Chapter 443: Arc 6, - 59: Palais Celneir
In any other metropolitan, the busy afternoon would have been quite the hassle to park a carriage in; fortunately, this was not the case for the River-City.
Most of the folk opted for a bicycle to pass through narrow gaps in the roads, if walking was simply not enough. Boats and gondolas along the Celine River proved sufficient transport, especially via the man-made waterways.
Guinzione Bridge Station was indeed packed, by boat or by land. The giant glass ceiling that domed above the riverway, from stables to ticketing counter was enough to reflect the bright sunlight beaming down.
However many people there were, an extra fee and some haggling on the Azure Firefly’s part was enough to bring them straight from a boat and onto a carriage towards their intended destination about half an hour away.
The bricks were so smooth, they might as well as have been marble. In contrast to the dark dreary gothics of Dolpool, the east side of Belle-Ventrialis was artistic, almost aethereal—perhaps a bit vintage as a certain blonde would put it.
What with the pale grey roads, the hues of light browns upon the architecture, the artists and statues around every major path and the vines and plants crawling up buildings, it was abundantly clear they valued culture.
And at the edge, by the seaside stood the grand jewel of the entire locale; perhaps the most crowded area they had seen yet. Facing the sea and held up by columns of marble was Palais Celneir.
Looming at least forty or so metres, each inch of the structure was engraved and chiselled with patterns. Alcoves and archways were by the dozen and there were two balcony layers on its upper floors, with balustrades held up by hundreds of small humanoid statues.
In lieu of gargoyles, perched upon the rooftops were angels with massive wings, all of it made of literal gold. The Burntish flag of red with a rising phoenix flapped by the sea-breeze atop each spire.
Beneath the majesty of the structure were inspired artists by the dozen amongst the moving crowd, hoping to gain some inspiration by the sight and the fresh salt in the air.
The road twisted around by the bay, making a roundabout around Palais Celneir itself. A barrier of chest-high columns were around the edge, where a sheer drop would certainly scatter someone across the rocky shore upon which white waves crashed.
Even the boats on the Celine River were halted by a station on the water that acted as a dam and a gate. Still, many attempted to take peeks of the sea well around Belle-Ventrialis and those who ventured too much were very quickly accosted by the authorities.