It took three weeks to reach the Golden City by carriage.

Traditionally, the trip would have been twice as long, with them staying every night at a different family's castle, not leaving until noon, and only traveling about ten miles before they stopped at the next family's castle. However, with an invitation to the Golden Palace - and one with a hard deadline - they had no time to waste and cut out a large part of the traditional dallying that would have taken place under any other circumstance and likely would take place on the trip back.

Nerluce was not looking forward to that. He was just as comfortable outdoors as he was on a bed and he didn't like the brown-nosing that always came when he was speaking to other families. Coam called it diplomacy. Nerluce called it a waste of time.

When they reached the Golden City, it was just before nightfall. Like all cities in Itoroh, the Golden City was woven into the mountains. Unlike all cities in Itoroh, when the setting sun kissed the Golden City, it seemed to glow. Nerluce stared in awe at the grandeur and beauty of the Golden City, a beauty that very few people were ever lucky enough to see in their lifetimes.

The thing that Nerluce's eye was drawn to first was the massive set of gates that rested at the base of the Golden City and the high, stone walls that encircled the city completely. Monstrously high watchtowers spotted the wall, leaving no blind spots. The hip rooves were accented in gold. The gate was too. In the center was a golden sun - its rays stretching across the gate. Real gold. Just a fraction of what belonged to the city.

After verifying the invitation and identities of Nerluce, Coam, and the handful of the most talented and highly ranked disciples of the Hebikoti Clan, the massive gate was pulled open with a shout. It opened slowly, with groaning resistance. Nerluce could not look away. An invading army would never be able to breech this gate. It was impossible.

Coam chuckled.

"I'm admiring," Nerluce said. "There is nothing wrong with admiring."

"It's just funny," Coam said.

Nerluce glared at her. "Not all of us are so lucky to have been invited into the Golden City before."

"As far as I'm aware, I'm the only one in our party who has been here before," Coam said with a smile. "I wish I could see the expressions on the other's faces. A shame we have two carriages."

"Truly," Nerluce grumbled.

It would be nice to share the blunt of Coam's teasing.

However, her snickers were quickly forgotten upon passing through the great gates and into the legendary city beyond. Nerluce had grown up hearing stories about it. Everyone was fascinated by the city and its wealth and the Empress who lived there. Nerluce wondered if he'd get the opportunity to meet her. Even to look at her would be more than most got to do in a lifetime. Nerluce wondered if her skin was really gilded.

Their carriages passed through the quiet streets. The city was very serene, even at the time it ought to have been busiest. The few ladies and lords who were lucky enough to live in the Golden City glided along in elegant robes, weaving through golden pillars supported buildings with yellow rooves. A golden tree with golden leaves - each carefully sculpted - was surrounded by a pool of clear water with golden koi swimming through.

They passed through the heart of the Golden City and as the sun finally sunk beneath the horizon, golden paper lanterns were lit, hanging above the city streets and keeping the divine glow from fading. Truly it was one of the most beautiful places Nerluce had ever seen and perhaps the most beautiful one ever to have been designed by a human hand.

Finally, at the highest point in the city, was the Golden Palace, home to the Empress. Though the entirety of the Golden City was a palace that belonged to the Empress, the Golden Palace was where she lived and greeted her guests - if she was obliged to do so. If not, the guests would be greeted by one of her children or adoptive children.

One of the Golden Palace's servants opened the door for them, allowing them to step out of the carriage. When the disciples left their carriage, they quickly fell in line behind Coam and Nerluce as if they were their commanding officers. How amusing.

A lady of the Golden City came up, wearing flowing white robes. The lids of her eyes were painted gold so every time she blinked, Nerluce attention was drawn to them. She smiled and bowed before Coam and Nerluce. "This lady welcomes the children of the Hebikoti Clan and their disciples to the Golden City. This lady will escort the children of the Hebikoti Clan and their disciples into the Golden Palace where her Majesty waits to greet them."

"This daughter of Hebikoti thanks the lady for her welcome and for her escort," Coam said, sounding perfect.

Nerluce could only dream of someday sounding like that.

The lady bowed once more and then turned and lead them into the Golden Palace. It was every bit as beautiful and luxurious as the rest of the city but in a small, more detailed way. Carvings of dragons and phoenixes and all other noble creatures peaked out and watched them pass from the walls. One hall had paneled paintings of golden birds and scenery on white cloth.

When they entered the throne room, Nerluce could not mistake it for anything else. It was large and open with golden pillars and a massive golden throne. Upon it was a woman. Nerluce did not take in her details, only that she was wearing yellow - before falling to his knees in a low, humbling bow. Nerluce had never bowed like this to anyone before but he could not deny how natural it felt before this throne and its nobility, before this woman and her dragon's presence.

"Juncoam Hebikoti, hero of Itoroh," the woman on the throne said, almost musingly. "Nerluce Hebikoti, savior of Itoroh." She hummed. "Rise."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Coam said. Nerluce did not trust himself to speak.

Obeying the Empress's order, they stood and Nerluce saw a woman who could only be the Empress. The rulers of the seven kingdoms were almost always Magickians and almost always powerful ones at that. Powerful Magickians - and almost every mediocre Magickian - were always affected by their Magick. Nerluce lost his ability to breathe a little. The Empress... she really was golden. Her Magick - gold manipulation - had turned her skin, her eyes, even her teeth, into gold.

She looked like a timeless, golden statue. Beautiful and a little terrifying.

"Juncoam... has been to the Golden City before, yes?" the Empress of all of Itoroh asked Nerluce's sister.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Many thanks for inviting this one back again," Coam said.

"But Nerluce has not?"

"N-no, Your Majesty," Nerluce choked out. "It is an honor to be invited to Your Majesty's Golden City. Many thanks."

Her lips quirked upwards, seemingly amused. She probably was. Nerluce was so flustered and so bad with manners he didn't know what to say. The Empress was most likely used to smooth-tongued and flawless individuals like Coam. It probably wasn't often she met someone who stuttered in front of her.

"Many thanks to Nerluce as well," the Empress said and Nerluce's heart nearly stopped in his chest. "Without Young Lord Nerluce and his... unusual Magick, Itoroh would have suffered greatly. Young Lord Nerluce has inspired this old Empress into thinking that perhaps all Magick ought to be welcome and taught in Itoroh." She then turned to Coam. "And much thanks to Young Lady Coam, as well. Her continued efforts have not gone unnoticed nor will they go unrewarded."

She then offered both of them the slightest of nods. The rest of the people in the room dropped into a low bow.

Bowing... bowing at Coam. Coam and... Nerluce.

"The Hebikoti Clan is truly blessed with wonderful children," the Empress said. "Lady Muraoka would you please escort my guests to Princess Yume's Banquet Hall. The princess will be honored to host them."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the lady who had escorted them here said.

There was a flurry of bows and Nerluce's head was spinning trying to remember the proper etiquette and addresses by the time he left the room. Coam gave him a worried glance and he tried to smile - if only for her sake. Children who spent the first two years of their life in a brothel should not be meeting the Empress. It was never heard of before and it ought to not be heard of again because Nerluce felt as though his head was going to fall off.

Thankfully the lady escorting them did not say anything and kept the trip as brief and straightforward as possible. When they arrived in the banquet hall, Nerluce saw it was already very full of people and at their arrival, a woman in lovely robes the color of plum blossoms and a golden diadem atop her head approached with a look of great concern.

"Greetings," Princess Yume - who else could she be? - said.

"Your Highness," the lady said with a bow.

Her words and actions were echoed by all of the party.

"Has Her Majesty sent you to dine with us?" Princess Yume asked with a smile. "Which Clan is this group from, Lady Muraoka."

"Your Highness, this is the group from the Hebikoti Clan," the lady said.

At once, the princess's eyes widened with recognition. "Excuse this one for not recognizing sooner!" she said, moving her hand to her mouth, her cheeks pink with embarrassment. "The Young Lady and Lord Hebikoti are much younger than this princess believed."

"Her Highness has no need to apologize," Coam said. "This lady is honored to meet her Highness. This Lady has traveled a long way to the Golden Palace just for the chance to gaze upon her Highness's beauty." Coam smiled and Nerluce resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "This lady apologizes to her Highness for any trouble her and her companions' arrival might have caused her Highness."

Princess Yume's flush was several shades darker and she nodded a couple of times. "Lady- Lady Muraoka, please adjust the seating arrangement."

"Yes, Your Highness," the lady said bowing and scurrying off to do as she was bid.

"This princess would be... most pleased if Young Lady and Lord Hebikoti sat at the front of the banquet hall, nearest the Flower Stage," Princess Yume said, glancing away, though it did very little to hide. "This princess will be performing tonight and she would be most honored if the heroes to all of Itoroh would be willing to watch."

"This Lady and Lord would be delighted," Coam said.

"Exc- Excellent!" Princess Yume said and led them into the banquet hall.

It was relatively full with all of the guests who had already arrived and were preparing for the evening meal. The disciples had to sit with the rest of the guests, but Nerluce and Coam were led to a dais in the front of the banquet hall, which offered the best view of the Flower stage - a stage designed to look like a large jade blossom with golden silk curtains framing its sides. Currently, several dancers were already there along with four seats. The first two were empty, for Coam and Nerluce.

Nerluce felt his heart skip a beat when he saw who filled the other two seats. One, a woman who looked much younger than she really was with dual-colored hair and misty white eyes. The other, a young man, lean and powerful with eyes rimmed with gold like haloes and long eyelashes made longer by a thin coating of frost he didn't even seem to notice. The entire hall went mute as Nerluce could not take his eyes off them.

The High Priestess of Ethera and... Aristide.