The reception in the throne room was only a warm-up. It represented King Terenas welcoming guests from far and wide as their host, while also providing a chance to record who had come and who had not.
It felt a little like checking in guests at a modern wedding banquet, except no one had to hand over a cash gift.
So no one stayed in the throne room for very long. After paying their respects to the king in turn, they were led one by one to the actual banquet venue.
Rhode followed Antonidas. When they appeared before the king, Rhode felt that Terenas had given him a rather searching look.
Was I imagining it?
I'm just a lowly commoner mage. There's nothing about me worth noticing.
Then, guided by an attendant, Rhode entered the banquet hall.
It was an enormous, luxurious hall.
It seemed as large as a soccer field, but this "soccer field" had no green grass. Instead, it was covered entirely in red carpet.
Above the banquet hall rose a lofty dome, resplendent with lavish decorations, which covered the entire hall.
Beneath the dome stood row upon row of massive stone pillars.
Exquisite murals adorned both the pillars and the walls surrounding the hall.
This was not merely a banquet hall. It was an exhibition gallery chronicling civilization and history.
Here, Rhode saw Stormwind City, Kul Tiras, and Dalaran, as well as Ironforge and Gnomeregan. He also saw a depiction of Emperor Thoradin crushing the Troll Empire.
Many finely dressed noble gentlemen and ladies were already gathered in the banquet hall. Some were admiring the murals just as Rhode was, but more were greeting one another and forming little clusters.
That was only natural. People always gravitated toward familiar social circles, or worked hard to squeeze into