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.

shininess. Thinks it’s all

part. We

look at what?]

them the Twin Cities for

and mist, but, for a moment, I catch a glimpse of something golden breaking through, a beam of light that stabs me right in the eye. Then, like magic, the

whole other city up the top? And it’s covered in GOLD?! Not just any gold, but gold that seems to radiate the warmth

a damned fortune, and you decided to coat your damned outhouse

unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on

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.

[Not that we are going to be welcome up there. That’s for citizens only. Wealthy citizens

sixth, wouldn’t that

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 something this expensive would give us a

never do it either,] I admit. [Spending such an absurd amount of resources just to make things look

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

where all the humans are. No giant magic lizard-wizards, no second-skin rock people,

Silver City, which only grows more beautiful the closer we get, stupid city, with the Legion continuing to shadow us on the

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

trouble here?] I ask,

a secret war against the Atreum

as much a surprise

be fine. The Atreum can be a little bureaucratic, but they are a well-run and organised sort of place. We have

words, of course, doom us before we