The journey to the city was short, compared to the rest of their travels. In a few minutes, they stood before one of the transparent shafts, the only means of entrance for those who couldn’t fly. Flight was apparently restricted around the city environs, with only guards being able to do so. It was a security measure against the undead, some of whom still looked like normal Uthraki, and maintained their sanity.
Once the wagon preceding them was lifted up into the air by the invisible current, Jonathan and the others stepped in behind it. Gravity ceased to work, and they floated upwards, caught in the same stream as a thousand other people and vehicles. It was a slow ascent, letting them gaze at the many carvings that littered the rock of the city’s sides. Massive depictions of historical moments stretched for thousands of feet, showing the wars between the Uthraki and the undead. Every realm of Tartarus seemed to have a unique foe, prompted by the intrusion of the circle lords. Only the first layer was different, in that Granath had actually worked with the Uthraki, and then betrayed them, in lieu of attacking.
Regardless, the images were bold and left no room for imagination. A massive, armored figure fought skeletal dragons and titans in equal measure, while a benevolent Uthraki woman watched, a smile on her face as she showered gold coins down upon a mass of far smaller figures standing next to her feet.
By the time the ride was over, Jonathan had seen a dozen such murals, and was even more impressed by the strength of the governing faction here, assuming that it was all true, of course.
He stepped off gently onto a wide avenue, paved with what looked like gold. With a closer look, Jonathan observed that it actually was gold. However, at this level of power, such a metal would be chosen for aesthetics rather than value, as it was mere Tier 1 metal. Still, it tugged at the subconscious avarice of man, which Jonathan supposed was its purpose.
Each step clinked on the shimmering metal, and it seemed that some sort of energy field was in place to prevent the footsteps of those passing by from blemishing its surface. Otherwise, the relatively soft metal would have deformed from the pressure of a million footsteps, to say nothing about the heavily laden wagons that passed along the city’s streets every day.
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Another wagon rose up behind them, and Jonathan realized that he was standing in the middle of the road. There was a sidewalk to the side, where all of the pedestrians were. Some of them were looking at him strangely, though he wasn’t sure whether that was because he wasn’t an Uthraki, or because he was in the middle of the road.
A few quick steps took him and the others to safety, and it was only then that he realized Jarob was already waiting for them there, a look of exasperation on his face.
“Have you lot never been in a real city before?” He asked.
“Not like this,” Jonathan said. “It’s so bright that it all looks the same.”
“What, do you come from a place where the streets aren’t paved with gold?” Jarob scoffed, only to pause as he saw the expressions on the faces of those without helmets. “Oh…”
Jonathan nodded. “Yeah, this isn’t exactly normal.”
Jarob mumbled something under his breath, and continued walking, leading them deeper into the city. As Jonathan had observed before, few people carried weapons, and the ones that did were guards. The guards were all near the top of Tier 4, all powerful enough to deal with even Jonathan, if he didn’t go all out.
He received more than a few watchful glares from the guards, but they did nothing, seeing Jarob leading them. There was no other hostility on account of their species, with the Uthraki seeming content to mind their own business. Jonathan eventually realized why. The Universal Trading Hub was truly universal, a place where people from all corners of Telvaria came from to mingle, a place where even the Uthraki, locked away in Tartarus, would be able to interact with others.
“How many people use the Trading Hub?” Jonathan asked.
Jarob turned slightly, but kept walking. “It’s open to everyone, although the Queen takes a ten percent tax on all profits. Generously enough, she only taxes monetary sums. Natural treasures and the like are free game.”
“What do you say we visit the Trading Hub?” Jonathan said, this time to the rest of his party.
“After I deliver you to the Queen,” Jarob said firmly. “Then, you can wander the city as you see fit. Just, don’t cause any disturbances. Any responses to things like that will be heightened because of your species.”
