Canlanma Street Level, Story 7

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Story 7

   I get my gilded invitation in my mail. At first, I wasn't sure how to respond. The paper feels heavy in my hands as I read the poetic calligraphy again: 

Catalin Ryba,

I hope this invitation finds you in a good state of being. 

I am informed that you have shown an adventurous mindset during your schooling in Eulim and your training with Drake, one of the local potionmasters. After gathering more information about you, I have decided to extend an invitation to live in Caelum. 

You will be taking the status of Most Adventurous from Elder Tiberius Bane. If you would like to bring a companion with you, please let us know as soon as possible.

I look forward to your arrival.

King Zoticus and The Creator

  I shake in anticipation. I quickly write back to them and notify them to add my companion Ari to my records. As soon as I send that, I pack up my things and leave to share my news with Ari. I know that everyone will hear my news once I arrive in Caelum. Ari finishes packing the next day and we whisk ourselves off to Caelum in a private train car. We don't have a lot of mikopo to spend, but this train car was an unexpected gift. 

  King Zoticus meets us at the Caelum Transportation building with a small group of two Protectors, a small white Fennec fox on his shoulders, and a dog-duck hybrid flicking through a fancy Inane on his arm. If Ari and I each had one of those, we wouldn't have all the bags around our feet. King Zoticus smiles and greets us, "Welcome. I see that the ride was pleasant for you both.

  "Thanks to your generosity, yes." I smile back. Ari grins and nods respectfully.

  "That is good. Let me take your bags while we take a quick tour of Caelum." The King taps something behind his right ear and a holographic grid appears over our bags. The grid appears to scan our bags and teleport them into what is obviously his Inane behind his ear. I didn't know Inanes could come in so many forms! Ari and I give a thankful nod. We join the group in a tour. We stop in the weather-protected food and shopping districts to see all of the wonderful shops and stalls where we can spend our mikopo when we get the chance. We pass by the walls of the Caelum castle where the Caelum Royals live. I thought the King lived here, but he corrected me and said that he lived elsewhere alongside the Royals' Crown of Canlanma and the Creator. Ari rolls his eyes when the King can't see him; he always found a ruling party to rule over ruling parties was a little silly. I pat his shoulder and we continue to the homes of all the celebrities. Each was a city block wide and perfectly surrounded by a sound shield to block out the noise of the rest of the city if we needed it. We came to one that looked like it was taken out of our dreams. It was essentially a miniature Caelum castle with a small garden in the back. "This is your new home, Mr. Ryba. Shall I store your belongings in there for now?"

  "If you could, yes please." I grin. The King taps his Inane again. I assume our bags are inside. "Now, as you have seen, there are a lot of things here that we have seen and left you to discover. Just keep in mind there are the best Spymasters and Protectors here." We smile as the group shares a semi-awkward chuckle. "On a lighter topic, you also have a small airship at your disposal. It is meant to be manned by up to four entities with room for eight, thanks to the Creator." The Fennec fox on the King's shoulders flicks an ear at the sound of the last word. "You also have your own psychologist-focused -"

  "Quackologist, sir." The dog-duck hybrid corrects as they put their Inane down. "My specialty is in Quackology." He gives us a wink. 

  King Zoticus sighs. "This is Healer Deryn. His specialty is in -Quackology. He will be your household's personal therapist and doctor if you need his services. He will be available at any time once we give you both your Inanes." He turns to Healer Deryn. "Please stay with them until they go to the Sanctuary for their Inanes and setting meal with us later this evening." The Healer nods and the King returns his attention to us. "I must leave to attend to some other meetings, unfortunately. Farewell, Mr. Ryba."

  "Farewell, King Zoticus." I bow with Ari and Healer Deryn. "Thank you for the new adventure."

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