Sebastian held up the medallion, the griffin's head seeming to stare at them with cold, unblinking eyes. Doctor Allan's brow furrowed as he peered at the object in Sebastian's hand.
"Oh, that medallion," Allan said, waving a dismissive hand as if brushing away an insignificant detail. "I was about to remove it. It caught my attention earlier, but I assumed it was just a trinket, I thought nothing of it."
Sebastian's voice was flat, "This is a witcher's medallion, similar to the one I have, this one just belongs to a different school."
Vernon Roche stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied the object in Sebastian's hand. "Is it real? I thought they were all regular men. Just ordinary assassins."
Sebastian shook his head slowly. "No. This one is not a witcher if that's what you are trying to say. I'm saying that the medallion itself is real. It's the real deal. This belongs to a witcher... or at least, it did at some point. The craftsmanship is unmistakable, this is not a replica."
Roche's brow furrowed, "How can you tell? It could be just a perfect replica. A common necklace, anyone could have one made. There are plenty of smiths in Vizima who would be happy to craft such a thing for the right price."
Sebastian turned to face him fully, his yellow eyes blazing with intensity. "Witcher medallions are not so common. They are forged using specific techniques that have been passed down through generations. And even if you make one that resembles a medallion, you need to activate it first through a trial called the Trial of the Medallion. A medallion needs the power of the elements, and only then will it serve its purpose. It is not just a piece of jewelry, it is a tool, a weapon, a symbol of everything we are. Without that activation, it is nothing more than dead metal."
Roche's skepticism was gone, giving way to a sense of respect for the depth of Sebastian's knowledge. "It's not cosmetic? Damn, I always thought it was just for show. Something to make you look more intimidating. I've seen a couple of witchers before, they always wear them, but I never knew they actually served a purpose."
Triss stepped forward, "Of course not. Witchers use their medallions to detect magic and all sorts of magical anomalies in their proximity. It is just as much a tool as their weapons. Without it, a witcher is blind to half the dangers they face.. It vibrates in the presence of magic, alerting them to threats that their eyes might miss."
Sebastian's voice was thoughtful, his eyes still fixed on the medallion as he turned it over in his hands. "Now the question is, how did this man get his hands on one? Where did he find it? Or who gave it to him?"
"He might have killed a witcher. It's not impossible. Even the best can be brought down by numbers or treachery." Roche said.
Sebastian shook his head slowly. "No. They were not skilled enough to kill a witcher. I fought them, so I know their limits. They were trained, yes, but they lacked the instincts, the reflexes, the speed. They were not prepared for someone like me, and they certainly were not capable of killing another trained witcher." He paused, his voice dropping. "Unless this witcher was a fraud, and you don't make it to the Path as a fraud in this craft. The training alone would have killed them long before they could become a threat to anyone."
Roche sighed, it was frustration that came from dealing with mysteries that refused to yield their secrets. "Another bloody mystery. We already have enough of those, and I am running out of patience."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed, "Hold on..."
Triss looked at him, as she followed his line of thought. "You're thinking what I'm thinking..."
Sebastian's voice was low. "What if whoever hired them, or sent them to me.. knew full well they were about to die? What if they gave them this as a warning? A message for me. A person who can kill Witchers. Someone who wants me to know that they are watching."
Triss nodded slowly. "Exactly. This is a dangerous situation. But what are their motives? What do they want? And why would they go to such lengths to send you a message?"
"I don't know. But I intend to find out, I'll keep this medallion with me for now." Seb said calmly.
Roche straightened. "I don't know what's going on, but I'll do my part and find out the source of this drug. I have contacts in the underworld who owe me favors." He paused, his eyes meeting Sebastian's. "And witcher... the king will be expecting your reply soon. He's a patient man, but even his patience has limits. Do not keep him waiting too long."
Sebastian nodded. "I understand."
Roche turned and left the room, his footsteps echoing down the corridor. Sebastian turned to Doctor Allan. "Thank you for your help. We learned a great deal. Your expertise has been invaluable."
Allan smiled. "My pleasure, master witcher. I'm always happy to assist in unraveling a mystery. It makes a welcome change from the usual routine."
Sebastian smiled back then he looked at Triss and said. "We should go, we have much to do."
They made their way through the winding corridors of the palace, he could not shake the feeling that he was being watched, that unseen eyes were tracking his every move from the shadows. They reached Triss's private chambers alongside Zoltan and Dandelion, it was a sanctuary of knowledge amidst the cold formality of the palace. The room was lined with bookshelves, their surfaces filled with tomes and scrolls and ancient artifacts. The mask lay on her desk, gleaming in the candlelight.
Sebastian noticed it,"I think this will have to wait for now. There are other matters that require our attention."
Triss nodded slowly and said with a concerned voice that matched the worry in her eyes. "Yeah... this whole mess is just strange. Too many pieces that don't fit together. It feels like we're missing something important."
Sebastian looked at the griffin medallion in his hand. "A man who can kill witchers... either he is incredibly skilled, or he is a powerful mage. There are few things that can threaten a witcher, and fewer still that can kill one. This is not a message to be taken lightly.."
Triss's brow furrowed with the effort of trying to piece together the puzzle."Mages I understand... I've seen what some of them can do. But a man? Even if they are skilled, a witcher is a mutant that can kill monsters. It takes something or someone extraordinary to bring one down."
"Maybe we are just overthinking... sometimes all it takes is just a boy with a pitchfork to take one down.." Sebastian said calmly.
"C'mon now Seb.." Zoltan laughed.
Dandelion chimed in. "I don't know a man like that... could be just another witcher, Seb. You never know. Someone is jealous of your deeds already. It's inevitable, really. When you start making a name for yourself, you attract enemies. It's the price of fame."
Zoltan's voice was flat. "What deeds, you idiot? This is the lad's first time on the Path. He hasn't had time to make enemies yet. He's barely had time to make a name for himself."
Sebastian was silent for a while, his yellow eyes fixed on the medallion in his hand. Then he spoke, his voice barely a whisper, meant only for himself.
"There is a man who can kill witchers... if my memory is correct."
/-\
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