"Welcome home, Lady Riya." A line of maids stood on each side of a path, bowing their heads as Riya and Aditya stepped out of the royal carriage. Their faces were warm and welcoming, showing great respect for their lady.
As soon as Riya moved away from the carriage's steps, the focus of the maids shifted to Aditya.
"We're pleased to welcome you to the Celestial Terrain, Emperor of the Istarin Empire," they all said together, bowing their heads in a way that showed deep respect.
Aditya paused for a moment to take in his surroundings. Right in front of him was a unique and special kind of house. It looked like it had been made from the wood of an enormous, living tree. The house was a bit smaller in width and length than most big homes he had seen, but it was very tall. The roof was covered with soft, green moss, making the whole building look even more like a giant tree.