Istredd's eyebrows shoot up and he laughs. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think this was all a clever plan to get into my good graces so you could get into hers." By knowing better, it's because he has literally touched Kell's mind. He knows the boy's true feelings. There are people who would absolutely do that.

Technically Lucifer was thinking of just that when he decided to take him as a placeholder roommate. Of potential use with Yennefer. Little did either of them know where that road would lead down.

He pats Kell's head though so he can know that he is simply teasing. "Yes, I can, but trust me when I say the best I can do is a foot in the door. Yenna is a hard teacher and difficult to impress. You'll learn a great deal from her." Istredd might make her agree with some reluctance to the idea, but from there Kell will have to impress her on his own. She's not going to waste her time. He thinks Kell seems to understand that though.

Yennefer doesn't currently have access to her Chaos, they're still working that out, but she has excelled in Thorne using their magics, including alchemy. Kell won't get a better teacher in terms of someone used to using a different magic forced to learn this world's instead.

"Don't suck up to her. Be real and respectful. And work harder than you're used to."