Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 144277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 721(@200wpm)___ 577(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 721(@200wpm)___ 577(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
I skip a little to catch up and leave the shock of unsettling sameness behind at the tower doors.
Because I like that it’s almost exactly like Tau City. At least it’ll be easy to navigate. Because right now we’re strolling what appears to be the Canal District shops. And even though the fashions on the other side of the windows are not anything I’ve ever seen before at home, these shops are. The canal is. The beaches.
I fit in here. Even in this somewhat inappropriate sexy dress that shows the front of my legs from mid-thigh down.
“Here it is,” Finn says, pointing the PPD up at the building we’re now in front of.
We both look up, because it’s a massively tall tower. In fact, it’s the Mayor’s Tower. Not as tall as the God’s Tower or the Extraction Tower, but definitely taller than the Maiden Tower.
“Look.” Finn points to the brass plaque over the doors—which don’t have handles and open and close all on their own as people approach. “The Provost Tower.”
“What’s a provost?”
Finn shrugs. “Hell if I know. But who cares? Let’s eat. This thing says our restaurant is on the top floor.”
We both look up. Waaay up. Then smile at each other. “Should be some view.”
“Come on,” he says. And we walk through the doors that open automatically when we approach.
There’s an elevator here, which is something I recognize, at least, and we take it all the way up. Dreaming, perhaps, about what will be on the other side of the doors when we step out.
But when we actually do that, nothing has prepared me for what I see.
Finn, either, from his silence as we walk over to the floor-to-ceiling windows and peer out.
“Holy shit,” Finn says. “What is all that?” He’s pointing to the sprawling city that covers every bit of desert as far as the eye can see.
“It’s a… city? I think.”
“It must be,” Finn says. “But it doesn’t look like any city I’ve ever seen.”
“What is it made of? Glass?”
“I don’t know. It’s shiny, though, right?”
“It’s like a mirror,” I say. “You can see the whole sunset in them.”
“There must be hundreds,” Finn says.
I jump when his PPD beeps and starts talking! "Welcome to the Grand Sprawl, the seamless urban expanse connecting Rho and Xi—two of the most advanced and exclusive cities in the known world, into a singular entity you know as RhoXi! This vast metropolis stretches across the desert, spanning over 150 kilometers of interconnected districts, engineered to provide a harmonious blend of innovation, infrastructure, and controlled expansion.”
Finn looks at me with raised eyebrows. “What the hell?”
I have no clue, so all I do is shrug and try to keep up with the talking thing in his hand.
“Unlike open cities, access to RhoXi is strictly regulated. Entry requires an authorized permit, ensuring a carefully maintained environment for its residents and visitors. As a result, few outside the system have ever witnessed the full scale of this urban achievement.”
“Weird,” I say. “But also… familiar.”
“Right? I mean, Tau City was closed too.”
“Yeah.” Meanwhile, the PPD is still spitting facts at us.
“The architecture you see before you is crafted from high-density composite alloys and reflective polymer glass, designed to regulate internal temperatures while maximizing solar efficiency. These towering structures act as self-sustaining ecosystems, with integrated energy grids, automated transport systems, and vertical resource hubs.”
“I don’t think I understood a single word it said,” I laugh.
Finn laughs too. “So strange.”
“The Grand Sprawl is divided into specialized sectors, each serving a distinct purpose. Some districts function as research and development hubs, others as residential enclaves, while key industrial zones keep the megacity running. Every structure, every pathway, and every transport line is part of a greater system—an engineered marvel, designed for efficiency, security, and progress. RhoXi remains dedicated to preserving its rich traditions, maintaining the balance between history and modern advancement. Thank you for visiting RhoXi. Enjoy your visit. And remember, Every Spark Has Its Purpose!"
Finn and I wait a few seconds, almost holding our breath. “Is that it?” I ask. “Is it over?”
“Thank the god,” he says. “Come on, the restaurant is this way. We can look at the city tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” I sigh with pleasure. “We’re gonna stay here over night, Finn. It’s… it’s…”
“Unbelievable? Because that’s what I think it is. We just hopped worlds, Jasina. Do you even understand what that means?”
“No,” I laugh.
“Me either.”
Then we’re giggling like stupid children.
But we don’t care.
After everything we’ve survived over the past several weeks, this is the kind of unbelievable we can live with.
26 - FINN
Jasina and I enter the restaurant greeted by the low hum of violins and cellos. The song is light, but low. Not quick, but not slow, either. Easy and natural. Like a heartbeat just on the edge of sleep.
“Wow,” Jasina says, stopping just inside the doors. There’s a couple ahead of us talking to the master of the house, but it’s only a few moments of whispered words, and then they are being led deeper into the darkened space.