Sara, the girl I assumed to be an elf, walked us down several long stone corridors and stairwells. I really wanted to know, but that would be rude to just ask wouldn’t it?

Who knows what cultures and cultural norms exist in this world. I don’t want to accidentally insult someone.

The hallways were decorated with paintings and sculptures. The stone walls and sheer size of the building suited the idea of this being a palace. In which case had we been summoned to the great hall or some lesser hall?

Out the window I noted several structures befitting a medieval style castle.

Neither Bella nor I really paid much attention to the art on the walls or views from the windows. I was focused on Sara and the whole idea of being in a fantasy realm. Bella, as I found out later was focused on the death of Laeanna.

We ended up leaving the building completely and entering a large bailey filled with training areas, stables, and various smaller buildings. That being said the larger buildings surrounding the bailey were enormous and the ramparts beyond them were even larger. The scale was a testament to their level of engineering and skill with masonry.

But that we weren’t lodged in the same building as the summoning made me wonder just how diversified the accommodations were. Perhaps we would be housed in a barracks. After all, heroes are basically just soldiers for the nation. At best we would likely get some dormitory-style accommodations.

Sara led us to a wide building. Almost like a mansion if I was being honest. It had four above ground floors and spanned at least three hundred feet. It was larger than my college dormitory building and despite the rectangular dimensions, the intricacy of the stonework elevated this to a building owned by royalty.

The entire structure had a two-toned stone construction, consisting of a slightly red stone accentuated against a whitewashed stone structure. Intricately scrolled capitals carved of the whitewashed stone lay atop large green stone pillars. A bead-and-reel atop Acanthus leaves.

We walked up the few steps to the main entrance. A large archway supported by double columns over a long building-wide portico. Once inside, the grandeur just kept going. The foyer was built of dark woods and red marble. A swooping set of stairs leading to the second-floor balcony which overlooked the giant foyer.

A great chandelier filled with red and clear crystals hung over a central crest inlayed in the floor. What I assumed to be the royal crest. There were too many details to even pick out, but it was basically a shield crest with varying creatures placed throughout surrounded by two large dragons curling around.

I felt small walking into a room like this. And that was probably the point.

“The guest quarters are this way,” Sara said, leading us up the stairs.

Despite the enormity of the building there were only four doors on the second floor. Each was a heavy dark wooden double door.

Sara led us to the room at the far left first, indicating it would belong to Bella. The room was as enormous as I would have guessed. Compared to the dorm room I had been staying in it was unthinkably large. With ornate paintings, a cloth covered canopy bed, its own sitting area and what appeared to be adjoining rooms, I could hardly believe the luxury. I also couldn’t wait to see my room.

“Your clothes have been laid out,” Sara said motioning to a regal looking dress laid across the bed.

“Clothes?” Bella asked.

“For the banquet,” Sara explained.

Bella went about checking her room as Sara beckoned me toward my room.

On the far right of the second-floor hallway, my room was a mirror of Bella’s. Right down to a set of men’s clothing laid out on the bed.

“Wait, even the gods didn’t know there were going to be two of us. Why did you prepare two rooms with two sets of clothing?”

Sara looked visibly confused. “We were not sure if the hero would be male or female so we prepared a room for either.”

I guess that made sense.

“If you need anything you may ring for a servant,” Sara explained, highlighting a rope by the door. “An attendant will arrive in roughly two hours to summon you for the royal banquet.”

I couldn’t believe they would be holding a banquet right after their daughter died. Perhaps that was a difference in the culture of this land or a matter of being royalty, but it seemed improper to me.

With a bow, Sara left as Bella entered my room. We stood silently for some time in my room just staring.

“This is unbelievable,” she said breaking the silence. “These rooms, they are just…amazing.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Clearly designed to demonstrate the wealth and power of the kingdom. You can tell from the –”

“Don’t ruin this for me, Elliot,” Bella said. “You don’t need to over analyze every little detail. Just take in the magnificence of it all, okay.”

Resting in my sitting area, Bella and I discussed our circumstances.

Bella started by talking about Thoth. She asked if she missed anything else important while she was changing. I decided not to tell her about nearly sacrificing my life or that giving me a boost was apparently quite dangerous. I did tell her that Thoth told me she would have died had he not done what he did. So that she too could be appropriately grateful to the bird-headed god.

The conversation then drifted to Ulla and the differences between the two gods. We talked about the blessings she gave us and how best to use them from now on. I was at a bit of a loss for using the traits I acquired. I could basically study faster than other people. I thought about trying to become a mage and learn magic, but without any affinities I wouldn’t be able to actually use any magic skills even if I learned them.

I knew that the study trait could help me improve my basic affinities though, so I wondered if it could be used to help me acquire affinities too. I would have to ask someone who has the same trait.

Then the conversation went to the members of the royal family. We discussed the tragedy of the princess’ death, the threat the younger princess had made and the actions of the prince and King.

Bella was understandably shaken by the fact that she could not save the princess’ life. I did my best to comfort her. It was not her fault. She did everything she could. It was just too late. Even so she couldn’t help but wonder if there was anything else she could have done. Especially given her new abilities.

My concerns were focused on the younger princess. That amount of rage, understandable though it may be, was directed straight at the two of us. What if she tried to do something? Would we be safe in the palace guest house?

Time flew by before we knew it. We decided to get dressed before we ran out of time.

Bella returned to her room. I looked over my new attire. A white shirt and swallowtail suitcoat with black pants. Red decorative embroidery covered the suit coat and a red pinstripe down the pant leg.

It fit surprisingly well considering.

Soon after I dressed, there was a knock at the door.

“You have been summoned by the royal family to the great hall,” Sara announced as I opened the door in my new clothing.

It was time.