Margrethe and Ulrika walked under the Chisone river.
They did not walk on the imperial road, did not take a boat to travel, or flew through the sky. They walked the path where humans cannot see, deep in the waters. Their clothing was crisp and drifting as if they were walking through the air instead of water.
Because their clothing was made from their feathers, even gods cannot pierce through it easily, much less water. Their steps were not fast, however, they had travelled through thousands of miles upstream from the Aeon forest.
Leaving the water, the two phoenixes stood onto a small forest. It was not far away from a city that had no walls, yet the view should have been obscured by the dense vegetation, so how could they have seen it?
This was the first time Margrethe or Ulrika had arrived at Juliana. Ulrika showed no new emotion on her face, only her usual look of amusement that lacked any sort of interest. Margrethe was always interested in human society, though she didn’t have any history with Juliana, her face showed a deep yearning and curiosity.
She perceived the tallest building in the city that soared past the sky, for a long time.
A sparrow resting at the treetop suddenly flew down, landing on her shoulder. It’s dark colours complimenting her red hair.
She was a phoenix, the sovereign of all birds. It was only natural for birds to pay homage to her wherever she went. Margrethe patted the creature on her shoulder gently, wondering why the tower had such terrifying aura.
“My little sister, you are truly gifted. This range usually could only be perceived by a saint.”
“You did not sense wrong. That is indeed that damned dragon’s nest.”
At some point, Ulrika had likewise sent out her strand of preception to the tower. Her bemused face finally revealing a hint of hostility and anger.
This anger could not be the cause of any single conflict. It was the culmination of millions of years, and dozens of generations.
Dragons and phoenix were the two most ancient creatures in the world and over the millions of years, they had accumulated countless blood debts. The hostility only ceased recently when Julia overthrew Alexander’s empire ten thousand years ago.
Margrethe could sense the sudden shift in Ulrika’s, becoming a little uneasy.
“There’s no need to worry. She will not stay inside that building for long.”
After saying this, Ulrika continued through the forest.
Margrethe felt her sister’s words to be a little strange. She tidied her clothing, causing the sparrow to fly off as she continued forwards.
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The branches moved through some strange means, forming a path.
Two sisters walked this path to the capital.
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Juliana was located neither too South or too North. The weather was perfect and invited one to come out and exercise their bodies. However, Ovid paced his life on the road in the same manner he had been in Anna’s minor realm. He would write with his quill onto that Cai Lun paper whether it was day or night - occasionally would he chat with Anna.
Just as almost a month passed, the two carriages and dozen squadrons of heavy cavalry finally arrived at Juliana.
A few hours ago, the convoy group had camped outside the city to wait for permission to enter. Supposedly, it had been a long tradition that originated back to not long after Alexander’s ascension into godhood. Even since then, a complex ritual must be performed whenever a general or a governor had returned from their post and entered the capital city. Even now, it had not yet concluded.
Ovid stored the paper he was writing on and lifted the curtains, looking at Anna who had come out of the carriage and joined the ritual, he could not help but touch his face and faintly smile.
Anna’s status as Julia’s designated heir could be considered even greater than Martha’s as the strategos of Straton. The officials and clergywomen performing the ritual made obeisances to the girl fearfully. Julia’s reputation was indeed strange, even after so many years of inactivity, she still held such high prestige. The officials did not dare to even wipe the sweat off their brows after the ritual had been completed, only washing their face with a wet towel after they mounted their mules.
The heavy papal cavalry, who all achieved deaconhood, entered the city before the ritual was complete. The region surrounding the capital was under the protection of Julia, and neigh impossible to attack. Of course, their entrance to the city was also to form a pathway for the carriage in the city’s crowded streets.
The site of the white horses caused Ovid to recall the bishop they had met in Phalaris. At that time, he had yet to meet Cai Hua and could only be considered an unimportant figure which Catherine was the most outstanding magician in a century. The status between the two was truly quite great.
Now, in a measly half a year, he had managed to become a half-saint and even met some ancient fellows like Glafx.
It was said that the greatest vengeance to your enemy is disregard. Ovid was quite terrible at remembering others in the first place and was it not for Anna’s encounter with the pope, he would have probably completely forgotten about that arrogant bishop.
After the officials left, Martha followed afterwards. Anna, however, did not enter the city. Rather, she entered the carriage with an expression full of exhaustion and boredom from the complicated ritual. She took a quick nap before leaving the carriage with Ovid and taking a stroll through the vast fields.
The wheat grown had long been harvested, yet the stone walls that partitioned the fields were flourishing with moss and flowers growing through its cracks. Interestingly, there was a set of tools laid neatly along these stone walls.
It was only now that Ovid realises the village which they had stopped at was the one he had arrived at when first entering this world.
He had left for Juliana not minutes after entering this world. Then, he left the city not soon after and travelled across the Julian empire, spending more time travelling than still. He had always been a quiet person who had difficultly adapting to change, and though he did not intend to stay in this city for long, he was quite happy to finally stop sleeping on the carriage, no matter how comfortable the carriage bed was, a proper room was always better.
They continued along the imperial road, which five carriages could travel side by side, though the two did not walk on it.
After walking for half an hour, a shadow spread over their head and covered the field before them. Ovid thought this scene felt familiar, for the same shadow had been overcast when they were at Phalaris - yet, Juliana lacked any city walls, so the shadows could not be cast by those.
He looked up and then saw the rows upon rows of high rises that laid at the edges of the city. These buildings were unique to Juliana, as no other city had such great urban density. These rows of the building seemed to never end, stretching out across the plain. Faintly, the two could see over these insulaes, a giant dome positioned in the city’s centre.
No wonder this city was considered the centre of the world. Countless entered the great city through its nine roads. Anna walked before Ovid and said playfully, “This would be mine in the future. And that dome would be my palace.”
The dome in the centre of the city was Julia’s residency. It had been built rather recently, for much of it had been destroyed when Julia came into power. Still, it seemed to match the city’s ancient age and possesses a solemnity that could only be rivalled by the palaces in the northern continent.
The two continued toward the city, though they experienced no issues with the crowd, for they entered through the royal gate.
Ovid gazed at the streets city with uneasiness. When he had just arrived in this city, he was in a dazed state, and when he left, it was at night.
This could be considered the first time he properly seen the city.