The festival roared on with wild energy, and every corner of the city seemed to burst with life.
Amid the lively chaos, Amiyan stood watching the spectacle from the royal viewing box, next to the Archon, who was both visibly proud and quietly sentimental.
Amiyan leaned over.
"So… about this journey. I think we should start preparing."
The Archon sighed, already resigned.
"Of course."
She reached into her robe and pulled out a sleek, onyx plaque covered in intricate symbols. She handed it to him with a wry smile.
"Take this. It's good for… well, pretty much anything. Think of it as a very exclusive shopping pass."
Amiyan blinked at it, and his eyes lit up.
"A free pass to the whole city?"
Beside them, Vaqal chuckled knowingly.
"Reminds me of when we first set off on our journey, Maguaien…"
The Archon laughed, but her gaze softened as she looked at her son.
"Yes, those were… interesting times. Now it's your turn, Amiyan. Don't abuse that plaque too much, okay."
Amiyan grinned, already half-imagining the "essentials" he might just need. But, looking back at the Archon, he softened and gave a nod.
"Thank you, Mother. I'll be… semi-responsible."
---
The group made their way into the marketplace, where the festive chaos only seemed to grow.
Merchants were calling out, the smell of fresh food filled the air, and people were either haggling or being swindled.
Here's a more playful, polished version of the scene, with some added humor and a bit of punch:
---
Roshan squinted at the plaque in Amiyan's hand.
"So, who's using that magical ticket of unlimited power?"
Altan, already eyeing a nearby stall selling hams the size of his head, raised a finger.
"I'm thinking practical essentials here. Food. Camping gear. Blankets," he said, gaze still fixed on the hams.
"Right. Priorities," Wuxian nodded approvingly, though he eyed Altan skeptically. "Let's get what we *need* first."
Amiyan handed the plaque to Wuxian with a grin. "Guess I'll leave this to you, then. I'll take a quick stop by the palace to loot a relic or two."
"I'll go with you," Amara chimed in, lifting her chin with resolve. "I need to say goodbye to my mentors, anyway."
Roshan winced, looking up at the winding palace stairs in the distance.
"And on that note… I'm sticking with Wuxian. There is *no* way I'm climbing those stairs again."
Amiyan chuckled. "Fair enough. That leaves Elliot and me. Meet back here in an hour?"
Roshan waved him off.
"The ship doesn't leave till tomorrow. I'm taking my time exploring the city. Meet you all at the docks tomorrow."
"I'll tag along with Roshan," Altan added, already half-walking toward the food stalls.
Elliot shot Roshan a skeptical look.
"You sure this 'exploration' isn't just an excuse to go wild with that magical ticket?"
Roshan grinned, unfazed. "Maybe just a little. Besides, it's not like the Archon's gonna go broke just because I splurge a bit."
Wuxian sighed, visibly torn. "How can you be so… so…"
"Efficiently extravagant?" Roshan offered helpfully.
"Ridiculous is more like it," Wuxian muttered, shaking his head.
Amiyan chuckled. "It's fine. I'm sure Mother won't mind."
---
The three ascended the winding path up the ancient roots of the Great Tree. The air smelled faintly of old bark and distant rain.
Elliot glanced around, frowning slightly. "This path feels… different. Was this the right way?"
Amiyan nodded. "This time, we're heading to the cathedral first."
As they crested the hill, the plaza came into view, bustling with clerics.
White robes flashed as people moved through the square, discussing scrolls, inspecting vials of strange potions, and carrying various sacred artifacts.
The cathedral loomed beyond the plaza, its living façade bathed in sunlight.
Elliot whistled under his breath, taking in the sight. "Never a dull moment around here, is there?"
Amiyan shrugged.
They made their way through the crowd and stepped into the cathedral.
Inside, the atmosphere changed instantly—solemn and quiet, with murmurs echoing off the high walls.
Amber windows cast soft colors over the hall, and the scent of incense hung in the air.
As they moved deeper, Maya, approached them with a serene expression.
"I hear you'll be departing soon," she said, her eyes moving over each of them with a discerning gaze.
Amara took a small step forward, steady and resolute.
"About that—I'll be going, too."
A brief flash of surprise softened Maya's gaze, and then she nodded approvingly.
"Strength is forged in action, not in mere knowledge. You've chosen well, Amara."
Amara bowed, keeping her gaze steady.
"Thank you, Teacher."
As they exchanged words, sharing a quiet farewell, Amiyan and Elliot gave Amara a nod, leaving her with Maya as they slipped into a small door hidden behind the cathedral's main sanctuary.
It creaked open to reveal a narrow corridor, torch-lit and lined with faintly glowing runes that hummed with mana.
"Now, this is a bit eerie," Elliot muttered, glancing at the walls as he followed Amiyan down the hall.
Amiyan chuckled. "You'd be surprised at what this place holds. The palace has its secrets, and only a few of us even know all of them."
Finally, they reached a large, dimly lit room, shelves of ancient relics lined the walls, each with its own worn label, strange gleam, or even faint glow.
"Alright," Amiyan muttered, rubbing his hands together with a grin. "Time to choose wisely."
Elliot curious, picked up a ceremonial helmet from a nearby stand, its plume of feathers bobbing ridiculously. He placed it on his head, the oversized piece sliding down over his eyes.
"How about this? Think I'd look intimidating?"
Amiyan tried to stifle his laughter. "Oh, absolutely. Nothing says 'fearsome warrior' like being half-blinded by feathers... Also that's just the guard's helmet."
"What about this one?" Elliot picked up a small golden key with intricate markings, inspecting it curiously.
"Oh, that's the Key of the Sacred Palace," Amiyan explained.
"Mother said it opens to a separate dimension. I heard is a place of gathering reserved for the Archons. So… we probably shouldn't be borrowing that."
"I see," Elliot sighed, setting it back.
He turned and noticed a small crystal orb labeled *The Oracle's Eyes*.
"Now, this one looks promising. Says it can see the future…"
Amiyan shook his head quickly. "Tempting, but that's integral to the church's work. I don't think they'd appreciate us running off with it."
Elliot raised an eyebrow. "You really don't make this easy, do you?"
Amiyan chuckled, watching as Elliot reached for a delicate white veil. "I won't be touching that one if I were you."
Elliot blinked, his fingers hovering just above it. "Why? Would some sealed monster awaken if I touch it?"
Amiyan cleared his throat, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Sort of. It's used of the sacrament of matrimony. It strengthens the 'bond' between couples, so something really might awaken, if you touch that."
Elliot's face turned a shade of red as he stepped back, hands raised. "Good to know! Definitely not interested in awakening that "monster" for now."
Just then, Amiyan's gaze landed on a set of small leather bags inlaid with runes and a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes.
"Alright, now we're talking. I forgot about these—enchanted storage bags."
Elliot's eyes widened. "Enchanted storage? You mean we can stuff anything in these?"
Amiyan nodded, his grin widening. "Exactly. They're small, but they hold… well, almost as much as you want. I used to hide snacks in here as a kid so I wouldn't get caught by the palace attendants."
Elliot laughed. "And here I thought you were the model royal child."
The room's darkened corners still held more, they moved along, stopping at a display case that held a pair of matching armbands, their gold and emerald details gleaming.
Amiyan slipped one on, looking at Elliot as he handed him the other.
"Matching accessories?" Elliot raised a brow, looking at Amiyan teasingly.
"What? They suit us don't you think," Amiyan replied, chuckling as he buckled his on. "Just kidding, they're protection bands. Wards off curses, in case we run into any… questionable characters."
"Oh, you mean like you?" Elliot shot back, smirking.
"So mean!" Amiyan laughed. "Well, a little extra protection couldn't hurt."
They gathered a few other minor relics—a charm for warmth, night vision goggles, a small purification stone that could turn any water safe to drink, and a tiny music box that played tunes for a restful sleep.
Elliot gave a satisfied nod. "Think we're good? Or should we grab one more relic for good luck?"
Amiyan shrugged. "With the sack and all this, I think we'll be set. Plus, if we take more, I'm pretty sure even mother could not stop the church if they decided to arrest us for sacrilege."