Nestled between rolling green hills and a sparkling azure sea lies the lost city of Aethria - a place of ethereal beauty and wonder. As my spaceship descended through the clouds, I caught my first glimpse of this mythical city that I had searched years to find. Tall, gleaming spires reached up towards the heavens while graceful arches and colonnades lined the streets below. Lush gardens with tinkling fountains and sculptures dotted the cityscape, adding pops of color and life.


I had heard tales of the Aethrians - a race of beings whose outward appearance reflected their inward spirit. It was said that they glowed with an otherworldly beauty unlike any other.


As I walked the streets, I discovered those tales to be true. The people I passed possessed an exquisite grace, with long limbs, angled features, and eyes that shone like stars. Both men and women wore robes of flowing, diaphanous fabrics that complemented their tall, slender builds. Their movements were fluid and melodic, as if they were gliding rather than walking. When they spoke, it was in dulcet tones, their voices chiming like crystal bells.


I soon learned that beauty permeates all aspects of Aethrian culture and architecture. At the city center lies a magnificent garden courtyard with trees that bloom in a kaleidoscope of hues - ruby, emerald, sapphire. Interspersed throughout are alabaster fountains topped with statues of Aethrian gods and goddesses. These sculptures possess the same lithe beauty as the citizens, their marble features displaying a sense of motion and liveliness that is breathtaking to behold.


As I ascended higher, towards the palace, the buildings took on an even more splendid grandeur. Towers lined with gold filigree reached towards the sky, rainbow-hued stained glass glinting in the sunlight. The palace itself sat high on the hillside, overlooking the sea on one side and the rest of the city on the other. Granite steps led up to columned porticos and soaring archways that granted entry to the vast complex within.


Inside, every surface was carved from the same white marble as the statuary, making it seem as though the entire palace had been sculpted from a single solid block. Graceful grooves and channels had been etched into the walls and floors, guiding the eye along in an artistic display.


The most wondrous sight of all was the throne room. A monumental rotunda with a glittering domed ceiling, its arched windows perfectly framed the sea and sky beyond. The floor was a colorful mosaic of tile and gemstones swirling out from the circular dais in the center.


Upon the dais sat two majestic thrones carved from what appeared to be a single, massive amethyst geode. Though unoccupied when I entered, I could easily picture the Aethrian king and queen enthroned there - their resplendent beauty complementing the splendor around them.


My time in Aethria felt like a dream - brief and fleeting, but filled with magic and loveliness around every corner. As night fell on my final day and I walked back to my ship, I felt a lingering melancholy. In all my years of space travel, I knew I might never discover another place as stunning as this lost city or meet another people as wondrous as the Aethrians.


Their harmonious existence and the glory of their surroundings were unlike anything else in the universe. Though Aethria's location will remain a closely guarded secret, I will forever cherish the memories of beauty and grace I discovered in this hidden corner of the cosmos.