Meanwhile, in the tower bedroom...
Triss curled herself as tightly as possible, making every breath difficult as she sharpened her awareness of the world around her.
Just as she was about to surrender to the wildfire building within her, Axel stopped.
She looked at him in confusion, and Axel looked behind himself with equal confusion.
What was pushing against him?
When he turned his head, he immediately saw a pair of pale, almost ethereal arms resting across him.
Following those arms, his gaze traveled over a flawless figure before settling on the woman's perfect face.
The petite woman met his eyes and smiled softly, preparing to speak.
Before she could, Triss exploded.
"Who the hell are you? Whoever you are, you interrupted me at the most important moment, you bastard!"
The instant the words left her mouth, Triss nearly unleashed a burst of chaotic magic.
She had been happier than she could remember, so happy that she had almost forgotten everything around her. Even after regaining some clarity, she could not remember ever feeling this fulfilled.
She was furious.
Absolutely furious.
She was ready to explode.
Unfortunately, her magical sensitivity made that a dangerous prospect.
Looking at Triss trembling on the edge of losing consciousness again, Axel sighed and turned toward the woman behind him.
"Buddy, tell me who you are. Otherwise Triss won't be able to rest. Besides, if you chose to join us directly, I doubt you're here with bad intentions. So introducing yourself shouldn't be a problem, right?"
As he spoke, Axel resumed moving.
The woman wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his back.
While rubbing her smooth face against his skin, she spoke in a gentle, alluring voice.
"Honored traveler from another world, they call me the Lady of the Lake."
"I felt your gaze earlier. I also felt your invitation."
"The pressure against my chest was gentle and perfectly measured. Was that not your invitation? I was quite pleased to accept."
"So, my dear, whatever matters we discuss later, shall we enjoy this moment first?"
As her words fell, the Lady of the Lake drifted around to Axel's front and settled herself beside Triss.
At that point, Axel saw little reason to argue.
Three hours later...
Triss lay sprawled across the bed like a fish stranded on shore, occasionally twitching.
The Lady of the Lake, her cheeks slightly flushed, summoned a stream of crystal-clear water to cleanse both herself and Axel.
While doing so, she lightly pinched Triss's stomach.
"A little weakling. Isn't that what you called her?"
"Of course," Axel replied. "If she's not a little weakling, then who is? Your endurance is far beyond hers, Lady of the Lake. If it were just the two of us, we could probably stay together for years."
"Perhaps decades," she answered with a smile. "Still, as an addition to the experience, this red-haired sorceress is quite enjoyable. Her sensitivity creates an excellent contrast."
She released Triss and followed the flowing water until she rested comfortably against Axel's shoulder.
Wrapping her arms around him, she exhaled softly before nipping at his ear.
Axel supported her waist, drew her closer, and settled onto the ruined bed.
Using his mental power, he dispersed the remaining water and looked down at her.
"That was enough recreation. Let's discuss business. What exactly do you want from me?"
The Lady of the Lake smiled.
"My dear sir, choosing reason after pleasure, is that a common trait among exceptional men?"
"I admire exceptional men. While you are not the ideal knight of every virtue I once envisioned, you are certainly worthy of my attention."
"So no, I did not necessarily come seeking your help."
"Admiration alone was enough reason for me to come."
She settled deeper into his embrace and pressed her ear against his chest.
For a while, she simply listened to the rhythm of his heartbeat.
Nearby, Triss gradually regained enough awareness to speak.
"I've never been this happy before."
Her eyes were hazy as she spoke each word.
Axel playfully pushed her hand aside and pointed toward the goddess in his arms.
"Then congratulations. You're probably the first human sorceress who can say she shared an experience with a goddess."
"Triss, you should thank me."
At those words, Triss shivered.
A goddess.
The Lady of the Lake might not have been the most powerful deity in the world, but she was still a revered divine figure with her own domain in Toussaint and countless followers who regarded her as the embodiment of virtue.
The realization left Triss speechless.
After a long silence, she finally sighed.
"Ciri is unbelievably lucky."
She moved closer and leaned against Axel and the goddess.
The Lady of the Lake smiled warmly and stroked Triss's cheek.
Gentle water flowed around Triss's body, drawing another involuntary reaction from her.
At that exact moment, the bedroom door burst open.
Ciri stepped inside.
She looked annoyed, though her curiosity was impossible to hide.
"Hey, Buddy, how much longer are you going to stay up here? Everyone's waiting for drinks and..."
She stopped.
"...Wait."
Her eyes widened.
"What the hell is going on? Why is there a third person? And wow, Triss, you're actually rolling your eyes!"
Without hesitation, Ciri walked to the bed and crossed her arms.
"Ciri!"
Triss nearly jumped in embarrassment.
Unfortunately, the flowing water surrounding her made hiding her reaction impossible.
Ciri smirked.
"Wow. Terrible endurance."
"If it were me, I'd definitely do better."
Then she looked toward the Lady of the Lake.
"Axel, who is she? Another companion from your world? I definitely didn't see her at Kaer Morhen."
There was obvious dissatisfaction in her voice.
After all, she had arrived first.
Now she had been overtaken.
More than once.
The Lady of the Lake rose gracefully into the air.
Sacred light illuminated the room and wrapped around her radiant form.
Taking Ciri's hand, she smiled.
"Daughter of the Elder Blood, I am the Lady of the Lake."
"You may call me Virtue, or any other name found in legend."
Ciri stared.
"Wait. You're saying you're actually a goddess?"
The Lady of the Lake nodded.
"Indeed."
"But Axel is also divine."
"My presence should not surprise you."
"In fact, I should thank you. Without you, I might never have met him."
"I traveled a very long way from the waters of Toussaint."
"Since everyone is waiting downstairs, may I join the gathering? It has been quite some time since I shared a warrior's drink."
The holy light condensed into elegant clothing around her body.
Ciri swallowed and quickly nodded.
"Of course."
"I'm pretty sure the Witchers will be much happier entertaining a goddess than entertaining Axel."
"Though I think we should get Sister Triss back to normal first."
"Fa...cker..."
Triss muttered weakly.
The sound resembled flirting far more than an insult.
Everyone exchanged amused looks and helped her recover.
Fifteen minutes later...
Leaning heavily on Axel's arm, Triss slowly descended into the dining hall.
Vesemir, Lambert, and Eskel immediately noticed her condition.
After a brief pause, they all gave Axel impressed looks.
"Now that's divine-level stamina," Lambert declared.
Vesemir, however, focused on the fourth figure entering the hall.
His expression became cautious.
Noticing his reaction, Ciri clapped her hands.
"Grandpa Vesemir, show some respect."
"This is the Lady of the Lake of Toussaint."
"A real goddess."
"She's Axel's very good friend."
"My Witcher seniors, Kaer Morhen is hosting both a god from another world and a goddess from Toussaint today."
"If you ask me, we should all move to Toussaint. The people would love us, and we'd have a goddess watching over us."
She turned hopefully toward the Lady of the Lake.
The goddess stepped forward.
"Greetings, Witchers of the School of the Wolf."
"The Daughter of the Elder Blood speaks truly."
"I am the Lady of the Lake."
"I support her proposal."
"This is not merely an invitation."
"It is my request."
"After tonight's feast, you may begin preparations."
"I will personally transport your archives and records."
"You need only bring your equipment."
"Toussaint will welcome you."
"For the sake of Axel and the Daughter of the Elder Blood, you shall have my protection."
"Your school may flourish freely."
"I can even serve as your patron deity and ensure the Trial of the Grasses claims no more lives."
"Axel admires you."
"I admire Axel."
"Therefore, I admire you as well."
"I believe we shall get along wonderfully."
As she raised her hand, divine light and lake water flooded the hall.
The room became radiant.
Moments later, more than a dozen dryads emerged from the water and calmly assumed the roles of attendants and servants.
Axel rubbed his nose.
"If you're bringing your chosen, then I'll bring some friends of my own."
"I don't really consider myself a god."
"And my chosen aren't chosen."
"They're friends."
"I think you'll like them."
He waved a hand.
The next moment, a large crowd appeared inside the hall.
Bruce and Lex arrived wrapped in bandages.
After landing, both looked around in complete confusion.
A magnificent medieval banquet hall stretched before them.
Glowing water shimmered through the air while particles of light drifted like living stars.
Had they died?
Weren't they supposed to be dismantling Iron Man's miniature reactor?
Had something gone catastrophically wrong?
Before Bruce could process the situation, Floyd shouted from nearby.
"This is Kaer Morhen!"
"Holy hell, that's Grandmaster Vesemir!"
He rushed forward and saluted the bewildered Witcher.
Clark laughed.
"It really is the Witcher world."
"We're actually at Kaer Morhen."
Zatanna pressed a hand against her nose.
She had been dealing with nosebleeds for days due to magical overexertion.
"So all of you know where this is?"
Floyd and Clark exchanged strange looks.
"Didn't any of you have childhoods?" Floyd asked.
"Did none of you ever play games?"
Bruce, Lex, Victor, and several others exchanged awkward glances.
The answer was obvious.
Seeing that reaction, Floyd sighed.
"Right."
"Only me."
"The guy who bought two game consoles after getting rich."
Clark rolled his eyes.
"And me."
"The farm kid."
"Looks like we're the only ones here who actually know this world."