Phraits cried into the warm, salty breeze as they circled in the sky. Far below, waves crashed across the warm ocean, but this was nothing like the Esterian Sea! Galleons creaked alongside numerous docks, waves lapping against columns while ramshackle fishing boats bobbed beside them. Buoys bobbed in the water while crates full of clams and crustaceans were hauled onto land. Through the air, the chorus of work and chatter continuously rang, just like it always did in the grand harbor of Adecial!

                From high up, Adecial was a monolithic complex just a bit smaller than Orden, but it more than made up the difference through its architecture and unique placement. Situated on the very northern tip of Falador, Adecial was one of the largest port cities in the world. Its harbor was massive and dominated the bay at the base of the city’s towering cliffs. Long piers made of clean, elegant planks stretched out into the water in an immense crescent shape, providing shelter from the harsh waves, and the docks were absolutely packed!

                Water splashed as a net was tossed in, several fishersheek already dragging it back in as schools of fish swarmed the docks. Footsteps pounded as crews unloaded galleons and merchant ships. Ghollon snorted and huffed as they pulled wagons back and forth, captains exchanging coins with their handlers while, at the nearby port authority building, long lines stretched out its doors.

                Adecial played host to hundreds of massive vessels on a weekly basis and hosted both the imperial legion and the merchant guilds, meaning it was always busy. Among the port cities, Adecial was one of the most developed with massive cranes over the docks, huge nets equipped on turrets, and a lighthouse on its most northern point. It was a truly beautiful city, though, it had certainly been more impressive only a couple hundred years ago. While the city had been mostly rebuilt, the scars of the Crisis ran deep, and it would take many, many more years before the wounds truly healed.

                Despite the grim history, that did little to dampen the city’s beauty, and its appeal meant it was constantly hosting visitors. Far down the docks, a new galleon was rocking alongside a pier. Crews were working to unload the massive freighter, carrying supplies to the team of ghollon that had just disembarked. Nearby, the expedition captain was waving at the ship’s captain, the expedition members beginning to march down the dock, but one of their members was a bit… scatterbrained.

                Tearna breathed a small breath as she stopped, her eyes wide as she looked over the immense city. The sound of hammers rang in her ears while the air vibrated with chatter. Feeling her heart soar, she pulled out her journal to begin taking notes, “After several days of travel, we finally arrived at our destination, the fabled city of Adecial!”

                Tearna’s footsteps rang as she meandered down the docks, admiring the structures to her right as crews and fishersheek moved around her, “After growing up in Orden, I thought I would be more prepared for Adecial, but our history books truly did not do its harbor justice! The harbor was nearly as large as one of Orden’s districts, and that’s to say nothing of the cliffs. When I first arrived, I was so stunned that I could hardly move, but I have a duty, and I will make sure to document as much of this grand place as I can!”

                Gears rumbled as a massive crane swung overhead, Tearna watching from below. Eyeing the crates stacked beside the warehouse, she began to write, “Most of the harbor of Adecial seems to be dedicated to fishing and shipping, and I saw numerous cranes being used to load freighters from the nearby warehouses.” Pausing, she squinted at one of the barges and the lumber piled onto it, “From what I was able to observe, most of the goods being shipped out were for construction, so I can only imagine that they must be destined for some village or city in the world!”

                Water plopped as a bobber hit the ocean, phraits crying overhead as several fishersheek fished off the side of a lower dock. Tearna knelt on the edge of the dock over their heads as she studied the fish for a moment before writing, “Fishing seems to be a normal part of life here. I saw hundreds of people doing what I can only imagine is pleasure fishing, and the waters are absolutely teaming with life!” Squinting as one of the fishersheek pulled a fish in, she shook her head and stood, “None of these fish were exotic, however, so I will reserve my cataloguing for the Southern Isles.”

                Cries and calls echoed as the scent of raw fish wafted on the wind. Throngs of people milled about a large arrangement of merchant stalls as fishmongers continued to call. The stalls were arranged in a massive, maze-like grid, twists and turns leading into a labyrinth of structures that looked like a patchwork building from above. Flames billowed as chefs cooked the day’s haul, fish sizzling on racks while fresh stock was brought in straight from the docks. There were thousands of people perusing the fish market, and it was certainly a sight for the uninitiated!

                “Adecial’s fish market was a true gem,” Tearna noted, slowly making her way down an aisle. Pausing to eye several fish, she smiled sheepishly as a fishmonger tried to get her to by something, prompting her to quickly flee, “In many ways, it reminds me of Mercanta, though… it’s a tad more aggressive.” Tearna stopped and sniffed the air, looking over at a massive grill, “There were dozens of stalls constantly churning out freshly grilled fish! Some of them were snack fish braised with a sugary glaze while others were what one would expect from Orden. I admit, it was extremely hard to resist the temptation to purchase a snack, and… I failed miserably!”

                Tearna watched patiently as the chef grilled her order, flames blazing as he churned the fish, but the flames weren’t from the grill. “Like anywhere, those with the right power for a job can leap lightyears ahead of everyone else, and that is certainly true of the chefs!” The chef’s eyes glowed as flames roared off his fingers, keeping the grill blazing hot as he added spices, “It was like watching a show! Clearly, they had spent a good chunk of their lives honing their craft, and it certainly paid off!”

                Tearna absently chewed on her fish as she walked, steam wafting off its flat body. “Though, I did have a thought while wandering around,” she continued, coming to a halt as she promptly raised her brow. Looking one way and then the other, she looked back the way she had come and scratched her head, “I know my colleagues would love to browse this place, but… where did they go?” Sighing, she shrugged, “Ah well. If I had to guess, I’m the one that got lost again, but I can’t help it! This place is so incredible, and I want to see all it has to offer before we move on!”

                A little bit later, industrial activity sang through the air. Hammers pounded against nails while industrial equipment whirred, shouts ringing out while ghollon and workers moved heaping piles of lumber all around the massive construction yard. “After finishing my snack, I ended up finding myself in a rather interesting location.” Tearna frowned as she rested her hands on her hips, looking up at the massive industrial buildings looming before her, “Along the back of the harbor were a series of warehouses with tall chimneys that constantly spewed smoke. Workers were constantly coming and going, and there were a series of strange channels leading down to the water. I wasn’t sure what could be in them, so… I decided to investigate without checking to see if it was off limits…”

                Torches and starstone lights illuminated the interior of one of the warehouses. Massive scaffolds had been set up in numerous construction bays, crews making their way across them while large cranes moved bundles of supplies. Hammers constantly rang as the crew put the planks into place while, nearby, a flame wielder worked to stoke a forge. Over their heads, walkways crisscrossed the structure over the numerous gantries, providing the perfect viewing area for those who wished to see what was going on… with the right permissions, of course.

                “Sorry again,” Tearna said sheepishly, following the stern shasheek as they made their way across the walkway. Stopping beside the railing, she looked at one of the gantries, “I had no idea this place was off limits.”

                “You’re lucky you have identification,” the shasheek spoke gruffly, frowning at her seriously. She shook her head as Tearna looked at her guiltily, “If it were anyone else, I would have tossed you out, but seeing as you’re here on official business, I don’t mind giving you a quick tour.”

                “Sorry again, but I really do appreciate it,” Tearna said, smiling briefly before pulling out her journal. “As it turned out, the warehouse is off limits… woops! Thankfully, my expedition ID gave me some clearance, so I got myself off the hook with a stern talking to from the manager. She was a bit rough, but she gave me a full tour, so now I know the ins and outs of how our galleons are constructed!”

                A loud thud rang out as a telekinetic wielder set a bundle of planks on the deck of one of the partially constructed ships. Sighing, she picked up an empty palette and moved away as workers began collecting the materials. “As it happens, Adecial has a massive shipbuilding industry,” Tearna noted as she studied one of the large galleons. There were multiple construction bays with a partially built galleon in each, but the one below her was the farthest along.

                 “Each shipyard contains enough space for four gantries, meaning they are constantly churning out new galleons!” she continued, following the warehouse manager as she explained the process of construction. “Typically, galleon construction is started before they find a buyer. Once a buyer is found, customization is applied to give these galleons the distinct markings of navy or merchant vessels, but most of these ships are destined for the navy.”

                Pausing, Tearna looked at the back of the facility and watched as several workers sheared pieces off one larger piece of timber. Studying it thoughtfully, she continued, “Shipbuilding seems fairly straightforward. They start with a keel made from none other than a world tree, a rare tree we would see later in our journey. From there, ribbing is added to give it a silhouette, and then planks fill in the shape. After filling out the hull, they build the decks and apply a special coating to keep the ship shiny!” Smiling, she regarded the manager and bowed as she followed her towards the exit, “While not strictly what I look for when making my entries, I am still thankful I got this opportunity! Getting insight into our shipbuilding industry will no doubt be eye-opening for our people, though, perhaps next time I can avoid getting into trouble…”

                Outside, Tearna absently reread her journal as she walked. Frowning, she looked up and around, “Where in the world did they go?” Holding her chin, she shut her eyes, “Let’s see… They mentioned finding lodging, so that means they are probably…” Opening her eyes, she looked up at the immense cliffs towering over her as she smiled, “I think it’s time to investigate the city!”

                Wind whistled as crimson flags whipped atop tall, white structures. While there was a massive focus on the harbor, most of the city was built atop a massive hill that sloped up towards its northern tip. Almost none of the buildings were anything like Orden, strangely enough, but instead had the same sandstone façade of Mercanta or even Nerkossa. While the entirety of the world was now ruled by the Crimson Empire, Adecial had chosen to keep its history, so while crimson flags flew atop its buildings, its architecture still bore its historic white appearance!

                Leading up from the harbor, a massive road dominated the edge of the cliff. It was incredibly wide and packed full of traffic, ghollon pulling massive sleds while throngs of people from every walk of life milled about. Given the imminence of the city, the massive road was paved with white tile, and there was quite a bit of landscaping. It was a beautiful stretch of road and was typically one of the first things seen by travelers!

                Tearna smiled as she gazed up the long road, eyeing the buildings and the people before finally walking. “Leading into the city was a massive road far larger than any I’ve seen in Orden, and while that would make you think there was space, it was quite packed!” A bit later, Tearna was sitting in front of a café, steaming rolling out from its windows while several patrons occupied the nearby tables. Sipping on her steaming drink, she continued to write, “There were people always coming and going, including legionnaires, but I was still having trouble finding my colleagues.” Scratching her head, she drank the rest of her drink before standing, “Since I was still missing, I decided to follow some merchants to see where they were going, and I was certainly rewarded!”

                At the top of the road, the layout of the city mostly flattened out. A maze of roads twisted into the complex with white buildings packed in on all sides, some being shops, but most being homes. Some were small and squat while others were much taller with balconies and sparkling windows. Each road was packed and had even more beautiful decorations shining around them, but at the heart of the city was a noticeable landmark.

                Merchant calls rang much in the way they had at the fish market, but the smells were noticeably less fishy! Thongs of people moved between tall, white structures that were mostly connected to one another, as if they were one large building. Roofs stretched over the roads throughout most of the complex while tapestries covered the remainder, effectively making it feel like a cavern. There were hundreds of merchant stalls situated within the safety of the buildings, arrangements of goods laid out on tables while the smell of bread floated through the market. Everywhere one turned, there was something else to buy, which was quite fitting for Adecial’s bazaar!

                Tearna looked up with wide eyes as she admired the tapestries. Smiling fondly, she continued walking as she looked around, “After wandering the streets for a few hours, I finally stumbled across Adecial’s grand bazaar, and to say that I could get lost in it would be a massive understatement!”

                Tearna kept her hands clasped behind her as she walked, looking at one of the merchant stalls before looking at a bakery tucked in an alcove, “Every corner of the bazaar seemed to house a shop of some sort. From what I was able to gather, the bazaar was the center of trade within the city, and you can find almost anything you want! There was furniture, kitchen ware, fishing supplies, industrial tools, and, of course, snacks!”

                Popping open the decorative box, Tearna pulled out a small, fluffy treat and plopped it into her mouth as she looked around, “Even on a different continent, it’s nice to find a few tastes from home! Pollen puffs can be found in every corner of the world, and I’m happy to report that they are just as tasty here as they are in Orden!” Pausing, Tearna looked at one shop curiously, “As I went deeper into the bazaar, the more it reminded me of Mercanta!”

                Tearna laughed as she held up a resplendent orange robe, holding it one way and then the other, “As part of my duties, I made sure to visit as many shops as I could!” Water rolled through a small chute as Tearna watched, following it to its end before watching it sprinkle onto a row of plants, “After visiting a garment shop, I found a greenhouse full of exotic plants, and the shop itself was beautiful.” A little later, Tearna frowned as she studied an ornate, crimson pot, eyeing the gold patterns on its side, “The further I went, the more things I found, and it’s a miracle that I didn’t blow my budget! Seriously, I was worried for a little bit…”

                Tearna frowned sourly as she walked, several bags weighing her arms down. Raising her brow, she looked around as she stepped into what looked like a courtyard. A few streetlights and benches decorated the vast, cavernous space, but aside from the shops around the perimeter, it was mostly open. Wondering briefly what it was for, she suddenly smiled as a burst of flame went off. Wandering over, she set her bags down before sitting on a bench to pull her journal out, “After reaching the heart of the bazaar, I found a massive courtyard that seemed entirely devoted to street performers!”

                Fire spiraled into the air as a sheek spun a baton. Nearby, globes of water revolved around a shasheek as she spun her hand, balancing atop a larger globe as light strobed through it from a nearby light wielder. Gasps of awe raced through the audience as a cascade of iridescent light illuminated the ceiling, the flaming baton spiraling through it like the fierce fangs of a Raijin. Tearna laughed as she smiled, “I’m not typically one for a street performance, but after spending so long shopping, it was a nice break! It’s always fun to see a powerful wielder show off their talents, especially in an artistic display like this!”

                “After asking around, I learned that this was a year-round display. These performers are always operating here, and while many of our powers are represented, they did not have a lunar wielder.” A small frown touched her face, “Which is a shame considering lunar was the power of the First Archon…” Tapping her chin, she furrowed her brow and wrote, “While I enjoyed the display, it wasn’t lost on me that I needed to find my expedition. As I began to consider going to look for them, however…”

                “First Archon! Of COURSE, this is where she ended up!”

                Blinking once, Tearna looked off to her right in confusion before smiling, “Ahh, I was wondering where you guys had gotten off to!”

                “Us?!” Kai exclaimed as he and several others stopped a short distance away from her. Tearna’s ears heated as she noticed their judgmental gazes, “You’re the one that disappeared! Where in the world did you wander off to?”

                “I-I just went to explore a little,” Tearna said embarrassedly.

                “Told you,” the shasheek beside Kai chuckled. “Little miss starshine here got distracted the instant we got off the boat. At least she’s consistent!”

                “Oh, bug off, Bren,” Tearna snorted, rolling her eyes as Bren laughed uproariously. “Forgive me for doing my duty of documenting!”

                “And that involved buying how many bags worth of junk?” Tearna’s eyes widened with embarrassment as Kai shook his head, “Good luck explaining this to the captain. He’s going to have your head for spending this much.”

                “It wasn’t that much,” Tearna huffed as she eyed her bags. Actually… It was probably at least a platinum worth of stuff…

                “We’ll figure it out when we get back,” Kai sighed. He nodded over his shoulder, “Well, let’s get over to the inn so the captain can stop wondering if you got yourself kidnapped.” Shaking his head, he turned and walked away, “I swear, we’re going to put you on a leash before this is over.”

                “I’m not that bad!” Tearna exclaimed. Huffing for emphasis, she picked up her bags and followed after them, “Thankfully, my superior exploration skills led me back to the waiting arms of my colleagues! Truly, I wonder just how lost they would have been without me…”

                Later that night, stars twinkled as a cold breeze blew over the quiet streets of the glowing city. Only a few people were out, a far cry from how busy Orden or Mercanta could be at night. Light glowed in the window of one particular building, a set of steps leading up to its door with opaque windows decorating its front. Above the door, a sign rocked while, in the windows just overhead, shadows moved behind the glass.

                “You seriously bought all of that?” Bren asked tiredly. The emerald shasheek was lying on a rustic bed covered in a thick quilt, one of the many bunk beds in the rather confined room. They were currently staying in one of the inn’s bedrooms, though this one was one of their more frugal options. The furnishings were rustic, reminiscent of a mountain lodge, and the only sources of light were a few old-fashioned lanterns. While the expedition had quite a lot of funding, they were still being careful, meaning this room was a bit packed.

                “It’s not that much,” Tearna exclaimed tiredly, pushing her bags underneath the bed she had claimed. Several of the other shasheek laughed from their own beds, a few others changing as they prepared to tuck in for the night. Tearna scowled at Bren irritably, “Seriously! You guys are making such a big deal of nothing!”

                “Big deal of nothing? You spent almost a full platinum!” one of the others exclaimed as Tearna puffed up like an angry toad.

                “You’re lucky the captain didn’t skin you alive.”

                “I’m pretty sure he was considering it though…”

                “Ugh, alright! I shouldn’t have spent that much, ok?” she finally exclaimed in defeat. Grumbling to herself, she swung her legs into the bed and cinched herself down as she pulled the quilt up, “I just got distracted trying to see all the shops they had…”

                Bren watched her quietly as she squinted in thought. Finally, she smiled, “So, did you end up recording anything interesting in that journal of yours?”

                “Heck yeah I did!” Tearna exclaimed, instantly smiling as she forgot about being mad. She smiled at Bren eagerly, “I documented most of the harbor, and even wandered into the ship building warehouse! I got to record their ship building process, stopped at a few shops, and got to see a performance!” She smiled giddily, “Can you believe they have performers here all year?! I would love to sit and watch them!”

                “Heh, you had quite the adventure,” Bren laughed. “Well, we’re only staying for two nights, so we definitely can’t watch that many performances, but… I did hear that the theater is hosting a play tomorrow night.”

                “Wait, really?” Tearna exclaimed, pushing herself up with sudden interest. “Gah, of course they are! I would love to get the chance to see it!”

                “Then you’re going to need to start thinking of a way to pay me back,” Bren said cheekily as Tearna looked at her with a start. She pulled several thin slips of paper from her satchel, “I got a bunch of tickets for us to go tomorrow!”

                “YES!” Tearna exclaimed, throwing her hands up. Bren laughed as Tearna squirmed, “Gah, you’re the best, Bren! I can’t wait to see a real play!” She forced herself to lie down as her eyes shone like stars, “It must be so magnificent in a place like this!”

                “It’ll be something,” Bren echoed. Raising her brow as one of the other girls clapped once, she nodded as wind began to extinguish the lanterns, “Well, it’s shuteye for now. We’ll talk more tomorrow.” Grinning, she winked at Tearna, “AND, tomorrow we’ll do some exploring as a group, ok, miss wanderlust?”

                “Yeah, yeah. Sounds fine,” Tearna said, rolling her eyes as Bren barked a laugh. Cinching herself down, she let out a happy sigh and closed her eyes. Tomorrow was going to be an eventful day! Alongside the theater, they also had plans to see the reconstruction of the royal palace and a museum! Smiling eagerly, Tearna did her best to relax as stars continued to shine outside.

                The next morning, bird calls echoed over the busy city. “After getting to sleep in a real bed after way too many weeks of travel, we began exploring the part of the city known as the historic district,” Tearna noted in her journal as she followed the small group she had been assigned to. Kai frowned back at her while Bren and the others looked around curiously. “While the upper part of the city is more historic, it's also the newest construction.” A frown touched her face as she looked up at the shining, white structures, “During the Crisis, the Clockwork Armada vaporized the heart of the city. After all these years, much of it has been rebuilt, but the memory of what was lost runs deep for the locals.”

                Pausing to look off at the skyline, Tearna jerked with a start and hurried after the others, “As we wandered, we started to see signs of reconstruction. The buildings were noticeably up to date and the streets were a lot less maze-like.” Tearna frowned up at a mural painted on a large wall, showing a hint of what the city had once looked like, “Since the Dusk decimated so much, things were rebuilt in a more modern style. The locals tried to make it as similar as possible, but not everything could be restored.” Frowning in thought, she looked ahead as someone called to her, “But, after a bit of wandering, we found our first stop!”

                Large, crimson tapestries waved between white columns in front of a palatial, alabaster building. Tearna slowly approached it with wide eyes. Briefly reading its name, she smiled and followed the others, “The Adecial Historic Museum!”

                The Adecial Historic Museum was one of the newer buildings in the city, and it certainly showed! Columns lined the entry hall while a second floor ringed its top, supporting multiple doors that led to other halls. There were isolated groups of people milling about, browsing large exhibits while the smell of food wafted from a small shop near the back. Between the banners dangling from the ceiling and the artistic crystal sculptures scattered about, it truly was a resplendent building!

                “History is an important facet of life for Adecial,” Tearna continued, stepping up to a glass display case as she eyed the artifacts. “Much of the museum is dedicated to the remains of the bombing, such as old furniture, kitchen ware, and whatever art they were able to recover.” Eyeing the broken dishes, she made her way after the others as they studied one of the large statues, “This museum is meant to serve as a reminder and a warning of what war brings. There was so much beauty that was lost, and should we ever find ourselves locked in another Crisis, all the beauty we have worked so hard to rebuild will once again be threatened.”

                Tearna paused in front of a particular display. Slowly, a frown settled onto her face, Kai and Bren looking equally sour, “In addition to remnants of the old city, the museum also had remnants of the Clockwork Armada, and while I wasn’t happy to see it, I at least understood its importance.” Within the display was the partially ruined front half of a steam tank. Massive chunks had been blown out, and its turret was almost entirely ripped asunder. Tearna looked it over with a sharp frown as she continued, “The museum was full of broken-down war machines. There was also an exhibit dedicated to recreating some of the imagery, such as the bombing of the city and the Dusk itself.”

                Frowning at one of the other cases, she finally turned and followed the others as they took their leave, “After spending a few hours browsing the museum, we were feeling… somber. It’s sad to see how much destruction there was and seeing the remains of the Clockwork Armada… it was unsettling. I’m grateful that I never had to witness such horrors, and I’m even more grateful to the heroes that were able to stop the tide of nightmares.” Stepping out of the museum, Tearna briefly closed her eyes before looking around with a smile, “With the museum behind us, however, it was time to venture to the largest structure in the city. The palace of Adecia!”

                Near the northernmost part of the city, situated almost directly on the cliffs, was a massive structure almost as large as the palace of Orden. It was a palatial, alabaster structure covered in red and blue markings with gold adorning its outer walls. Tall spires with tear-drop tops stood at each of its six corners, and the central structure was dominated by a massive dome. Once, a similar structure had existed in its place, and while it wasn’t the original palace, it was a stunning recreation!       

                “During the Crisis, the palace of Adecia was completely decimated, but after the flames had died down, the Crimson Emperor decreed that it should be rebuilt as a symbol of our strength and unity. While I’ve been told that it’s not a perfect recreation, it was still gorgeous to behold!” Tearna stared up at the massive structure with shining eyes, several of the other expedition members looking just as stunned as the top of the palace’s massive dome glimmered. Smiling happily, Tearna hurried after Kai and the others as they approached the massive gates.

                “Though once the home of an emperor, the palace now serves as the city center,” Tearna continued, looking up at the massive, open gates looming before them. “I assumed that such an important structure would be heavily guarded, but much to my shock, there weren’t any guards to speak of.” She looked around curiously as they passed under the entrance, eyeing the citizens. Scratching her head, she looked around before gasping, “And I quickly figured out why!”

                Stretched out before them was a massive feat of landscaping. A wide courtyard seemed to ring the entirety of the palace, completed with rectangular stretches of water with bridges arching over them, large squares of grass and trees, and streetlights marking each corner! Large statues of different heroes from the Crisis, such as Caleia and Dai’Khan, stood tall at the ends of the small ponds while more artistic displays spiraled into the sky within the grassy areas. Chirping echoed as a few small, yellow birds passed over their heads, snagging Tearna’s attention as she watched them alight on a nearby light pole.

                “In order to better serve the citizens, the palace was rebuilt with a massive courtyard ringing it like a moat,” Tearna continued, pulling out her journal as she began to follow the small birds. Kai paused as he looked back, quickly noticing her absence as he groaned and began to look around. “This courtyard was designed like a park, and it was one of the most beautiful I had ever seen,” Tearna continued, following the small birds as they flew further. She walked alongside one of the moats as she peered into it briefly, “Truthfully, its serenity was greater than anything I have ever found in Orden, and it was clearly popular with the locals!”

                Tearna smiled as she looked at the different people lounging around. Children laughed and ran over the various bridges as they chased the birds while groups of other people played boardgames in the shade of trees. Breathing a peaceful sigh, Tearna continued, “Instead of limiting the palace to officials, this courtyard is open for anyone to come and visit at any time of day or night, a truly touching sentiment that echoes from the wounds of the Crisis.” Smiling happily, she looked over her shoulder with a start. Her eyes widened with embarrassment as Kai shook his head and nodded back the other way, Tearna embarrassedly hurrying after him, “While I would have liked to have explored more, we did actually have a meeting with the local governors, and I did not want to be late!”

                Footsteps echoed through the vast, cavernous palace as Tearna looked around with wide eyes. She slowly turned her gaze up as they walked, her eyes shining in the light of the massive chandelier hanging from the ceiling, “The interior of the palace was just as beautiful as I had expected, though, it was a bit smaller than what I saw in Orden.” Tearna turned her gaze all around as she followed the others and pulled out her journal, “Still, the entryway was many times bigger than the inn we were staying at, or it at least felt that way.”

                “Nearly every inch of the room was composed of the same stone that the city had been made from,” she continued, meandering around curiously while the others lounged on couches patiently. “The main lobby was shaped similarly to the dome I could see from outside, and columns lined its rounded walls. There was a second floor along the back with doors leading off to every corner of the structure, and there was even a fireplace on the first floor!” Admiring the flames in the hearth, she continued writing, “The history books I read while we waited suggested that it hadn’t always looked this way, and I can’t even begin to imagine how grand it must have looked so long ago!”

                Writing a bit further, she looked over as a voice called. Snapping her journal shut, she followed the others, “Finally, we were gathered for a brief meeting about how we would explore the continent. It was rather dull, so I’ll spare everyone the details, but I will at least note that most of the palace was gorgeous. It was a maze of hallways with lush rugs, beautiful decorations, and stunning views!” Waves crashed in her ears as Tearna stepped up to the railing overlooking the northern point of the city, an orange glow tinting the horizon, “I’m glad that we visited, but I was ready to leave by the end. Meetings aren’t my thing, but… I was a little impatient for our theater experience!”

                “We are done running!” a gallant voice carried through the room. A silver furred shasheek in silver armor stamped her blade into the stage, her silver armor glinting as she clenched her hand with a clank, “They have taken our homes, our livelihood, and even our friends, but they will take no more! This is where we stop them! This is where we put those monsters down and bring this Crisis to its end!”

                A resounding cheer echoed from the rest of the cast as they raised their weapons. Behind them, the backdrop quickly rotated, a much brighter and optimistic tone rushing over the decorations as the pace of the story changed. “After spending so much time out in the field, it was surprisingly refreshing to finally kick back,” Tearna wrote as the play continued. Darkness shrouded the audience members as they watched the performers with delight, Tearna and the others sitting several rows back. A smile rested on her face as the orange robe she had bought earlier shone in what little light there was, “I admit, I wanted to take notes, but… I think I can just retell it how I remember seeing it!”

                “We ended up finding ourselves in the Twin Moon Theater, an establishment that managed to survive the bombing.” Loud clangs rang out as the cast pretended to carry out an immense battle while Tearna continued, “As fortune would have it, they were performing a dramatic retelling of the Clockwork Crisis, and after visiting so many other Clockwork Crisis themed venues throughout the day, it was fitting to watch its end as the day came to a close!”

                Tearna leaned slightly to her side, forgetting about her work as she watched the Crisis slowly meet its end, “This particular story was about the First Archon, Caleia, and her dramatic stand against the Clockwork Armada.” A determined cry rang out as the actor playing Caleia smashed her sword into her opponent’s blade, “Everyone knows the tale. During the Crisis, Caleia lost everything, but when we needed her, she rose to the call and stopped the calamity from decimating our world.”

                Tearna shut her eyes as she smiled thoughtfully, “When I was growing up, every little girl wanted to be just like her. She is the truest hero that we have, and we owe her everything for saving us from the horrors of the Clockwork Armada.” Sighing thoughtfully, Tearna sat up as the play began to near its end, “It’s rather fitting that this play was one of our first experiences here. The Crisis began on Falador, and much of our journey here will no doubt be overshadowed by the lingering nightmares. Seeing this play reminded me clearly just how important our duty truly was, not just to remind our people of what we survived, but to show them just how well we overcame it!”

                Applause rang as the actors stepped back onto the stage and bowed, the houselights coming on to illuminate their audience. Tearna joined the others as she stood and clapped, “Although seeing Adecial was a welcome reprieve, being reminded of the importance of my assignment made me itch to get back into the field! There was a whole world out there to record, and I was more than ready to explore every inch of it!”

                The next day, golden light filled the sky as the star began to rise. Dew dripped down windows as the morning frost melted while birds remained huddled up on the eaves, morning only just beginning in the city. Many of the locals were only just waking up to begin their routines, some isolated travelers making their way to open their shops or head down to the harbor. Because of its industry, Adecial was a city that was uncharacteristically slow to rise, but for the travelers passing through, there was no such thing as too early.

                On the south side of the city, a stable sat on the side of a street. Tiles covered the road leading up to its entrance, but the hay scattered around the perimeter made it look slightly out of place. A sign rocked over the front door of the fairly wide building, dew dripping down the windows of its singular tower while multiple arched entryways led to where the animals were kept. Although it was early, the stable was already quite busy, something that was a bit unusual.

                A ghollon snorted heavily as it absently chewed on its snack. Tearna let out a small giggle as she squatted in front of the creature, keeping her cloak wrapped around as she held out the remainder of the treats. Almost all the ghollon in the stable belonged to the expedition save for the one that Tearna was feeding, but there was a major reason why she was interested in it. “When I had originally dreamt of how this adventure would go, there was one particular creature I had wanted to find, and I never imagined I would find it in some random stables!” Tearna laughed as the ghollon took another treat from her, its crimson fur brushing against her hand, “It was a ruby ghollon!”

                Golden bells chimed across its halter as it shook its crimson fur, Tearna’s eyes shining as she pulled out her journal, “Imagine my shock when I saw such a legendary creature comfortably resting alongside our own. Our captain actually got the medic to check me because he thought I was having a heart attack, but I was just excited! Ruby ghollon are supposedly incomparably rare, yet we managed to find one completely by chance! Talk about luck!”

                “In terms of appearance, ruby ghollon are normal with the exception of their red fur which is believed to be a one in thirty thousand chance of occurring! From what I’ve heard, most ruby ghollon are either in the care of the emperor or the trade guilds, but there are still a few out in the wild to be found, just like this one!” She scratched the ghollon’s thick neck before standing, “I was told it belongs to a legionnaire in the city who has a history of breeding ghollon, so it was only natural for him to take it as his steed when it was born!” Admiring the beautiful creature, she smiled as she finished off her notes, “I know it doesn’t match my fur, but I’m SO JEALOUS! I wish I could find an orange furred ghollon, but I’ll just be content with what we have… as difficult as it is…”

                Frowning sourly, she turned with a start as her name was called. Nodding, she looked back at the ghollon one last time before following the others out of the stable, “With my study of the ruby ghollon finished, it was time for us to head out on a new adventure!” Footsteps and stomps echoed as the expedition filed onto the road, the stablekeeper waving after them. Tearna waved back briefly before looking up the road with a bright smile, “Getting to experience civilization again was a nice reprieve, and I would always remember the city’s grand harbor and palace, but I knew the sights would only get more incredible from this point on!”

                Following the caravan down the road, Tearna turned her gaze upwards as they approached a massive, white gate. Gold gleamed along the edges of its massive doors, crimson legionnaires standing guard on either side, though there were hardly any other travelers just yet. She looked over the massive entrance before looking through it with excitement, “Adecial was only the first stop on our journey across Falador, and with it behind us, it was time to make the long trek through history! Our objective was to follow the Clockwork Crisis to its very roots, capture the events that drove our world to the brink, and show all our people just how well we have recovered!”

                With a spring in her step, she suddenly began to run, “Since I helped plan the route, I knew exactly what was coming!” Kai called out as she blew past him, making him groan as she practically knocked someone over, “I know many of my readers will think it’s the mountains I’m excited to see, but my heart was set on a different sight!” Rushing out of the gates, Tearna slowly came to a halt as gravel crunched beneath her sandals. Golden light reflected in her eyes as she clutched her journal, her smile growing from the beautiful sight before them, “We’ll get to the mountains soon, but first we have to journey across one of the most beautiful places on all of Kryshendar… The Golden Plains!” Stretched out before Tearna, all the way to the horizon, was a colossal field of gold, blowing in the breeze like an ocean as clouds trailed just on the bright blue horizon!