"Is this where Tilan used to live?"
Standing at the entrance on the ground of Payin City, Efnie and Deloris looked around with a touch of novelty.
The wind blew sand over the ground, passing through erected metal partitions, and a red giant well appeared before their eyes. Transport ships occasionally rose from it, while goods were delivered from the well's adjacent industrial elevator, loaded onto waiting heavy trucks.
"Yes," Tilan, standing on the pathway at the edge of the giant well, led the two down the stairs.
The three of them stepped on the anti-slip metal floor that resembled rivets, walking and stopping intermittently, as Tilan explained the purpose and history of the surrounding buildings.
"A passageway like this one could be sealed off layer by layer at any time during the war. Even if a nuclear bomb were deployed, it could effectively defend against it."
"The city's main body is deep underground, and we'll have to take an elevator to get there."