14-59. The Future of the Empire
“Are those suits normal on your planet?” asked Sara as she leaned against the doorframe, watching him adjust his tie.
Elijah glanced back at her. She wore a sleek gown that would not have been out-of-place on a red carpet back on Earth. It was white, with gold trim, and it left quite a bit of skin bare. Of course, the brocade matched her scales, both in terms of pattern and color, making the garment seem to blend seamlessly into her skin.
Doubtless, it was the product of a truly talented and very high-level Tailor.
By comparison, Elijah felt a little frumpy. His suit likely represented the best Earth had to offer in that department. Hope wasn’t a demi-god yet, but she was still an ascended Tailor who had access to some of the best materials on the planet. And yet, her work lacked a certain panache that marked it as somehow lesser.
Still, Elijah chose to wear it proudly, as much out of sentimentality as because he actually liked the style.
This suit was emerald green, though the hue was where the similarities between it and his last suit ended. The soft, leather jacket stretched all the way to his calves, the edges trimmed in subtle, golden vines that ended in a tangle of flora on the lapels. The vest was similarly trimmed, while the cloth slacks remained mostly plain. The black shirt stood in stark contrast, with the look completed by a matching, green tie and black boots. Hope had even included a pair of fine leather gloves.
The whole look made him feel like the aristocratic villain in a slightly anachronistic Victorian period piece. But when he looked in the mirror, he had to admit that it made a statement that its lack of grade could not.
Perhaps there was a place for talent over skills, after all. In either case, Hope clearly had a knack for interesting design.
“Not really normal, no. The overall style, maybe.”
“It looks so constrictive.”
Elijah adjusted his tie. “Can’t really argue with that.”
“Then why wear it?”
“Two reasons,” he answered. “One, I do think it looks cool. But second? Because this was made by family. And I guess I think it’ll help me stand out.”
“That’s three reasons,” she pointed out.
Elijah sighed. “So it is. Are you ready?”
“I was ready when I arrived,” she answered. “You’re the one holding things up.”
“Right. Then I guess…yeah. I’m good to go.”
“Finally.”
With that, she and Elijah stepped out of Tura’s hut, and Sara summoned her cloud artifact. The old Wyrmroot Sage and Birk had left early, trusting Elijah and Sara to make their way to the venue alone. So, they didn’t hesitate to lift off and head towards Ashakar.
The trip was uneventful, and soon enough, they found themselves striding across the bridges of the Crown. The architecture was just as impressive as ever, which was saying something, considering that Elijah should have long since grown accustomed to the artistry on display.
But he hadn’t.
Every time he looked at those towers, at the bridges and waterfalls, his heart rate increased, and the sight took his breath away. Sensing that, Sara matched his sedate pace, letting him enjoy the atmosphere.
“You really do love it, don’t you?” she asked.
Elijah shrugged. “I guess. Maybe in another life, I would’ve been an architect. Or an archeologist. I’d need to get a whip, though.”
“What does a whip have to do with archeology?” she asked.
“Probably a hat, too.”
“I have a history instructor at the Academy with an Archeologist class. He doesn’t wear a hat or carry a whip. I don’t think he’s ever actually held a weapon that wasn’t considered an historical piece of art.”
“It’s an Earth thing,” Elijah stated.
“Earth seems like a really weird place,” Sara muttered. “Can I visit sometime? It would need to be after I finished my studies, though. Mother would never allow me to leave otherwise.”
“Sure. I could show you around the grove. It’s changed a lot since the last time you were there,” Elijah said. “Plus, I’m sure everyone would love to meet you.”
Then, Elijah went on to describe those closest to him, like his former teammates from the Trial of Primacy, family like Carmen, Miguel, Hope, and little Eli, and all the people he’d met and befriended along the way. “Then there’s Nerthus. He’s a spryggent. I think I’ve told you all about him,” Elijah finished. “He’s like a brother to me.”
“I met a spryggent once,” Sara said. “He was visiting to deal with a problem in one of the parks. I don’t remember the details, but my Arborist instructor asked him to come by. It was supposed to be a big deal, because they don’t usually leave their homes very often. But I don’t really remember much about it. He answered some questions, but…well, I was much younger then, and I didn’t recognize how rare the opportunity was.”
“I don’t blame you,” Elijah said. “Trees aren’t that interesting to most people, I guess.”
“Just weirdos that end up as Druids,” she countered, squeezing his arm.
“I bet you’d like Nerthus, though. My grove wouldn’t run very well without him. And I’d probably have died if he hadn’t helped me,” Elijah allowed. “So, he’s family.”
“I wish I had adventures like you did,” Sara said. “My one time I got to leave the planet, and I barely even remember it.”
“I don’t know if I’d call them adventures. More like running for my life, most of the time.”
“I don’t believe that.”
Elijah shrugged. “Isn’t that the venue?” he asked, wanting to change the subject.
The answer to that question was obvious, but Sara was content to let that end the thread of conversation. As they approached, Elijah was able to truly appreciate the ambiance. Streams of light – like golden threads of pure illumination – draped themselves over the tower. They hung above everything like a lattice of impossibility, bathing everything in subtle, soft ambiance.
This text was taken from NovelPhoenix. Help the author by reading the original version there.
The entrance to the tower was guarded by a pair of powerful-looking drakes, both of which wore elaborate armor that seemed to blend seamlessly into their scales. Elijah couldn’t tell where metal ended and their natural armor began. They also carried dual-bladed staves, similar to the one Dolo had used back in the Broken Crown.
A few people milled out front, watching as attendees arrived.
“Reminds me of a fancy awards show,” Elijah muttered. Or a movie premiere. “Who are those people?”
“Mostly servants,” Sara answered. “They aren’t allowed inside unless they have a specific purpose.”
“And they’re just left out here?”
She shrugged. “They will disperse once the ball begins in earnest,” she answered. “Until then, they are expected to remain close at hand, just in case they are needed.”
Elijah didn’t care for that, but he had no intention of trying to institute social change. If the system worked for the dragons, then who was he to judge? Besides, from everything he’d seen in the Empire of Scale, everyone was treated fairly. Sure, there was a lot of inequality, but that was an inevitable consequence when power became so stratified. After all, what sense would it make for someone like Kirlissa to stand on the same stage as a mortal?
No – inequality was just a fact of life in his new reality. It wasn’t just about wealth or political power. It was about fundamental differences that innately turned people into wholly different entities. Different rules were required when some people could destroy planets with their very existence.
“Come on. It’s starting soon,” Sara said, pulling him along.
Elijah followed through the crowd and up the carpeted steps. Neither of the guards moved an inch as the pair entered, but Elijah felt a subtle shift in the ambient ethera that suggested that one of them had used an ability. Probably meant to identify them.
Soon enough, that was forgotten, though.
Because when Elijah entered the tower, he found himself taken aback by the shift in his surroundings. He let out a low gasp.
It was like he’d stepped into a forest.
There was no indication that they were inside a tower, save that when he turned around, he saw the familiar crowd. But it looked more like a portal, entirely disconnected from anything, than a door.
Massive trees, reminiscent of redwoods, rose all around him. But it only took Elijah a second to recognize that he’d not stepped into a natural forest. The trees were spaced too evenly. The underbrush was carefully curated, and to the point where it wouldn’t impede them.
In short, it was fake. Like a park, only less real.
The other indicator was twinkling flickers of light hanging among the branches. They looked like stars. Or fireflies, though a little brighter and more sustained.
“Guess they pulled out all the stops,” Elijah said, reaching out to touch one of the trees. It was real, just as his senses had suggested. “How? Was that a portal?”
“No. That would be too easy. They turned the interior of the tower into a forest,” she said. “Space mages, Arborists, and a Banquet Coordinator, all working together. They can do some truly amazing things, though the cost had to be astronomical. Guess mother spared no expense.”
Then, she went on to explain that in any gathering of dragons, a little showing off was inevitable.
Sara and Elijah wove through the trees, their destination made obvious by the sound of tinkling music. As they drew closer, Elijah was reminded of a summer thunderstorm. He could practically smell it, that mix of ozone, humidity, and moisture.
But the forest was entirely dry.
“I really need to get used to magical music,” Elijah muttered to himself as he listened to the beat of the song, which sounded like crashing thunder.
Or magical anything, if he was honest. The food, the music, the art – it all cut right through any mental protections he’d raised, making him feel things he didn’t always want to feel. Like painful nostalgia for days he would never revisit.
But those thoughts didn’t last long, because a moment later, a massive meadow came into view. The grass looked natural. The subtle roll of the land seemed like something he might have seen in the wild. Even the stream cutting through, with its elaborate yet delicate bridge spanning across, was normal.
The gathered dragons ruined that notion.
Like most parties he’d ever attended, they had divided themselves into smaller groups. Elijah had already known that at least a thousand people would be in attendance. They were the remaining contestants after the tournament’s first phase. But most had come with a retinue, and that wasn’t even considering their parents, sponsors, and other powerful figures who’d taken the ball as an opportunity to mingle.
Elijah even saw Kirlissa among them, though she stood out even when surrounded by other all-powerful dragons. A transcendent among deities.
A nearby drake raised his voice and announced Elijah’s and Sara’s arrival before they were allowed into the party.
Elijah immediately craned his neck.
“What are you doing?” asked Sara.
“Looking for the buffet. Or the hors d'oeuvres.”
“You’re already looking for snacks?”
Elijah shrugged. “That’s my usual approach,” he admitted. He’d attended a few parties and mixers at the university, and he’d developed a well-worn strategy for blending in. It usually revolved around finding the food or, failing that, the drinks.
“Come on,” she said, rolling her eyes.
Elijah didn’t have a chance to object before he was being dragged through the crowd. They wove between various groups, with Sara offering polite greetings and Elijah trying to keep up, before they reached their destination.
“You look like you’d rather be anywhere else,” said Alrhok, clapping his meaty hand on Elijah’s shoulder. The others were there as well. Piki and Morin stood to the big dragon’s right, while Kaela stood to his left.
Elijah only had eyes for the latter.
“You look…perfect,” he said.
And she did. Her gown was shorter than Sara’s, but no less glamourous. It was all creamy silk that perfectly matched her pearlescent red scales.
She smiled shyly at him.
“I was glad to see you won,” she said.
“Yeah. Me too. About you, I mean,” Elijah stammered. Indeed, he’d watched a couple of her fights, and he’d found that she was just as dangerous a competitor as he’d been led to expect.
“What about me?” asked Alrhok, a massive grin stretching across his face.
“Shut up,” Sara grumbled, elbowing him in the stomach.
“Was that supposed to hurt?”
“Oh. Yeah. Like I could hurt a boulder like you,” Sara said, rolling her eyes. “They’re having a moment, you big idiot.”
“We are not having a moment,” Kaela insisted, tucking her white hair behind her ears.
“Kind of a moment,” Elijah said, offering his hand. “Care to dance?”
“This isn’t a dancing song,” Alrhok pointed out.
“Of course,” Kaela answered, ignoring her massive brother as she placed her hand in Elijah’s.
“Just like I planned,” Sara said under her breath as Elijah led Kaela along.
“Your sister is not subtle,” Kaela pointed out.
“Her heart’s in the right place,” Elijah countered. “Plus, I kind of like her plan.”
“Me too,” Kaela allowed.
Elijah had met her a few more times since their experience with the natural treasure and Pepper, but never for more than a few minutes. They were both far too busy for a full social life, what with training and the tournament fights. But each time they came together had been a revelation for Elijah. And he hoped that Kaela felt the same way.
“What are you doing,” Kaela asked when he put his hand on her hip.
“I’m going to show you the dance of my people.”
“Your…people?”
“Never mind. It’s just something my mother taught me a long time ago.”
“What’s it called?” she asked.
Elijah smiled. “Foxtrot. Kind of a silly name, and it’s not the most complicated of steps. But it doesn’t really need to be.”
He could remember the day his mother had taught him. It wasn’t long before she’d died, and he’d been more than a little nervous about an upcoming school dance. Before, he’d just gone with the tried-and-true hold-and-sway method that most kids employed. But for this one, he wanted something special. He wanted to show Lucy – his girlfriend at the time – that he could be more for her.
And his mother had taught him the foxtrot. A simple dance, but it was intricate enough to make him stand out, especially to Lucy, who’d never expected it. He’d repeated something similar when he’d taken ballroom dancing classes with Nina back in Hawaii.
But he didn’t think Kaela was ready for that.
Not yet.
He did look forward to teaching her, though. Assuming she wanted to learn.
“Step, step, side-close,” he gently guided Kaela. She turned out to be a quick learner, and soon enough, she looked like an expert.
Of course, they were the only ones dancing to the musical rainfall, but that didn’t matter. Not to Elijah. In that moment, the rest of the world faded away, leaving only him, Kaela, and the music.