She sighs through her nose, turning this over in her head. Julie has long known there is something very different and powerful about Ciri, something she can do that no one willing to speak much about, but the specifics are not anything she has ever pushed for. All she knows is that Ciri is capable of portalling (but apparently not that good at it). Beyond that, well.

Julie did not grow up in a world that prepared her for any of this. She does not understand how magic works, what the limits should be and what boundaries she is or isn't breaking. And it is maddening to suddenly have this... something new and intrinsic that she cannot explain properly and that everyone seems to think she should fear down to her core. It often makes her feel like they fear her, or would if they knew what she could do. And that's just the other Summoned. God help her if the locals ever figure her out.

And Geralt, bless his heart, is not always the best at making her feel like this connection she has so little control over is anything other than a perilous burden. A burden for him, because he thinks he has to fix the problems and right the wrongs and be constantly on guard for his loved ones. And she knows it frustrates him, that this is something he can't do for her. So it's easier to only ever bring it up when she has to, to hide the things she knows he won't approve of.

There's a thickness in her throat that makes it hard to swallow after he says that. She leans her head onto his shoulder and turns her hand to press her palm against his. "I'm not helpless," she mumbles, aiming for playfully petulant. A degree of levity so she doesn't lose her mind. "I coulda gotten back on my own. It just woulda sucked."