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.

Thinks

I think the clouds are going to part. We should

look at what?] I

don’t call them the Twin Cities for nothing.

but, for a moment, I catch a glimpse of something golden breaking through, a beam

the top? And it’s covered in GOLD?! Not just any gold,

would even do that?! That metal must be worth a damned fortune, and you decided to coat your damned outhouse in it? Make

without the author's consent. Report any

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

me. [Not that we are going to be welcome up there. That’s for citizens only. Wealthy citizens at that. You’re looking at the most expensive real estate in

I built a hut in the sixth, wouldn’t that be worth more? Since it’d be

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

either,] I admit. [Spending such an absurd amount of resources just to make things look nice? Impossible. It’s too inefficient and doesn’t provide any

for the most part, it's filled with the

giant magic lizard-wizards, no second-skin rock people, just humans. I mean, humans are scary enough by themselves, but

grows more beautiful the closer we get, stupid city, with the Legion continuing to shadow us on the way. The outer

attractive artworks into the wall. Because of course they did. If Michaelangelant

much trouble here?] I ask, a

have been waging a secret war against the Atreum that I haven’t heard about,] she

a surprise to

a well-run and organised sort of place. We have all our documents sorted well in advance. We’re the kind of merchants who

of course, doom us before we