"Despite multiple changes of regime, the city of Sabaya has remained the capital city for the Elmaiya Empire, no matter which iteration it was. Legend has it that the first empire started there, with the first emperor himself born where the Imperial Palace now stood.

The once tiny village, a mere collection of huts and hovels where people barely eked out a living, had transformed over the millenia into one of the largest cities in Ur-Teros, rivaled only by Tohrmutgent in the south and Al-Hassid in the north." - Excerpt from "History of the Elmaiya Empire, first to fifth" by Keisar Heroditus, circa 592 FP.

Near the eastern gates of Sabaya

Central Elmaiya.

Third Elmaiya Empire

4th day, 1st week, 3rd month, year 95 VA.

It was nearly a month later that the Ptolodeccan delegation got their first glimpse at Sabaya, the capital city of the empire, where the imperial palace stood. It was a grand city, one that Aideen thought would have been larger than Tohrmutgent prior to the current expansion, and on par with the current capital of Ptolodecca.

Another thing the delegation noticed was how the weather became warmer as they approached the imperial capital. Compared to Ptolodecca's temperate climate, the imperial heartland was downright tropical in climate, and the combination of heat and humidity had caused some discomfort for the unused delegation. Aideen excluded.

To Aideen's surprise, the therians from the empire had not seemed bothered in the least from the humid heat, likely because they were used to it. Even Artair looked perfectly comfortable with the heat, despite spending more than half of his last decade of life in Tohrmutgent.

As their carriages drew closer to the city in the afternoon, Aideen saw how many places on the thick walls surrounding the city still showed signs of recent damages, despite the civil war having ended a year or so ago.

"The walls had not been fixed?" she asked Illyvich, who sat across from her in the carriage. Artair was chatting with his sister beside her. "Pretty sure we received news of the civil war ending around a year ago."

"Not beyond the worst areas that had been breached, no," replied the therian man with a serious tone. He had grown closer and more accepting to her during the trip, no longer the cold stranger he was early on. "His majesty the Emperor insisted on prioritizing the damaged areas of the city first, so we only dealt with the breaches to make sure no wild beasts enter while we do so."

"A noble sentiment," replied Aideen with an understanding nod. From what she had seen of the emperor over the past month, he did seem to be the benevolent sort who cared deeply for his people. "I take it there's not much danger left from remnants of the defeated forces then?"

"Oh, those are still present here and there," admitted Illyvich with a little frown. "You probably know how hard it is to uproot such groups when they're determined to hide. That said, none of the remaining groups have the manpower or determination to go against the capital, since we keep it well garrisoned. Many of them have pretty much devolved to banditry by now, even."

"I am aware of the difficulties, yes," said Aideen as she recalled the "cleanup" that had taken place back at the former Junoran territory, and again after they retook Vitalica. The few diehard survivors of the enemy forces had caused trouble and annoyances for a few years until they were properly eradicated at last. "Good to see that the emperor is benevolent, at least. We hadn't known what our neighbor would be like after that civil war you've been through."

"Unlike short-sighted humans, we therians have those who live long, and remember," replied the therian man with his hands crossed over his chest. "Stories about how the Bone Lord demolished the first empire are still commonly told amongst our tribes, while the humans tried to sweep that bit of shameful history under the carpet instead. It is their folly to forget what history taught them."

As they talked, the carriages had entered the city by the eastern gates. The gates were normal ones, large wooden gates with a metal portcullis behind. It showed little signs of damage, so Aideen figured that during the civil war the attackers who took the capital must have entered from a different gate.

Inside the city, she saw a bustling crowd who walked to and fro, each on their own businesses. Unlike the Elmaiya empire she knew when she infiltrated, there were notably more therians around on the streets, while she also spotted goblins and orcs walking freely about.

The second empire had treated the humans as the highest of races, while the therians only got concessions due to their greater numbers. Goblins and orcs, who were minorities, were treated like slaves during those days.

Apparently the new emperor was one of those who viewed people as equal regardless of race, considering the changes. When she asked, Artair's father replied that in the current cabinet, there were even more ministers who were goblins and orcs than there were humans. Most people still had bad blood with the human-centric second dynasty, leading to such changes.

Aideen herself had noticed how the Elmaiyan delegation were all therians and humans. Apparently they were uncertain how Ptolodecca would view goblins and orcs, and had not brought any along to be safe. After their visit they naturally no longer had that worry, and amongst the Ptolodeccan delegation were a few goblins and orcs.

As if to further differentiate themselves, there were many, many young, broad-leafed trees planted in the capital. They gave citizens shade to take a respite from the heat, and enriched the city with some greenery to boot.

Another bit of curiosity that caught Aideen's eye was how the outer circles of the city - where civilians and merchants were housed - had been fully rebuilt by now, but deeper into the inner circle of the city, she saw many houses still being rebuilt, with the already built structures more like barracks for guards and far simpler houses than what most would expect for a district where nobles lived.

To her question, Illyvich laughed heartily before he replied that the nobility wanting luxuries were more of a human thing. Most therians lived rather frugal lives, even when they were the chiefs of their tribes. Those who had been nobles in the empire did learn the etiquette as was demanded of them, but now most of them cast it aside.

It was while they talked to pass the time that the carriage finally halted, and their driver informed them that they had arrived at the imperial palace.