Chapter 20: First to the Finish Line
The teleportation tower wasn't far; they saw the shadow of the spire cast down as soon as they left the Royal Palace. Most of the people passing by here were richly dressed, and upon seeing Triss accompanying Arthur, their expressions all turned solemn.
Triss smiled and nodded in return, pointing to the tower that pierced the sky:
"That is the Star Tower of Vizima. It can perform one-way transport and bi-directional receiving. Though, the latter mode is mostly discontinued now. The magical array in the tower was just upgraded three years ago. Now, a single-way transport can reach as far as eight hundred li. In just a few breaths, you can reach the borders of the Kingdom."
Arthur followed Triss's pale, slender finger and happened to see the spire flash with a brilliant light. A dazzling sphere of light rapidly sliced across the sky, flying toward the northeast.
"Look, someone just used the Star Tower. That's in the direction of Kaedwen." Triss sounded delighted, but Arthur was confused: "What are bi-directional receiving and single-way transport?"
Triss seemed keen to keep him around a bit longer and explained patiently: "Bi-directional transport means establishing towers at both the departure point and the destination. Through the resonance of the two transport arrays, a spatial link is opened. This method is very stable, consumes little magical energy, and any qualified sorcerer can achieve extremely long-distance transmission."
"As for single-way transport, we use a spatial bubble to wrap the person being transported at the departure point, and then the array launches the spatial bubble toward the destination!"
When she said 'launches,' she seemed to recall something amusing, letting out a burst of giggles that drew curious glances from passersby.
Arthur asked curiously: "Since bi-directional transport has so many advantages, why is it discontinued?"
Triss gave him a charming glare: "Naturally, it's due to the cost. The bi-directional receiving model not only requires simultaneously occupying the frequency bandwidth resources of two towers but also requires pre-communication and alignment using a far-seer mirror. It's incredibly troublesome. Moreover, with the continuous upgrading of teleportation gate technology these past few years, the distance of single-way transport can now cover more than half the Kingdom. It's basically sufficient."
Arthur nodded and stepped toward the tower ramp, only to be yanked back by Triss.
"Aren't you going to ask me why I was laughing just now?"
Arthur then noticed the Sorceress's cheeks were puffed out. He quickly asked: "Why were you laughing just now?"
Triss flipped her hair: "I don't want to talk about it anymore!"
"Oh…" Arthur mumbled, preparing to lead his horse up the ramp, when a sharp pain flared up in his arm.
"You Witchers are all a bunch of bastards, idiots, and wooden logs!" The Royal Advisor seemed to have completely changed, the words spilling from her mouth no different from any village fishwife.
How did I offend her to make her so angry? And while bastard and idiot were acceptable he'd assume she meant he was too stubbornly straight-laced to continue the conversation why call him a wooden log?
Fortunately, Triss quickly collected herself and continued: "I hear that Witchers from any school can go to Kaer Morhen for the winter. If you see him there, please tell that wooden log that I miss the snow mountains and the tower very much."
Arthur nodded, still worrying about whether he was moving too slowly. The atmosphere became silent and awkward.
The awkward atmosphere had one benefit: the two of them walked faster than before. By the time they reached the transport array, the previous passenger had just departed.
"Destination, number of passengers." The Sorcerer operating the transport array asked dryly, without lifting his head.
"I need to go to White Orchard. One person, and my horse." Arthur answered quickly.
"A total of one hundred fifty Orens… To the two seeing off friends, you may return now."
The Transport Sorcerer activated a rune. Light flashed, and a dazzling sphere of light was quickly projected toward the distant earth.
The teleportation tower wasn't far; they saw the shadow of the spire cast down as soon as they left the Royal Palace. Most of the people passing by were richly dressed, and upon seeing Triss accompanying Arthur, their expressions all turned solemn.
Triss smiled and nodded in return, pointing to the tower that pierced the sky:
"That is the Star Tower of Vizima. It can perform one-way transport and bi-directional receiving. Though, the latter mode is mostly discontinued now."
"The magical array in the tower was just upgraded three years ago. Now, a single-way transport can reach as far as eight hundred leagues. In just a few breaths, you can reach the borders of the Kingdom."
Arthur followed Triss's pale, slender finger and happened to see the spire flash with a brilliant light. A dazzling sphere of light rapidly sliced across the sky, flying toward the northeast.
"Look, someone just used the Star Tower. That's in the direction of Kaedwen." Triss sounded delighted, but Arthur was confused: "What are bi-directional receiving and single-way transport?"
Triss seemed keen to keep him around a bit longer and explained patiently: "Bi-directional transport means establishing towers at both the departure point and the destination. Through the resonance of the two transport arrays, a spatial link is opened. This method is very stable, consumes little magical energy, and any qualified sorcerer can achieve extremely long-distance transmission."
"As for single-way transport, we use a spatial bubble to wrap the person being transported at the departure point, and then the array launches the spatial bubble toward the destination!"
When she said 'launches,' she seemed to recall something amusing, letting out a burst of giggles that drew curious glances from passersby.
Arthur asked curiously: "Since bi-directional transport has so many advantages, why is it discontinued?"
Triss gave him a charming glare: "Naturally, it's due to the cost. The bi-directional receiving model not only requires simultaneously occupying the frequency bandwidth resources of two towers but also requires pre-communication and alignment using a far-seer mirror. It's incredibly troublesome."
"Moreover, with the continuous upgrading of teleportation gate technology these past few years, the distance of single-way transport can now cover more than half the Kingdom. It's basically sufficient."
Arthur nodded and stepped toward the tower ramp, but Triss grabbed his arm.
"Aren't you going to ask me why I was laughing just now?"
Arthur noticed the Sorceress's cheeks were puffed out. He quickly asked: "Why were you laughing just now?"
Triss flipped her hair: "I don't want to talk about it anymore!"
"Oh…" Arthur mumbled, preparing to lead his horse up the ramp, when a sharp pain flared up in his arm.
"You Witchers are all a bunch of bastards, idiots, and wooden logs!" The Royal Advisor seemed to have completely changed, the words spilling from her mouth no different from any village fishwife.
How did I offend her to make her so angry?
And while bastard and idiot were fine I guess she thinks I'm too straight-laced to continue the conversation why call me a wooden log?
Fortunately, Triss quickly collected herself and continued: "I hear that Witchers from any school can go to Kaer Morhen for the winter. If you see him there, please tell that wooden log that I miss the snow mountains and the tower very much."
Arthur nodded, still worrying about whether he was moving too slowly. The atmosphere became silent and awkward.
The awkwardness had one benefit: they moved faster than before. By the time they reached the transport array, the previous passenger had just departed.
"Destination, number of passengers." The Sorcerer operating the transport array asked dryly, without lifting his head.
"I need to go to White Orchard. One person, and my horse." Arthur answered quickly.
"A total of one hundred fifty Orens… To the two seeing off friends, you may return now." The Transport Sorcerer activated a rune. Light flashed, and a dazzling sphere of light was quickly projected toward the distant earth.
He delivered the rote line, intending to stand up and stretch. But the two people by the portal didn't seem to have any intention of leaving.
The Transport Sorcerer frowned, about to snap at them, but then he saw Triss and quickly replaced his frown with a smile:
"You two ladies may depart now. Though it looks close, your friend is already fifty leagues away. He won't be able to see your farewell wave."
Arthur shook his head: "You have it wrong. I am the passenger. It looks like a redhead beat me to it."
Triss's expression was one of dawning realization: "It was a young girl, looks familiar somehow."
Then she widened her eyes, grabbing Arthur and shaking him frantically: "It's the Princess! The Princess ran off!"
The Transport Sorcerer was stunned, collapsing onto the ground, unable to move.
Arthur felt a buzz in his head, as if it were about to split open. The Princess regained her human form. Why isn't she resting in the palace? Why did she rush out and steal my transport?!
Triss took a deep breath, composed herself, and concluded: "It seems we'll have to continue traveling together for a while longer."
She turned to the Transport Sorcerer: "I need to check the parameters of the last transport."
The Sorcerer jumped up, as if grabbing a life raft: "Yes! The parameters haven't been reset! I will process them for you immediately!"
Triss shook her head: "No need. I've already calculated the destination coordinates. I can take us this short distance myself."
The Royal Advisor pulled Arthur into the center of the transport circle, raised an arm, and chanted. Her red hair rose upward like flames. Arthur felt a sea tide wash over him, yet without any feeling of suffocation. Then his vision flashed, and the world was bleached a brilliant white.
When he opened his eyes again, they were at the bridgehead of White Orchard. A red-haired girl in hunting attire was sitting on the bridge, her long legs swinging idly: "Well, what took you so long? I almost fell asleep!"
"I remember you had several injuries…" Arthur was unwilling to accept the reality before him. Adda extended a pale, soft palm and waved it back and forth in front of him:
"Merigold healed me! She's the best healer in all of Temeria!"
"Princess! This is far too reckless! Your curse has only just been lifted…" Rare panic appeared on Triss's face. Just as she was about to remonstrate, the magical communicator on her waist suddenly relayed the King's voice: "Triss, come see me immediately. Adda is missing."
The Sorceress held her forehead, her voice weak as she replied: "Your Majesty, Adda is with me. I'm bringing her…"
"I'm not going back!" Adda suddenly snatched the communicator and shouted into the other end: "I won't go back to that dreary palace! I know what you want to do marry me off to some minor prince while I'm still young! Forget it! No noble will let his son marry a woman who has turned into a monster twice!"
There was silence from the communicator for a moment before the King's voice returned: "Then what do you intend to do?"
"I want to travel around, and if I see anything I don't like, I'll step in and take care of it, just like him." Adda pointed at Arthur. Triss quietly added a supplement: "Your newly knighted Knight of the Throne is here, too."
.......
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