She jerked her head up, staring at the crystal ball. The gap was gradually widening, and in the interplay of light and shadow, Karl's alert face appeared.
Karl adjusted to the outside light, pushed the heavy lid open at a wider angle, and carefully climbed out of the sarcophagus.
The slightly cool air rushed into his lungs with a unique morning freshness, but it was mixed with the lingering scent of blood and decay.
He surveyed his surroundings with a sharp gaze, and the first thing that caught his attention was a figure curled up in a corner nearby.
It was no longer the terrifying Striga, but a young girl.
She lay on her side on the cold stone floor, her body slender and thin, with a morbidly pale complexion from having been without sunlight for so long.
Long, reddish-brown hair, like seaweed, covered part of her face.
She was completely naked, shivering slightly in the morning light, and Karl almost immediately averted his gaze.
But what filled his heart was more a tinge of joy and relief brought by success—the curse was truly lifted! Adda had transformed from a Striga!
Triss, watching from the other end of the crystal ball, instinctively pursed her lips first, a faint trace of jealousy flickering in her heart.
But seeing Karl's quick avoidance, even a somewhat flustered reaction,
she couldn't help but let out a quiet laugh, her green eyes full of satisfaction and tenderness.
Karl moved quickly, remembering that near the remains of the fallen knights, there should be remnants of clothing.
Indeed, he didn't take many steps before finding several torn and stained cloaks, which, though soiled, could still cover a body.
He chose one that was relatively complete and the cleanest, then quickly walked over to Adda.
He crouched down, trying not to look at the girl's bare skin,
and carefully draped the thin cloak over her, trying to protect her from the cold and any embarrassment.
However, the moment the cloak touched her body,
Adda's long eyelashes fluttered, she made a faint sound, and slowly opened her eyes.
They were a pair of brown eyes, full of the confusion, bewilderment, and fragility of a newborn.
She seemed to have no idea where she was or why she looked like this.
But seeing the face of a strange, tall man nearby,
and the reflection of the human figure... she didn't know what kind of feather it was, but her pupils instantly contracted in terror.
"Ah...!" Her chest rose and fell sharply; she opened her mouth as if to scream, and as if to say something.
But she had never learned language, and her long, non-human state had left her vocal cords capable only of hoarse, broken syllables.
She struggled on all fours, baring her teeth and nails, opening her mouth in a threat display, trying to scratch Karl's face with her nails, attempting to escape.
Karl was also stunned, not expecting Adda to wake up so suddenly.
Seeing Adda was agitated, clearly at risk of losing control,
he immediately decided she needed to be calmed down.
So Karl controlled his strength, formed a knife-hand with his right hand, and quickly and accurately tapped the back of Adda's head.
"Mmm..." Adda grunted, and her attempts to attack and resist instantly ceased; her brown eyes rolled back.
Immediately, she fainted quietly, her eyes closing.
A distinct red bruise was visible on the back of her head.
"Pfft—Karl... you... being so gentle with the princess is just wonderful."
When Triss in the laboratory saw this scene, she finally couldn't hold back a loud laugh and shook her head.
Karl looked at Adda, who had fainted again, and sighed helplessly.
He carefully wrapped her tightly in the cloak from head to toe, ensuring no part of her was exposed.
Then he picked up his sword, which had been set aside, and sheathed it.
Karl carefully lifted her by the edge of the cloak, surprised by how light Adda was.
He adjusted his hold so she could lean more comfortably against his chest, then calmly stepped towards the palace exit.
...
Outside the palace, time passed minute by minute.
The sun had fully risen above the horizon, casting its golden light across the land.
But the palace entrance remained deathly silent, with no sign of life.
Foltest's face had become extremely grim; his last shreds of patience were about to run out.
He paced nervously, his eyes repeatedly cutting towards the guarded Geralt like knives.
He had already mentally devised countless ways to make this Witcher, who had deceived him, suffer a fate worse than death.
He even began to regret why he hadn't insisted on sending a team of knights to follow.
To the point that a knight of such extraordinary potential and loyalty to the royal family was lost, and Adda's curse remained unbroken.
At that moment, Geralt, who had been standing silently, slightly narrowed his cat-like eyes.
The corners of his mouth lifted almost imperceptibly, a faint smile flickering across his face.
And Foltest, pacing back and forth in front of him, noticed the subtle change in Geralt's demeanor almost simultaneously.
He spun around sharply, his heart pounding, staring at the palace gates.
The light shifted from dark to light, and gradually a tall figure became clear—it was Karl El!
He walked steadily, his expression not at all fatigued, his eyes still sharp.
And in his arms, tightly wrapped in a tattered cloak, was the unmistakable silhouette of a humanoid figure.
When Karl fully emerged from the palace and stepped into the bright morning sun,
Foltest finally clearly saw the pale, half-conscious face of the girl in Karl's arms—a face resembling his sister's—it was his daughter! It was his Adda!
A surge of immense ecstasy and incredible excitement instantly washed over the king like a tidal wave.
Foltest's eyes exploded with terrifying radiance; all the fatigue, anxiety, and anger vanished in that moment.
He completely ignored the guards' cautions of "Your Majesty, be careful" and forgot about royal dignity.
Like any ordinary father regaining his lost, beloved daughter, he strode forward,
desperately running towards Karl, towards his lost daughter. His fine fur cloak rustled behind him.
His heavy boots stepped on gravel and debris, causing him to stumble, even almost tripping twice.
The guards chasing after him cried out and tried to help, but he roughly pushed them aside.
Only the pale figure in Foltest's eyes seemed to exist, and all else faded away.
When he rushed before Karl, he stopped abruptly, his chest heaving violently as he panted heavily.
His gaze greedily, almost frantically, fell upon Adda's face in Karl's arms.
The pale, thin face, yet faintly showing the features of the sister from the past, was the daughter he had seen countless times in his nightmares and memories.