The gates of the capital opened with a low groan of enchanted stone and steel, and the convoy rolled forward into the heart of Lechia. The first sight that met their eyes was not chaos, not the vibrant hum of a people spilling freely into the streets, but rather an almost chilling order. The cobbled roads stretched in perfect symmetry, wide enough for three carriages to pass side by side without trouble. Every stone looked polished, as though scrubbed daily. The air carried the faint tang of incense, fresh oil from lamps, and discipline itself, woven into the breath of the city.

Towering buildings lined the main avenue, their architecture both austere and elegant, each roof tiled in jade green that gleamed in the sun. Guards in polished silver armor stood at every corner, their spears upright and their faces as rigid as statues. They marched in formations along the streets, step after step in unison, the sound of boots striking stone echoing like the ticking of a great clock. Every few paces, banners of Lechia fluttered, painted with the imperial crest, and civilians moved briskly, eyes lowered, each action calculated and careful.

Selene's lips curled downward almost immediately. She leaned toward the window of the carriage and let out a long, dissatisfied sigh, her voice sharp with disappointment. "This is it? This is Lechia's great capital? Where is the life, the laughter, the music? Where are the taverns spilling people onto the streets, the merchants shouting their wares, the smell of roasted meat clinging to the air?" She turned back to Lucas with open disdain in her eyes. "I expected to step into a city that pulsed with energy, not this parade of obedient zombies. It is suffocating."

Nyx arched a brow, her tone more thoughtful than dismissive. "Order has its own strength, Selene. This is not liveliness, no, but it is control. Every man, woman, and child knows their place here, and that makes this city formidable. An empire that can enforce such discipline at its very core is one that cannot be taken lightly."

Selene scoffed, her hand waving dismissively. "Formidable? Perhaps. But it is also lifeless. I do not wish to spend a single night in a place where liveliness feels forbidden." She leaned back against the seat with arms crossed, her irritation plain. "What joy is there in a city that does not breathe?"

Lira, sitting quietly between them, spoke up with a small, almost hesitant voice. "But it is… beautiful," she said, her wide eyes drinking in the shining streets and the flawless symmetry. "I've never seen a place so clean, so perfect. It feels like walking into a painting. Maybe it is not lively, but it is… majestic in its own way." She glanced toward Lucas, unsure, as if seeking his agreement.

Lucas had been silent until now, his gaze steady as he studied the streets outside. He did not miss the lines of formation carved into the very stones, channels faintly glowing with inscriptions, subtle runes woven into the city itself to ensure order extended even into the earth. He could sense the energy humming through it, a quiet warning that chaos was not tolerated here. He leaned back at last, his expression calm, his voice level as he spoke.

"Selene," he said, his eyes meeting hers, "do not mistake this for all there is. This is the heart of the empire, the face they show to the world. A face of power, control, and perfection. Of course it is orderly. The liveliness you seek exists, but it is not shown here. It is hidden, confined to another side of the capital, where people are allowed to breathe, to laugh, to indulge. That is where you will find your music and chaos."

Selene tilted her head, skepticism lingering in her gaze though his words softened her scowl. "Another side, you say? Then I hope you intend to take us there, Lucas, because if this is all I see, I might lose my mind in a day."

Lucas allowed the faintest smirk to tug at his lips. "Patience. Every city has two faces, Lechia will be no different. You'll have your liveliness soon enough."

Nyx gave a low hum, her eyes sharp as she looked out again. "Two faces, indeed. An empire this vast cannot be as simple as it looks."

Selene sighed but settled back into her seat, her frustration tempered for the moment. "It had better be as you say, Xavier. I would hate to think we traveled all this way for polished streets and silent crowds."

Lucas glanced once more out the window, his gaze steady as the carriage continued deeper into the immaculate streets. "Trust me," he said quietly, "you will see what lies beneath soon enough."

_______

The convoy had been moving at a steady pace through the central district, The rich and noble live here.... the roads seemed almost too clean to be real, when Lucas finally suggested that they find a place to rest. His intention was simple enough...choose an inn, remain low-key, and gather strength for whatever lay ahead. But the moment he voiced it, Selene shook her head vigorously, her hair brushing against her shoulders as she leaned forward in her seat with visible distaste.

"No," she said firmly, her tone carrying no hesitation. "Not here. I refuse to stay in one of these boring inns. Look around you, Xavier. Every person we have passed since we entered this district wears silk, jewels, or titles. These streets are not for people like us....they belong to the nobles and the rich, and I have had more than enough of their company in Valerion." She crossed her arms, her expression as sharp as her words. "If I must sleep in Lechia, then let it be where the city truly breathes. I want an inn in the commoner's quarter, where the air is not choked by etiquette."

Nyx, seated opposite her, gave a small, amused laugh. "For once, I agree with you, Selene. I have spent my whole life behind the gilded walls of Valerion's palace, surrounded by courtiers with smiles. I want to see how the real people of this empire live. I want noise, markets, and a chance to walk among those who are not constantly measuring my every step." She turned to Lucas, her dark eyes gleaming with the faintest spark of excitement. "I would prefer it, too."

Lira, though quieter, looked thoughtful..."I think I would feel more at ease there as well," she admitted softly. " Among the common folk, there would be warmth, even if it is rough around the edges. I would rather stay there."

Lucas leaned back slightly, rubbing his jaw as he considered their words. He had wanted to avoid attention and blend quietly into the capital's order, but he knew when he was outnumbered. With three pairs of determined eyes on him, each voice pressing him in the same direction, he finally let out a faint breath of resignation. "Very well," he said at last, his tone calm but edged with a reluctant smile. "If that is what you all want, then we shall head to the commoner's settlement. But do not say later that I did not warn you if trouble follows."

Selene smirked, her eyes bright with triumph. "For once, you've made a wise choice without arguing. Perhaps you are learning."

Lucas only arched a brow, his lips tugging in mild amusement. "Or perhaps I simply know when to stop wasting my words. It seems all three of you are quite capable of overwhelming me when you put your minds together."

Nyx chuckled under her breath, while Lira looked down with the hint of a smile, pleased at his willingness to yield.

The guards, overhearing the exchange, quickly adjusted their course. One of them leaned toward a passerby, a man dressed in plain brown robes carrying a basket of fruit, and inquired about the direction to the commoner's district. The man gave a quick bow, his eyes widening at the sight of the well-armed guards, before hurriedly pointing down a side street. The convoy began to veer away from the pristine main road, wheels clattering against stone as they turned a sharp corner.

And then, as if by fate, the moment they made the turn, their eyes were drawn upward. There it stood....the imperial palace of Lechia, rising in the distance like a vision carved from heaven itself. The sheer size of it was enough to still the breath in their chests. It stretched higher than the tallest towers they had ever seen, its walls gleaming in the fading sunlight as if bathed in liquid gold. Spires of marble and jade reached skyward, catching the glow of dusk and scattering it in all directions. From their vantage, the palace looked less like a building and more like a fortress that no mortal hand could breach, an eternal testament to power and dominance.

Selene gasped audibly, her earlier annoyance forgotten. "By the heavens… it is magnificent," she whispered, pressing a hand against the window as though she could reach it. "No palace in Valerion compares to this. Not even close."

Nyx's eyes widened, her voice reverent as she leaned forward to catch every detail. "I thought Valerion's halls were unmatched," she admitted, shaking her head slowly. "But this… this is something else entirely. It glow… it feels alive."

Even Lira could not hold back her awe. She pushed the door open before the guards could react and stepped outside, staring with wide eyes. "It is beautiful beyond words," she said breathlessly. "Like something out of a dream."

The girls, overcome by wonder, quickly rushed out of the carriage together, ignoring the calls of the guards who urged them to be cautious. They wanted to see it unobstructed, to drink in its glory with their own eyes. Standing there in the street, gazing at the imperial palace of Lechia, all three were united in a rare moment of silence, their hearts racing with a mix of admiration and disbelief.

Lucas remained seated in the carriage for a moment longer, his gaze fixed on the gleaming towers above. Unlike the girls, his awe was tempered by caution. "So this is the palace of Lechia," he murmured under his breath. "Magnificent."

Outside, Selene turned back briefly and shouted, her voice ringing with urgency. "Xavier, come out! You must see it properly with your own eyes!"

But he only leaned forward slightly, watching them from the doorway of the carriage, a faint smile on his lips. The palace's glory was undeniable.

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