I wasn't planning on updating this story this fast but everyone wanted more XD

I had the idea since Willow is canon an immensely powerful witch and the strongest known in the buffyverse. I decided to make her half Elder, while Yennefer is 1/4 elf. I was going to make Yennefer older and meet Willow while she was a student but their friendship seemed so cute to me. I will also be writing Oz in later as a love interest to Willow because he was endgame for me.

I've written more of Geralt and Buffy, hope you like

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Tissaia smiled intrigued by the girl that stood before her, barely a year ago she had managed to get her hands on the humpbacked quarter elf Yennefer. The girl showed promise as a conduit to chaos, absorbing lightening itself before projecting it at her in blind fury. She was a fast learner if not withholding herself from reaching potential. She doubted herself and acted childishly, holding herself back from her birthright. She prided herself as a mage and mentor of magics, the woman she would become, wanting Yennefer to understand how powerful she was yet understanding it wouldn't come effortlessly. The latter holding bitterness towards her due to these actions. Now she had managed to claim an elder hybrid in the form of a pretty redhead named Willow Rosenberg, who had been sent to them by her frightened mother when she began to make things float in their home. The girl hadn't willingly come here, the mother forcing her to attend but Tissaia was happy to turn Aretuza into her new home. Finding young women with such potent magics wasn't easy, especially with such raw talents. Women born with magic was easy, but for someone to tap into their magics without training was a rare case indeed. However, she was a wallflower in this place, she didn't stand out and did as much as possible to keep up that appearance. Disappearing into herself and avoiding as much contact as possible unless necessary. Shy, socially awkward and yet harboured immense intelligence, and talent for someone her age "Welcome to Aretuza, this place will be your home for the next several years, allowing you to develop your magics under my tutelage" she responded calmly.

Willow blushed, gazing around the room timidly, taking in the heavily built stone walls. She felt the cold radiating from the walls, the echo of the ocean outside, realising how far from home she was. She felt sick, her hands shaking and her mind spinning, she wanted nothing more than to break down and cry as she felt her anxiety spike. But she tried to push it down as much as possible. "I um… I'm sorry…. I… why am I here?" Willow asked timidly, hoping to receive the answers she desperately sought. Her mother had mentioned sending her to a school in which she had very excited, daydreaming about all her new classmates and the people she would meet. However, found herself within the walls of an unfamiliar school in the middle of the ocean, which seemed very strange indeed. But then the sadness of knowing she had further cemented herself as an outsider made her feel even worse. She had always wondered if she would continue to be pushed around by everyone her whole life. She had always been different from the other girls in her village, mocked and bullied for her nerdy and quiet disposition. But there was always one person who was by her side, Xander Harris, a local farmboy and dork whom she had been friends with since childhood. Her affections for her best friend Xander had been repressed and ignored for years, now she would never be able to tell him.

Tissaia sighed heavily, every new student here was always nervous about taking their first steps, however, she had given this speech so many times she found coddling them was tiresome. If she was going to represent their school in the future and aid humanity with her gifts she needed to come out of her shell "Willow Rosenberg of Novigrad, your mother told me you were a diligent student, far superior in your studies to other locals of your age. This assures me you are a fast learner" she explained. If she was willing to learn, if she was top of her class and indeed as intellectually superior as her mother explained. Then she would have no issue keeping up with the classes here.

Willow shifted, she knew her mother enjoyed bragging about her talents but at times it made Willow uncomfortable. She enjoyed books and she enjoyed learning, she liked helping others. But she didn't want people to feel like she was trying to outdo them or make them look stupid, "Well, I know my way around books so…" she muttered. She wondered if this would be her life, controlled and ordered around, being praised one moment and then belittled the next. Was this school just going to bully her into achieving what they decided was the perfect version of herself? Why had her mother thought this would ever be a good idea?

"However, she also mentioned your innate talent for spell-casting and telekinesis" Tissaia replied abruptly, sensing she was spacing out and self doubting. There was no room for that here, denying herself would only withhold her magic and keep her back. She needed to embrace the power within herself if she planned on being a successful mage, wiccan or witch. For someone to show such advanced skill at her age without formal training was unheard of, how nobody had heard of her sooner was a mystery, she was a perfect candidate for their school. But now she would blossom under her care, she would become a strong woman. She would peel back the shell she had formed around herself and realise who she was meant to be. Willow blushed, she'd never meant any harm with her magics, mostly she used protection spells or luck charms, ways to keep her family home safe, ways to protect her family and bring wellbeing to her loved ones. She'd done enough knowledge to memorize what was needed, coming so naturally to her as if she had been doing so her whole life. She never thought she would get caught or that superstitious people would turn against her. That it would cause her to be hated by people she never even knew. "You've innately mastered one of the many magics of our school already, however, to perfect this gift and many others while under my care is my goal, do you understand?" Tissaia asked. To be naturally born with a gift and ease into it so quickly showed promise, meaning she had lessened how much she needed to be pressured. But these gifts needed to be perfected and slacking off wouldn't be accepted. Willow nodded urgently at the woman, not wishing to incur her wrath, she could sense the impatience coming from this woman, the fiery temper bubbling underneath her cool demeanor. She knew this woman was powerful, but would she perhaps become stronger than her someday? A small smile formed on Tissaia's face, though Willow's obedience certainly made things easier for her, she didn't wish for the girl to become a doormat of a witch, Wiccan or mage. Leading the girl away down the hallway to her room in which she would reside

Yennefer sat in her room sulkily, due to her appearance, none of the other girls wished to reside with her, seeing her as discomforting and frightening. As harmless as she was, she appeared intimidating and strange to those who appeared normal. Wondering how her life would have been if she had been born pretty like everyone else. Had she never been discarded by her family and suffered such loneliness all her life. She was forced to keep her elven blood a secret, despite the immense power it came with, her portals and gifts with the elements. Further cementing her as a freak and reminding her of her place in the feeding chain. The silent expressions of mockery and hatred that were focused at her. She had not a friend in this place who cared for her, who wasn't afraid of her, she was but a competition, someone for them to punish, reminded that they would always be better off than her. The walls of this place feeling like a prison, keeping her bound here, as though she would never leave. Suddenly, her chamber doors opened with a loud creak, causing her to stiffen, her violet eyes fixated on the door, prepared to be ordered out of her room, scolded or belittled again. She'd faced prejudice her whole life, what difference did it make here? Her own stepfather sold her here showing his disgust for her, now she was more alone than ever. Tissaia entered the room with a mocking scowl, watching her with amusement and disgust, she never eased up on Yennefer despite her deformity and pushed her harder than before. Making sure she realised the trials that came with harnessing magic, that power came at a cost with many trials along the way. Yennefer's gaze fell to a figure hiding on the shadows, behind her stood a redhead, soft waves tumbling down her pale face falling to below her shoulders. She was pretty, prettier than most of the girls who had come here before her, her piercing green hazel eyes gazing back at her with unspoken reservation and curiosity. Her hair bright and burnt, the colour of fire, orangey auburn red "Piglet, this girl will be your new roommate, you best not frighten her or cause any trouble" she warned.

Yennefer nodded dumbly, watching Tissaia handing the girl a candle before closing the door behind her, leaving the two teens alone with their thoughts. Many had come and go from this place, some of her past classmates and friends becoming conduit eels to empower Aretuza. She hoped the same fate wouldn't befall this girl too. The girl lingered awkwardly in the room, taking in her new residents, wondering what to do with herself. Never knowing whether she should rest for the night, speak or ask questions. The fear of the unknown and tension making things worse. Yennefer decided to speak up as she doubted the latter would confront her, it felt nice to be in control for once as she was adapted to being spoken down to. "My name is Yennefer, she just likes to insult me by calling me that" she replied, constantly reminded of her place.

The girl jumped as she was addressed, a look of panic on her face, clearly not expecting to be addressed so soon. Wondering how she was addressed by her family before she came here, if she was bullied, ostracized or put down. The girls that came here all had different histories, some tragic, some happy and some strange. But this girl was still a mystery for she didn't speak of herself, closing in on herself and hiding from others. She tucked some of her hair behind her ears shyly "I… Hi.. my name is Willow, Willow Rosenberg of Novigrad" she babbled. She was named after the ancient tree, wisdom, fertility and new life. Ironic given she was sent to this place, she was full of knowledge but she never felt wise instead she felt like a freak. But the biggest symbolism ended up becoming the new life she found herself in, gaining new roots here.

Novigrad? Yennefer peered at her closely, that place was also historically known for being built on elven grounds. Did this girl also harbour elven blood like herself? Was she not the only freak here now? Tissaia had made a habit of finding girls of unique history and great power, would she bully this girl to see what she was made of? A new pet for her amusement to see if she could handle her magics? She found herself seeking more information on the redhead, to see what magics she harboured and whether she could trust her "Yennefer of Vengerberg" she repeated.

Willow smiled shyly, she felt herself at ease for the first time that day, all of her nerves and doubts washing away. She was used to people being antagonistic but she didn't sense that from Yennefer. "I... I hope you don't mind me asking, you can tell me to shut up if you want, I talk too much…." Willow babbled. Sometimes her brain never seemed to catch up to her mouth, spewing out words a mile a minute before she could stop herself. Her passions flaming free, her tongue loosening and word vomit escaped her lips. Many a time had she gotten herself into trouble because she couldn't restrain herself. She knew that if she stepped out of line, said the wrong thing or messed up in some way, here it wouldn't be tolerated. She would be punished and that was something she wanted to avoid, trouble.

Yennefer watched this girl, as pretty as she was, she could hear the anxiety rising in her throat, the subtle shift in her tone, the tension in her body, the way her hands began to tremble. This girl was used to being belittled, she was meek, quiet, the quietest voice in the room, her thoughts often dismissed. She felt sadness that this girl had been treated badly, but yet pleased she could understand her feelings. However, she didn't wish to find herself irritated by a roommate who flinched or panicked whenever she was in her presence, like walking on eggshells. "Willow…" she snapped abruptly, dragging the girl away from her intrusive thoughts, staring at her, awaiting her question. There was something plaguing her mind, unspoken questions and curiosity directed at her, she would rather get it over with then question what her new roommate thought of her.

Willow shifted, fiddling with her hands shyly "Why.. why does she call you piglet? I mean that seems cruel to one of her students" she questioned, a teacher was supposed to nurture minds, she was supposed to act as a leader and mentor to others. So why was she being so cruel towards one of her students, looking down upon them with disdain and intrigue? She kept her mouth closed as to not find herself in trouble, yet at the back of her mind seeing such antagonism directed at someone felt wrong. She wanted to understand why Yennefer was treated so badly. Was she to be treated the same way eventually too? Like a cruel right of passage perhaps?

A look of anger and sadness flashed across Yennefers face, she would always be reminded of where she came from, of her past and who she was. A part of herself she wanted to discard and forever be rid of. The bitterness she felt towards her kin for their betrayal was something she would never forget "My stepfather sold me to this place, for less than the price of a pig" she responded coldly. The ugly, humpback daughter that everyone hated, feared and avoided, some looked at her with pity, some with sadness, others with disgust. She would never be seen as beautiful by others, she would always be seen as a monster. Tissaia took delight in reminding her of her beginnings, that she would always be the pig girl who started a pathetic life. Seeing the rage, resentment and bitterness it incurred in the teen.

A look of sadness flashed across Willows's face as she was told this, sympathy, empathy and unspoken pain formed on her features, taking these words to heart. Perhaps feeling less bitter of her own life, comparing it to Yennefer's. Watching her with cautious eyes, as they shared details of their past lives with each other. She played with her fingers timidly, still keeping her distance and yet lowering her guard, she bowed her head in shame "I… I'm sorry" she mumbled. She had awoken her magics as she reached puberty, having known there were secrets her mother never told her. Yet Willow had always felt a connection to nature, magics and their teachings. But her innate gift became apparent to everyone else around her, while for the longest time to Willow, it was purely a hobby that she was gifted for. She never dreamed it would lead her to the life she knew now, that she would become a student harnessing powers she never dreamed of.

"And you?" Yennefer asked, surely Willow had a tale that led her to this place, how she discovered her magical heritage. How she would become a tool to Aretuza and what kind of destiny she would have a mage. Any childish daydreams she once had would be discarded, she would be ripped apart and put back together differently here. She would never know a normal life, she would never know peace, she would always have responsibility placed upon her shoulders.

"I…. I… I've always had an interest in magic, Wiccan, witchcraft, paganism. I used to read them all the time in secret. But um… I used to use protection spells and charms around my home which made people suspicious. But after I began to levitate things…. My mum freaked" Willow replied. It was something taboo, dangerous and unspoken in her home, though it was inescapable and people knew of magics. Her mother avoided the subject like the plague, it was something dangerous and corrupt. Despite it running through her ancestral genes she would glad it skipped a generation in her, yet bitter that it awoke in her child. She knew her mother was wary of what her daughter was capable of, but accepted that her life would deviate than what she had planned for her. When Tissaia came for her child asking for her to become a student, she couldn't ignore reality and sent Willow away that same night.

"You're a Wiccan?" Yennefer asked in surprise, though wiccans were not something unheard of, more commonly did Mages leave this school. For someone to practice paganism openly without formal training was unheard of. Suddenly, her roommate became more interesting that she previously considered. She harboured many secrets and she found herself wanting to know more. Witchers were nicknamed Wiccans or hexers, female Witchers were unheard of, so for a girl to harbour such magics was something new. She now understood why Tissaia would want to claim her for their school, the reputation this would bring would allow them to find new students. Always one step ahead and thinking in the bigger picture. She'd found a new rarity, a new face to bring into the future, to remind the world of how strong Aretuza was, the gems they were able to polish and send out into the world. Just another tool to brag, Yennefer found herself laughing at the thought.

Willow shook her head "No, not officially, I just took an interest y'know cos who doesn't love hobbies. But um… my mum… she told me, apparently I have Elder blood in my family, my mum was of Elder descent but it remained dormant. But it activated in me making me a hybrid…" she babbled. She didn't use the title openly, though it seemed more fitting to how she practiced her skills, though she had to discard it upon arrival. All of her family history laid before her as she pieced together her new identity. Finding herself thrown for a loop, knowing how strong elders were. The only known elders she could think of was the Princess of Cintra, Pavetta, an infamously strong descendant of the gene. She didn't know how it came into her family line, what her familial past was, but it was something she was born into.

Yennefer softened, just like herself Willow had been thrown into this world blindly and was simply forced to accept her new life. She was alone, frightened and desperate to find answers to who she was. She didn't act arrogantly, she didn't show pride and she didn't allow her new identity to change her. She didn't sense that this girl had come from an abusive or neglectful home-like herself, something she felt resentful of. Yennefer knew that abuse wasn't always something visible or recognizable, which was what made it so dangerous, Willow was sheepish, she had clearly had anything but an easy life. Making her consider that her mother was controlling or blackmailed her in some way, leading to her becoming afraid to speak up. Forcing her to behave, belittling her future, insulting her, shredding her of confidence, courage or even willpower. She'd broken her spirit and reminded her of her place, shackling her to her family. Her mother had hidden her heritage from her until the magic began to show in her child, sending her to this place rather than warn her of her true identity, allowing her wings to finally open. "I like you Willow, you're the first person who isn't afraid of me" Yennefer responded, she didn't cower, she didn't avoid her gaze and she didn't stare, she seemed curious, anxious and yet gentle. Concerned for her wellbeing rather than making fun of her. Maybe Willow could read books to her, of magics and other things that she had come to understand. Maybe they could learn through each other, finding solace in one another's company. Though Tissaia reminded them that they were always rivals, holding each other back wasn't something allowed here. Loneliness was a plague and these walls were deafening, Willow's kindness felt like the sun, and Yennefer truly missed the warmth of it on her skin.

"You're the first person who hasn't made fun of me or avoided me" Willow smiled back, maybe she did belong here, maybe this wasn't just a mistake. Maybe she could truly find a friend here who didn't make her feel alone.

"Your father was a half-elf?" Willow questioned, she knew of hybrids, she knew of other species breeding to procreate, magical creatures whom entered relations with humans. Though due to the stigma and hatred between the species and how humans had treated elves, she could understand why Yennefer would have an anything but easy life. To be in this school one needed magic in their blood which Yennefer clearly harboured, but of what kind she hadn't known until now. She wondered if he had taught Yennefer of her magics, if he was still alive or if he was part of her life. She had many questions she longed to ask but wondered if it was polite to do so.

Yennefer nodded "He was killed during the great elf purge after humans reclaimed their lands, he impregnated my mother who married a human male. He's the cause of my twisted spine, why I'm so ugly" she huffed bitterly. She was forever reminded of her lineage, seen as a monster instead of someone beautiful. While girls her age scampered, giggled and lost themselves to romance, she was ignored and tormented by everyone around her. She wondered if all hybrids looked like her or if it was just a deformity in the womb, whatever the case it was the cause of her misery. Willow knew nothing of her elder grandparents who passed on the lineage, her mother never being resentful of the fact she never harboured magics, content in the peaceful life of a commoner. However, Willow was now passed onto the school to achieve greatness but also discover her potential, she would never know the normality of her family. Willow had lived the life of every human, supporting her family, living normally and possibly courted by handsome boys who took an interest in her. Now any chance of love she may have been tempted by was ripped from her.

"You… you aren't so bad, I guess… it can be distracting but… I think you're nice" Willow babbled. When she looked at Yennefer she had to admit she felt her body respond to seeing something so... strange, unnatural and frightening, something she wasn't used to gazing upon. However, she didn't harbour any malicious feelings towards Yennefer, no desire to mock her, hurt her or estrange her. She felt pity towards her, yet a sense of comfort in knowing she had been an outsider too. The kindness she sensed from Yennefer allowed Willow to relax around her, knowing she wouldn't be treated badly by the latter. She could breathe easier and finally feel at home.

Yennefer smiled, as bad as she was with words she could sense Willow meant it, stumbling over her thoughts and attempting to focus them into coherent words. She was trying to become comfortable with speaking to other people after being ignored for so much of her life. "You said you were from Novigrad?" she questioned, reflecting on when she introduced herself earlier. Novigrad was a northern port-side town that was once Elven claimed lands before humans populated it, it was one of the largest known northern towns to boot, it was infamously known for its craftsmanship and fishing. Willow didn't seem like a wealthy girl, nor that she came from royalty either, but she had never worked on a farm, to say the least, yet she was humble of origin. She wanted to understand Willow, recreate in her mind the image of how she had lived before she was brought here. How Willow passed her time, how she met people and what hobbies she had. If she worked hard, what her family did and what memories she had formed in her brief seventeen years of life.

"My… My family run an inn, I was a barmaid for a while, but we used to get some aggressive customers, and the sea storms were brutal. I… I used to use my spells to ward off trouble or see us through hardships…" Willow explained. She was friendly and knew many returning customers, her shyness, giggle and girlish excitement causing people to become fond of her. Though she wasn't good at handling difficult customers, she still worked hard and made a reputation for herself. Sometimes some patrons around her age would ask her to bond with them, handsome boys asking her for a date which she bashfully rejected. She focused on her magic as a safe-space, despite her parents wishes for her to marry and make a life for herself, the disappointment of knowing that would never happen weighed heavily on them. Her father didn't approve of her abilities and her mother saw it as troublesome but knew they couldn't ignore it, to avoid any harassment or intrusion, they sent Willow away to make something of herself. She didn't know if her parents would ever speak to her again, ask of her growth from Tissaia or if she would even have a home to return to after this. She still loved them dearly and they had been good parents towards her. But her life had changed so drastically, she was unsure if the stability of her foundations still remained.

Yennefer felt a sense of empathy and mutual understanding with Willow, seeing in her a ghost of herself that frightened her. The girl she could have been and the girl she had been, though she was never physically abused or treated badly by her family, she was controlled, blackmailed and emotionally manipulated. They tried to get her to obey them and mould her into their perfect image of a daughter, book-smart, educated and a proper housewife. Only for her to become talented at magic and become disinterested in paying attention to dating, ruining their dreams and forging her own. She used her magic to help her family and their neurotic mentality had caused them to turn against her, sending her to Aretuza to get her out of their hair "I'm glad you came here… it's nice to have another outsider here" Yennefer replied gently. Someone who understood, someone who was as lonely as she was.

Geralt stroked Roach's neck affectionately, the mare headbutting him in response, silently communicating with her owner of her trust in him. She had always been his most faithful companion, one who never treated him with disdain, bitterness or hatred. She was family to him and he harboured a strong bond with her, she was his friend, her comforting scent filling his senses. They had traveled far and wide, aware both of them were reaching their limits, hungry, exhausted and stressed, getting closer and yet still searching blindly for clues. Since learning of the infamous Slayer, he had set about to locate her, discover her and hopefully confront her on their bond. Due to the information he was able to gather on her, of how they shared similarities and lived a life of constant battle, their kinship was becoming more evident. He was not the only Witcher, but she was the only living Slayer, he needed to meet her, he needed to understand her, maybe they could work together. Loneliness was something both of them had known, it was an old friend and one they had been forced to accept. But now they were being given a glimpse of hope, and he couldn't help but cling to that thread. Where she lived, where she worked and where to find her, where to start, all of the breadcrumbs, all of the solid facts and many trails he would need to take. He knew she was possibly a teenager, centuries younger than himself, she was blonde, green-eyed and a competent fighter. He'd imprinted the memory of her face into his mind, being sure that when they were finally face to face, he would't have forgotten. But she had no home, she had no known family, she was all alone, No connections to trace, which made things harder for him. Her life, like his, would be full of loneliness and hardships, hated for their careers and feared for their power, she would be prone to sexism and worse treatment. Never able to tell people her true identity and yet never able to hide it either, given she was written in history books much like himself. She protected humanity as much as he did, yet she was never thanked for it. Such a life would make anyone wary of others, he didn't expect her to trust him, but she would understand him. He had no family, being a Witcher was made impotent and sterilized to prevent him from ever conceiving a child through a woman. But the slayer wasn't like him, she went through no ceremony to become a Witcher, fate chose her, she could become a mother, she could conceive and she could have a family, though balancing a normal life was not something she would ever be able to do.

Geralt opened his golden eyes widely, the air was musky, soft and yet comforting, as though familiar in some unspoken way yet he had never been to this place before. The scent of hay, old books, potions, steel and tea filled the air, once belonging to a simple farmer in the past, now the hideaway for a warrior. This place appeared to be reminiscent of a farmhouse, yet the interior was that of a mage and yet a homely hideaway, the shelves were lined with books, many of which he was familiar with and many he wasn't. His gaze falling upon every spine that he could make out, her collected library of knowledge in which had been used for her education and training. To become familiar with her enemies and understand the weakness and strength of those she would cross paths with. This was her lair, this belonged to the slayer, he felt honoured to have found the home of one. The only time one met a Slayer was on the battlefield, never in her private life. Her watchers kept her hidden, protected under lock and key. He could see a weapons chest, bound tightly closed, the same axe she had wielded was bound to the wall like a trophy, mirroring both a stake with its spiked silver end and yet an axe with its front blade. She was well equipped indeed, far more than he had ever expected.

"Y'know you could just confess you're my stalker, I've hit a guy for less" a familiar voice responded sarcastically, she didn't expect him to show up again so soon after the fight with the swamp spider demon. Though she felt less afraid than she had before, this felt more natural, becoming used to their encounters. She knew she could never fight these visions, these dreams of what was to come. Though they had never been two way before, usually she simply watched of what she would soon witness first hand. To have a two way communication via her dreams wasn't common. Her dreams never lied as unpredictable as they could be, everything that came to pass spoke truth though at times they could be distorted.

Geralt turned, he could smell her before he even looked at her, the same confusing scent of something ancient, demonic, magical and yet not either filled his senses. Mixed with the musk of something intoxicating, both sweet, spicy and almost dangerously potent. He'd later learned through information that to some demons, the blood of a slayer could be addictive, almost like an aphrodisiac to them, showing the power behind it. Her arms folded, smaller in stature than himself yet everything about her screamed ominous, warning him not to get too close, like a predator observing its prey before it pounced and bore its teeth. The power of the Slayer, he could feel it radiating from her like smoke, no wonder she had forged such a name for herself, she lived up to her reputation. Her blonde hair bound back with a clip on the back of her head, her arms folded as green eyes stared him down, no sign of fear, hesitation or doubt on her face. "You saw me coming?" he chuckled, so she harboured prophetic dreams, interesting, the slayer harboured mystical abilities, no wonder mages saw her as a threat. Of all the powers mages had, oracles were not of the mage training, they were something completely different. The slayer seemed to fit into nearly every category of magical creature and yet never truly fit in. Perhaps he would have to keep his guard up around her, but he didn't have to worry about arriving unannounced. It would make things less awkward for him when they finally met outside of her dreams.

She smiled in amusement, but there was no humour behind her eyes "As confusing as these dreams get, they've never been wrong. Seeing you again so soon has to mean something" Buffy responded. She'd been trained to follow her instincts, she could never run away from destiny, it would always bite her in the ass. So she was forced to live with it and somehow make the best of it. After her encounters with both Angel and Spike after her awakening as the slayer, she'd learned to keep her guard up. She knew it was taboo to keep Angel as an ally and lover given she was supposed to slay his kind, but he proved to be no harm to her or anyone, so she left him be. Spike was a troublemaker but he knew when to back off and accept when he had lost a fight, but he always came back for more.

"I mean you no harm Slayer" he responded calmly, he didn't wish to pick a fight with her or somehow find himself in combat with her. He respected her as much as he was curious about her, hoping their relationship from here onward would be positive and welcoming. Buffy raised an eyebrow, they already knew their true selves so there was no reason to lie. She didn't sense any malice from him, nor was he trying to trick her, she knew if he wanted to harm her in her dreams he could. "For whatever reason, I've never been one to believe in the idiocies of fate, but for that reason alone we are bound to each other" he responded. The same way he ended up with this damned child surprise, he had ended up being bound to the slayer through fate. At least this was a more agreeable form of fate to have than announcing the unborn child of another.

Buffy hummed, her body easing into a more relaxed state, her defiance easing from her body as quickly as it had appeared. She could sense this guy was old, maybe not as much as Angel, but she could see it in his face, the ancient aura of his soul. "If you had asked me a few years ago about fate I would have called you crazy, but then here I am the chosen one. So I'm willing to hear you out on why the hell we keep running into each other" she questioned. She knew she would always find herself meeting someone due to her title, be it an ally or an enemy or a danger to face. During her naive adolescence she never would have believed this possible, but this was who she was. This guy had answers and he was willing to explain this situation to her, which didn't come easily to her at times, not without a threat.

"I believe either due to our identities and circumstances, somehow we are bound to each other. Both forged to work against darkness, whether we protect each other, I'm supposed to mentor you or we are forced to work alongside each other. We have a connection" he explained. Witchers worked alone but they had their brotherhood due to the rituals and identities they all shared in order to become who they were. Buffy was tied to him due to her own ritual that led to her lineage perhaps, it was one of many answers that could be the truth. She protected the world from evil and darkness, he did something of the same nature. Were they supposed to learn from each other? Was he supposed to protect her like Ciri? He had no idea of why she was so important to him, but he had a feeling he would learn soon enough.

Buffy hummed, her life just kept getting crazier, thrown into further confusing situations and simply grabbing on for dear life and trying to make it through. Geralt was now another face with whom she would become familiar with, when and how they would meet in the future she was clueless. She'd met spike shortly after her awakening, a vampire rebel who'd slain many of her kin in his centuries of life, her enemy, her rival, her sometimes bitter ally. She never enjoyed his company and preferred kicking his ass, due to his obnoxiously annoying personality. Then there was Angel, whom she'd met previously before she awakened as the slayer, the one who gave her the necklace in which she now wore with pride. Someone who watched out for her from the shadows, the unspoken bond they shared and the love they harboured, soulmates in every sense of the word. A man who had slain then became ensouled and somehow became vigilante for both good and bad, her ally, her lover and someone she trusted with her life. Now she met Geralt, the men in her life always seemed to have the same background "You want us to work together, like mentorship or something? We learn from each other?" she asked.

Geralt sighed, he was still keeping up with her sharp tongue but it was simply part of her youth perhaps. Reminding himself she was a teenager and not centuries old like himself "Not to be too blunt with the delivery but precisely" he explained. He didn't like this situation any more than she did, he never got close to anyone and forming emotional attachments never came easily to him. But he knew he couldn't ignore the Slayer anymore than she could ignore him.

Buffy sighed, she wondered what her mother would say if she knew her life would have ended up this way. She couldn't get a date but she somehow ended up running into supernatural males in her line of work. God what she would give for a brief period of normality, what did she have to lose? She needed to know more and she couldn't avoid him. Given she had no idea of where he was residing and how she would find him, she would be travelling and hunting for a long time "I guess we find each other then, destiny will lead us together or some other mishap" she huffed. Geralt chuckled, silently agreeing with her frustration.

Geralt opened his eyes slowly, growling under his breath, there were many dreams he had experienced in the past, more entwined with his memories of battles, faces of those he had lost and sometimes the briefest flashes of his childhood. But this was different, he was entering the dreams of someone else, a mind of another person, he'd never had the ability of dream-walking, which meant this was her influence causing it. These dreams kept becoming more confusing by the second, dragging him in out of nowhere, blindly searching what was laid before him for clues. He was still trying to find Ciri after the devastation that had occurred to her home, her entire family and kingdom massacred except for her. Now alongside the Slayer he had to find her too. Her home was of magical origin, given how many sacred, mystical and demonic weapons she had on her person, as well as ones of blessed protection. Given her profession and how many people may want revenge or her life, she was being wary and keeping her guard up. She was well versed with common sense and maturity far beyond her years. The books her watcher had harboured were none he had ever heard of, only some seemed familiar to him, but one stood out as Vampyr. Her home was not one he had expected, but then to keep a low profile had indeed been clever of her, alluding her enemies and making sure she would never be traced by those who may seek vengeance. Extending her life and preventing her duties from coming to an end so a new slayer wouldn't be called. She kept a low profile, she trained and studied in a protected place in which her enemy couldn't enter, she showed no fear of him, she held her ground and she stood him down, he respected her more than he had before. She didn't wallow in self pity, she harboured understandable bitterness and the emotions of being a teenager, yet she shouldered her duties and instinctively fell into her role as a slayer as easily as changing moods. For someone so young she shouldered her burdens without hesitation, she knew she was the only person who could and that she couldn't escape her fate. She knew when to fight and how to intimidate someone, she knew of her strength and abilities, reminding him of the power she harboured. Her prophetic dreams were how they kept running into each other, keeping them connected. Yet he didn't hate that, he should have felt like his being dragged into her life was a pain in his ass and frustrating to have to tolerate, yet those feelings didn't reside in him. It was becoming useful, an insight into her life and helping him to memorize small pieces of information that would help him locate her. Neither knew why this was occurring but accepted their fates. He knew where she resided, it narrowed down where he would have to search, he could ask about a book called Vampyr and its owner, then once he found the owner, he would find the slayer

Geralt splashed the cool of the water onto his face with a weary sigh, the cooler temperature stimulating his senses, yet not in a negative way, awakening him from the weariness of being half asleep. Preparing him for the long journey of what was to come and easing him into a more relaxed state, preventing him from falling into an irritable mood. Roach stood nearby nibbling plants and satisfying her thirst, feeding herself before they were to return to the road. Though the dreams were altering his sleep schedule, he didn't harbour resentment towards it, she had no control over this power, prophetic dreams were beyond the users will. She was balancing this gift well and utilized it to her benefit, allowing her to predict an enemy's plans before it occurred, giving her the upper hand. It was often a frightening and confusing experience to have, for anyone else it may have driven them insane, living in fear. But not the Slayer, she had embraced her gift. Making the best out of what information she could gather, she knew he was coming, she knew he was looking for her, she had held her ground against him yet didn't attack. Causing respect to form within himself, something that didn't come easily to him after his centuries of life, those who did earn his respect were special indeed. She had been forced to mature during her adolescence to survive, honing her skills, preparing for a future that may end her life. While most girls her age lived care-freely and worked with their families in a normal life, awaiting marriage, embracing their sexuality and falling in love. But he couldn't help but admire that, that she was aware of how unfair her life was, the normality so many were gifted with that she was robbed of and desperately craved. She didn't show weakness or use her powers against others, she didn't overpower or bully others with this gift, refusing to become corrupt. She followed her destiny and made a name for herself, using her misfortune to her advantage, proving there was more to her than met the eye, especially given how women were treated in comparison to men. Constantly aware of what made her different, yet further isolating her from her own gender, aware of her powers yet never able to have a normal life.

Willow stared at the candle before her with a childish yet prideful smile, finally some memories from home that felt familiar, only now she didn't have to hide it. She could embrace this part of herself without shame of being caught or scolded, it was natural here. Tissaia had left her to settle for the night with a candle to keep the darkness at bay until she fell asleep. Expecting them to be well rested and prepared for the lessons that would follow during her stay in Aretuza, however, having grown bored of her sitting around until lessons were to begin, she had decided to have some fun. The candle in front of her now floating in mid-air through will and concentration, dancing in the darkness illuminating the room in a soft glow. At first, she had wanted solely to make the wick dance, spark the flame a little, however, she managed to make the whole candle float in front of her. Her teachers were right, she was stronger than she appeared, maybe she did belong in this place. Was this the magic that she was supposed to harbour? Was this the power she was supposed to control and amplify? Would she be capable of more than this in the future? She couldn't help but feel butterflies at the thought of all she could accomplish, all the fun she could have and all the things she would experience. What would become of her once she left these walls. Was this expected of all mages? This unrelenting magic? "You'll get into trouble if you keep doing that" Yennefer mumbled sleepily, she was glad Willow had found a form of amusement for herself. Until now she had stumbled over her words, kept to herself and struggled to distract herself, yet here she was practicing magic so comfortably. However, she needed to be careful of who would be watching, Tissaia would see the light under the door and scold them. She didn't know why she cared so much, the rules were survival of the fittest from her experience, but the idea of Willow crying, it made her feel sad for some reason.

Willow blinked, snapping out of her concentration as the candle fell to the floor with a clatter as the wick snuffed out, the darkness returning aside from the moonlight outside. Her brain recognising the shape of Yennefer laid in her bed staring into the darkness, trying to fall alseep. She'd become so used to practicing magic on her own behind locked doors that she forgot she had a roommate now. Not that she had any reason to hide it anymore, but she'd become so adapted to her own company "Sorry…." She mumbled bashfully. She hoped she hadn't disturbed Yennefer's sleep or upset her somehow, she just got so carried away, never realising something until the last second.

Yennefer rolled over, she knew Willow was trying, she wanted to fit in and she wanted to prove she belonged here. She understood the pressure and how it weighed on you, realising how harsh she must have sounded "I don't mind it but… you'll need your sleep for tomorrow" Yennefer replied. Tissaia would never go easy on anyone, not even those who showed promise, she was sure to push every student to the limit to reach the full potential of their magic. Willow would soon be subjected to that too, pushing her mind and body to the limit to reach the full ability of a mage, becoming the best version of herself.

Wilow hummed, picking up her candle and placing it on the bedside table, wrapping her sheets around herself protectively, wishing she had one of her homemade stuffed animals from home. Sleeping in a strange empty bed felt wrong, as if her life before now had never existed. Wishing for some form of familiarity to make the process easier "Hey Yen, how long have you been here for?" she asked curiously. She didn't know how long she would be here, if her family would miss her, if she would ever see the outside world again and what would happen when it was over. It was strange, frightening and something she desperately needed to know about. She wanted to trust her new coven of sisters, but with all the secrets it was becoming harder to do so.

Yennefer was surprised at the nickname that Willow adorned her so soon, they had known each other merely a few hours, less than a day and already she showed such an attachment to her? She'd never known anyone to so easily trust her and show affection for her, it was strange and yet not unwelcome. Reflecting om the day she was sent here crying and begging to stay, to being locked in this room and how she once tried to end her own life. She'd lost track of days, hours and minutes, this place feeling like a prison to her "A year, nearly a year and a half" Yennefer muttered, yet she never felt she was getting any stronger.

Willow hummed, would she become stronger the longer she was here? Would she change? Would she become different? How long would she be a student at this place? And who would she become upon reaching her full potential? Would she regret her choice? Would she miss her old life? She bit her lip as these thoughts filled her mind "So… I might be stuck here forever?" Willow questioned. How many years would pass, how many decades before she became a powerful witch? She was constantly reminded that she was a student and that failure was not an option, but she knew that hurdles were inevitable, but what if she was never able to climb over them. These students were her people, her coven, sharing powers like her, all at different levels in their growth. She would spend her hours studying, something she had done immensely while home, but now there would be no time for fun, no breaks, no in-between. Weakness was not an option, running away wasn't an option, complaining wasn't an option. Her life consumed by magic, it would be everything she lived, breathed and memorised. But it left doubt if she would ever be allowed to act selfishly at any point hereafter. Would she ever find love? Would she ever find a companion? Would she ever know something familiar from her old life? Yennefer couldn't answer, what was she supposed to say? Even she dreamed of love, romance, back in her old life enviously watching young lovers kiss, giggle away as they groped and experienced pleasures of the flesh in hidden places where eyes couldn't see. She could understand why Willow would crave such a thing, the desire to be wanted, to want someone, she'd felt the exact same way after all.

"I understand you have laid claim to a new student, a girl of mixed blood much like that hunchback from Vengerberg" Stregabour responded, he didn't know where Tissaia found these girls but she never failed to disappoint. She showed promise within merely being here a day, her powers coming to fruition, showing her true colours. She was far more appealing to the eye than the quarter elf, but that didn't mean she wasn't without her flaws, she was a meek little thing who hid in the shadows, but he sensed great power in her. Knowing that once it was released, it would be a force to be reckoned with, something ominous, foreboding and terrifying, a hidden part of herself clawing to break free and consume the energies of the world. Waiting to embrace the magics within her and become a deadly mage indeed, perhaps even a Witch.

Tissaia hummed, as always he was a sneaky weasel, sniffing around for clues as to discover the truth. She knew the higher council would find out eventually, only she had hoped to wait a little longer. She wanted to assure herself that choosing Rosenberg as a new student would be worth its weight in gold, proving a future useful asset. She knew power when she saw it and Rosenberg was pouring with the stuff "Indeed, I happened upon an elder hybrid hiding away in a stinking fishing village" she confessed. Thinking of how she could have wasted her days and magic in a small village waiting tables her whole life made her cringe, glad she had snatched her up when she did.

"It's rumoured she has no formal training whatsoever, yet already shows promise in advanced witchcraft and charms, as well as innate Telekinetic abilities" Stregabour continued. For a girl to have so much power and experience before being accepted into the school was unheard of, they had to take advantage of this while they could. She would a force to be reckoned with, they would have an upper hand on the Slayer too. If she rebelled against them it would be trouble, the power that quarter elf and the Elder half blood combined were dangerous.

Tissaia smiled, she could understand his concerns but he needn't worry, she had everything under control. "Do not trouble yourself, I plan on pushing her to the extent of my limits to see what gems she has within her, hopefully, she advances sooner than our piglet". Such potent magic couldn't be ignored or wasted, this girl would be a great asset to their school and the world. Becoming a dangerous and beautiful Witch or mage whom the world would never forget. She had to break her down, lose her inhibitions and fully accept herself, the longer she held herself back the more it would weaken her power. Like the tree she was named after she needed to find the wisdom and strength inside of herself to truly become who she was meant to be. She was but a naive, talented girl currently, but in time she would become an intelligent, dangerous witch, something they desperately needed.

"And her parents, you mentioned her mother had recessive elder blood in her body" Stregabour responded, what a waste of power, to try and hide her daughter, hoping she would pass through life unnoticed. If not for her daughter taking an interest in magic they never would have found her. Such a chance didn't come along often, such a potent magic wielder, her mind still had so much to learn and in time she would absorb so much information.

"Indeed, the mother is a cowardly fool with no knowledge of the power her family holds. While her daughter secretly nurtured her gift after learning of herself. She was sent to us to further blossom" Tissaia smiled. The daughter had more common sense than her mother, while repressed of her true heritage, her instincts sought out teachings. She scrambled whatever books on magic she could find, storing them away and learning of her true self. The mother feared the blood in her daughters body and pushed her away, not knowing she could have been the same had it not skipped a generation. She would barely recognise Willow when the latter finally became a true Witch, embracing the reality of her indentity.

Stregabour smiled, things were getting interesting, so much was occurring and it was amusing to witness. "First a Witcher approaches me about a legendary slayer, now you have a Wiccan in your care" he chuckled. The Witcher came to him after defeating another foe, seeking coin and passing on his way, as expected of him. But after the vision of the Slayer appearing before him, he had become curious of her. Whether he would cross paths with her or spend his time searching for her, he didn't know. The Slayer was an elusive being who lived in the shadows, yet was ever present. Beings of true power were making themselves known, ancient power that hadn't been known in centuries, the last slayer hadn't been called for a long time. Even in his youth he had never crossed paths with one, this was indeed special.

Tissaia stiffened, she had read enough history books, heard enough rumours and fireside tales of the girl. Such a being hadn't ever been attempted to be created since, she was one of a kind and could never be replicated. A slayer? Aretuza knew of The watcher's council, the Slayers and how she came into being. She couldn't be controlled or summoned by anyone but the council, her resources came from them. They trained her, they tested her, they gave her resources and they gave her a home. A dangerous being of both demonic and magical heritage, the powers combined gave her powers most could only dream of, born to kill, born to hunt, born to fight. A being to be feared and respected, those that were lucky enough to survive feared her. For one to be alive, educated and fighting in their era, wondering how old she was, whether she had any family. After coming into possession of willow, would the slayer meet some of her students? Watchers themselves were nothing to scoff at either "Do we know why he has an interest in her? A foolish battle to the death perhaps?" she joked

"It seems The Witcher has been subjected to her prophetic dreams, appearing within her mind. The two of them are somehow bound by fate, whether to be enemies, allies or something else. They have ties and he is seeking her out" Stregabour responded. The dreams of a Slayer allowed her to envision enemies and future events she would be forced to face, preparing her of what was to come. If a Witcher was becoming involved in those dreams it could only mean trouble in the long term. Together they would be unstoppable, two dangerously powerful forces with the power of an army on their side. This was something they needed to keep a close watch on to assure it didn't lead to trouble.

Tissaia growled, mulling these thoughts over in her mind, anger bubbling beneath the surface though she tried to remain composed. As powerful as mages were, there were powers the Slayer harboured that mages were incapable of wielding due to the demonic nature of it. The Slayer was an ancient power, before mages had become as respected as they were, primal, since the early time. Only over time did the power evolve, Slayers were dangerous, unpredictable and powerful, unable to be controlled. "We shall keep a close watch on her, as well as this Witcher, so long as she doesn't cause us any trouble" she hummed, she didn't want to do anything irrational. As wary as she was of the slayer, she couldn't help but pity the young girl, her history was long and tragic. No slayer had ever lived past the age of thirty, which was surprising for any girl who was called, dedicated to a life of training, living in the shadows with no ties to anyone, no family, no friends, no lovers. Should the life of the current slayer end, another would take her place, a never ending line in which one could never exist with another. They would always be called, always be expected to protect the weak from the demonic. She could be used as a weapon to their asset, but Watchers would never allow such a thing, making sure a Slayer never ran astray. Aretuza had long since studied how Slayers came into existence, the first summoning and spell used to create the slayer line, the magics used were powerful, forbidden and dangerous, never practiced since. But she couldn't help but pity the poor girl, her life would be full of misfortune, death and hardships.

Willow stood in a circle, now adorning her turquoise gown surrounded by other trainee mages, today was her first class and she wanted to impress, passing with flying colours. She knew mistakes wouldn't be tolerated and she would fail in her representation of the school, stood around her were her classmates, in the light-filled room on a wooden desk was placed rock and a twig of some kind. Today was a class of mental strength, using their minds to move the tools placed in front of them. Yennefer stared at the rock impatiently, already attempting to focus her energy into moving it. "Before you, lays a twig and a rock, with your mind I expect you to move them. Telekinesis is one of the easiest gifts to improve, so I doubt this will be challenging for you all" Tissaia responded calmly. Willow hummed, she was just expected to move them? She'd been able to move anything with enough focus at home, from a hairbrush, to pencils, just everyday objects. She didn't know how much stronger she could become but at least this was something familiar. Tissaia already knew of the gifts she already harboured, perhaps this was simply to strengthen that. She didn't enjoy the bullying that would most likely lead to her being a teachers pet today, but she didn't want to pretend to be stupid either. She just had to do her best and show what she was capable of. She stared at the twig, focusing her gaze ever so slightly, feeling the energy tingle through her skin like lightning, focusing her energy into making it move.

The twig began to shift as if turned by an invisible force as it began to move, levitating from the table into the air by itself, dancing on the air. Willow smiled to herself, proud that she was already succeeding in one of her first lessons, wishing she could have done this as freely back home. She felt the heat of the gaze directed at her, some of her classmates both amazed and annoyed, she felt Tissaia watching her, the smallest glimpse of a smile forming on her lips. She felt empowered, like she could touch the sky and grasp clouds between her fingers. The more she focused, the flowers on the plant began to blossom as if spring had occurred, opening their petals brightly to reveal sweet-scented flowers on the branch. "Very good Willow, you've mastered focusing your energy projection well" Tissaia praised, she hadn't thought that the girl would excel this quickly in her lessons. Every student developed at a different rate, showing their power slowly. But Willow had already shown great improvement within a day of being here. So she was not only gifted with Telekinetic powers but also geokinesis, the ability to control the earth itself, this was a gift unheard of in Aretuza, it seemed their little witch was full of surprises. Yennefer shifted beside her, a sense of bitterness forming in her chest though she tried to push it down and ignore it. She should have been happy for her friend, at least she wasn't being belittled, bullied or shamed. But why was she showing such improvement before her? She'd been here a year and yet all she could do was summon portals, she couldn't yet master all of her gifts, Willow had been here a day and yet she was levitating candles, twigs and now manipulating plants themselves. This wasn't fair, she knew it was childish to sulk but she couldn't help herself. She frowned, trying not to let her jealousy get the better of her, biting her lip so hard she split the skin, she knew Willow was simply learning like the rest of them, but she already showed more promise than herself.

Yennefer knelt in front of Willow quietly, focusing her violet eyes on Willow, hoping to see inside of her mind, forcing herself to succeed, refusing to admit defeat and become another embarrassment in class. This place was her only chance at becoming powerful, this place was her only chance to become someone, rather than the piglet she was so cruelly named. She'd already failed one class she wouldn't allow another, she needed to prove she was capable, she was here for a reason. Willow watched her awkwardly, shifting on her lap as she watched Yennefer with sympathy, understanding her bitterness and jealousy. She knew that Yennefer had been here longer than herself yet her improvement was shaky and she was frustrated at her lack of growth. Yet she was a newbie and already outshining her. She didn't want to be hated by the first friend she may have made in this place, wishing she could make it up to her. Fiddling her fingers on her lap as she focused her telepathy, her hands beginning to tremble with anxiety.

"Don't allow yourself to be distracted, it leaves openings to your enemy and can leave you vulnerable" Tissaia scolded

Willow sighed, clearing her mind, trying to balance her thoughts, find comfort and breathe easier. Her anxiety had always been her Achilles heel and it wasn't helping matters now. She knew Yennefer was upset at her shortcomings but she was anything but weak, she could sense the power within her roommate and knew she was strong. She wanted to help Yennefer succeed, she wanted her to become as powerful as any mage who left this place. Something was holding her back and she needed to find what could be causing that, maybe if she found the blockade things would go smoothly. She tried to focus on what she liked, what to show Yennefer in her mind, delving into her deepest personal thoughts of before she came to Aretuza. Her happy and peaceful life that she had taken for granted all this time. She reflected on Xander, his soft dark hair, his beautiful eyes and that boyish charming smile he always wore, the one that she fell in love with, the one she missed every day. Yennefer's eyes widened, the key to Willow's mind unlocking, she'd faked this until now hoping to simply fit in, but now her powers were awakening. She could barely believe it was even happening, she was projecting, she had opened her mind to allow Yennefer in. The images were fuzzy, like dancing colours in the light, it hit her all at once as she tried to process this information, memorising every detail that she could make out. She felt all her resentment directed at Willow dissipating, replaced with gratitude, she would need to repay her for this later. "I… I see dark hair…. A smile…. A farm… someone smiling" Yennefer responded truthfully, she wondered who this boy had been to Willow if she had loved him if he knew she loved him, knowing she had left him behind to come here. Willow blushed, her cheeks darkening with embarrassment, her fingers fiddling on her lap but she remained calm, not wishing to break the connection that had allowed Yennefer to pass the class.

A look of surprise flashed across Tissaia's face, aware that Yennefer had once lied about this before, forming a false image in her mind when she previously failed. But now nothing about her words or her energy showed that she had lied, she was improving "very good piglet" she praised. Yennefer felt a sense of pride wash over her, ignoring the insult that Tissaia had become so fond of using. The words that usually stung meant nothing to her in that moment. Praise wasn't something she received often and knowing how much it angered Tissaia to do so brought her so much amusement, knowing she had done well. She flashed a brief smile at Willow, silently thanking her for helping at the cost of her embarrassment. But now it was the latter's turn to read her mind. She took a calm breath, her violet eyes focusing on Willow's hesitant green orbs, nodding silently allowing her entrance. Willow bit her lip timidly, feeling anxious about impersonally peering into the sanctum of Yennefer's mind, she knew she wasn't doing anything wrong but she still felt guilty. Yennefer peered through the shielded veil of Willow's loud and empathic mind, so many emotions and feelings hitting her all at once, how did Willow cope? It was like a storm of feelings, every heart on the planet raging on with all their thoughts. She fought through the anxiety storm of Willow's thoughts before she was able to focus, connecting to her silently.

Willow felt it, all of the repressed emotions of Yennefer, why she was so hesitant to open up, why she hated Tissaia so much and why she kept secrets. Her rage, her resentment, her jealousy, her sadness and her loneliness, the memories attached to these feelings drowning her. Her family, her father, her past, why she kept herself at a distance and why she didn't trust others easily, feeling her chest tighten as the residual energy hit her like a wave. She felt her eyes watering from the tears, feeling what Yennefer felt, biting back a sob as she felt her chest tighten and the air leave her lungs. The treatment she endured was beyond inhuman, it was pure cruelty and malice. She saw a farm, mud, pigs, Yennefer dragging herself through a pigpen, mocked, shunned and lonely, filled with self hatred and jealousy, wishing she was born a normal girl. She saw a boy, he too had dark hair and eyes, but he was tanned, charming and gentle. Was this boy Yennefer's lover? "I…. I see…" she babbled, trying to focus her words out clearly but found her voice dying in her throat due to her tears. She wanted to wipe them away but knew it would break the connection. Peering into the eyes of the other girl, silently screaming words of comfort and hoping she understood. She saw Yennefer hold bated breath, waiting for her secrets to be revealed "I see… a smile….a farm…. Warm sunshine…" Willow babbled, she was only half lying after all. Yennefer's expression softened, surprised at Willow defending her, expecting her to reveal what she saw the class, embarrassing her.

Tissaia smiled "very good Willow" she hummed

Willow gripped her hands in front of her timidly, she felt elated, powerful and yet surprised, the power had flowed through her so naturally, peering into Yennefer's mind so easily. Her walls, locks and defences crumbling bringing all her secrets to life, yet she felt as though she had betrayed her somehow, broken her trust, would Yennefer hate her now? She wanted nothing more than to hide herself away in the school library, hide away in her chambers and comfort herself. She wanted to basque in this feeling and yet felt shame for what she had done. She'd forced her way into a private place and felt she had overstepped her boundaries. "Willow…" Tissaia responded sternly, she was doubting herself which would only hold her back, she needed to feel pride right now. She had done exactly what was expected of her to grow into a powerful witch, she had revealed yet another new gift in her classes in which she was pleased. Willow also harboured the gift of Geokinesis or plant manipulation, something she had never seen before in Aretuza, she was indeed a special case. If she spent her time doubting herself she would never advance, she would merely shrivel and wither into nothing, her magic wasted.

"Yes… yes Ma'am" Willow babbled shyly, making sure not to avert her gaze or bow her head as usual. She stared back into her teachers eyes and made sure to pay attention. As much as her mind told her to make an excuse and run, she knew better and was wary of the consequences if she did otherwise.

"You did very well today, you've been practising your telekinesis, I'm glad to see you advancing so well, but don't lose track of things" she warned. Practicing her gifts would strengthen them, pushing her limits and recognising her power, she was taking the initiative. Thinking on her feet and developing would become her strength someday if she ever met an enemy. However, if she made a mistake or passed the wrong judgement, the price would be high. She needed to understand the balance of becoming a mage, to always be in control of yourself. Willow nodded nervously to which Tissaia smiled and walked away, yet she still felt as though she was under her harsh gaze. The feeling of her eyes burned into her, judging her, watching her. She forgot what it was like to be invisible, back when nobody paid attention to her, when she could pass through life unnoticed, how she would miss it. She was pleased to have been praised after being here merely a day, her confidence rising, but she hoped it wouldn't come at the expense of Yennefer.

Suddenly, she caught a familiar glimpse of her roommate, approaching her slowly with a wary expression, expecting to be yelled at or argue with her about how their class turned out. Instead she was met with relief and gratitude "Thank you, for not telling anyone about Istredd" she mumbled. She hadn't told anyone of their affair, nor of her feelings for the fellow mage, Istredd helped her feel confident in herself. He was the first boy to show an interest in her, he didn't cower, insult or belittle her for being a hunchback, he made her feel beautiful, wanted. Things she had never felt before and she wanted more.

Willow blushed, it wasn't her secret to tell and she didn't want to publicly humiliate her "You….you told everyone about Xander but… maybe I deserved it for showing you up in class…" she mumbled. She was used to being bullied, it was commonplace back home whenever she messed up. The same names of mockery, judging stares and cruel words, all too familiar. She was always a disappointment in the eyes of others, because she never fit in to any clique. Wishing more than anything she could be better, be someone people admired instead of someone they avoided.

Yennefer's expression formed into guilt, she knew how precious first love was and how important crushes were. Willow had been brought here before she could confess her feelings and now she never would. She'd been robbed of a love before it could even blossom and now everyone knew that. But then given the vague details, they could create their own stories. "I'm sorry, you didn't deserve that" she muttered, he had meant a great deal to Willow, someone, she could never have. The last thing she wanted to do to Willow was hurt her, isolate her and make her feel like a freak. She knew how painful that could be.

"So… does this make us even?" Willow asked hopefully, a small smile forming on her lips that made the latter feel safe. She felt like she could tell Willow anything and know her secrets would be guarded safely. She did want to become a friend to Yennefer, even if it took time, willing to let their trust grow and form naturally.

Yennefer smiled, she'd always believed she would be alone in this life, nobody to care for her, but it seemed she was wrong. Someone had been merciful and sent her a blessing in the form of a friend. She'd longed for companionship her whole life and now one was within her grasp at last "Yes, I suppose…." she mumbled. She'd never had a friend before, she'd never realised how soothing it could feel, to have companionship aside from your own.