Chrysalis

The sack of the Silver City marked a point of no return in the great war. Though the ants turned back, and did not commit the final blow against the Child-Emperor, none within the Atreum Empire could ever tolerate peace from that moment onward.

I believe the Colony knew that. I believe they never intended for there to be peace in the first place. It was simply their way of letting the rest of us know the stakes they were playing for.

-Excerpt from 'Reflection on the Great War' by Gonvas

Smithant was in heaven, or hell, depending on the moment. Everywhere she looked, she was surrounded by fabulous metalwork that she didn't understand, which was good! On the other mandible, everywhere she looked, she was surrounded by fabulous metalwork that she didn't understand, which was bad….

"Reveal your secrets to me!" she demanded, staring at a rubbish receptacle.

"It's lucky the humans can't pick up what you're saying," Cobalt observed. "None of them would trade with us because of your babbling."

Smithant clacked her mandibles in irritation.

"Metal talks," she replied flatly. "By observing the patterns, the lines in the metal, the sound it makes when struck, there are a thousand ways to learn about it through observation."

"That doesn't mean you should go around threatening people's front steps."

Cobalt laid a sympathetic front leg on the back of her friend's carapace.

"You've been too lonely, haven't you?"

"Get off of me." The smithing expert shrugged off the leg, waving her antennae in irritation. "Stop being ridiculous and focus on what the Eldest asked us to do. We have a guide, let's make use of the time and get what we came for."

"Of course. Just stop yelling at the lampposts."

"Fine."

[Everything all right?] the brathian mage, Irisod asked.

[Yes, of course. Is it this way to the metalwork district?]

[Yes. This is Silver street, and just up ahead you can see where the district starts.]

Indeed, it wasn't that difficult to discern, due to the large, extravagant arch that crossed over the road. Smithant gazed up at it in awe. There were at least thirty different kinds of metal woven into the pattern, each expertly used to complement those around them. The level of artistry on display was staggering.

"I have to find out who was responsible for this work. I refuse to believe everyone in this city is capable of smithing at such a high level!"

Such a thing would be a blow to Smithant's pride. She knew she was younger than most of the smiths in the world, but she believed her love for metal and her dedication to the craft were second to none.

"Why don't we ask? Irisod can translate to the guide for us."

"Will they just tell us?"

"There's only one way to find out."

[We would like to ask if it's known who was responsible for creating the arch above us.]

[I'll ask.]

The three members of the trading group were under escort when moving around the city, as all ants were required to be. Not that the two ants felt threatened, their guide was an old lady who volunteered for the role, apparently.

She and Irisod exchanged words for a moment before the reply came through.

[It seems the majority of the public works in the Silver and Golden city were to some extent the work of the smith Gyllan. He was the lead smith commissioned by the Child-Emperor to construct the capital, along with the many sculptors and architects.]

She continued after a moment's thought.

[I probably could have told you that myself, but I wasn't certain. Gyllan is a legend, even to this day. The method he used to shape the Soul Silver and Heart Gold to create the twin cities died with him. I shouldn't be surprised that something like this was his work.]

The method was lost? Smithant slumped for a moment, all her enthusiasm gone. She was dying to know how it was done!

No matter, time to get moving. There was an entire district of metalwork to see.

Gathering herself, she followed Cobalt and Irisod under the arch and stepped into the district proper. Immediately, she felt at home. The roar of the forge, the ring of the hammer, the sound of singing steel all around her. It was just like being back in the workshop. Except there was less noise here. In the nest, there were thousands of forges running day and night.

There were many people in the street here on business, and many of the shops had displays out the front, or people talking constantly, appealing to the people passing by.

Plentiful noise, colour and light, which in Smithant's opinion, distracted from the purity of the craft. Though it appeared to get Irisod's attention.

[This is perhaps the best place in Pangera to come for metalwork of all kinds. It's famous, and can be extremely expensive,] she told them.

Smithant and Cobalt paused for a moment.

[Expensive in a way that's justified? Or not?]

They hadn't forgotten their previous trading experience. Paying more than a thing was worth went against their fundamental principles!

The mage looked at the two of them and sighed.

[The question of price is more nuanced than what you two seem willing to accept,] she began. [Prices are inflated on this street, because of the reputation that it has, and the number of customers willing to pay. There's no shortage of people in this city willing to pay high prices for good work.]

Smithant snapped her mandibles together.

[If we can get what we want somewhere else without paying more, then why wouldn't we do that? Inflated prices are inflated prices.]

[But they aren't inflated. Well, some of them are, but for the most part, this is what people in this city are willing to pay, so the prices are correct. It's all about the local market.]

The two ants waved their antennae as they considered.

"Let's just see what we can find," Cobalt suggested. "If we judge they are overcharging, we can look elsewhere."

"Fine," Smithant ground out, now eyeing the whole district with distrust. "This place better live up to its reputation. I don't want to have gotten all excited for nothing."

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