—
Playing in the imperial palace with Cerys, his brother Anséis, and Ciri for a while, Gustave spent the day running around and exploring various places with the children—the kitchen, the garden, the training yard, and even the war strategy room.
But among all those places, the one he found most fascinating was Mousesack's mage tower. Not because of what was inside, but because the idea of druids—other than Mousesack—living within the castle walls struck him as both intriguing and somewhat comical.
After thinking it over, he could understand why these druids were able to live inside the walls, even though their preferred habitat was the wilderness. The reason was simple: the druids of Skellige were different from the Nordling druids, who were essentially naturalist activists with magical powers.
To the Skelligan druids, the most important principle was respecting nature—that was the only expectation they placed on others. They did not force non-Skelligans to follow their traditions, as they valued the customs and cultures of other peoples.
Yet Gustave also knew that among their own kind, the druids could be very strict if anyone failed to uphold tradition. This combination of traits created a striking contrast: a zealous adherence to their own customs, coupled with an open-mindedness toward understanding the societies and cultures of others.
It was not only because of these contrasting traits that the druids of Skellige were comfortable living inside the walls, but also because, in their culture, the terms "sorcerer" and "druid" were practically interchangeable.
Unlike in the North, where druids and mages were treated as entirely separate professions, in Skellige all mystics were regarded in much the same way, for in their minds all were wise individuals guiding society toward a better future.
Similarly, on Earth, the European mysticism mindset treated witches and mages as separate professions, while in some African traditions such distinctions did not exist and all magical practitioners were seen as shamans. A similar contrast appeared in this world between the Skelligans and the Nordlings, each with different interpretations of these roles.
That was why, although Mousesack and his circle of druids still preferred living in the wilderness, they had no objection to residing behind walls.
For them, it did not matter whether they lived among people or alone, or whether they conducted research in the mage tower or in the wild—as long as their message of respecting nature reached others, their purpose was fulfilled.
Not only that, but considering that Skellige was the only place with a democratic form of government in this world, Gustave could understand why they possessed this tribal yet progressive mindset—one that was unusual yet ahead of its time, with certain aspects of their ideology far more advanced than those of other regions.
Unlike druids elsewhere in the North, who were primarily focused on preventing people from cutting down trees or harming any living creature—even monsters—and who often imposed their ideology without respecting the traditions or history of others, the Skelligan druids were different.
If Gustave were to draw a comparison, he would liken the people of Skellige to the Asgardians in Marvel, but in their infancy—vehemently following their traditions, yet possessing a society more advanced than many others.
That was why, when he deduced there would be a conflict in Cintra due to the differing ideologies between sorcerers and druids, he did not worry much about it; he knew that, at the end of the day, it would not escalate into a bloodbath.
Just as Mousesack and Yennefer could argue fiercely without ever harming each other—trading only foul and spiteful words—he knew that the druids and sorcerers of Cintra would most likely behave the same way in the future.
That was also why he could amuse himself, at the thought of these two different paths of mysticism, constantly butting heads, in the years to come.
Not only that, he could already perceive some of the peripheral impacts in small ways, noticing one of the druids watching carts upon carts of flawless amber being transported into the magic academy district with clear contempt. Seeing that expression, Gustave couldn't help but chuckle to himself, knowing that these kinds of loathing looks were only the beginning.
He knew the reason for their disdain was that they understood this amber was not cultivated from living trees using Nature Magic, but was instead mined from fossilized deposits along Cintra's coastal areas—resources that were finite and nearly impossible to renew.
He also knew all too well how insatiable the need for magical materials was for these sorcerers, a demand that could easily upset the balance of the ecosystem—not only for amber, but for many other resources that could never be replenished.
Having come from a modern society and understanding the consequences of leaving finite resources unregulated, he could fully empathize with the druids' concerns. Because these were people who truly grasped the importance of renewable resources and recycling, aware of how negligence could destroy the planet or disrupt the delicate ecosystems.
That was why, as someone who understood the catastrophic effects of global warming—which could be amplified many times over by excessive magical use—Gustave intended to work closely with them on renewable resource and environmental conservation projects in the future.
Not only that, but since he also knew that the industrial machinery he planned to build would generate heavy pollution, it was clear that collaborating with these druids would become one of his priorities.
It was not merely to avoid pollution; perhaps more importantly, he wanted to preserve this beautiful, panoramic world with its flora and fauna still untouched by heavy industrialization.
Perhaps through this collaboration, he would one day be able to create a steam-powered kingdom not choked with black smog that ruined the surrounding scenery, but one filled with greenery—where the air remained fresh and safe to breathe without any health complications.
"Look! It's Madam Bretr and the rest of the Flaminika Beastmasters!"
Stopping his run around the castle garden because Ciri had stopped as well, Gustave followed her gaze toward the figures she pointed out. Seeing five female druids riding a massive bear, with several bear cubs waddling behind them, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Although he had seen hints of this in Gwent's Tuirseach Beastmaster card and in the comic The Bear and The Butterfly, where a Bear School witcher commands wolves to attack Geralt, witnessing it unfold before his own eyes was something else entirely.
Realizing that the world of The Witcher was far richer than he had originally believed, he couldn't help but sigh in amazement. Truly, without seeing and experiencing it for himself, many tidbits of information would simply go over his head. He would never have imagined something like this—female druids riding a pack of bears that behaved so docilely and obediently.
"Let's go! Let's go greet Madam Bretr!"
Catching the odd look Ciri gave him—her eyes clearly fixed on the bear cubs—Gustave could only shake his head in amusement, knowing full well she wanted to pet those soft little fluffballs before they grew into an intimidating presence.
"Madam Bretr! Wait for us! Don't go to the nest just yet!"
"Eh? Ciri, child—what brings you here? Shouldn't you be at the palace feast this eve?"
"There is! But we got bored and wanted to play outside!"
"Haih… Ciri, oh Ciri… always thinking of playing, aren't you?
"Hehehehe!"
"Now then, why've you called me? No, wait—I know well enough. You're wanting to pet Osr's little ones, aren't you?"
"Wow! Madam Bretr! You're amazing! It's like you can read my mind!"
Looking at Ciri in amusement, Bretr simply shook her head at this mainlander princess of mischief. Glancing at the rest of Ciri's playmates, she recognized Cerys, but the two boys beside her—one of them constantly licking blocks of salt while wearing a slightly bulky glove on his right hand—were strangers to her.
But since anyone who could befriend the no-nonsense Cerys had to be a trustworthy mainlander, Bretr decided it was safe enough to bring them along to the cavern breeding grounds. Stepping down from her companion Osr, she smiled at the children and said:
"In that case, up you get. Come ride with Osr. We'll head to the breeding grounds. Once we're there, you may pet Osr's little ones—and the rest of the Elder Bears' cubs—to your heart's content."
"Yay! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Madam Bretr!"
Being lifted onto Osr's back by Flaminika Madam Bretr—just after Ciri—Gustave couldn't help but feel a tremor of fear.
For most of his life, he had been taught to stay far away from animals like this—majestic creatures capable of crushing a person's head into pulp as easily as smashing a melon. The thought of being this close to such a beast, face-to-face, was terrifying enough to make his instincts scream at him to run for his life.
Coupled with the fact that the beasts in this world were far more savage and dire than the ones on Earth, the sight of a bear nearly two and a half times the size of a normal one made his knees weak just from looking at it—or even being near it.
And now, he had to ride this creature—one enhanced by Nature Magic and bloated into a living war chariot—an experience frightening enough to make him almost faint. Almost, because he knew he would never hear the end of it from the little she-devil. Even now, just from being afraid to go near this majestic beast, he had already been mocked by the protagonist girl.
"Hahahahaha! Gustave and Anséis are boys, but the two of you are scared! Look at their legs! They're quivering uncontrollably! Unlike us, right, Cerys?! We're girls, yet we're perfectly fine!"
"Hehehe! Yes, you're right! The boys are— Wait, something is wrong. I suddenly feel bad for them."
Wanting to retort to Ciri for belittling him—especially knowing she had already experienced meeting this gigantic bear beforehand—Gustave could only swallow his words, as his brother's remark had already disgraced the dignity of the entire male population. And yet, despite that, Gustave himself was trembling as he was lifted onto Osr's back.
"P-Princess Ciri… g-go ahead without m-me… I-I think I'll j-just go back… b-back to the banquet…"
Jumping down from Osr's back and landing on the ground with a dexterous movement, Ciri quickly caught up to Anséis, who was attempting to flee.
"No, no, no, no! You're not going back! You're coming with us! We're riding Osr together!"
"P-Princess Ciri! I d-don't want to! I-I'm scared!"
"Come now… he doesn't bite… Here, touch his snout…"
"N-no! No! I don't want to! I don't—"
Thump.
"Eh? Why are you suddenly sleeping, Anséis?"
Chortling as she watched the mainlander boy faint the moment Ciri forcefully dragged his hand to touch Osr's snout, Bretr could only shake her head. Truly, there would never be anyone more mischievous in all the known seas than Eist's granddaughter.
Picking the boy up from the ground, Bretr said to Ciri, "Oh, dear Ciri… I remember well how you fared the first time you laid hands on Osr. Is this your way of sharing the misery, hm? Making sure someone else feels what you once did?"
"Hehehehe! That was in the past! Now I'm brave, Madam Bretr! But… shhh… don't tell anyone, Madam Bretr… because it's fun…"
"Is it really that fun, Ciri?"
"Yes, it's fun! You should do it too sometime, Cerys! Bring someone who has never seen a bear like Osr! And—and! We can make them touch Osr's cute snout! And bam! They will either faint or run like a wuss!"
"But Gustave didn't faint or run?"
"That's because the little guy doesn't know how to have fun! Look at him! Always serious, always scowling! But… it's okay! I'll teach him how to have fun sooner or later! Just you wait!"
"Then I'll teach him how to have fun too! Can I join, Ciri?!"
"No worries, no worries! You'll be a master soon enough!"
"Alright, alright, you two—up you get. Don't stand there brewing your little wicked schemes. The hour grows late, and the younglings will be wanting their evening milk. Come now. We're bound for the northern cave—just a short walk from here."
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