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

to part. We should get a good look at it now,] Eran

look at what?]

the Twin Cities

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

just

That metal must be worth a damned fortune, and you decided to coat your

without the author's

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

be welcome up there. That’s for citizens only. Wealthy citizens at that. You’re looking at the most

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

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 give us

to make things look nice? Impossible. It’s too

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

finally, we find the place where all the humans are. No giant magic lizard-wizards, no second-skin rock people, just humans. I mean, humans are scary enough by themselves, but at least I understand them a

towards the Silver City, which only grows more beautiful the closer we get, stupid city, with the Legion continuing to shadow us on the way. The outer wall looms large as we draw closer, and

of course they did. If Michaelangelant is in this fleet, she is frothing at

we expect much trouble here?] I

a secret war against the

we have, it's just as much a surprise to me as it is to

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

doom us before