Chapter 69: Chapter 64 – To the Imperial City

 "The Al-Shan people called their nation an empire not out of a misunderstanding of the term, or a preference for the nomenclature. The Al-Shan Empire is an Empire by right of Conquest, for beneath its heels were the corpses of the dozens of small nations that used to populate the archipelago." - Cao Wu, Al-Shan Imperial Historian

 

In the end, when she walked towards the Gate that leads to Paradise that fifthday afternoon, Cal had a larger vacation party with her than she planned. Aideen tagged along as she said she would, while her three students were there as planned. Leila being a tagalong was an extra addition, and since she was already there, Cal offered Vark's entire family the same, which they accepted. This would allow her nephew a little nice family vacation at least.

 

The trip itself only took moments due to the convenience of teleportation gates. They simply walked through the gate in Levain, strolled across the chamber to the gate that leads to Al-Shan, and walked through that one to reach the imperial capital. None of the workers and guards in the hub at Paradise even blinked an eye when they saw Aideen with the party.

 

It seemed that the Silver Maiden had a well known habit to take strolls unscheduled and unannounced.

 

What welcomed them as they crossed the gate was a majestic vision of the Al-Shan imperial capital. The group emerged at the top floor of a five-story pagoda, with large, rectangular clear glass windows set on every one of its eight sides. Through the windows they saw the sights of the rebuilt imperial capital, as well as the imperial palace to the north. A team of guards in ceremonial attire were stationed at the corners of the floor, and they bowed as one when they saw visitors arrive.

 

Cal took a look at the sights and realized immediately that Xain had built the pagoda right where the old city center used to be. The very same spot that once housed a garish golden statue of the usurper that had been melted down into coins since.

 

After they greeted the polite guards - two of which Cal remembered seeing before - and were waved on without even a cursory identity check, Cal pointed out the various spots of the city to the group. They spent a few minutes as they took in the sights of the city before they descended the pagoda.

 

The second to fourth floor of the pagoda was designed to provide rest and refreshments, and even contained a bath built inside, which occupied half the third floor. All of which was built just in case whoever crossed the gate was in need of some. The wall was decorated by mosaics made of stained glass that doubled as windows. The stained glass windows created mesmerizing patterns on the floor as the light passed through them, and Cal happily pointed out some local snacks and beverages she thought the students would enjoy.

 

"It still impresses me that your people rebuilt so well in just two years and change." Aideen commented as she munched on a skewer of candied fruits - the same kind Krystal had in hand for Ilena to snack on. "I was under the impression that roughly half the capital was sacked during the last battle of the civil war here."

 

"The bastard collapsed many towers on us and nearly set fire to the town, yes." Cal replied as she reminiscenced of the not too distant memories. "Although the wreckage of the noble quarters near the palace was mostly collateral damage from when I fought Salman there."

 

"Convenient that there aren't any nobles left to bitch about the damages after that, at least!" Said the unliving woman with a laugh. "Nothing prattles more than a noble with a perceived grievance to complain about."

 

"True that." Answered Cal with a grim smirk. "You'd be surprised how many of them still tried to cajole or threaten when their necks were about to get twisted off."

 

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"Either that, or they piss their pants I wager." Scoffed Aideen in return. "The number of nobles who accepted the inevitable gracefully, I could count with the fingers of one hand, and trust me when I say I've seen plenty of them meet their end."

 

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The small group walked the street as they slowly headed northwards. Half the time the students gawked at the vastly different architectural style employed in Al-Shan, doubly so in cases where building with different cultural roots - the archipelago was quite diverse prior to the unification - stood next to one another.

 

One such case was a grand bathhouse located close to the entrance of what used to be the city's noble district, an opulent building with domed roof and aesthetics that had heavily employed gentle curves. Next to it stood a guard barracks, a long rectangular building with sloped roofs attached to a three-story pagoda, both done with more angular aesthetics.

 

The young students all blushed until their faces were red like a tomato when Cal told them of the Al-Shan custom to bathe together regardless of gender. Other than Leila, that was, whose eyes widened in excitement instead.

 

"What's that fight about?" Krystal asked Cal all of a sudden as she pointed to a pair of men in the middle of combat. The men fought on an elevated rectangular stage with many people around as they spectated the fight in a rowdy manner. Neither men used weapons, and they skillfully exchanged blows with their fists and feet as they tried to pummel the other down.

 

"Oh, probably just some trainees settling their issues with a fight." Cal said. It was common in Al-Shan for people to settle issues with a fight when both sides mutually agreed on it, also a reason why combat skills were a common pursuit regardless of one's occupation there. "Or maybe they're representing their masters instead. Nothing unusual here."

 

"If any of you are interested in a spar you can just walk up a stage and say so, there'll be plenty of takers here." Cal added to the students. "No magic, however. And don't use weapons either unless you intend for a more serious fight."

 

All four youngsters nodded eagerly before they moved towards the stage. On her side, Cal just smirked. The students had learned a lot from herself, Aideen, and the others, but their training focused primarily on combat with weapons. Other than Willa, none of the students have much experience with unarmed combat.

 

In direct contrast to them, were most Al-Shan people who practiced one form of unarmed combat or another on a daily basis out of habit or for health. All considered, a lesson in humility would serve her students well too, for they might have gotten a bit ahead of themselves after the utter trampling they did on the tournament.

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