Khalzin chuckled. “It is one of our oldest and most important structures. Our Coalition meets there. Our laws are created in that building. It is a very important location for our people.”
“Like I said. Important. And I knew what the name of it was.” She glanced at Janae. “Unlike other people.”
Janae laughed. “Well, when you don't expect to get selected, or even looked at, you don't really do much studying.”
“So where are we headed?” Stron asked.
“I thought we'd start with an overview, and then maybe go to Terra North?”
Stron nodded. “I think they'll like that.”
14
ADRYEL
Terra North surprised Adryel.
In a good way.
It showcased the Kantenan’s way of mixing their technology with the nature of the landscape. Buildings that were built into mountainsides, trees that held entire neighborhoods up. It truly was a breathtaking sight.
It gave everything a kind of care that Adryel hadn’t really seen on Trinity Alpha Prime. Everything there had just been built on top of the previous layer. Higher, bigger, and nicer. The lower levels had been darker, dank, and less new.
Less pretty or cared for.
This was different. It looked pretty all the way down.
She let her gaze follow a tower toward the surface, seeing how the tree branches and trunks wrapped into the buildings, like they’d grown in together, rather than anything built.
Organic technology, it almost seemed.
“It is quite beautiful,” Janae said.
They all were looking out, and a weird feeling tickled the back of Adryel’s neck.
She glanced around, casually at the view, then back over the platform. Just to see if anyone was staring.
Still, she didn’t see anyone. Though the feeling didn’t leave her.
It seemed almost secure, where they were.
Almost.
Thin atmosphere shielding protected them from the wind, and railings to keep anyone from toppling off. The difference in physical height between her and the Kantenans was amplified by the solid railing around the platform. The railing came almost to Janae and Adryel’s shoulders, and hitting the Kantenans just above their waists.
And these were beings who wanted to mate with them?
Humanoid or not, just the height difference alone made Adryel wonder if such a thing was possible.
She glanced at Stron, who wore a neutral expression. One of those faces that revealed nothing. She wondered if that was a product of his station—having to always seem disinterested in everything.
Or was he just that bored being here?
Their gazes met for a moment, but even then, she couldn’t determine his angle. Instead, she turned away and examined the lower levels.
More tree protected the buildings. And then below, it was all vegetation, thick and lush.
“And the lower levels? Where the greenery is? Is that all undeveloped? Like natural terrain?” She asked, gesturing to the bases of the trees, where the mountains started to jut up into the air. Like a fog of greenery at the base of the towers.
