You wouldn’t believe me if I told you that the place I’m in right now is floating, would you? Well, you’re wrong – this place is really floating. It’s a palace, and the architecture, both inside and out, looks very old. Most of the furnishings were either broken or collapsed due to sandstorms because this palace was built a long time ago. The furnishings were made of faded bricks, but besides the bricks, there were blue-colored, shining carvings representing various figures. The palace was cold and dark, so there were four torches to provide light. The walls were tall, and there were five columns on each side. Triangle-shaped carvings and golden decorations adorned the columns.
As I stood there, right in front of me was the most fascinating sight: the king’s throne, with a goat-headed human statue positioned behind it. The back of the throne was triangular, and there were dark-colored carvings as well as the same blue-shining designs I had mentioned earlier. The goat-headed statue was sitting on a two-tiered, chair-like structure. The king’s throne had seven supports, four of which were shaped like animals: a dragon, a goat, a crocodile, and an ibis. The goat was one of them.
The roof was unusual. It didn’t connect to the palace, leaving a gap that allowed sunlight to pour in. This palace was floating above an enormous pit called “The Eye of the Sands.”
The road I took to get here was fascinating too. I passed a large building with the same blue-colored shine on top, this time in the shape of a star lying on its side. But things didn’t end there. On the blue shine, there was a smaller, upside-down version of the same building. Right next to the building was a small village. I entered and, to my surprise, we were warmly welcomed as guests by the villagers. Just then, I saw a group of soldiers riding horses, and in front of them was him – The Scarlet King. He was riding a horse as well. I didn’t expect to see him there. Little children were playing, smiling at him, and he smiled back. The villagers truly adored their king. As he passed by me, I noticed him smiling at me, and I realized I was smiling too. After talking with the villagers in a cheerful mood, I left the village.
When I arrived at the entrance of the palace, I realized just how massive it was. Two temples stood on the right, and one on the left, with a sculpture of an ibis in front of these temples. Inside the palace, there were dog sculptures on both sides, and outside, there were goat statues on each side as well. I was afraid to look down at the entrance, as the pit beneath was so deep and wide.
The sand was unbearably hot, making the journey to the palace difficult. At least the bricks I stepped on inside the palace were cooler. The only sounds I heard during my journey were the rustling of sand and bushes being swept along by the wind. The hot weather and humidity made it hard to smell or feel much, but the berries growing on the cacti smelled wonderful when I got close to them.
Though I complained about the journey to the palace, it turned out to be a magnificent experience in the end.