The rules of the city

The gates of the city of secrets were shut and some unknown beings whose true form was not shown had taken Zara, the scatterbrain djinn. Suomi was still passed out as she had reached her limits.

They were walking closer to the gates, non-confrontationally.

As they got closer, the beasts carved into the great gates became alive. Great monsters such as enormous lions and tigers with large fangs and even an elephant with four tusks. All were made from iron as they were autonomous machines built by the djinns.

Before the monsters could attack, the same smoke came flying down over the walls. It fell down in front of Rufus and the rest of them. It finally showed some kind of form, as it took the form of an average-looking human. The being that took Zara was clearly a djinn, as it could change shape to almost anything.

It didn't say a word, but just quickly bowed and continued to stare at them with an emotionless face.

"What is this supposed to be?" Amala said and got closer to the djinn.

The djinn then turned to an average-looking grey skin. But it still didn't say a word.

"Wait," Yosef said and got closer.

It then turned into a no way a special-looking eichi.

Yosef kept jumping between the djinn and Amala, just to mess with the djinn, making it turn between an eichi and a grey skin.

"Eichi, grey skin, eichi, grey skin," Yosef said as he kept jumping making the djinn always turn its form.

Joan then punched Yosef, making him stop, getting a smile even from the djinn.

"Seem like he also liked that," Joan noticed and smiled.

"You won't be getting any answers from him. He is a bit of a quiet one."

A being looking like a sassanid rode atop a similar beast the selquks rode on.

"You a djin as well?" Amala asked this stranger.

"Nope. I am a sassan and a herder of birds. I follow the city of secrets around. Why don't you come inside my tent for some milk? I'll explain everything in there," the sassanid man said.

Satifa created one locust that she sent to the nose of Suomi. She woke up as the insect tickled her nose and yelled as she was terrified of bugs.

"Still doesn't get old," Satifa laughed.

~~

As Rufus and the group followed the sassanid man, they could see that he lived in a traditional nomadic tent, also known as a yurt. The walls and roof were made of a thick layer of felt, which helped to keep the interior warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather. The frame of the tent was made of wooden poles and was covered in canvas, which could be opened or closed to allow for ventilation.

Inside the tent, there was a central fire pit surrounded by cushions and rugs for seating. The sassanid man had a small kitchen area with a few basic tools for cooking and a storage area for food and supplies. The tent also contained a small area for sleeping, with blankets and pillows.

As a herder, the sassanid man lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle, moving with his flock of birds that flew atop the yurt.

The group sat around the fire pit and accepted the sassanid man's offer of milk and bread. They were impressed by the simplicity yet the comfort of his dwelling.

"So who are you?" Edward asked as it seemed weird for a nomad to travel alone, following a moving city.

"My name is Rustam and I am allowed by the djinns to herd my birds near the lands of the city of secrets. The lands near are always good for my animals, as not just the mountain city moves, but great pastures as well with food my flok can eat. I am just to help anyone else who the djinns wish to help, but not let inside their city," Rustam explained.

"So everyone except djinns..." Joan said.

"Basically. That one you met. The one changing forms. He is called the guardian of the gates and his name is Div. For over five hundred years he has decided who to let in, and he has yet to allow outsiders," Rustam said smiling and offered everyone some milk that had spices mixed with it.

"So how do we persuade him to let us in?" Rufus quickly asked, coming back to the subject in hand.

"Well, I mean you can't. The city is only for djinns and very few outsiders have been allowed inside since its founding. Like the god Cyrus and other notable beings are the few that have been allowed entry," Rustam explained.

Everyone felt really disappointed. They believed they had at least some chance of getting into the city with Zara.

"Well, how about you just rest here in my home for the night?" Rustam offered.