Chapter 11: We Are a Loving Family
Most Witchers' mortality rate is primarily concentrated in the first year after they leave the mountain.
Others die at the hands of unexpected monsters as a result of misinformation provided by villagers;
Others are because smart villagers can't produce, or don't want to produce, the agreed sum, then get lured into a barn, tricked, under the pretense of fetching hidden gold, but what they end up waiting for is a pitchfork jab from behind.
In the Witcher code, those who pass all Witcher tests with flying colors should leave their Witcher school in peace, wander the world, and slay monsters for money.
Geralt, Eskel, Lambert, Berengar.
Together with old Vesemir, they all walked this way back then.
But Geralt believes that a tree moved dies, a person moved lives, the Wolf School is already sparsely inhabited, so naturally there is no need to watch ancient traditions.
He can make an exception for Lynn.
"Then I'll bother you, Geralt."
Having Geralt, the "tale" hero, as a traveling companion, is definitely the best.
Of course, Eskel is okay too.
Although the half of his face with the almost disfigured scar is scary, Eskel is actually a very kind person.
As for Lambert, forget about it.
Although Lynn knows Lambert is not a bad person.
But Lambert's mouth is really too smelly.
Stronger than feet with black silk and wrapped in little leather shoes.
If he becomes his partner, Lynn is fearful that someday he won't be able to hold back, and will sneak onto Lambert's bed at night and smother him with a pillow.
It had taken an eternity, but Vesemir returned.
He was still holding a silver wolf head medallion in his hand.
"Since you'll be conducting the final test, then this medallion is yours. Put it on and go to the Circle of Elements atop the mountaintop."
"As long as you succeed with this medallion, you will no longer be an apprentice, but an actual Witcher."
Lynn took the Wolf School Witcher medallion from Vesemir's hand.
And wrapped it around his neck.
"It suits you wonderfully, Lynn." Geralt continued to say.
Eskel smiled and nodded as well.
Lambert's voice also relaxed a bit: "As long as you come back alive tomorrow, I'll never call you kid again."
"As for that, Lambert, you'll take Lynn to participate in the Medallion Trials tomorrow."
The second Vesemir's voice fell, Lambert and Lynn complained simultaneously.
"The Medallion Trials are first to be done by apprentices, but out of the group of apprentices, Lynn alone survived, so someone has to accompany him."
Lambert threw up his hands: "Come on now, Vesemir, old chap, I see the reasoning, but you still didn't explain why I have to take this kid, I am not a babysitter."
Vesemir put aside his smile.
"But Lynn is a student of the Wolf School, your brother, I hope tomorrow's Medallion Trials will make you clearly understand this point."
Vesemir paused, and continued: "Of course, if that is not enough, then you'll be answerable for Lynn's path after leaving the mountain."
Lynn and Lambert, having heard these words, shivered together.
Lambert squeezed out a smile that was worse than tears: "Ahaha, I think we'll have a good time together tomorrow, okay, kid?"
Lynn also mechanically repeated: "Of course, we are a loving family."
After dinner, they all returned to their rooms to rest.
Lynn did the dishes willingly.
Having washed the dishes, having returned to his room, Geralt folded his arms and leaned against the wall outside Lynn's room.
"Lynn, though I realize Lambert's mouth smells, and Eskel and I generally can't stand him, he is an experienced Witcher, I suppose there's no helping it."
"The Medallion Trials are unconventional, so tomorrow, regardless of what Lambert tells you, you do, alright?"
"If Lambert gets in your face, you put up with it until you get back, and when you do, Eskel and I will see to fixing him."
Early the next morning.
When Lambert went downstairs, he found Lynn dressed already in all her equipment and set to go out.
"You're busy, not bad, look quite the thing, but whether you have actually got the talent, or are playing at it, we shall soon find out."
"Appears as though I shall have to listen to you nag all day."
"That's true, kid, I know you'd rather team up with Geralt or Eskel. That's okay, I don't want to babysit you either, so we're even. But, listen, I'm going to say but."
Lambert suddenly shelved his usual skeptical expression and spoke in all seriousness.
"Playing is playing, joking is joking, the Medallion Trials are no joke. When I competed in the Medallion Trials that year, two kids came back alive."
"So, if you still wish to have Codwen's villagers spit on you, help the plain villagers with monster hunting and be rewarded not in gold but with pitchforks, kill a Leshen with a great struggle, and the gold you gain is not enough to repair your equipment."
"Then you better stick by me, no matter what I say, you do, clear?"
Lambert assumed Lynn would resentfully perfunctorily oblige.
At least if he was Lynn, he would do so.
He did not believe Lynn would take it seriously.
Such a reaction unsettled Lambert a bit.
He coughed, hiding his embarrassment.
"Because you see, that is the best, I hope we can have a good trip now."
"Let's eat first, we'll leave after breakfast."
Following breakfast, and resting for an hour, the two left the castle.
The so-called Medallion Trials consist of swimming through a lake, going through a Cyclops's cave, then Troll's grounds, and arriving at the Circle of Elements.
Activating the Witcher medallion at the Circle of Elements is deemed to have completed the trial.
The most dangerous part of the whole Medallion Trials is not crossing the Troll's grounds, but the Cyclops's cave.
Trolls seem fierce-looking, but problems can be solved using dialogue.
Cyclops, though, can't communicate.
As soon as a Cyclops is awakened, it's fight to the death.
Lynn knew that some of Lambert's gang kids fell into the hands of the Cyclops.
Lambert, having left Vincent's castle, seemed to be in a good humor.
He started off by mimicking Vesemir even.
"Only those who take up the medallion are deserving of the Witcher's trial path."
"Has Teacher Vesemir heard you imitating him?"
"He has, the old man was in a bad mood," Lambert paused, trying to think how to explain, "so I don't do this in front of him."
He turned to Lynn: "Kid, do you know what comes next?"
Lynn nodded slightly.
"I know, lake, Cyclops, and Trolls."
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