The doors to my throne room close, taking that mysterious stranger with it. I turn on my heels, storming off down the length of my place of rulership. Up the stairs and around the throne and I make my way down the hidden tunnel. Going through the last vestiges of Daddy's gifts and more.
The tunnel becomes clinical, serviceable. Out of place. My steps echo and surround me, choking me with the noise. I go past all the exposed machinery and enter the final chamber.
I stare down the grand, vault-like door. Eyeing the control panel and the mess I left around it. I move towards it and pick up the instruction book again. Flicking through it as I reread the details about how to work all the machinery in here.
Top of the line stuff, Daddy said. Hardened equipment used by actual armies and soldiers. Probably reliable in use in wars that are far more demanding than just this chamber... And yet, nothing.
Nothing is coming to me as I dial in the keys. The voice piece is making no noise, it's an empty, meaningless static. One that's more sweat-inducing than anything else in the entirety of my capital city. Never mind the palace filled with all the luxuries I can think of and know about...
Daddy is not responding. None of the servants in my home proper are responding either. I don't understand why...? I know Daddy mentioned the war on the surface was getting rough. But that was years ago! He warned me and the warning was becoming subdued... What happened!?
Our family is not involved in the war with the Seven-Peaks Union of Jherikra. Daddy assured me he had their word! What's going on!? If I can't contact Daddy, then I need to make sure to check this Crack in the Sky myself.
If Nin and his friends made it through, who knows who else and what else is, did and has. I can't rely on Daddy's security team in the slightest and I- No, wait. Nin mentioned that he was a student of Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding. A student of Exceptional House, like the ones Daddy had test the mountain rock.
He can... Yes, he can keep me safe so long as he has a reason to be here. I'll give this Nin his laboratory, help him recover his magic. And he'll pay me back by keeping my kingdom safe. I've fought monsters, animals and the like... All specially bred for my kingdom.
Yes, yes... He is my solution to this problem. My knights will report back to me about the Crack in the Sky and I can appropriately form a plan around it. A plan that will use this Nin, his friends. All of them, all for the sake of defending the kingdom they're trespassing in.
My mountain!
"Daddy..." I whine, uncertainly looking back to the console. Nothing comes through to me, leaving me in the same state I've been in since the earthquake. Only now, only now it's worse. There's a way into my kingdom. There's a way in.
I need to get to work, seal the area and fortify it. Make use of my lessons of playtime and put the lessons to real work. Keep trying to get into contact with Daddy. I need to keep trying so he can bring in our family's security forces. Plug the hole...
Wait, where are the security forces outside of the mountain? Daddy had layers of roads built around the mountain as an additional measure. I should be able to get into contact with them! No... If Nin was able to get in, then the outposts near the Crack in the Sky are gone or abandoned.
Daddy... Where are you? If the earthquake was strong enough to damage my mountain, what is happening up there? What happened up there...?
No, do not think like this or about it. Just wait, be patient. If an earthquake can breach this mountain, then any problems will have been crushed. Nin only survived because he's a student of Exceptional House. Witches of great, grand, impressive power!
That's the only reason they made it. The only reason at all and it's all about me. In my eyes, my hair, marked on my clothes and in the air. Magic. He made it because of that.
He mentioned he's lacking power, it all went into making sure he survived the earthquake. My kingdom is plentiful and wealthy. All magic that should exist comes directly into my palace. It's within my walls and fully accessible for him and myself.
I can strengthen myself in the same way he can strengthen himself by just giving myself more! A whole kingdom's worth of magic. From the game animals filling my reserves and forests. The birds in the sky and the seeds in the ground. The streams, grass and light and more!
"Yes... Yes!" I go, building myself up to a moment of excitement as nervous laughter takes over. The pain of my worries are going and a saviour stays on my mind for certain. He can help me. He has to help me. Otherwise, I will not help him or his friends.
I need to head back to my throne room and call for scribes. Soldiers, the nobles. Everyone and more. All must come and heed my words so that we may be prepared for the dark days to come. The Crack in the Sky is a warning and I will treat it well and with the respect it needs.
"I am a king, and I must act like it." I say, repeating it to myself again and again. I am *the* Lady-King Morgihranur del Leyfeiellyei! I can fight, I am strong, the strongest person in the mountain. Whereas everyone else is a carefully curated actor, an employee of Daddy... I am the real deal.
My armour and weapons are all products of the world above. That miserable, miserable world I want to stay far away from. And here it is, forcing its way into my life when I want it out of it! I will have it out of it...
"I should return to my throne," I remind myself, straightening myself out of all the little creases and clumps, "Call for court, have them hear me."
The service tunnel fills with renewed purpose, my heeled feet carrying me all the way into the open again. I re-walk the trip around the throne and finally let its comfort affect me. The magic within comes alive at my touch, soothing me with gentle vibrations and warmth. A satisfied sigh comes out as my body loses form in all but the most literal sense.
"A moment alone, perhaps..." I remark, flipping up one of the mechanisms to reveal the out-of-place controls of the throne.