"Gods above, I hope I've not forgotten that a god of money exists?" I mutter safely to myself from the confines of my mask. And it's not just my words it keeps in, but my sanity, too. The wealth of this palace is just... Something else. It's like the Crown back in Tobaballe got reincarnated in a magic-filled land.
So much empty space just to show off treasures of all kinds. Sword and shield collections, each item apiece an intricate art display that's just begging for us to come closer. Statues break up the pillars, mazes of painted glass break up the gaps and more and more. There's no room for the guards about the palace to even fall in line. Curtains and their drapes are taking up the rest.
Yet... For all the fancifulness of these halls, the doors ahead are revealing nothing alike it. The throne room, is simple. Vague. It lacks the details of everywhere else and it all ends on a high-rising, mechanically aided throne. An empty throne.
Heels resound through the empty room, our own steps muffled by a luxurious thick and fluffy carpet. A great shadow goes across the throne room, the shade of pale stone making them all the blacker. It keeps growing and growing, coming to a sudden stop and shift. The shadow recedes, forming up around the source of the noise.
A blonde-haired woman comes into view, her hair the buttery gold of dandelion petals while also having the green of the stalks and leaves. Dressed in a suit of armour mixed with a dress. Gold plate slated over with sheets of emerald shine and a plump dress of polished lapis blue. Dyed or weaved to have the same no-other-the-same patterns of the namesake rock.
All under a heavy crown that's as much a shield for her forehead as it is a band to hold up some of her braids. Going by all the attention around her, this is certainly the woman I'm looking for. This so-called Lady-King of the mountain resort. And, I am happy with the looks of it. Her eyes might seemingly be a natural shade of green...
But I can see the sparkle of wind-magic in them-
The chamber resounds with the thundering of gauntlets on chest plates. The crash of knees onto the ground, puffing out the muffling of the fur rug. All their heads bow down, going as far down as their armour will let them. Some even go further beyond, embarrassing themselves with awkward flops to show off their loyalty. Their reverence. All but me and they don't focus on it.
"What doth you cometh before *me* for?" the Lady-King speaks, her reality on another level compared to everyone else's haughtiness. A distinct surface accent to her voice that certainly answers something about this place. This is the daughter of the unknown noble patron. This kingdom, this mountain, it's all for her.
"I'm here for you." I answer, plain and simple, catching her brow on the rise.
"And what doth you ask of *me,* noble doctor?" she asks, her magic on blatant display as if it's something grand. For what she is, it's impressive. But, time in Suhurlodst has taught me something clear. This is untrained power, an inherited strength she's flaunting in a make believe world.
"I need your help with something." I answer, letting my aura sweep out to the best of my ability. The guards shift, shake. Hands on weapons and shields already edged onto the floor. The Lady-King shuffles, stepping down from her throne without ever resting on it.
"Leave us, brave knights of the realm." she orders, and the guards do just that. Rising without complaint, leaving just as quietly. The doors close and the Lady-King's pace picks up until she is right before me, a cocktail of emotions on her face. Anger, worry, annoyance. Fear.
"I need only your help." I repeat, tuning the magic down so it's not flicking away at her hair and the like. She might not be lacking in power like the rest of the people in this so-called kingdom... But she's still stronger than me right now.
"Who are you and what are you doing here!?" she demands to know, her dress parting away to show off a sheathed weapon. I mind the blade, still fully hidden out of view. Yet, I can still tell this is a proper surface weapon. Wind-touched, as Hrurim might be putting it these days.
"My name is Nin, me and my friends were travelling when that earthquake hit. We thought we saw a path to the surface and ended up here. I went ahead looking for help here." I explain, sticking to Hrurim's earlier lie for the sake of it.
"Y-You shouldn't be here... YOU SHOULDN'T BE HERE!" she goes, switching to a scream instantly as the weapon comes out. The edge is right up against the lens of my mask, pressing against it. Testing the tempered glass. Leaving a fine, white dot. A ping to the air.
"We thought it was a path to the surface, we didn't know." I explain and she steps away, holding a hand to her head as the details go over her head.
"The Crack in the Sky... How bad is it?" she asks, turning around to face me. Weapon going right back into its sheath.
"It's on a road, large enough for a couple people to go on through. Shoulder-to-shoulder. But the magic in that rock is something else. I can't see it getting larger." I explain and she shakes her head, clearly knowing a lot more than I do about the subject.
"You came for my help?" she asks and I nod, "Speak it, I want you out of my mountain."
I match her gaze, ignoring that hiss of hers, "I'm running low on magic and I need a means to regenerate on what I have. The food both outside and inside is not enough, the underground just doesn't have the ambience for what I need."
"How much?" she asks, eyes narrowing, those glassy eyes of hers becoming sharp shards.
"Enough for an Exceptional Student of Suhurlodst." I answer, lifting a claw far away and letting some of my skill show itself off. She watches my limb, carefully looking over the three thick digits I have on display. All bandaged up in such a strange way to any normal person.
"Very well, I will see to it that you have a laboratory set up," she explains, her choice of words making my brow cock up. Laboratory?