Istredd stops himself before he would argue against letting them do that, because it's not him arguing in concern of the young mages. It's the Brotherhood mindset, that they're too important to be left alone. Especially now, with so few mages, they need them. It's the toxic thinking that they're still learning how to walk back on. He assumes Yennefer and the others will struggle with this too, knowing how to unravel the upbringing they have. He rubs his fingers into his eyes.

"Our time - the mages - is over. Even if Yenna trains new ones, we don't have the power anymore to manipulate thrones. I'm not sure what she'd be training them for, outside of finding Vilgefortz and killing him." Partly revenge, partly for the good of all. That man cannot be allowed to live, he's insanely dangerous, and he does intend good. Istredd thinks they never knew him even a little. He was so different, afterward.

"She said if she finds Vilgefortz, they'll find me." Which is true. If he survives to that point, so there is hope. They might not know to look for him, but Istredd is positive the man will keep him somewhere accessible to him. "I know it shouldn't matter." He can't force his brain to do that. He turns his head toward Lucifer.

"Come closer. Pull me into your arms." Lucifer doesn't know instinctively how to comfort, and that's fine. Istredd has to learn how to ask for what he wants anyway. "Tell me that we are going to do everything we can to keep us here and together. And that you care about me more than they ever could."