I sat with no hesitation. He set down a briefcase and put on a thin pair of glasses while looking at a packet.

“I—”

“Don’t speak,” he said bluntly, “I’m not quite finished yet.” We sat in silence. I looked around there are five empty chairs. Each chair was decorated with a specific weapon, for what purpose I know not, one being a long wooden staff. While I was still gawking at the decor, The Founder clears his throat.

“Yes!”

“I think that’s everything, at least paperwork wise. Mr. Potestus, do you understand your situation?”

“No sir!” I squeaked.

“Honest, I like it.” He nods slowly, “Damien, you have been chosen among some of the smartest people in existence to come here. Less than me of course.” He laughed like he was joking but I could tell he meant it at least a bit. “Do you have any more questions for me? Lest I remind you, we will not be seeing each other again very soon.” Besides the fact he only asked my name, I could think of only one thing.

“How is my family?” I said.

“Your family? Sure. Let’s see… Mr. Potestus, Decea—”

“Um, could you repeat that?”

“Ahem, if you really miss them, we don’t allow you to leave at the early stage but we do have a mail system in place.”

“Oh, sure. By the way, where are the other councilmen—”Before I could finish my thought, a loud buzzing noise came from the table. The Founder pressed a button and looked at the screen for a second saying,

“Ah, it seems that’s all the time we’re allowed. Thank you for coming and enjoy your new life in my wonderful city! You can exist the way you came in.” I almost started shouting at him about this unfairness but found myself giving him excuses. I walked back slowly on the invisible path where the ship from earlier still stood. I didn’t know how I felt about The Founder. He seemed kind and thoughtful, even generous, but I couldn’t get past those eyes. I ended up just forgetting about the whole thing as my workload increased. One thing I had noticed, as more time passed, was every time I started getting curious, I had less free time. It got so busy at times that I began forcing myself to quit reading to suppress my curiosity.

Dear Agravain,

It's been a year since my last visit with The Founder. I’ve had no trouble. It seems as though crime doesn’t exist around these parts, most likely on account of its high security. The clock ticks are soft, only mixed with the quiet hum of the city. I have only been outside a few times. You're not allowed outside without these ornate masks. I finished mine just recently, so I'll try to write back more often.

-Sincerely Damien

After stockpiling thousands of letters only to be thrown away, I thought it would be at least a start to actually sending one of them. I left my apartment that evening and went to the post office about a mile down to send my letter off. My mask was painted like a dragon snout, outlined in gold. Around the eye holes were glittered with bronze. I wore a gold chain around my neck with a ruby gem in between. If I pressed it, I would be swarmed with guards in a few moments. The outside was so bright it almost hurt my eyes. The apartments, mansions are more accurate, lined up in identical formation. The walkway is lined with glass and gold.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

As I entered the plaza, I could see the prepossessing capital building atop dazzling stairs. The fountain, standing in the middle of the whole square, depicted a lanky man with broad shoulders holding a rounded cane. He had a pointed beard and glaring eyes made of gold that seemed to stare into my soul. I saw a custodian frantically rubbing guano from the side of its head as the clock struck noon. His perfectly white uniform made him barely visible to the naked eye. I always wondered how they kept those suits so clean when doing donkey work.

Climbing up the stairs I saw the statuesque entrance. A woman leaned on the side of the frame. I could only describe her as comely and pulchritudinous. She wore a red coat over a black small sweater. Her mask was like a snow fox, with silver instead of white. I could not see her eyes but her stature and poise made her look more like a queen then anything else. I couldn’t help but feel as though I had seen someone similar. I almost asked but worried of reprocusses, I walked by. In that place, talking to someone would be considered rude and in worse cases, it’s criminal. Best left avoided.

Inside, I found sapphire walls with pearl pillars all around. The sun beamed through the skylights. The signs and entrances were intricate and hard to read. The letters seemed to be in every shadow. With much difficulty, I found the office designated for postage. A woman of considerable height stood at the desk, she seemed impatient.

“Hello ma’am.” I said, in a quiet voice, so as to not cause suspicion.

The woman spoke in a monotone that seemed to echo throughout the hall. She said, “deliver or receive?”

I ignored her rudeness for now, I needed to be home already. I pulled out the envelope and watched as she sealed and sent the letter though an air chamber with a small opening.

“You’re all set, have a nice day.” Her mask had a big painted smile ringed with red.

“T-thank you madam. And by any chance are there letters to me?” She doesn’t answer. “Ma’am?”

As if on command the clerk seemed to jump at me saying again, “deliver or receive?”

“Uh, receive ma’am…”

the clerk opened a drawer and looked back, “I’m sorry, it seems you have no letters to receive today. Thank you!” She goes silent again. Her eyes are screaming at me to leave. I think it best if I just headed home.

The encounter is thought to be strange but nothing so off. Perhaps her day had been irritable and she merely wanted to get done with her shift. Thoughts ran through my head like a river, breaking through a dam, my mind coming up with reactions and counterclaims, Though I didn’t want it to. I looked over at my estate, some cracks were forming at the porch base, “have those always been there?” I thought. By the time I reached my front door, it was nearly dusk and the moon began to rise. The power had been shut down till the next day. I looked along the rows of houses next to mine, all dull looking in the night, before stepping inside.

I placed my mask on the wall and collapsed on the polyester couch. I ate my pre-made dinner in darkness, the gold plate dimly beaming off the candlelight. The house's feeble vibrations were interrupted abruptly disturbed when sirens sounded; an intruder had entered the city. The warning bell of curfew was covered by its blare. I literally jump as the noise before heading to the storage area to enact the proper measures. My momentum slowed as I reached the stairs, the plank and gold turning to iron and tile. This wasn’t the first alarm I’d heard in Larua, but fear still ignited my steps to the basement.

The air was cold and still. My boots sent echoes along the walls in the silent cellar. My breath was visible as my heart rate started to increase, I’ve never been a fan of the dark. A small, hairy, and frankly dirty creature, I think you call them rats, stared up at me with a blank expression, stopping me in my tracks. It had been so long since I had seen one that I almost forgot what they looked like. That vile thing and I stayed put for a good minute or so before it scurried off to its hiding place.

The corridor got thinner the further I went along. The floor was covered in dirt. At the end was a ventilation grate busted open. It was bent forward at the lock. My first thought was that the rat had chewed its way through, however unlikely it was.

The city's sparkling image started to fade, leading to the second seed of doubt. I went back up the stairs, watching my step carefully. The walls and carpet were covered with grim and mud with droplets even on the ceiling, as though some wild animal stumbled into the apartment. A crash was heard from the other room then followed by silence. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. I entered the open frame and was greeted with a knife against my throat.