Next, Westheid was pulled along by the girl toward the bustling urban center of the Crimson Throne. Wan Qi acted just like a local... 'Oh, right, she *is* a local here. Never mind.'
In stark contrast to the true Xuli of ancient times, the Crimson Throne wasn't a hardened military fortress, but a metropolis of boundless luxury and pleasure.
Neon-drenched commercial streets were everywhere. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but extreme prosperity, with megastructures so grand they left one speechless towering into the sky.
The girl, a singer in full disguise, led Westheid by the hand through the streets and alleys of the grand city, reveling in the lively, human warmth that washed over them.
She had him sample street food, sometimes feeding him little snacks, other times having him feed her.
"Ahh—open wide."
"The ice cream in this part of the city is especially good. Come on, try some!"
"The sparkling water at that shop is amazing! We've been there before."
