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 it’s all

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

look at

the Twin Cities for nothing. There!

a glimpse of something golden breaking through, a beam of light that stabs me

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

that?! That metal must be worth a damned fortune, and you

lifted without the author's consent. Report any

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

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

wouldn’t that be

to enjoy 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,

of resources just to make things look nice? Impossible. It’s too inefficient and

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

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

city, with the Legion continuing to shadow us on the

the wall. Because of course they did. If Michaelangelant

trouble here?]

secret war against the Atreum that I

much a surprise to me as it is

they are a well-run and organised sort of place. We have all

course, doom us before