The empress stood at her parlor window and gazed out to the north, where seven cloaked figures stood in a circle, a glowing blue light flowing from their hands as stone walls in a perfect circle spun slowly, raising into the sky to form a tower.
"Amazing, isn't it?" the emperor murmured from her side.
"All of that power and they choose to create an archaic stone tower for their queen to sit high in the sky," she spoke solemnly. "How powerful is their queen if they can create what takes normal people months, if not years to build?"
"She's the most powerful of the Magi," he informed her. "That is how she earned the throne."
She turned and watched him; his blue eyes mesmerized by the magical structure's growth right before his eyes. "Lord Nolan is a very proud, protective man. He is very loyal to his queen."
"From the time I spent with her, I observed her kindness, her care of her ministers, and her power."
"What of her beauty?"
He blinked his eyes before slowly turning to her. "She's extremely beautiful."
"Is that the reason why she's moving to the palace instead of simply… transporting here regularly? Isn't this a bit… extreme for an investigation?"
"She felt the need to remain here to find the culprit and I in turn have decided that after four generations, the High Priestess position on my council of advisors needed to return."
"At what cost to the empire?"
"There is always a cost in defending the strongest empire in Adhara."
"I know you. I know that you wouldn't make such a rash decision lightly. Did you meet with the astrologist?"
He continued to stare at her before placing his hand on her shoulder. "I did."
"So this will benefit the Navan Empire?"
"It will," he answered curtly.
She dropped her eyes for a moment before returning them to his. "I heard that your council is demanding an heir."
"That's their job, is it not? I am here to grow, nurture, and protect our people for the glory of the Navan Empire and while doing that, ensure that the next generation is produced to take up when I leave off. It is our duty to produce heirs."
"I am sorry the pressure is falling onto your shoulders so very heavily," she looked off at the growing tower.
"It will work out," he nodded to her. "I promise. Everything will be fine."
She bit the inside of her cheek before turning to walk away.
***
A portal formed in the field beyond the new tower, the illumination glowing brightly against the stone of the Empress' Palace. The Emperor's Personal Guard stood at attention across the entrance to the Empress' Palace while keeping their eyes on the ten ministers who stepped out of the portal before lowering the hoods of their cloaks and inspecting the grounds.
The engineers met them and bowed before giving them a tour of the tower. There were ten levels above ground and two below, including a tunnel leading underground to each of the four palaces that the emperor suggested to the advisors. Beginning at the entrance was the reception area, kitchen, and dining room, a set of stone stairs circling the perimeter of the structure leading up to servant's quarters, meeting hall, four levels of bed chambers, baths, ladies' chambers, queen's chambers, and finally an observatory under a ceiling of beveled glass and walls lined with shelves of books and scrolls that was only accessible from the queen's chambers.
"This is acceptable," Lord Iain, the Minister of Safety signed off as the portal once again burst open in a flash of light.
The knights on guard parted as the emperor stepped out of the Empress' Palace and made his way to the portal, the empress following, her strides speeding up to take her husband's hand. He stopped and looked at her, a smile forming as he squeezed her fingers and escorted her the rest of the way.
They were met by two hooded figures, one much bigger than even his strongest knight, who bowed to the royal couple. They then rose and parted as Queen Catira stepped out followed by her ladies.
Soraya quickly looked her over, from her gown of raven feathers to her crown of spectrolite glowing from atop her black braids.
"Greetings Your Majesties, Great Dragon and Silver Moonflower of the Navan Empire," the queen curtseyed before them as her attendants bowed. "May the sun rise brightly over the Navan Empire."
"Welcome to the Imperial Palace, Your Highness," Virgentarth nodded as Soraya followed. "We hope you feel at home here for as long as you desire."
"Thank you," she looked around at the grounds.
"I was under the impression that you were to have a ritual space as well," he also looked around.
A grin slowly spread across her face as she clapped her hands together. "That is my job," she winked at them before turning to walk out into the field. She lifted her hands as her eyes glazed over, sparkling like gemstones as she searched for the spot that possessed the most concentrated area of magic she could find. She then stopped and raised her hands up into the sky, her palms facing the two moons. Her palms began to glow with a warm golden light, which she pulled down and placed before her. Between her hands formed a ball of that golden energy that suddenly burst out like an exploding star as the ground beneath them began to shake.
Soraya's eyes grew large as she grabbed onto her husband's hand, her heart beating out of her chest. She slowly looked up to see Virgentarth's eyes glowing like two shiny opals in the sunlight as she froze, a gasp catching in her throat. She slowly gazed around her, noticing all of the other glowing eyes of the Magi before dropping her eyes to the ground.
A pillar of stone shot up from the ground, followed by twelve more until a circle was formed around the queen. She then pressed her hands together as stones formed under her, creating a spiral that ended beneath her feet. She then pulled her hands out to the side and stepped out of the circle through the north as a solid marble statue of the ancient Goddess of Magic Angitia formed in the center.
Suddenly, every magical being dropped to their knees and began chanting.
"What language is that?" Soraya whispered to Virgentarth.
"I'm not sure… but I know it," he seemed confused as he glanced down at his hands. "Great Queen, protect us. Great Queen guide us. Great Queen lead us. Great Queen bless us. Long live the Graceful Raven Catira, The Great Queen!" he spoke words in a language he had never known before.
"Has the queen bewitched you, my husband?" Soraya's hands shook as she spoke.
"No, no… this…" he looked into her eyes. "This is who I am."
She frowned in confusion as Catira's dress of raven feathers burst forth into dozens of ravens, flying all around the ritual site and around the tower, a blessing from the ancients of protection and purification. Once the ravens returned to her dress, her ladies dashed to her side and assisted her to the tower.
Lord Nolan bowed in front of the emperor and empress before explaining what had happened. "The Queen has drained herself of an extreme amount of power and must ground to recover. She is looking forward to your meeting tomorrow to discuss the loss of magic within the empire."
"Please thank Her Highness for allowing us to witness such an amazing ritual," Virgentarth nodded before leading his wife and knights away from the tower.