Most witcher deaths occurred in their first year after leaving the mountains.
Some died at the hands of unexpected monsters because villagers had provided false information;
Others met their end because some wretch couldn't pay, or simply had no intention of paying, the agreed reward. They were lured into a barn with claims of fetching hidden gold, only to find a pitchfork thrust into their backs instead...
Under the witchers' code, anyone who successfully passed all the witcher trials was supposed to leave their witcher school alone, travel the world, and hunt monsters for coin.
Geralt, Eskel, Lambert, Berengar...
Even old Vesemir had followed that path in his day.
But Geralt believed that while moving a tree might kill it, moving a person could give them a new lease on life. The School of the Wolf already had so few members that there was no need to cling to the old ways.
He could make an exception for Lynn.
"Then I'll be counting on you, Geralt."
Lynn nodded.
Having Geralt, the protagonist of the "story," as a traveling companion couldn't have been better.
Of course, Eskel would have been good too.
Although the scar that had all but disfigured half his face was frightening, Eskel was actually a very good person.
Lambert, on the other hand, was out of the question.
Lynn knew Lambert wasn't a bad person.
But Lambert's mouth was simply too foul.
Fouler than feet wrapped in black stockings and stuffed into little leather shoes.
If they teamed up, Lynn feared he might lose control one day and climb into Lambert's bed in the middle of the night to smother him with a pillow.
A while later, Vesemir returned.
He held a silver wolf-head medallion.
"Since you intend to take the final trial, this medallion is yours. Take it to the Circle of Elements at the summit."
"Once you successfully activate it, you'll no longer be an apprentice, but a true witcher."
Lynn accepted the School of the Wolf's witcher medallion from Vesemir.
He hung it around his neck.
"It suits you, Lynn," Geralt said first.
Eskel smiled and nodded too.
Even Lambert's tone softened a little. "As long as you come back alive tomorrow, I'll stop calling you kid."
"About that, Lambert. Tomorrow, you'll take Lynn through the Trial of the Medallion."
The moment Vesemir finished speaking, Lambert and Lynn complained in unison.
"Why me?"
"Why him?"
Vesemir smiled.
"Apprentices have always taken the Trial of the Medallion in groups, but Lynn is the only survivor of this year's apprentices. That means someone needs to accompany him."
Lambert spread his hands. "Papa Vesemir, I understand all that, but you still haven't told me why I have to take this kid. I'm not a nanny."
Vesemir's smile vanished.
"But Lynn is part of the School of the Wolf. He's your brother, and I hope tomorrow's Trial of the Medallion will make you fully understand that."
Vesemir paused before continuing, "Of course, if that isn't enough, you can be responsible for Lynn's travels after he leaves the mountains."
Lynn and Lambert both shuddered at those words.
Lambert forced a smile that looked worse than crying. "Ahaha, I'm sure we'll get along wonderfully tomorrow. Right, kid?"
Lynn's expression was stiff as he agreed. "Of course. We're a loving family, after all."
After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.
Lynn volunteered to do all the dishes.
After finishing the dishes, he headed back to his room and found Geralt leaning against the wall outside it, his arms folded across his chest.
"Lynn, I know Lambert has a foul mouth. Eskel and I often can't stand him either, but there's no question that he's an experienced witcher."
"The Trial of the Medallion is different from the previous trials, so do whatever Lambert tells you tomorrow, all right?"
"If Lambert says anything unpleasant, put up with it for now. Once you're back, Eskel and I will help you teach him a lesson."
Early the next morning.
When Lambert came downstairs, he found Lynn already geared up and ready to go.
"You're eager. Not bad. You certainly look the part, but we'll soon find out whether you've got real skill or it's all for show."
"Looks like I'll have to listen to you nagging all day."
"You bet, kid. I know you'd rather team up with Geralt or Eskel. That's fine. I don't want to be your nanny either, so we're even. But-and pay attention to this but."
Lambert suddenly dropped his usual flippant expression and spoke seriously.
"Jokes are jokes, but the Trial of the Medallion is no laughing matter. When I took it, only two kids came back alive."
"So, if you still want to experience the good-for-nothings in Kaedwen spitting at you, hunt monsters for simple, honest villagers only to get pitchforks instead of gold, and work your ass off killing a Leshen only to earn less than it costs to repair your gear..."
"Then you'd better stick close to me and do whatever I say. Understood?"
Lambert had expected Lynn to brush him off impatiently.
At least, that was what he would have done in Lynn's place.
He hadn't expected Lynn to agree in complete earnest.
That response actually left Lambert a little out of sorts.
He coughed to cover his embarrassment.
"If you understand, that's all I could ask for. I sincerely hope we'll get along on the journey ahead."
"Let's eat first. We'll leave after breakfast."
After breakfast and another full hour of rest, the two finally left the castle.
The so-called Trial of the Medallion required them to swim across a lake, pass through a cave inhabited by a cyclops, cross troll territory, and finally reach the Circle of Elements.
Activating the witcher medallion at the Circle of Elements would complete the trial.
The most dangerous part of the entire Trial of the Medallion wasn't crossing troll territory, but passing through the cyclops's cave.
Although trolls looked hideous and terrifying, problems with them could be resolved through conversation.
The cyclops, on the other hand, couldn't be reasoned with.
Once it woke, the confrontation wouldn't end until one side was dead.
Lynn knew that some of the children in Lambert's group had fallen to the cyclops.
Once outside the castle, Lambert seemed to be in a very good mood.
He even began imitating Vesemir.
"Only those who retrieve their medallions shall earn the right to embark upon the witchers' path of trials."
"Has Master Vesemir ever heard you imitate him?"
"He has. The old man wasn't pleased." Lambert paused. "So I try not to do it in front of him."
Then he turned to Lynn. "Kid, do you know what we're about to face?"
Lynn nodded slightly.
"I do. A lake, a giant, and trolls."