Overlooking the Capital

The Holy Capital looks like one of those circular mazes, but it's so densely packed that I can't see the roads from up here.

The city is very visibly divided into five rings, with each having a similar width. There are countless churches located around, but in the very center is a cathedral. It looks to be no more than a miniature toy down there, but I can tell it's probably as big as the entire parliament hill in Ottawa, or what used to be the parliament hill, at least.

From the four gates, streams of carriages flow in and out like lines of ants. The gate on the west leads directly into what's presumably the Pitted Woods, while the other three have roads going all over the land.

Deep in the Pitted Woods, I can see bursts of light and flames popping up all over the place. There are even the thunderclouds used on Lohikaarmi floating above the trees. That must be a battlefield of some sort.

It's been a long way coming, but here we are, in front of the center of the world. This is where the journey really begins. From within the Holy Capital, I will elevate Terradivina to a level unimaginable for the residents. Then, Earth will be saved.

"I see the hot spring!" Astra exclaims and points to beside us.

Indeed, there is a big pit not far from where we are. I can't see the water from this angle, but continuous steam rises from within.

"We will go enjoy the bath later, first tell me a little about the Holy Capital," I say.

"Yeah, I want to know more, too," Faye says.

Astra sighs.

"What's there to know? It's right there in front of us," she asks.

"Well, for starters, why is the city divided into five rings?" I ask

"Six, actually," Astra says, "The Grand Cathedral in the middle is its own ring."

"Okay, but why?"

"They are like districts. The closer to the middle you live, you wealthier you are. I have no idea why, but people like to be as close to the Grand Cathedral as possible."

The reason seems pretty obvious to me. Proximity to schools has the power to raise housing prices, so I am sure the proximity to one's figure of worship would be even more impactful.

"So, it's just a segregation of class," I say.

"Yes, exactly."

"How poor is the most outer ring?"

"The outer ring is the slums, so they are the dirty and impoverished."

I suppose poverty can not be escaped no matter where we are.

"I see."

"Can we go to the hot springs now?" Astra asks.

"Can I ask a question?" Faye says.

"Sure," Astra says.

"Are there elves in the Holy Capital?"

Astra thinks about it for a second. "Maybe. I thought there were no elves in South Cimavetta, but now there is. Time has changed. The last time I checked, I mean, the most recent book I read about it says about a sixth of slums is populated by elves."

"Just the slums?"

Faye looks a little disappointed.

"Yes. They are not allowed to go beyond the third ring without a human master, but again, that information could be outdated."

"A human master?" Faye asks.

"Yeah. Most of the strong or good-looking elves are bought as slaves by rich humans, just like the Blessed Beasts."

"Oh."

A sense of sadness clouds Faye's eyes.

"Don't worry though, not all humans hate elves. In fact, the majority of them see you as equals."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but that percentage rapidly declines as you look higher on the social class. Most of the rich people get rich from exploiting elves and Blessed Beasts," Astra says.

"That's terrible."

"Well, what can you do?"

"I want to change that," Faye says with a tone of determination in her voice, "I-If possible." A very short-lived one, that tone.

"So, hot springs?" Astra asks again.

"One last question," I say.

"Oh, my Goddess. What is it?"

Strange phrase for Astra to use.

"Where will we go after we enter the capital?" I ask.

"People who don't have money, status,

or family in the city go to the sixth ring," Astra says.

"I have money."

"Not enough to buy a house in the fifth ring."

I suppose I can't wave the platinum slab around without raising any suspicion.

"Is there any way we can get a better start than the slums?" I ask.

"Hmm, if you say Faye and Lohikaarmi are your servants, you can pretend to be a disgraced noble. That way, they might place you in a convent in the fifth ring."

"A convent?" I ask.

"It's like a commune for religious people."

"A commune doesn't sound too bad. Faye are you fine with it?"

"Oh, of course. Without you, Kris, I would have become a real slave," Faye says with a smile.

"Good."

The sun has gone under, shrouding night over the world.

Cisca's help would be greatly appreciated right about now. I wonder how she is doing. For the time being, before she gains the ability to contact me again, I think my plan will just be living normally in the Holy Capital and getting used to the society here. If given the opportunity, I might also gain some success to make the next steps easier.

"Hot springs?" Astra insists one more time.

"Alright, fine," I say.

"Finally!"

She jumps off the donkey and runs over to the steaming pit.

"Wait for me!" Faye calls and gets off her donkey.

As I watch the two carelessly frolic away, I turn to Lohikaarmi.

"Lohikaarmi, tie the donkeys down to the rocks and go join them."

"Yes, Master, but what about you?" She asks.

"I want to stand here for a little longer. I will be with you soon," I say and hop down to the ground.

Lohikaarmi nods. She goes and grabs the leashes around the donkeys' necks.

I step to the edge of the summit and take another look at the landscape. It's unreal.

Such sight would be impossible to see on Earth, no matter how much money one had.

In this world, I am a nobody. No one knows my name or my achievements. I will have no press interviews or event appearances. There's no public image to take care of or empire to run. It's just me, alone, on the top of the world, overlooking the future of humanity, with a thousand years ahead of me.

Darkness has overtaken the Holy Capital, and houses begin lighting up. It looks like a constellation is appearing beneath the actual field of stars.

Is what I am doing worth it? If the earthlings ruined our planet, who's to say they won't ruin this beautiful one, too? Will I not be the harbinger of life and hope to Earth, but death and destruction to Eden, instead?

No, I won't let that happen. Our home is the way it is right now because of the incompetence of our predecessors, and I will make sure to avoid the same mistakes as the ones they made. Eden is a fresh start, a second chance to have what we could have had, and no one can take that away from us.

I sit here and stare into the horizon for a good minute.

I hear the girls giggle from the pit. Lohikaarmi has already gone and joined them. I guess it's time for me to take a break, as well.

I turn around from the edge. Steam from the pit has clouded the peak of the mountain. There is a thick layer of mist in the air, so much so that I can't even see where the hot springs are.

That's when I notice it. A shadow is standing there in the vapor beside the pit, a shadow of a woman that I don't recognize.