Ms.
Hollow: [HEY!
Wake up!]
Rhys jolted right back up, feeling like an eternity had passed.
His eye bags were heavy, and his mental state was down the drain.
Rhys: [Yeah… What happened…?]
Ms.
Hollow: [We’ve arrived.
You’ve been asleep for a day and a half…]
Rhys: [Jesus!
Well, thanks for not waking me up all that time.
What did you and Wolf do while I was out?]
Ms.
Hollow: [She wouldn’t let me wake you until we made it back here.
Growling every time my hand got close to you…]
Rhys: [Well, thank you Wolf then…]
Wolf: [Woof!]
She wagged her tail in nothing but happiness and bliss.
She felt like nothing in the entire world could’ve stopped her dopamine in that moment.
Rhys even gave her a soft stroke on her back, which just bumped her happiness into overdrive.
Ms.
Hollow: [Okay, you two.
Follow me…]
She hopped out of their carriage in one fell swoop.
Rhys and Wolf took a second to stumble out themselves.
Since Rhys was still a little drowsy from his power nap.
Once they were outside again, Rhys peeked forward and was absolutely amazed.
The entrance to the capital was this giant walkway with a huge door right in front of them.
Walls stretched out for miles upon miles.
Towering over the view of the capital.
What seemed to be even more guards were at each end of the door, making sure that no one uninvited could make their way in.
Rhys: [Holy shit…]
Ms.
Hollow: [I know, Solsidan is a marvel of a capital if you ask me.]
She hopped back into their carriage.
Ms.
Hollow: [C’mon back in!
I just needed to show you guys the outside.]
Rhys: Really…
Wolf: Woof…
They both hop back in and watch as they slowly encroach towards the capital’s entrance.
Feeling like an eternity with how slow the horses were.
He got to witness the beauty of nature around the said capital.
With what was akin to the environment in Iceland.
Rhys: [Hey Wolf!]
Wolf’s neck turned towards him.
Rhys: [Isn’t this view beautiful…]
Wolf: [Woof!]
Rhys: [I wonder what the inside could look like…]
Their carriage finally made it over to the front entrance, stopping for a bit to notify the guards who they were, to let them in.
Since they were on the very right side, the opening pointed towards the closest guard to them.
The same guard who let them in caught Rhys near the opening, as he stared into nothing.
He took a minute before he realized what he had just seen.
With a pale face, he gave a weak thumb up to Ms.
Hollow, who was still deeper in the carriage. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
A weird feeling boiled within Rhys’s heart.
Rhys: [Whoa!]
The inside was way better than he would’ve ever imagined.
Parents and children alike were roaming the lively streets, running errands.
The buildings were a lot fancier and much more intact than anything he had seen in Haethir.
Their sun of a late spring noon was basking everyone and everything in glorious beams of sunlight.
It almost felt like some sort of fantasy in Rhys’s mind.
Rhys: [So this is Stjerna?]
Ms.
Hollow: [I told you it was beautiful.
It’s one of the richest and biggest countries in the world.
Covering most of South Myteria]
Rhys: [South Myteria…]
They hopped out of their carriage for a second time, with her guards following suit a few seconds later.
After that, the guy maneuvering the horses and carriages left.
Leaving their group in the middle of the open.
Rhys was looking around with Wolf to his left when a couple of people stopped and stared right at his face.
Then a few became a bunch, then a bunch became a crowd.
Soon, a posse of random strangers came to look at the creature that was standing in front of them.
Rhys: [U-um… can I… help you?]
???: [Are you… an angel?!]
Rhys: [Um… Maybe…?]
The crowd was in shock that the horrifying creature in front of them could speak.
Some people were queasy, some looked curious, and one guy in the back was trying to draw Rhys as best as he could.
Ms.
Hollow: [Hey!
Can you guys please make some room for Mogi!
He just got here and is obviously uncomfortable with your pestering and stares!]
The crowd immediately scattered, not wanting to deal with the wrath of Ms.
Hollow, the strongest with magic.
Rhys watched in amazement at her level of control and assertion she gave off.
Where even Rhys and Wolf wondered if they should leave as well.
Ms.
Hollow: [Alright!
That crowd’s clear!
Let’s go boys!]
The Guards: [YES SIR!!!]
Rhys was also a little taken with the tone shift from the guards.
Not remembering them being so powerful.
Ms.
Hollow: [Follow behind me, Mogi.]
He did as told without a second to spare.
Wolf was going to stay behind because of her aura, but Rhys grabbed her by the neck and pulled her with him.
Rhys: [This place is so cool.]
Ms.
Hollow: [You haven’t seen anything yet!
After our talk with the Queen, I’ll be showing you around the city more!]
Rhys: [Sweet.]
As their stroll continued, Rhys looked around and saw a bunch of people using what seemed to be magic of some sort.
Everyone who had mana flowing through their entire bodies.
With Ms.
Hollow being right that everyone’s mana looked like fire coming off of themselves.
Construction was being done for a convenience store that had just caught fire.
Most likely from someone vandalizing it with fire magic.
No problem though!
Nothing a little recreation magic can’t fix.
Same went for some kids in a park-like area, playing with different baby-proofed spells. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Their mothers were talking about something whilst managing their annoying brats.
Something about Solsidan felt weirdly like home.
Nothing about this felt like some sort of normal fantasy medieval world that was stuck in the Middle Ages, and it especially didn’t feel like Haethir life in the slightest.
It honestly felt like a blend of modern, medieval, and ancient times were blended together into a beautiful monstrosity.
Rhys: [Hey… was this place made by an angel…?]
Ms.
Hollow: [I’m pretty sure the founder was an angel that went by the name: “Arne Stjerna”.
I mean, that’s at least where the last name came from.]
Rhys: [What do you mean?]
Ms.
Hollow: [It’s one of the most popular last names that people have in the capital.
Which will probably shoot up more since the Queen’s last name is such.]
Rhys: [Is she his descendent?]
Ms.
Hollow: [She is the country’s 41st successor.]
Rhys: [Wow!
How old is this country, anyway?]
Ms.
Hollow: [I don’t know.
Around 1000-ish years probably.
Anyway, we’re getting close to the Ancestral Home.
So be on your best behavior for the Queen, okay?]
Rhys: [Got it.]
Wolf: [Woof!]
He had almost forgotten that Wolf watched him creepily stare at random people living their lives like a museum.
A wave of embarrassment washed over him like a tsunami.
Ms.
Hollow: [You okay back there?]
Rhys: [Yeah, I’m fine… just gimme a second…]
He straightened himself back up and dialled back in for his confrontation with the Queen.
Beads of sweat did seem to form as they got closer and closer to the Ancestral Home.
Other than that, he was ready.
???: [Welcome… Lady Hollow… Queen Freja is waiting…]
The ominous guard at the Ancestral Home’s entrance sent shivers down Rhys’s and Wolf’s spines.
Ms.
Hollow gave her a nod before walking past with the two in tow.
On the way past the guard, he felt a sharp glare going onto his forehead, and through his skin.
Each step on the walk to Freja was enormous for someone like Rhys.
Sure, he was well-off compared to the other kids in the past.
That didn’t make him some sort of ruler, though.
Ms.
Hollow: [Alright.
Listen up.
This is the Queen we’re talking to, so keep it professional.
My guards will be waiting behind this door if it makes you feel better.]
Rhys: [Of Course!]
Wolf: [Woof!]
It didn’t help at all.
Ms.
Hollow slowly pushed the door away, revealing basking light coming from the other side.
Rhys instinctively kept his eyes sealed shut to let them adjust to the light, and when they did, he saw the Queen for the very first time.
And she was an intense person, to be honest.
Queen Freja: [Welcome back, Lady Hollow.
I see you brought some new friends with you…]