Chrysalis

I suppose to some, it might be considered appealing… sort of. Others, perhaps some would say, those with better taste would call it tacky! Overdone! Gaudy, even!

Then again… no, no, I will not admit it! There’s no tunnels! How can any place be considered the best without nice, wide tunnels? It can’t, end of discussion. The roads do seem nice and spacious, though.

Bah! Who would ever want to dwell in a house covered in metal? Nobody! Even if that metal was… so soothing, and emitting such a glorious, ephemeral light….

DAMMIT!

I connect a mind bridge to Eran Thouris who is leaning against the railing next to me, looking smug.

[Well?] she asks.

[It’s nice.]

[Nice?] she asks, raising one scaled brow.

[Very nice.]

That’s all she’s gonna get out of me.

Mount Atreum, heart of the Atreum empire that bears its name, rises tall and imposing from the shimmering waters of the Lake before us. From the waterline up, the great and glorious Silver City covers the slopes. And I do mean covers. There isn’t a single square inch that hasn’t been developed, all enfolded within six rings of mighty walls. That’s not to say there aren’t any green spaces, oh no, there are frustratingly luscious and attractive-looking parks all over the damn place! The rest of it is large, well organised buildings connected by clean, wide streets. All of it, ALL of it (not the trees, obviously) is covered in what I’m told is Soul Silver.

And it is absolutely stunning.

stupid shininess. Thinks

look. I think the clouds are going to part. We should get

look at what?]

them the Twin

golden breaking through, a beam of light that stabs me right in the eye. Then, like magic,

just any gold, but gold that seems to radiate the

That metal must be worth a damned fortune, and you decided to coat your damned

been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any

imposing castles, a tower that rises like a mighty tree to pierce the heavens, easily several kilometres high. Each is a work of art, as if someone let Michaelangelant off the chain for a thousand years. Beautiful in design, delicate in construction, each line is aesthetically pleasing in context with those around it. Whoever made this city was determined to make it so damn pretty that nothing would ever come close, and they didn’t give

to be welcome up there. That’s for citizens only. Wealthy citizens at that. You’re looking at the most

sixth, wouldn’t that be worth more? Since it’d be more

it? In terms of comfortable living, this is the place to be. I’ll take my life under the waters any day of the week, but it’s not like I don’t understand the appeal,] she sighs. [We brathians love to collect and display our wealth, but building

to make things look nice? Impossible. It’s too inefficient and doesn’t

but for the most part, it's filled with the people of Atreum. Humans,

people,

towards the Silver City, which only grows more beautiful the closer we get, stupid city, with the Legion continuing to shadow us on the way. The outer wall looms large as we draw closer, and I mean, really large.

naturally, they have imprinted unspeakably, eye-meltingly attractive artworks into the wall. Because of course they did. If Michaelangelant is

trouble here?]

a secret war against the Atreum that I haven’t heard about,]

as much a surprise to me as it is

are a well-run and organised sort of place.

doom us before