Chapter 32. Sand palace

While the princess ordered us to come with her, she wasn't unreasonable enough to take us right then and there. She was kind enough to let us get our items from our rooms before we left.

Of course, this was with the exception that we were supervised by at least one of her guards. I didn't have too many item's to take since I had everything with me all the time, and because I had a bigger inventory then a villager which I found out with Bobby's help.

Froggy managed to sneak a few potions to me, and I had the option to have some alone time with Alexander in his office.

"I'm sorry that I've betrayed you two. But don't lose hope yet. While they are forceful with this invitation, she did promise your safety the whole journey. This means that you two would be treated as guests of honor with a few limitations. Of course, I do intend to help you two get out as soon as possible, but I can't do anything now, I have to gather some more political power to pressure them."

The noble tried to assure me, which helped me feel a bit less betrayed for being thrown in the lion's mouth so easily.

He also gave me the four enchanted books that I made with some empty books so I can practice my writing event without him.

The only thing stopping me now was getting an enchanted table myself. Which would take a while to get it.

After an hour of gathering our stuff, they didn't wait for even one more minute and now we're outside the beautiful city back in the dry desert.

They were thoughtful enough to let us ride the camels, of course, they were in leads so we wouldn't take our chance to run with them.

And after a bit of walking, I mustered enough courage to talk with our kidnapper's leader.

"May I ask Your Highness why is that we are required to meet the Sultan at such short notice?"

The princess looked at me from her heavy armored camel with an annoyed expression.

"I don't know weirdo. My dad heard about you two somehow managing to cure an infected person and he now wants to meet you two as soon as possible."

"If you are curious about the cure we can give you the process with some potions to do it yourself."

I tried to say something that could probably get us out of this situation.

"I also asked him something similar. But my old man was too stubborn and told me he wants to meet you two face to face."

This was worrying to hear.

If they wanted the information on the cure, I would be more than happy to share, the only downside is that they need Froggy since he is the only one that can make the weakness potions.

And this makes me feel even worse since I selfishly dragged down Froggy with me only to get a horse to get home faster, which I kind of got, but it's not going the way I want to unfortunately.

"We won't be arrested or something like that right?"

"I gave my promise that I'll keep you safe, and when a royalty promises something. Nothing can break it."

From her gestures, I could guess she didn't want to be here as well, but she seemed pretty serious about promises which made me feel a bit better in those confusing times.

I then walked a little slower and I was beside Froggy again.

"I'm sorry that I brought you into this mess."

I said with a low voice.

He just looked at me weirdly and shook his head.

"While it's true that they captured us because of the cure, it's not all your fault. The nobles tried to rope me into one of their houses for a few good years, even the royalty tried. But I was too afraid to choose just one so rejected all of them, and since I'm not in any house they're satisfied enough to just trade with me from time to time."

He tried to reassure me.

"I'm actually sorry for you since they don't really need you. They only need me, but for some reason, they want both of us in the same place."

This made me think about the reason for our bringing.

Froggy has already a reputation as the best alchemist in the whole kingdom so it's reasonable for the powerful people to want him, and with the new knowledge of curing infected people, he's even more valuable than before.

But what about me?

They don't know that I'm from another world, I don't think they know that I came from the Stone Kingdom.

I don't think they know that I can break, place and craft faster than them, or the fact that I know some forbidden knowledge.

So then why do they also need me, I just came to this desert. They shouldn't even know that I'm here.

The more I thought about this the less it made sense. And from talking with Cleopatra I think even she was confused about my bringing.

I was deep in questions that nobody in this group could answer so I had to do what I've always done since I've come into this world.

Ignore it until it's solved Itself.

The journey was surprisingly comfortable. We were truly treated like special guests, we ate cooked meat, drank milk, and had plenty of rest.

Even at night we settled down and lit up the camp and around us with lanterns. Because of that we rarely had problems with monsters, and the best part was that we didn't have to fight with them like the first time we came here.

After traveling for five days we finally arrived at our destination.

If the city shocked me when I saw it for the first time, this one could give me a heart attack.

Saying that it was huge it's an understatement, the city was separated into three parts separated by different walls, the outer part which was the largest was surrounded by a wall 5 blocks tall.

It was the place where the common people lived, the houses looked pretty cramped from up here. And I could see the market close to a second wall which was bigger than the first one.

The second layer was separated by another wall 10 blocks high from the first district.

The streets were more spacious, the buildings were much bigger and there wasn't too much activity on the streets. What was most different in that place, was that it was the noble's area.

The houses were beautifully decorated with rare blocks like grass and water fountains. I could even see a couple of animals in the yards.

Finally, all of this was overshadowed by the last district.

The wall was 20 blocks tall, but even such tall walls could not hide the beauty of the palace.

This was the Royal Palace. It had the style of a desert temple with the shape of a pyramid, and while I couldn't see all the beauty from there because of the tall wall what I did saw impressed me, especially the tip of the building that was made entirely out of gold blocks which reflected sunlight.

"This city is huge! How old is this place to have so many buildings?"

I said in awe.

This world kept impressing me more and more the more I saw it.

I'm tempted to take a backpack and start traveling the world just to admire it.

"This city had stood the waves of time, its origins predate even the great war, It was a city that even other nation's envied. But after the war, there have been a lot of casualties and a loss of knowledge. This is what we have left to remember our otherwise forgotten history."

The great war came again. I heard it first with the skeleton king when he commented on my weapon and I still don't know who was fighting who since even a monster from the Nether knew about it, which is another dimension all together.

"I heard legends about a great war that happened between the first monsters and the humans, but I didn't think it was real."

Fortunately Froggy asked instead of me.

"It is very much real as it was deadly. Unfortunately, we don't have any information on what caused it or what stopped it, we only know that the corruption suddenly stopped coming which showed that we won. Of course, the monsters still come at night since theres still some corruption in this world that hasn't healed yet, but from the records, in the time of war even the almighty sun could not banish them."

I was curious to hear that since the official game had some lore but it wasn't too known like the other games.

Though I do think that this world has a completely different history than what the developers thought since it's alredy getting further and further then the original.

"Of course, because we are one of the oldest cities our specialty is Enchanting, there won't be an enchanted book you won't be able to find here."

She said with pride.

"That's pretty impressive, but who are the other older cities?"

I asked wondering if they had their own specialty.

"That would be the capital of Coral kingdom and the capital of Stone kingdom. Coral specialty is trading and crafting while Stone specialty is mining and potion making."

She wasn't as enthusiasmated to praise someone else's nation as hers.

We decide to stop talking when we arrived at the entrance of the first wall.

And of course, nobody dared to stop us, a group with Princess Cleopatra as its leader surrounded by villagers armed with enchanted iron armor, especially if they weren't paid enough for this.

The people on the streets were trying to stay out of our way as much as possible but they still stopped to look at us while we passed in wonder and fear.

We didn't have to travel too much before arriving at the second wall.

This time the guards were prepared to intercept us but stopped once we got close enough for them to recognize the princess.

The noble section was beautiful to see up close, the road was made with Stone bricks, unlike the first layer which was shoveled dirt.

People here were also looking at us, but not with fear as the others, they looked more shocked to see someone so important outside walking on their streets .

The view was beautiful until we arrived at the final wall.

There, the guards finally stopped us.

"Welcome back Princess Cleopatra, your father has been eagerly expecting you. Should we check the people that you're brought?"

The guard was here to actually greet us but looks like he also wanted to check on us. I don't know how they'll do it but I'm sure I'll get in a lot of trouble with how much stuff I have in my inventory.

"They're guests of honor so they shall be treated as such. Now move so I can meet with my father."

"Yes, your Highness."

The guard bowed and moved out of the way to let us pass.

Once we passed the last wall, I finally saw what those big barriers were hiding.

Stone statues with horses and villagers' faces, garden with different biomes and plants. The pathway was made with white concrete, which was Ilumainated by the lampposts besides the road.

And all of this led to a huge entrance to the palace.

We walked for a few minutes in the huge halfway where we saw more statues and different precious blocks on display until we arrived at one final room.

The throne room.

There stood an elite group of guards that was equipped with enchanted diamond armor.

They all stood guarding besides the tall pillars, with a stoic expression but ready to attack at any danger.

In the middle of the room stood a huge throne made with gold, diamond, and even emerald blocks.

And on top of all that stood a man who wore fancy clothing that was studying us with his eyes.

The ruler of this land.

Sultan Amun the Enchanter.

"Heroes, welcome to my palace!"