On the eastern side of the Starfall Forest.
Windhaven Town.
In the center of the town, the Temple of Light stood solemn and majestic, its pure white stone bricks spotless.
In front of the temple's main gates, a massive super-long-distance spatial teleportation array spanning a vast area lay quietly across the ground.
Intricate runes crisscrossed in overlapping layers, the result of the Mages working tirelessly day and night to engrave and reinforce them over the past few days.
At this moment, the magic array, which had been silent for days, suddenly vibrated gently.
“Hum...”
A gentle white glow slowly lit up from deep within the runes, flowing softly yet with absolute stability.
This was the signature signal of a successfully established two-way connection!
Standing beside the array, the eyes of the young Mage, Tris, lit up instantly. His long-suppressed excitement broke free as he cried out in pure ecstasy:
“It's connected! The teleportation array has connected successfully!!”
His voice trembled with excitement as he turned to shout to the attendants behind him:
“Quick! Go notify Lord Schutard immediately!”
“Yes, sir!”
The two attendants dared not delay, turning and rushing toward the Temple of Light.
Moments later, the steady figure of an elderly man walked over with brisk steps.
Wearing a clean white robe and carrying a relaxed yet dignified air, his face bore the gentle authority unique to elders. He was none other than the Bishop of Windhaven Town—Schutard.
“Lord Schutard!” Tris immediately bowed in greeting, unable to hide the joy on his face.
“Yes! Good child! What is the situation?” Schutard's gaze was locked onto the glowing array, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor.
“The teleportation array has been successfully activated! The signal is stable! Lord Selby and the others must have arrived safely on the other side!”
Tris replied immediately.
“Good! That is wonderful!”
Schutard laughed heartily. “Since they have already set up the teleportation array, it is time for us to pack up and depart. Tris, notify everyone immediately. We will teleport over right away!”
“Yes, sir!” Tris took his orders and ran off with light steps.
The news spread through the entire town like wildfire.
Before long, the front of the temple was packed with people. Men, women, young, and old stood in a sprawling crowd, their chattering voices rising and falling in waves.
Some whispered in anxiety:
“Once we leave, will we ever be able to return to this town where we've lived our entire lives?”
“The new place... is it really safe? Will it be even more dangerous than here?”
Others murmured with anticipation:
“I heard it's a new city personally blessed by Her Goddess Ladyship... It will definitely be wonderful.”
“We finally don't have to scrape by in the cracks of this forest anymore!”
“We can finally bask in the divine grace of the Goddess!”
Anxiety, trepidation, reluctance, expectation... countless emotions intertwined, lingering over the square.
At this moment, someone stepped forward and asked softly, a trace of unease on their face:
“Lord Schutard, what will the new place we are going to be like? Will our lives still be as peaceful as they are now?”
Schutard smiled gently and raised his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down.
The gesture was small, but all the chatter hushed in an instant.
“Everyone, please do not worry.”
His voice was gentle yet firm, each word carrying a resonant weight that echoed throughout the square:
“A thousand years ago, when the Light fell, we were forced to retreat to the Starfall Forest, surviving in hiding, displaced and homeless.”
“But now, Her Goddess Ladyship has awakened! The darkness shall disperse, and Light shall return to the world!”
“Though the road ahead may be fraught with trials and tribulations, with Her Ladyship's protection and the Light by our side, we will eventually rebuild our home and reclaim the glory of humanity's Light from a thousand years ago!”
These sincere and passionate words instantly soothed the unease in everyone's hearts.
“We believe in Lord Schutard! We believe in Her Goddess Ladyship!”
“Praise the Light! Praise the Goddess!”
The residents of the entire town echoed in unison, their voices rising in a grand chorus.
Looking at the greatly encouraged crowd, Schutard's eyes filled with gratification, and his voice grew even softer:
“The teleportation array has been opened, and the path home is right before us. After wandering for a thousand years and being displaced for half our lives, starting today—we, the homeless believers, finally have a home!”
“Now, please return to pack your belongings immediately. We will soon teleport to our destination in batches!”
Windhaven Town had a population of nearly a thousand people. Although the teleportation array was large, it was impossible to accommodate a thousand people teleporting all at once, so they could only leave in batches.
Hearing this, the townspeople immediately dispersed. They rushed back to pack their bags, preparing to leave this town where they had lived their entire lives.
Soon, the first batch of people gathered once more, carrying their families and fully laden with bags and luggage.
Schutard nodded, then instructed Tris, who had just returned to report:
“Begin the teleportation.”
He then stepped into the teleportation array.
“Lord Schutard?!” Tris was taken aback. “You are going with the first batch?”
“Someone has to go take a look first.” Schutard stood in the center of the array, his expression calm and composed. “Most of the people in the town are ordinary folk, and arriving in a new place will inevitably make them anxious. If I go first, it will help put their minds at ease when they arrive.”
Tris opened his mouth but ultimately did not try to dissuade him.
He knew Lord Schutard's character; the more critical the moment, the less likely he was to let others stand in front of him.
“...Alright.” Tris nodded and took two steps back before activating the array.
Wrum—!! The teleportation array suddenly burst with a dazzling white light! The magical lines seemed to be set ablaze, spreading outward from the center as ring after ring of light surged.
The people on the array subconsciously held tightly onto their family members. Some closed their eyes, while others tightly clutched the holy emblems on their chests.
Space began to tremble slightly.
It was a wonderful sensation—as if one's entire body was being gently lifted, or as if the ground beneath their feet was slowly flowing away.
A feeling of weightlessness enveloped everyone.
Finally, as if crossing through an indescribable space, when they opened their eyes again, they had arrived in a town filled with exotic architectural styles.
At the same time, countless voices of pleasant surprise reached their ears.
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