"And so... Here we are, Daddy." I explain, though it's a bit pointless to explain anything when he can see where we are. He knows full well why we're here and...
"Mm." is all he lets out, striding up to the Crack in the Sky with a team of engineers and masons. He gestures for them to get to work, and he lingers on the other side of the hole. Turning both ways as if he's at an impossibly busy road and there's only the most split up of seconds to cross. He walks back to me, a stern gaze still on his face.
He looks over me, nodding at our family's personal soldiery. The highly prized veterans gather their gear and head on through, plugging the hole in a way I'd never be able to. Daddy's iron eyes make me shake, and my footing shifts about. His eyes have no trouble going to the ground.
"You put this place in a lot of danger, doing what you did," he lets out, his words no doubt locked onto Nin. The kingdom's saviour comes out of his thoughts and turns to face my father. The two men stare each other down, and Nin comes on over.
"I know the limits I was dealing with. Anything less, and that earth shaman would've killed your daughter. You would have not found us awaiting you, you'd be met with a wall of living rock." Nin points out, his voice awfully firm with Daddy.
"Nin..." I warn him, knowing how Daddy can be about his perceptions of nobility and the respect the titles garner. While I may be king, Daddy fulfils the role of something greater for this fictional kingdom of mine. The very god of it, the Lord.
While I am very, impossibly thankful for Daddy finally being here... I know full well what this will entail for the kingdom. We've gone through a period of nothing from him, and now he is here, an army at his back. He even had the crew for the Ancient Jhermonikra machine accompany him so they could turn the machine off. And repair it, too, by circumstance of what Nin's needed to do...
It didn't take us days to get here, it only took an hour or two. We bounded across the landscape as it was suddenly flushed with an arcane safety net. A level of magical control most witches could not even dream of having or comprehending. Only a people devoid of magic can grasp what it means to have a world truly lacking in magic.
At least the kingdom is enjoying the party for the most part... Though, I will need to properly dismiss the garrison I had here. Some of Daddy's men went ahead of us, but they can only do so much with their scripts and the like. At least everyone will be able to enjoy the party...!
One that can only become more festive with the Lord Himself now walking the land again. His army of Holy Men at his side and all the gifts and bounty that they bring with them. All one big lie to keep up the act that is my kingdom. They need magic to work, so I have to gift the entire kingdom more magic than it's used to, and everyone suddenly thinks they're blessed... No, no... Future problems for future me.
"Daddy. What... What is the plan, exactly?" I ask of my father as I approach him. Coming firmly between him and Nin just in case.
"For starters, we fix this hole. Something divine has happened at Thurn's Forge, and its destruction has spread quite far. I'm not quite sure of the specifics, but we have a lot on our plate. The mountain ranges are in ruins, forests are tumbled and well... You've seen and felt the consequences of it down here, regardless." Daddy explains.
"Thurn's Forge? What could have possibly have happened over there? Atarifuge never made it that far north." Nin asks, clarifying something beyond me.
"Atarifuge?" Daddy goes, just as confused.
"The giant that was marching on Thrurstradtur. Morgihranur here told me you're somewhat close in that regard." Nin answers and Daddy's mouth parts for a lengthy 'ah' and all its mannerisms.
"So the monster had a name. But no, we were not in peril because of that. It was a short while ago anyway. Long enough before what is currently going on," Daddy explains.
"Again, which is? I have a good friend from Thurn's Forge, and I would like some clarification." Nin asks, putting his foot forward as the topic draws a degree of sternness from him that I have simply never seen before.
"The Valkinvar broke out into civil war. The Ordoar Staguiffmani was forced out of the city, most if not all of them being exposed as traitors and turncoats. A Valkinvar-Imdvarce has been blessed with the legendary four artefacts of Waionr, becoming his very champion. An Avatar of War in the way, the ancient hero Thunder was for Thurnmourer. What seemed like a destined defeat for the Valkinvar has seen a baffling change in fortunes. The Seven-Peaks Union of Jherikra is being forced out of Waionr's Chosen Theocracy, and that means the war has come here. While we've avoided the brunt of the violence, there is still cause for concern. A strange beast rides with the Valkinvar, a big cat with a proud, shield-like mane. Golden-furred like lightning itself." Daddy explains at length, his need to boast coming in the form of an exposed scar.
Tender and pink from its recency and still lined with crimson for the trouble.
"Par'tryont..." Nin mutters.
"Nin?" I ask, wondering how he might know that.
"Par'tryont, the beast you speak of is Par'tryont. It's Waionr's very battle-beast. Like the Mirror-Scaled Dragon of Jaadagoren." Nin clarifies as he makes a gesture of prayer to the God of War. Daddy does the same, and the soldiers listening in emulate the behaviour in much the same way.
"War himself really is on the side of the Valkinvar." Daddy breathes, amazed in a way that the people of my kingdom will grasp better than me. How he sees these events is the same as my people see him and his effects.
"Mmm... Will certainly make finding Vapooliar more troublesome now." Nin remarks under his breath, and I keep quiet about it. She must be one of the women he has spoken of before about. Though while I don't know much about the surface, and what little I do know is fading from my mind... I know enough about my linguistic history to know that 'Vapooliar' is a distinctly Valkinvar name.
Sure, people will name their children anything, but there's a certain flair and pronunciation to all names Valkinvar. Like divine mandate itself made it so that they would stick out. Much like how I had a different kind of naming scheme be taught to my kingdom. So few ever come close to the kind of name I have, let alone that of the surface or any other subterranean culture.
"But yes, between the upsets of what has happened to the now-gone Dual-Republic of Thrurstradtur-Suhurlodst. The restoration of the Valkinvar's wartime fortune and the all around behaviour of their greatest foe... I've been occupied. Too occupied to be there for my family like I should be." Daddy explains, turning to me so he can caress my cheek gently. I lean into the affection, and it doesn't take long for him to pull away, the sweet smile on his lips going with it.
"How is the rest of the family, Daddy?" I ask, and he shakes his head.
"No point in asking me, I will be pulling you out of here. Put this entire place on quarantine." Daddy answers, leaving a cold flush in my system.
"Wh-What about my people...?" I ask, and he shakes his head some more.
"They will manage without you while we fix the damage and restore order to the underground. You'll be safer on the surface if the past few days have been anything to go by, Morgihranur." Daddy explains, and I sigh, a pout coming to my lips.
"My room better be untouched..." I whine, and he comes up to me with a smile.
"Like always, my sweet little shut-in," he teases, and I look away towards Nin as his attention goes elsewhere.
"And how about those who do not belong in the kingdom?" I ask, straightening myself out as I try to at least remind the world that I'm an adult.
"They will need to leave with us. The way they came if it's appropriate." Daddy insists.
"No!" I snap, getting in his face as his brow arches high and sturdy.
"No?" he repeats, perhaps our shared blood being all that stops him from glaring so strongly at me. I hold my nerve and nod where my words find themselves lacking.
"Yes, no they will not just go through the Crack in the Sky and be on their way. Nin here is directly responsible for saving my life, and his companions have been a great help throughout the crisis!" I remind him, and his expression turns neutral.
"Mmm... Very well. I shall take them with us to the family keep, they'll get themselves together for the night or two. Then. Then they'll be off. They're trespassing enough as is." Daddy comes so close to growling, and he turns his attention towards his workers. I leave him to it, joining Nin at the edge of the damage his fight caused my kingdom.
"I know it's weird to admit... But I've never seen the ground of the mountain my kingdom resides within." I say, and Nin's head adjusts to be more in line with mine. A healthy amount of leaning ahead being needed to do so.
"I'm more so surprised the ground is so shallow. How has someone not built a basement that goes too deeply?" he asks and a sheepish grin comes to my face.
"Cellars, basements and all things like it and them are illegal." I answer, shrugging as some of my many peculiar laws come to mind. All made with the intent of protecting and hiding away the fact that this kingdom is a pet project for someone from the surface and that this is all deep underground. Most of the kingdom's criminals aren't thieves or murderers... They're those who are too curious about digging and heading off into the distance.
I'm surprised Nin and his companions never were arrested, actually. With where they were most likely found, they should've been immediately hauled off to a prison. Though exceptional circumstances, exceptional decisions within them. Either way, I'm glad things turned out the way they did. It was essential that they did.
"Your father has a point, though. We do need to get going. Whatever time Heiya needs, she can find on the surface now, I suppose. And, personally, I'm glad to finally see the trees and sky again." he goes and I snake a little closer.
"The trees and sky of my kingdom not sufficient?" I ask, the night sky still in full swing with all the uniqueness only a controlled ceiling can provide.
"You've certainly done your best, but you can just tell it's all fake. And I don't just mean because I know it is fake or in that it lacks the magic it should have." Nin answers, leaving me with a heavy frown.
"I did my best, and it's good enough for everyone else in the kingdom..." I mutter, breaking out into a giggle as he watches me pout and more.
"It's as you said about the night sky. Nothing quite beats the way the gods above made it all." he explains, and I huff at his words.
"I suppose that's a good reminder, actually. I'll have to speak to Daddy about having my art collection moved. What with all the damage you did to the observatory and all?" I am suddenly reminded to say as I turn to face Daddy somewhat.
"Blame the osibindah for it, I won't get the bill that way." Nin wheezes and I give him nothing more than a devilish smirk.