Pointing at the object the higher vampire was examining, the ring he had just removed from the severed hand, the witcher asked, "That ring looks rather interesting. I've never seen the metal it's made from before, and those decorations..."
"It comes from our homeland, the place where we lived before the Conjunction of the Spheres. In fact, the ring originally belonged to me. It was a gift from an old friend.
"He was something of a... humanitarian. He believed that we vampires were merely visitors to this world and that we ought to respect humans and the Elder Races."
"Respect? You mean not raising us like livestock or slaughtering us for food?"
"Young man... Your choice of words is rather sharp and extreme, but yes, essentially. That is precisely why I gave the ring to Dettlaff, to remind him of the principles my old friend advocated."
"I have good reason to be sharp and extreme. Orianna!
"Regis, although I haven't met her in person, I've seen the orphanage she sponsors!"
Regis set the ring down with a click.
"Ah... I see. Humans being kept as semi-free-range livestock? Is your reaction due to the relatively short time since your mutations, or did the children's circumstances awaken your empathy?"
Victor raised an eyebrow but offered no answer.
"Remarkable! Did you discover her through your prophetic abilities? By all rights, her disguise should be flawless."
Settling back into his armchair, the higher vampire picked up the jug of Mandrake Cordial from the floor, took a swig, and pushed it toward the witcher.
"I admit that Orianna is a friend of mine. We have known each other for many years, although I do not entirely agree with her philosophy. Nevertheless, she is not a bloodthirsty killer, and so we remain friends.
"It may be rather disingenuous of me to put it this way, but her actions could be interpreted as a transaction. Perhaps thinking of it in those terms would make you feel a little better?"
"Ah! Like parasitic blood flukes, leeches, or mosquitoes feeding on their hosts?"
"From the perspective of a higher vampire, I would be more inclined to compare it to humans raising cattle. In fact, she treats them with considerably more warmth and affection than humans typically show their livestock. At the very least, the children will never be slaughtered and eaten.
"However, I have no objection to your interpretation. Just refrain from expressing it in Orianna's presence. She considers herself a loving mother, and her temper is not something to be taken lightly."
"A higher vampire?"
"A higher vampire."
Victor calculated the cost of eliminating her, the resistance he might encounter, and the fate of the happy children living in the orphanage.
Then the witcher picked up the jug of Mandrake Cordial and took a long swig.
"By the way, can't you simply summon Dettlaff? You're both higher vampires, and you're connected by a blood bond. Surely there must be some way..."
Regis grimaced, looking somewhat troubled.
"If I am to be perfectly honest, there is indeed a way. But believe me, we would be better off not even considering it. It is a measure to be employed only when every other possibility has been exhausted."
Victor stared at him, his eyes shining with interest.
Their gazes met, and after a moment of silent hesitation, Regis glanced toward the stuffed goat mounted among the crypt's decorations.
"Alas... There is a being capable of summoning Dettlaff. He possesses both the authority and the power to compel Dettlaff to appear at a designated location.
"However, merely approaching this being would be akin to walking a tightrope over the mouth of an active volcano. It would be extraordinarily dangerous for both of us, and I am unwilling to take that risk.
"Shall we return to discussing Resonance instead?"
The higher vampire's vague hints immediately led the witcher to an answer buried in his prophetic memories.
The Unseen Elder.
A name absent from every written record, one of the vampire race's most closely guarded secrets.
And when Victor recalled his experience dealing with that elder while playing as Geralt, he drew a sharp breath.
Confronting that unpredictable tyrant and surviving had been nothing short of a miracle made possible by the game's developers bending the rules in Geralt's favor.
That particular option was immediately ruled out.
The young man readily changed the subject.
"Let's talk about Resonance, then! Covinarius spent half his life proving his theory. I imagine brewing Resonance can't be easy?"
"You are quite correct.
"Apart from Dettlaff's tissue, we shall also require a powerful occipital lobe stimulant, in other words, a potion that enhances visual perception."
Regis rose and walked over to the bookshelf, opening a reference volume.
"Let me see. There are several ingredients we could choose from, but unfortunately, every one of them is exceedingly rare...
"Powdered graytop mushrooms. They disappeared two centuries ago.
"Spotted wight saliva would also suffice, but that species has likewise been extinct for a hundred years.
"Kobold eyeballs... They are intelligent humanoids, and I suspect you would have little desire to gouge out their eyes.
"Given our limited time, it seems I shall have to enlist the assistance of some friends..."
"Actually, I have every ingredient you just mentioned, including the kobold eyeballs."
Victor's calm, understated declaration earned him an astonished look from Regis.
"You possess all of them...? And you have them with you?"
Actions spoke louder than words.
The alchemist reached into his Endless Herbal Satchel and produced a vial of spotted wight saliva, a small packet of powdered graytop mushrooms, and several dried, shriveled kobold eyeballs.
The spotted wight saliva had come from Lady Marlene, the cook at Corion Manor, who had once been transformed into a monster by a curse.
After lifting her curse, Victor had divided the entire pot of soup brewed by the spotted wight into test tubes and stored them in his herbal satchel.
As for the graytop mushrooms, he had the hermit Pinastri to thank. She had brought this extinct species back into existence.
The kobold eyeballs had been even easier to obtain.
He had simply bought them.
Novigrad's alchemy supply shops had been stocking them for years.
After displaying his collection, Victor returned the kobold eyeballs and spotted wight saliva to his satchel.
"Since I'm the one who's going to drink the Resonance, I'd rather we didn't use eyeballs or saliva. Neither sounds particularly appetizing."
"Humans... Such peculiar convictions."
The vampire chuckled as he picked up the packet of powder and sniffed its contents.
"Perfect quality. You truly are an exceptionally talented alchemist. It brings me considerable joy to see this plant again.
"Ah, please pay me no mind. When one's life stretches on for so long, one cannot help but occasionally lament the fleeting nature of things."
The witcher rubbed the stubble on his chin.
"Regis, before we begin brewing Resonance, there's actually a small favor I'd like to ask of you. I hope you'll be willing to oblige..."
The young man proceeded to explain his request in detail, along with his reasons for making it.
The higher vampire readily agreed.
"In that case, there is no time to lose. Let us head outside at once."
Regis placed the powdered graytop back on the table. Beside it, the severed hand was still twitching faintly.
He then took the lead toward the crypt's exit.
"We're heading back into the forest. Will Angoulême be all right sleeping here? What if some other monster wanders through...?" Victor asked.
The girl was currently lying inside a luxurious coffin, breathing evenly as she enjoyed a peaceful, comfortable sleep.
The higher vampire chuckled.
"There is no need for concern. The entire area surrounding this crypt lies within my territory and is saturated with my scent. Ordinary monsters would never dare approach. Even rats and insects are too frightened to enter."
With that assurance, Victor finally relaxed.
Nevertheless, worried that Angoulême might accidentally catch a chill, he took out a white cloth and gently draped it over her.
Only then did he follow Regis out of the crypt.
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