The closer Meera got to the imperial palace, the more awed she was by its majesty. The palace put the Taj Mahal to shame. It was as if they had seen the Taj Mahal and decided they would one-up it in everything—size, beauty, and grandeur.

The palace was massive, made entirely of white marble save for the domes, which were gold. There were many smaller buildings, but it was clear which was the real humble abode of the God King. Many pillars jutted up into the sky, with intricate designs of vines and various flowers. There were many gardens and even a farm that was growing wheat, if her guess was correct. The farm alone was about the size of the central palace, which was a testament to its size. The entire palace complex was surrounded by impossibly high walls, with parapets manned by soldiers.

But the most impressive thing was the various dinosaurs, or as they called them, Druvis, statues. Meera was not surprised that most Druvis looked precisely like the dinosaurs back home. The biggest of them all was the statue of a T Rex. Though it wasn't entirely a T-Rex, for one, it didn't have stubby arms. Its arms looked strong and powerful, and its jaw was more pointed with longer fangs. It stood at the gate to the big palace like a sentry, waiting to attack all enemies. Having recently seen Akhessai come to life and hold off an archdragon, she wouldn't be surprised if this T Rex didn't do the same.

Meera noticed three men in green clothes running across the rooftops at full speed. Upon closer inspection, she figured out it was the guard captain and a couple of his guards. They were using their wooden weapons to create vines to propel them forward. Time and again, they would look up to ensure they were on pace with Meera.

She snorted. I guess I'll do more sightseeing when I get inside the palace. Can't lose the race that I started.

She waved the guards goodbye and blasted off. Mirror Bolt, the upgraded form of Mirror Wing, was something else. At this speed, she had to consciously hold the mirrors of her armor intact, or they threatened to slip, leaving her exposed. Something told her that would not be accepted in this world.

People had been pointing at her from the ground all along. She was sure she would be the talk of the town for several days, especially after the news of the Reverent Lady spread throughout the city.

She landed outside the palace gates, as she didn't want to start another fight. The guards stared at her, slack-jawed.

"What? You don't have people with flying skills around here?" Meera asked.

The guard captain jumped from the closest building behind her and landed on his knees. His fall was softened by the vines, ejecting from his sword. He didn't wait a moment to catch his breath. He dashed towards the palace gates. The people got out of his way as if he were a man possessed and out for blood. He arrived a few moments later, panting like he had just run a marathon.

"This is…" He panted with his hands on his knees. He looked ready to pass out. "…Is the Sav…the Saviour's sister." After that, he dropped to the ground and lay there. His turban came undone, but he was past the point of caring.

Meera was rather amused at his conviction of getting here before Meera. Despite her head start, she had only beaten him by half a minute. The palace guards rushed to him to make sure he was okay.

It was now that Meera noticed the difference in their uniforms. The city guards wore green uniforms, while the palace guards wore white and gold uniforms. Even their white turbans had threads of gold in them.

Truth be told, they looked rather handsome in their uniforms. It also didn't help that they all looked like models, with chiseled jawlines and faces that belonged on magazine covers. She used Identify on one of them.

[Ivory Bone Spearman – Level 256]

She raised an eyebrow at that. His level was about the same as her fake one. She didn't know if it was because they were the palace guards that they were so high-leveled. Maybe the palace guards received special training, as these guards were equivalent in level to the Wardens of Numheia.

By the time the guard captain was up on his feet, the others were giving her the same wide-eyed look that the others had given her. She would've changed her class if she didn't need it. After all, not being attacked on sight had its perks.

"What did you say?" a palace guard asked. His uniform was immaculate—there wasn't a single crease or dirt mark on it, which was a feat considering he stood outside on a dusty street, wearing a white uniform.

"Identify her," the guard captain said. "You'll see."

The palace guard did, and he was equally amazed at being in Meera's august company.

I wonder what the witch would think if she saw this.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Then, almost as one, the palace guards dropped to a knee with bowed heads. Meera was more impressed that they didn't care to dirty their uniforms to show this reverence for her.

If I'm getting this reverence, they must've fallen at Neel's feet, and that brat would've enjoyed it.

"Please get up," Meera said. "This is all very unnecessary."

"But you're the Reverent Lady," said one of the palace guards, voice full of awe.

"Apparently so," she replied. "Can you just take me to see the God King, please?"

"It is our duty to follow your command to the letter, and so we will do so as the Lady commands," said one of the palace guards.

"You're dismissed," said another palace guard to the city guard captain.

"Yes, sir." He looked at Meera and bowed at the waist. "If you ever need anything while you are out and about in the city, ask the city guard for Makaas, and I will arrive promptly. Even if you ask me for my life, I will not hesitate."

"Yes, I doubt that will ever be necessary," Meera said. But I'll remember that and call on you if I need your services."

He looked so happy, as if Meera had given him a wealthy contract. He bowed again, collected his turban off the ground, and walked off.

"So, when can I see the God King?" Meera asked the palace guards.

They passed awkward glances at each other before one finally spoke up. "We cannot say, Reverent Lady, for we are unsure of his schedule. I will take you to the palace, and the Chamberlain can better advise you of His Divine Majesty's schedule."

"Then lead on."

One of the guards ran ahead to announce Meera's arrival, as two others got into a hushed shouting match about who would help Meera.

She sighed. "Flip a coin, or I'm walking off myself. I'm guessing it's the big building where the God King resides."

They almost blanched. "We're sorry for our pathetic display, Reverent Lady. We will accept any punishment that you will give us."

Meera controlled herself. "Just fucking take me there. You." She pointed to the one who had stood off to the side and didn't bicker with the others. "Do you know the way?"

"Me?" He looked at her as if he didn't even know his own name.

"Yes, you. Take me to the God King, this Chamberlain, or whoever can get me an audience with the king."

"Y-Yes. At once, Reverent Lady. I am Jaiteg, and I consider it my life's honor to serve you."

The bickering guards gave him a deathly stare but said nothing to contradict Meera. She left with the guard while the other two gave her deep bows. The guard walked quietly, giving Meera sidelong glances.

"What?" Meera asked finally. "Never seen a Reverent Lady before?"

"I-I apologize, Reverent Lady," Jaiteg dribbled out. "I just…your presence is so divine that I never figured you would ever even talk to someone like me."

"Oh my God," Meera muttered under her breath. "Just treat me like any other royal or whatever."

"But you're the—"

"I know, but just do it."

"Reverent Lady is so humble," he said. "Would you allow this servant of yours to give you a tour of the palace?"

"Why don't you point to the buildings and tell me what they are?" Meera replied. We'll save the tour for another day."

"As you command," he replied. Then, he began listing the buildings and their functions.

He pointed to a smaller building off to the main palace. "That is the palace of the prince and princesses. That is where all the extended royal family lives. I should clarify the royal family that is not God King Arhazar's direct family. So, his aunts, nephews, nieces, and so on."

"What about his uncles and brothers?" Meera asked.

The guard looked side-to-side as if he was scared somebody was listening in. "Uh… It's best that someone who is more important explain that to you. Oh, that over there is the granary."

He pointed to a marble building that looked nothing like a granary.

"The palace has its own farm and grows its own crops," he explained. "The crops grown here are from the best seed. We've never had a season where they haven't bloomed. You can tell the taste right away. We guards don't get the best batch, and even then, it's so good."

"I saw the farms on my way here," Meera replied and shook her head at the absurdity of having your own personal farm in the middle of your city.

The tour went on as Jaiteg explained the function of each building. By the time she walked past the big T-Rex-looking Druvis statue, she knew of the barracks, armory, and stables, which, from the outside, looked nothing like stables. This whole place was so extravagant as if they were trying to find a way to throw as much money as possible at the most mundane things.

The imperial palace was its own city within a city. Meera did not doubt that if they were ever besieged, the palace could hold on indefinitely, even if the city fell.

They arrived at the main palace, and a small company of soldiers and some richly dressed people awaited her. She didn't doubt that the people were nobles.

But there was one whose clothes were more brilliant than the rest. He had a greying beard and wore a black outfit etched with gold threads that formed a roaring T-Rex surrounded by many flowering vines. Meera sensed a pattern here. If she didn't know any better, she would say that this Druvis version of a T-Rex was this kingdom's symbol.

The man scrutinized Meera, and she couldn't help but feel he was looking down on her. It was then that she realized that her armor was still in the long shirt and loose pants form—the clothes that most women wore. With a little bit of Mana, she changed the armor back into its original black-and-gold form.

Just about everyone gasped or snapped their eyes open in surprise, except for that man in black and gold robes.

[The Final Shephard – Level 457]

Meera didn't show any emotion at his class or level. Her Essence stat was not high enough that she could use it in any meaningful way, but she definitely felt something from this man. It was hard to say, but this was one man she did not want to make angry, for it would not end nicely, even if she could defeat him in battle.

A cute choice for a Chamberlain.

"Hey, we match," Meera said.

"Reverent Lady," he said in a baritone voice. "I am Munral, Chamberlain to His Holiness, the Divine Emperor of Ealisto. It is a great honor for this house that you have graced us with your presence. If you would please follow me, I will escort you to your room."

"Room?" Meera frowned. "I don't plan to stay for that long. I want to meet the God King and be on my way."

"His Divine Majesty is currently indisposed at the moment, Reverent Lady," Munral said. "I assure you, you will be the first person he greets tomorrow morning."

Meera wanted to protest, but the man's tone said he would hear no complaints, no matter who they came from. Besides, she was deathly tired and could use a good night's sleep.

Meera sighed. "Fine. Show me the way."

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