The smooth marble walls of the Regal Castle are bright. Blindingly bright. Phin shields his eyes as he walks down a cavernous hall. Twisting pillars suspend a massive domed ceiling adorned with gilded chandeliers. Umbriel walks ahead of him, leading him through the labyrinthine palace.
His heart pounds in his chest. Holy shit... I'm in the Castle?? he fidgets nervously as sweat beads on his forehead. The dwelling place of Supreme Regal Nostreimos and his close associates, the Regal Castle is by far the Fortress's most impressive building. Like a beacon of light, it juts out from the gloomy Outer Fortress - where the commoners reside. Inside, colorful mosaics decorate towering glass panes, and each ornate arch bears the craftsmanship of humanity's greatest architects.
A man in a suit approaches them. 'The Supreme Regal will be with you soon. Please remain here.' He speaks in a deep tone, befitting of his large stature.
Umbriel nods respectfully and turns to Phin. 'When the Supreme Regal comes, bow. If you are unsure, copy my motions. Nostreimos himself is tolerant, but his personal guards are known to overreact to any hint of disrespect.'
Just then, a loud creak comes from the far end of the hall. From behind a tall set of gates emerges a cohort of robed figures, all clad in white. The guards, shuffling silently, form a protective ring around a hunched figure in the center.
'Bow!' Umbriel hisses. He immediately drops to the floor, performing an elaborate kowtow. Phin quickly follows after, emulating what he had seen many times on television.
After a pause, the sound of a tap breaks the tense silence. 'Greetings, newcomers. You may rise.' Nostreimos moves to the front, holding an intricate golden cane.
Immediately as he lifts his head, an overpowering unease crashes over Phin. Something ancient stirs, lurking within the deepest caves of his consciousness.
An icy claw clamps down on his mind - relentless, unyielding. His body sags before he can resist, collapsing again - this time not by choice. My knees... they're jelly - ?! What is this? An insuppressible whimper of pain escapes him as he trembles on the floor.
Get out of my mind... please stop -
His hands claw at the ground, nails scraping marble. The vast hall spins around him, its blending and shifting colors attacking him from every angle. The ceiling lurches and warps. I can't... breathe... Don't pass out - don't... I have to hang on...
One of the guards lets out a joyful sigh. 'Such a display of reverence... Your Divinity, the mere commoner trembles in your power.'
Nostreimos clicks his tongue. 'Silence, guard. This one is no mere commoner.' He glides forward, a white phantom in his silken garment. 'Be healed, young Appraiser.'
***
{2095}
'Gee, you're such a drag.'
'How so?'
'We've already won! Why do you insist on protecting this fragile place?'
'Let us not forget who molded us into what we are today. Annihilation is not an inherent aspect of reign, my red friend.'
'Screw you, uptight freak. I do what I want.'
'Then let us go our separate ways. We shall each carve our own kingdoms. Do what you desire in your domain, but you are not permitted to bring your destructive habits beyond it.'
'... deal.'
***
'GAHH!'
Phin shoots up, drenched in cold sweat. He nervously massages his clammy skin, scanning his surroundings. I'm not in the royal hall anymore... oh shit, I've blown it. Panic creeps in. What could Nostreimos possibly think of me now? - If I get evicted from this program, I have nowhere to return to! Vestiges of his internal collapse linger, buzzing noisily in his mind.
What is this new place? It's so bright... well, everything is bright around here. Lighting, in the form of futuristic veins, crawls along the room's interior, a detail deemed stupidly redundant by Phin.
'Ya awake yet?'
'Huh?!' He spins around. Sitting beside him is a girl, maybe his age, suited head to toe in a full Terrasuit. Lime-green hair spills around her shoulders, clashing vividly with her large brown eyes.
'Well, seems so. How was your nap?' She folds her hands behind her head, leaning back.
'Great - er... I don't know. Just a nap, I guess. Are you here to watch over me?'
'Yeah. I'm a first-year, so they sent me on babysitting duty.'
Phin frowns. 'Aw, c'mon. You don't have to put it like that.'
The girl smiles. 'Just messing around. Honestly, it's better than back at the Arboretum. They're holding theory sessions in these nasty outhouses 'cause our facility got blown to hell. You were there during the raid, right?'
Huh. I don't remember any outhouses back there - let alone nasty ones. She's probably just exaggerating...
'Y-yeah. Wait - I know you!' Phin takes a few seconds to observe her face, affirming his speculation. 'You're one of Unit 00's Botanists - Eri, right?'
'Yup. Good memory. It's short for Erinome, though nobody calls me that.' She fiddles with her hair. 'And everyone knows who you are, Phin. Your fame has only grown around here since the Black Market raid. Don't worry - nobody blames you, though.'
'Ah.' Phin chuckles softly, unsure of how to respond. 'So... where are we exactly? It seems like an odd place for recovery.' He eyes the row of mounted seats lining the wall.
'It's a Botanist deployment chamber. The rest of Unit 00's on the way, and then we can head out.' She clasps her hands to her cheeks, eyes twinkling. 'It's so exciting - my first official mission!'
Phin stares at her with a mix of amusement and skepticism. 'You do realize how dangerous it is, right? Especially in uncharted territory - who knows if there's a Grade VIII waiting to clobber us. Or even a Godtree, dammit.'
'Totally! If it weren't dangerous, it wouldn't be exhilarating.' She stands up, stretching. 'I could never return to my old life - it was so mundane, and I felt confined.'
'Mhm.' Phin sighs. 'I don't know about you, but... I haven't had proper rest in ages. I'm drained - and we get deployed in less than a day.'
Eri bursts out laughing. 'You're kidding, right? You were out like a baby just now!'
'Hey!'