Between the sea and the mountains lay the Strait of Atos, the sole passage to Úria. The entire eastern border of Epiria was defined by a towering mountain range that ended precisely at this strait. Beyond these mountains to the east stretched the vast Desert of Babilim. Few slaves managed to escape and attempt crossing it, and even fewer are known to have survived its harsh terrors.
Past the Strait of Atos, a unified kingdom thrived. Though it governed a smaller territory than all of Epiria, its population was far denser. This, coupled with its rich Maginite deposits, fueled Epirian rulers' desire to possess its rare minerals. Consequently, Úria's government invested heavily in controlling its borders with Epiria, particularly at the city of Kyrthalas, to curb smuggling.
As cart travel was prohibited between Kyrthalas and Úria, Alex and the boys walked until they reached the border outpost. Upon arrival, Alex introduced himself and presented his letter of authorization for himself and the two boys to pass. The soldiers, recognizing Alex, didn't question their journey to Úria and allowed them through the border. Near the border stood a city that served as a lodging for Úrian soldiers. The walk from Kyrthalas to the closest Úrian city after customs would take about ten hours at a moderate pace.
Zuri observed the forest, which differed from Epiria's dense woodlands. Here, the trees were more spaced out, allowing the scorching sun to paint patches of the surrounding field. This intense heat made the journey somewhat tiring for Zuri; Alex and Ícaro, however, seemed better prepared for the trek. The route offered an impressive array of wildlife: from slender gazelles and leaping hares to five-meter-long lizards, and even a colossal eagle with a ten-meter wingspan. Zuri spotted the bird two kilometers away. With a hint of tension, he asked, "Alex, shouldn't we be worried about the monsters here? I saw that giant bird attacking an animal; shouldn't we take precautions?"
"Don't worry," Alex replied calmly. "It only attacks large animals for food. We'd only be at risk if we got close to it, but rest assured, I'm alert to any movement from any monster. Know that the three of us can handle it, or any other monsters or people who might attack us." Hearing Alex's firm, calm tone, Zuri relaxed and continued the walk with less tension, trusting in Alex.
The bird Zuri had seen was a Harpy, a giant eagle-like creature. They possessed imposing talons, sharp beaks, wingspans reaching ten meters, and enormous eyes with extraordinary visual acuity. Harpies also wielded magical abilities, primarily controlling winds by flapping their wings, capable of creating mini-tornados moving at 200 km/h, strong enough to lift animals weighing up to 120 kilograms. Alex elaborated for Zuri, "Zuri, that bird you saw was a Harpy, one of the magical monsters inhabiting both Epiria and Úria. Among these monsters are dragons, ogres, and salamanders, the most commonly known."
The sky, a clear blue without a single cloud for relief, allowed beads of sweat to form between Zuri's eyes as he spotted a city encased by walls. While Zuri was utterly exhausted, Alex and Ícaro maintained their steady pace, their breathing regular. Zuri managed a slight smile, knowing they'd reached a city where he could finally refresh himself with a drink and a customary bath. The sun was already beginning its descent, painting the sky in hues of red, orange, and gold that reflected gently off the city walls. The sight brought a sense of peace to Zuri, who felt the city beckoning him to rest.
Upon reaching the gates, soldiers peered through the crevices and accosted Alex, asking who they were. When Alex revealed a pure yellow gold hexagram pendant, the soldiers understood he was known to Úrian royalty. The hexagram symbolized Úria's balance between the six existing magical elements and was bestowed upon those deemed worthy of the title of master in magic. Granted entry, Zuri and the others walked down a beautiful, bustling cobblestone street, constantly bumping into people. Their immediate goal was to find a room to rest, so Alex headed towards an inn.
Looking around, Zuri noticed a wide variety of people, predominantly those with brown hair and tanned skin, alongside others who were Black and Caucasian, redheads, and various dark-haired individuals. The only ones he didn't see were those with blond hair. A doubt forming in his mind, Zuri questioned Alex, "Alex, I'm seeing many people of different ethnicities, but I don't see anyone with blond hair like the Nibira." Alex responded, "The Nibira are a rare people, Zuri, and very devoted to their religion. Not only do they only marry within their own, but few break the rules and leave their tribe to live elsewhere." "I see," Zuri said, understanding his own people's exclusive behavior.
Zuri noted a significant number of soldiers, almost as if an invasion were imminent. These were the city's frontier guards, constantly patrolling the country's borders to prevent invasions or assaults on their territory. Arriving at the inn, they had a meal and rested in their quarters, preparing for another long journey to Úria.
After a very early start, they went directly to the market to resupply. Having bought food and filled their water skins, Alex rented a carriage, and the journey to Úria accelerated significantly. In just a short time, they would arrive.
Another two days of travel, including an overnight stop, and they finally neared the city. The journey had been calm, the sky overcast, sparing them from the harsh sun. On the horizon, Zuri glimpsed the city of Úria. Ícaro pointed and asked Alex, "Is that enormous city the capital of Úria?" "Yes, it is," Alex confirmed. "It's much bigger than Demetris," Ícaro commented. "It seems the people of Úria are very prosperous." Alex replied, "Indeed. They are a hospitable people, and the royalty doesn't oppress the common folk. Didn't you see that village we passed? Despite its small size, it seemed they lacked nothing. Úria's land is very fertile, and it rarely engages in war."
They soon joined a queue of people before the city gates. An inspection was underway to prevent bandits and spies from entering. Soldiers approached each person in line, checking carriages and visitors' documents. "I never imagined I'd see a city so bustling. It's so different from the cities in Epiria," Zuri remarked to the others, filled with admiration. "It's not like this in Epiria because of the power struggles there," Alex explained. "Úria is a unified country; all other cities are under the domain of the Queen of Úria."
Finally, the soldiers approached them. Recognizing Alex, they became friendly. "Alex, good to see you. Are you here on business or just tourism?" "I'm here for an audience with Aldanesh. I have important matters to discuss with her." "And these boys, are they with you?" referring to Zuri and Ícaro. "Yes, they are. The older one, in fact, is a descendant of Úrian." "He certainly seems to have our features. Well, welcome, and feel free to visit our market; you might find something useful to buy." Bidding farewell to the soldier, Alex led them past the city gates.
Úria's city was built circularly, with countless brick houses, much like those in Epiria. The streets were paved with cobblestones, and the houses embraced each other so closely they left no room for alleys. Their side walls formed a continuous line, and the inclined roofs created a serrated, almost interconnected landscape, giving the impression of a single, sprawling urban organism. Towards the center, a vast number of people moved about. The city's main economic activity revolved around blacksmiths and artisans. Úria's capital supplied equipment and furnishings to cities throughout the country.
Zuri longed to walk the streets of Úria, but Alex advised them to rest for the night, promising to take them to visit the market and the high priestess's quarters the next day.
Entering a pub that also served as an inn, Ícaro and Zuri encountered many people, both men and women, whose physical vigor was notable, every step denoting strength. These were the adventurers. Alex directed the boys to their room, while he himself intended to enjoy the cold, bitter taste of beer after so many days on the road.
The two boys, each sitting on his bed, chatted amongst themselves. Zuri asked, "So, Ícaro, what do you think of this trip?" "I'm loving it," Ícaro replied, joy plastered across his face. "I'm enjoying it too. But what do you think Alex has in mind, bringing us to Úria? Isn't it suspicious, coming to a country hostile to his own?"
"On his visits to my house, Alex always told us a little about his trips to Úria, but I only ever heard him describe them as 'paradise trips.'" Zuri mused, "I'm going to try and enjoy this trip as much as possible and store every scene in my mind. I don't know if we'll come back here again. I think when we return and start training with Alex, we'll be assigned as Milena's soldiers."
"Yes, Zuri," Ícaro agreed, "I think our lives of freedom end when we become soldiers for some city in Epiria."
"That's true. Well, I'm excited about everything. Let's sleep to wake up early. I'm sure you also want to see your parents' hometown. Let's explore every corner we can, hahaha, then we'll tell our parents."
"Good idea! I'll tell my parents everything when I get back to Demetris. Sleep well, Zuri, tomorrow promises to be great!"
"Yes!"
Alex arrived at his room to find the boys already asleep. He, too, took the opportunity to rest, knowing he would soon reveal his plans for bringing them to Úria.