Dalokol Runebreaker woke up to the ringing of the community bell that screamed in every room in every household. He got off his hard bed, and got off the bed, which used a hay mattress and brown cotton covering, sheets and pillows. The room was lit by sunlight, using lots of mirrors to reflect them underground. His wife, Germyl, about as muscular as him, had cooked him a nice morning breakfast. Soon, the children followed to the table.
The wooden plates had contained a large boiled egg, roasted meat, vegetables and bread. The large egg was brown, with black dots all over. This came from a lizard-like creature that lives in the caves, called a Selitoc. It was rather large, with dark brown skin that camouflages with it's environment. The roasted meat had come from an animal called the Pellicite. It was like a super strong pig with stronger bones than usual, and more calories and nutrients.
The vegetables were made of purple and orange jenucans with the bread made of kekkolins wheat. Purple jenucans were a type of mushroom that glow violet in the dark, which is why it its given that name. Kekkolins wheat, is a very bright greenish-blue crop, that requires very little amounts of sunlight. It's color comes from it's high chlorophyll concentration, and ability to store mana.
"How was work honey?" she asked in a deep voice.
"I have a meeting with his majesty today at..." he looked at his golden pocket watch. "4 from now. A new project for the mana crystal mines. The palace wants a new line built in and out of the new willwaker crystal mines, and to discuss about the appearance of some Mysterious creature."
"Mysterious creature?"
"Yes, dear. Though I don't know what, his majesty himself requested me to come."
"But why you dear? You are the head of inzperian, a man who helps build mechanical structures on a day where he should stay, to teach his children." He took a deep breath, holding his annoyance.
"Do not question his majesty dear. I am sure that he has his reason." he continued eating his breakfast, and attempted to shift the topic somewhere else.
"So.... how is your studying going son? Mastered the concept of steam mechanics?" he asked Dulmir. He didn't respond, but he did pause.
"yes..." he said with a little nod.
"Good... Good...
So have you abandoned the idea of learning about some stupid her.."
"They save lives father." he corrected. Dalokol's face blew red in anger.
"Have you forgotten your manors young man!" he shouted at him, so loud that the neighbors could hear a little faint sound of his voice. He kept silent, not wanting to further fuel the flames, but the father was not done.
"How many times do I have to tell you to drop that worthless practice?" He took in a deep breath.
"Our family is built on being the head of inzperian for the royal family! Your grandfather, great grandfather, and great great grandfather, and so on, have all built our family status on it. You expect me, for my son, to enter poverty chasing a stupid dream that never comes? How do you expect to earn a living?"
"But father! I want to help the people of common, not to reach status. It bring me..."
"SILENCE!"
"Why can you not be like your sisters, Lyesria and Lyssris? They dedicate themselves everyday to be the prefect housewives for our race, yet you can't sacrifice your life to preserve the family dynasty! Do you not realize how selfish you are?" Dulmir had back. No response.
"Sigh. Well, I have to be going now. I might miss the Agertraws."
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He got up, changed his cloths to a black cloak, and left the apartment, down to the streets. The place was lit up by many mirrors, bringing sunlight to the caves, which the streets are lit and the ponds of algae to gave the oxygen for dwarves to breath. It was a great megaproject, planned and built long ago, which the family had it's first step into wealth came in. When the sun isn't up, the kerosene lanterns take up the slack to illuminate the entire city,
He walked down the stairs into the station and looked at the time table. He looked back at his pocket watch, and saw that he was only a few minutes early to station. He sat on the stone bench, waiting for the Agertraws to come pick him up. The Agertraws was a mechanical transportation system, running on a steam engine. It was invented by his very own family, his long distant ancestor, no less.
Though the first ones used coal, the newest steam engine used by the Agertraws used a rare red mana crystal to boil the water. It acted as sort of a battery that keeps it running, and it could heat up the water very quickly. The Agertraws, had managed to connected the underground cave city, enabling people from one point of the cave city, to the other. He lived a bit further away from the center, so he needed to use it to commute to his place of work.
The mechanical sounds of the Agertraws made him stand, along with the others. The metal beast then finally showed itself. The workers opened it's doors to the passengers, with everyone let in. He took the 4th compartment, one that was kept for the top workers of his highness. It was lit by the kerosene lamps, and the seats made of rare blue cushions, unlike the wooden ones the peasants were stuck with.
He goes on and sits on his designated seat stated on the ticket. His seat companion, was his long time friend, and chief 'pensaetop' of the royal family. He was the mastermind behind the new designs and constructions of many government buildings in the city, kind of like an architect, with the characters being symmetrical, detailed, and utilitarian. The man wore a purple cloak, with a few rings on his fingers. A way for him to flash his wealth to everyone around.
"Dalokol! How had it been!" he asked. The others turned to them as he spoke loudly.
"Keep it down Morrak. There is no need to scream." he replied. Morrak laughed at his comment.
"Alright. Alright. Sit down."
"So how was your morning Dalokol, did your juveniles gave ya trouble?"
"No. Well, except one."
"Ah, the stubborn boy ain't giving up on his hobby?"
"Yes... Yes... He continues to squall on how he could reach great status with his path, while I have to berate him back to earth."
"Delusional as always. You should take him to Gerthrun."
"Gerthrun?"
"Yes. I heard he has these psychedelic mushrooms, it could possibly be used to help... motivate him." Morrak requested. Dalokol thought about it.
"I will make sure to check with him then." he replied.
"You have any idea of that ur... mysterious creature?" Dalokol asked.
"Talking about the Ferrians and the visions?"
"Yes exactly. His majesty seems to be worried about whatever these creatures are. The speech was given on in many Ferrian cities a while ago, though I don't know what was given in it."
"Must be some sort of supernatural entity. Defying the laws of reality as we know it, or something with great magical power. Though I cannot understand why his highness is afraid."
"Because, chief pensaetop of the castle, this never had happened before." said a voice from behind.
"huh?" they turned around. A blonde-bearded dwarf, wearing a black cloak like Dalokol himself was standing behind them. He pulled out the
"Vongrum! my friend!" Morrak said.
"Mind if you two move. My seat is over there."
"No worries. Would you like to join our conversation? I feel you could be of use to fill in the missing variables."
"Yes my friend, please do! What is it that you want to talk about?"
"About the unnatural beings."
"Ah yes. My spies all over the realm had given me back my messages. I have been informed of the creatures long before both of you."
"Well what do you know so far?"
"There was a great meeting with many of the Ferrian kings. While I cannot give you all the details here, as per the orders of his highness who would like me to keep my mouth shut until the meeting today, but what I am allowed to inform you now is that, according to my intelligence, that such an event had never happened in this realm's history."
"Never?" Morrak asked to confirm.
"Never." he replied.
"What is worse, is that they are said to be capable to managing to exterminator the demons rather quickly, as from the Ferrian princess's vision. At least, that is what is hinted."
"That is rather a great accomplishment." said Dalokol.
"It is, and this is why his majesty is so concerned about it. It is suspected that these beings are out here, in this realm."
"Is that what we were going to discuss today?"
"Yes, a part of it that is. Though I would not like for both of you to come in for the meeting, gravely underestimating this situation. His highness might not like it."
The doors were now being closed by the workers, and the engine starts to grow louder. A large bell starts ringing slowly, indicating that it was leaving. The agertraws starts picking up speed, and enters the tunnel, headed towards the city center.