Adventure of Astral Part 13: A Kingdom of Marble

Astral stood outside the clean marble walls. Everything on the outside sparkled as Astral admired the size and complexity of the structure. The side detailing held several of the Hybrids and their victories over every other race. Astral studied them as James and Angel were waving hand signals to the tower guards who didn't raise any alarms on seeing a human and an elf.

Astral looked at one of the battles depicted as it showed all the queens beating the elves in their village. Tina took a small tug at his leg as she wanted to look away. He tilted his head as he covered her eyes and lifted her up. "I am sorry. It's not your fault." James whistled loudly as Astral perked his head up. The gate was opening as Astral met up with James at the gate.

"Now, we must stay quiet and lay low. You can buy things but be frugal and quiet." James handed him a small satchel of coins. "These may become useless after what we have planned so use what you need on her." Astral nodded as the three walked down the street as Astral watched Angel soar around from tower to tower.

She landed at the second tower as the first reluctantly let the three of them below through. "Hey Evelin? Do you have a moment?" Angel rested her hand on the shoulders of a giant spider lady. Armor covering her chest and her spindly legs.

"Princess Angel! Anything for your highness!" She bowed with all her might as quickly as possible as her armor rustled with her arrows in her quiver. Angel giggled a little bit as everything on Evelin shook loose.

Angel caught her breath as she smiled. "Would you run a message to the commander outside of the city for me, signed by me?" She handed over a piece of paper with the royal seal as Evelin looked at it closely before looking back up at Angel.

"It would be an honor, may I ask what the details are about, you aren't planning an overthrowing attempt over them?" Evelin asked in a quiet whisper as she sat on the edge of the wall.

"Why would we bring a human besides to use him as a pawn. However, he is his own worst enemy right at the moment." Angel sighed. "A controllable storm. The difference being he is our father." Evelin stood still on the edge as she heard this.

"The human is your dad?"

"The queens kept my past secret from them as did James, however, he protected me, with the two of us, we couldn't have taken down the queens." Angel gave the spider a hug. "Be at peace that in a few days we will be reunited." Evelin nodded as she crept down the tower with her silk. Crawling away to the camp where she needed to go. Angel left the tower as she whistled and a replacement took Evelin's place.

Angel landed at another tower as she met a second person with more loose armor. "Hey Bitsy, I need a major favor." Bitsy looked up smiling with her fangs sticking out of her lips. "May you announce a gathering in the town square. Spread all these flyers, we meet in an hour."

"Is this the time we usurp the throne?" Bitsy whistled back to Angel as she nodded. "We will all follow the two of you to the ends of the world." Angel scratched behind Bitsy's ears as the two shared a giggle as they both flew off. Angel and Bitsy start dropping the flyers across the city.

Astral took Tina inside of a shop as the two of them looked around at all the exotic cloths that were on display as James stayed outside talking to a handful of the guards who were on patrol. "Pick out the one you like the best, Tina." Astral went up to the counter as he saw two older looking people. The couple were surprised as he smiled at them. "I would like to get her a dress if possible something simple that makes her look better than what she is, along with maybe a light scarf for her."

The two paused as the looked at his composure. "Deary lad, you have no fear when the world is your grave? The Queens will have our heads if we help." The two of them wrapped themselves in heavy cloaks as James entered.

"Hey, how is my favorite two clothiers doing?" James wrapped his arm around Astral as they looked up at their crowned prince. They were shocked to see him in allegiance with the man before them. "All we ask is a better looking dress for our very young friend, nothing else."

Astral tossed the bag of money on the table as he grabbed a light blue sun hat that caught his eye and rested it on Tina as she had a magenta cloth in her arms. Astral wrapped her up with a similar light blue scarf as she giggled. The clothiers looked at each other then back to Tina. "Miss, may you come here quickly." Tina trotted over to the two of them as the tape measures flew around.

Astral and James watched as they spun Tina around in a circle, the flash of blue fabric from her scarf distracted both of them as when Tina stopped moving, she had her rags on the floor with a fall themed dress that had falling leaves on it. The magenta color meshing with her eyes as their emerald hue shined through the hat.

"You may leave as fast as possible now." The two clothiers shoved them out the door as the fruit stand saw this from across the path. Astral turned to the store and shrugged. James looked at the sign as a flyer descended from above, he caught it and showed it to Astral.

"I have other business to attend to, you got this." James trotted off as the standee watched the situation. Astral waved goodbye as Tina wandered over to the stand and pointed at an apple.

"Miss, pick the one that you want. Its on the mouse after all!" He wiggled his ears as Tina laughed. She quality grabbed an apple as she took a nibble of it out. "Make sure to help us all from this." Astral nodded as Tina took his hand as they wandered down the street.

Astral kept his eyes open at all the scenery. Every building was sparkly clean, the roads were clear, and there was no sign of damage to any of the buildings for their looks. It felt wrong. "This place should be so full of life and bustling movement. Not what is happening." Tina looked up at him confused. She didn't understand as she took another bite of her food.

They found the center square as there was a bustling amount of people speaking in whispers. Astral nudged through slowly, lifting Tina to his shoulder as they navigated to the main stage. Astral stepped up to the stage as they all looked at him with gleaming eyes. Something about this entire planet feels off. Almost fabricated. These people deserve better. He will give them hope that it will become better.