Brinyos smiled. "That, my friend, is the arena. Had we arrived a little earlier today, you might have seen some horse races there. As I said, the Emperor loves horses, and he loves horse racing."
The arrangement of these exquisite buildings and gardens was dazzling. The inner courtyard itself was far larger than the entire expanse of London City, and faced with so many walls and buildings, the men quickly lost their bearings.
The party continued on, passing through one gate after another—too many to count.
Eric, however, noticed subtle details; the Grand Palace, beneath its resplendent surface, was in decay.
Despite its magnificence, the palace complex carried an air of fatigue—as if beneath the luxurious facade, the buildings themselves seemed old, weary, and sad; their original glory was now but a fading glimmer.
