When you first come up, there is a precursor statue on the left of the throne and a seemingly bottomless pit on either side of the lift.
It was essentially a very large room, carved from stone. Pits of fire were spread about, some chained midair. There were some plants about. A small potted palm tree on either side of the throne.
The throne, not fancy. It was simple, dark green and a splash of orange. Red cushion embedded for the back. The throne was set on a higher platform, the main eye attraction in the room.
Multiple water wheels are strewn about, the largest behind the throne. Hefty chains are bolted in the columns surrounding the room, holding up a huge half dome with water pouring out, making the artificial waterfalls. Jen can only assume that there are pumps hidden in the walls or something to bring all that liquid up there.
But none of that matters now. Damas is currently leaking an aura of determination. He wants answers and he is going to pull them out, one by one. This woman was both a mystery and frustration. Not a likable combination. Making eye contact, "where are you truly from?"
"Not of this world." There. Jen was able to breath a bit, now that the blunt truth has broken through the wall of anxiety that was rapidly building up.
"Do not play games with me woman!"
Folding her arms across her chest for comfort, "wouldn't dream of it." Jen developed the tendency of simply shrugging comments off nonchalantly from since her teen years.
The king's brows lowered. The woman's attitude had been all over the place during her stay. "Seem claims that thanks to the amulet, you have been exposed to what is yet to come"
"Simply a version of it."
Purple eyes narrowed. Her scent gone slightly bitter. His hand flashed out, harshly gripping the right side of her head by the hair, "Do not pull a fast one on me." Pulling her just a bit closer and leaning down by her ear, "I suggest you try again. And don't lie to me again."
"You have only my word. I have nothing to prove otherwise," she grounded out. 'Dammit that hurts.'
Damas let go and crossed his arms, "You say you are not of this world?"
"No. There's no such thing as metalheads, nor eco. The stars aren't multicolored and the sun has no close neighbors."
Damas focused on her scent, the bitterness fading away and back to the intoxicating sweetness. 'Sweet Precursors! Get ahold of yourself!'
Taking a step back, "When will it begin?"
Ever since Jen dragged Damas into her cave, she kept thinking of different ways to tell him of the potential and she believes she has it. "Do you have any kids?"
That threw Damas off. "What does that have to do with this?"
"Everything. It was Mar who first stepped in to start making a better protected place for everyone, right? And it will be his descendent who will save this planet from its final trial."
TT
It was 6am when Jen got up. 8:15 when the satellite was taken down. It was 9 for the interrogation in the throne room. It was 10 when Jen was being taken for field trip.
Jen gave a story of a boy being raised in the past, going on an adventure to help his best friend regain his true form. He and his 'family' found a giant rift ring and got sent to the future where the boy was tortured for two years by the usurper of Haven. He went on a path, bent on gaining revenge. How he came across a little boy under the watch of the greatest enemy under the guise of an old man. The little boy was sent back in time for safety, and the one left behind was soon banished to the wasteland. He made a home in Spargus, but still went back to Haven to help in the war. And how he eventually learned who kidnapped him in the first place just after his father died in his arms.
The one thing Jen never mentioned, was that it was all a video game in her world.
Damas promptly pushed a radio and a sack of food into her hands and sent her back down the lift. He needed time to go over all the information. She was greeted by a woman not far from the lift.
It was decided that Jen would be taken outside the walls to learn the basics of handling and feeding Poofy. Not only that, someone or some people were trying to spread word that Jen was responsible for the appearance of the satellite. It was best if she was out for a day or two while the rumors were brought down.
Edith. 61 years old, white hair braided down to the thighs, eye patch on the left eye. She is the top crocadog handler Spargus has to offer. The one fact that stood out to Jen was that Edith is Kleiver's mum. "Now, pull that strap firmly. You don't want to be slipping upside down."
Tugging on the last strap, the saddle was set. Jen had watch the other two in the group to get some insight on how to handle the saddle, bridle and bags. The crocadogs eyed her warily, but tolerated her presence. Poofy did not allow anyone get close to him, lashing tail, curled lips, and deep rumbling. Edith was only allowed somewhat close just for feeding. That all stopped as soon as he saw Jen. Now, it was all wagging and wiggling about in excitement. Poofy was finally about to take his chosen out for a ride.
Tossing the reins up, Jen scrambled up onto the saddle and hooked her feet in the stirrups. "Everyone ready? We'll be on the easier route for today, but you never know what will happen out there." Hearing the affirmatives, Edith activated her gate pass. Jen gave a light flick with the reins, encouraging Poofy to follow the others as they bounded out.
If you were to take a left right out the doors. You would reach a trail in the cliffside, leading down to the favored spot to let the crocadogs go and hunt for themselves. That had to be done once a day. Edith made sure to drill that in. "Don't ever forget to feed your mount lassie, or he will get grumpy. And believe me, that's something you don't want."
Jen leaned down to give Poofy some pats, which he responded with a wriggle of his rump, "how could this sweetheart be a grump? Poofy's been nothing but a darling so far."
One of the riders snorted in disbelief "A darling? That thing's been nothing short of a menace in the 18 years it's been alive." Poofy growled.
Rolling her eyes, Jen gave Poofy a scritch. "Don't listen to them, you big Boof." Poofy turned his head to look at his rider, "Growf."
"Stop yipping and let's move."
The desert was as vast as always. There was the odd tree sprouting from the cluster of rocks that they passed by. The main plan today was to go down south towards the Great Volcano. They will turn West to go through a tunnel that holds an entrance to said volcano. After clearing it out and checking the entrance, they continue forward and circle round East back to Spargus. Sometimes the monks go in the volcano for training, and the Spargans keep the tunnel clear of any rouge element. It was an assignment mostly kept for beginners.
Just as the group approached the entrance in the rockface, the crocadogs started bolt forward. Before the riders could try to regain control, three loud bangs rang out. Rocks and boulders came toppling down. A second after entering the tunnel, the roof fell in. Jen barely had time to throw up a dome of white eco around the entire group before everything went dark.