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.

city with its stupid shininess. Thinks it’s all

to part. We

look at what?]

Twin

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

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

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

the author's consent. Report any appearances on

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

be welcome up there. That’s for citizens only.

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

be. I’ll take my life under the waters any day of the week,

it either,] I admit. [Spending such an absurd amount of resources just to make things look nice? Impossible. It’s too inefficient and

the most part, it's filled

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

get, stupid city, with the Legion continuing to shadow us on the way.

course they did. If

trouble here?] I

a secret war against the Atreum that I haven’t

as much a surprise to

organised sort of place. We have

course, doom us