It's choices like this, where there is no *right* answer, that make this game so freakin' awesome ;DTriss has got a lot in her favour. She just rescued Geralt when he was dying in the swamp and Geralt needs her magical abilities to help in his quests. As other people have already pointed out, she knows a lot about magic and therefore would understand Alvin's abilities better and perhaps be able to teach him. She was living in Kaer Morhen with the Witchers and has been involved from the start. However, it is also clear that she has her own agenda and that she sees The Source more as a pawn to use in her political games.Shani, on the other hand, is much too indulgent with Alvin. Sure, the boy has been through a lot and needs some nurturing, but I worry in the long term if he will become a spoilt little brat (with magical powers, what a great combination!). I delayed the decision for as long as possible, but in the end I chose Shani because I felt that she was a better friend. However, I wondered if I had made the right choice, since she seems to want more from Geralt than he is really capable of giving. In the end, Geralt knows it is his destiny to break her heart - he is the doomed anti-hero, nothing he can do to change that. It isn't really honest for him to pretend that Shani, Geralt & Alvin could settle down and become a happy family.Ultimately, I think Geralt is better off with Triss, who is less emotionally attached. It is kinder to Shani to break it off sooner rather than later.