placed it in a wooden chest at the end of her bed, then slipped into her old clothes. Once Adrianna got back, Sara would begin work on convincing her to warp her somewhere, anywhere, other than here.

"It seems insane and beyond comprehension that she should fall for a witcher, who may die on his next assignment."

Vesimir chuckled softly at that since that was exactly what Adrianna had done. But he remained silent and let her continue. He nodded at her words and said, "Then perhaps they will be good for each other in more ways than just following their hearts. They can teach each other strength and the ability to accept emotions."

"I do have something. Would you allow me, blindfolded if need be, down to where the boy is? All I ask is half of an hour and then a bed and cool water. For me, I mean. I have an idea that will help give the boy some extra... Oomph."

Vesimir was already shaking his head before Adrianna had finished. "No," he said firmly. "Absolutely not." Guessing that this might be taken as a slight against the sorceress (always a dangerous thing even for him), he continued, forcing his voice to be gentler. "My reasoning has nothing to do with you or our secrecy, but for Iwan himself. How do you think he would feel if he knew he alone had been helped through the mutation? He would wonder if he could have done it without the help, if he were weak. He would doubt himself, provided he is able to feel such things. That doubt will leave him open to all the weaknesses us as witchers cannot afford. He will also start to believe that he would not be able to take on any job without the strengthening of magic." He shook his head again. "No. In the long run, it is better that he make it through on his own, or not at all," he finished, his decision firm on this.

He closed his eyes and sighed softly, opening them to run a gentle, though calloused hand down the side of Ari's soft face. "We should go speak to our respective students. Then... maybe tonight you can show me what this 'Ooomph' you speak of is," he said, a cheaky smile creasing his face.

Adrianna sighed. "Oh, I suppose you are right, but you know I hate sitting around feeling useless. Especially when there are things that I can do to help." She pouted, but brightened as his hand ran along her cheek. A soft sigh, one of pleasure, escaped her lips and her eyes darkened at his comment. "Is that an invitation? You know, you may not want to find out." She cast a very sultry look his way before turning away towards the door, adding just a little extra swing to her hips as she walked.

Noting that he was watching her go, she turned back to look at him and winked, then sashayed off the way she'd come.

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

At a slight knock on her door, Sara turned, then smiled sadly when she realized it was Addie. While she was glad to see her mentor, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment that it wasn't Gawel. "I'm ready to leave whenever you are, Addie." She said, by way of greeting.

"Hon... sit down." Doing as she was told, Sara sat on the stones by the fire, with Adrianna following suit a beat later. "We won't be leaving, not yet anyway."

"What? Why not?" Sara's forehead creased in puzzlement.

Taking a deep breath, Adrianna continued. The longer she waited, the harder it was going to get. "You and Gawel need to work things out."

"I can't talk about this anymore!" Sara lumped to her feet, but Adrianna pulled her back down gently.

"I know it's difficult, and he doesn't make it any easier, but hon, if you do love him, as I can tell you do... You need to talk to him."

"He doesn't love me! Why should I stay when every time I see him, I am filled with hope that he loves me, but that is quickly dashed by his actions and his words. No. I can't! I can't bear it."

"My dear... I'm sure you realize that Vesimir and I were, are, lovers?" At her words, Sara's face moved into shock, her eyes wide. To which Adrianna laughed. "Is it that surprising?"

"Well... yes."

Adrianna smiled fondly at Sara. "My dear girl. You do not choose whom your heart falls in love with. At least talk to the boy one more time, if nothing else than to say goodbye."

Sara was quiet for a moment. "Why are you doing this? I thought you didn't like him?"

Now it was Adrianna's turn to be quiet. "Well, I want what's best for you, and I want you to be happy. I believe this young buck can do that. Now, you stay right here, while I fetch Vesimir so he can fetch his student." Adrianna ran her gaze over her. "Well, actually, let's get you fixed up first."

She plopped Sara down on a footstool and began her work on her hair, sending out tendrils of magic to the box of fabric and sewing implements that Sara still hadn't fully put away. "Vesimir, darling, let me know when you are ready...I'm listening." Adrianna sent the quick message to him, knowing he would hear it and respond at the appropriate time.

Gawel looked up when he heard someone coming down the stairs and when he saw Vesimir, his eyes widened. "It's not morning yet, is it?" he asked - it was impossible to tell the flow of time down here - and he was ashamed of the note of fear in his voice, for both himself and for Iwan. After all, if it was morning it would be time for the mutations that would most likely kill the boy and Gawel didn't know if he was ready to face that just yet.

"No, it's still evening," Vesimir said. "I brought you some dinner since it seems you didn't eat, or rest for that matter."

"Oh, thank you but I'm not hungry," Gawel said, before turning back to Iwan when the boy stirred slightly. He reached out to gently brush his face, sooth him back to sleep before sitting back.

"Why not?"

Gawel blinked. Why not? Had he zoned out and missed something and missed what Vesimir said? It didn't make sense. He took a guess. "What do you mean? I don't know, I'm just not hungry." He realized he had snapped a little and looked down as a form of silent appology.

"Normally I can't get you to stop eating, if only because you enjoy food even when you're not hungry. So something is on your mind. Besides this. And if I know you at all it has to do with our young sorceress Sara." Gawel sighed and rested his forehead on the table Iwan laid on, on top of his folded arms. He should have known Vesimir would know about that, nothing ever got past that man. "You love her, yet that feeling scares you, so you try and pull away, to shut down your emotions as you've learned to do so well, but that only makes you love her all the more, which scares you all the more and it's one big vicious cycle. Am I right?" Vesimir asked though it was clear from his voice that he already knew he was. He waited for an answer that Gawel didn't bother to give him before he continued in a gentler tone, "The only way to stop the cycle is to acknowledge and accept the love in the first place."

"Why?" Gawel demanded, his voice firm. "Why should I accept it at all? Would it not give me a loyalty that would conflict with my work? That's why we lose our memories of our families and our lives before Kaer Morhen, after all."

Vesimir sighed and Gawel looked up; it had sounded sad. Vesimir did indeed wear a small, sad smile on his face as he spoke. "The ideal witcher is one who kills only monsters for money, does not get involved and is not interested in the politics of man so that he can not be used or bought to kill humans. Unfortunately it is virtually impossible for this to be the case with any of us, though we can always strive to make it so. The fact of the matter is losing our memories is simply a side effect of the mutation, one of the prices we pay for the abilities we gain. And how it affects each of us differs depending on one's strength, body make up, inherrant magical abilities and resistances and a million other things that are impossible to measure. For whatever reason, be it science, the gods, or destiny, you were able to keep a lot of human emotions and, if I'm not mistaken, probably a couple memories as well. No don't bother to deny it," Vesimir cut in, holding a hand up to stop Gawel doing just that; it was Vesimir, he remembered rather clearly now, the memory brought to the surface from watching Iwan, who had told him to hide just what he retained and he had taken that to heart. "I'm of the opinion it can be a good thing. It can add a level of empathy otherwise missing and following from that empathy is the ability to love, which you have. Why do you not just tell her and put both your minds at ease?"

"I tried, well I was going to but then that other sorceress came along and bustled me out before I got a chance!" Gawel complained indignantly. Why did everyone assume he hadn't even tried?

To his surprise though, instead of chastising him Vesimir chuckled and said, "She does have a habit of doing that, doesn't she? Sticking her nose where it doesn't belong, making things worse while thinking she is making them better," but his voice was kind as he said the words, fond even. "I can take her with me, distract her with dinner or something. It should give you a few hours. Will that be enough to come clean with Sara? I have no wish to have an angry and upset sorceress living with us, they are dangerous and tempramental to begin with, let alone when emotions like love are involved."

"Yes," Gawel said. "But I'm not leaving Iwan while he is still here."

Vesimir sighed. "You must leave him to look after yourself. To rest and-"

"I'll rest here if need be," Gawel said firmly. He looked up to his teacher and said, "He was terrified when I came back. He's a brave boy and he hid it, but I've known him long enough to recognise it. I won't leave him again."

"Gawel... she can't come here, you know that."

"Then she'll have to wait."

"I fear making her wait won't do much to convince her of how you feel," he said, his voice gentle.

"If she can't wait two more days, three at most, and can't understand my priorities then I'm better off without her," Gawel said harshly.

It was clear from his voice, his words, even the set of his shoulders that he wasn't budging from this spot until Iwan did, either to be burried or to rest in his new room. And there would be little Vesimir could do to budge him save, perhaps order him out. But Vesimir refused to do that. Gawel had a point. "Try to eat something," was all Vesimir said as he let him be.

"Vesimir, darling, let me know when you are ready...I'm listening."

Vesimir paused on the stairs hearing that voice clearly in his head. It still unnerved him after all these years and made him wonder if she always read his thoughts or only those he allowed her to hear.

"He's not coming," Vesimir thought in reply. "He won't budge until Iwan's mutation is done. I have spoken to him, he definately does love your girl and was about to tell her as much before you entered and shooed him out. He is willing to do so again if we can give them a couple hours alone but will not leave Iwan's side. He said that if she loves him as much as he does her, she will understand and be willing to wait the few days it will take... And I agree with him. There. He said it. Now he had to hope that his lover didn't completely lose her cool and that there would still be a Kaer Morhen left.

Adrianna sighed as Vesimir's thoughts came flowing through her mind. That was not the answer she had wanted to hear. Although she knew he was right, a surge of indignant anger forced it's way through her logic. How dare that arrogant man put something above her Sara! 'But that thing is Iwan...' THe cold thought raced down her spine, unsure if it was her own or Vesimir's.

"Actually, it was mine." Sara said quietly, her eyes alight with both happiness and laughter. At Adrianna's surprised look, Sara's cheeks flushed and she lowered her eyes, embarrassed that she had been eavesdropping. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to over hear it, but I was just about to ask you something, and you had that look you get when you're upset."

"Oh, my dear. I'm just surprised that you could do that."

"Well, I learned from you." This time, it was Addie's turn to blush.

"Oh yeah. That was me, wasn't it?"

They both shared shamefaced laughter. Adrianna moved back behind her student and continued brushing out her long ebony hair. In an easy silence, they worked, the only sound was the magicked fabric swishing as it floated, being pieced together. "Are you sure that making a new dress is really needed? I mean, when Iwan recovers, it won't be for another day or two until they finish the mutations."

"Honey..." Addie paused in her brushing. "Iwan... He's not going to make it sweety."

Sara turned around, nearly knocking Adrianna over. "What?!"

"I'm sorry, but that is why everyone is less than cordial."

Sudden understanding brightened Sara's features. "So it wasn't because of me..." She beamed, then sat back down into the chair, a new energy rushing through her. "I will give him the time he needs." Sara's mind was whirling. Pure joy lightening her at the thought that Gawel really did return her feelings, but heartbreak over Iwan's fate. It wasn't fair, if there was only something she could do to help.

"I'm going to go see Vesimir, make plans to give you and your buck time to talk. I'll be back in a few hours. Take over the dress, will you?"

Sara smiled, knowing that she wouldn't see her teacher again until morning. But with an easy grace, they transferred the magic of the dress from one to the other. Addie left then without a moments hesitation, knowing exactly where to find Vesimir.

Gawel actually managed to eat a little, managing maybe half of what was on his plate. He even dozed a little, holding Iwan's hand and resting his head on his arm on the table the boy lay on. It was a light doze and every time Iwan stirred he came wide awake instantly. Gawel fervently hoped that Iwan would manage to pull through, that he would be one of those infinitely rare cases that could after starting so badly, if only because of the courage he was showing now.

There was no way to tell time down here where no natural light shone and the torches shone for hours on end. Gawel came awake though after a time and guessed morning wasn't so far judging by the crick in his neck. He removed his hand from Iwan and the boy let out a soft whimper and his eyes opened to follow Gawel.

"It's alright, Iwan, I'm just going to wash a bit," Gawel said, his voice low and soothing and he was relieved to see the boy relax a little more. Gawel went over to the ewer of water and used a cloth there to wash his face in the cold water. He then carried it over and began to lightly clean Iwan as well, patting him dry with a towel so he didn't catch chill.

"What's today going to be like?" the boy asked quietly, his voice husky.

Gawel left off cleaning him briefly to get him a drink and help him drink it before going back to his task. He spoke as he did this. "Hard," he said honestly. "Harder than yesterday but not as hard as tomorrow will be. Today is the poisons and diseases. After which you will be immune to most illnesses. I know we are still susceptible to infected injuries and the fevers that come from such a wound, but general illness, disease, the poisons of the monsters we fight, none will have any permanent effect after today. Breath deeply and calmly," Gawel said, seeing that Iwan's breath started to speed up with fear. "There's nothing that can be done to stop it or make it easier. It will happen no matter what you or I do. All you can do is face it, accept it and don't let it defeat you."

Iwan was quiet a while, then said, "There's some comfort in that. In not being able to change what's coming, just in facing it."

Gawel, who had been putting the ewer back, turned to Iwan with a smile and a small chuckle. "You will make a good witcher," he said. "Already you grasp something that even I struggle with at times."

Iwan smiled as well, proud of the praise he received. Witcher culture was such that praise was rarely given; if a boy should do something right and well he would receive a nod from his teacher and that was about it. To receive verbal praise was something all worked hard for and strived for as that signified a true approval from their teachers.

"I think," Gawel said, "when you finish your training and become a full witcher I would like to travel with you. We could travel the world, see all kinds of sights, challenge ourselves on any number of monsters." Gawel hoped that by implanting a possible future in Iwan's mind he might fight all the stronger to stay alive.

"I'd like that," Iwan said, his eyes distant, seeing the future. Then they seemed to focus on where he was. "I have to survive and endure first," he said.

"Yes," Gawel agreed.

"I won't remember anything after today, will I? Already it's all fuzzy."

"More than likely."

"Gawel, if I die, no let me finish," Iwan said, seeing that Gawel was about to speak. "I know it's a possibility. I felt the touch of death yesterday. And I still have two days to go. I promise, I'll fight it as hard as I can though, I want to be a witcher, I want to learn more and travel with you and see the places I hear you and the others talk about. But if I don't there's a necklace hidden under my mattress. It was... my mother's I think. I'm not sure, it's all kind of fuzzy. But I remember it was given to me before I left in the hope that it would help me remember. It's a chunk of amber, smoothed and glossy with a perfect dragonfly caught in it."

"You want me to take it to your mother?" Gawel guessed but Iwan shook his head.

"No. I think they would have mourned me as dead when I left since they knew they would never see me again, and if they did I wouldn't know them. No, I want you to hold on to it. I believe that so long as I'm remembered I won't really die. Oh, I know that I will cease to be here and this body will be nothing but meat, but if you remember me there will be proof that I existed. Don't you think?"

Gawel smiled and nodded. Iwan was very mature for his age, all children taken to be witchers were but he seemed to be more so. But he was still a child seeking reassurance that his way of thinking was correct. "I think so also. And I promise should you die I will wear it always. However, should you live, I want you to wear it always. Don't hide it any more."

"What about Vesimir? He won't be happy that I've kept something from before then."

"You probably won't even remember how you got it. And if he does say something I'll talk to him to make sure he let's you. Do we have a deal?"

Iwan grinned and nodded and it was at that time that the door opened and Vesimir and the mage came in. Iwan paled slightly seeing them but he held his head strongly as he said clearly, "I'm ready now. I want to become a true witcher, so let's go."

Gawel smiled proudly to Vesimir who returned it but Gawel could tell by the sad set of his eyes that he knew the boy wasn't going to make it.

*

The next hours were just as horrible as yesterday. They had to take it fairly slowly lest what they were pumping into the boy's body kill him outright. Of course that had its own drawbacks in that the whole sessions lasted longer, which was harder on his body in other ways. As Gawel had suspected, his veins glowed a sometimes sickly green colour, sometimes red, sometimes even black, all the while Iwan screamed and bucked against the chains that held him still.

After what seems to be an eternity, Vesimir called a break. "We must stop now," he said. "For lunch and to give him a rest. You'll keep an eye on him?" he asked Gawel. Stupid question. Gawel nodded instantly, his mouth set in a hard line, worry creases clear on his young face. "Keep an eye on his breathing and heart rate. If either drop too low, call out. I'll bring you some food shortly."

Again Gawel nodded and when they left he set about wiping the sweat from Iwan's body, trying to sooth him even as his body still trembled and occasionally bucked against the chains as the remnants of pain still tormented him.

Sara spent the night finishing the new dress and hatching her plan. She already knew what she wanted to do, and with her impressive memory, was able to recall exactly what Addie had taught her. As the dawn was beginning to seep over the mountains, spilling into her room, Sara's head was drooping. Her new, and blue, dress was laying on the chair beside her, while her mind went over the details of her plan once more.

She had seen Adrianna do it hundreds of times in her apprenticeship to her, and while this would be on a grander, and slightly long distance scale, the principle was the same. Now all she had to do was wait for Addie to get back. And, as if on cue, Adrianna sauntered on through the door, giving Sara a quiet good morning before falling into the bed, dead asleep. Sara couldn't help a fond smile. She and Vesimir must have had lots of fun during the night.

With Adrianna wonderfully oblivious to the world, Sara summoned up the remnants of her energy, and courage. Laying the new dress carefully to the side, she righted the clothes she had traveled in, patted her hair, then made a quick exit. Silently tip-toeing down the stairs, she listened intently for any sound of approaching witchers. It would not do to be caught. From what she had gleamed from her quick tour of the castle, the cellar, or rather, dungeon, was... here. She paused in front of a solid wooden door with wrought iron hinges that looked to be older than the castle did, if that was possible. This must be it. Sara sent a thin tendril of magic down, and instantly picking up Gawel's strong life-force, and a smaller, weaker force. That must be Iwan, she thought.

Casting an anxious glance around the corridor, Sara tip-toed around a corner where she thought she wouldn't be seen, and sat down, crossing her legs and placing her hands, folded, in front of her. Usually, she would have placed her hands directly on the person, but she wasn't allowed to go down there so this would have to do. Closing her eyes, she focused her mind, gathering up the magic she would use. She had no fear of anything going wrong, it was just like healing anybody else, although this time no one could know she had helped, and she had to be careful not to heal him too much. That would be too obvious.

As her energy built up in her stomach and chest, she began to get that familiar feeling of having too much breath, the need to exhale right at that moment. She must hold it a little while longer... Seconds seemed to take forever to pass by, the only thing worse than not being able to inhale, is not being able to exhale, and that was just what it felt like, a tight knot of magic where her lungs should be, burning her insides until she could stand it no longer. That was where her healing ability came from. Adrianna's came from her head, and would always endure horrendous migraines after healing particularly difficult cases.

Sara fought the urge to unleash her built up magic all at once, but let it out slowly, snaking it around like an invisible string, around the corner, through the heavy wooden door, down the long twisting steps and finally to Iwan. She resisted the urge to fix Gawel's leg as well, but she knew that would instantly give her away. As much as she wanted to help him as well, he would know the signs of magic being done on him. Her little string wound up around Iwans fingers, then winding around his arm, up onto his shoulder and finally moving into his body. For a moment, Sara was stunned by the blast of pure pain that coursed through her own body. Muscles convulsed, and she fought to maintain control and consciousness. She could not allow her mind to stay detached from her body, it may not find it's way back. Working quickly, she shoved Iwan's suffering away from her. She took quick stock of his injuries. Most she knew she could not heal for him, that was something Vesimir would notice, and may do more harm than good. Her knowledge was with humans, not witchers, and unless she was able to study their bodies and muscles better... Sara broke her wandering thoughts. The only thing she could do for this poor boy was give him the energy to fight, and to ease the pain, at least for a little while.

Sara moved her magic throughout Iwans body, taking each pain into herself as she went along, noticing that his convulsions were lessening. As she worked her way back up towards his head, she went farther into his mind and gave him a picture of Gawel, sitting on the hill outside the castle where she and Jarek had picnicked, watching the sun set on a breeze autumn day. Making Gawel speak, she gave him words of encouragement, ones she knew Gawel would tell him if he would allow himself to.

She poured pure energy into him, building up his strength and will to fight for his life. Suddenly, she felt the world darken and knew it was time to get back to her body. Moving quickly, she retracted her tendril of magic from Iwan, slowly enough so she didn't pull anything from him in the process. Once she was out, she pulled the magic back quickly, racing towards her body. With a slam, her mind returned. She was no longer sitting against the wall. She had fallen over onto the floor, and her head hurt. Come to think of it, her whole body hurt. Before she realized it, her body cried out in protest at the intense pain that shot through it as if lightening had hit her. Biting her lip, she resisted the screech of panic and pain that surged to her throat. Shakily, she moved to her knees, her stomach fighting to purge itself in an attempt to also purge the pain. Sara knew she would not be able to stand and walk to her room. Her only hope was to crawl, and pray that she was not seen doing such on her trip back.

Slowly, oh so painfully slowly, she made it up the stairs to her room. Shutting the door with a thump, she collapsed behind it. On her belly, she pulled herself back towards the fire, hoping she could make it. Once there, she grabbed a blanket she had used the night before while Addie had done up her hair, and balled it up, turning it into a pillow. As she rested her head on it, something hard pressed against her ear. Shifting through the blankets, she found the hand mirror that Adrianna had shown her. It was beautiful, with hand carved roses and ivy vines around the mirror and down the handle, all in pure silver. Sara looked at it first, then as her eyes adjusted, she saw herself. Her eyes were red-rimmed from her lack of sleep, her mouth puckered from the raw pain that still afflicted her, and her hair a mess. Sara swiped some white dust from her hair, then saw it was still there. Swiping again, her foggy mind realized it wasn't going away. Using the last bits of her willpower, she focused her eyes and finally understood what she was seeing. A patch of her once pure black hair was now as white as snow. Her eyes opened in surprise, a movement that was just too much for her exhausted body, for she then fell over onto the blanket pillow, asleep.

Jarek watched Sara from the shadows as she worked her magic. Like all witchers, he could sense magic and he knew she was using it, and if she was using it outside the door to the laboritorium then that could only mean she was using it either on Gawel or Iwan. And judging from Gawel's usual reaction to magic, he deducted it would have to be for Iwan. And he was sure he didn't like that. If the boy was meant to die, he would die. That was the way of witchers. If they weren't meant to emerge from there as full mutations, then they weren't meant to survive the world around them. By changing that she threatened the whole natural order of things. Oh, he had no doubt that Sara had her heart in the right place, but that didn't change the fact that she had likely given Iwan an unfair disadvantage. And that felt dirty, even though it wasn't Jarek who had been affected.

After making sure that she managed to get to her room alright (he did, after all, still care for her as a friend even if he disapproved of what she did), he found Vesimir and told him what he had seen. He didn't know what the man hoped to achieve but he was sure he had to at least know about it.

*

Gawel soothed Iwan as best he could, talking to him in a low voice, all the while keeping a close eye on his breathing and heartbeat. At times it raced, at other times it got dangerously slow such that on three separate occasions he almost called out before it picked back up again. He wasn't going to make it. Gawel knew that now, in the pit of his stomach. Vesimir was right. If he didn't die this afternoon or through the night he definitely tomorrow. He had the mental strength but if his body reacted badly to the mutation process there was simply nothing they could do.

He frowned then, feeling something just as Iwan's breath started to even out, the bucking stop and the trembling lessening. He wasn't sure what it was but whatever it was seemed to sooth Iwan. That was a good thing, he supposed even if he felt uneasy about its cause.

*

Vesimir was having a quiet drink to himself when Jarek came and told him what he had seen. Vesimir's face darkened considerably hearing it and he thanked Jarek before quietly considering what should be done. He had told Adi not to interfere and she had understood the need for this but clearly she had not passed the warning on to her student.

He didn't know how to deal with the situation. He could hardly go to her and demand she take back whatever she had done, that would be the height of cruelty to the boy. And yet, was not doing it in the first place it's own form of cruelty? After all, though many may not believe it or have guessed it, Vesimir was a strong believer in destiny. If the boy was meant to be a witcher he would survive no matter the effect the mutations took on his body, as Jarek had. If not then he was supposed to die, lest he leave nothing but hurt and heartache in his wake. It was impossible for anyone save perhaps the sources to guess the immensity of destiny and how changing things could affect the world around them and the future as well.

With a sigh, he laid his drink aside and dressed (he was wearing naught but pants when Jarek came to call). He would inform Adrianna and let her try to explain the full consequences of what her student had done. For him to do so would only make her mad, he was sure, make her think he had taken over disciplining a student that was not his. And besides, though not sources, the sorceresses were close even without the prophetic powers. Mayhap they would comprehend the snowballing effect this would have.

Going to the ladies' room, he knocked on the door and waited, hoping it would be Adrianna who answered rather than Sara. Though if it were Sara he would simply request to speak to Adrianna privately.

Adrianna woke groggily to the sound of tapping on the door. Picking her head up slightly, she cracked an eyelid open to glare at it, upset that someone had interrupted her recuperation. As the tapings continued, Addie pushed herself up to a seated position, her feet over the side of the bed, reluctant to touch the icy marble floor. As she opened her eyes completely, she focused first on her beloved Sara, sleeping peacefully with a content half smile playing on her perfect rosy lips. Despite having her own beauty, Addie was mighty jealous of her student... tap. tap tap tap.

Addie shot the door another scorching look as she meandered over, smoothing her hair with the palm of her hand, hoping to resemble some sort of appearance of being put together. Her hand fell sharply down on the handle, as she jerked it open, stunned to see Vesimir standing there, his hand poised in mid-knock. A coquettish smile lit her face. "Didn't you get your fill last night you old rogue?"



{Sorry, it's not as good as it was before, but hey, at least it's something!}

Vesimir couldn't help but smile at Adrianna's greeting for him. "Oh I could never weary of you," he replied cheekily. His mood and smile soon faded though.

Getting straight to the point, he said, "I fear your student may have done something very foolish. I fear she may have done something for Iwan, either healed him or sent him energy and strength. I have not checked to be certain what changes she did. I can't ask her to remove whatever she did. That would be the height of cruelty for Iwan. I'm not sure what should be done but I think you should, at the very least, talk to her, make her understand what kind of ill affect this could have on Iwan should he survive."

Adrianna's coy demeanor vanished. Sara couldn't have been fool brained enough to do what Vesimir was implying. "I don't mean to challenge you, love, but, are you sure that she did do something? And not perhaps he is finding his own strength? Or perhaps even Gawel helping him? He has been left with the boy alone, and certainly has the motive to do so."

Addie knew she was grasping at straws, but her mind refused to believe that Sara would give that boy several years of her own life so he may survive this one more night. It was a very large risk Sara took, if indeed she had taken it. A part of her, Addie had to admit, was proud of the girl. It was Adrianna herself who had taught that particular skill in order to save a young mothers life. It had worked then, be it destiny, or just plain dumb luck, Addie could never be sure.

"I... I will talk to the girl. I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation for this. I'll send word when I find out exactly what happened." With that, without so much as waiting for a nod from Vesimir, Adrianna shut the door quickly but softly. Now that the shock had worn off, anger began to boil inside her. Fool girl! It could cost both of them their lovers, and if word got out... it could very well cost them their lives.

She moved slowly over to the still sleeping form of Sara, knowing that if she had poured out her lifeforce to the boy, she would need time to recover, but there was no time. She kneeled down and gently stroked Sara's hair, recalling many a nights doing just this when Sara was still a frightened child missing her mother and family. Ever so gently, she began to whisper. "Sara... Sara... Sara I need you to wake up, just for a moment."

Sara's eyes flickered open, blinking a few times to rid herself of the sleep-induced fuzziness. "Addie?"

"I'm here, hon. I need you to tell me what you did to Iwan."

Sara sat up, slowly, shamefaced. "I know I shouldn't have tried it, but before you get upset, let me say that it didn't work." Tears pooled in her teal eyes, guilt overwhelming her. "I tried. I tried to do what you have done for some of the people who came to us for help, but I couldn't. His body didn't latch onto my life for some reason, I'm so sorry I failed."

Adrianna had no words. There were very few things Sara failed at, and while her heart was glad that she hadn't actually harmed herself or Iwan, she felt the girls pain. "Sara, listen to me. It was very foolish to try it. Even if you had succeeded, it could have had bad consequences for the boy. Now, having said that, I will tell you that Vesimir thinks you did something, because the boy has a new strength. A second wind, if you may."

Sara perked up at that. "You mean," she sniffed, "he isn't going to die?"

"Well, I don't know about that child. We shall see. But for now, he has a new energy, and Vesimir is blaming you."

Sara smiled. "It's not from me. When he wouldn't take my life force, the only thing I could think of to help him, even if it was to relax into death, was to give him happy things to look forward to. I created images of him and Gawel sitting up on the hill, the one Jarek took me to, watching the sun set over the snowy mountains. I showed him Gawel and him fishing at a river that he and I fished at while on our way here."

Addie was grinning broadly at this point. "Oh my child, you are special beyond measure. Now, sleep. I will go take care of cranky old Vesimir."

Once released, Sara folded back down on her make-shift bed and instantly fell back asleep. Addie stood and made her way purposefully towards Vesimir downstairs. "Where are you, you suspicious ol' coot?" She taunted, knowing it would ease a lot of his worries to know that Sara had done nothing but shown Iwan what could be should he choose to fight for his life.

"I don't mean to challenge you, love, but, are you sure that she did do something? And not perhaps he is finding his own strength? Or perhaps even Gawel helping him? He has been left with the boy alone, and certainly has the motive to do so."

"Witchers can sense magic, and the one who told me is incapable of lying," Vesimir said sincerely. He wasn't about to tell her it had been Jarek who told him, but it was true what he said, Jarek was essentially incapable of lying.

"I... I will talk to the girl. I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation for this. I'll send word when I find out exactly what happened."

"Thank you," he said, before leaving her to it and heading back to his room. There, he took his shirt off once more and made himself comfortable by the fire. He was weary, the strain of putting a boy he cared about through the mutations was showing, and he still had two more to do this winter after Iwan.

"Where are you, you suspicious ol' coot?"

Hearing that alone was enough to put much of Vesimir's fears to rest. 'In my room,' he replied. He was sipping a wine as he looked out his window waiting to hear back from Adie, knowing she would let him know what Sara had or had not done. It did confuse him though. Jarek wouldn't lie, he couldn't lie really, so he had seen and sensed her do something. But if Addie was calling him a 'suspicious ol coot' then something had to be amiss.

*

Gawel watched Iwan carefully. He knew that in illness the body could rally briefly before finally falling and dying and he was afraid that this could be what was happening to Iwan. He seemed to remain steady though, simply sleeping. Gawel decided to take the opportunity to stretch and move around a little but as soon as he let go of Iwan's hand the boy's eyes opened and locked on him. They were somewhat vague and unfocused and showed no recognition. He also said nothing, but as Gawel moved about the room they watched him silently. Gawel didn't know if this was good or not; he was clearly strong enough again to remain conscious, but what about the state of his mind? He knew also that a couple times witchers had been driven mad by the mutations. Normally if that happened they wouldn't survive the final phase, Vesimir made sure of it. The last thing the world needed was a witcher gone insane, intent only on revenging perceived wrongs done against them. It would be a terrible tragedy for Iwan to survive the mutations only to have lost his mind in the process. Gawel wasn't experienced enough to judge that though.

"Iwan?" he tried, coming back to him. He thought he saw a flicker of something in the boy's eyes, recognition perhaps? But then it was gone. "Try not to worry," Gawel continued anyway. "I'm here for you. I'm not going to leave you, not until you come through this and are well on your way to becoming a true witcher." The boy didn't respond, but he looked at Gawel for a long moment before relaxing and appearing to go back to sleep.

"Ah. There you are." Adrianna opened the door to Vesimir's room, her eyes wandering over his naked back with obvious appreciation. "My my, I certainly hope that means you are ready for round two later." Seeing the extra glass on the table, Addie helped herself to the wine, swirling the glass as she made her way over to sit next to Vesimir by the fire.

"I talked to Sara, and you were right. She did have the intention to heal Iwan." Addie paused, giving Vesimir a silencing glance. "She did attempt it, even. And I suppose it's my fault that she even has that skill and ability to attempt such a dangerous healing, so you can blame me for it. But, I will say, that she was unable to do it."

Addie took a sip of the wine, relishing the warmth that radiated throughout her core. "As you know, there are several ways to heal someone. The most dangerous, but most effective way, is to literally pour yourself into somebody else. Giving them parts of your life. This is what she tried to do, since you can do it over longer distances and she wasn't about to go down into the dungeon when you told her not to." Addie couldn't resist a smile there as she sipped the deep red wine again. When she looked back at him, she laughed outright.

"Alright, I'll just tell you what she actually managed to do. You look like you are about to wiggle right out of your wrinkled old skin! Sara told me that she was unable to heal him, because Iwan's body, or maybe even the potions you've been giving him, rejected her energy, her help. All she did was show him pictures, false memories really, of Iwan and Gawel together and happy. Feel better? Now we can move on to... other things." Her voice dropped to a sultry level as she set down her now empty wine glass and leaned forward. "Or are you going to run off and check on the boy?" She asked, a hint of disappointing resign in her tone.

Vesimir smirked at Addies flirtatious response to seeing him without his shirt on. "I was actually getting ready for a snooze, this 'ol' coot' gets tired easily," he said, teasing her as much as himself.

Vesimir nodded as he silently listened to Addie say that Sara had indeed tried to heal him, though his face darkened a little. It may not have worked, but it was still dangrous for her to even attempt such a thing, to herself yes, and to the boy, but possibly, for all they knew, to the whole world as well for should a witcher survive who was not meant to who knew what havoc they could wreck.

"This is what she tried to do, since you can do it over longer distances and she wasn't about to go down into the dungeon-"

"Laboratorium," Vesimir corrected. It was not a dungeon, where they kept prisoners. He fell silent then and let Addie finish but when she stopped talking before she said what it was she had done, since she had to have done something, he began to shift a little and was about to demand she finish before she cut in herself.

"Alright, I'll just tell you what she actually managed to do. You look like you are about to wiggle right out of your wrinkled old skin! Sara told me that she was unable to heal him, because Iwan's body, or maybe even the potions you've been giving him, rejected her energy, her help. All she did was show him pictures, false memories really, of Iwan and Gawel together and happy. Feel better?

Vesimir smiled at that. He wasn't completely sure that it wasn't Iwan being unable to accept the magic, it was possible that his body could have mutated that way, but unlikely. The boy had shown no trouble responding to magic previously, nothing to hint something like that. More likely he had, even subconsciously, refused the help, wanting to get through this on his own merit. If that was the case then Vesimir was especially proud of the boy and knew that, should he survive, he would make a fantastic witcher. Should he survive. Which wasn't likely. Vesimir sighed sadly. It was always the cases where a particularly promising student who had the exact frame of mind a witcher required who didn't make it through the mutation that he was unable to shield himself completely from, that he always took the hardest.

"Now we can move on to... other things. Or are you going to run off and check on the boy?"

"I should check on him, but..." he trailed off and instead took Addie into his arms. "I'm sure he'll be fine for a little while longer. Gawel is there with him after all, and he's always trusted him more than he trusts me."

{Apologies if this isn't exactly right, but my brain hurts XD}

Sara awoke shaking. The fire had petered out, leaving the room cool, but not unbearably cold. She sat up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, then furiously rubbing at her arms trying to warm them. "Why is it so darn cold?" She stood, her arms wrapped around herself, her brows knitted together in thought. She'd never been bothered by the cold before, always loved it actually. Snow, ice, that was home to her. But there was this bone chilling cold that she just couldn't shake. Using magic to bump up her inner temperature was not an option. If she did too much, she might just make her innards catch on fire!

She nodded to the fire to bring it back to life, and relished in the warmth when it slowly awoke. She tossed more logs onto it which it lapped at hungrily. Sitting on the marble seat by the open fire, she began running a lock of hair through her hands nervously. She couldn't get Gawel out of her mind, and was regretting calling Addie for help. She was a big girl and was supposed to be able to handle these things on her own... Addie was like a mother to her, but they'd never discussed relationship things, or really anything that involved a man and a woman. Sara's cheeks burned at the thought of it, even more so when an image of Gawel by the river sprang into her mind.

Standing up quickly, she began pacing. On a whim, Sara moved to the door and nearly flew down the stairs, and right into Jarek. "Just the witcher I came to see. Would you do me a favor? I really need to talk to Gawel..."

Jarek looked up in surprise when Sara suddenly ran into him. He had been on his way outside to train some, sheathed iron sword in hand, and hadn't expected the young sorceress to be up this early. Nonetheless, seeing her brought a smile to his face and he slouched casually against the wall.

"Just the witcher I came to see. Would you do me a favor? I really need to talk to Gawel..."

"Oh, I see how it is," he said. "I'm only good enough for you cause I'm friends with Gawel," he smirked to let her know he was joking and continued, "As it stands though, he's still in the laboratorium, and I can't go there without Vesimir's permission, which I don't have. Don't worry, for good or ill, he'll be up today, probably around lunch time or early afternoon if all goes well. Or badly. Can whatever you wanted to talk to him about wait that long?"

"Can whatever you wanted to talk to him about wait that long?"

"I certainly hope so." She flashed a smile, trying to rid herself of less than positive thoughts. "Where are you off to so early?" She enjoyed being in Jarek's company, and if he was doing something that she could either watch or participate in, she would most definitely welcome the diversion. As much as she wanted to see Gawel and talk things through, without Addie, she was just as happy to put it off and spend some very needed hours laughing away with Jarek.

"Training," he answered. "Winter encourages people to stay indoors and do nothing and those who do that wind up dead. I rather prefer to live. At least for now," he said with a smile.

He turned then to continue on his way, calling over his shoulder, "You're welcome to watch if you like."

Outside the wind was bitingly cold but Jarek didn't even seem to notice it as he headed over to the structure he intended to use. There were two massive logs crossed each other, and another set perhaps five meters away. Suspended by ropes between them was another log, perhaps two and a half meters off the ground.

Slinging the sword over his back, Jarek stood under the suspended log and eyed it as though daring the wind to move it right when he needed it to be still before bending, leg muscles bunching, and springing upwards. His arms gripped it and, the hardest part done, he pulled himself up to stand on the swaying log.

Once up he stood lightly on the slightly swaying beam, and drew his sword. "This," he called down to Sara, "is used to train balance and precise technique. It's used on all trainees pretty much as soon as they master the basics. It's probably one of the safer ones, only a few deaths from a broken neck or two."

He then went through the movements of a sword dance, some of the movements swaying the beam a lot but each time, even when he jumped, he landed neatly and precisely without even a wobble, while others that should have moved it didn't make it twitch. Jarek made up for his lack of bulk with his speed and how precise he was. He excelled at this particular apparatus and always had. He considered it a good warm up.

In the distance he could see some of the boys in the youngest class going through the sword positions and dances and a thought struck him.

"Maybe you should train here," he said. He paused then, to complete a flip followed by a summersault, landing neatly on the balls of his toes before spinning, his sword following. "I get the feeling that you'll wind up being Gerault's shadow and not all creatures we face can be defeated with magic. Some are immune. Besides, it could be fun," he added with a grin down to her. "Be helpful to us as well to return to the basics."

At Jarek's suggestion that she train with them, her initial reaction was to balk. Her eyes grew wide, wider than they already were from watching Jarek leap and bound on very wobbly looking logs anyway. Her eyes continually moved from the logs to Jarek, trying to see if he was joking.

"You're joking right? I've never held anything larger, or sharper, than a butter knife!" Her eyes moved over to his naked sword. Although the thought of some monsters being immune to magic intrigued her, she filed away those particular questions to ask him or Addie later. "I don't even know how to hold a sword." She confessed. They were beautiful pieces of art, she'd seen some magnificent blades at little markets that Addie had taken her to, and she had to admit she was fascinated with how something like that was made.

"I don't even know how to hold a sword."

"Not by the pointy end!" Jarek replied laughing as he turned more acrobatics, all the while the sword in his hand swinging easily as though it were merely an extension of his arm rather than a separate object. He paused then and waved his sword over to where the youngest boys were training. "You think those farm boys have ever held anything that remotely resembles a weapon before they came here? If they're lucky they will have been taught the rudiments of a hunting bow, little else, and the bow is not a witcher weapon."

He wandered idly over to one end of the logs where it was most stable and squatted down. "Come on," he said, waving her over. "Not even those being trained to be witchers use a sharp blade until they survive the mutations and they have to master a lot before they are even allowed to have a weapon in their hands. How to breath, how to balance, how to move." He held a hand out to her, offering to pull her up. "Come up, there's no time like the present and you'll only be a burden to Gawel if you don't learn how to look out for yourself where your magic won't work." 'Though he'll likely have my hide when he finds out, not to mention Adrianna. I'm gonna be a popsicle again,' he thought to himself, but, in typical Jarek fashion, that only made him want to do it more.

Sara wavered only a moment before allowing Jarek to pull her up onto the log, and once she was up, she latched on to his arm for dear life. She had good balance, and she hoped that she wouldn't make a fool of herself in front of Jarek. "Alright, I trust you."

She took a step back, realizing she was glued to his side. Clearing her throat, she started to speak when the log wobbled, catching her off guard. After flailing a little, she regained her balance, but her cheeks were red. "I think you have your work cut out for you Jarek..."

"You haven't fallen yet and you didn't baulk at how high up we are. I would say that's a good start," he said with a reassuring smile. He let her step away from him but still kept an arm close, ready to shoot out and catch her should she fall, even if only to turn her body so she didn't land on her head or neck.

"Stand up straight," he said. "Inside our bodies is a cord, the balance cord. It's straight, like a rod and so long as it remains inside our bodies, we don't fall over. It runs from the centre of our head all the way down through our bodies and you need to become aware of it before you can properly balance."

He reached out then and lightly took hold of Sara's arm. "Close your eyes and picture it," he said. "As straight as a rod, holding you still and perfectly balanced." He watched her carefully and when he saw her weight sink a little and balance properly he slowly let go of her arm, letting her balance easily there on her own.

"Open your eyes," he said softly, to meet her gaze with a smile.

"In time it will become easier and almost instinctual to become aware of it, but now I think you're ready to walk back and forth across the beam," he said. He walked to one end of the beam, careful to step softly so that he wouldn't wobble it (that would come later), to give her room and turned to watch.

Sara eyed the seemingly very narrow log with distrust. She could visualize the rod going through her spine to hold her steady, but she didn't see how she was going to get from one end to the other without making everything wobble and topple her over the edge. She moved her eyes back up to Jarek, to use him as a focal point.

She took one step forward, moving her foot slowly forward but keeping her weight balanced carefully on her back leg. When her toes touched the log, she rolled her foot down so the ball of her foot was touching, then her heel. Gingerly, very afraid the log was going to wobble, she shifted her weight onto the forward foot. Seeing that the log didn't move at all, she repeated the process, going a little faster each time until she had reached Jarek.

"That's thrilling! I didn't fall off!" She enthused, her child-like happiness bubbling out. "What's next?" She asked, eager to learn more now that she knew she was capable of completing even this most basic training exercise.

Jarek smiled when she managed it without falling off or wobbling too badly "What's next?" he repeated. "You do it again," he said, waving towards the other end of the beam. "And again, and again and again until it's as instinctual as walking on the ground and you don't have to look at me or anything as a focus point and can do it with your eyes closed. And then after that, I'll stop preventing the beam from swaying and you can do it again with the wind rocking it till again, it's instinctual. And then I'll deliberately rock it and you'll do it again till it's instinctual. And THEN we can move on to the more complicated stuff," he said, grinning the entire time. It was important for Sara to have the perfect balance and grace of a dancer and then some if she was to start learning their ways, and he knew she was interested in witchers and how they became witchers. What better way for her to learn than to experience it? Without the mutations and special diet of course. She was far too old to become a true witcher even if that decision rested on Jarek.

With how quickly Sara was learning though, she would probably be able to master these basics in a day, two at the most if she struggled or froze when he began deliberately rocking the beam but he didn't think that would happen.