"Actually, it isn't just the two of you who know this world..."
Beside him, Selina, whose legs had only recently healed, rolled her eyes.
Still floating under the support of Axel's telekinetic power, she hooked her arm through his and laughed.
"My dear, as much as I like Yennefer, both my legs were broken and I hadn't recovered yet. What was I supposed to do here besides become a burden to everyone?"
"You know I hate being taken care of. The situation was just awkward."
As she spoke, Selina looked up and lightly smacked Axel's arm.
Axel responded by vigorously ruffling her hair before turning toward the Lady of the Lake.
"Uh, Goddess, you know what to do now, right?"
"Of course. Though I am curious, did your friends just come out of a major battle?"
The Lady of the Lake smiled and extended her hand.
Streams of crystal-clear water immediately began swirling around the injured guests.
Even Zatanna, whose mind was exhausted from overusing magic, felt two streams of water flow gently through her body, easing her fatigue.
The Witcher world possessed warriors and mages who could be slain by ordinary mortals, but its true gods and higher beings wielded extraordinary power.
Compared to abilities such as manipulating time or crossing worlds, healing injuries was a trivial matter.
Under the Lady of the Lake's divine power, every injury vanished within moments.
Selina stared in disbelief.
She stepped free from Axel's telekinetic support, stamped her feet against the floor, and quickly removed the remaining casts and bandages.
When her feet finally touched the ground properly, she released a satisfied breath.
Then she casually sniffed one of the discarded casts.
"Ew!"
Her expression instantly soured.
Throwing it aside, she patted Axel's arm.
"You men can stay here and drink. I think we women need a bath."
"At the very least, I need to clean up, especially my feet and legs."
The moment she finished speaking, Selina hurried off barefoot and approached Triss to ask where the bathhouse was.
Triss looked slightly uncomfortable.
On one hand, Kaer Morhen had very limited hot water.
On the other, she barely knew these people, yet they all behaved as though they had known her for years.
Fortunately, the Lady of the Lake came to her rescue.
Floating to Selina's side, she gently linked arms with her.
"My dear, you're Axel's wife, aren't you?"
"How enviable. You have an incredibly devoted lover."
"Come soak in the hot springs with me. I'll take care of the water."
"Let the men drink themselves silly. When they're drunk, we'll throw them into the bath."
Laughing softly, the Lady of the Lake pulled Selina away.
Zatanna followed with a helpless smile.
The sea elves, Ciri, Triss, and the others soon joined them.
As the women disappeared upstairs, Alfred watched them leave and smiled.
"A traditional banquet like this is something I usually experience only in dreams."
"It appears I am not the host today, but an honored guest."
"That is quite a refreshing experience."
"Traveling to another world is rather refreshing as well."
With that, Alfred approached Vesemir and extended his hand.
"Hello. I am Alfred Pennyworth, Master Axel's butler."
"A god's butler? That's an impressive profession."
"I am Vesemir, Grandmaster of the School of the Wolf."
"These are Lambert and Eskel. We are the last remaining Witchers of our school."
Though unfamiliar with handshakes, Vesemir returned the gesture without hesitation.
His centuries of experience had taught him how to adapt.
As Alfred quickly settled into conversation with Vesemir, Lambert and Eskel exchanged bewildered looks.
Nearby, Victor and Floyd had already made themselves comfortable and joined them for drinks.
Watching everyone blend together so naturally, Clark rubbed his nose awkwardly.
Social situations had never been his strength.
Fortunately, Bruce and Lex were there.
The three exchanged glances before sitting beside Axel at one of the long banquet tables.
As soon as they sat down, several enthusiastic elves approached with food and drinks.
The hospitality made Bruce, Lex, and Clark noticeably uncomfortable.
Unable to hold back any longer, Bruce turned to Axel.
"Axel, what's happening now?"
"Besides healing us, is there anything we're expected to do?"
"How exactly are we supposed to repay the gods here?"
"Repay them?"
Axel laughed and shook his head.
"Repay what?"
"You don't owe anything. I already handled the payment."
Bruce narrowed his eyes.
"You paid?"
"What did it cost?"
"Gold? A favor?"
"Are you certain it wasn't something morally questionable?"
Axel sighed.
"I'm very certain."
"Though I will admit it wasn't easy work."
Bruce immediately rolled his eyes.
"Got it."
Without another word, he picked up a glass and turned toward a nearby elf.
"Do you have ginger ale? I don't drink alcohol."
"Unfortunately, no."
"But I can offer fruit juice instead."
The elf smiled before channeling a touch of divine power.
The beer in Bruce's hand instantly transformed into apple juice.
"Still, sir, refusing every drink sounds exhausting. Life doesn't need to be so difficult."
Lex chuckled.
"Never drinking? That's just being overly stubborn."
"Bruce, the way you live sounds exhausting."
"Axel dragged us across worlds to attend a banquet with gods."
"At least have one drink."
"There's no Gotham here."
Bruce stubbornly shook his head.
"I have standards, Lex."
As he attempted to push the drink away, Lex turned toward Clark with a mischievous grin.
"Clark."
"What?"
"Don't you want to see what Bruce looks like when he's actually drunk?"
Clark's eyes lit up.
"You know what?"
"That's a great idea."
"Bruce, we're in another world."
"Try something new."
Before Bruce could react, Clark grabbed his arm and held him firmly in place.
Lex immediately raised his glass.
"Don't make me pinch your nose shut."
"This is a banquet, not a diving competition."
"Go to hell, Luthor!"
"Call me Lex."
"Now drink."
At this stage of his life, Lex was still brilliant, ambitious, and more than a little reckless.
Moments later, Bruce found himself swallowing real alcohol despite his protests.
Across the hall, Alfred observed the scene with visible relief.
Vesemir followed his gaze.
"They seem very close."
"They are," Alfred replied.
"I'm grateful Master Bruce has found genuine friends."
"The kind willing to share secrets and challenge one another to become better."
Vesemir nodded thoughtfully.
"Master Bruce?"
"So he's Axel's son?"
"What an enviable..."
"Not quite."
Alfred quickly interrupted him.
"Our family dynamic is somewhat unusual."
"They aren't related by blood."
"They're simply very good friends."
"I see."
Vesemir laughed knowingly.
"Then they must be extremely good friends."
"Only true friends spend so much time trying to become each other's father."
"Indeed."
The two older men shared a hearty laugh.
Both understood what it meant to guide a group of troublesome younger people.
Elsewhere, Victor and Floyd had already bonded with Lambert and Eskel.
Lambert enthusiastically described the finest brothels in Velen and Vizima while Victor listened with great interest.
Eskel, meanwhile, kept glancing at Victor's bald head and lack of eyebrows.
For some reason, Victor reminded him of a Witcher from the School of the Viper.
While the men drank and laughed downstairs, the Lady of the Lake transformed the upper floor into a luxurious medieval bathhouse.
Immersed in warm water, Selina leaned comfortably against Zatanna while listening to the Lady of the Lake's stories about gods and legends.
The atmosphere was relaxed and cheerful.
Then a violent roar of wind and lightning erupted outside.
The sound of spectral hounds echoed through the night.
Armor clashed in the distance.
Ciri immediately stood up.
"Damn it."
"It's the Wild Hunt."
"They must have tracked my magical signature."
The Lady of the Lake gently pulled her back.
"Sit down, my dear."
"There are plenty of capable men downstairs."
"We can leave this battle to them."
"Men rarely fear war or death."
"What they truly fear is having their efforts go unnoticed."
"A little admiration goes a long way."
As she spoke, the goddess traced the scars covering Ciri's body.
"Rather than worrying about the Wild Hunt, would you like me to remove these scars?"
"Not now."
"I'm far more worried about the Wild Hunt."
Ciri rushed to the window and looked outside.
At the same moment, the Witchers downstairs abruptly stiffened.
"Damn it!"
Vesemir grabbed his Wolf medallion.
The medallion vibrated violently.
"We've got intruders!"
The hall immediately erupted.
"What happened?"
"Who's attacking?"
"Good thing I brought a gun!"
"Can someone get me a sword?"
"I knew I shouldn't have been drinking!"
"Axel, how strong are they?"
"Let's go!"
Everyone rushed outside.
Moments later, the Wild Hunt forces appeared before Kaer Morhen.
Their elven mage commander sneered at the sight of the drunken defenders.
"Foolish humans."
"Still drinking and celebrating."
Raising his staff, he unleashed a massive wave of frost magic toward the fortress.
Clark immediately stepped forward and intercepted it with his body.
Ice rapidly spread across him.
Then shattered.
The frost had accomplished absolutely nothing.
Above them, the Lady of the Lake leaned from a tower window and waved elegantly.
"Go, my warriors."
Clark looked up and immediately swallowed.
The goddess was astonishingly uninhibited.
Beside him, Lex and Bruce exchanged glances.
Bruce rubbed his forehead.
"Are goddesses from other worlds always like this?"
"I certainly hope so," Lex replied.
Then he looked toward the approaching army.
"So these are the enemies?"
"Ancient magical knights?"
"The Wild Hunt!"
Floyd laughed.
"I never thought I'd actually get a chance to fight the Wild Hunt!"
Throwing open his coat, he assembled a rifle and charged forward.
A bullet slammed into the mage's magical barrier.
The elf narrowed his eyes.
"What kind of weapon is that?"
With a wave of his hand, more Wild Hunt warriors appeared behind him.
Dozens became hundreds.
Hundreds threatened to become thousands.
Just as the summoning intensified, a crimson streak tore across the night sky.
Boom!
A gigantic dragon claw crashed into the battlefield.
Dozens of Wild Hunt warriors were sent flying as the Silver Winged Star landed with overwhelming force.
At the same time, Clark tensed.
"What a fast dragon!"
He launched himself forward, preparing to attack.
Axel immediately grabbed his wrist.
"That's my dragon, Buddy."
===
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