Ciri was out of breath when she blocked another blow from Geralt's sword. Her cheeks were red from the cold. She had an opportunity to strike, but she must have waited too long as Geralt took a quick bash and knocked her sword out of her hand.

They both paused for air. Geralt said, "You're getting better. That's enough training for today. Go back inside and warm up. I'm sure Yen will want to train you too."

Ciri nodded, too tired from sword training. They were in the courtyard. Geralt was training Ciri with swords while Eskel and Vesemir watched. Lambert was inside making potions, and Yennefer was in her room reading. Jaskier was, well, somewhere but it was always hard to keep track of him.

Ciri entered Kaer Morhen, and the warm air was thick like a wall as if smacked her face. The crackling from fireplaces and torches could be heard. Shaking the snow off her boots, she stripped the leather armor off and tossed it on the floor by the door. Now in only her blue shirt, brown pants, and leather boots, she headed to Yennefer's room.

Ciri knocked on her door and was allowed inside. Yennefer was sitting on the edge of her bed. She closed her book and sat it aside, "I'm guessing Geralt had his turn. Are you ready to practice your magic?"

She nodded and lied, "Ready as I'll ever be."

Yennefer took her time dressing for the outside weather, and Ciri took the opportunity to warm up. Geralt and Yennefer had warned her not to have back-to-back sessions, but she wanted to become stronger. When Yennefer asked her if she was ready, she meant "did you eat and bathe and relax and regain your strength?" As far as Ciri was considered, she didn't have time for such pleasantries.

They returned to the courtyard, and they practiced. Yennefer had the same result as Geralt, "You're improving."

Ciri nodded, "Thank you."

Yennefer looked back at the fortress "Let's go back inside before we freeze to death."

They returned. The smell of baking bread was in the air meaning it was getting close to dinnertime. Ciri took her available time and returned to her room for a clean change of clothes.

The dinner was mostly uneventful with everyone in their previous arrangements. Jaskier kept quiet and focused on his food. Ciri took note that he had bandages on one of his hands. He seemed to be thinking in his own world and didn't notice her.

Ciri looked across from Geralt and saw Yennefer. Deciding to make conversation, she asked, "What book were you reading?"

Yennefer paused and swallowed her meal before answering, "Oh, a silly little romance, I'm afraid."

"What's it about?" she continued.

Yennefer said, "It's a human lad who falls in love with an elf lady. He's a noble and she's a peasant, so the odds are not in their favor," she sighed wistfully, "But that's what makes it such a fine read."

"I never get to read," Ciri huffed, "I'm always practicing swords or magic."

Geral raised his eyebrow her his seat next to her, "Do you want to?"

"Of course I do," she replied, "That was the best part about all my spelling and writing classes back in Cintra."

Vesemir hummed, "Hmm. What she needs is a book-smart teacher. Someone to teach her something other than fighting and weaponry."

"And who's gonna do that?" Eskel asked, "You were the one who taught us."

"Then I shall," Vesemir concluded.

"I don't know," Lambert added, "It's been, what decades? Centuries? Are you sure you can handle it?"

"Handle what?" Jaskier asked, finally joining the conversation.

Geralt filled him in, "Ciri needs a book-smart teacher, but I'm training her with swords, and Yen's teaching her magic."

"Oh," Jaskier said, "Sure. Let me make a lesson plan first. Teaching one-on-one will be more difficult as I am more accustomed to large crowds, but I assure you it will be done just the same."

Ciri stopped him, "Wait, what?"

Jaskier asked, "Was that not an invitation to teach you, my dear?"

Lambert asked before Ciri could answer, "Why would we ask you?"

Jaskier huffed as if he were offended, "I may not be a private tutor, but I have always made sure my students soared. Now, we're in a fortress on a mountainside in the middle of winter, and you expect to find another teacher? Am I not qualified enough for you?"

"Since when are you a teacher?" Geralt asked.

If he had something in his mouth, he would have choked on it. Jaskier gaped at Geralt like a fish, not believing what he just heard, before he furrowed his brows, "Since when… Geralt, what do you think I do during the winter?"

Geralt paused. He never thought much about it. "You go back home to your family," he guessed.

"What? No. I'd rather die," Jaskier explained, "Geralt, I'm a professor at Oxenfurt."

Before Geralt could respond, Ciri stood from her seat, "Does that mean you can teach me?"

He nodded, "Yes."

"Wait a minute," Eskel said, "What are you going to teach her? Music?"

"Music is very versatile," Jaskier responded, "You need to understand mathematics for the notes, writing to compose your songs, and reading to understand other works. Trust me when I say I can teach her."

Geralt sighed, unsure what to do. The looked between Jaskier and Ciri and decided to trust his best friend. "Alright," he agreed, "You can teach her."

Ciri grinned, "Thank you!"

Jaskier nodded, "I'll need time to make a lesson plan. I'll try to have it done by the end of the week," he turned to Ciri, "Starting next week, you'll be addressing me as Professor Pankratz."

"Pankratz?" Ciri asked.

"It's my name," Jaskier assured her, "They called me Professor Pankratz at the university."

Yennefer questioned, "I thought your name was Julian."

Jaskier said, "It is. My name is Julian Alfred Pankratz."

"So your students called you Professor Pankratz," Ciri said, "Then so shall I."

They continued their dinner. Afterward, when they were heading to their rooms, Vesemir caught Geralt's attention in the corridor. "There's something strange about your friend," the old man said.

Geralt questioned, "What do you mean?"

Vesemir said, "Jaskier has a middle and last name. That's rare. Even we do not have last names. He must come from a powerful house."

"No," Geralt said, "He doesn't have a hometown. Like mine of Rivia or Yen's of Vengerberg or Ciri's of Cintra."
"He doesn't or he hasn't told you?" Vesemir told his son, "We all come from somewhere. Have you ever asked?"

"No," Geralt admitted, "I haven't."

"Then maybe you should. Good night, Geralt."

They split ways. Geralt thought about what he said.

The next morning, Geralt and Yennfer were walking the halls of Kaer Morhen together. They were enjoying each other's company, taking in each other's scents and presence, and Geralt thought about holding her hand. From down the hall, they could hear talking. Jaskier was blabbering on about something they couldn't quite understand.

They approached their voice and discovered he was in a small side room primarily used for storage. They took a peak in and were surprised to see the room had been rearranged. Their crates at either been moved to the wall or moved to a different room entirely for more space. A small desk and chair at in the middle. Ciri sat in it with ink, quill, and book. Jaskier stood in front of her with a large chalkboard leaning against more crates and the wall to make it taller. The board was covered with chalk and diagrams. Words like "sentence" were circled with arrows pointing to different words such as "noun", "verb", "adjective", and "adverb". Jaskier was standing at the board with an air of knowledge and professionalism. It was something Geralt rarely saw. He caught glimpse of it on occasion, such as when Jaskier was preparing a band for their share performance at a job, but he had never seen it so intense.

Ciri raised her hand, "Professor?"

"Yes?" Professor Pankratz answered.

"Would you please repeat the last point you made? I didn't quite understand it."

He asked, "Would you rather I rephrase it instead? You'll better understand it then."

"Yes please."

"Alright," he agreed, "So with sentence structure, the key point is-"

Geralt and Yennefer stopped listening after that. They weren't his students. They smiled at each other and continued on with their walk.

That night, Geralt and Yennfer decided to share their bed. They were in Yennefer's room. Geralt was in his pants, shirtless, on her bed, and she was in a black nightgown. He leaned over to kiss her when they heard a knock on their door. Geralt huffed in annoyance. Yennefer assured him, "I'll get it."

She cracked open the door and saw Ciri standing there holding a piece of paper. She said, "I'm sorry to bother you."

"Not at all," Yennefer said, "What is it?"

Ciri answered, "I need help with my homework."

Yennefer snorted, "What?"

Geralt said from behind her, "Jaskier gave you homework?"

She nodded and handed her paper to Yennefer. Geralt got out of bed and stood behind her. He said, "It can't be that hard."

Yennefer handed it to him. He looked down at the paper, "Fuck."

The next day, Professor Pankratz was surprised to find that he had two students in class.