The ride only lasted a matter of minutes before they reached the next landing zone. While they lowered, Leo noticed the time on a nearby clocktower. They had less than an hour before their meeting with the king.

The two of them made their way to the castle with haste. The setting sun guided their way as if it were a beacon from the heavens. Leo noticed that quite a few of the shops started to close for the night, though the activity in the streets barely died down. They had to make sure no one was knocked over in their hurry to the king.

Leo and Marem reached the entrance of the castle right as the sun set for the night. The second darkness spread over the land, bursts of lights appeared to ward it off. Poles of wood burst from the ground alongside the streets, and each one illuminated the nearby area. They had a dim orange hue that revitalized the city and the path to the gate.

The guards on duty recognized them as they approached. The sound of music filled the air as the castle gates began to open. While the castle had been eerily silent when they approached, music burst forward the second the doors opened. Leo looked around to see the source of the sound, but he couldn’t find it coming from anywhere. It simply permeated throughout the air.

The inside of the castle shot forth a burst of warm air as the two approached. The outside had been crisp, similar to the beginning of autumn. The inside of the castle felt like summer, despite the fact that it shouldn’t be possible. Leo thought so, at least, due to the fact that there didn’t seem to be any roof inside of the castle. He looked up to find nothing but the endless expanse of the stars.

A young boy, no older than twelve, walked up to them. He was adorned with a small set of royal armor. He sniveled, “Hey, you’re the appointment for ten, right? I’m your escort today. Please follow me.”

The kid seemed to struggle as he led them through the castle. His armor weighed him down, and it continued to throw him off balance with each step. The only respite he had was his lack of a helmet, allowing him to more easily inhale the air that he desperately craved.

The inside of the castle was something else. The ambient music, a vibrant band, was only overtaken by the sounds of the people around them. The deeper into the castle, the more people that they found.

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Counts and Dukes dressed in the finest robes wandered through the castle, talking about taxation and ruling. There were dozens of people carrying around files and boxes of paperwork. The most abundant group were the guards of the palace. There were guards standing throughout every room, their golden shine emanating through the air.

The walls were adorned with beautiful artwork. Paintings and statues filled the castle, an opulent display of wealth and style. What Leo focused on the most, however, was the lack of a ceiling above them. This was mainly brought to mind when their guide led them to a grand set of stairs.

The staircase appeared to just cut off into the sky, as if it disappeared randomly. Marem and the escort moved forward without any hesitation, however. Leo decided to follow, keeping an eye out on what was happening. When he reached the top of the stairs, he found himself on the second floor of the castle.

Above them was the open sky once again, with stars dancing overhead. There was nothing but ordinary floor below them. He wasn’t certain how it worked, but he did appreciate someone with the taste to always keep the stars visible.

Finally, their escort had led them to the outside of the throne room. Roughly a dozen guards covered in golden plate armor stood by the entrance. Leo felt their eyes suffocate him, their distrustful gaze checking him and Marem out. Their escort split away and talked to one of them, after a few moments one of the guards approached.

He towered over Leo and Marem, standing at well over ten feet tall. “The king will be seeing you two now,” his voice rumbled. The armored man led them to the door, which opened at his approach.

Past the doors was the most decadent room that Leo had ever imagined, let alone seen. The red carpet on the ground was the most humble part of it. There were silver statues that filled the sides of the room, depicting countless individuals of different species and builds.

Up ahead was the throne, with five towering golden statues behind it. The throne shimmered with jewels and gold. There were two guards on each side, protecting the king of Kalpania. Ruler of the known world.

He had an elderly appearance to him, only distracted by the outfit he wore. He was draped in hues of dark red, the clothes made out of the finest silks. His outfit was contrasted by the bright gold crown that sat on his head. He had a rather cruel face, one only possible by a man named Plebeius at birth.

Marem fell to a knee in front of the king, and Leo followed suit. The king spoke up, his voice thundered through the room, “You may rise. I hear that we have much to discuss.”