Lambert, Lambert, what a prick

It was a rough neighborhood. Red caped dwarves everywhere, bringing axes wherever they want. Vesemir and Mikael saw the fear in the locals' eyes as those gangs passed them, it seemed they were a cruel ruler. One thing that Vesemir noticed, is that the outskirts of Novigrad were filled with nonhumans. Elfs, dwarves, and maybe even Dopplers lurk around these bundles of buildings outside of the 'safe' walls of Novigrad.

But then again, they are non-humans, perhaps it is safer here than inside the walls.

Vesemir and Mikael had just rested in the seven cats inn, just outside Novigrad. Vesemir had left Mikael in the inn to ask around, questioning people if they had seen a witcher other than him around here.

Mikael meanwhile, was sitting inside the inn, watching what seemed like a fist fight tournament unfolding in his very eyes.

"So… Tell me about this city." questioned Mikael in his mind. "Anything I should be worried about?"

Miquella then appeared before him, sitting on the stool beside Mikael, watching the fist fight with him.

"The free city of Novigrad…" spoke Miquella. "It is just a name. There is nothing 'free' about this city. But again, it depends on what view you have."

"Meaning?"

"To the local religion, the church of eternal fire, 'free' means they can do whatever they can in this city, accuse whoever they want to, and execute whenever they want."

"Execute?"

"You will see it when you enter the city." hummed Miquella. "To gangs and bandits… this city is filled with opportunity. Corrupt guards, unmonitored neighborhoods, and rampant nepotism plagues this 'free' city."

"Okay… that's a whole thing to worry about…"

"Do not worry," said Miquella. "Blend in, avoid confrontation, and do nothing that catches attention. While you can take them out, we do not want to annihilate the whole city."

"I'll try…" murmured Mikael.

Vesemir then entered the inn once again, it looks like he knows where this 'Lambert' is. The old man walked to Mikael, and sat down.

"He's hunting an Ekimmara around the outskirts." Vesemir informed. "The neighborhood is quite small, so it'll be easy to track him down, especially with his 'eye-catching' look."

"Alright then, let's go now."

—

As Mikael and Vesemir walked through this rough neighborhood, a sound of 'explosion' suddenly sounded from one of the two-story houses. The two quickly turned around, and saw an Ekkimara, thrown down the building towards the streets below.

Mikael and Vesemir quickly unsheathed their swords, and rushed towards the lower vampire.

The vampire screeched, intimidating the locals that made them run away, clearing the streets. Then, a witcher with black leather armor came out of the destroyed house, silver sword in hand.

As soon as the witcher saw Vesemir, he raised his eyebrow.

"Old man? What are you doing here?" he questioned.

"Looking for you." Vesemir answered as he raised his sword. "But talk later, focus on the Ekimmara Lambert!"

"Relax Vesemir, not an amateur anymore." scoffed Lambert.

Lambert then drank a black potion that made his veins throbbed and changed to a color of black. He then threw a bomb towards the Ekimmara, spreading silvery dust around the monster.

He then rushed towards the vampire, stabbing it in the chest. The Ekimmara didn't bother to pull out the sword, instead, it bit Lambert, drinking his blood quickly.

But as soon as the vampire finished drinking, and Lambert took a step back, a bit light headed from the biting, the vampire's beast eyes went wide as his body weakened.

The Ekimmara then tried to run away. Mikael saw that Lambert wasn't focused right now, so he took it to his own hand, and rushed towards the vampire.

He blocked its path, brandished his sword, and quickly cut off the Ekimmara's legs.

The Ekimmara fell to the ground as its legs were cut off, rolling on the ground, wailing in pain.

"Ekimmara had tremendous healing ability." informed Miquella in his head as Mikael walked slowly to the vampire. "But once that witcher drank the black blood potion, and the vampire drank his blood, its ability became useless. If he hadn't, the legs would've been regenerated instantly."

Mikael hummed, and stepped on the Ekimmara's dying body. He then swung his sword towards the neck, cutting it clean.

Mikael sheathed his sword, and took the head with his only hand.

He then walked towards Lambert, and threw the head to him.

"I had it under control." Lambert snorted as he took the head.

"Yeah… sure…" Mikael chuckled.

"Old man, who's the kid?"

"Someone that needed help." the old man said, crossing his arms. "Needed a favor from you."

"Favor?" Lambert raised his eyebrow. "That's rare…"

"Bring the young man to Novigrad." Vesemir continued. "Bring him to Triss."

"Me? Babysitting?" scoffed Lambert. "Not a chance old man."

"Trust me Lambert, you won't be babysitting." said Vesemir. "He'll be the one to babysit you, I just need someone that knows Triss to bring him to her."

"What for?"

"His memories." answered Vesemir. "He lost it."

"Like Geralt?" questioned Lambert in surprise.

"Long story…" Vesemir sighed. "Let's claim your reward first."

—

The group walked towards a Redanian outpost, and their path was blocked by a guard.

"Here, I killed it." said Lambert, dropping the head on the ground.

"Who would've thought…" murmured the guard. "Alright, I'll bring the inspector."

"Don't need to waste your time, I can do it on my own." insisted Lambert.

The guard raised his eyebrow. "Can't argue with reason… alright… you can enter, the rest of your group are not allowed though."

"It's fine." hummed Lambert. He turned to Vesemir and Mikael. "Wait here."

Lambert then entered the base alone, bringing the head with him. Vesemir and Mikael waited outside, leaning against a wall, watching as people passed through them. Dwarfs, elves, humans, all combined together in this neighborhood.

Suddenly, from the inside, they could hear shouting and groaning. The guard in front panicked, and entered the base, leaving Vesemir and Mikael alone.

"Know what happened inside?" questioned Mikael casually, not moving an inch.

"Probably Lambert messing around again." sighed Vesemir as he stood straight. "Come on, let's check it out."

The two then walked towards the door, and entered it. But then, someone bumped Mikael, stumbling back.

"Hold him kid!" Lambert suddenly shouted.

Mikael raised his brow, and grabbed the man who bumped him, making him face Lambert.

"Where's Karadin!?" shouted Lambert as he took the man from Mikael, slamming him to the wall.

"I-I dunno alright?!" the supervisor panicked. "I- I've lost contact with him!"

"Then surely you must know who still is!"

"I- I don't know either!" answered the man in desperation. "B-But, Vienne's here! She's at seven cats inn!"

"Vienne?"

"The sniper!" he answered. "S-She's quite close to Karadin!"

Lambert then dropped the man to the floor. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

He then pulled out his steel, before decapitating the man, killing him instantly.

Vesemir frowned as he saw this. "Must you kill him?"

"Yes." Lambert said in a cold tone.

"Okay Lambert, what's going on?" questioned Vesemir.

Lambert just stared at Vesemir and Mikael, and sighed. "I'll tell you on the way."

—

As the group were walking towards the Seven cats inn, Lambert told his story to Vesemir and Mikael, while trying to avoid the guards.

"I had a friend named Aiden." Lambert explained. "A witcher."

Vesemir hummed. "School?"

"Of the cat." he answered, making Vesemir frown.

"You're making friends with assassins now?"

"Aiden wasn't like that." refuted Lambert. "He was a good man. Met him during a contract, decided to split the reward. And ever since, we've worked together. Hands down the best man I've ever met."

"So he's dead now?"

"Killed." hummed Lambert. "By Jad Karadin. He took a contract to lift a curse off a duke's daughter… but… the political situation wasn't that stable at that time, then there was hatred for the school of the cat…"

"And justified." added Vesemir. "So someone hired to kill him?"

"The duke's courtiers weren't too keen on someone lifting the curse," said Lambert. "They hired assassins, Jad Karadin was the leader of the group, and our dear supervisor was one of them."

As they arrived at the seven cats inn, they stopped in front of the door.

"Well, sorry about your friend." stated Mikael. "You want to go in alone… or…"

"I'll go in alone." Lambert hummed. "This is none of your business Vesemir, kid."

Lambert then entered the inn, opening the door as he walked to an elven woman.

Meanwhile, Vesemir and Mikael waited outside, waiting for Lambert's deal to finish.

"You think he'll help me find the sorceress?" questioned Mikael.

"Let's just see. He looks hell bent on revenge." Vesemir answered. "If he doesn't want to, then I'll take you to her."

"Nah, it's alright old man, I can go by myself."

"Triss isn't exactly fond of strangers right now," said Vesemir with a scoff. "And how are you going to find her? Got her address?"

"Well…"

Then, the two heard a brawl started inside. Sounds of shouting and cursing echoed from inside the inn, and the two quickly rushed in.

Lambert was surrounded by elves, they were using standard elven swords, probably from scoia'tael.

Vesemir and Mikael quickly drew their swords, and rushed towards Lambert.

Mikael quickly stabbed an elven right in the chest, making the others look at him, and panic, attacking Mikael simultaneously.

"What did I just tell you about 'avoid confrontation'..." A voice spoke in his mind, it was Miquella.

"Well, the situation isn't exactly avoidable right now." Mikael answered, deflecting a swing from an elf. He turned around, and made an overhead swing, decapitating the elf dead on.

Lambert and Vesemir quickly killed the other two, stabbing them in the chest and stomach, making them bleed to death on the ground.

"Let's get out of here." Vesemir sighed, looking at the scared locals.

—

Below a tree, the three were standing against each other, talking.

"She doesn't know where he is." stated Lambert. "But she told me about the other gang members. One in Skellige, and one in Tretogor."

"So you will go now?" questioned Vesemir.

Lambert looked at Vesemir and Mikael, and sighed. "No… I'll do your favor, old man… I'll help the kid find Merigold, I know where she is. If it weren't for you two, I'd probably be dead, gangbanged by elves."

"Got rusty now, Lambert?" Vesemir raised his brow. "It's just a couple of elves."

"They were scoia'tael…" grumbled Lambert. "Anyway, let's do this quickly, I need to find those gang members."

Vesemir nodded, and turned to Mikael. "Well, I guess this is goodbye young man."

"Thanks for everything Vesemir." smiled Mikael as he hugged him.

"Don't lose yourself." Vesemir patted him. "Whatever's in your head, don't listen to every word it says, think on your own."

"Will do." hummed Mikael.

—

As Lambert and Mikael walked to the gates of the city, they were halted by the guards.

"Halt." the guard says. "Got a permit?"

Lambert gave the guard a scroll, which the guard read quickly.

"For the two of us." Lambert added.

The guard hummed, and gave the scroll back to Lambert.

"We'll be watching you, freak." warned the guard.

Lambert just scoffed, and the two entered the city of Novigrad.