Chapter 597 - Day MMCXLVI, Part I

Although we started our day with the usual grand feast in the dining hall, our host was not present, which was quite annoying since I wanted to have a conversation with him. Since that was the case, I focused on the second-best source of intel I had, Sor. First, though, I filled my stomach to the brim, since I didn't really know if there would be a time to eat later on.

- Do you know where Ashal Kal Anur is? - I asked her the moment I left the dining hall and entered the long corridor again.

- He is busy preparing everything to move the ship. Moving to the location by coordinates is not as easy as to another gate - she explained. - Not to mention the Quel'kabar wouldn't communicate with just anybody. His pilots are not good. It has to be the official himself.

- So they have stuck in their asses shoved this high, huh?

She giggled at my comment.

- Yes, they do.

- Have you been there? - I kept asking.

- Yes I was - she said.

Then I kept asking her how it looked like end about other stuff, so she kept explaining, but I'm gonna spare you that since I'll give you my personal experience of what I saw a bit later. We headed to my room at first, but then we changed directions since she proposed it would be better to observe from the place we already saw the space view of the Earth. As we were on our way there, the whole ship started vibrating a bit.

- We need to hurry - she informed me. - They are preparing to move.

After those words, we started running. I had to slow my pace a lot even under the seal to keep her company, but we ended up in the correct place, and as the display window showed up, we were still looking at the familiar ball of rock, water, and people.

The vibrations accelerated a bit maybe a minute later, and the slight sound of humming appeared. Then we suddenly were in a different place, where a day was in its full splendor, with the local star shining brightly, and puffy clouds covering the whole sky in white marshmallows.

The whole view beneath was full of green gigantic threes, smaller ones in many parks around metropolia filled with buildings of different shapes and sizes. There were many towers, sticking out like needles, but what was a most shocking view, was a whole mountain, cut at the base, and overturn to be then populated with people, and filled with architecture.

Mostly a massive silver palace with towers reaching clouds. It was strange yet beautiful. Kinda like provided by a famous company producing animations for kids.

There were ships flying everywhere around, and we could see the tiny figures walking on the streets. Everything had this strange feeling of peace to it.

- That's the Sky Palace - Sor pointed at the overturned mountain. - That's where you will be going soon. They just need to grant you approval. We should be heading back. Ashal Kal Anur soon will request that from me anyway.

- Just a moment - I said, as the view mesmerized me. - The place looked so nice, that I just couldn't help but stare.

She gave me some time, but eventually placed her hand on my shoulder. I noticed that we were slowly moving towards the Sky Palace.

- He just requested to take you back  - she informed me.

I nodded and turned around, then we both left the strange room, and headed straight to the entrance hall, where everybody was already gathered.

- Dear humans - said Ashal Kal Anur as I, as the last person, finally made it there. - We will now travel to the Sky Palace to see the queen. I'll be taking you there myself. After we land I encourage you to follow my instruction to not offend the High Queen herself, or other imperial officials, as there will be many there.

With this information, he spread his hands again, like a priest would, in the same manner, he did back on earth. We waited for a few seconds as nothing happened, but then the floor under our feet disappeared, shattering into many small pieces, and revealing the city beneath us. We remained in place, hed firmly by his psychic powers.

He again moved his hand, and we started drifting towards the massive architectural masterpiece built on an overturned mountain. It was close now, and overwhelmingly big. I could see streets and beautiful buildings coated in silver, shining brightly in the light of the local sun.

People were stunned by this picture displayed in front of their eyes, just like I was not so long ago, glued to the window, simply watching.

I glanced around and saw the same face everywhere, wide-open eyes, and blank expressions. It was quite funny when watched from distance. I wanted to point that out to Sor, but she wasn't there, so I looked behind. She, just like all other aliens, was left on the ship above us.

It took us a moment, and some of the creatures we could see on the streets of the Sky Palace were curiously observing our descent, but eventually, we reached a small plaza surrounded by green plants, formic arches over the pathways turning to streets, and vanishing in the distance.

Ashal Kal Anur picked one of them and headed straight there with the confidence of somebody who knew all of the place by heart.

We clearly were heading towards towering structure ahead of us, and those who we encountered on our way just moved aside, making enough space for the official to pass, as they bowed deeply. When we happened to be quite alone, not surrounded by any onlookers, Ashal Kal Anur spoke:

- Those were merchants and business owners wealthy enough to afford to live here, and cherished by the Queen herself strongly enough, that she bestowed upon them such an honor - he explained.

Ahead of us, in the distance, was finally forming the first gate we had to pass through on our way to the Queen. There were few guards protecting it of the familiar physique to me.. Sabhetani.