"I must say that these violations of nature, known as witchers, are more loathsome than any living thing. They are the products of evil spells and witchcraft. They are villains without conscience or morality, entirely devoid of principle. They are true creatures from hell, skilled only in taking life."
Excerpt from Monstrum, or A Portrayal of Witchers
...
Walking through Vizima Palace for the third time, the witcher had more or less come to understand the locations of several important halls. This direction was clearly not toward the audience hall, but rather toward the royal suites by the side-gallery gardens.
Following the attendant's footsteps, he passed through a corridor decorated with tapestries and round shields, crossed longswords, javelins and glaives, greatswords and poleaxes.
Stopping before the suite door, Victor was removing his weapons when Radovid V happened to come out from inside. The two came face to face. The witcher calmly stepped aside, placed a hand over his chest, and bowed, yielding the way to the little bald king.
The king of Redania was also as composed as ever, as though they had never met before. He nodded slightly in satisfaction, then left with dignified grace, accompanied by his attendants.
Victor walked into the room. Candle stands filled the surroundings, and the place was brightly lit. Sitting before the oak desk in the center was the king of Temeria, Foltest, whose piercing gaze was studying the witcher, Victor Corion.
The wall opposite the door was covered with hunting trophies. The heads of elk and stags contrasted amusingly with the bared fangs of wild boars, bears, and lynxes. On the perches beside them were many falcons and hawks of different colors, their feathers perfectly orderly. They had been hollowed out and stuffed with dry grass.
After the witcher bowed deeply in salute, he raised his head and observed the surroundings with interest. But the most eye-catching thing was still the "pterosaur" nearby. The taxidermy was exquisitely made and still looked vivid and lifelike.
Noticing his gaze, the king said to Victor, "My grandfather's collection," while rising and walking to the fireplace. He personally placed a huge log into the fire. "What a pity it was the last pterosaur around Vizima. Come, closer. Chat with me."
Glancing at Vernon Roche, who stood nearby with his hand on his sword, the King's Hand was also somewhat familiar. He had been responsible for the guard detail during several previous audiences. Victor stepped over to Foltest's side.
That handsome and noble profile belonged to the king the alchemist was second most familiar with. "Victor of Bell Town. Come to think of it, this is the third time we have met!"
"Yes, Your Majesty. It is my honor."
"The Dragonborn Bard. I remember your story, a witcher apprentice who repaid kindness with gratitude. But I did not expect that after leaving La Valette, in just over a month, you would already have completed your mutations and become a formal witcher."
Foltest's opening words were very direct, his voice dignified and his attitude gentle, like an uncle from next door, making it very hard to feel any aversion toward him.
Victor bowed slightly, thanking the king for his attention. Foltest waved a hand, indicating there was no need to mind it.
"I believe you must know that I would not summon you here without reason. There is a grave matter before me now, weighing upon my mind. A curse from the past has reappeared and once again entangled my daughter. I want you to lift it! Again! Just as your predecessor once did for me. Perhaps you have heard the name Geralt of Rivia.
"In the next room, I have already gathered everyone who might be able to help you. Roderick, who has served as the princess's adjutant for more than a year, and Velerad, who has known Adda since childhood.
"Originally, I had also hoped that any one of my royal advisors could provide you with extensive magical knowledge and female intuition. Regrettably, at the moment when I need them most, they seem to have failed in their duties!
"So now, Victor Corion, are you willing to fulfill the duties of a witcher and provide me with your services?"
"As you wish, Your Majesty." The witcher had originally intended to accept the mayor's commission anyway. Now it was merely a matter of switching to a more noble client, so there was naturally no need to change his original intention.
But after agreeing readily, the boy discovered that the king did not mean for him to leave immediately.
The flames burned fiercely, illuminating the side of Foltest's face. "I am ruling over a country full of fools!" There was faint anger in the ruler's voice. "This chaos should never have happened, yet while I was traveling outside, it happened anyway and forced me to rush back to deal with it!"
Victor blinked and did not reply.
"The people I left behind to watch the house have disappointed me greatly. One fellow even used the opportunity to blackmail me for more power! If it were you, would you be angry? Would you choose bloody revenge?"
"Forgive me, my lord, but I do not understand what you mean. Generally, we witchers do not interfere in politics."
"You do not need to understand. Maintain that neutral attitude well, unless you are prepared to serve your king with greater enthusiasm. Perhaps you would be willing to kill a target I designate?"
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but as a witcher, I'm afraid I cannot do that. We are not assassins!"
"Then shut your mouth, witcher. Before you say too much, I will give you a piece of advice. Rulers usually cannot tolerate being refused."
"You are absolutely right, Your Majesty."
"You may go, Victor. Velerad will take you to Keira Metz's suite. You have one hour to search for clues and find out exactly where my royal advisor has run off to!
"Of course, the most important matter is still my daughter Adda. I am counting entirely on you."
"I will not forget it!"
...
Not long afterward, inside Keira Metz's court suite, Victor activated his extraordinary senses and scanned the spacious bath the sorceress loved. Cold water and flower petals rippled inside it. A few platters of fruit and a bottle of Fiorano rosé sat nearby, but there was no useful information in the bathroom.
He continued searching elsewhere. While looking for clues, the witcher reflected on his conversation with the king.
Thaler had clearly regained Foltest's favor. Otherwise, the king would not have known that Victor wanted to come here. And from his tone, it could be heard that the king also had a judgment about the mastermind behind Salamandra. Sure enough, standing in different positions allowed one to see different landscapes.
Just as very few people could see the scenery currently before Victor's eyes. The witcher saw Keira's footprints appear from the teleportation anchor point. They walked to the dressing table, where she had combed her hair and changed clothes. The clothes on the floor were what she had worn that day, a sleeveless dress that showed her underarms. Then the footprints extended toward the door again, before disappearing without a trace.
The "inner-ring corridor" outside this whole row of suites usually had no attendants guarding it, but servants cleaned it regularly, so no traces remained.
However, after questioning the people guarding the "outer-ring corridor" that day, it was true that none of them had seen Keira walk out. Victor could determine that Keira had been knocked down in the inner-ring corridor outside the room.
If he extended that line of thought, the fact that no one had seen the sorceress so far might mean she was still being kept in one of the suites here. Furthermore, although the inner ring was usually unoccupied, any slightly loud movement would draw the attention of the outer ring. Keira had disappeared silently and without a trace. Had she fallen into a trap? Or was it someone she trusted?
Continuing to reason lacked enough information, and searching other rooms lacked enough authorization. And so, after an hour of detective work, the witcher could only carry his questions with him and follow Velerad and Roderick to "Old Vizima Palace," the hunting ground of the striga.
...
On the way there, the boy approached the Rose Knight. "Long time no see, Roderick. I don't think I've congratulated you yet on being promoted to count."
"Please, Victor. Let us set titles aside and focus on the more important matter before us!" His steps were heavy, and he looked very anxious.
Victor shrugged. "As you wish. The king has asked me to lift Princess Adda's curse. Is there anything you can tell me? After all, it was able to remain normal for the past fourteen years. I do not believe it would relapse again without reason. Did anything happen before the curse broke out? Or was there anything unusual?"
"Uh... I'm sorry, I don't know much. I wasn't there when the curse relapsed. But I am deeply worried. The striga's reappearance proves the royal family has been cursed. The people are extremely sensitive to signs like this. Poor princess.
"If... I mean, if... it truly comes to the point where there is no other choice, please grant her a swift and painless release, witcher. I am willing to pay you a generous additional reward for that."
Roderick spoke with considerable emotion, and Victor looked as if he shared his feelings. But deep down, the boy decided to move the knight one step further from the gray list toward the blacklist. He was simply too suspicious.
Because according to the knowledge Victor had studied, a striga curse should not easily relapse. Geralt's method when he removed the curse was clearly recorded in the Kaer Morhen texts.
At that time, he had instructed the princess that from then on, she had to wear a special necklace, a silver necklace with an imperfect sapphire, specifically a sapphire with an inclusion, plus a silver chain. Also, juniper, broom, and aspen branches had to be burned from time to time in the fireplace of her bedroom.
So the princess's curse relapsing might mean someone had switched out that necklace and placed other incense in the fire in her room. The actions described above all required someone close enough to have the chance to do it, and Adda's adjutant happened to fit.
But without evidence, Victor did not intend to make an accusation. After parting from Roderick, he next approached Velerad. The white-haired, potbellied mayor was currently drenched in sweat.
Seeing the witcher approach, the mayor forced out a slight smile. "Not bad. You look very calm. This is truly terrifying. Back then, Geralt warned us that the striga might return. Are you confident you can resolve this curse again?"
"I have some ideas, but I'm not certain they'll be effective. Perhaps you would be willing to tell me about what happened back then. How did Geralt lift the curse?"
"Of course. Geralt said that as long as someone could stay in the old manor where the striga's sarcophagus was from dusk until dawn, the spell would be lifted, and the striga could turn back into Foltest's little daughter.
"And the noise he made that night kept half the city from sleeping. When we reached the manor at dawn, the witcher and the princess were lying beside the sarcophagus in a pool of blood. Geralt nearly died, but Adda was successfully cured."
"That sounds like a method with considerable risk. If... I mean, if... it comes to the point where there is no other choice, perhaps I should give her a swift and painless release?"
"You decide for yourself what should be done. But remember, Foltest loves his daughter very much, and Geralt once saved Adda. That incident gave the king a very good impression of witchers."
...
They finally arrived in the area where the "striga" was active. Victor observed for a moment with his extraordinary senses and found the entrance to the underground crypt. But he had only walked down a few steps when the heavy iron gate at the entrance was closed and locked.
Victor froze for a moment. He patted the iron gate and received no response. After figuring it out, yet finding it somewhat unbelievable, he kicked out with one foot, producing a thunderous bang. "Velerad! Roderick! Can I fucking know what this is about?"
"When dawn comes, the iron gate will be opened again!" The answering voice was Velerad's.
"I believe you can do it. Please, my friend," Roderick said.
Friend, my ass! Although he had long known he needed to remain wary of the nobles of this era, their politeness was still very good camouflage. At the very least, Victor had not expected this trick. Sealing the door shut directly meant that if he could not resolve Adda's curse, he would become the princess's midnight snack.
Knowing perfectly well that saying anything more was useless, the boy opened the herbal satchel and immediately took the four-piece set of Thunderbolt, Blizzard, Tawny Owl, and Cat potion, plus Dragon Shout Potion and Mental Enhancer.
Thunderbolt enhanced arm strength, Blizzard enhanced reaction speed, Tawny Owl replenished stamina, Cat provided low-light vision, Dragon Shout Potion guarded against ambush, and Mental Enhancer slightly increased the power of Signs.
According to Geralt's account, this striga was six feet tall, with a body like a beer barrel. On its thick, short neck grew a head so huge it was disproportionate. It had red eyes and red hair, and its bloody mouth stretched from one ear to the other, with teeth arranged inside like daggers. Its claws bore nails sharper than a wildcat's, it moved like the wind, and it possessed monstrous strength entirely out of proportion with its body.
Geralt's solution at the time had been to hide inside the sarcophagus where she usually lived, then seal the coffin lid with the Yrden Sign and force himself to hold out until dawn.
Estimating that it was nearly midnight and that the striga was about to burst from its cage like a tiger, Victor intended to follow his predecessor's successful experience and also sleep through the night with the Yrden Sign. But before that, he first had to find that magnificent, indestructible sarcophagus that even the striga's monstrous strength could not destroy.
...
An Old Letter
"Mr. Roderick de Wett,
"Please forgive me for the lateness of my reply. I was waiting for Golan Vivaldi to confirm that the bill of exchange you provided could indeed be redeemed for sufficient funds. It is not that I distrust you, but the gods help those who help themselves, as the Kaedweni proverb says. Let us get straight to the point: there is indeed a way to make Princess Adda's curse take effect again.
"The witcher from Rivia had only basic knowledge of the arcane mysteries of magic, so he could not fully remove the spell. He could only temporarily disrupt its effect.
"To make Adda turn into a striga again, one must drip onto her food three drops of blood from her father, King Foltest, three drops of wolf blood, and three drops of bile from a freshly buried woman. Furthermore, she must have just turned one hundred years old, but not one hundred and one.
"Next, the Incepted Triangle must be cast upon the food. This should succeed, but please first think carefully about whether you truly wish to commit such a shameful act. I hope there will be another chance to do business with you in the future."
Alyssandra Deviel
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