The sun rose like a golden giant, bathing the settlement in a faint light, largely dimmed by the ghurkha. Narek woke up with a start, stretching until his bones cracked. He looked at the sun and, placing two fingers in front of him, slowly opened them until they reached the edges of the celestial body.

"Seventeen hours have passed since last night, which means it's morning," he muttered to himself.

He turned his head and saw Thamuz still sleeping peacefully in his bed. A mischievous smile appeared on his face.

"Maybe I can get back at him for what he did to me last night," he thought, remembering the pillow incident.

He pulled out a large brick he kept under his bed and aimed it at Thamuz's head.

"I know a simple pillow won't wake you up, so I'll have to use something a little heavier," he whispered between light chuckles, trying not to wake his companion.

Narek threw the brick, but just as the object was about to impact Thamuz's head, he raised his arm with superhuman speed, hitting the brick in mid-air and pulverizing it.

Thamuz's action immediately frightened Narek, causing him to back away and cover himself with his sheets. Meanwhile, Thamuz slowly opened his eyes.

"What happened?" asked Thamuz, fully awake.

"A... a brick fell from the ceiling and almost hit your head," Narek stammered, trying to hide his nervousness.

"Well, I was lucky it didn't hit me," said Thamuz, slowly rising from his bed.

Thamuz stood up, observing the sunlight penetrating through the window. He began to stretch, unconsciously displaying his musculature, while Narek looked at him, still frightened.

"Come on, don't be so smug," said Narek, trying to get up as well.

Narek approached the window to observe the horizon. He saw his father sitting in a chair in the backyard, with a large table in front of him, reading a book while drinking a hot beverage from his cup.

"Father doesn't sleep much. He always gets up early and stays reading his books," Narek explained, glancing at Thamuz.

Thamuz approached the window to see what Narek was talking about. He observed Armesto and gave a slight smile.

"If I had that much money, I'd do the same," he commented.

"Well," said Narek, changing the subject, "we better get ready. We have a long day ahead and a lot of city to explore."

Thamuz nodded and headed towards the bedroom door. As he opened it, an scent of flowers and warm essences filled the air.

He left the room with Narek, who was still rubbing his sleepy eyes. They headed towards the bathroom, which turned out to be a large sauna with a central hole filled with boiling water.

They began to undress, becoming naked. Thamuz sat on one of the sauna steps while Narek went to fetch a bucket full of hot water.

Narek returned with the bucket and sat next to Thamuz. With a ladle, he poured boiling water on his back.

"Nothing better than a hot bath," Narek expressed with satisfaction in his voice.

Thamuz imitated the action, pouring water on his back and emitting a bubbling sound of pleasure.

"It really is the best," he added.

They continued this ritual for a good while. Then, Narek got up and went to a cabinet. Upon opening it, he revealed several large jars with different powders and flower petals.

He took a green-colored jar and returned to Thamuz. He opened the container and took out a pinch of the powder, rubbing it on his skin.

"This helps you not smell bad all day," he explained, offering the jar to Thamuz.

While Thamuz was applying the powder to his armpits, Narek noticed something peculiar.

"What happened to the scales you had before?" he asked curiously.

"What scales?" Thamuz questioned, puzzled.

"In your fight with Khabixan, I saw some black scales appear on different parts of your body: ribs, shoulders, forearms," Narek explained, applying more powder to his legs.

"Oh, you mean that? Well... I think they simply disappeared," Thamuz responded, his gaze fixed on the floor.

Narek observed Thamuz with a mixture of curiosity and concern. There was a moment of silence before he dared to ask:

"Is... is it normal for them to appear and disappear like that?"

Thamuz raised his gaze, his eyes reflecting a mixture of confusion and something deeper, almost inscrutable.

"To be honest, I don't know," he admitted. "There are many things about myself that I still don't understand."

Narek nodded slowly, processing the information. He decided not to press the issue further, noticing Thamuz's discomfort.

"Well, whatever it is, they made you look quite intimidating in the arena," he commented, trying to lighten the mood. "Maybe they'll appear again when you need them."

"Yes, they made me not feel Khabixan's blows, and he got hurt in the process," Thamuz commented, reflective.

The two young men finished bathing and got up from the steps. Narek wrapped himself in a towel and offered another to Thamuz, who accepted it, placing it around his waist.

"Do you have any clothes?" Narek asked, walking towards the exit door.

"No, I've always liked going shirtless," Thamuz replied, following him.

"Well, in the city it's well-regarded for men to go shirtless, but for women... well, you'll know why," Narek explained, opening the door.

They left together and headed to another room in the house. Upon opening the door, Thamuz was dazzled by the interior: it was a gigantic room full of different clothing items, from pants to elaborate dresses.

"This is where we keep all our clothes. Each of us has a section. Come, I'll show you," Narek said, walking towards the back of the room.

Thamuz followed him, marveling at the variety of colors and styles. Narek was pointing out the different sections and corridors.

"The open shirts and short pants are my father's. The long white dresses are my mother's. My section is right in front of us," Narek explained.

He stopped in front of a set of shirts with a worn look. He took a black one and put it on.

"How does it look? My father bought it for me two weeks ago," he asked, giving a thumbs up.

Thamuz looked at him with a mocking smile. "It looks like an animal attacked your father before giving you the shirt."

"Hey!" Narek exclaimed, feigning indignation. "At least I have clothes and you don't."

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Clothes from distant lands, I see," Thamuz replied, laughing softly.

Narek sighed, scratching his forehead. "Alright, I'm not going to get upset about that. Let me change completely and then we'll go."

While Narek was looking for the rest of his outfit, Thamuz scanned the room with his eyes, stopping at a section that seemed less used.

"And those clothes over there?" he asked, pointing to a secluded corner.

Narek looked towards where Thamuz was pointing, and his expression turned serious for a moment.

"Those... those were my older brother's clothes," he replied softly. "He died a few years ago in a shamonak combat."

Thamuz felt the change in the atmosphere and nodded respectfully. "I'm sorry," he said simply.

Narek forced a smile. "It's okay. You know, I think some of his things might fit you well. Want to try something on?"

Thamuz hesitated for a moment, but Narek's encouraging look convinced him. He approached the section and chose dark leather pants and a black trench coat wich had an cape and hood attached to it.

"I like these," he said, trying them on.

Narek observed Thamuz with a mixture of nostalgia and approval. "They fit you perfectly. I'm sure my brother would have liked you to wear them."

They both finished dressing in an uncomfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts about what would happen during the day.

When they felt satisfied with their outfits, they left the room and headed towards the main hall. They walked to the backyard, where Armesto was still reading.

Armesto was absorbed in his book, taking occasional sips from the cup he held in his other hand. Noticing two shadows approaching, he lowered the book slightly to look at Thamuz and Narek.

"You woke up early, boys," Armesto commented, taking another sip from his cup.

"Yes, you know the city gets very congested by the afternoon," Narek explained, crossing his arms.

Armesto turned his head slightly, observing Thamuz. His eyes widened as he noticed the clothes he was wearing. He immediately lowered his book and looked at him with an expression of astonishment.

"Are those Markat's clothes?" he asked, his voice almost breaking.

"I thought they would fit him well," Narek responded, with a tone of concern in his voice.

A tear rolled down Armesto's cheek, greatly worrying Thamuz. However, Armesto smiled at the same time.

"They fit him perfectly," he said, wiping the tear from his cheek.

There was a moment of emotionally charged silence. Thamuz, feeling a bit uncomfortable but moved, spoke:

"Mr. Armesto, if it bothers you that I wear these clothes, I can change..."

Armesto shook his head, his smile growing wider. "No, no, boy. It's... it's good to see them in use again. Markat would have been happy to see you like this."

Narek put a hand on his father's shoulder. "Dad, are you sure you're okay with this?"

Armesto nodded, regaining his composure. "Of course. Life goes on, and it's time for those clothes to see the light of day again." He looked Thamuz directly in the eyes. "Take good care of them, boy. And more importantly, take care of my son on his adventure through the city."

Thamuz nodded solemnly. "I will, sir. You have my word."

Armesto smiled, satisfied. "Good, then." He turned to Narek. "And you, my son, keep your eyes open and show Thamuz everything our city has to offer."

Narek nodded, a mixture of excitement and nervousness on his face. "I will, Dad."

"Now go," said Armesto, gesturing with his hand. "The city awaits you, and the day is young. Enjoy, learn, and come back home safe and sound."

"We will, father," said Narek.

Thamuz suddenly touched his pocket and noticed the absence of something important. His eyes widened, and he turned around to head towards his room.

"Wait, I forgot something very important," he informed as he walked away.

He reached the hallway where the rooms were and noticed a open door. Curiosity got the better of him, and he approached stealthily to see what that room contained.

It was his parents, still asleep and cuddled in an intimate and tender embrace. Thamuz observed them for a moment, letting out a sigh of tenderness. He decided to let them rest and continued on his way to his own room.

Once there, he opened the door and headed towards the bed. He rummaged under the pillow and pulled out a leather bag.

"I almost forgot the pamtan," he muttered to himself.

Suddenly, a spectral breeze swept through the room, chilling Thamuz's body and causing his anxiety to spike.

"What's happening?" he questioned, feeling a shiver run down his spine.

"Enjoy it," whispered a spectral voice, barely audible but unmistakably present.

Thamuz stood still, his heart beating hard. He looked around, searching for the source of that mysterious voice, but the room seemed empty and normal.

"Who are you?" he asked quietly, though he wasn't sure if he expected an answer.

Thamuz was walking backwards, towards the exit door, when a large heavy figure blocked his path. He looked up and found eyes as red as the most burning crimson. The figure was twice his height, with horns identical to his and skin so black it seemed like the night itself. But there was a notable difference: the figure's body was covered with skin wounds, bruises, and war scars, while Thamuz's remained flawless.

The figure grabbed Thamuz's head, who remained motionless in its presence. It turned him until their gazes connected, and Thamuz observed the sinister grimace it presented.

"Enjoy these moments so precious to you, because later on, you're going to miss them," it said, ending the phrase with a macabre laugh.

Thamuz tried to hit it with his palm, but the figure vanished as if it were a ghost, leaving him bewildered.

Silence was all that remained. The cold breeze dissipated as quickly as it had appeared, leaving Thamuz with a feeling of unease and confusion.

Slowly, he headed towards the exit door and ran out to the stairs, rushing down to the yard, where Narek and Armesto were still talking.

Noticing his agitated state, Narek approached him while Armesto lowered his book and placed it on the table.

"Is something wrong? You look very agitated," Narek asked, with a concerned tone.

"Yes, you look like you've seen a ghost," Armesto added.

"No, it's nothing. Let's go, Narek," Thamuz replied, walking slowly towards the settlement exits.

Narek obeyed and followed him, while Armesto resumed his reading.

The two young men moved away from the settlement until Narek spotted large gates rising on the horizon. He pointed them out for Thamuz to see.

"Look, those are the gates to leave here," Narek explained, excited.

"I've never seen them. When we went to the combat arena, we always took another path. Why are we going this way?" Thamuz questioned.

"That path is only used when father hires a special carriage to take us, but none are operating at this hour. We have to go the conventional way, and behind that gate is where most of the normal carriages pass" Narek replied, quickening his pace a bit.

"I see," said Thamuz, his mind still partially occupied by the strange encounter he had just experienced.

"What's wrong with you, Thamuz? You've seemed odd since you came down those stairs," Narek asked, with a tone of concern in his voice.

Thamuz heard Narek's question and glanced at him. He clenched his fists and closed his eyes before responding:

"Narek," he finally said, deciding to share some of his concern, "have you ever felt as if... as if someone else was inside you? Someone who isn't you, but somehow also is?"

Narek looked at him strangely. "What do you mean exactly?"

Thamuz shook his head, unsure of how to explain what he had experienced. "Forget it. I'm probably just nervous about the trip."

Narek playfully hit him lightly on the shoulder and showed a slight smile.

"Surely so many blows to the head are making you see quite a few things. That's normal if you're a shamonak fighter, you'll get used to it later," he said, trying to calm Thamuz.

"Maybe you're right. Khabixan hit me several times on the head," Thamuz replied, scratching his head.

The two reached the gates, which had a massive texture. They measured around seven meters and were made of a very hard material. They were so heavy that they had left several marks on the ground due to their constant handling.

"Now how do we open these things?" Thamuz questioned, looking at the top of the gates.

"Dad hired a worker to move a wheel and open the gates, but the worker suffered a heart attack and is now resting at home. So I guess it's up to us to open it," Narek replied, walking towards what appeared to be a giant wheel.

Thamuz followed him, also observing the wheel. It was approximately four meters in size and made of stone.

"Can you move this thing?" Thamuz asked, standing in front of the wheel next to Narek.

"Of course I can, just watch," Narek responded, rolling up his sleeves.

Narek went to the wheel, grabbing it and trying to move it, but his strength was waning while Thamuz watched him with his arms crossed.

"You're going to hurt yourself if you keep going like that. Come on, let me do it," Thamuz expressed, walking towards the wheel.

Narek, panting and with his face reddened from the effort, reluctantly stepped aside. "Alright, but I warn you it's harder than it looks."

Thamuz positioned himself in front of the wheel, flexing his muscles. He placed his hands firmly on the rough surface of the stone and began to push. At first, the wheel didn't move a millimeter, but Thamuz didn't give up. Gritting his teeth and concentrating all his strength, he pushed with more intensity.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, the wheel began to turn. The sound of stone against stone filled the air as Thamuz continued his effort. Narek watched in amazement as the enormous gates began to open.

"Incredible!" Narek exclaimed. "Not even my father's worker could move it so quickly."

Thamuz didn't respond, focused on his task. With a final push, the wheel turned completely and the gates opened wide, revealing the path to the city.

Panting slightly, Thamuz stepped away from the wheel and turned to Narek. "Done. Shall we go?"

Narek nodded, still impressed. "Yes, let's go. And Thamuz... thank you. That was really impressive."

The two young men crossed the gigantic gates and found themselves facing a spectacular view. The different buildings of the city rose imposingly before them, showing even larger buildings in the distance, while the wall surrounded the city like a colossal protector.

Thamuz took several steps forward, marveling at what the city offered. He extended his arms and exclaimed aloud:

image [https://cdn.leonardo.ai/users/949f3f4e-1043-419c-8dd6-941c61d0ec71/generations/a0a1a097-2ea3-4512-aeab-8edace3c01b2/Default_make_a_demon_in_a_trenchcoat_extending_his_arms_while_0.jpg]

ITS GIGANTIC!