It's nice to know how to write because I don't have to remember what I want to say, I can simply write it down for later.It also helps me keep track of a lot of information because I don't have to remember it. It also helps merchants and such to know your name, writing it down for the record. Ador is easy to write which is why I'm quite thankful to my mother for naming me that. Ador, a name of vigor and character. Writing is so invaluable to me yet I know many people who are quite wise but cannot write, why is that? I didn't learn to read or let alone write until a year ago. I was not one to visit the city library but my interest was piqued when I overheard a discussion about a story of a man named Gilgamesh between some scribes.

It was an amazing tale that made me ponder many things. I wanna be like Gilgamesh someday because he seems so brave and strong like in the story. However, at that point, I didn't know how to read the story so I just eavesdropped over the scribes telling it again and again. At one point one of them noticed me and asked if I wanted to talk to him and I accepted. He introduced himself as Eli and we had a pleasant conversation about the Epic of Gilgamesh, he even complimented me about how knowledgeable I was about the tale.

Eventually, he asked how I learned about the story in such detail that I responded that I only had overheard it, but never read about it. He caught on to the idea that I was unable to read and offered to teach me how and I accepted. It was difficult to learn how to read but I caught onto the idea quickly in a few days. Then he introduced me to writing which was much more challenging and it took me several months. I remember the first thing I wrote properly which was my name, Ador, and it was written so beautifully after all my attempts to keep my hands still enough to write.

Eli often had difficulty transcribing the Epic of Gilgamesh to his superiors and they would often scold him so when he was teaching me how to read and write he would often request my help in learning about the Epic. He often forgot important details and sometimes entire sections of the story. In which I would retell him word for word what part he forgot. Sometimes it would be silly things like forgetting who Gilgamesh's friend was or what city he was the king of, small mistakes like that were the most common to happen. Sometimes he even made big mistakes like forgetting how Gilgamesh met Enkidu which was surprising to me for sure.

One day when I was walking through the streets I heard a commotion coming from one of the city centers, like groups of people chanting something with obvious anger in their tone. I found my way to it and saw that there were two men and a woman standing on a wooden platform, with a sign draping from their necks which read "False Worshiper". Around them were many people chanting "False Gods!" And "Repent!". Most were angrily shaking their fists, some even threw small stones and sticks at them. I went up to a man in the crowd:

"What's going on here?" I said to the man

"We had caught some animals worshiping some cow, claiming it to be the god of all gods."

“What?”

“Yeah, a cow, and claiming it to be god? Ridiculous. Marduk is the god of the gods not this stupid cow”

“But those are people.”

"What do you mean?"

"Those are people, not animals"

"What's the difference? They're not any better"

I knew what the man was implying when he had said this. However I could not comprehend why he would act like this. I am devout to Marduk and all the other Gods as well but would they really allow the treatment of us like this? Would this be acceptable in their eyes to see us acting no better than brutes? I didn't know what to say to him after that so I simply left the center and carried on my way to where I was going, which was the city library.

Eventually, Eli was able to keep up with interpreting and transcribing the Epic of Gilgamesh to his superiors and he held me in the utmost regard in that work. He would go and thank me many times about it and even offered to be in servitude to me but I politely refused his offer. What he did offer me was a new opportunity though when he brought me aside one day to read an interesting book he found in the city library.

"There is a grand city up north that, as far as I heard, is much greater than this city. It is said to house some of the world's grandest libraries and structures, I think it would be wise to at least consider moving there for opportunities." Eli had said with great excitement to me

"It seems like an interesting venture I could partake in but what about you? Are you gonna still stay here?" I gingerly responded to Eli

"I am, I still have a duty as a scribe to do after all and it has been my life's passion to be a good one" Eli replied in a somber, yet prideful tone

I consider his words carefully, knowing that I was leaving everything that I had here behind in order to reach the city of Rosidum. I confided with some of my associates and friends about what I should do. Some told me to stay and not risk the possible consequences of leaving to an unknown land. Some told me to depart and find a better life than to stay here as society degenerates. In the end I choose to leave since I want to see what the world has for me to explore and learn about. I sold my house and, using the goods I got for my house, bought some new tunics, a sack, and new sandals for me for my journey. Saving some bronze to use for later if I need to trade it in for something.

As I was ready to depart with my belongings I made sure to pass by the library once more to say goodbye to Eli as he had taught me some very important skills when we had known each other. I waited throughout the entire day and eventually, I did spot him and call out to him, he quickly rushed over to me

"So you're going now then? To the northern city right?" Eli said whilst catching his breath

"I am, I'm simply here to thank you for teaching me, if you hadn't then I don't think I would have even begun to think about all of these new ideas, let alone exploring other cities." I expressed to him

"I just think I should let you know though, about the city you are going to that is, Rosidium," Eli told me in a composed manner now

"What else should I know before leaving?" I inquired

"The path towards Rosidium is a dangerous one, one that even merchants wouldn't dare cross since the area between here and Rosidium has largely been unsettled. So that could mean attacks from wild animals to even savage and uncivilized people may attack you. Not to mention that the city of Rosidium, supposedly, only favors those who have a rich understanding of the world and its knowledge and it is rumored that only scribes and nobles can even enter the city walls. However, you, my friend, have a mind similar to even our wisest men so you should not fear that. However, you will have to learn to protect yourself since I'm not a man who can teach you how to fight." Eli spoke seriously to me

I understood what he was telling me to do and so with a respectful bow to him I said:

“I understand, thank you for everything you have done for me, please take care my friend, may you live long. I wish to visit you again when I return from my adventure to Rosidum”

I left his sight and continued with my preparation, going around the various market halls seeing if anyone was selling weapons. I looked throughout the city yet I was unable to find a merchant that sold weapons so I decided to leave the city and start my journey toward Rosidium in hopes that I would find a merchant along the way that could help me. It felt really weird to be leaving the city walls, not that it was my first time since I did often visit some friends off living in the nearby towns, but this was gonna be the last time I'd see my home for a long while until I came back after I had built a good life in Rosidium.

Eventually, I made it to the outskirts of the city farmlands and found a few towns which I was able to look around and eventually, I found a merchant that was willing to sell me weapons. However, I decided to buy his cheapest spear since I wanted to reserve all the rest of my goods for my journey to Rosidium and I doubted all my supplies could make it there without trading more. Nevertheless, I had a spear for protection despite having never learnt how to use it, but I have seen the city garrison using them so I think I can imitate what they did with them.

I continued along the path and for the most part, it was well maintained like the roads that led into the city, perfectly kept and civilized roads. The path was relatively comfortable yet lonely but I hadn't forgotten to pray to the gods, praying that they may keep me safe on my journey towards a better life.

Throughout most of the walking, I've done nothing but think about 2 main things, them being food and my faith. I missed having full meals cooked in proper ovens to eat, especially freshly baked bread. I also missed being able to pray in peace without the frigid coldness of the night consuming me or the scorching heat of the sun bathing me during the day. However I am determined to keep going because I know that a better and more interesting life awaits me in Rosidium.

That was when I arrived at the northernmost town that wasn't populated by the savages of the lands but rather by people who could be reasoned with and understood. Beyond this town I could only imagine the worst from the uncivilized world, feral men who butcher women and children, animals that could devour a full grown man, I can only shudder to imagine what lies beyond that point. From what I could understand the locals are aware of the existence of the great city but they don't seem to care, only caring about their crops and family, a carefree life like them I wish to live. I used up the rest of my goods to trade for supplies such as flour and beer before I could bid farewell to Civilization and make the perilous journey to Rosidium using the uncivilized paths.

Not long after I departed from the village to head north I immediately noticed the decrease in the quality of the roads, While the previous roads remained relatively maintained these were nothing more than faith markings and some bits of haphazardly cleared land. It didn't help the fact that the paths were now meandering through forests in almost illogical directions, almost as if this was intentionally built this way by the people who now inhabit it. I could sense a feeling of uneasy dread when I stepped one foot onto that path, like some force was forcing me to not continue on the path, fearing that I may encounter those who inhabit it but I continued on it. It was that moment, the decision to keep walking the path I was on which ultimately broke my ignorance of the uncivilized world, I thought I had known the worse from the stories and tales of merchants but what I was about to encounter was beyond those untrue stories, they were much more worse,

I heard a small rustle in a nearby bush when I was traveling on the path. Suspecting that a wild animal was about to lunge itself on me, I equipped my spear in preparation to stab whatever was in that bush. Whatever I was preparing for myself at that moment I couldn't have been more wrong, for it was far worse than any measly animal. The shrub burst into a mass of leaves and broken twigs as a form emerged from it at a speed which was faster than what my eyes could see. The next thing that I knew was that I was fighting for my life with this beast. To call it an animal was wrong, however, to call it a human was also wrong, it was only to be called a bastardization of nature.

Its form took on the shape of a human in both size and silhouette, with it being easily confused with man, however it had "horns” coming out of it, forming a crown-like structure on its head. Its arms twisted in unnatural ways for a man, with it bending both forwards, backwards, and sideways.

All manner of natural direction didn't conform to this beast, as it moved in ways I had always thought impossible for man. Its skin was just as abnormal as the rest of it, appearing almost as clumps of rough decaying leather all over the body. Though they have a rather skinny stature, their strength is that of many men since I was quickly overpowered by it.

I struggled underneath it as it was violently trying to bite me, with me only holding it back against the shaft of my spear to create some distance between me and this beast. It went for my legs, biting and ripping off a significant chunk of it. I yelped for pain yet I knew that in these uncivilized lands, I was truly alone, left to fend for myself and only for myself. The beast broke the shaft of my spear whilst I was distracted by the pain in my leg, with no barrier between me and the beast it aggressively tried to go after my head, holding him back just for a moment before my strength started to weaken.

Yet, as quickly as he had attacked me, the beast stopped and soon rolled over, unmoving. At that point, I dropped my guard out of relief that the beast seemed to be dead. I remember the thought I had during that moment of relief, I had thought of the fresh bread that used to be made daily by my Mother, how fresh and delicious it was. I was carefree and at peace when I had thought that, how comforting she was to me. That was the last thought I could remember before I had passed out.

When I woke up I was lying on a soft surface in an unfamiliar room, as if the construct of it was foreign compared to the rooms I have been in with unfamiliar shaping and color, with even more unfamiliar people surrounding me. They spoke in a rather strange manner, some words I could make out from their conversation yet most of them are incomprehensible.

"Who are you people?" I asked of them

They looked at each other with puzzled faces before one of them emerged from the group to face me. It was a man of a slightly darker skin than me with a smooth yet big black beard making up most of his face. He looked almost like any other person I have met before yet something still felt off by his appearance. He spoke up with an emotion of excitement yet caution.

"We're the Tritarku People, under the protection of the City of Rosidum, my name is Ichmal, how about you?" The man said firmly.

"My name is Ador, where am I Ichmal?"

"You're in the territory of the Tritarku People, our soldiers found you fighting against one of the Revtams just on the outskirts of our land, it's a surprise you only got away with a missing chunk of your leg, many who have tried to cross into our lands and encountered Revtams are, well, less than fortunate. Maybe we'll find their bones if we're lucky but if the Revtam was hungry nothing would be left of the poor soul."

"Well I'm trying to get to the city of Rosidum, do you know the way there?"

He looked around with a sense of uneasiness, translating what I supposedly said to his companions with them expressing the same face of uneasiness.

"Well, the path towards Rosidum is easy to follow and relatively safe. However, if you want to enter the city then that is another problem altogether. I saw that you were carrying a lot of stuff with you, we get the occasional merchant here and there but you don't seem like a merchant, a merchant going towards Rosidum would have packed more goods for trade rather than your supplies''

"Let me guess, only nobles and scribes are allowed in the city?"

"No, that is simply a rumor by merchants and other passersby. You only get in through a special process which they call the 'Ros Merit' which has notoriously prevented many of us people from entering the city. However, what we can learn about the city only describes it as a paradise. Trees and bushes which grow boundless sweet fruit line the streets and anyone can pick and eat them. Wondrous technology which, to us, seems like a work of the gods. Fortifications which rival that of even the mightiest cities. Rosidum can be considered the city of the world, a true paradise amongst the uncivilized lands''

"That sounds interesting, if what you say is true then it seems like Rosidum was more than what I had originally expected. Have you tried getting this 'Ros Merit’ before, what is it?"

"All of us in the Tritarku Lands, and the other vassal lands, have tried yet we have failed the process. We know the method they used but it's difficult to explain to someone who has not gone through it"

"Are there other people who have tried getting this 'Ros Merit'? Apart from the Tritarku?"

"Well, to my knowledge, every dominion of Rosidum has had people attempting to get the 'Ros Merit', many of which have failed but due to circumstances, which I am not that informed about, many of the Northern Dominions have had mass swabs of people supposedly getting the 'Ros Merit' though these are simply rumors" Ichmal said calmly

"I see. What would you say I should do to increase my chances of getting the 'Ros Merit'? Do I need to fight an animal?"

"No” Ichmal said with a slight laugh in his voice “we are much more civilized than that, rather it is more like writing."

"What do you mean by writing?" I questioned Ichmal

"As I've told you it is difficult to explain to someone who has not undergone the process"

I pondered for a short moment, thinking of what more I should ask of Ichmal to better understand how to get to Rosidum. Yet another part of me felt like I was asking too many questions and I should just rest as I had sustained serious injuries to myself. Eventually I asked Ichmal: "Alright, well what should I do now?"

"It is wise to rest right now, Revtam injuries are much more different and difficult to treat than regular spear or bow injury, as I said you're lucky to be alive here. Don't worry we will take care of you, we always uphold our tradition of great hospitality, even to people we have never met before."

"Okay, thank you Ichmal"

With that, I drifted off to back to sleep, tired from that conversation I closed my eyes. For a few seconds I could hear movement in the room and Ichmal speaking with the other people, though I could not understand what he was saying. When I had fully fallen asleep that was when I had a dream which greatly disturbed me, one which lingered and plagued my mind long after I had seen it. So disturbing it was that I had to write about it.

I was on a cliff overlooking a grand city of white sandstone. Its walls are all encompassing, its buildings and temples with grandiose design shining even in the night. I could even faintly make out a tower of tall proportions protruding out of the vast city. Beside me was someone who I had never seen before. I called out to speak yet no words left my mouth. I tried to move my legs yet they would not give way.

In their hands I could see that they were holding three sets of rings with small engravings which I could not discern from where I was. He wore a clean yet tattered tunic, and sandals. Even though I could see him clearly I could not see what his face looked like, not like his face wasn't there but more like the features of it, such as the eyes, mouth, nose, were obscured. He clenched the rings tightly and it appeared that he began to break apart, like stone before being reduced to dust, leaving his only tunic and sandals.

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The once clear night had turned cloudy in that instant, and a large form was descending from the sky. At the time I didn't know what it was but I knew it was way bigger than any bird, eagle, or anything I knew. It broke the clouds and that was when I was able to finally see what that form was. A colossal ring made of a dark stone material, with eye's surrounding the outside part of this ring, blinking in unison with uncanny synchronization, descended from the sky, just stopping right above the city.

For a moment this structure just hovered there, like how a bee would stop whilst it was flying, slowly rotating above the city, before its eyes blinked again and were all focused on me. I wanted to move but I could not, it's piercing glares staring right at me, almost pinning me in this one spot. It was quiet, yet I could see movement inside the city, people running, shoving, and shouting. Though their words were too far to discern I could tell they were distressed.

In an instant it was as if thousands of people all cried out, screams of agony, sorrow, distress, pain. As if they were experiencing only the worst of pains beyond this world; ones which even gods would stray far from experiencing. Screams of pure desperation and despair perforated the air. Then silence, complete and utter silence.

I woke up with confusion, sunlight peeking through a nearby window, a slight tremble in my arms but I quickly composed myself when I realized it was one of those dreams. I rose from the bed and looked around in the room I was in but there was no one around me. Rising up and getting out of the bed, I surveyed the room to see strange tools and objects, some of which were familiar to me such as clay pots and cups. Some of which I did not recognize like this pot which was made out of this clear material and this glowing object which was placed in the center of the roof of the room. I got up whilst trying to keep my balance on my two feet, taking each step toward the doorway with caution and steadiness, Eventually I found myself in the doorway and I left the room.

I entered through a tall hallway which was short in length and beautifully decorated with intricate arches and pillars adorning it. I could hear some people talking to each other but I could not discern where they were inside this, I presume, house of some sort. I eventually found my way to what seemed to be the front door and attempted to push it open, however it did not budge. I tried pulling on its handle yet it would not give way. That was when I heard a voice behind me, it was Ichmal.

"You turn it to the left and then push to open" he said to me. I turned around, glanced at him, and did as he instructed, pushing the handle downwards then pushing the door. The door opened outwards and I nearly stumbled as I didn't expect it to open like that. Ichmal chuckled a bit before walking up to me. "How does this work?" I asked Ichmal

"It uses a rotating block which catches into a space in the door frame to lock it, and to unlock it you simply twist it back, here take a look" Ichmal said

Ichamal walked up to the open door and twisted the door handle, a wooden block in the shape of a seashell emerged from the door, he twisted it back and the block disappeared. He pulled the door back into the door frame and twisted it again, before he attempted to push it but the door would not open. I was amazed by such a thing, a simple yet effective way to close a door. "That is incredible" I said to him "how did you learn to make something like this?"

"Oh I didn't make this door, someone else did" Ichmal said

"I see, what do you actually do then Ichmal?" I responded

"Well I'm just a farmer, nothing special, and the people who you saw are my family" Ichmal said

That didn't surprise me, however I was more curious about how a door of such quality was made, its craftsmanship was way above that of ones I have seen before and probably will ever see. However I quickly recomposed myself and asked him "I see, a big family you have; and a caring one at that, thank you for for your care by the way. However going back to what I wanted to ask you; do you know where the path towards Rosidum is from here?". "Well first off you still need to rest, injuries can't just go away overnight" Ichmal said. He wasn't wrong, I still felt the injuries I had endured by that beast, that Revtam. "I understand, but it would be nice to be able to walk outside or anywhere really besides the bed" I replied. He nodded in agreement and unlocked for me to leave the house.

As I left the house I could feel a bright light on my eyes, the wondrous sun bathing me in a golden glow, a peaceful gentle light. That was when the breeze hit me; a strong yet calm wind. Powerful in its strength but peaceful in its temperament and attitude is how I would say it was like. I felt refreshed and breathed in the crisp fresh air around me. I had guessed I had spent too much time standing there because I could feel Ichmal placing a hand on my shoulder and asking me "Ador? Are you alright?". I said that I was fine and moved to take another step, observing and breathing in the new air; I was filled with a new found energy. I could see the vast fields that surrounded Ichmals house growing an unfamiliar plant.

As I gazed at the field I could also make out in the distance an animal walking in the field. To me it looked like an ordinary oxen used to plow the fields yet it's silhouette against the rising sun made me consider otherwise. It had the legs shaped like an ox but that's where the familiarity between ox and beast had stopped. Its back had a large fin-like protrusion, like that of lizards, which waved particularly from side to side as it walked on forth; through a field of odd looking plants and grains.

This was something I had never seen before and clearly I had a look of surprise and confusion because Ichmal quickly, almost as if he knew what I was about to ask, said:

"That is a Tisamar; a "Wind Beast" as you could call it. Fascinating aren't they?"

"Tisamar? Wind Beast? What even is that creature?" I ponder to Ichmal

"To be honest with you, Ador, I can't tell you what that is, not because I don't want to, but because I don't know how to explain it to someone who has never seen or even heard of it before"

"Well it surely isn't any animal I have seen before"

"That's the point, no one in your "civilized" world would've seen these. So you're not wrong about not seeing it before as an animal, because it isn't."

I pondered for a good minute or so; looking at the strange creature and trying to comprehend what Ichmal meant by referring to it as not an animal. I couldn't think of how it wouldn't be an animal, it moved like an ox, took the general form of one, and apart from it's strange fin protrusion it was an animal. Was he meaning to say it was not an animal in the first place? Eventually, I asked Ichmal:

"What do you mean by that Ichamal? If it isn't an animal then what is it?

"Well, if I were to put it in a simple way, think of it like a tool, an axe, let's say. Normally you have to swing it by yourself in order to chop down a tree. Now imagine if you could do that without having to swing it by yourself, it does it by its own. That is essentially what a Tisamar is, it is a tool which operates itself. Think of your ox drawn plows that you use for your fields, they’re exactly the same thing, the plow isn’t used by your hands but rather done by another source. There is no way to explain it to you in your language directly, it could only be conveyed in concepts which is much easier than to say that word for this idea directly.” Ichmal lectured

I grasped what he was trying to say yet I felt as if I didn’t fully understand it. Not because of my understanding but rather I felt as if I lacked a knowledge set, a list of ideas and background knowledge, that was beyond that of what the libraries could ever teach me; it felt almost colossal yet Ichmal had effortlessly explained it. I began waking up to the Tisamar, carefully taking each step as I approached. Taking each step with caution as I stepped into the field, I focused on avoiding stepping on the crops.

As I began to near it I could make out certain details about it which I was unable to when I was far from it. The skin of it was almost similar to that of oxen, tough and well built, yet I could sense that it wasn’t really skin, but rather a fake copy made to imitate the likeness of oxen skin. Its overall shape was jagged and rough, unlike the smoothness and naturality of oxen; for I saw its bone protruding out of it as part of its fine structure, rough bone like carved wood. Its legs also conform to this strange build, unusually large and jagged yet it felt like the beast struggled to even move forward; as if it was weak, hungry, and unkempt. The face of this beast looked as if it were a poor imitation of an ox, horns only half the length of normal oxen and eyes which have been drained of all life yet try to deceive me. All throughout my inspection of this strange creature it hadn’t moved in a bit and hadn’t even turned to look at me in any attempt.

A strong breeze of the wind hit me from where the sun was rising and I turned towards its direction to both breath in the new air and to admire the brilliant glow of the sun. As I turned back towards the Tisamar it moved its head to face and looked at me. Startled, I accidentally lost my footing and had fallen on my back, wrecking a plant. When I was on the ground I had only focused myself on the beast in front of me, at the Tisamar.

Ichmal came running towards me, seeing as how I fell, and quickly asked if I was okay. I nodded to his question and began to pick myself up off the ground, dusting off dirt from my clothes and making sure I didn’t get any more injuries from when I had fallen. I smiled at Ichmal to let him know I didn’t get any more injuries and he seemed satisfied with that gesture as he too smiled back.

The Tisamar had continued walking normally as the wind had begun to increase in its strength, with an almost direct and coldness in its stride, it continued to walk in between the crops. It raised its head as it walked and bellowed out a deep Mooing sound from its mouth; which would’ve been in character for an ox but for a beast as strange as it was it was uncanny, almost sounding half wrong and half right at the same time with a hint of airiness. I also took notice that it carried no plow or any farming equipment I was able to identify from first glance and even now I didn’t know what it was doing wandering so carefully in the field without any real purpose. I asked Ichmal “What is it doing?” and he responded with an answer which confused me.

“It was guarding the field” Ichmal said casually “We usually have two of them doing this but due to an unfortunate accident we had to send one of them to Goerda to be fixed up. I know, I use them yet I can't fix them myself, but how they work is beyond me."

In my mind I could vaguely comprehend what he means by this; as if all of this new information was part of my common knowledge. Tisamars, Revtams; all things which I have never heard of yet are now familiar to me. I asked Ichmal "What was Goerda?" And he replied that "It is the central city of the Tritarku, all manners of trade, commerce, and general civility are concentrated there; with the process of getting the Ros Merit also located there for the Tritarku lands, presided by officials from Rosidum itself. I often only visit to sell my crops and purchase anything I might need which I don't know how to make."

Goerda, another thriving city which I have never learnt about. I can imagine its luster and grandeur is not the same as Rosidum, given that it wasn’t showered with praise unlike how Eli had described Rosidum; however I have not seen Rosidum so I cannot make full judgments yet. I decided that I had seen enough and I asked Ichmal if we could head back to his house, he agreed and we made the way back to the house; my eyes occasionally glancing at the Tisamar as it moved in an irregular motion.

We got back to Ichmal's house and he opened the door and went inside first. He spoke to someone but not in a way I could comprehend his words, as I could see the forms of the people who I saw standing near me when I had first woken up. Ichmal then turned and said to me "Sorry about that Ador, I want to introduce you properly to my family. Meet my wife; Lapi ''. She appeared as a beautiful woman who was lighter skinned to Ichmal and was on par with my own. What struck me as weird was that she had much shorter hair than most women I saw, one which would've made me think she was a man from a distance.

I greeted her and she replied back weirdly by saying “Nice to meet you” but her pronunciation was broken and choppy, she didn’t seem to know how to speak my language well. Ichmal then picked up two small children and carried them in his arms. "These two are my boys, Propum" he said whilst shaking the boy on his right up and down "and Tambi" he said whilst doing the same for the boy on his left. The two boys he held both looked similar but to a degree which made them look the same to each other. I was about to ask about this before Ichmal took notice of my expression before speaking out.

"Yes, they're both twins, born at the same time which was extremely difficult for her to handle but thankfully everything worked out fine. The wonders of Rosidum medicine I can only say.” He said in a cheery tone “and lastly this is my wonderful daughter Lamita ''. A young woman appeared from behind Lapi, appearing timid and afraid; visibly shaking. She was distinct compared to her mother in the fact that she was significantly lighter skinned than her and that her hair color was on par with golden wheat than the rest of her family, which were of the light bark of trees. “She is, as you can see, different from us. Some years ago we had actually encountered a trader from your lands who-” Ichmal was about to say before Lamita spoke up to Ichmal in their incomprehensible language, clearly angry. Ichmal responded back to her, attempting to calm her in his demeanor. She quickly sprinted off into the hallway before disappearing around the corner.

I was about to ask Ichmal before he raised a palm, indicating that he wanted a minute, before quickly walking towards where Lamita had gone; disappearing around the same corner in the hallway. For a moment everyone, including myself, just stood there in silence. I took notice that Lapi was trying to figure out something and silently mouthing out words, as if she was attempting to pronounce something.

Just as quickly her face eventually lit up with excitement before facing me and saying out loud “You want a meal?” in a very broken way of speaking. I was about to say something but I had quickly tumbled on my own words and just decided to nod, which she acknowledged and then walked down the hall and entered into a room that didn't have a door. I then tried speaking with one of the boys, asking them politely “what was going on?”. The two boys looked at me before at each other and spoke in that same foreign language in a mocking tone; they didn't seem to speak or even understand my language and instead had just laughed at me, probably making a joke between themselves at my expense. The two boys then walked into the hallway and entered the same room which Lapi had entered.

At the moment I was alone, and I had some time to ponder. I saw that a window was open and there was a gentle breeze blowing, so I walked over to the window and began to think as I looked over at the setting sun. Within the time span of a few days I had been introduced to a new world of wonder and splendor, the likes which I have never seen before. Tisamars; Beasts unlike anything I have seen before. Revtams; the unintended unholy guards to these sacred lands. Plants which appeared familiar yet radically different. People who look normal but in mannerisms and general operation appear almost as how we would be to the tribal men. There is still much for me to see in these vast lands, let alone to experience the wonder of Rosidum, and see if the venerations it has been given are true. I thought about things I normally have never thought about, like my purpose as to why I live; though I know what my purpose is: to act and serve God.

I must have pondered for too long as I could feel a hand being placed on my shoulder. I quickly turned around in surprise but soon calmed to see it was Ichmal. “Are you alright Ador?” He asked me to which I responded with a gentle smile and nod. “If that's the case, then come my friend, you must be hungry after all that you've seen and experienced today” Ichmal responded before moving into the hallway and around the corner; the same corner I had previously seen Lapi and the boys disappear into. I followed quickly behind him and entered the room. I noticed that there was a strange, white light, coming from the room Ichmal had entered and as I, myself, entered I was struck with a blinding presence.

Though the sun was just setting this light made it appear as if it were day. Had it been more orange or red in its color I would've been able to explain it as a candle or even a fire, yet it was pure white; like a brilliant quartz. As my eyes readjusted I was able to see the room clearly. A large table with strange food laid out on it with Ichmal’s family, except for Lamita, all sitting around it in chairs patiently waiting; looking at me with a distinct hint of worry except for Ichmal who looked at me with a warm smile. I was about to make mention about the light but, expectedly, Ichmal expected this and said to me:

“Pardon me for not warning you, I forgot to mention about the Dopaletch, the lights which you might be wondering”

“Yes, what exactly is it? It doesn't look like any fire or torch I've seen” I replied back

“You're right, it's because it isn't a fire or torch. It's actually a plant”

That word hit me like a sudden realization; as if that had broken how I had perceived plants, which it did. How could a plant produce light? Did it capture bits of the sun and now produce the same light? Yet it did not produce the same color, whilst the color of the sun’s light was golden and gleaming, this light was white and blinding. Eventually I asked Ichmal “How?” to which he responded by saying:

“I am unsure myself, though I am a farmer and know much about the crops we grow here. This is one plant that does not naturally grow here. Instead we had to buy this from a trader from the far northern regions since it only grew there. In Fact these plants often die out due to the climate difference from here to there and they must be kept in these special containers to prevent them from dying. One thing I do know about them is that they don’t like heat and are very sensitive to it. We had an incident once when we left one of these plants near our oven and the poor thing dried out.”

I was still very much unsure of what Ichmal meant by this and seeing my puzzled look he cleared his throat before starting again.

“How they make this light is something which I do not know but from what I was able to find out is that it dims when responding to heat, and glows when water is given to it. Here, i’ll show you.”

Ichmal proceeded to go to another room. Leaving me, his wife Lapi, and his two boys in the room which we spent in silence. Lapi looked down and, from the looks of it, it was almost as if Lapi was again trying to silently mouth out the correct words and was about to say them out but Ichmal returned with a small candle. He cheerily walked over to where the light was coming from and simply placed the candle under the light. Slowly the light got more dim and I was able to see more clearly. I saw a small quartz white plant hanging from what appeared to be three finely woven ropes. It had leaves of marble texture yet appeared, with all its imperfect ridges, as normal plant leaves.

Ichmal then reached for a cup of water on the table and began to slowly pour the water into the container of the plant. As soon as the first drops of water hit the plant it began to shine with a grand white brilliance; no imperfect flickering from a flame but a clear straight shine. As Ichmal poured more water the plant began to shine ever greater, from the brightness of a torch it quickly became a grand light; like the sun itself was placed inside this very room. Eventually Ichmal stopped pouring, gently pacing the cup back down, and staring at it as if he was mesmerized by it before looking at me with staunch wonder in his emotion and face. He eventually asked me “Fascinating aren't they? Dopaletch, foreign even to us and definitely much more foreign to you, though everything here is definitely foreign to you Ador” ending it off with a small chuckle.

As for myself I was completely amazed by what I had seen. To think that this plant could even exist was like wonders yet here it is in front of me; shining effortlessly in defiance of the ever growing night outside. Eventually the brightness was no longer of shock to my eyes and I was able to vaguely make out the shape of the plant, with all its leaves, in the midst of the light.

“I see, that is really interesting, but it would be best if we continued talking over a nice meal, right?” I said to Ichmal

“Oh, of course, you must be hungry, please sit down and enjoy the meal” Ichmal responded as he set the candle aside and moved to sit down at a chair.

I sat down as well and looked upon the food which was on the table. For a moment I felt like my own eyes were deceiving me; as if it was trying to make me see something which was not there. Despite all the wonders I have seen so far the last thing I would've expected to see as a meal in this strange land was simply some regular bread and cheese. Though the texture and general shape of both the bread and cheese were definitely new to me, the smell did not betray its grainy and dairy origins.

As the others began to eat their own portions of bread and cheese I quickly clasped my hands together and closed my eyes in prayer to God. Thanking him for everything he had created by his might, including the food which I was about to eat. As I opened my eyes I saw both the two boys and Lapi looking at me with confusion. One of the boys, Propum, turned to Lapi and asked something in their language to which Lapi responded with a clear hint of confusion in her voice. Ichmal picked up on this conversation and was also talking to them. Their conversation carried on for a few moments before Ichmal laughed and gently smiled before turning towards.

“They were wondering why you had done that, clasping your hands together and closing your eyes; they were wondering why you had prayed.” Ichmal said to me before facing his plate and taking a piece off the bread.

That struck me as very odd. Whilst I was aware that there were other people who worshiped different gods than Marduk they should've still know what I was doing. Even the western Israelites and Egyptians have common ideas with us. Yet there were people who didn't even know what the act of prayer was? I didn't know how to respond to that, I never thought that people would be ignorant of the idea of prayer, had I truly entered a land devoid of god? That wasn't the case though, how could a land devoid of god allow such wonders and creatures to exist, no. This is a land in which God has given upon himself to create such splendid beings; this was truly a holy land.

Still, I had to find a response to that question to avoid the awkwardness of the situation. Eventually I came up with something to say back.

“I was talking to God and giving him thanks for the meal” I said to Ichmal

Ichmal nodded, accepting the answer, before saying it in his language to his wife and children. Lapi seemed to understand what Ichmal was saying and went back to focus on eating her meal. One of the children, Propum, however, still looked confused by the answer given. He got up from his chair and left for another room. Quickly coming back with a book in his hand and flipping through the pages, before stopping on a certain page. He read it quietly for a few moments before saying, in a unclear and broken manner:

“Who is god?”

That greatly surprised me, along with Ichmal who looked at Propum with stunned amazement. The other two, Lapi and Tambi, didn't take note of what he had said and just continued to eat their meals. I didn't know how to respond to that as I was genuinely shocked at the words that had just come out of the boy's mouth. Ichaml quickly conversed with the boy and he returned to where he had left and returned without the book, quickly sitting down at the table where he had sat. At this point the silence was prevalent throughout the room. It was an indescribable feeling of awkwardness yet Ichmal found the moment to break it. We had a very nice conversation; I told him about the journey I had to get here, of Eli and the beauty of the lands I came from. I mostly recounted the story of Gilgamesh to him, making a spectacle of the story and telling it in an energetic way over some good food. During this he would also say it in his language to his wife and children who listened attentively; it was a nice moment to share with company and good food.

Eventually we had finished our meals and the last stories were told over that table. The children were the first to go, as Lapi guided them, presumably, to their rooms before staying a bit later to converse with us, trying her best all the while to say and understand the words I was saying. Eventually it was just me and Ichmal again, answering his questions about the story of Gilgamesh, before he trailed off and asked me “You must be wondering about Lamita right? Before she cut me off?”. I hadn’t really paid attention to that since the incident but now that Ichmal had brought it up again I was suddenly curious. “Not really but it would be nice to know why.” I asked Ichmal. He nodded before getting up to reach for two cups and a bottle on the table. He poured the contents of the bottle into the two cups, and from its rich smell and dark purple color I knew what it was; it was wine. I grabbed the cup nearest to me and raised it up; Ichmal, recognizing the gesture, bumped his cup into mine before we each took a drink.

“This isn’t any regular wine you’re accustomed to, it's a special bottle we rarely drink unless for special occasions” Ichmal teased

“Thank you for the honors, it means a lot to me” I responded

“Don't worry about it, it's just our hospitality.” Ichaml said “Anyways, about Lamita”

“Yes, she seemed so…afraid of me, understandably so but it was more defensive rather than your kind hospitality. Why is she like that?”

“She's not like that because of her own fault, far from it, you see. Technically speaking, as you have likely noticed, she isn't part of our family; she's an orphan.”

“An orphan?” I said in shock “How come?

“How she ended up as an orphan is still a mystery to us even now, her parents could've died, she might have been abandoned, we simply do not know.” Ichmal said somberly as he sipped from the cup “how she ended up in our care was more a stroke of luck more than anything, as our soldiers found her on the edge of our lands chained to a horse alongside the bodies of two other children and a man who was probably from your lands Ador”.

“Wait!” I said as I stood in shock “chained? Does that mean she was-”

“Yes, it would seem that she was probably sold as a slave at one point in her life, not to mention that someone like her could sell a lot in your uncivilized lands, Ador. As you can tell from her fair skin and sun bright hair she is not of any people known to you. In fact she is what we have called Areanes; the so-called northern most people.”

“Areane?” I asked Ichmal

“Areane. it's an ancient word among others which have predated our known language for, well, hundreds of years. It's true meaning has been muddled over time but it is often used to refer to people who come from the uncivilized north. They typically have very strange characteristics about how they look. Old depictions of them said that they were tall, marble skinned, gray-eyed, golden haired, beasts of man. Whilst no doubt born of man they look and most importantly act in a way which, even to us, are beyond uncivilized brutes” Ichaml trailed on, occasionally sipping wine.

“Okay, you say this because you think that Lamita is one of these so-called "Areanes”?”

“I don't think that, I know that. No other people in this world have the same characteristics, and Lamita fits most of it.”

“Yet didn't you say that Areanes are these beasts of man? Beyond uncivilized brutes? She isn't that at all. I don't know for sure but the fact that you can reason with her proves she isn't that!” I protested to Ichmal

He sighed deeply before taking a short sip of wine and placing the cup on the table. “You are not wrong about that Ador. She is probably the kindest soul I have ever meet, she is no uncivilized brute. However I am actually very much kind of disappointed in you. Your people's thinking deals with absolutes, “they're this, they're that” type of thinking. I've seen people destroy themselves and others recklessly because of this philosophy. The wars your people have waged were based off of this belief. The suffering that comes with your wars is immeasurable. I say this only in your best interest, Ador.” The words he had uttered were piercing, almost as if every single word had absolute purpose.