District Imperja of course

Catherine steps over the bridge that spans over the diverging canal and connects the main street with the Imperja district. “Took you long enough.” Ulal, who stands in front of the towers main entrance, loudly laments. “This city is several kilometres wide.” Catherine defends herself as the carts with their stuff roll over the bridge behind her. “We can’t all be immortal super humans who transmute mountains for fun.”

Catherine has a closer look at her master as she steps closer. The Demonmagus looks worn out, strands of his grey hair have freed themselves of their confinement at the back of his head, huge dark rings lie under his eyes and his tongue seems to be less nimble than usual. “If you say so.” Ulal simply states and walks towards the newcomers, “Tarzana, so glad that you could make it.”

The cult leaderess closes her eyes for a bit longer than a standard blink. Then she looks Ulal in the face again. He still has a red eye and a long spinney tail. “So she told the truth. I can’t believe it.” She says and grabs Ulal’s extended hand to shake it. “Ah, Catherine already informed you about my change. That makes things easier.”

Catherine narrows her eyes, “I actually didn’t.” Tarzana shakes her head, “No, Asha herself told me. The Arch-Fiendess wanted me to find out why one of her Demonlords vanished. Hours later Hans told Kay everything and he then told me.” The Incubus servant waves as he hears his name before turning back to Analea and Aelana, who he is currently talking too.

“Fascinating.” Aclysia chimes in. “Let’s take this inside.” She tucks her arm under Ulal’s and guides him into the tower. Normally the Demonmagus would have tried to stay in control of the situation but from Aclysia he will allow such behaviour. “Zal, make sure everything gets stored correctly.” Catherine tells the servant before following the duo together with Tarzana and Meltzer.

They walk through a couple of doors until they enter a giant circular room. It has two levels, at the upper one are rows of seats for onlookers looking down unto a round, marble table that has a plan of the city laid into it with lines made of gold. Around it the table stand a number of luxurious chairs. One of them is particularly ornate though and Ulal sits down on it. “Welcome to the Roundtable.” He says, “Tarzana, I have much to do so I want to keep this short.”

The brunette nods to signal for Ulal to continue. “What you are currently standing in is not just a city. As you have probably guessed from all the runes this is one giant magical engine to be powered by the people living inside it.” Tarzana looks around, “You are saying it is absorbing my energy right now?” Ulal smiles weakly, “Yes, but not enough for you to be impaired by it.” Tarzana throws a small lance of ice to test that statement. “No, it doesn’t impair me. But to have a city as an enchantment…how many people will you need to get this running smoothly.”

“10.000.” Aclysia, to everyone’s surprise answers before Ulal can do. She studies the runes at the walls as she studied the runes on the way here, reading them as if they are an open book. “Provided a generally healthy population all the enchantments in the city could operate. Higher numbers would increase stability and reliability.”

Ulal slowly nods, “Yes that is the gist of it. To reach that I will need your help.” Tarzana raises and eyebrow and smirks, “Mine? What could a lowly Cult leader such as myself do to help you?” Ulal stands up, “I will give the Cult of Five a place where the worshipping of demons is completely legal, where everyone can practice alteration and summoning. I will even grant you or whoever in your Cult is more fitting a place on my council.” Ulal makes a big gesture towards the many empty chairs around the table. “In return I want all of you to come her. Every women, every men, every child. I grant you the chance to become a church but if I die, you die with me.”

Tarzana thinks for a moment. “KAY?” She shouts towards the entrance and the incubus enters. “Yes?” “Send a message through the demon realm to the other branch leaders and the Five Cardinals.” A big grin shows on Ulal’s face, “You agree, I take it?” Tarzana shrugs, “I don’t have the authority to order everybody here but this is a deal too good to pass on. If you fail the Cult of Five will vanish in the shadows again, with or without me.”

Ulal points at a chair to his right. “Welcome in my council then, Tarzana. You will lead the District Anjar, that is the eastern giant district.” Ulal shows her on the map that is laid into the table, “You can take your followers there and choose some houses you like. They currently have no furniture but as a fellow former cave dweller I think you will manage.”

Tarzana laughs, “I guess even you can’t have enough energy to make a whole city and everything inside it. Very well, I will return in two days around noon.” Ulal nods and Tarzana takes her leave. The Demonmagus turns to Meltzer. “You, take Glenn and his people and go to district Droy, which is the western one.” The treasurer agrees although he looks a bit amused by the name.

Soon Ulal is left only with Aclysia and Catherine. “Where is your quarter?” Aclysia wants to know. “At the top floor.” Ulal says and is surprised to find Aclysia embracing him in a soft hug. Her mouth at his ear she whispers, “It is only me and Catherine. You can sleep now.” Ulal doesn’t even want to ask how she knows as a week worth of sleep deprivation, hunger and exhaustion finally take their toll and the world fades to black.

Catherine watches as Aclysia heaves her master’s limb body on her back. “That was to be expected.” She drily says, “You know the plans of this building?” Aclysia asks. Catherine nods and signals Aclysia to follow her. They soon come across a circular staircase and get on the long way to the highest floor.

“I wonder what happened to the gemstone.” Catherine mumbles and takes a magical lamp of the wall. It is supposed to be part of the city circuit but with maybe seventy people in the city it isn’t working so she feeds it her own power as they climb the stairs.

“The exploding light.” Aclysia explains. “That was the gemstone. Its shards are scattered around the Wekgrond. It can be reassembled but it would be a work of millennia.” The immortal does not have the slightest problem following Catherine, even with Ulal on her back, her artificial body not feeling any fatigue.

“Mhm, would be easier to make a new one then.” Catherine says, “No.” A questioning look from Catherine later Aclysia continues, “Enchantments of this magnitude are impossible to replicate. It is already highly improbable it worked the first time. Complicated Enchantments normally go through a series of revisions. Thus nobody ever tried anything of this magnitude.”

“What you are saying is that we only got this city by chance and a replication is only possible if we are able to reassemble the gemstone.” Of course, the two don’t know about the lingering bit of Uklag’s ambition that made this miracle possible. Aclysia nods, “Positive. Note that it will explode on the next usage as well, enchanted jewels do that most of the time.”

Catherine sighs, ‘And here I was hoping of getting my own one of these one day. Well, maybe I can take this one over one day.’ They walk on in silence until they final arrive at the highest level. They enter a room with a giant window that shows the stretched out city and the plains beyond it. Inside the room with obsidian black walls stands an oaken desk with a comfortable chair.

Catherine and Aclysia however are much interest in the lonely throne that stands in the middle of the room. It is part of the obsidian floor and runes are set into it in very intricate patterns. Catherine walks over and lets her hand glide over the core of the city. Even with the few people they are the Focus Throne seems to bristle with energy.

“Intriguing but not of importance right now.” Aclysia comments, a bit of disapproval swinging in her calm voice, “Where is the bed?” Catherine hurries to show her the way and soon Aclysia enters the side chamber and lowers Ulal unto the mattress of the enormous bed. “How long do you think he will sleep for?” Catherine asks and yawns, the sight of a bed reminding her of her own sleepiness. “12 hours and about 30 minutes.” Aclysia says as she undresses Ulal, the many belts proving a bit of a challenge.

“A very precise estimate.” “Yes.” Catherine sighs and gives up her attempts at conversation. Instead, she strips out of her robes and joins Ulal in bed, “Well, I know how I will pass the time.” She mumbles and leaves Aclysia the sole conscious person in the room.

The Witch of the South finishes the task of undressing the Demonmagus and walks off afterwards. She has no need for rest herself as long as she gets charged with magical power from time to time and there is a lot in this city she wants to discover.

Aclysia walks down the stairs and makes a mental note to return in 12 hours, there is something that she wants to try out in her new body and from the looks of it Ulal has exactly the tool that she needs to do so.