THE GRAND, GATED entrance to the Capitol did nothing to prepare Ravenna for the view of the actual city within.

The streets were paved with that special stone —a mixture of diamond and white marble that shimmered brightly in the sunlight. Surrounding buildings were constructed of a different type of stone, a stone that was sandier in color. The entrance lead to a massive marketplace, as most large cities had. The storefronts appeared to be constructed of water. The magic walls was clear enough that Ravenna could easily see the items that stocked the shelves. It stretched and moved around the various customers that wandered in and out of the store. Written in the clear, liquid-like wall were the names of the store. One read 'A Royal's Attire'. Several lifelike mannequins stood in front of the liquid wall, displaying elegant tunics and colorful robes laced with shimmering gold thread. Another store was labeled 'Sophie's Books' and it overflowed with book-filled shelves.

At the very center of the market, sat a fountain. The structure was unlike anything that she'd ever seen before. The base of the fountain was constructed of perfectly laid stone in the shape of a circle —the same diamond marble that comprised the streets. It was massive, almost the size of a pond that she could swim laps across. Five pillars stood erect in the center of the fountain, stretching high into the air, and high arches connected them. Standing on top of each pillar stood an immaculately carved statue of a woman. The five women wore long, flowing dresses that appeared to be made of silk rather than carved from stone. Each had a waterfall of curly hair tumbling down their backs. The stone women held their hands out, cupped together in front of them. Water poured from their palms, into the base of the fountain below.

"That's incredible," Ravenna murmured as Eoin lead her closer to the fountain.

Eoin agreed. "This fountain is older than the kingdom itself. It's said that the Originals stumbled upon it during their conquests and believed that the water had the ability to turn back time itself. They created this city so that they would never lose access to the fountain."

"There are a lot of stories surrounding the Originals," Ravenna commented. "There is so much ancient history here."

"Rightfully so," Eoin said. "This is the birthplace of our kingdom, after all.

Ravenna hummed and looked around. There were so many people walking around them, all strolling leisurely through the streets. No one seemed to be stressed or rushed. There was so much laughter and happiness, it was almost kind of sickening. None of the guards appeared to be patrolling the streets, either. They mostly lingered near the shop entrances, talking to each other and laughing merrily.

"Would you care to see the castle?" Eoin asked her, breaking her trance.

She glanced up at him, an eyebrow arched. "I would never say no to a prince," she answered slyly.

He rolled his eyes toward the sky, but his lips stretched around a pleased smile. Shaking his head, Eoin lead her forward, through the marketplace.

As they passed the fountain, Ravenna noticed a shift in the color of the stones. Faint tendrils of solid gold swirled across the shimmering white stones. The gold stones formed a pathway that lead across another smaller, decorated bridge.

On the other side of the bridge, nestled within the heart of the city, was the castle.

The entrance to the castle towered above them, stretched so high that the top of it was hidden within the clouds. Five towers stood on either side of the entrance, their pointed spires even taller than the entrance. Five sharply arched tympanums appeared above the portal. Each depicted a beautifully carved scene, much like the pillars from the bridge that lead into the city.

Ravenna found herself frozen, standing in front of the castle, her expression awestruck. Her gaze scanned over the front of the building, soaking up every single detail that she could process.

It was a lot to process.

Eoin stood beside her, his gaze glued to her expression. His lips were still parted around a small, warm smile. He seemed very pleased with her reaction.

"What do you think?" he asked her after a few minutes.

"I have never seen a building so massive," Ravenna admitted. She shook her head slightly. "Or so ornately decorated. It makes me wonder how it was built."

"It definitely required a bit of magic," Eoin told her with a chuckle. "Are you ready to go inside?"

She nodded. He lead her toward the portal, where five guards stood at attention. Their swords were sheathed at their sides and their helmets were drawn back, revealing their stern expressions. Each one lowered their head as Eoin and Ravenna passed.

The inside of the castle took Ravenna's breath away. The grand foyer was constructed of the same diamond-marble as the outside of the castle. A carpet of gold stretched across the floor, toward a wide double staircase that was covered in gold. Tapestries of gold and white hung from the walls, featuring a stitched version of the tympanum scenes that Ravenna had seen outside.

Eoin tugged on her arm, somehow managing to distract her from the architectural beauty that surrounded her. She unwillingly shifted her gaze to meet his.

Excitement glistened within his eyes.

"I want to show you something special," he said in a lowered voice. "Follow me."

She blinked and allowed him to guide her through the halls. Each hallway that they walked through appeared more extravagant than the last. Some were completely covered in beautiful, classical-styled art. Others were decorated with statues and shiny suits of armor.

After what felt like an eternity, Eoin stopped in front of a pair of ornately carved doors. The two soldiers who stood guard on either side of the doors reached out and pulled them open. Eoin lead Ravenna forward, through the door, and into an incomprehensibly beautiful garden.

Ravenna gasped and her hands immediately covered her mouth. "Oh my goodness," she whispered into her palms.

The garden housed the most color within the city. Vibrant blues, pinks, reds, yellows, and lilacs engulfed them. Brightly colored flowers were everywhere. Some towered above their heads, like trees, with petals that reached toward the earth, colored bright red and soft pink. Others were small, clustered together to cover the earth, colored pastel blue. A small path of stones separated the vegetation, blades of evergreen grass sprouting up between them.

It was almost overwhelming. Ravenna took a step inside, her head trying to process the beauty of the room. Above her head, the ceiling was painted, depicting a mirror replica of the flowers and vegetation that surrounded her.

Eoin beamed at her side. "What do you think?" he asked.

"This is incredible," she whispered.

He lead her further into the garden, following the stoned pathway. The vegetation opened up into a small, clearing-like space. A stone bench sat at the end of the pathway, facing another ornate fountain. This fountain was much smaller compared to the one she'd seen in the market. However it was still just as beautiful. The stone woman that stood in the center of the fountain wore a thin, silky dress and her hair styled in an elegant up-do. She had large, powerful feathered wings attached to her back.

Ravenna took a seat on the stone bench, her gaze focused on the statue in front of her. The woman's expression was soft and almost understanding. She gazed upward at the ceiling, her unseeing stone eyes providing a strange sense of comfort for Ravenna.

Eoin sat beside her. "This is my favorite place," he told her. "My mother used to read to me here when I was younger. Very few people are permitted entrance to this garden. It has always been a safe space for me."

"This is so wonderful," she told him, earnestly.

His smile was blinding. "I am glad that you like it."

Her gaze traveled around the room again, slowly examining the life that blossomed around them, and she mulled over her next steps. She had to tread carefully —she wanted Eoin to fall for her. She needed him to allow her to stay in the castle, or at least have access to it.

Desperate times called for desperate measures.

Tears brimmed at the corners of her eyes. She fought the urge to wipe them away, allowing the tears to trickle down her cheeks.

Eoin noticed instantly. He straightened, a panicked expression on his face. "Ravenna, what's wrong?"

She blinked and turned her gaze to him. She hoped her expression came across as somber. "It is so easy to forget reality while cocooned in such beauty," she said softly. "I wish I could just escape all of the fighting."

It wasn't a complete lie. The constant running, the stress of potential discovery, and the fighting —it was starting to tear at her soul.

His expression softened. He hesitantly reached out, his palm cupping her cheek. "I promise you. As long as I am alive, no harm will come to you."

That wasn't exactly what she wanted.

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