This time I skipped the cutscenes perfectly. Also found a new glitch that shaves off a lot of time. After you talk to Vesemir in Kaer Morhen he has to bump into you, then he gets staggered for a few seconds. If you run away fast enough the game unloads him and he will not move towards his position at the river. Once you meditated he is still where he was before the game unloaded him, but also has the dialogue like he would be at the river. If you run up to Kaer Morgen Vesemir will spawn again and you can now get the dialogue options that let you proceed, without having to run the longer way to the river.