The voice of Thamuz resonated in the air, blending with the distant sounds of the awakening city. Narek, smiling at his friend's amazement, positioned himself beside him.

"And this is just the beginning," said Narek, pointing towards the horizon. "Wait until you see the city center. There are buildings so tall they say they touch the clouds."

Thamuz lowered his arms, his eyes still scanning the urban landscape stretching before him. He could see winding streets that disappeared among the buildings, bustling squares in the distance, and what appeared to be markets full of color and life.

"Where do we start?" asked Thamuz, feeling a mixture of excitement and slight anxiety at the immensity of the city.

"Well, let's start by trying to stop a carriage. The road to the city is too far," replied Narek, stepping forward.

In the distance, a carriage was moving at an accelerated pace, with a large beast pulling it violently. As it approached where the two young men were, Narek raised his arm.

"Stop, please!" he shouted at the driver.

The carriage driver passed by swiftly, almost taking Narek's arm with him. Thamuz, with quick reflexes, grabbed Narek by the back and pulled him backward to avoid a collision.

"Damn it!" exclaimed Narek, grabbing a stone and throwing it at the driver.

The stone hit the driver's head, who veered off course and fell down a ravine, with precipitous sounds of his carriage falling along with his beast.

Narek and Thamuz looked with surprised eyes at what had just happened. Narek turned around discreetly and started whistling, while Thamuz did the same, both trying to act as if nothing had happened.

"Well, we'll have to wait for another one," said Narek, with a mixture of nervousness and resignation in his voice.

Another carriage was approaching, this time at a slower pace and pulled by a creature that seemed almost emaciated. The two waited several minutes until the carriage reached them.

"Sir, could you take us to the inner parts of the great city?" asked Narek, walking alongside the carriage.

But the driver seemed to be in his own world, humming a melody and paying no attention to Narek.

"Sir!" exclaimed Narek, trying to get his attention.

But the driver continued on his way undisturbed, and Narek gave up. He returned to where Thamuz was standing, who had his arms crossed in a sign of defeat.

"Those damn fools are always like this. That's why father always hires special carriages to take us," protested Narek, with a tone of annoyance in his voice. The cold morning wind ruffled his dark hair as he looked with frustration at the cobblestone street.

"How about letting me try to stop one?" suggested Thamuz, stepping forward. His eyes shone with determination.

"Alright, good luck," said Narek, skeptical but curious.

Another carriage could be seen in the distance. This time it was moving at an agitated pace like the first one, but its beast, a quadruped creature with shiny scales, was walking normally.

The driver spotted the two young men and flashed a slight malicious smile.

"Look at those two, they look like idiots. I'm not going to pick them up," he said and grabbed a whip that was by his side. He struck his creature, which responded with a loud screech that resonated in the air.

The carriage reached a high speed, trying to dodge the two young men, but Thamuz, noticing this, put his arm back, as if he were about to throw something. Just as the carriage was about to pass them, he hit the frame where the driver was, clinging to it and making it stop abruptly. The driver flew off while the creature stopped immediately, its legs leaving furrows in the ground.

The driver fell to the ground, rolling a considerable distance. He stopped and lay on his back, watching as Thamuz rose above him, his imposing figure silhouetted against the evening sky.

"Could you take us to the inner parts of the city?" asked Thamuz in a calm but firm voice.

"Yes... yes, I can take you," stammered the driver, fear evident in his eyes.

Thamuz helped the driver to get up, and he went to his carriage, sitting back in his seat while Narek and Thamuz settled inside. Thamuz occupied a large space on the seats with his muscular body.

The carriage started moving, taking a direct path towards the city. As they advanced, Thamuz and Narek began a conversation.

"I didn't think you were going to stop it like that," expressed Narek, with admiration in his voice.

"It was going to do the same thing the first carriage did," explained Thamuz, laughing slightly. "But I decided it was time to change the rules of the game."

"Yes, it's good that you have so much strength to do that," said Narek, leaning back in his seat. "Although I hope we don't get into trouble for this."

"My hand is still shaking a bit after that," admitted Thamuz, flexing his fingers. "By the way, how long is the journey to the city?"

"About twenty minutes if the carriage goes very fast," replied Narek, looking out the window. "Although with the scare you gave the driver, we might get there in fifteen."

Thamuz looked out the carriage window, observing how the sun began to completely cover the city. The crystal and metal towers reflected the golden light, creating a dazzling spectacle. He continued observing and showed a big smile.

"It's really beautiful," he said, his eyes shining with wonder.

"Yes, it is. It was founded by King Visenarion III three hundred and ninety-seven years ago," explained Narek, also contemplating the view. "It was a prosperous city that degraded over time, with each new heir, until it fell into the hands of King Khumulak."

"Who was that king?" asked Thamuz, with a tone of curiosity in his voice.

"The king before Zarakel, your mother's father... your grandfather," replied Narek, smiling as he spoke, his eyes reflecting a flash of historical knowledge.

"Oh, I remember now. Father told me about him, he told me so many things," added Thamuz, turning back to his seat, his face showing a mixture of recognition and curiosity.

"Did he tell you how he died?" asked Narek, also returning to his seat, leaning slightly forward with an air of complicity.

"No, he only told me that Zarakel killed him, after my father won a tournament to marry my mother," replied Thamuz, crossing his arms, his brow furrowing slightly.

Narek lowered his voice, as if fearing someone else might hear:

"Well, after your father won, Khumulak fell into a deep depression seeing that his daughter had gone with him. Zarakel took advantage and planned his assassination along with Khumulak's wife, with whom he had maintained a secret relationship for quite some time." He paused dramatically before continuing. "They waited for night to fall, and Zarakel entered Khumulak's room, who was asleep. He got on top of him and strangled him with his great strength, while his wife just watched and covered his mouth so he wouldn't scream."

"Too macabre," said Thamuz, feeling a shiver run down his spine.

Narek continued, his eyes shining with the intensity of one who reveals long-kept secrets:

"When Khumulak's death became known, there was no option for an heir. Your mother was still young and had escaped with your father to distant lands. So Zarakel stepped in, trying to claim the throne. Obviously, there were several people who were against him, but Zarakel took care of killing them and leaving no trace of them, finally remaining on the throne, ending the noble lineage of Visenarion."

"Haven't people protested about it? At least a coup d'état?" asked Thamuz, rubbing his chin, his eyes narrowed in contemplation.

"Who could be capable of stopping him?" responded Narek, his voice laden with resignation. "You've seen in person what he's capable of doing. Only someone as strong as your father could defeat him right now."

"I could do it," said Thamuz, with a tone of confidence in his voice, straightening up in his seat.

Narek let out a light laugh, but his eyes showed concern:

"Don't let those two victories you have inflate your ego, my friend. Many people have died because of that." He paused and added seriously, "Zarakel isn't just brute force. He's cunning, ruthless, and has years of experience. Don't underestimate him."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"I don't think so," said Thamuz, exhaling an air of grandeur. "He's so fat he barely fits in his seat and needs to use tentacles from his back to appear intimidating. I could defeat him with one blow to the chest."

Narek sighed, scratching his forehead with exasperation.

"That thick head of yours really doesn't let your blood flow well," he said, looking at his friend with a mixture of concern and amusement. "Arrogance can be as dangerous as any weapon, Thamuz."

Suddenly, the carriage stopped abruptly. The murmurs and bustle of a crowd began to filter in from outside. Narek stood up and looked out the window, his eyes widening in amazement.

"We've arrived," he announced, a touch of excitement in his voice.

Thamuz stood up as well, his imposing figure filling the small space of the carriage. He also looked out the window, a smile of anticipation spreading across his face. Without waiting any longer, he opened the carriage door and exited abruptly, his large size forcing him to duck to avoid hitting his head.

Narek exited with more grace, sliding out of the carriage with fluid movements. As he stepped onto the cobblestone street, he saw that Thamuz was already beside the driver, who seemed to shrink in the presence of the young giant.

"How much would it be for the trip?" asked Thamuz, pulling out his leather pouch.

The driver, with evident fear in his voice and his hands trembling on the reins, quickly replied:

"No, it would be nothing. Leave it as it is."

"Come on, you took us all the way from there to here. I must pay you," insisted Thamuz, opening the leather pouch and rummaging inside, apparently oblivious to the man's fear.

"No, don't give me anything!" exclaimed the driver, his voice breaking with panic. Without waiting for a response, he whipped the beast and quickly left the place, leaving a trail of dust behind him.

Thamuz was perplexed by the driver's sudden action. He shrugged his shoulders in bewilderment and put his leather pouch back in his pants pocket. He returned to where Narek was and raised a hand in a gesture of confusion.

"He told me not to pay him," explained Thamuz, his voice mixing surprise and innocence.

Narek couldn't help but let out a small laugh, shaking his head.

"He's probably still scared by what happened," he replied, patting his friend's shoulder. "Not every day does a giant like you stop a moving carriage with bare hands."

As they spoke, the bustling life of the city surrounded them. Merchants hawked their wares, children ran between adults' legs, and the aroma of spices and street food filled the air. Thamuz and Narek now found themselves in the beating heart of the metropolis.

"Well," said Narek, rubbing his hands in anticipation, "where do we start our adventure in the city?"

"Let's go eat something, I'm hungry," replied Thamuz, rubbing his belly in anticipation.

"It's true, we didn't have breakfast," added Narek, also feeling the emptiness in his stomach.

They walked through the bustling streets, while some citizens were impressed by Thamuz's peculiar appearance. Although his clothes covered much of his body, his unique features were still too evident to go unnoticed.

"There are very good restaurants down this alley, and they sell food at good prices," said Narek, pointing towards a cheerful alley where several people were sitting eating at different food stalls. The scent of spices and roasted meat filled the air, making their stomachs growl even louder.

They arrived at a food stall that had the head of a creature with several horns in the frame of the establishment, as if it were an exotic ornament. They entered the restaurant and sat down on chairs next to a solid wooden table.

"These chairs are very large," said Thamuz with a tone of amazement, settling into one that seemed made to his measure.

"Yes, shamonak fighters usually come here after a fight," replied Narek, looking at a menu card placed on the table. "So you know the establishment needs big chairs to accommodate them all."

Narek finished reading the card and passed it to Thamuz, who was impressed by the diverse variety available.

"What are you going to order?" asked Thamuz, his eyes scanning the exotic names of the dishes.

"I'm going to order a roasted ghobun," replied Narek, crossing his arms and looking around, observing other diners enjoying their meals.

"What's that?" questioned Thamuz, with a tone of curiosity in his voice.

"It's a somewhat small creature, its shell is somewhat hard, but it's cooked at more than four hundred degrees Celsius to soften it," explained Narek, his eyes shining with anticipation. "It's served on a plate and with special instruments, the shell is removed to eat what's inside. The meat is tender and juicy, with a slightly sweet flavor."

"Sounds interesting," said Thamuz, closing the menu decisively. "I think I'll order it as well. Although I might need two or three to be satisfied," he added with a smile, patting his stomach.

While they waited for the waiter to arrive, Thamuz observed the interior of the restaurant with curiosity. The walls were decorated with weapons and armor of various styles, probably trophies from past battles. In a corner, a group of muscular men laughed loudly, their voices mixing with the clink of beer mugs.

"This place has character," commented Thamuz. "I like it."

Narek nodded, a smile of complicity on his face.

"Wait until you try the food. If you like it, we could make it our regular spot when we come to the city again."

The waiter, a burly man with scars on his arms, approached their table, ready to take their order.

"We'd like four roasted ghobuns along with two cold mugs of bugort," ordered Narek, his voice clear and decisive. "Also a basket of cooked vegetables and a basket of bhotmon."

The waiter received the order with a kind smile on his weathered face. He nodded approvingly at the choice and headed towards the kitchen with an agile step.

As they waited, Thamuz and Narek continued their conversation, the bustle of the restaurant creating a pleasant background.

"So, it seems you know this place very well," said Thamuz, fiddling with his fingers on the worn wooden table.

Narek closed his eyes for a moment, a slight nostalgic smile appearing on his lips.

"Yes, father used to come here with me when I was even younger," he explained, his voice tinged with memories. "We would spend hours here, eating and listening to the veterans' stories."

"Wow, so this restaurant has history in your family," commented Thamuz, with a tone of amazement and respect in his voice.

"Well, yes," added Narek, opening his eyes and looking around thoughtfully. "I hope they still have the same seasoning as before. Old Groknak used to be the chef, and his ghobun were legendary."

Thamuz leaned forward, interested.

"And what happened to this Groknak?"

Narek shrugged.

"The last time I was here, a few years ago, he was still in the kitchen. But he was already old... I hope he was able to pass his secrets on to the next generation of cooks."

At that moment, the scent of spices and roasted meat filled the air, making both young men inhale deeply.

"Well, we'll soon find out," said Thamuz, rubbing his hands in anticipation. "By the way, what exactly is bugort? You asked for it to be well chilled."

"Ah, bugort," Narek's eyes sparkled. "It's a fermented drink made from a local fruit. It has a sweet taste, but with a sour touch, and when it's well chilled, it's perfect to accompany spicy or very seasoned meals. You're going to love it."

As they talked, the waiter returned with a full tray. The steam rising from the dishes promised a delicious meal.

"Here you are, gentlemen," he said, placing the dishes on the table with skill. "Four roasted ghobun, cooked vegetables, bhotmon, and two well-chilled bugorts. Enjoy your meal."

Thamuz looked at the dishes with hungry eyes, the scent making his stomach growl audibly.

"Thank you," said Narek to the waiter, before turning to his friend with a smile. "Well, Thamuz, ready for your first experience with local cuisine?"

"I'm more than ready," said Thamuz enthusiastically, grabbing a plate of ghobun and biting into it shell and all. The crunch resonated in the place.

Narek looked at him with a mixture of amusement and nervousness. He took one of the instruments the waiter had left, a kind of small hammer, and began to gently tap the shell of the ghobun, skillfully opening it and revealing the whitish and juicy meat inside.

With a fork, Narek began to eat his food with gentle and elegant movements, in marked contrast to the ferocity and hunger that Thamuz demonstrated as he devoured his plate. The giant seemed not to notice or care about the surprised looks from other diners.

The two ate for a good while, the conversation reduced to murmurs of appreciation and occasional grunts of satisfaction. Soon, there was no full plate left on the table. Both young men leaned back in their chairs, giving a sigh of satisfaction as they rubbed their full stomachs.

After a brief period of rest, Narek raised his hand, trying to get the waiter's attention. The man quickly arrived and positioned himself next to them.

"Was the food to your liking?" he asked with a knowing smile.

"Yes, it was delicious," they both responded in unison.

"Would you like the bill now?" he inquired again.

"Yes, we're full," said Thamuz, patting his stomach with satisfaction.

The waiter took out a small paper from his pocket and handed it to Thamuz, who observed the bill for a moment. Then, he took out his leather pouch and extracted a red pamtan, a high-value coin.

"Is this enough?" asked Thamuz, holding the coin.

The waiter's eyes widened at the sight of the red pamtan. He received it with slightly trembling hands, closed his fist around the coin, and sketched a slight smile.

"It's more than enough, sir. I'll be right back with your change," he said, slightly bowing his head in a sign of respect.

As the waiter walked away, Narek looked at Thamuz with an arched eyebrow.

"You know, a red pamtan is enough to pay for about ten meals like this," he commented in a low voice. "I think you just made that man's day."

Thamuz shrugged with a carefree smile.

"The food was worth it. Besides, isn't it customary to leave a good tip when the service is excellent?"

Narek couldn't help but laugh at his friend's generosity.

"I suppose so. Well, what do you say we take a walk around the city after this? There are many interesting places I could show you."

"Sounds good to me," replied Thamuz, stretching slightly in his seat.

The waiter returned with a large leather bag and put it on the table. He bowed his head in gratitude, his eyes shining with appreciation, and returned to his duties.

Thamuz grabbed the bag and opened it, observing that there were several green and yellow pamtans.

"I guess this is the change," he said to himself, surprised by the amount.

He grabbed the leather bag and stood up along with Narek. Just as they were about to leave the place, Thamuz felt a firm touch on his back, as if someone was trying to get his attention insistently.

He turned his head to see who it was and observed a tall, muscular man who stood almost at his height. The stranger looked at Thamuz with eyes full of fury while his teeth audibly grinded.

"Are you Thamuz?" asked the man, his voice deep and threatening.

"Yes, who's asking?" replied Thamuz, his posture instinctively becoming defensive.

"The same one who fought against Khabixan?" insisted the man, his fists clenching at his sides.

"Yes, why the question?" said Thamuz, somewhat confused but alert.

Without warning, the man raised his arm and in a quick movement hit Thamuz with an open palm. The force of the impact was so brutal that Thamuz flew a great distance into the city streets, crashing against the wall of a house and leaving a large crack in the structure.

"You're a damn bastard!" shouted the man, with exorbitant anger in his voice. His body trembled with contained rage.

image [https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIG3.1yU1Jp0RwOg77dTS6u.Z?pid=ImgGn] image [https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIG3.9BbXWtU2VC9awn0FAz1l?w=1024&h=1024&rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain]

Roasted ghobun and Bugort