[b]ENTARIAN IMPERIAL PALACE, PARIA GARDEN[/b] --- Velia brushed her black hair out of her eyes and took a moment to appreciate the garden from the cool stone chair. Tilting her head back she looked up through the vast sloped glass pyramid that enclosed the garden. Above the sun seemed to be set centrally between the glass panes right where they intersected, it shone down right at her and reflected off the smooth stone of the meeting island into a million tiny rays, it was impossible to not see some reflection of the sun here. The small island she was on had been carved from a single piece of stone, four chairs and one table. It was a beautiful marble thing set in the middle of a stream that flowed gently around it right at the center of the small jungle of a garden. To be truthful there were six such indoor gardens in the palace, each one featuring some climate from old Entaria, and each one enclosed by its own glass pyramid. Still, she enjoyed this one the most. The mist from the stream that flowed over several small waterfalls gave it a cool and warm feeling, better yet the little rainbows that formed from the light reflected off the main island provided a unique feeling of being among the clouds during the day. Velia came here whenever she wanted to escape from her responsibilities; she often felt it was her own sanctum, a private place to go; it might have truly been that considering how few enjoyed the humidity of this garden and how abandoned it usually was. Yet across from her and beyond the stone table on the small island was her father. She had been [i]called[/i]here today. Not that she minded really, still she supposed it was her father’s way of reminding her who truly owned what. The whole of the palace was his sanctum, and she knew he liked to remind her of that from time to time. Eventually she raised her head and spoke, “So I’m here. It’s nice to be somewhere beyond the throne room to talk Father, if you ask me it feels like death in there.” Veras, Emperor of the Entarian Order, her father chuckled at that, “I [i]have[/i] asked you if you remember. I swear Velia since you were born you hated that room. Though I guess the lighting can bit a bit depressing I hardly think it warrants the hate you seem to give it.” “Hm, well I suppose. Though you certainly should hope that Erian stays in health, should something happen I might well run off in fear of sitting there day in and day out.” Her father smiled and retorted, “Oh you shouldn’t talk of your brother so, he has a family now.” The old man leaned into the marble chair and continued, “Anyway Velia you must have an inkling of curiosity as to why I called you here.” “I have wondered, you normally call me to the throne room when you want to talk officially. If you grow lonely Father you must remember you do have a wife. “ She smiled, her father held back a laugh, Velia had begun to notice the wrinkles in his face these last few years, the dark hair he had only five years ago had faded to a ghostly white and it seemed for a man of a mere sixty he was far too old. Then again he still smiled the same as ever, though Velia did not often see her father back then, in truth she was mostly raised by her uncle, she remembered the days he spent with her fondly, and above all else his smile. Eventually she continued with a sigh, “Though in truth I am curious. I would hazard a guess it has to do with Ellai though, given she became an adult only a week ago.” Well, if Ellai could be considered an adult, she still seemed too young in her manner, though at times that was endearing in of itself. Her father responded warmly, “You always were a sharp one Velia, but this concerns you and her in equal measure. To her first though… Yes Ellai is an adult now, yet unlike you I fear she has had relatively little real responsibility. You always had something to do, even when I was not around. You were only 14 when you pursued your own projects and started acting at your position. You know Ellai has never shown that ambition.” Velias father sighed and she wondered what he was getting at before he continued, “Ellai is a member of this family and she is beyond childish innocence now, I want to see how she does in a real position. So as for you, I mean to give you command of the city guard now that Terance has retired and if you consent I want you to allow Ellai that opportunity with a minor command over one of the safer sectors in the city.” Velia would have to admit that was not what she expected, it was true that she was the only one of her siblings to serve time in the military, and it was true the position came with little real risk these days, but Velia had never anticipated to be given that level of authority. She looked more intently at her father and responded, “I would gladly father but… As for Ellai I just am not sure she can, or should, lead, you know how she is, more concerned with herself than anyone else.” Her father sighed and looked down, “That is the issue isn’t it? Ellai has never known anyone that depended on her, so how can she lead? I mean to give her that experience, but I will be clear. Should you think, for even a moment that she is in danger, or is endangering others, you should pull her out. Still, we have known peace for seven years and those self-righteous terrorists rarely ever raise their heads these days, she should be safe as ever.” Velia supposed that did make enough sense, “So when do you expect me to take the position up? Terance only left a few days ago and his retirement ceremony is only a week away.” “Velia, it is my intention you to take the position at his retirement ceremony, shake hands with him, give him the medal for service, and then announce that you have been named his replacement.” Velia moved uncomfortably, “He won’t take that as a slight would he? I always respected Terance, I would hardly want to offend him by filling the position the second he exits the building.” Her father reached up and felt the rough stubble on his chin as he responded, “Oh no, Terance has already asked for us to be quick about his replacement. You should know he would want that considering how much time you spent with him on implementing the common market laws you spearheaded oh… Six? Six years ago.” That was true enough; Velia had spent weeks at a time with Terance when she helped establish the common market laws. “I suppose. Though it does feel strange replacing him at his retirement ceremony… So, will we announce Ellai taking over command of one of the less hectic districts then as well?” “No, I would rather that little fact be kept to us until we know how Ellai does under those circumstances, I can hardly announce her taking over a district and then take it back.” “That makes enough sense then. I will make my own preparations, thank you for this Father, it is quite an honor.” Her father slowly stood up, using his walking stick to assist himself, as he did so he spoke simply, “Velia I may not have spent my time with you as I did Erian, but I trust you more than any up and coming district captain in the guard. I am honored you would accept. As for Ellai, would you tell her? I have an urgent appointment later today.” Velia had heard that a thousand times, though she never doubted it as true. She stood up and walked to his side of the table. She gave her father a warm hug which he gladly reciprocated before simply saying, “I will tell her right away.” With that Velia’s father, the Emperor, walked slowly away with a nod and another smile, his black and red cloak trailing behind him and his ivory walking stick making a small click with every step. Velia watched him exit and by the time he had vanished though the glass door on the far end of the garden Velia found herself once again in a cool stone chair at the shining marble table. She had not expected this; then again it was no secret that she had been trying to get a position of late. She mulled it over in her head, Ellai in a position to enforce the law? How would a girl like that even be able to take the oath of the guard? Now that was a scary thought, the oath of the guard, more ceremonial than binding but still, Ellai would still be swearing to give her life for the nation if she had to… It took some time but she eventually decided that it would be best to tell Ellai now. Velia stood up and dusted off her jacket, not that it was really necessary, but the military had taught her to respect a ceremonial uniform, even if the time she wore it as a member of the military was long past. As she made her way out of the garden Velia wondered how Ellai would take the news. Would she see it as a punishment? Perhaps she would know that father was trying to test her. Then again, perhaps not, still a girl at heart Ellai often took things at face value, something that Velia would have to look at remedying if she was to lead a district of the city guard. Velia sighed, was it even possible to change Ellai? Velia loved her without a doubt but she was still the same little girl she always was, Velia still had a hard time thinking her little sister was to lead a division. [b]NEW ENTARIA MARKET DISTRICT[/b] --- It had been early that morning when Ramos ditched his escort outside the palace. He snickered at the thought of them scrambling to find him, it was good to be free of any special status at least for a moment. The smells of foreign foods had lured him to the central market located deep inside of the city and there he had found any multitude of things to do, though the noise was somewhat overbearing. Ramos wandered the crowded market plaza for hours, looking up the vast and pale metal and glass skyscrapers of the capital were in every direction and they seemed to stretch into eternity. Ramos remembered being told that this was how old Entaria was; all the cities had vast skyscrapers in great rows in place of sprawling developments. Still New Entaria may retain some of its namesakes culture but the refugees from Entaria were hardly a majority and the markets that thrived under the shadow of the skyscrapers were something that from the history books simply did not exist on Entaria. By and large the population of the nation and this very city were other refugees from the listener war that were desperate to find a place to belong. Ramos supposed that was the benefit of a caste structure, though you were limited by the circumstances of birth to set income brackets and work you always had a place, and you were always cared for. Not to mention it had been a very long time since any humans had actually been a part of the low casts, it seemed to Ramos that the batmen had entirely filled that role, he could look to any stall over the heads of the crowd and see the batmen slaving away at stoves or storefronts. Batmen had indeed replaced the low castes. That was certainly a line of thought that brought back memories, Ramos remembered back to his childhood when he asked his father why the batmen were property and not people, the answer he got? ‘The batmen are property so real people, real humans don’t have to be.’ Ramos supposed there was a truth in that; the batmen provided the lowest castes, the free Tkrai took the place of the poor and the slaves took the place of the untouchables. Peace existed because even the poorest humans were what would have been considered middle class mere generations ago and their living conditions were always going to be well enough for most men. The sun had begun to wane and Ramos was walking slowly observing the huddled crowd moving in every direction of the plaza where he had spent the day. It was then he was struck by a large man who seemed to be in a rush to go somewhere, do something. Ramos fell in a tumble and the glasses and hat he was using to conceal his identity in the crowd were sent to the ground and quickly trampled. Ramos struggled to pull himself up and looked around for the man who had run into him, it seemed he had fled off to wherever he had to be, to do whatever he had to do so urgently, predictable really. Ramos pulled the dirtied hat off the ground and pulled it down to cover his eyes. It seemed in this chaos people were not quick to see who you were, royalty or no. Ramos decided to walk out of the busy market; it was his sister who had pushed laws to legalize expansion of the frenzied things. She said that it promoted unity and commerce, Ramos felt they promoted crowds and noise. Still, here he was. By the time Ramos had exited the crowd he was some distance from the market, the crowds noise had faded to a dull roar and Ramos decided to make his way back to the palace. It wasn’t precisely difficult to locate considering the fact that its towers were almost as immense as the skyscrapers around it. The walk brought Ramos onto the imperial street, named so because it intersected with the front gate of the palace estate. The enormous building towered over the wall that protected it and even from some several kilometres away Ramos could easily make out the vast square columns that lined the exterior of the building. The six enormous glass garden pyramids were also quite easily visible; they sat on the main roof between the skyscraper like towers, designed so the light was amplified that the shadow of the towers rarely interfered with that inside. At a glance Ramos knew that the building was certainly impressive, a testament to the power of the royal family. Yet… To stand under it rather than to watch from it was a peculiar experience, the common folk saw this day to day and yet every time Ramos snuck away to blend into the crowd it struck him as odd. It wasn’t that the extravagance of the palace was singular, not in a city this rich, but rather it was the reality that one man owned all of that. Ramos wondered how it felt to command a nation, to own a palace, to be one soul in pre-eminent power. Of course he scarcely wanted that, but the idea was certainly an interesting one, still his brother Erian and his sister Velia were well above him in succession and they were both better leaders than he would ever be. Ramos was at the gate before long, a line of tourists stood just away from the guards. All tall the guards were wearing brightly coloured exosuits that had been decorated beyond practicality. Ramos took off the hat and handed it to some random bystander as he went into the line. He walked past the coloured line that the crowd stood behind and just as the guards leveled their weapons he spoke cutting off their warnings, “Please, guards would you let me into my own home? I am Prince Ramos, son of Emperor Veras.” Ramos pulled out a small paper like object and tapped it; it automatically unfolded and displayed a royal seal as well as all his personal information. Ramos handed the lead guard the digital paper. The lead guard, distinguished by his golden colored helm took the paper and after a short time spoke out, “All guards lower your weapons, Prince Ramos returns to the palace, please open the gates!” The crowd behind him started cheering and asking for this or that as Ramos walked through the shining fifteen meter high titanium gate into the palace grounds and away from their droning requests. The lead guard followed him in and before long the large titanium gate was once again locked into place. The lead guard removed his helmet and looked at Ramos; he was a middle aged man, likely from a noble family. He had the ever present dragon cheek tattoos of an Orian and the similarly obvious blond hair. Ramos remembered that the Orian family was also up for the throne during the founding but yielded to Ramos’s grandfather for one reason or another. For a moment they both stopped and the guard asked, “Sir, why did you not tell us you were coming in so… Informally?” The guard handed the digital paper back after folding it up. Ramos laughed and pocketed the digital paper, “I guess it would make it easier on you guys, but then what would be the point of sneaking off?” The guard seemed shocked, “Sneak out? Sir you know you can take an escort and-“ Ramos cut the man off, “No, there is no point wandering the city if everywhere you go you are treated like a god. Nothing to see with an honour guard really, only the fake expressions on adoring fans and the backs of armoured soldiers.” The guard nodded solemnly and asked, “Do you want to go by yourself? I will have to inform your father of this.” Ramos responded jovially, “If you didn’t I would be as shocked as you were to see my ID paper. I will speak to my father.” With that the guard donned his helmet walked off and Ramos walked along the granite pathway in the opposite direction to the palace. The fountains around the palace grounds were enormous and carved into the shapes of old trees, stone branches blossoming leaves of water. Around them were the real trees, black trunks studded with branches and deep pink leaves they stood nine meters tall in almost uniform fashion, they created a relaxing canopy of shade around the fountains.. They were the last of a species that by all rights should have died on Entaria when everything else did,yet they stood tall. It was a nice place out here still, though Ramos knew his father would be significantly less nice when he entered the palace. That thought almost made him want to spend a bit longer watching the fountains and resting under the trees, yet he made his way to the vast doors that loomed ahead nevertheless. His father would likely relegate him to some minor duty as punishment, but Ramos never did mind that.