Records of Bubu

"Did your husband ever tell you, what was the family tragedy and problem Cyrus had?" Rufus asked the goddess.

"Bubu never told anyone their secrets and especially not Cyrus's."

Rufus felt defeated, as he was back at square one.

"Though I may not know, Bubu kept records of his journey. Records of knowledge he had gotten that he compiled somewhere in the Sassan world. When he died, I tried to ask Cyrus to return these to me, as they were precious to me as well. The writings from my husband, but Cyrus refused and after his death, these records vanished, as Xerxes didn't know the location. But I am sure of something. They are somewhere on the world of Sassan. The center of the Sassan heaven," Al Rahman explained.

"So you are telling us to travel to the world of Sassan?" Rufus asked.

"I am merely giving you my thanks. For returning my husband to me. Though I do not know how that demon came into possession of my husband's remains, I am glad someone was able to recognize it and give it to me. Otherwise, it would have been forever lost."

"Will you not ask me how I got to know that the demon had it?"

"Bubu kept secrets from others to protect them. I respect people's wishes if they do not want to tell. I am just glad I have my husband's remains back. I am sorry that I was not more of help," Al Rahman said.

Rufus departed, but not before the goddess issued a cautionary tale, "Beware the dangers of Sassan, my dear human. Your kind has wrought havoc upon this world, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Iskander may have emerged victorious, but the general he appointed to rule over Sassan was far from magnanimous. The people of Sassan still bear the scars of the past, wary of humans and their power, yet afraid to incur their wrath. They know all too well the consequences of crossing them."

"Were you present during Iskander's clash with Cyrus?"

Al Rahman's voice trembled as she recounted the battle between the humans and the djinns. "Yes. The clash between the two armies was cataclysmic. The ground shook and the sky turned black with smoke as the warriors clashed with all their might."

She continued, "Cyrus led his army of sassans and djinns into battle, their fierce and otherworldly appearance intimidating even the bravest of humans. But Iskander's army was relentless. They charged forward with unyielding force, wielding their swords and shields with precision and strength."

Al Rahman's eyes flickered with fear and awe as she spoke of Iskander's closest friend, Hefaistion. "He was a formidable opponent, his strength and skill unmatched. Even I, a goddess, was no match for him."

Despite their fierce fighting, Iskander's army remained outnumbered, yet they refused to back down. The silver shields, Iskander's elite fighters, cut through the djinns like a hot knife through butter, their unwavering determination never faltering.

Iskander through his spear, piercing Cyrus and unmanning him from atop his godly chariot. As Xerxes and Arslan carried their father away, the battle had ended. I fled back to Isra and the humans had free reign over the sassan soldiers who tried to flee."

~~

As Rufus prepared to depart, the goddess issued him a warning.

"You travel with a sorcerer, do you not?" she inquired.

Rufus nodded. "Yes, she is our guide and navigator."

The goddess looked at him with a penetrating gaze. "Is she part of your quest for something other than enriching yourself?"

Confused, Rufus asked, "I do not understand."

The goddess explained, "My husband was also a sorcerer. Though he was selfless on many occasions, his unquenchable thirst for knowledge often clouded his judgment. It defined who he was, but such desires can drive one to their demise or lead others to theirs.

"Also, you should try and stay away from Perizad?"

"Who is that?" Rufus asked.

"You mean they. They and he is one being. One soul, but over ten thousand bodies. Whatever is its real pronoun, it is the loyal hound of Xerxes, and though I can order him round on my world. On Sassan in the eyes of the Essyrian sassans. His word is the law," Al Rahman told.

~~

Rufus got back to the others. The flying fortress of Perizad had already left as the skies were clear. The zealots who had wondered were still outside camped, not knowing what to do.

The god of ten thousand bodies had left a few soldiers to make sure they would be guarded and taken back to their continent.

"Well?" Satifa said.

"You guys ready to go to the world of Sassan?"

They all smiled.

"I guess this journey wasn't supposed to be so easy," Edward said and rested his sword on his shoulder.

~~

The group was ready to leave.

"Did anyone see Rustam by the way?" Liana asked.

They looked behind and saw Rustam waving at them.

"Seems like he also came to say his goodbye," Doreen said and waved back.

As the friends and comrades of Rufus were departing, Rustam looked at them from near a hill the walls of the city of secrets.

"What do you think will happen to them?"

Al Rahman came to talk to him, in her humble sassan female form.

"I am not sure. They have resolved, but that has never been enough," Rustam said to back.

"What other than resolve would you have?" the goddess asked the humble nomadic herder.

"Luck."

"Hahahahahaaaa. But don't they have that? They just didn't make a great impression on the goddess of the djinns. But the hero, who saved Cyrus from the great white demon."

"I am no hero anymore. I am a nomadic farmer. No more, no less."

"You can say that. But. You are already basically a god who refuses his possibilities. You may run away from this fact. eventually, it will catch up to you."