Disclaimer: I do not own the Witcher Franchise Games/Books/Series; I only own my SI character.

Chapter XVIII

I am lying in bed and I can't help but notice that I felt good, refreshed even, like I had a full body massage done by world class masseuse, I opened my eyes and sat up.

'Wait….. bed?'

I looked down on myself only to find out that I have no clothes on, it was then that I heard someone humming on my side, I turned to look and saw Triss in a very revealing outfit, I stared at her for a minute before everything came back to me, the events of the evening, why I don't feel any hung over despite drinking too much alcohol, and why my body feels good.

Our clothes carelessly thrown everywhere, in the floor near me I found my medallion, I picked it up and wore it immediately before Triss could read my mind, it would be disastrous if she can read it right now in more ways than one.

I tried remembering what specifically happened, I stood up from the bed and picked up my clothes, intent in putting them on as I reminisced what had just happened, after finishing the last bottle that we had and chatting up all night, I noticed that Triss was too drunk so I helped her get into bed and to let her have her rest.

We were both wobbly and couldn't walk straight so we supported each other as I led her to bed, when I was about to gently place her down, Triss clenched my neck, I could've stood my ground and let her fall on her own but I didn't want to risk her hitting her head so I followed through and we both fell down on her bed, I supported her neck and back, I twisted and I was the one to fall on my back cushioning Triss' fall.

(Lemon attempt)

I thought after laying down she would instantly fall asleep but her eyes were staring at mine at our compromising position, she smiled before she lowered her head to my level, our lips touched for a moment and my drunken state was alleviated a little bit, Triss then became more aggressive and locked our lips, my mind went blank at that moment but I didn't refuse and responded, our lips and tongue battling it out.

She tried removing my clothes but wasn't able to, it was a foreign style of clothing so I did it for her, I was glad she copied me and undressed herself as I didn't know where to begin removing her clothes, she moved closer towards my body and I flipped her, this time I was in top of her and was the one to initiate the kiss, I slowly moved downwards till I am face to face with her 2 beautiful mountains, my hands and fingers playing with her down south as my mouth did the same to her ample bosom.

She was satisfied quite a few times at what I did, my Witcher senses helped a lot in that regard, I was eager to enter her but she stopped me before I could, she wanted to return the favor for what I did and I allowed it, I thought I was finished when I did, but my enhanced stamina seems to say otherwise, Triss smiled at this as we continued on to the main event.

(Lemon attempt end)

We didn't stop till Triss was exhausted, smiling and asleep on the bed, I have lost count at how many times we finished, I could've gone for more rounds but doubted she would be happy if I did, I covered her with a blanket before I went to sleep myself, I wanted to go back to my room but I couldn't as Triss grabbed a hold of me and snuggled closely.

After I had finished remembering what happened, I couldn't help but smile, it was an unexpected happy event, I put on my shirt and checked on Triss again, combing her hair, humming happily as she stared at her mirror.

'Does this mean she remembers what happened too? if that is her mood and she did remember then that would be good' I thought as I took my hoodie and coat, folded them and set them aside for now, I then approached Triss to see if I can get her input on our current situation.

"Hmmmm…. hmmmmm….. hmmmmmmm…..."

I couldn't believe my ears as I was listening to her hum, she actually memorized the tune of the song I sang her last night, I stopped on the table near her where I placed my books.

"You have a very beautiful tone too, won't you sing me a song?" I started, I can see her reflection, she smiled as she looked at me before she replied.

"But I don't know how to play the guitar" she still continued combing her hair, I approached and took her comb from her hands, she had a questioning look on her face but still gave it to me, I then started combing her hair, smoothening it out, I have done this countless times when I was tasked to take care of my niece on Earth.

"Well now, aren't you full of surprises" Triss then leaned back and let her head be supported by my body as we continued in silence, after a while I decided to ask the question in my head, I noticed Triss looking at me and probably know what I wanted to ask.

"Triss… I"

"John, please" she stopped me before I could ask, my hand stopped moving, and her face revealed a frown.

"I understand if you don't want to have anything to do with me…...I"

"Hah?" I interrupted before she could finish her thought, her outlook towards a romantic relationship is very complicated, but towards everything else she is awesome, I can just put it up as her flaw, with all things considered she is still human, and humans aren't and will never be perfect.

"That's not what I wanted to say" I retorted quickly as I continued moving my hands combing her hair, her eyes widened and she blushed as she waited for me to finish.

"I wanted to ask, if what happened last night is a 1-time thing, or if you would like to pursue it, considering that you remember what happened of course" I asked, my ears are heating up but I had to ask, if possible I wanted to pursue her so I asked directly, no point in beating around the bush like a teenager, it's better to think like an adult when it comes to this even though I don't know what an adult really is.

"Wha…...ho…What?" Triss asked like she couldn't believe what she heard me say.

"Is that a no?" I asked.

"What? I just never thought you would ask, every guy I have been with so far have never asked, Geralt…." she did not finish her thought, I knew what she wanted to say next so I continued for her.

"They would either be idiots or simply intimidated by either your abilities or looks"

"And you're not?" I didn't want to answer that trap question so I tried another route.

"What I have told you last night, it is what I really think, and I am one of those people who would want to chase after you if given the chance, I wouldn't have said it if it wasn't the truth" I noticed that Triss had smiled as she blushed.

"Well, let's not rush into it, I can wait after you have gained a little bit of more 'experience' yourself before we move forward" Triss tried to hide her blush with her hands as she giggled in her attempt at mocking me.

It took me a minute to realize what kind of experience she was talking about, it also made me happy that she did not chalk up what we did last night to the alcohol, if this is a constant result of drinking with pretty ladies then I could've done it more back on Earth if the great majority of them wasn't so dumb or diggers.

"Don't worry I won't be with anyone until you have gained it, I won't be mad, besides it wouldn't be fair if you were stuck with only me and never got the chance to taste others out there and if I am the only one who knows what they're doing in bed"

"Hmm" I didn't want to respond to her statement.

'So she noticed huh, I was only able to last that long last night due to my mutation and enhanced attributes and the fact that she was extremely tired'

"We should probably clean up and get ready soon, Vesemir came earlier and asked us to go downstairs to discuss what we should do now that Leo and I are recovered" Triss informed me, I placed the comb down gently and kissed her forehead before I gathered all my equipment's and books I have borrowed, I moved downstairs and noticed everyone starting to gather in the center.

I returned the books before I went upstairs to my room and prepare myself, I cleaned up and donned all my items, I double checked everything before I went downstairs where everyone is gathered.

'At least we are not in front of a pyre of someone's dead body' I thought as I joined in.

"Heh, hey I heard you and Merigold were quite busy last night, mind sharing? I am quite curious" was Lambert's normal greeting which I ignored.

I saw Eskel, Vesemir and Geralt smile at this, I was expecting Geralt to be unhappy with me, I will have to ask him later on, when I moved towards Triss' side I also noticed Leo with his head down, probably still depressed at what happened, I turned to look at Vesemir and gestured with my eyes what happened to Leo but he just shrugged and shook his head.

"Save your insults and banter for later, we have more important matters to discuss" Vesemir intervened before Lambert can come up with something else, everyone's attention and focus turned to Vesemir and all had a serious look on their faces.

Everyone reviewed what happened during the attack, Vesemir explained what was stolen and its importance and finally it was decided that we should pursue the thieves, I was given the option to refuse as I was not a part of their School.

"Thank you for your consideration and concern Master Vesemir, but I would like to help, it is like what you said, there are so few of us left in the world, it's better to help each other if we can"

I answered their concern, everyone had a subtle smile at this as they continued discussing and decided that we should all split up, with me and Geralt going south together in Vizima, it was decided that since we didn't have our full abilities yet, going as a pair would balance it out, Lambert was probably about to make fun of us but was thankfully stopped by Vesemir before he could do so.

I didn't argue with their logic and asked why we should travel on horses and not let Triss teleport us to where we want to go.

"You can gather information along the way, while Triss will go ahead in Vizima to do the same, sometimes you miss important information when you teleport from 1 place to the other" Vesemir explained to me.

With everything explained and established, we all got ready to depart, in the gate where we are all gathered I approached Leo who was waiting together with me on the others as they retrieved their items and made last minute preparations.

"You have been gloomy this entire time, what are you thinking?" I asked as I approached and patted his horse who neighed happily.

"I wasn't able to do anything, I thought I was ready but because of me they got away with the formula, I don't think I should be a Witcher"

'Some kind of modified survivor's guilt? no one deliberately mentioned it because no one is at fault yet he seems to think it's his fault' I stared at him still looking depressed, I saw Lambert who heard it about to walk towards us and probably pummel Leo but was stopped by Eskel, everyone was in an earshot waiting for us to finish our conversation.

'Seriously?' I raised an eyebrow at Vesemir who just showed me a helpless smile and gave me permission to talk to his depressed apprentice out of his funk.

"Don't be so full of yourself, aren't you too arrogant to think that we failed because of you?" I snorted before replying to Leo, he is a man that does not need to be coddled so I decided to be direct with him instead of going the caring and gentle approach.

Leo looked flabbergasted, Vesemir and the other probably consoled him gently, they should've just let Lambert be the one to do so, but I guess he is too brash to handle it by himself, it would probably lead to more problems if he did, Leo wanted to say something but isn't able to, probably still internalizing what I just told him.

"If there is anyone who failed yesterday then that would be all of us, that is why we are venturing out" I added, but he still isn't quite satisfied with it so I continued.

"If you are that upset about it then pick yourself up from your sulking and train"

"But…." Leo tried to reply.

"If it makes you angry then train" I started smiling.

"When you feel that you aren't enough then train" I lifted my arms and clenched my hand.

"If you feel that all you have done is useless then train"

"And if you feel that everything around you is crumbling down and you don't see hope at the end of the tunnel, then train" I tapped his chest with my fist.

"Because at the end of the day" Leo looked up at me.

"Your training will not betray you"

Leo had a look on his face like a puzzle that has been bugging him for a long time has finally been answered before it was replaced with a determined look, he nodded at me and I nodded back as I backed up, it did not escape my notice the people that were observing us had a wide smile on their faces, this time not a subtle one.

Leo and Vesemir approached everyone and said their farewell, Vesemir also told us to stay alive and meet up back in Kaer Morhen once the 'Storm' has passed, Leo thanked me before he promised to work harder in his quest to be a Witcher, they were the 1st to depart.

"I wasn't expecting much from you at first, I was even suspicious of you but in the short time that you were here, you helped us a lot, if you ever need my help just ask" Eskel offered his hands in a handshake and I accepted.

"I understand why, I would do the same if I was in your boots, if you also need further help then you can count on mine, I will do my utmost to help however insignificant my contribution may be" I answered back, I liked Eskel more compared to Lambert.

Speaking of Lambert, when he approached we just shook hands.

"What? no inappropriate comment this time?" I asked, truly curios why he didn't start mouthing off yet.

"I will reserve it for next time, stay alive, maybe you'll be lucky to hear it then" was his last attempt at raising my blood pressure, I just nodded back in return and both him and Eskel departed with their horses too.

Triss and Geralt was finished talking when I looked at them, they were both smiling, I didn't try to eavesdrop, Triss approached me after she was done saying what she wants to say to Geralt.

"Is that a jealous expression I see on your face" she asked, and smiled.

"No" I quickly replied, I probably had a sour look on my face that I didn't notice when I saw them together, I pinched myself to return my expression to normal, but everything I did, did not escape Triss' notice, she giggled as she explained to me.

"Do not worry too much, I just cleared things up with him, I will keep my promise" Triss approached and held my arms close to her body as she reached up to my face and planted a kiss on my cheek.

"Cleared things up?"

"Well, someone told me last night to move on and let go, I was planning on trying his offer" she smiled and gave me another kiss on the lips, I couldn't help but smile myself.

"I will be going ahead in Vizima, I will find you once you are there, stay safe" this time she is serious and I had to nod and reassure her that I would, she then moved back to the yard and opened up a portal, she gave me a wink before she submerged completely.

With all my items on me, I called up Shadowmere and strapped my Bow and arrows along with extra ones I have acquired earlier, I filled his pocket with Vials and other items that I can use to make potions and bombs, I also had the guitar that Triss made me with a special strap and case she made for it earlier, I then dismissed Shadowmere and summoned him again after a few minutes, I was happy that all my items are still on him when he appeared.

'Shadowmere would be an equivalent to an inventory then' I thought as I patted my trusted mount.

"Nice Trick, can you teach it to me?" Geralt asked on the side as he observed my experiment.

"I wish I can, it's not a trick or magic, Shadowmere here is just special" I replied back.

"Useful, we can store more items on him when the time comes" I nodded at his assessment.

We got ready and I let Geralt take the lead, he lost his memories but it is no doubt in my mind that our travel would be safer if he leads, I just have to follow and learn.

"Geralt, about me and Triss" I left the question hanging in the air, it was good that he was able to discern what I wanted to ask.

"Triss is important to me, but I don't know how much because of my memories, she cleared up what happened between us in the past earlier, you don't have to worry, just take care of her" he looked back and gave me a smile.

'Heh, I don't know if I can win against this guy if Triss decided to have a dilemma on who to choose, hats off to him' I thought as I smiled back and we continued our travel in comfortable silence, it is good that Geralt wasn't a fan of small talk.

(AN: I would have to take a long break from writing, these 3 chapters almost burned me out, I am not good at writing romance themes, and hopefully I can improve in the future, I will be posting as soon as I can)

(AN: I was also thinking of writing another fic to alternate with this fic to avoid mental blocks from constant writing of a single story, thoughts? And if you agree what fic would you like? I'll write all your recommendations down)