Talentless

Emerald Councillor

          I was nine years old when Mother first took me to Eternalia. 

          She went into my room after her latest shopping trip and handed me my cloak. It smelled of fresh cinnamon, the standard scent for the latest season of products. 

          "Put on something nice," she said. "When you're done, I'll get the gnomes to help you with makeup." I grumbled, but got out of bed to rumage through my closet. Despite never being allowed outside, I had plenty of options to choose from. Mother always bought me some form of jewelry whenever she went out, and her hobby---or should I say, addiction?---for clothes never left me out of the picture. Maybe it was her way of telling me she cared a bit, and that was okay. I settled with a teal and white number without a single jewel on it. Probably the only plain one in the whole closet. 

          Semele saw me coming and frowned. "Lady Vacker would want you to look your best."

          "I am."

          "Then she didn't tell you where you're going."

          "She said Eternalia."

          Semele smiled, then whispered, "You're going to see the Councillors."

           The Council? Not that I had no respect for them, but the governors of the Lost Cities never seemed to have any importance other than the jewel-encrusted circlets on their heads. They were responsible for the entire Lost Cities, but seemed to be solely relied on Emissaries like Father. Bad matches. Talentless. You'd think silly injustices like that would be solved by now. Instead, I asked, "What for?"

          "Lady Vacker told me to keep it a secret. But it's a great honor, I'm sure." She studied my outfit, my posture. "Stick your arms out and stand up straight, please." I almost uttered the fact that I was and am very much lesbian, though I decided not to do that. Semele pinned my hair back in golden laurel wreaths. She added necklaces and clasps and a half-cape. I see what she's doing. Mother never liked the golden flecks in my teal eyes. Now that's all she's going to see. Her face was as sour as the shade of my dress when she saw me, but said nothing. I followed her to the Leapmaster. 

          Our island is located on what could possibly be the most remote location on Earth. Outside of the island are eternal deadly waves and human pollution. But, underneath the thin layer of force fields, plants grow and the sky is always blue, the sun rises and sets but night never truly falls. That's why the Leapmaster has cyan crystals. We own the only crystals capable of leaping through force fields, given by Councillor Fallon himself. 

          "ETERNALIA!" My last memory was of Father, staring at the cyan crystals almost in awe, before the world glittered away.

          The elvin capital was divided by a wide river lined with palm trees on each side. They were called Pures, I think, hundreds of feet tall and keeping the air fresh as a daisy. On one side was the legendary metropolis made of gemstone bricks, practically blinding from reflecting all that sunlight. There weren't a lot of people at high noon, possibly because of this reason, and it was relatively easy to walk along the Pures.

          We reached a golden gate by the last Pure. The river ended with a huge waterfall, plunging into clouds below. The gate itself was glowing like Elysium was behind it, guarded by two  goblins and their crazy swords. "Appointment?" 

          Glauce handed them her Imparter. They flipped to the back, pressed a few buttons, then handed it back with a nod. The gates opened to reveal a glowing bridge of white marble. It was plain compared to the crystal buildings lined to its sides, but engraved with the most intricate of carvings. A portrait of every Councillor ever, complete with their name in ancient runes (I was surprised to see just how many Vackers there were). At the other end of the bridge were the Councillors, each with their own little gemstone mansion. We passed one with pearls, one that was blue, white, black, red, stopping at one covered in emeralds. A Councillor with wavy brown hair answered the door.