The Blood and Wine expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt introduces players to the vibrant region of Toussaint, a land steeped in chivalric traditions and knightly duties. Among its many hidden narrative gems, the quest titled There Can Only Be One stands out as a unique trial that directly tests Geralt of Rivia's moral fiber. To successfully earn the legendary silver sword Aerondight, players must prove they embody five core knightly virtues through various gameplay choices.
Understanding the Five Chivalric Virtues
To begin this legendary trial, Geralt must travel to the lake isle of Lac Céleste and speak with a mysterious hermit living on the water. The hermit explains that the witcher must prove his worth by demonstrating Compassion, Generosity, Honor, Valor, and Wisdom. Each of these traits can be validated by making specific narrative choices during main missions or side contracts scattered throughout Toussaint.
Failing to secure a virtue early on does not lock you out of the reward completely, as the developers provided multiple avenues for validation. Players who pay close attention to dialogue cues will find that acting with dignity and kindness naturally unlocks these achievements. Keeping track of your accomplishments on the hermit's stone pillars helps map your progress toward the ultimate reward.
How to Prove Your Worth Across Toussaint
Compassion can be easily proven during the main storyline by sparing the life of the Shaelmaar in the arena or by choosing peaceful outcomes in witcher contracts. Generosity requires a willingness to part with coin, such as tipping the young messenger boy who delivers Yennefer's letter or buying a ribbon from the Little Flint Girl. These small acts of goodwill demonstrate that Geralt is more than just a cold monster hunter for hire.
Honor is earned by keeping your word, which can be accomplished by winning the knightly tourney under your true name and defending your title against challengers. Valor is demonstrated through martial prowess, such as slaying the fearsome beast during the contract at the local vineyard. Finally, Wisdom is verified by successfully lifting the curse of the spotted wight without violence or by guessing the correct riddle during the grand tourney.
Claiming Aerondight and the Best Choice Strategies
Once all five virtues are validated, you must return to the hermit for a final duel on the surface of the lake. Defeating the hermit proves your ultimate combat readiness and prompts the Lady of the Lake to bestow the iconic weapon upon you. This powerful silver sword features a unique mechanic that permanently increases its damage capabilities as you land consecutive strikes without taking damage.
The best strategy for this quest is to engage with optional content early in your exploration of the duchy before finishing the main narrative line. Many players find it helpful to consult a reliable overview to ensure they do not accidentally fail an opportunity during missable side stories. Securing Aerondight early allows you to utilize its scaling potential through the toughest boss fights in the endgame content.
