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Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: The Prince's Return: The Embrace of Anshan

The morning breeze brought with it the familiar scent of Anshan's soil. Little Kourosh, now not in princely robes but in the simple attire of an ordinary traveler, sat next to the driver at the front of the carriage, his eyes fixed on the horizon where the sky blended with the soft golden and crimson colors of the dawn. Hours of travel through dusty plains and winding roads were coming to an end. Suddenly, in the distance, the tall and sturdy walls of Anshan came into view. The watchtowers, gleaming under the sunlight, seemed like silent guardians welcoming his arrival. Kourosh's heart was filled with an unprecedented excitement. These were the walls of his home; the home he had left five years ago as a child, and now he was returning to it with a treasury of wisdom, the books he had written in the solitude of Behistun, and plans for the future of the Persians.

As the carriage approached the city gates, the sound of the caravan's bells mingled with the morning songs of the birds, playing the music of life on the plain. The people of Anshan, who had heard the rumors of the oppressed prince's return, had gathered along the path. Young and old, in simple Persian clothes, looked at this small caravan with eyes full of curiosity and hope. Kourosh, still in his disguise, felt from the people's curious gazes that their hearts were beating for his return. The driver, a middle-aged man with a sun-tanned face and a warm voice, looked at him and said, "My lord, we have reached Anshan. Your home awaits you." Kourosh nodded with a gentle smile and said, "Thank you, my friend. This is the moment I have been waiting for for years." His gaze fell upon the city's massive gate, a magnificent arch, as if it were a gateway to his destiny.

When the carriage came to a halt, Kourosh immediately rose from his seat. His heart was pounding, but he jumped down from the carriage with agility and walked towards the entrance with firm steps. Under the great arch, two familiar figures stood. King Cambyses, with a magnificent robe and a kingly presence, but with a face softened by anticipation and eagerness, and beside him, Princess Mandane, Kourosh's mother, with a robe of blue silk fabric that waved in the breeze and eyes that shone with tears of joy. Seeing them after five years of separation was a moment for Kourosh that made him forget all the hardships of Behistun, the cold mountain nights, and the endless longing. He paused for a moment, as if wanting to etch this image in his heart forever, and then whispered softly, "Home... I have finally returned home."

With deep respect befitting a Persian prince, Kourosh bowed before his father and mother. His voice, trembling slightly with excitement, echoed in the morning silence: "Father, Mother... your son has returned. After years of separation, I have come home again." Cambyses, whose eyes sparkled at the sight of his son, stared at him in silence for a moment. Kourosh's face, now with a taller stature and a more mature gaze, was a sign of the wisdom that had been nurtured in the solitude of Behistun. In a voice that was a mixture of pride and affection, Cambyses said, "Kourosh, my son! You have truly returned! How you have grown, but your eyes have the same fire and determination I saw in your childhood. Anshan is alive again today with you." He extended his hand towards Kourosh and, with a kind gesture, raised him from his bow, then added, "Come, my son, let me embrace you."

Mandane, who could no longer be patient, ran towards Kourosh with a quick step. Her tears, which had been flowing from the joy of seeing him, rolled down her cheeks. She held Kourosh tightly in her arms and buried her head in the crook of his neck, as if wanting to make up for all the years of separation at this moment. In a trembling and emotional voice, she whispered, "The light of my eyes, my Kourosh! I prayed for your return every day. Every day, I tidied your room with my own hands, so it would be ready for your return. Ahura Mazda has returned you to me. I will never lose you again." Kourosh, who in the warmth of his mother's embrace felt as if he had the whole world in his hands, breathed in her familiar scent, and his tears flowed silently onto his mother's shoulder. In a soft voice, he said, "Mother, all these years, the memory of you and your affection kept me alive. Every dream I had for this land was for your sake and father's."

Cambyses, who was watching this emotional scene, stepped forward and placed his hand on Kourosh's shoulder. In a voice that was a mixture of kingly fortitude and fatherly gentleness, he said, "Kourosh, you are not only our son but the hope of this land. But today, let me just be your father, not the king." He embraced Kourosh and Mandane, a firm and proud embrace that seemed to transfer all his strength and support to them. Kourosh, who at this moment felt he had returned home again, said, "Father, I promise to bring this land to the pinnacle of glory. But at this moment, I just want to be with you and mother."

The people of Anshan, who were watching this reunion from a distance, slowly approached the gate. The sound of their cheers and joy echoed across the plain. One of the city elders, with a white beard and a clear voice, shouted, "Prince Kourosh has returned! The hope of the Persians is alive!" This voice spread like a wave through the crowd, and everyone chanted Kourosh's name in unison. Kourosh, standing between his father and mother, looked at the people and, with a smile that was a mixture of humility and determination, raised his hand in a sign of respect. He whispered in his heart, "This is not just my return, but the beginning of a path that will lead this land towards justice and glory."

Mandane, who had not yet let go of Kourosh's hand, looked at him and said, "My son, tonight in the palace, we will hold a feast in honor of your return. But before that, tell me, what do these chests you have brought with you contain?" Kourosh replied with a confident look, "Mother, these chests are my treasury of wisdom. The books in which I have drawn the map of our future empire. Tonight, besides you and father, I will tell you about them." Cambyses said with a smile, "Then, my son, tonight we celebrate not only your return but the birth of the Persians' dream." With these words, the royal family moved towards the palace of Anshan, while the cheers of the people and the light of the sun seemed to herald a new season for the land of the Persians. The return of Kourosh was not only the warm embrace of home, but the dawn of an empire that was destined to change the world.

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