A citadel of light, glory, and renown. High walls and sky-piercing spires, shimmering in pearl white. A fortress of peace, beautiful and grand, the city was designed like a blooming star, divided into tiers and sectors. At its lowest was industry and production, where artisans worked in their crafts of agriculture, metalwork, and magic creation. At its second was housing and commerce, with mixed buildings of stores and houses lining the wide-open streets and flowering pastel parks. At the third and highest layer were education, arms, and governance. Divided into three, governance sat at the center with thick walled castle and towers overlooking opposite sides. Its wooden halls carried the aroma of the forest along with the hum of the conductor's song, a clean, soft musical orchestra that cleanses the mind and eases the body.
"■■■■, your punctual as ever." A feminine voice brought my mind back. Strict, authoritative, though not harsh. They wore a fine black suit, rigid and thick, almost like armor, yet their steps remained quiet and graceful.
"Well, are you coming or not?" They asked, stopping, but did not turn.
My legs moved forward before my mouth answered, "Yes."
Following closely behind, my eyes wandered around, looking at paintings and windows as we passed. The sky was clear with little clouds, and the view was vast, and from my eyes and reflection, I wore a suit nearly identical to hers, but it was white. My hands carried a stack of papers with writing that I did not understand. We stopped at an unmarked door of pure bronze.
"Chancellor," She spoke and knocked. "Re-"
"Enter." A muffled voice interrupted, and she opened the door with ease. I entered, and she quickly followed, closing the door behind.
The chancellor's room was modest and practical, with walls lined shelves and cabinets; most were full of books and documents, while the rest were full of trophies, medals, and all kinds of achieved memorabilia.
"Chancellor, Fren." My mouth moved on its own. "Reports from-"
"Please, ■■■■" Fren interrupted, his voice aged like good wine. "At ease, I didn't request this from you and Quin just to get it read aloud." They sat at the back of the room, behind a wooden desk, their form shadowed by sunlight that came from the crystal window behind them
His hand gestured to the pair of facing sofas in front of his desk. "Please sit."
A sigh came from behind, and Quin passed by and sat down, crossing her legs, knee over knee. "Seriously, old man, you can't keep calling us in like this, we're not little kids, you know."
"Old man?" The chancellor repeated with amusement, leaning back in his seat. "I said at ease, not casual."
"It was a compliment, right, ■■■■?"
"Yes," I replied, sitting down on the couch facing her. "But moving on, why did you request us, sir?"
"Straight to the point, as usual," Fren said with a sigh. "Well, get to that eventually, but first." Pausing and snapping their fingers, the curtain behind them closed, revealing a man in a simple black and white suit, their face aged with scars that somehow made them look better.
"How was your day? Any peculiar incidents worth reporting?"
Quin turned her attention to him, a smirk forming on her lips. "Yes. I believe so." Her voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper. Fren leaned forward in reply, a smirk forming on his lips as well.
"Report." His voice matched hers.
"One of my knights has reported a new territory for us at the lower levels, one with decent prey, they say, challenging, but I'm skeptical." She paused and switched her legs. "Five of my knights fell victim to it, so there's a bit of credibility."
"And your second in command?" He asked, steepling his hands
"Will be investigating if given time."
"I see… Location?"
"Upper, western agricultural district. A new shop on Tac Street."
"So, I assume everything's grown in-house?" Her smirk turned into a smile as she heard the chancellor's question.
"Yes." Quin answered, and the chancellor smiled in turn.
"Name?"
"Ignis soups."
A sigh left my mouth, and their gazes turned to me. "We should discuss more important matters rather than your competition."
"Then do you have anything to report, ■■■■?"
"I do, and this one is actually verified by me personally. Lower, north commerce district, third plaza. Forst burns tavern. Both spicy and sweet."
Hahah!
A hearty laugh echoed through the room. "Ahah, he's got you there, Quin."
"Yes, yes, after four-months of nothing." She replied sharply.
I cleared my throat. "Moving on, then chancellor?"
"Yes-yes," They replied, waving their hands dismissively. Their chuckle faded with it. His eyes wandered to the shelves and cabinets, then to Quin and me.
"I'm dying." He said flatly.
"You always are." Quin replied, matching his tone, yet her eyes twitched.
"You're still seventy," I added, my voice factual. "You still have a couple more decades ahead of you."
"That may be true, but that's not certain." He paused, taking a breath. "The reason why I called you here is to discuss who would be next."
"It obviously should be Quin/■■■■," we both said at the same time, and our necks turned to each other in reply.
"You're older and more experienced," I argued.
"You're a loner and coldly logical, you're much better off here than in the field." She countered
"Your-"
Fren cleared his throat and let out a sigh. "For vanity 's sake, settle down. Where here to discuss, not argue." They said and leaned back in their seat. "I know both of you have good reasons as to why the other should take my place, but knowing you two, it would be months of back and forth. And months that could be used more productively. Don't you two agree?"
Quin nodded as she answered. "Yes."
"Yes, I suppose so," I answered. "But do you propose we settle this?"
"You both have two options," he said, pulling out a medallion from the top drawer of his desk. "One is letting fate decide, the second would be letting me decide."
"You're just going to flip it before choosing." She said, and uncrossed her legs.
"I might, or I might not. This entire thing could have been a test for me to choose, but is that a risk you're willing to take?" He said, his gaze turned heavy as he switched from her to me. "All your years of experience are put into two choices." He paused, flipping the medallion and letting it drop onto his palm. "So what will it be?"
"It's always a test with you, old man." She said and sighed. "But all of that made us into who we are today," She looked at me, and I nodded. "We chose the former."
"Then let Sanctuary guide you, and Vanity be with you. And may fate bless this sanctuary." He said and flipped the medallion.
Time seemed to slow down, and the medallion hung and spun into a golden blur, spinning faster and faster until the blur filled my vision, and the world vanished with it.