I woke up with a slight headache and came to a conclusion that Megalopolis's beer isn’t of best of quality. I got dressed and threw a log into the fireplace. Without any reason I stared into the fire, expecting for something to happen. Nothing did, so I left the room and knocked on Tiberius’s door. It took some time before he answered. He was up half the night with our hosts.

“What is it, Antonius?” he asked with a sleepy voice.

“Yesterday I saw something you need to know about.”

“Is it of delicate nature?”

“It is. I know a place we can talk about it in privacy.” He nodded, locked the door behind him and I guided him to Otho’s balcony.

“How do you know of this place?” Tiberius asked with a happy voice and took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air. It was still dark and the city bellow was sound asleep.

“Otho went exploring the first day we arrived. He showed it to me.”

“So, what do you have for me?”

I told him what happened while he mused. He didn’t seem surprised.

“I thought you should know…” I concluded my story.

“So… You slammed the door? Ha ha ha! I do find that funny, but that was very unwise of you. Somebody could have seen you and then they’d have you murdered. Or something even more trivial could occur! Aldon Beleg is an older man, the scare you gave them could have stopped his heart. Which in effect would cause political instability in an already quite delicate situation. Our actions, Antonius, even the most banal ones, have consequences. Yet I understand why you did it. I would have done the same thing, ha ha ha!”

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“I thought you should know.”

“Yes, you said so. An interesting piece of information, no doubt. But honestly, not a very important one. This is Megalopolis. Everybody is in bed with everybody.”

“Do you think Megalopolis will fall? They were so powerful once, it’s hard to imagine their demise.”

“Yes, I’m quite certain it will. Look beneath you, young Antonius. This whole city and its inhabitants will burn. I can almost see it. And the elite will lock themselves in their chambers, indulged in travesty till the very end. The ones who are bringing on this mess, will flee, of course. They always do. Shameless band.”

“It’s a waste. Nothing but utter waste! Such a marvelous city! So much history condensed in these stones! These rocks, the great rivers bellow – so many people, so many stories – and all will one day become an empty tale. A tale that ended in blood and fire.”

“That is true. But if you observe closely, you’ll find beauty and meaning in transience. Everything flows, nothing remains.”

We observed the city bellow for some time, neither of us saying a word. Giant eagles glided around without a care in the world. Then the sun rose and illuminated the world. The warmth on my skin felt good and I closed my eyes for a moment. Then I looked towards Tiberius, whose eyes were closed as well, his hands on the balustrade.

“My Lord?”

He opened his blue eyes.

“You can address me by my name, there’s no need for formality among us Vetulonians.”

“When we get back, please make it your priority to dispatch the Wolves to save Calista.”

He then gave me such a warm smile it almost startled me. Tiberius often seemed detached, as if he was a machine of sorts. So this genuine reaction of his took me by surprise.

“That will be the very first thing I’ll do when we get back to Lux, I promise you. We’ll get her out.”