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 that! Well, it's

look. I think the clouds are going to part. We should get a good look at it now,] Eran says,

look at what?]

Twin Cities

mountain have been shrouded by cloud and mist, but, for a moment, I catch a glimpse of something golden breaking through, a beam

in GOLD?! Not just any gold, but gold that seems to radiate the warmth of the

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

the author's consent.

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,

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

I built a hut in the sixth, wouldn’t

go there 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, but building something this expensive

would never do it 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 material benefit to the

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

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

continuing to shadow us on the way. The outer wall looms large as we draw closer, and I mean, really large. These

unspeakably, eye-meltingly attractive artworks into the wall. Because of course they did. If Michaelangelant is in this fleet, she is

much trouble here?] I ask, a

secret war against the Atreum that I haven’t heard

much a surprise to me as it is

of place. We have all our documents sorted well in advance. We’re the kind

course, doom us before we even