The man with purple hair opened the doors of the hotel and let Sahar admire the beautiful capital. Creel and Az accompanied the boy so that he could learn more about this World.

Sahar had never been a fan of walks and guided tours, but he always enjoyed seeing new landscapes and enjoying their beauty. This was only a city, but it had a charm that appealed to the boy. Sahar also wanted to know what Nyara and the others were talking about: what was that "special" thing that was in Provinäah...? He hadn't noticed anything special so far. He would find out soon enough.

- Here, Sahar.

The boy turned to the right, where Azgoria should be... The fact that he was invisible to her was a real problem that needed to be addressed.

- Yes...?

- Do you know the legend of Duzmog? How the world was created and why it is like this?

Sahar took some time before answering. He didn't want to say that he knew about the legend, since that could have disastrous consequences, but he was also reluctant to say that he didn't know. They would take him for someone who didn't know anything about his own world and end up suspecting something. He had to be careful with everything he dared to say.

In any case, he could not lie and say that he knew about this legend; that would reduce his possibilities of response.

- ... I don't think we have the same legends," said Sahar.

It was risky. If Azgoria asked what legend he knew, he would have to make it up without stammering... Creel did not listen to their discussion and moved on.

- ... Is your legend about Ovo and the separation of the continents?

- Ovo...

He had already heard this name during their discussion. Who was she...? If he remembered correctly, wasn't she... the Goddess? In any case, Sahar wanted to hear the legend of Duzmog, so he did what he had to do:

- Not really, we're talking about Ovo, but not the separation. Is it... could I know what the legend is about?

If Azgoria had invented Ovo's name just to trick Sahar, then Sahar was in trouble. Fortunately, he was sure he had heard of it before. Az nodded.

- It goes back to a time when everything was black, when nothing was everything," Azgoria explained. In some unknown way, Ovo appeared in the universe and, seeing that she was alone, decided to have a little fun... She created HER universe in the universe. She placed planets everywhere, stars and nebulae. Ovo, Goddess of all things, created many more stars and things we don't know about yet. She saw all her creation as her sandbox. She could do what she wanted, have fun as she wished... but it lacked life. So, in all her planets that she had randomly placed, that she had created only for fun, she made one work of which she was proud: Duzmog. A planet with water as bright as the stars and an azure sky like Etholys, the star she created especially for this planet. The living conditions being favorable for the life she wanted to create, she first invited the "animals", which she placed on Duzmog as guinea pigs.

Sahar listened intently to Az's story while Creel looked for the location of the Houses of Judgment. Az continued, walking alongside the boy.

- Seeing that the animals were surviving in this environment, Ovo decided to create the first humans and sent them to the piece of land she had created for them as well. At that time, there was only one continent. To thank Ovo, the creator of human life, the humans called the continent "Ovoroko", which in the language of the Gods would mean "The gift that Ovo gave us". So they began to cultivate, live and pray to Ovo and thank her with gifts.

Sahar was fascinated by the legend of Duzmog. The creation of humans on Earth was very different from that on Duzmog. Even though the boy knew that the legend of Adam and Eve and the whole Bible only gave messages, he found the legend of Duzmog more interesting. After that, it was not the same.

- However...

Creel glanced back, but did not stop walking. How many times had he heard this legend... He was almost disgusted.

- On the World began to divide the humans: those who believed in Ovo...

- ... and those who didn't...?

Az told him that it was exactly that.

- Over time, some people said that Ovo was just a legend, that it simply didn't exist, Az continued. So the wars between the tribes started.

- ......

- But Ovo, who did not like conflicts, separated the tribes in a simple and effective way. She divided the continent into two: on one side, those who believed in them, the other those who did not believe in her. Ovo, not wanting to create preferences, shared resources, territories and advantages - and disadvantages - equally. The two continents were equal. So the tribes stopped warring with each other, unable to fight.

Creel stopped. They had arrived. Az finished his story first.

- Water being sacred, humans never tried to go to the other continent. Over time, the continent where those who believed in Ovo were found to be filled with humans who did not believe in Ovo and vice versa. However, about this, Ovo never did anything. She still watches over us, but she leaves us free. And "free", in the language of the gods, is called "Boskow".

The name of the continent. Sahar wondered: what was the name of the other continent? He was about to ask, but Creel spoke first.

- Well, we're here to show Sahar the capital, Az. I'll take us to the places you're talking about.

Az let out a friendly laugh. The latter was observing the buildings in front of him.

Three towers of the same shape, but obviously different heights. The one on the left was the smallest, the one on the right was the tallest. There was almost no glass in these towers, but their roofs seemed... open, as if to let all the light inside the buildings pass through. Az began to explain what these towers were.

- Sahar, these are the "Judgment Towers". All three towers have the same function: to judge those who deserve it.

- Like a court of law? the boy wondered.

- In the tallest tower, the less dangerous criminals are judged. Theft, single murder or lese majeste, they never get the death penalty. Their maximum sentence is ten years; in short, not much.

Sahar still wouldn't want to spend ten years in prison. He didn't know the standard of living of the prisoners and their treatment, but he didn't even want to imagine it: in a World like this, they had to be well guarded. Az looked at the second tower.

- In the middle, those who commit much more serious crimes are judged. Serial murders, killing important people, unforgivable thefts, or even daring to swim further than the Ovian boundaries. One stays in prison for at least seven years and can have a prison sentence so long that two lives are not enough to do it in full. The death penalty is also applicable depending on the seriousness of the crime.

- The last tower...

Sahar looked at it. Despite its similarity to the others, it had a different... feeling. Much darker, much more... Sahar didn't feel right looking at it, as if millions of eyes were watching him. Around him, night covered the day. The buildings disappeared. His vision became blurred.

Hundreds of blue and red eyes were watching him, judging him, staring at him. Sahar trembled with fear, his own eyes wide open.

- Sahar.

He blinked and the whole vision vanished. He turned his gaze to the right, then to the left, and finally to the man. His tired eyes watched him without emotion. Sahar swallowed and touched his forehead. He....... was sweating...? Even though Sahar couldn't see it, he knew Azgoria was watching the tower. Everyone who had passed through here... had all felt it.

- ......

If people didn't like looking at the third tower, it wasn't without reason. That horrible feeling...

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

- ... The sight of judgment.

Rather faintly, Azgoria spoke a few words that Sahar could not hear. Creel sighed and moved forward, looking away from the tower. He... hated her. The others shared the same feeling and followed him. What was this vision...? The boy didn't want to think about it anymore... He had goosebumps.

They had moved away from the Towers of Judgment and were now heading to a cuter place: a large park full of greenery. The place wasn't very sunny, but Sahar had already noticed this detail: Provinäah was very dark. Etholys' light seemed to have a hard time getting through the clouds. Yet... there were so few of them. The park was surrounded by gray gates made of a very strong metal. Inside, children were playing, bathing or playing with the toys provided. Some adults were talking quietly on the benches made of a very elegant wood. The pink trees were of a striking beauty. A beautiful lake held in its middle a small island with a multicolored tree, while the water reflected the few rays of the star that shone in the sky. All this made for a very pleasant landscape that Sahar enjoyed. Az smiled.

- Ahead of you is Provinäah Park, which is a total of three kilometers by five. Pretty big, isn't it?

Sahar couldn't deny it. He didn't know the size of the huge park near his village on Earth, but it was still smaller. Sahar couldn't hide his smile as he looked at the nature in front of him. Creel had his back to Az and Sahar. Was he smiling, was he angry? What they knew was that Creel had been standing there for three minutes, motionless. As Az was about to speak, the man moved, his air still neutral.

- Let's go.

Sahar did not try to understand.

They arrived in front of a gigantic building. It surpassed all its neighbors. It was more beautiful, more grandiose, more flashy and more majestic. In fact, Sahar had seen it three hundred meters before and he couldn't take his eyes off it. It was very daring architecture - but it worked very well. The harmony of the building was to die for. Most of the materials used in the building were shiny and brightly colored, except for the windows, which were curved in white. Sahar wasn't sure if it was just a house of someone very rich or a much more important building...

- The building you see in front of us is called "The Beautiful Surface".

It sounded like a restaurant, the white-haired boy thought with a smile.

- A house that makes you want to eat, doesn't it?" said Az, looking at Sahar.

- Yes, it is," said Sahar.

- This house was built for someone... for someone who deserves hero status.

Sahar unfortunately couldn't see it, but Azgoria had a nostalgic and happy look on her face. Creel looked at the man with a squint.

- She was in a relationship, they were married and this person lived here too, but... Anyway, it doesn't matter. This house is beautiful and rumors say that the interior is extraordinary too; however, it is impossible to enter. This hero is not often at home, but when she is, you can quickly tell: people rush here, in the streets near the house and like to talk to her. She's a nice woman who loves to talk to people.

- B-But...?!

A woman...? Sahar... thought she was a "hero"?! Didn't they say "heroine"? He preferred to ask the question. Az laughed and shook his hand in front of him.

- I confess, sorry, sorry! A real heroine... If only she came to the capital more often... She must have so much work, all over the continent... One wonders sometimes...

Sahar continued to look at the house while listening to the man. Creel, seeing Azgoria's expression, sighed and continued on his way, going to the last destination of their guided trip. Sahar couldn't see Azgoria's expression when he let out those last words, but..........

- ...

Azgoria raised her hand to the sky.

Tears almost in her eyes.

- ... if she doesn't visit the other continent, sometimes.

Sahar opened her mouth in surprise. This "heroine" could go from one continent to the other? It was impressive... If Sahar was ever asked if he had ever seen her, he would answer directly that he had not. He wasn't going to try to lie about it. Az dried his eyes and followed Creel. This last destination... was the best of all.

Sahar was speechless. How... had he not seen it before...? It was so... huge. No.

Immense.

It should be impossible to miss... this. It wasn't common. It wasn't something Sahar would have thought possible until he saw it, right there in front of his stunned eyes. He had no words to describe what he felt. He was impressed, shocked, happy, joyful, pleased, scared, frightened,... and had no idea why he was feeling all of this. It was... so strange. It was as if his heart had taken several different emotions at random and made a salad out of them. He couldn't express that.

Immense.

It was so huge. Why hadn't he noticed it... No, he had asked himself that question before. He was so... His brain didn't know if this was reality or not. Afterwards, being an isekai always seemed like a dream to Sahar. One moment it was a nightmare, but not anymore. He felt better.

- ... A... bk...

- Impressive, right? No one sees it until you point it out, I think it's... impressive. They don't call Provinäah the "City of the Immense" for nothing, you know?!

However, how had he not noticed anything...

... when he looked up to the sky?

He hadn't seen anything. He hadn't noticed that during his visit either. He was still confused... How could he not see...

This...

Huge.

Tree.

Sahar, his eyes fixed on the gigantic trunk of the tree, finally came out with words that made sense.

- ... W-What is... a tree here, so...

- So huge?

Sahar nodded.

- Does it have anything to do... with... with Ovo...?

Sahar was pretty sure it did. However...

Az answered him in the negative.

- Actually, this tree is someone's creation.

- The...??!!!

Az smiled, amused by the boy's reaction.

- Do you know what year it is, Sahar?

The boy nodded. He didn't know, or he couldn't remember.

- It is AdS-518*. This tree... was created five hundred and eighteen years ago, Sahar.

(* : The dash in "Ads-518" is not pronounced. Ads is pronounced "A-De-Esse", not "Adsse").

They were counting the years since the creation of this tree...? Just like on Earth, the years are counted since the birth of Jesus?

- This tree is called "the Immense", but it has a name. This tree is called "Imäa". It means "Thank you". Why is it called that, you ask?

Sahar nodded. Az let out a laugh.

- Who knows, who knows!

And with that laugh, the man walked away.

- I'll leave you with Creel for a while, I have something to do quickly! Explain him a little Creel, and join me afterwards!

Creel sighed, but he accepted without flinching.

- Imäa was created after a war that almost buried the entire human race, he explained. We're not sure who created it... We don't know why either. We just know the context, that's all.

Sahar listened carefully. It was strange that they had so little information.

- What we do know is that the leaves block the sun's rays from reaching Provinäah. The worst thing is that as soon as you leave the capital, you find Etholys. It's not just that the leaves form the border in the sky: it's that at any time of the day or evening, the shadows will be the same. It doesn't make sense, yet no one tries to find a logical explanation.

The boy could easily understand Creel's confusion. If the leaves "by chance" covered the whole capital, then the capital should only be in shadow at the zenith. However, the fact that this was the case even when the star was more towards the west or the east... Creel finished his explanation.

- You can't see the leaves because of the magic of the person who created it, I guess. In any case, you can only see the leaves after you have climbed to a certain height. You can climb the tree with the help of stairs that people have created, but it is not free. It's worth a look, though.

Imäa was huge... and impressive. Sure, Sahar could only see the trunk, but he could tell: this tree was incredible. How many miles was it? How high did it reach? All these questions! He would have the answers one day!

Unfortunately, not today, because...

- ...... Cr... Hey!

Creel walked away, his back to Sahar. He waved his arm over his head.

- I'm joining Az, we have something to do. We've been visiting for almost five, maybe six hours, I remind you, including the lunch break. Do what you want, just don't forget to come back not too late. Virus is still around!

Sahar sighed and a smile played on his lips. He looked at the tree trunk again.

The city of the Immense. It was aptly named after all... Sahar walked away from there and promised himself to climb that tree one day. Just for the view, for the emotions, because he wanted to.

The girl looked at the tree in front of her. Her yellow eye and her red eye were both enjoying the view. She had missed Provinäah... but she wasn't here to enjoy the view. She can do that tomorrow.

- He's here.

The girl turned her gaze. He...

- He's close.

She had to see him......

- He......

In front of her was a man with purple hair and a bored look. He was walking normally, unhurriedly, and looked bored with life. He turned his gaze, feeling watched. On the other side of the crowd was a girl with green hair. What was she doing, staring at him like that...? Not liking it, he continued on his way with a sigh. Creel didn't want to waste time with people he didn't know.

The girl smiled.

- Hehehe.

- Found you.