The Events of the 10th of Galena, 1070
"'Nother child grew up today."
"You're a damned liar."
Dojango looked up from the the series of blueprints that had been laid out across the workbench in Betrand's old lab. He scowled at Akroma, who shook a browned, brittle femur at him.
"Why would I lie about that, huh? That's not something to lie about."
"Nothing 'grows up' out here. You heard it yourself, there's something wrong, there's something really wrong, and it's just a damn fluke that children age - only the ones that come from outside."
Dojango couldn't help himself; instinct made him glance over his shoulder, towards the door that was closed and barred. He let himself relax some, going back to tracing lines on the blueprints.
"That's not true..."
"Oh? And the child that reached adulthood, born here?"
"...No, little orphan, prodigy, came here a while ago, joined the Mason's Corp. Pawnzer's mad as all hell, seeing as he was grooming her to help carve blocks and beds for the new rooms, for the library, but..."
"You're avoiding it! She's not native! She's an outsider, and those born here, poor things, are cursed! It's these... damned sands!" Akroma smashed the femur down on the table, and it splintered, small bits of bone scattering across the table, a large chunk from the top skating to the side to vanish into a dark corner.
"Keep your voice down!" Dojango hurriedly whispered.
"We're fine in here," Akroma snapped back.
"And you know what will happen if this gets out proper? If this becomes more than just some rumor by those that care to pay attention when the children don't die of horrors and still don't age?"
"Mmm..."
The pair lapsed into silence. Eventually, Akroma pointed to one of the domes on the blueprint, tapping it twice with the broken bone. "Gardens here?"
"Best place, really, below the kitchens, gives them access to fresh herbs, to vegetables, maybe even fruits. It's the least we can do for the poor souls that seal themselves away."
Akroma nodded, and lifted his eyes to the torch on the wall. He squinted at it, briefly lost in though, before sighing. "Think we'll get out?"
"We better. This place will explode... Aryn trying to lock them all under water? I can't imagine the goblins would waste any time ransacking the shell of the city, any who stayed would just be meat for the armies... no, this is best. A good deed, make sure it's done, and a clean break from this... cursed place."
"Safer in numbers," Akroma said. "Much safer."
"Aye, so keep your eyes open, there might be a few that would be willing to part ways when things finally go tits up."