At that moment, Geralt's consciousness was still trying to visualize the distant, blurry sun that symbolized the breathing technique.
It seemed much more difficult for him than for Ciri to successfully "see" it.
Eist and the druid hurried across the training ground, approaching Karl.
On the weathered, wrinkled face of the druid, barely perceptible changes began to appear.
His cheek muscles twitched, and surprise appeared in his eyes.
In his opinion, the young man before him was surrounded by an indescribable aura.
It was not the restlessness of sorcerers wielding magic, but rather... a feeling of immense and serene presence.
This feeling was somewhat similar to what he had experienced when seeing that ancient and sacred oak tree in the Druids' Circle.
But the feelings Karl gave him were purer, more sublime.
It is like encountering something transcendent, a sacredness that involuntarily inspires awe.
Among the druids, only the Great Sage, through constant contact with the sacred oak, could acquire such a pure and natural aura.
Compared to Karl before him, the Great Sage's own presence was like the difference between a drop of water and a river.
Eist quickly approached Ciri. Seeing that Geralt was also there, he was surprised, but at that moment he was more concerned about his granddaughter's condition.
He opened his mouth, intending to quietly call Ciri and ask what was happening.
At that moment, Karl raised his hand and gently brought his finger to his lips.
He shook his head, signaling Eist not to disturb the two who were currently in a particularly difficult state.
Only then did Eist turn his attention to Karl, and when he clearly saw Karl's face, he suddenly realized what was happening.
This must be Duke Karl, the Lord of Terra.
He suppressed his anxiety and asked as quietly as possible: "Are you Karl? What is Ciri doing?.."
There was a questioning look in his eyes, and he subconsciously glanced at Mousesack standing nearby, hoping the learned druid could provide an explanation.
Mousesack slowly shook his head. He looked around carefully and whispered with certainty: "There are no unusual magical fluctuations here. No one has cast a spell on her."
Then something even more unexpected happened with Eist: Mousesack stepped forward and stood face to face with Karl.
He inclined his head – a gesture usually reserved for sacred objects of nature – and performed a druidic sign of respect.
His white beard trembled as he spoke, his words carrying an extraordinary solemnity: "Mousesack. It is a great honor to meet you, Your Excellency Karl."
Eist looked surprised, his gaze shifting uncertainly from Karl to Mousesack: "Mousesack, what's going on...?"
He had hardly ever seen his respected and learned old friend show such obvious respect to anyone.
This time, Mousesack did not give any particular explanation; he just looked at Karl with reverence and curiosity in his eyes.
Then, turning to Eist, he said in a calm tone words that made the East's heart skip a beat: "Eist, Lord Karl..."
"He gives me feelings not much different from those inspired by our sacred oak."
"Like the Sacred Oak…?" Hearing this, Eist again looked at Karl in surprise.
He tried to find in the other man's attractive appearance something similar to the sacred tree, which the druids considered the heart of nature, second in status only to Freyja throughout the archipelago.
However, aside from his flawless appearance and impressive martial prowess that allowed him to single-handedly command an army, he couldn't notice anything else substantial.
In response to Mousesack's solemn bow, Karl merely nodded slightly.
He looked with some surprise at the seemingly elderly archdruid.
Mousesack is one of the few people who, upon first meeting, vaguely senses that he is different from others.
"Perhaps it's related to the druids' faith in nature and their connection to all things? They are more receptive to existence beyond reason?" Karl pondered to himself.
At that moment, Ciri's eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.
She first saw Eist and Mousesack standing before her, her little face lit up with joy. She immediately remembered her previous "heroic" act – fleeing from the arranged marriage.
She quickly lowered her head, adopting a penitent look that said, "I know I was wrong."
Seeing this, Eist shook his head helplessly; the anger in his heart growing from anxiety.
At that moment, he was filled with fear and tenderness, and he couldn't bear even the slightest reproach.
He sighed, his voice noticeably softening: "Ciri, do you have any idea how Mousesack and I worried when you suddenly disappeared?"
"Your mother, Pavetta, is already… If anything else happens to you, I don't know how I'll be able to look Calanthe in the eye, nor myself…"
Ciri lowered her head, drawing circles on the ground with her toes, and her voice held apology: "I'm sorry, Grandfather... and Mousesack, for making you worry."
At the same time, Geralt also emerged from his meditative state. He opened his calm, cat-like eyes and saw Eist and Mousesack approaching.
His face showed no particular surprise, and he simply nodded to them in greeting.
Karl, at the right moment, turned to Geralt and asked: "Geralt, how do you feel? Is the visualization successful?"
Hearing this, Geralt's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't answer immediately. Instead, he casually glanced at Eist and Mousesack standing nearby.
Karl immediately understood Geralt's concerns; Geralt was asking questions in the presence of Eist and the druid.
They discussed the breathing techniques and the appropriateness of using this extraordinary power.
Karl couldn't help but smile, seemingly ignoring the matter.
The breathing techniques are based on visualization, directed pathways, and the concept of resonance with the sun.
It has no specific incantation, gesture, or magical model.
Even if Esther and his companion heard a few words, they could not, based only on this information, deduce the complete breathing technique.
Seeing Karl's calm expression, Geralt understood his intentions.
Therefore, he hesitated no longer and answered directly: "I have some ideas about visualization, and I feel the sun, but compared to Ciri... it's far from enough."
"...Not to mention a blurred outline, even maintaining a single point of light is quite difficult. It will probably take me a considerable amount of time to master it."
When Dalton heard Geralt's account, his tense excitement finally dissipated, and a sense of relief arose in his heart.
Fortunately, fortunately... Although this Witcher is powerful, he is not as hopeless as that princess when it comes to learning the breathing techniques.
If he could finish it in a few minutes, then he certainly wouldn't be able to accept it...
Karl nodded, assessing Geralt's situation, and was not at all surprised.
Geralt's talent is naturally incomparable to that of Ciri, who carries the blood of the ancients and, in a sense, could be considered the "darling of the whole world."