Chapter 67
The next morning marks a Milestone for Arcana City. The city is now structurally complete. Many units await interior finishing to their first resident’s request, but the city is built and functional. The electricity is on, the water flows and the garden domes are planted.
None of which would have been possible in this time frame without the assistance of the Dragon Prisestesses.
To celebrate our accomplishment, we’re opening a new city run service. A travel gate to Drakon City. It will be open 24 hours a day, maintained by mana stones and operated by the Mage Corps. A small fee will be charged to cover the costs, but it will allow anyone here to get to Washington state in a matter of seconds.
For security’s sake, it’s set in the underground areas, not far from the main entrance and parking Garage. The idea being that if either city should fall, it would be easy to block off and hard to move a large number of forces through in a timely manner.
Not everyone in the city trusts the spell, so we’re doing a public display this afternoon, an excuse for me to take a much needed vacation. I’ll be spending two weeks at the Blood Claw Pack with Alpha Petros, helping him get the pack used to the notion of Travel Gates in Cities. At least that’s the official reason.
Personally, I fully intend to spend two weeks relaxing at the pack house, training with the Pack warriors and introducing Hui’Jin to the wonders of Lycan society. Official decorum says a High Priestess must not go on official business without at least one Acolyte or Junior Priestess to accompany her, so she’s been nominated to come along on my vacation.
Lala initially wanted to go, but between spending time with Ellie and Allie and doing paperwork for the notoriously work phobic Karl, she’s got her hands full here.
The thought of leaving everyone shorthanded was too much for her to bear, despite all assurances that they’d manage on their own if she wanted to go see the ocean.
The ’Travel Spire’ as they’re calling the building above the Gate is a magnificent sight. It’s a white marble plinth with the word Arcana written vertically down its length in shining gold, otherwise plain except for the form of two black dragons arched to form the outline of a portal, that’s actually the entryway to the underground structure covered in an Arcane barrier that can be fortified at a moment’s notice.
The inside is truly grand. Thick blue carpet lines the outer edges of the hallway, made of entirely white marble. Large pillars line the walls, separating the roadway from the walkways. All are delicately engraved with scenes of dragons. In battle, at play and soaring through the skies. Three story tall dark metal doors mark the entrance to the portal room. Unoccupied, it looks more like a grand palace than what will soon be a busy roadway.
The building is of course enchanted to be self cleaning, and a high flow ventilation system is hidden in the upper walls, preventing any risk of pollution buildup.