Pillar of Yita

The CX740 shuttle crossed the Arctic Orbit, flying out from the Earth’s shadow, with its high-temperature coating appearing snow-white, almost glaring under the star’s glow.

This was its one hundred seventy-fifth mission, and also its last. These aging shuttles, born in the last century, are gradually being replaced by a new generation of cargo rockets and Space Elevators. Meanwhile, a second Space Elevator is under construction in New Guinea, with a new Airport emerging alongside it. The completion of this construction will mark the end of this type of shuttle’s era.

As the shuttle enters the transfer orbit, Tang Xin can see the immense construction in progress, like a speck of light in the distant sky, blinking slightly. The new port is funded and built by China, and it has a resonant name—Ring of Asia-Pacific.

Including the crew members, there are a total of forty-two passengers on board, but no Invoker. Invokers generally take military shuttles or go directly via the Space Elevator. Nowadays, shuttles are rarely used for cargo transport and mainly serve to transport sightseeing Guests, which is also the sole historical mission for the CX740—

When the immense shuttle’s attitude engines started to operate, a slight sense of gravity could still be felt, but in space, it’s hard to feel the passage of time. For Tang Xin, the meaning of time was that they would arrive at Stargate Port at 3 PM.

Of course, that’s East 8 Zone, Beijing Time.

Removing the Anti-Load Suit, hearing the sound of airflow entering as the cabin door opened, and following the guidance of a very friendly young lady, Tang Xin, along with others, flew into the space.

When she landed, she immediately saw her friend floating around like a large doll in the zero-gravity environment.

”Tangtang, over here!”

Seeing the girl waving excitedly at her from the zero-gravity corridor of the spaceport, Tang Xin could only helplessly shake her head: ”My Little Princess, Uncle and Auntie want us to go to the Embassy District to get the visa, can you come down first?”

”What’s the rush,” the other giggled, indifferent: ”We’re here for sightseeing, sightseeing means taking a good look around, right... what profession will you choose later? I heard that tourists choose a profession when they receive the Crystal device, which is different from the Invokers.”

”You’re thinking far ahead.”

”Of course,” the girl chatted incessantly: ”By the way, the commercial area over there sells Eteliria souvenirs, including local-style clothes. Should we try them out later to see which profession’s clothes look better?”

”I think there’s no need.”

”Tangtang, you’re really no fun.”

Tang Xin could only give a light smile; it wasn’t the first time someone had said that to her.

The last time, a certain Pigeon who said that couldn’t take care of their daily life after her lecture.

The girl was flying to one side, pressing her face against the glass on the side of the corridor, and suddenly exclaimed: ”Tangtang, look how beautiful Earth is, it’s much prettier than on TV—I see our country, and I see your home!”

Although Tang Xin didn’t believe that at nearly forty thousand kilometers above, the other could see her home unless her friend’s eyes were precise optical instruments. Still, she had to admit, Earth was indeed beautiful from this angle.

The massive spherical surface reflected a glimmering light, which Tang Xin knew was merely refraction and scattering of light through the atmosphere, but it still made it seem like a solitary luminous body in the universe.

A glowing, light-blue Crystal Ball, full of vitality, adorning the dark Star Sky with the brilliance of life.

Moreover, that’s home, it’s the homeland.

At this moment, Tang Xin’s gaze suddenly paused, her peripheral vision swept over Sicape floating out from the crowd, and she was slightly stunned, feeling she had seen this woman somewhere before.

Sicape, of course, also noticed the girl staring straight at her, she paused in mid-air, instinctively checked herself to ensure there was no problem before curiously looking over: ”Do we know each other, lovely lady?”

Tang Xin merely shook her head.

Sicape glanced around, then stopped and politely said: ”Do you mind me being here? I’m waiting for someone.”

Tang Xin gently nodded: ”Be my guest.” This was a public area, and Sicape inquiring for her opinion was merely out of courtesy. Seeing these two girls, Sicape couldn’t help but sigh, wondering if all East Asian girls were this delicate.

She couldn’t help but ask: ”Are you tourists?”

Tang Xin nodded again.

Probably noticing that the girl before her wasn’t talkative, and the other girl’s attention wasn’t here, Sicape refrained from asking further. She just glanced at her communicator, then quietly stood aside.

Tang Xin intended to pull her friend away, but the latter was clearly unwilling, so she had no choice but to wait helplessly. After a while, she saw someone approaching from the Airport direction, holding a small box.

The person approached, met with Sicape, exchanged a glance with her, then handed the box to Sicape. ”Is this the item?” Sicape asked.

The person nodded.

”I’ll make a move first.” The person replied: ”Those people are closely monitoring me, be careful yourselves.”

Sicape offered no comment.

Tang Xin watched as the person bade farewell to Sicape, then turned back the way they came. Sicape opened the box for a brief glance, murmuring something quietly in Russian, which Tang Xin couldn’t understand.