Chapter: 620 – Archon Compound

Lea was still licking her fingers clean as the Sappherrous family finally arrived at the Archon Compound in the central ring of the new city.

Tala was sometimes amazed at just how large cities were in the early stages. It hadn’t been difficult to get to the center, but compared to Alefast, Waning, it was huge.

The central ring was largely empty, as it would be mostly composed of residential and administrative facilities. There were some businesses and other amenities as well to serve those within, and those areas would expand as the outer rings were abandoned throughout the city’s cycle.

At the moment though, only a few folks were both risk tolerant enough to be in a new city and wealthy enough to have a home in the innermost ring. There were even very few in the secondary ring. As Tala had already observed, at this stage, most people were living very minimally near their work.

Still, Tala and her family had just recently brought nine thousand new people, many of which were skilled craftsmen with their families, staff, and extended networks. Those folks were settling in across the city, bringing their modicum of wealth to bear to carve out a niche in this land of opportunity.

Still, it was odd, passing by so many empty lots, and the few buildings and compounds that there were, stood out like a tavern in a park.

-For the last time, none of them are syphons…-

But they could have been. It was worth checking.

-Fine… I didn’t stop you, did I?-

No, I suppose you didn’t.

The compound was much like all those that Tala had seen in the various cities that she’d visited—the one in tree-Makinaven excepted—and she actually felt a bit of calm slowly build across her as they walked down the entry hall, stepping out into the atrium.

Without even looking up, Tala could take in the massive map of the cycling cities and surrounding wilds.

Thirteen cities lit the map, bright and luminescent in the otherwise dimly lit ceiling map. One was far dimmer than the others, even so. The light for Alefast Waning, was but a flickering candle next to the torch of the other cities.

Funnily enough, the light for this city was not yet lit, which made a sort of sense as Tala considered it further. Soon enough, the fourteenth would shine forth, but only when this city’s magics were fully kindled.

This city wasn’t fully active yet, so it wasn’t a light in the darkness for humanity. Not quite yet.

The round desk at the center of the large atrium commanded their attention, but Tala didn’t miss the dozens of Archons in surrounding seating areas, forming various groups that seemed to be chatting, playing games, or just otherwise relaxing together.

With so few higher end establishments opened, this compound made for a convenient gathering place for the elite of Magical society. That would shift in coming years, but for now, it was interesting to see how many were here.

Rather than being distracted by the potential contacts, the Sappherrous family went right to the central welcome desk.

Behind the round counter, three green lights shone, along with one white, catching the attendant’s attention and causing her to glance down, even as she stood to bow.

Her movements hitched, her eyes widened, and her bow deepened considerably. “Master Paragon, Mistress Paragon, master avian, Miss, welcome to our humble compound. How can the Archons of New Makinaven be of service to you, today?”

Rane gestured toward Tala, and Tala smiled. “We were hoping to be allowed to view the ignition of the city’s magics. Could you tell us when that might be taking place?”

The clerk opened her mouth momentarily, then slowly closed it before frowning. “I apologize. I’m not sure when it will take place. Would you be willing to wait while I get someone with higher authority?”

Tala gave a respectful nod. “Of course, do what you need to do.”

“Thank you, Mistress. I will return momentarily.”

As the young woman navigated out from behind the counter, then went down one of the myriad hallways—clearly heading toward the office of some Archon or other—she was frantically doing something on her Archive slate.

Lea turned toward her parents. “Mom? Dad?”

Tala pulled herself free of her meandering thoughts. “Yeah?”

Rane smiled and looked toward Lea. “Yes?”

“Why do we reuse the same names for our cities?”

“Well,” Rane hesitated, glanced toward Tala. “Do you want me to take this one?”

Tala shrugged. “Sure. Thank you.”

He nodded once. “Of course.” He then turned back. “With every city having such a relatively short life, we’d have needed so many names down through the ages otherwise, and we’d need more in ages to come. Sure, that’s possible, but it’s easier to simply have a small bank of names that we pull from, moving many of the citizenry from one to the next of the same name. There is also power in a name. City Stones function best when properly associated with their city’s name, and if that is changing every few hundred years?” He shrugged. “That would take from their power.”

“But…” Lea frowned. “Master Jevin is the wielder of the ‘Makinaven’ City Stone, and also the tree in which that city is built. Is that just a coincidence?”

Tala shook her head, deciding to add a piece. “Not at all. It almost never comes up, but where such things come into play, we ensure that the same name lands on the required city. We can use it elsewhere, such as this case, when Makinaven only has ten years before it starts its waning. Until then, this city will be New Makinaven. Eventually, that City Stone will move here, and when this city wanes, it will be held outside of the cycle for the short time required to ensure it re-enters the cycle aligned with the proper tree city.”

Rane nodded. “And regardless of anything else, whoever is currently bound to the City Stone travels with it, and is in charge both of utilizing the power at need, and keeping it safe, should it be threatened.”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Lea was nodding. This wasn’t really new information, but while she had effectively as good a memory as Tala, she didn’t have the organization of her thoughts and mind quite as well refined. The reiteration of the information—with some new—in a new context helped to solidify it and make it more likely to be useful to her, going forward.

With the pause in their discussion, one of the other attendants—a young man this time—asked if he could get them any refreshments.

Tala requested coffee, Lea the same, and Rane asked for tea, specifically ‘something local if you have it.’

Tala arched an eyebrow at her husband, and he simply shrugged. “I don’t know what’s grown here, and it’s nice to try new things at times.”

Lea grinned. “Our coffee is probably local. The grow-caves are usually among the first things established. Right, mom?”

Tala considered. “Well, given it only takes about five years for a coffee plant to reach peak production, I think it is somewhat likely that the coffee is local. I doubt that the stuff they offer for free—even to Archons—is some specialty blend that might have to be caravanned in.”