Lights spray from the corners of the throne room like the end of a movie at the theater, where the Queen was waiting eagerly for our two adventurers

Queen: Ah! Why hello there, great travellers from far lands! I have heard of your desires in fetching aways to the high point of the highest root: Manor of the High Pupils?

Vagapod: Indeed we are, Queen of the weather! Although, I figured your omnipresent powers would have told you.

Queen: Bwah, gotta keep a little surprise in your life. Especially when it gets to these offerings! Mmmhmm! We haven't had one in a while. Shall we start off with some… mmh… bottled waters? Your friend looks like a tide pod outta Wet Lid!

D-ray turns to stare Vagapod with an awkward and confused expression on his face

Vagapod: Indeed, he shall enjoy the fulfilling comforts of fresh, clean waters!

Queen: Yes! For the special guest over here. Here you go!

The Queen gives D-ray a 2 liters worth of water in a bottle. He starts to have a go at it

D-ray: Uhm… thanks… (hey, this actually pretty good)

Queen: A resident from Wet Lid! I can feel the golden treasures already. Let's start! Let's start!

D-ray: (...Is she talking to me? You... you are going to pay her right?)

Vagapod: Actually, your majesty, my friend does not possess any gold on him. 

Queen: Pardon?

Vagapod: I was going to pay for his dues with my own stash of gold right here

Vagapod tries to reach for 2 bars of precious gold from his jacket

Queen: Not even like a pearl or something from the deep bullows of the nearest sea? 

Vagapod: This is sadly not the case, queen. But please, I feel like you would be of great interest to look at these-

Queen: Stop right there, Vaga!

Vagapod immediately stops shuffling for his gold stack, looking at the Queen. D-ray gets startled, prompting himself to stop drinking from his gifted bottle

Queen: Vaga, my fair man. We both know that you have the finest gold that money can buy, money being gold that isn't as good! I’d be appreciative to receive it if this was independent but well… I can’t accept the offer since your friend here cannot present his own charity. 

Vagapod: Hmmmm…

Queen: I’m not the local train station, Vaga.

Vagapod: Queen, forgive me! I had no will to compare you to a t-

Queen: I am not a choo choo train for the needy. You just made this weird. I feel… objectified. You there! 

The Queen looks at D-ray

...is it true that you do not have any gold or pearls or anything of the kind on you?

D-ray: Y-yes, I swear. But can’t you just take his gold? It’s still gold!

Queen: It has to be a gift from oneself, not bought from one’s peers. Great Wet Lid traveller! There must be a means for you to pay for water from where you live?

D-ray: Listen, COMRADE, I’m not from the “Great Wet Lid”, I’m from D’Hoonnib, and we use money units to pay for services.

Queen: (...Comrade?)

D-ray: You see this perfectly crafted suit? I paid it with money units, like uhh… THIS.

D-ray quickly presents a single old one dollar bill to the queen, forgetting that this unit of currency is not even sufficient enough in his own world. The queen looks astonished 

Queen: ...Is this paper important to you?

D-ray: …? Important… ? Kind of… I mean… yes and no.

We don’t use “dollars” on D’Hoonnib, we use “Federation Units”, but this one was a “gift” from my father. I don’t see my father in aeons, so I just keep it because you never know when it can be useful.

Queen: Of personal attachment? Hmm… As unusual as it is for an aquatic from this so-called den of “D’Hoonlid” to have a paper artifact, it is not of value enough standalone… I think?

D-ray: It’s D’HOONNIB and no, there’s no “personal attachment”! It’s just a piece of paper to me… just take it, come on!

The queen analyzes the bill with full focus, gets flattered when she sees the eye of providence on the green piece of paper. She blushes and her sight paves back to the two donors

Queen: Vaga, your offer is well and gratitude. Unfortunately, for personal-valued offerings from the other member, I am unwilling to conjecture the weather with the resources presented, as well as the mishaps that happened to get here, gentlepods. It’s not custom. 

D-ray: (Is she deficient… ?)

Queen: However, I am happy to finally see people in this room after so many… things! As appreciation, I will give some future insight from the skies! You are free to exit to this side of the pyramid all in well. There, you may find a desert rider from outside that will be able to help you get to The Illuminating Towers.

Vagapod: But queen! Will there be any way to get to the manor in The Illuminating Towers?

Queen: That is something you will recognize later, Vagapod, the honorable traveller. You may be able to reach great elevations enough to find aid from the reserve.

Vagapod: The reserve…

D-ray: “The reserve”, what… ?

Queen: I think your friend here can help you with that when the time comes. But bless you both on your venture. And take another water bottle!

Queen throws a water bottle at D-ray’s face as both D-ray and Vagapod exit the pyramid from the left side, trying to find some creature who has a ride through the desert. The towers await!

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Additional dialogue and overall design in collaboration with @EyepodNation.