"Wow… So gorgeous." Rize muttered under his breath at the sight. This was easily the most magnificent structure he had ever seen. Nothing in his previous world came even close to this thing. It was only possible because this world had magic and supernatural powers that allowed a structure that massive to be suspended in the air for thousands of years.
'I've only read about it, but it is so amazing to see. I can't believe the day came when I would see such a thing with my own eyes.' He thought to himself. 'The Founder's Time Piece is a divine object left by the founder of the nation to be suspended above the royal palace, telling time and guiding travellers from afar.
Its significance as a symbol of the nation was nothing short of huge. It was even safe to say many would consider it sacred and religious.
"Wait till you see the city inside. It is beautiful." Geralt said as the car arrived at the gates. Naturally, there was a security checkpoint there for people going in and out of the city. Many guards stood there, with their weapons tucked to the side as they checked every car.
Today, security was especially tight due to the nature of the celebrations. Many people came from many cities around the nation or even worldwide to witness the awakening of the prince. There was naturally no lack of enemies who hated the royal family inside and outside.
Their position was highly sought after, and the political battles to take them down weren't just within the family itself. Other nations, clans, and organizations desired their powers or even just a slice of it. However, taking them down, when there is the Esteemed King himself involved, was simply a pipe dream they could only just imagine and could never achieve.
The cars slowly moved inside one by one until their turn around. The guard knocked on the glass window. He was clad in armor and formal attire of the royal police.
"Good morning, sir. License and reg-" As he was about to speak, the man froze when Geralt pulled what seemed to be a sigil out of his pocket. It was a warrior with a sword held in his hand and what seemed to be a rising sun behind him. It was all made out of what seemed to be gold and covered in diamonds.
The moment the guard saw that sigil, he froze before he took a salute. "My apologies, sir! Please keep moving!"
"Thank you," Geralt said. "Have a nice day, gentlemen."
With that, the car passed the gates and entered the city.
"What is that thing you showed him?" Rize asked curiously, already knowing the answer he would receive.
"This is a sigil exclusive for the royal staff. It grants us certain benefits and helps make any process easier like the one we just passed."
"Oh, that sounds really useful."
"It is. It's made out of a special alloy that reflects the light in a certain way. It can't be counterfeited or copied due to its special nature." He explained.
'If people could just make it at will, that would be chaos everywhere.' Rize thought to himself as he turned to look outside, only to be surprised at the scenes.
The city's roads were bustling with people and cars. Billboards and signs everywhere had ads for the celebratory day, and the atmosphere of festivity was clear in the air. The city was gorgeous and clean beyond reason. Rize couldn't even see a single speck of dust anywhere he looked.
The buildings were pristine, and the air was so fresh and clean that one would think they were in nature and not in one of the biggest cities in the world.
"This is far bigger than I thought." Rize was surprised by the bright neon lights and the futuristic vibe of the city. Even though there was magic in this world, the world still developed quite fast, and it was far more advanced than even his previous world.
"Yeah, tonight's event will be watched by millions of people, so it is very important, and you will have an exclusive look from up close because Her Highness had granted you a VIP invitation."
"A VIP invitation?"
"Yes, you will have access to the room where all the important people will be."
'She really wants me to watch in person. Venera…' He smiled wryly.
"So, where are we going now?"
"The Royal Palace. Precisely the second villa. That's where the event will occur."
"Huh? Why not the main villa?"
"Well, nobody is allowed in the main villa except for the royal family and the highest order of staff. It's where His Esteemed self lives with his family. It's a very sacred place."
"Can we access it?"
"I am allowed inside, but you? No, absolutely not. Until the king accepts you as Her Highness' official escort, you are not allowed anywhere near that place. If you try to walk there, you will be killed within a second."
'There are probably extremely strong awakened guarding that place 24/7. I would truly be decapitated before I could even blink.' He thought to himself with a shudder. Rize had forgotten how weak he was compared to the true awakened. Until he awakened his powers, he was as good as a normal, average boy.
Cutting through the long streets of the city, the two emerged out of the main districts into an open road that headed toward the royal palace. Rize was finally able to have a closer look at the clock, and it was so gigantic that it intimidated him for a second.
A sense of inferiority filled his heart. 'Whoever created this isn't human. Holy…'
At the same time, Rize finally saw the Royal Palace in the distance. It was equally massive, stretching far in every direction with a unique, older design mixed with modernity. It had an odd air of purity around it… As if Rize was staring at a sacred place.
Everything was shiny and pristine, and he felt like this was truly a place only for the chosen ones to see.
Eventually, they stopped at the gates leading inside. Another security check, far tighter than the one before. However, upon showing the sigil and getting scanned with a device, they were both given the all clear.
Finally, the two found themselves in the palace. There were massive guardians stretching for hundreds of meters all around them. There were big trees separating both seconds, and the road diverged into several paths at some point. Geralt took one particular path as he headed down that path.
They saw the end of it as they reached the parking area of a massive villa. One that eclipsed every single one that Rize had seen on their way here combined. There were already several cars parked there, all extremely expensive-looking and rare.
Rize left the car after they parked and looked around him.
"Very nice and… refreshing."
"Rize, come here." Geralt said.
"Yes, sir."
"Three things," Geralt said. "Remember what I taught you in the past three days. Don't stray away too far from me and do NOT offend any of the guests. Understood? I would not be able to save you if someone took offense. Unless Her Highness decides to save you."
"I'm aware. I won't cause any trouble, sir. I promise." Rize replied. 'I just need to stay away from these ultra-rich, ultra-powerful individuals, and I should be fine. Surely that's very easy… right?'