Lesson on the Simurgh part 1

High above the clouds, nestled in the majestic mountains of Aremania, the Simurghs soared. To the Aremanian Sassan priests, these colossal birds were sacred protectors of their cities and offerings of goats and other livestock were made to appease them.

The Aremanian cities were carved into the mountainsides, towers reaching high into the sky and connecting one peak to another with bridges that spanned kilometers.

The riders of the Simurghs trained above the cities and clouds, not to control these divine beasts, but to form a holy alliance with them. For the rider, submission was the only option, as a Simurgh could easily slaughter them at any moment.

Suddenly, one Simurgh caught a scent. Not the familiar aroma of a Sassan, but of a foreign race.

"Quiet your breath," Joan whispered to Yosef.

"It's called being alive," Yosef responded in a hushed tone.

The Simurgh's head snapped in their direction, and the massive bird rapidly descended towards them. Joan and Yosef held their breath, frozen in fear as the Simurgh landed on the ground, hiding behind a nearby rock.

The Simurgh's eyes scanned the area, searching for the source of the foreign scent. Its feathers ruffled in agitation as it continued to sniff the air. Joan and Yosef remained hidden, trying to make themselves as small and inconspicuous as possible.

Suddenly, the Simurgh let out a deafening screech, causing Joan and Yosef to cover their ears. The bird took off into the sky, circling above them in a threatening manner.

Its handler desperately pulled on the reins, attempting to make it fly where he wanted. He yelled and shouted, trying to control the mighty winged beast, but it was too late. The Simurgh grew angry, turning to face its rider and screaming at him in fury. Despite the rider's insistence, it refused to relent.

With a swift motion of its beak, the Simurgh ripped the rider from his saddle and flung him through the air, sending him plummeting to the ground below. Joan and Yosef watched in horror as the Simurgh flew away, joining its kin.

"Thanks for your impatience," Yosef remarked, thanking the dead body.

"We don't have time for jokes now. Let's move from here," Joan said urgently.

They stealthily made their way down the mountain, aiming to reach the land below. The Aremanian cities had no walls, as their location in the mountains was protective enough. But the lands below were desolate, shrouded in fog and with limited sunlight, causing only a few weeds to grow.

"Is there some superstition about eichi?" Joan asked.

"Like what?" Yosef replied, raising his eyebrow.

"Like your people bring bad luck wherever someone is around you guys," Joan said, her tone bitter.

"Uhmmm, discrimination much?" Yosef replied, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"Call it even racism. All I know is that based on everything, we were flung into the worst place imaginable, from all places we could have been flung to," Joan said, her frustration evident.

"So you need someone to blame?" Yosef asked.

"It helps. And your sarcasm just makes it easier for me to put everything on you," Joan said, her voice heavy with annoyance.

"Understandable, have a great day."

~~

Yosef and Joan continued their journey on the paved road, the torches casting an eerie glow on the thick fog that surrounded them. The atmosphere was reminiscent of the Kushan jungles, but the road was a new experience for them.

As they walked, they passed by large towers with bonfires that illuminated the path. The road was clearly designed for easy transportation, likely for caravans and travelers passing through.

Joan turned to Yosef and asked, "Any idea which way we are going?"

"I thought you didn't want any of my sarcasm?" Yosef quipped.

"Can you just answer me seriously for once?" Joan retorted.

Yosef sighed, "We're heading south."

"Good," Joan said with relief.

"Why is that?" Yosef asked, curious.

"Because the Lakhmid lands are to the south," Joan explained.

"Aaaaah...."

They kept walking through the thick fog-induced lands. For days, they walked, with no end to the thick fog, but occasionally, they heard a loud scream. A Simurgh flew over them, giving out a screech that could wake the dead, but because of the thick fog, it didn't see the humans and eichi below.

Joan and Yosef quickened their pace as they heard the loud screech of the Simurgh. They knew they had to keep a low profile and stay hidden from the watchful eyes of the Aremanian guardians.

As they walked, they spotted a small village in the distance. It was the first sign of civilization they had seen in days, and they felt a glimmer of hope. They approached the village cautiously, not wanting to draw attention to themselves.

As they entered the village, they saw that the people were all wearing hooded robes, and their faces were hidden. They moved through the village, looking for someone to help them, but no one seemed willing to speak to them.

Finally, they came across an old man sitting outside his hut. He looked up at them and nodded in greeting.

"Good evening," Joan said, trying to be friendly.

The old man didn't respond but motioned for them to sit down. Joan and Yosef sat down, waiting for him to speak.

"You are not from around here," the old man finally said.

"We will be on our way. We would just like to get some supplies," Joan said and offered a gold coin to the old Sassan.

"Your human and... your bug-mouth friend's gold isn't good here. Just leave," he said gruffly.

"Huh... A new slur. Clever," Yosef noted, based on the elderly Sassan's racist remarks.

Joan took out her large greatsword and cut a nearby rock in two. She looked violent and mad and asked again, "We will be on our way, but we would just like some supplies."

The old man's eyes widened at the display of strength, and he quickly changed his tone.

"Alright, alright! Take what you need, don't cause any trouble!" he exclaimed, trying to appease them.

Joan and Yosef exchanged satisfied glances and gathered the required supplies. They stocked up on food, water, and other essentials, ensuring they were well-prepared for their continued journey.