Massive houses with massive, pointed roofs…Lining massive roads that spiral around a massive castle…Guarded by massive walls, crowned with massive cathedrals on every corner…Near a massive Golden Hall, standing in the shadow of a massive statue —the Great Queen.
All of it towers, vast and shining —projecting their colossal presence onto the considerably small eyes of a boy with one thing burning inside him:
Massive determination.
Xitij has arrived. At Ardovale.
His eyes flicker with awe. His feet barely move. "I can't believe I was here before… What miracle has Mr. Chinum done!?"
He stumbles forward, dizzy from grandeur. At the city gates, two Valean guards — clad in iron-crimson cloaks — halt him.
"Silver pass?" one asks, his voice low and formal.
Xitij fumbles, shoves his left hand into his right pocket… and pulls out something.
A Golden Ticket — crumpled, creased, and completely legitimate.
The guards pause. Eyes wide. Jaws tighter.
Xitij thinks to himself :
"Now they must be MASS—"
—the narrative cuts him off.
(Massively is now a protected term in Ardovale, due to overuse.)
The guards exchange a silent nod and step aside. One mutters, "Golden…" under his breath as the gates part like a curtain for the unexpected.
Inside the city, amidst the buzz of preparation and proud trumpet songs, the boy's stunned pace breaks into something looser — lighter.
A voice calls out.
"Xitij?"
He turns. His jaw drops.
A girl — chestnut hair tied into two small buns, her stride light as falling snow. Soft green eyes. A smile that melts without trying.
Yelena. His childhood friend from the winter peaks of Rōwhenua, now inexplicably here.
"TAG!" she grins, and slaps his shoulder. In an instant, she darts off down the paved road, laughing like bells in spring.
Xitij lets out a confused, helpless sound as his bag swings and feet flail.
"Tail between my legs again," he mutters, as he launches after her.
The game begins — and the city, vast and eternal, becomes a playground.