Chapter 14: The Warrior Training Grounds
Word of the awakening had spread through the Divine Throne, and whispers filled the halls. As Soltair and I passed through, priests would pause their conversations and watch us from the corner of their eyes. It was a bit unnerving, but better than the hostile gazes of before. It seemed a hero commanded at least this much respect. After a few minutes, we finally arrived outside, and I got my first good look at the Divine Throne.
Words couldn't do it justice. The church complex was a massive sprawling mass of stone buildings, connected with fortifications and walled corridors. Central to the structure was a towering cathedral wrapped in stained glass, surrounded by soaring spires, and capped with a dome. I instantly recognized it as the Great Chapel. Hundreds of golden flags fluttered above the Divine Throne, proudly flying the symbol of the sun. The various wings of the complex were less grandiose but still impressive. The entire place was magically reinforced and built like a Fortress. The windows at ground level were narrow and deep, and the walls built of thick stone.
The outer walls were nearly a quarter mile from the Cathedral, with wide swaths of gardens subtly disguising the kill zone in between. Reinforced iron gates opened in every cardinal direction. Armored guards and Knights patrolled around the grounds on foot and horseback. Their expressions were bright and armor well-polished, giving a stunning display of might.
Soltair chuckled at the awe painting my face. "They call it the Fortress of the Sun. It's likely the most secure stronghold in the world, built to resist the full might of a demon invasion. Although many have tried, none have breached these walls."
"It's incredible! how long did it take to build?"
He scratched his head. "I'm not sure, although not as long as you might think. Magic makes everything easier, even without modern technology."
I could make out the top of buildings outside the walls, most flying the sun pendant as well. "How big is the city outside?"
"I haven't been out too much, but I'd guess a couple hundred thousand of people."
As we chatted, Soltair led me through the gardens. Flowers bloomed in every direction, and fallen blossoms covered the smooth cobblestone paths. Fruit trees bore fruit regardless of season, and small animal chatter filled the air. Throughout the garden, I could see various swathes of cleared ground, where soldiers and priests trained. Unlike the guards, they weren't dressed in battle gear, but used padded wooden weapons and wore no armor. Many trained by themselves, simply running through drills or following an instructor's lead. Sparring grounds were separate, sitting against the walls. As we approached the nearest training ground, the soldiers stopped nearly unanimously and knelt, hailing the hero.