The stellar palace is more splendorous than anything you have ever seen before. As you walk through its massive hallways, you pass all manner of marvelous sight: living mosaics that recite the epic poems they depict; pools of liquid metal that rise up to form three-dimensional copies of yourself and your companion when you come into range; miniature constellations floating above slabs of metal that you can only assume serve as altars; mechanical guardians that prostrate themselves before you and thank you for gracing them with your presence; behemoths with scales like steel plates and teeth like swords that, despite their terrifying appearance, beg for your attention like touch-starved pets when they see you. You can only imagine how much more glorious they would seem if they were not all in varying shades of green, just like everything else you have seen since entering.
You realize that you must have been walking for at least half an hour now, and you vaguely recall that your companion wanted you to meet with some sort of royal. “The…”
That first attempt to speak comes out a bit strained after having been quiet for so long again. Your companion gives you a curious look, so you clear your throat and try again. “How long will he be here? The… ah… the prince?”
She tilts her head and raises a small ridge above her eye that you imagine stands in for a brow. “How long? What a strange question to ask, Toku! Are you quite certain that you are feeling alright? You really do spend far too much time alone these days! I fear it is beginning to affect you.”
Frankly, you have no idea why this would be an odd question. Assuming that you have made some sort of cultural blunder, you mutter an apology.
“Oh, there is no need for that, Toku! I hope you did not take my concern as more than what it is. As always, His Royal Highness will stay with us until he grows bored!”
It seems a bit risky, but you decide to pursue the line of questioning just a single step further. “Ah. And… how long is that? Typically, I mean?”
She hums to herself, bringing a finger up to her chin. “It is so difficult to say. I am still confused by why you are worrying so much about this of all things, but perhaps it is only because you want to be sure you do not miss your opportunity to impress, yes? Based on what I have heard from the other houses, the earliest he has ever ended a visit was two, perhaps three decades after his arrival.”
Seemingly taking your baffled expression as continued worry, she goes on to say, “Oh, but that was ages ago! He has grown far more patient since then!” Taking on a low, conspiratorial tone, she adds, “Besides, that was when he was visiting House Manumea. Is it really any surprise that His Royal Highness could not stand them for very long?”
Thankfully, you are spared having to respond to the gossipy insectoid, since you soon come to a metal door decorated with an eight-rayed sun and a crescent moon arranged on opposite sides of what you believe must be an image of a planet in the middle of the door. It is at least 15 meters in height, and, unlike the others you have passed through on your way here, it does not open automatically when you approach.
Reaching out her hand, your companion shoots a tiny bolt of electricity out of her fingertips. It strikes the metal planet, and you realize that what you believed to be elements of a relief are actually the moving parts of a lock. An artificial approximation of a thunderclap comes from somewhere deep inside the door, then the planet spins in place, sinking further into the door as it does so. After several turns, it suddenly stops, then begins to split apart down the middle. Each half disappears into the larger door, creating an opening just large enough to allow two or three people to walk through comfortably.
Just as you begin to wonder how you are meant to get up to the newly-open door, a thin line of lime green light begins to form on the floor in front of you. It passes your companion, then makes a sharp right turn. From there, it goes on to make a rectangle around the two of you. You nearly lose your balance when a thin slice of the floor rises up, taking you both with it as it flies up through the passage.