Chapter 23 THE KINGDOM OF AVALON
A great city stood like a fortress beneath the blazing hot sun.
Tall walls encircled it, thick and ancient, yet they shone as if waxed everyday. Watchtowers rose at intervals along the battlements where guards clad in beast armor stood with weapons , their eyes sharp, as if expecting a war to break out.
Outside the colossal city gates, travellers from a restless line , merchants with carts and wagons full of goods, adventurers returning from quests, farmers hoping to sell their harvest before nightfall.
Inside, the city roared with life and vitality .
The streets twisted through crowded districts filled with merchants shouting prices, smiths hammering iron, and horses pulling wagons.
Wooden houses lean over the narrow roads, with chimneys carrying the smell of roasted meat, burning coals and others.
The grand market square was the heart of this Tier one city.
Colorful tents filled the plaza while traders displayed rare and expensive merchandise, shiny blades, carved ornaments from beast hides and bones, and strange relics brought from distant kingdoms and cities.
Above all, one structure stood tall and mighty, the Guild Hall.
Built like a cathedral with towering spires and towers, the center base for Adventurers.
Of course the cathedral wasn't the only tall structure.
At the far end of the city, a massive castle stood, casting it's shadow on the world. It's structure was like an impenetrable fortress planted to ground.
This castle....was Avalon Academy, know for its status in training the best Beast Masters.
Outside the city, distanced away from the walls, stood a tall hill, surrounded by a large body of water. And on that hill, a towering magnificent castle stood strong, casting an oppressing gaze at the city, like a dark beast watching over the affairs of the city.
Its massive stone walls were thick enough to withstand seiges for months. Built with rare minerals and ancient beasts bones from centuries long.
Four towering watchtowers rose at the corners of the castle, each crowned with fluttering banners bearing the royal crest, an insignia of a black dragon's head. From these towers.
The great body of water reflected the towering walls like a mirror, and the only way to get to the castle was to cross the wooded drawbridge reinforced with metal chains and beast crystals.
Beyond the drawbridge stood the Great Gate, an enormous iron-banded door protected by a spiked portcullis. Soldiers in polished beast armor stood watch day and night, their weapons gleaming under the torchlight.
Inside the castle walls lay a vast courtyard alive with activity. Knights trained with swords and spirit energy while squires ran errands between the stables and the armory. The sound of clashing steel echoed as warriors practiced beneath the watchful eyes of veteran commanders.
At the center of the citadel stood the Great Keep, the heart of the castle and the tallest structure within its walls. Its high windows glowed warmly at night, and inside its halls hung ancient banners, battle-worn shields, and portraits of past kings and queens 👑
The throne room was vast and intimidating. Stone pillars rose like giant trees toward a vaulted ceiling, and long banners hung between them.
At the far end of the hall stood a throne carved from black stone and design with precious gems and stones, elevated upon a wide platform.
From that throne, rulers had commanded armies, declared wars, and shaped the fate of the kingdom, for better, for worse.
**
This was the Kingdom of Avalon, the first kingdom in the known continent.
And Avalon, had just welcomed it's new recruits.
TBC