Chapter 121

This was not a very large room, and on the floor, a rather precise magic array was drawn with some kind of special purple pigment.

At the four corners of the magic array, four huge braziers seemed to burn with bright yellow flames forever, and in the very center of the array, a golden spinning top, seemingly crafted from gold, sat quietly.

Upon arriving in the room, Toruviel closed the door. She first looked back at Wayne, signaling him with her eyes to get ready.

Then she extended her arm, revealing a bracelet inscribed with runes forged from an unknown metal, held it to her lips, and began to chant a spell in a low voice.

Toruviel's voice was very pleasant, at least more pleasant than Keira's or Maisie's. If she could become a bard, she might be very popular.

Just as Wayne was thinking this, the golden top in the center of the magic array suddenly began to spin. As it spun, the air above the array began to twist continuously. Accompanied by a loud, tearing sound, it took only a few seconds for a powerful surge of magic to rip open a portal above the array that looked as chaotic as the void.

This was the first time Wayne had seen a portal in the Witcher world. Although he had used them a few times in the game, this was his first time seeing one in person.

Toruviel retracted the bracelet from her wrist, then looked at Wayne and said softly: "You shouldn't have any experience using portals, right, Wayne?"

"It's fine. This portal is personally controlled by Lady Francesca and is very safe. However, the experience of traveling through space-time is indeed a bit uncomfortable; just endure it and it will pass."

After speaking, the elf gave Wayne a look to follow, then took the initiative to walk into the portal that looked like a void.

After hesitating for a second, Wayne took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and walked in as well.

Facts proved that it was indeed as Toruviel had said; the experience of passing through the portal was not pleasant. It was like being put into a high-speed washing machine, leaving you unable to distinguish up from down or east from west, as if all directions had been turned upside down, with the feeling of your internal organs colliding inside your body.

After a few seconds, perhaps a few dozen, Wayne suddenly felt his whole body lighten, and his feet touched solid ground. The witcher's physical fitness and powerful sense of balance kept him from falling, and he quickly returned to normal.

He raised his head to observe the surrounding environment and found himself in a beautiful elven palace. Toruviel was standing not far away, her body swaying slightly and her face pale; it seemed she had not yet recovered from the aftereffects of the teleportation.

After a few more seconds, the elf seemed to have shaken off the effects. She turned her head to give Wayne a smile, then pointed with her finger at the beautiful, magnificent buildings and various exquisite flowers and trees around them, saying with a hint of pride: "This is the elven palace located in the Dol Blathanna. Although it didn't rank among the top in the past, it is the best-preserved elven palace existing in the world today."

Hearing this, Wayne took another careful look at the surrounding scenery and found it truly beautiful. The various statues of different forms, the colorful murals, and the ingenious architectural styles were filled with the epic sense of the fantasy world he had imagined.

However, at this moment, the entire palace appeared quite desolate. There were no fully armed elven guards, nor were there elven maids in dresses with graceful postures; everywhere was empty, a picture of decline and loneliness.

Toruviel introduced the place as they walked, occasionally explaining segments of the elven race's glorious history, seemingly wanting to use this method to increase Wayne's recognition and sense of belonging to the elven race.

Wayne certainly would not refuse the elf's enthusiasm, at least pretending to listen very carefully on the surface.

Soon, the two passed through the front garden, through the magnificent hall, and then through a large backyard decorated with rockeries, fountains, and various precious trees, arriving near a beautiful small lake inside the palace.

Before the two could get close, a beautiful melody played on an elven flute entered Wayne's ears.

The sound of the performance was beautiful and pleasant, distant and long-lasting, as if it possessed a kind of epic timelessness, seemingly recounting the ups and downs of a race that had survived a disaster and how they had built a brilliant civilization on a barren land through self-reliance.

Wayne followed the sound of the performance and looked toward an elegant and exquisite pavilion. A beautiful elf wearing a white princess dress, with dark golden hair draped over her shoulders, a stunning face, and a pair of sky-blue eyes, was sitting on a bench, concentrating on playing that epic song.

Seeing Francesca for the first time, Wayne couldn't help but gasp. He hadn't expected that there could be such a beautiful woman in the world; even in the era of being bombarded by various online videos in the past, he had never seen such beauty.

Although this sorceress before him was already several hundred years old, she appeared full of a pure, flawless girlishness, as if the most beautiful time had frozen on her. Because of her powerful strength as the strongest sorceress, she also appeared to have a sense of detachment from the world. Just like that, one played and two listened, until Francesca finished the entire song. Wayne couldn't help but let out a soft breath, feeling a little bit of regret for the end of the wonderful melody.

Just as he was feeling emotional, the beautiful elven girl in the pavilion had already set her gaze upon the two of them. She opened her red lips and said in a pleasant, melodious voice:

"Welcome, Lady Toruviel, and this, um, Mr. Witcher."

She put down the elven flute, stood up, pointed at the table beside her with her fair fingers, and invited them softly:

"I have had dinner prepared; it is all food unique to the elven race. Come, let's talk while we eat."

Hearing this, Toruviel bowed slightly in a salute, and Wayne also recovered from the beauty of the elven sorceress, walking into the pavilion together.

The dishes on the table were not many. Besides a plate of fish of an unknown species, there was a bowl of clear soup and a few plates of green vegetables and fruits. Although the aroma was enticing, it also appeared very light.

However, when Francesca also sat down opposite Wayne, a charming fragrance entered Wayne's nose from the sorceress across from him.

It was like an orchid in the mountains, or like a daisy in the early morning; it was both light and provocative to the heart, making one unable to help but want to take a few more breaths.

Smelling this delicate fragrance actually made his appetite even better.

Before the three of them could pick up their chopsticks, Toruviel picked up a bottle of Hundred-Flower Wine from the table, first poured a glass for Francesca opposite, and then filled a glass for Wayne and herself.

Francesca picked up the wine glass, thanked Toruviel softly, then looked at Wayne with those clear, sky-blue eyes and said gently:

"Please forgive me, Mr. Wayne, our elven food is indeed a bit light, but if you eat it, the taste is actually quite good."

Hearing the hostess say this, out of politeness, Wayne naturally modestly indicated that the taste was excellent. However, it was true that compared to those big fish and meat dishes, the taste of these dishes seemed a bit light, but it was also a special flavor that left a lasting impression on him.

The three ate and chatted, mostly discussing the current status of the elven race and the Dol Blathanna. Although Francesca appeared somewhat transcendent and refined, as a sorceress of several hundred years, her knowledge far exceeded that of ordinary people of this era.

She spoke clearly and logically, occasionally making a small joke, and did not make people feel a sense of alienation.

After chatting for a few minutes, Wayne gradually adapted to their conversation and did not stint on his own thoughts, briefly stating his views on the elven race and the Northern Kingdoms.

Especially regarding the current situation of non-human races being oppressed by humans, he said bluntly: "This is something that cannot be helped, and it is impossible to gain the other side's understanding through peaceful means."

"Whether in terms of numbers or fertility, elves or other non-human races are naturally at a great disadvantage."

"Moreover, long-term oppression has already made most elves feel numb. Unless they reach a life-or-death situation, they simply dare not resist."

"However, they do not lack the spirit of resistance; they lack a leader, a guide."

"Everyone has the right to pursue a better life, but humans, who have become accustomed to exploiting non-human races, will not hand over such rights to us."

(End of chapter)