We mentioned the difficulties Rayla of Silvergrove had in settling in after the wedding. Although Callum and Ezran worked as hard as they could to make her stay enjoyable, the Rock of Katolis was not an elf-friendly palace.

Rayla, from the first weeks of married life, devoted herself to changing this state of affairs, bringing Xadia into the life of the Katolean court. A circle of Elven artists formed around her: poets, sculptors, architects, came from all over Xadia, attracted by the fame of the former dragon guard and the generosity of the king, who willingly complied with the wishes of his sister-in-law.

In this Rayla was also supported by her husband, who from the early years in office had tried in every way to invite elven magicians to Katolis.

The Circle of Rayla, the name given to the group of intellectuals that formed at the Rock of Katolis under the reign of Ezran, radically innovated the Katolean culture. The Xadian artistic styles, hitherto unknown in the human realms, gave rise to a real fashion (the so-called "elfic style") that raged for decades throughout the continent. On the other hand, the elves of Xadia absorbed traditional human styles and motifs: just think of the Durenian decoration of the Mausoleum of Jivris, a wealthy dignitary of Lux Aurea under the reign of Janai.

Among the dozens of artists who gathered around Rayla, we can't help but mention a few. Those wishing to deepen further will find illuminating the monumental "artistic encyclopedia" of Magister Perotinus.

These are names that surely every reader will have heard of at least once, such is their fame. In fact, who does not know the incipit of the "Azymondea", the monumental poem on the journey of Azymondias from Katolis to the Storm Spire written by the skywing poetess Arsen?

And who has never shed a tear reading the moving poems of the poet of evenerean origin Brudaane?

Not to mention the Luxaurean architect Nargiz, who contributed to the expansion of the Rock of Katolis by designing the famous Gallery Without Candles, so-called because entirely illuminated with magic.

So impressive were the results obtained by Rayla that King Ezran in the year 1252 instituted for her a new office, that of Grand Superintendent, giving her an official place within the Council. This, however, was only a way to formalize what was already happening, because Rayla was always present at the meetings of the council from the beginning, except during the months of pregnancy or when engaged in some of her numerous trips.

Finally, she established the House of Arts, which is universally considered the first modern museum. But all this would have happened only many years later... for now, the kingdom was still engaged in war and was about to experience one of the most dramatic moments in its history.