A Hotel Without Time

Uns Wyuscu

When Adylastrya was discovered by the world, it took the news by storm. People freaked out and others sat before their TV screens just watching the first video footage of this land. No one knew how how an island of that size could ever escape notice for so long. Satellites had taken footage from space of our planet and never once was the large island, about half the size of Australia, was not seen. However, there it was against all fact, right there. Of course, scientists and historians immediately jumped to figuring out how it just suddenly appeared. Scientists got nothing and historians argued that this place was actually Atlantis, despite it being in the wrong location. In the end, no one had a clue.
One of the biggest excitements about it was not just its unnatural biomes that went against science. The island was just a little south of the equator, yet the place had a mountainous biome that was cold and snowy all year around, then a little further down the weather was warm all year around. Though, while this was exciting, it was the fact that there was a whole society on the island. Never before seen. That was the most exciting part for just about every person around the world.
Scientists went first to the island. The government, of course, trying to figure out still what was going on and if these people were safe. They were. Talks opened up immediately with them and they helped and told the scientists all about their kingdom, allowing them to take pictures. This they found fascinating as they were not yet advanced enough in technology to make such a thing. Their level of technology could be described as medieval level. Although, there were some great feats in architecture that we had not even accomplished and some, at least, not capable in that time period. Their cultures was beautiful and very different. The styles of clothing, architecture, art, etc. were some that was incredibly beautiful. It was otherworldly to see. They were human but at the same time not.
They were ruled by a king named Arcays Vayle, which they pronounced the first name as Ar-kay-is and the last name as Vae-leh. He had advisors, nobles, soldiers, and even a highly elite group of guards known as the Sentinels. Upon seeing them on TV, she could only describe them as being incredibly intimidating and quite terrifying. However, she could not help to find them intriguing, as well, and awesome. They wore leather armor in the colors of black and blood red. Each one carried a different weapon, some having battle axes, others swords, others bows, and etc. She was hoping to see one while in Adylastrya, but it was highly unlikely. She had looked there numbers up and found that they only have forty-six active members and about thirty-one instructors. So, she found that the likeliness of seeing them would only be in their capital and then maybe if some were on the outer walls of the palace. At this time, no foreigner was allowed in their palace and not many were granted into their capital. While friendly, they were still playing it safe. Despite this, all visitors were allowed to visit anywhere else even their military city of Khagron. She personally was interested in visiting that city for it was where the Sentinels' headquarters was.
Tylie was pulled out of her excited pondering by the warning sound of the boat horn as it announced their arrival. With eagerness, she stashed the pamphlet describing the place in her pocket and stood up to walk to the main deck, where everyone would be exiting off the side. Others were doing the same and she had to work her way through them and down the stairs from the second floor where the observation deck is. At the main deck, she found that everyone was being ordered into a line and she got into her place, more than wishing she could just run off now. She could see some of the island from her standing, the bright green of the island's foliage against the bright blue sky. Even buildings were pushing towards the sky and within view. It was a spectacle. The buildings were cream and white in color, made out of a material that looked smooth as silk. The tallest of the buildings reached three stories to five. While others stayed as one story. They were docking in the city of Wael on the eastern coastline. It was one of the inhabitants biggest cities, rivalled only by the capital and Khagron.
She heard men yelling commands at one another. Soon enough, she felt the jolt of the boat coming to a full stop and heard as the ramp made contact with the wooden dock that stretched out to meet them.
"Everyone! Please file off in a mannerly order and walk to land. There you will be met with your trip advisor, whom will help you get situated and on your way. Thank you!" And with that, everyone began walking off the boat and into the bright sunlight that cascaded down on them. It had been five months since travel was allowed for people to visit the land of Adylastrya. She immediately took the opportunity to come as fast as she can and it wasn't lost on her how special it was for her to be part of some of the first waves of people to visit this place. It was incredibly unique.
She stopped at the end of the dock and just stood there watching all before her. The city was filled with natives meandering about on their business, talking, eating, fishing, some were even watching them. No doubt they were as fascinated with us as we were of them. One could tell who was a native and who wasn't so easily. For one, jeans were a foreign concept here. So was khakis, sunglasses, and sunscreen. However, the natives they looked like something right out of a fantasy novel. The women had long and gorgeous hair, some cascading down their backs and others had it braided in unique styles. They also wore form fitting leather pants with light fabric shirts, like the men, or had on dresses made out of silk. Some wore shorts for getting in the water. Most of the men had beards, ranging from just stubble to full long beards. Their hair was either down to their shoulders and some had their hair short or shaved. They all wore leather pants with light fabric shirts and some had on leather jackets on top.
One of the women she had been admiring for her beauty came walking up to her. She had dark, chocolate brown hair that was braided into very fine and small braids. Some were pulled up while others fell down and over her shoulders. She had olive colored skin with almond shaped eyes, in which her eyes were the color of emeralds. Her face was all sharp curves and she had stuck on small jewels about her eyes and her lips were colored red. She wore one of the white, elegant, and sweeping silk dresses, that she had been seeing others wear, and gold-colored sandals. She was completely gorgeous.
"You must be Tylie Kimair. My name is Kyrela." Her accent was so deep and very singsong in sound. It was just as beautiful as she was. Tylie had heard the accent before in recordings and found herself wishing she had that accent. However, it was this subculture of the Daoyn Sydhe that had an accent that she found to be the most amazingly gorgeous of all. Too bad the subculture was practically extinct, she would have loved to meet one.
Kyrela smiled down at her, cause unfortunately, she was smaller than most of the natives here. Kyrela had to be six feet in height. While Tylie was tall for a woman, she wasn't that tall. She reached five feet and ten inches.
"Hi, yes. That's me." She chuckled. "However, you could just call me Tylie. No need for last names." She smiled back.
"Well, Tylie, I am here to help you get transport to the hotel of your choosing. Have you chosen one?" The woman seemed pleasantly cheery. Tylie immediately found herself liking her.
"Yes. I wanted to stay at the, uh... Lersa Sofirah? I hear it is one of the oldest hotels in Adylastrya. Thought it would be a wonderful experience. Plus, it is in the center of the island, which would allow me easy travels to places. I assume?"
Kyrela chuckled at her pronunciation. She knew she had to have messed it up.
"Lyrsa Saufira." Kyrela corrected, pronounced it as Lir-sah Sah-oo-feer-ah. At least she had the first name basically right.
They had begun walking, to where she had no clue, but it seemed Kyrela had a destination in mind. They walked down the streets made of stone and passed others who hurried about their day. There was a few restaurants and clothing stores, she spotted on her walk.
"Ah, yes. That has become a famous one for you outlanders. I can definitely find you a carriage to take you there."
"A carriage?" The question was out before she could stop her stupid self. Of course, transport was a carriage. These people hadn't made cars yet.
Kyrela looked at her with a perplexed appearance. "Yes, of course. What else would you ride in? Unless you prefer horseback?" Her question was sincere.
"No, no. Sorry. I'm quite good with carriage." Tylie immediately tried to amend.
"Great! If you give me one second, I have tracked down a carriage for you and just need to ask the chauffeur if he would be willing to take you there. Kyrela walked off a few feet away and stopped beside a man dressed in professional attire of trousers, white shirt, and a black jacket. They talked for a bit and then Kyrela turned and came back to her, the man following shortly behind with a smile on his face.
"Hinlyr has agreed to take you to the Lyrsa Saufira in Anewell. He will help you with your bags and take you on your way, Tylie."
"Will you be leaving now?" She asked Kyrela. She felt slightly sad over the fact that their time was so short. She was the first native she ever met and had hoped to get to know her.
"Sadly, I must. I have others that need tending to."
"I understand. Thank you so much!" She should give the woman a hug, but had no clue if that was socially acceptable here. She was going to need to read up a bit more on that. She had focused primarily all her research on the land, the royalty, and the Sentinels.
The man approached her, he looked to be in his mid forties and had stubble about his face and his hair, which was black was gathered into a loose ponytail that fell on his shoulders.
Smiling, he said, "Hello, Lady Tylie. My name is Hynlir Makairt. May I put your bags in the back?"
She nodded graciously and handed them over to his outstretched arms. "Thank you. It is nice to meet you, Hynlir. I am excited to get to see more of your kingdom."
The man packed her bags and moved around to the side, where he opened a half-door. "You have lots to see, Lady Tylie. I hope you enjoy all of it." She was not used to being given the title of lady, but she sure was enjoying it. Felt like she had been taken back in time.
She walked over and stepped into the carriage. She had never rode in one and found it to be pretty exciting in it's own right. The inside had fabric about its walls and floor, the floor being white and the walls red. Her seats were a combination of the two that had taken on simple patterns and added a splash of blue. It was comfortable.
"You enjoy the ride. There are refreshments in that compartment. It will take half the day to get there, so if you get hungry fear not in eating something out of there." He informed her and climbed up into the driver's seat. If there was a proper term for that, she had no clue.
With a "Ha!" and the sound of a whip, the horses began moving forwards and Tylie watched as she passed through the city of stone and marble and into the grassy lands beyond. In the distance ahead, looked to be the swamp that she saw on the map. It cut all the way down the middle of the island and in order to get where she was going, they had to pass through it. On the other side was Anewell, Jirith, Khagron, and the capital. All the places she was excited to see.
Oh, this was going to be an adventure of a lifetime.