ตอน 34: Departure
In the afternoon wayne had returned to the camp. Toruviel who had been waiting for him for a while approached wayne and inquired about the exploration, "Have you finished exploring the ruins?"
"Yes, except for the last building locked by the metal gate, I have checked all the other areas. There will be no more monsters emerging from the ground to attack you."
"Regarding that building, I suspect that it to be a treasure vault. There seems to be a deactivated magic node inside, which does not pose a threat for the time being."
"But that door is too strong. I tried many methods, but I couldn't able to open it. Maybe it is due to the passage of time that caused damage to the internal lock mechanism of the door."
Things are indeed as Wayne described, the gate of the treasure vault was indeed formidable, fortified by magic, rendering it impervious to the attempts of any individuals to pry it open. Even if there were issues inside, it seemed that they would remain confined within the treasure vault.
Hearing Wayne's explanation, Toruviel nodded in amazement, she was silent for a few seconds, and then said, "Thank you Wayne, you did us a great favor."
"Could you please wait a moment here, I'll bring someone to conduct one more patrol of the ruins. If, indeed, the last structure proves to be unopenable, we'll consider this commission officially completed," Toruviel declared.
Having uttered these words, Toruviel lifted her head, meeting Wayne's gaze directly, and inquired, "What's your next step? Where do you intend to go? Are you planning to remain in the Kaedwen Kingdom?"
Wayne contemplated for a moment and felt that there was nothing worth hiding. He shrugged and replied, "I'm not sure Toruviel. Geralt's injuries are nearly healed. Our plan is to depart from the Kaedwen Kingdom at the earliest opportunity."
"As you're aware, the locals here aren't particularly welcoming toward non-human races and witchers. So we intend to follow the Pontal River, making our way to the Kingdom of Temeria initially. From there, we'll assess our options and take on commissions as they come."
Upon hearing Wayne's words, Toruviel let out a sigh. After a moment of hesitation, she reached out and gently touched Wayne's face. Through their time together, she had come to recognize the considerable potential within the half-elf standing before her—an individual surpassing many of her own kind in terms of wisdom and insight. For a long-lived race, achieving mastery in swordsmanship during one's teenage years was something to be proud of.
Furthermore, the witcher not only possessed exceptional swordsmanship and a physique surpassing that of ordinary individuals but also wielded magic spells, elevating him beyond ordinary sword masters. In Toruviel's view, he fits the definition of a strong man, far better than the frail sorceress. She found the companionship with Wayne quite enjoyable and couldn't resist posing another question:
"Are you really not considering staying here, Wayne?"
"If it were you, you would definitely be able to bring more hope to our elves, and I need your help too."
Hearing this, Wayne looked into the eyes of the female elf, shaking his head slightly without uttering a word. Toruviel withdrew her hand with a hint of helplessness and remarked, "Well then, Wayne, you have your own path, and I won't pressure you."
"The reward for this commission should be settled as per our prearranged agreement ducats or a quarter of the loot from the ruins," Toruviell explained. "If you opt for the former, I can provide it to you right away.
However, if you choose the latter, the value is likely to be higher. Yet, processing those spoils will take time, and we won't have an exact value until then. Consequently, your reward will be delayed for a while. If you have faith in me, I'll ensure the funds are sent your way once the processing is complete."
Wayne nodded. It wasn't that Toruwell was playing any tricks. He had personally explored the entire ruins, and he knew exactly what trophies were there.
Time is the most powerful weapon. Countless powerful warriors, sorceress or kings have all turned into dust in front of it. Perhaps this ruin was invaluable thousands of years ago and possessed countless amount of wealth, but now, except for some precious metals that are difficult to be corroded and oxidized, everything else no longer exists and has become waste.
And it will definitely take a certain amount of time to transform the relics into wealth that can be used. Wayne waved his hand and said to toruviel:
"Don't bother yourself, Toruviel; I will opt for ducats."
"By the way, there's one more thing. I wonder if I could trouble you with?"
Upon hearing Wayne's request, Toruviel didn't decline and responded with a slightly serious expression, "What is it? If it's feasible, I won't refuse."
Wayne waved his hand, signaling the female elf not to take it too seriously, and said with a smile, "It's just a small thing, no need to be tense. I was thinking, do you happen to know any elf sorceress? The loot here holds significant historical value. Perhaps you can sell it to them and secure a better price."
"And if you're acquainted with them, you could also assist me in selling those gargoyle hearts to them. "I remember that these items are highly coveted within the mage community,"
The female elf hesitated for a few seconds upon hearing these words. She had initially pledged to the lord not to disclose the information casually, but due to her trust in Wayne, she eventually spoke up: "I can try to help, Wayne."
"I know a lady who is a powerful sorceress. The reason why I and other residents can stay in this ruins is because of her help. If that lady is interested, I will sell your gargoyle heart to her, and I will find a way to get the money transferred to you."
"No, no, you don't need to find someone to deliver it," Wayne quickly waved his hand. "We witchers need to accept commissions everywhere, and I don't even know which country I will go to stay in."
After a brief pause, he continued, "Before this winter, I will return to Kaedwen. If you are still here at that time, then transfer the money to me."
......
After successfully concluding the expert-level commission, Wayne found himself in high spirits. Geralt's injuries had largely healed, and he was able to carry out his activities freely.
According to the agreement before departure, Wayne generously divided the 750 ducats reward, providing 375 ducats each. This gesture aimed to foster a closer bond with the White Wolf. The sum was substantial, sufficient to sustain both of them for an entire year if used solely for sustenance.
Instead of hastily leaving after completing the commission, Wayne opted to stay in the camp for an additional two days. After ensuring the safety of the ruins, he bid a solemn farewell to the first friend he made, Toruviel.
The system also provided an explanation about the dimensional crack left by him at the Circle of elements.
"If this world were a living being, then this dimensional rift can only be considered an insignificant, minor wound—barely a scratch on the skin. Unless someone utilizes rituals or magic to manipulate it, it is impossible for a powerful being from another world to traverse into this realm through such a minor breach."
During these two days, Wayne was not idle. He tended to his black mare, whom he named Lucifer, and sought out the female elf again, seeking her guidance.
Toruviel enthusiastically agreed to Wayne's request, and the two of them, along with Lucifer, ventured into the forest to practice riding. Before bidding their farewells, he gained a foundational understanding of riding and acquired a complementary skill named Riding.
Riding LV1: Compatibility with the mount +1.
On the day of their actual departure, Wayne and Geralt, each atop their respective mounts and laden with their belongings, stood at the cave's exit. They bid farewell to Toruviel and the acquaintances they had made in the camp during their stay.
Before their departure, Toruviel forward to embrace Wayne, leaving a gentle parting kiss on his cheek, and presented him with a meticulously crafted gift. It was an exquisite longbow made from a special wood, with a total length of nearly eighty centimeters when the upper and lower ends were combined. Elvish inscriptions adorned the bow's body, and the bowstring, made from the leather of an unknown species, proved remarkably resilient.
This gift had been specially prepared for Wayne after knowing his interest in learning archery. Simultaneously, bows and arrows stood as the most potent weapons for the current elves. Perhaps, there lay a concealed hope in Toruviels's gesture—that Wayne would not forget his heritage and would lend assistance to more elves in the future.
After exchanging warm farewells, the two witchers, Wayne and Geralt, carried their generous rewards and gifts from their newfound friends. With the watchful eyes of everyone upon them, they disappeared into the depths of the forest.
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