Calan - The Immortality Paradox

Chapter Eleven: The Queen of New Avalon, Part One

Date: 216, OA19,654

Location: Camelot, New Avalon, Kray System

Stone, stone and more stone. The Royal Citadel was full of it. Granite, slate, limestone, marble and all manner of quartz-based materials. Cobblestone or flagstone. The city was breathing in stone. Every edifice, every boundary wall and every alley had been painstakingly assembled from...stone.

Liúlàng Zhě was not one to criticise the stylistic choices of an entire Human civilisation, but despite the natural permanence produced by the stone's eroded appearance, the material itself had a frailty beyond its owners' conviction. As she wheeled her way around the city - newly equipped with a remote control system powered by solar cells - she periodically examined the structural integrity. Onlookers watched with vague apprehension as she tapped here and there at various segments of the citadel wall, sometimes scanning with her ultrasound device. Every now and then she'd sigh.

The citizens of Avalon remained untamed with regards to their new visitor's strangeness. They maintained an unspoken consensus that whilst she was not wholly dangerous enough to rout out of their city, caution was still advised. Zhě expected nothing less than flagrant aversion. Total isolation had a way of bringing out the xenophobia in a community. There was mild curiosity as well, but ultimately the Avalonians wanted nothing more than to see normality restored to their quaint, primitive lives. In their lavish, impractical garments, they often scurried into their homestead, or attempted to avoid her gaze altogether. Some had even considered delivering an eviction petition to the Queen's Legislature, although despite their vociferous concerns, no one was courageous enough to make the journey up to Camelot's (stone) gatehouse.

Following their entertaining conversation, Creditmaster Trystan Oakes had seemingly disappeared from the face of New Avalon. It had been over a week, and the only correspondence had been a curt message written extravagantly in black ink informing her that she had received permission from the Queen to have the full privilege of the Citadel's amenities outside Camelot. More care had been taken in the calligraphy of the message rather than its content. Zhě took full advantage of permission however and had practically explored all there was to see in a few days. Gardens of tree orchards, market stalls spanning the length of a concourse and sprawling catacombs reaching as far as the foot of the mound on which the citadel was perched. She took the time to appraise the often resplendent, yet unavailing features of the bygone fortification. In contrast to her homeland, she felt as though she'd entered an historical theme park populated by dramatic actors and a host of authentic set pieces.

Nevertheless, if she was to safeguard the entirety of the city from foreign attackers, she needed access everywhere; including the imposing fortress, Camelot. Based on the citizens' disinclination, it seemed the castle was more than its magisterial exterior. Zhě surmised that this was nothing to do with fear, but more related to sacred respect. The structure held more than their monarchy. The Draconian had more sense than to go against local traditions, no matter how ludicrous they were. Her mission for the Empress was paramount; she wouldn't allow her determination to jeopardise the already strained relationship. So instead of wasting her time away in her surprisingly hospitable apartment, she intended to implement her operation on a smaller scale.

It was a beautifully mild day as she followed the market concourse towards the castle. The weather was almost always mild in this unbearably peaceful place. Thin clouds had gathered and the diffracted sunlight bathed the stone city in an unremarkable grey. She took a left around to an ecclesiastical structure facing east; if her longitudinal calculations were accurate. Conveniently, she'd heard the locals refer to it as the Church of Annwn, a place of holy worship for their numerous legendary Gods. Despite her reservations towards the pointlessness of the local architecture, she could not deny the beauty. The complicated tower alone was a mark of their grand craftsmanship. Stone and glasswork mingling to form a splendid belfry below a conical spire. At its height, Zhě imagined that it had full panorama over the northern part of the city and as far as the wilderness beyond. The turrets of Camelot were only slightly taller from her parallactic perspective. Perhaps because of its religious significance, the Draconian was reminded of her own monastery back home on Hoàng Mai. Instilling peace and tranquility in the neighbourhood.