Vrshyad—Baku Union Territories

Upon disembarking from plane I made my way towards passport control.

A routine process when traveling internationally.

The customs officers appeared to be following the some outdated procedures that I had seen countless times in movies.

I handed over my passport, NDNF, and other necessary documents to the immigration officer.

After scrutinizing my passport and verifying my eligibility, he stamped it and returned it with a courteous, "Here you go, sir."

It seemed that the customs regulations in this country were a bit peculiar? compared to what I was used to.

But then again—I am from an entirely different world, so perhaps these disparities should be expected.

During the customs declaration, I was required to present my machete.

The officers couldn't help laughing at my face when the saw my weapon...

It almost felt like a personal insult.

Why do people think machete is a joke?! I bet I can level the field with even gods and dragons themselves with my machete!

It was a frustrating...

With a heavy heart, I made my way to the prepaid taxi that I had booked.

***

The car accelerated, whisking us away in a rush of speed.

The interior hummed with the vibrancy of movement.

Seated in the back, I couldn't help but feel out of place in this archaic vehicle.

Everything in this world was just a constant reminder that I didn't belong here, in this world..

Or even this time...it reminded me of my ultimate goal.

"Would you like a bo' ó wo' wa?" The guide suddenly asked, turning his head to face me from the front.

I furrowed my brows, confused by his unusual query. "A... bo' ó wo' wa?"

A flicker of understanding finally hit me, when he gestured to the bottle of water.

"No, I'm good."

Gazing out of the window, my eyes met an urban landscape dominated by towering steel buildings and bustling crowds.

The scenery swiftly flew by as the taxi sped on its way.

Ironically, the sky above was clear, devoid of any hint of cloud.

Then again, given the tropical desert climate of the Baku Union territories, such weather was to be expected, contrasting sharply with the tropical monsoon of St. Sebastin.

And here I was, navigating through this new environment, with a rough idea of the location of the [Solaris Amulet] mystery.

"Sir, do you see that?" The guide suddenly interjected, his British accent seeping through his words.

He pointed towards a majestic golden pyramid-like structure in the distance, standing as an unattainable fortress behind its imposing gates and heavy security.

"That's where our first king, Aldric Gedeon—the slayer of nights—built the shrine as a sign of reverence for the goddess."

George, the knowledgeable travel guide, had a British accent that piqued my curiosity.

I couldn't help but wonder about his origins, although there seemed to be a hint of another language mixed with his accent.

As the car glided past the pyramid monument, George continued into the historical accounts:

"Ancient Babylonian temple records recount the practice of offering homage to kings who were believed to possess divinity. Hymns dedicated to these kings often suggested to their union with goddess, they used to call it sacred marriage."

"In those times, one of the epithets used for the king was 'endowed with life' or 'imparting life.'"

I pondered his words, finding the stories truly captivating.

They added depth and intrigue to the city, transcending it from being merely a name on the map.

But I wasn't here to engage in casual sightseeing.

"Take me to the wilderness in Jaf," I demanded.

"That can be arranged, but we'll have to make a slight detour. The car won't be able to reach the exact location, so we'll have to continue on foot."

Jaf, it means "dry" in Arabic, referred to a region in which a forest in desert existed.

This unique place was a forest oasis nestled amidst the surrounding deserts, encompassing an area of approximately 10 sq km.

After another brief five-minute drive, George steered us towards a different section of the city, where the narrow streets of the slums proved too cramped for the car to navigate.

And so, we started on foot.

During our journey, George shared fascinating tidbits about various monuments, noteworthy individuals, and the rich history surrounding this place.

As he continued, I found myself thoroughly engrossed in his anecdotes.

As George continued his narrative, he mentioned something that I could never have anticipated hearing from anyone's lips, "It is even said that Galandrath once had a meeting with the King Aldric and personally revealed information about eight national treasures. One of them was said to be a bracelet, and the other, an amulet."

Eight national treasures?

A bracelet?

An amulet...

Suddenly, an unfamiliar surge of emotions washed over me, as if experiencing some déjà vu, almost like emotions from another lifetime.

My brows furrowed, contorting with strange emotions, emotions which didn't felt like mine.

'Stay calm Noah...whatever this is...'

No.

No, what the heck, Galandrath?

'Could this be a reference to the...'

My gaze slowly moved to a certain bracelet adorning my left arm.

As my heart began to race, I swiftly calmed my emotions which were acting wild for who knows what reason.

"Galandrath, y-you mean the same Galandrath from the renowned book of Legends?"

"Indeed! Galndrath from the book of ancient legends!" George replied, affirming my suspicion.

He extended his hand, pointing towards a small office nestled amongst a row of fences.

"I'm afraid I can't venture any further. This seems to be as far as our paths intertwine," he explained, his voice tinged with a hint of regret.

With that, he departed from the location.

I took a moment to absorb the striking red signboard that had seized my attention.

Its bold letters spelled out "Wilderness in Jaf."

Finally, I had reached my destination.

"Huff", I inhaled a deep breath.

The ground beneath me, composed of rocky soil, echoed with each footfall.

As I moved forward, a strange calmness began to envelop me, gradually soothing my stirred emotions, almost as if comforting me.

'Solaris Amulet. 𝗜'𝗺 back.'