(Lureh POV)
I walked toward the market while clutching the pouch of coins in both hands.
What would it be like?
Uruk was much larger than Sippar. It had to have more things too. More shops, more people, more food, more clothes. Maybe even things I had never seen before.
A small part of me was still surprised Lord Ereshgal had actually allowed me to leave without making a problem out of it. I had expected him to refuse, or at least hesitate for much longer. Instead, he had only told me to be careful.
He really did seem like a good person.
It took me much longer than it should have to reach the market. I had to stop several times to make sure I was going the right way, and once or twice, I slowed down simply because I wanted to look at the streets.
But when I finally arrived, my jaw nearly dropped.
The market did not occupy a single square like I had imagined. It spread through several streets, filling them with stalls, workshops, and small open courtyards where people gathered to bargain or rest. I could already see places selling fabrics, dresses, jewelry, and small amulets hanging from wooden stands. Vendors shouted their prices over one another, children slipped between adults, and the smell of bread, oil, dust, and cooked meat mixed in the warm air.
The whole place was loud, crowded, and overwhelming.
I liked it immediately.
I wanted to see everything.
I tightened my grip on the small pouch of coins.
Come on, Lureh. This was hardly the first difficult thing you had faced.
With that thought, I began moving from stall to stall, comparing prices and examining every piece of clothing or jewelry that caught my attention. I ignored the weapons, food, and anything else that did not interest me. There was already more than enough to see without wasting time on things I had no intention of buying.
It did not take long, however, for me to notice that something was wrong.
Many of the stalls were not as well stocked as they should have been. Some had empty spaces between their goods, while others displayed only a few pieces where there should have been many more. The merchants still called out their prices and smiled at passing customers, but there was tension beneath it all. I could see it in the way they watched the streets and hear it in the way conversations died whenever a guard passed.
Were the clandestine rituals affecting the city that badly? Or was it because of Kish?
Lord Ereshgal had explained the situation between the two cities. In simple terms, if Uruk did not have a king soon, Kish would attack.
I looked around the crowded market again.
I hoped his plan worked.
After a long while of examining everything and keeping track of which stalls had the best prices, I had finally decided what I wanted and where to buy it. All that remained was to return to those places, make my purchases, and head back to the workshop.
Before that, I needed to rest.
I nodded to myself and crossed my arms.
Yes. Rest was important. It was not as though I wanted to visit a tavern and see whether there were any handsome men inside. That would be ridiculous.
Fortunately, I had noticed a handful of taverns while wandering through the nearby streets. I chose the closest one and began walking toward it.
I had almost reached the entrance when a man came flying through the door.
He struck the ground hard and rolled several times before coming to a stop in the middle of the street. People nearby moved out of the way, but none of them seemed particularly surprised.
A young man with dark curly hair stepped out of the tavern after him.
"Please, Lord Tarin" the man on the ground begged. He pushed himself onto his knees and lowered his head. "I did not mean to offend you."
Tarin grabbed him by the hair and drove a knee into his face.
"You should be grateful" he said as the man collapsed again. "This could have been much worse."
He did not stop there. I stared at them for a moment before slowly turning around.
'Please do not stop me. Please do not stop me.'
I walked away without looking back, doing my best not to seem as though I was fleeing. My steps remained calm at first, but they became faster each time I heard another impact behind me.
I was not proud of leaving him there, but I could not afford to get involved.
Before I realized it, the tavern and the beating were far behind me.
I finally slowed down and looked around. The street was narrower than the ones near the market.
I blinked.
Where was I? Had I really taken a different street while trying to escape?
I began looking for someone I could ask for directions, but my face brightened when I noticed a sign hanging above one of the nearby doors.
The End of the World Tavern.
What a strange name.
I stepped inside and looked around. The place was almost empty. Only a few people sat at the tables, speaking quietly among themselves.
I sighed.
I could order something to eat first and ask for directions afterward.
I took a seat near the counter, where a calm, mature-looking woman stood. She had long dark hair and wore a simple tunic, but there was something peaceful about her presence that immediately made the tavern feel less empty.
The moment I sat down, I let out a tired sigh.
She laughed softly.
"Busy day?"
I laughed too. "More than you think."
She nodded with a small smile. "I'm Siduri. Do you already know what you want?"
"Lureh. Just something to eat and a beer, please."
"Of course."
She placed a cup of beer in front of me almost immediately, then turned away to prepare the food.
I took a sip and was surprised by how good the beer was. Then I remembered the tavern's name.
"The tavern has an unusual name," I said. "Is there a reason behind it?"
Siduri laughed once more.
"This is a special tavern."
"Special how?"
What could possibly be special about a tavern this empty? She returned a moment later and placed a bowl of lamb stew in front of me.
"It only appears before certain people," she said, "and only once in their lifetime."
I laughed.
A tavern that appeared to someone only once in their life? Of course. Even as a chosen, I had never encountered anything so strange. Yet Siduri looked completely serious, so I decided to play along.
"And what does someone need for your tavern to appear?" I asked as I picked up my spoon.
The moment I brought the stew to my mouth, I immediately took another bite. Then another, and another.
Wasn't this just lamb stew? Why was it so good? Before I knew it, the bowl was empty.
Siduri laughed. "Would you like another?"
I nodded as heat reached my cheeks.
She replaced the empty bowl with another one that was already full. This time, I forced myself to eat more slowly so I could actually enjoy it.
"As for your earlier question," Siduri said, "the tavern appears before people who need advice."
I stopped eating for a moment.
Advice? The tavern appeared before people just to give them advice?
This made less sense every time she explained something. I looked around, searching for any trace of spiritual energy. There was nothing.
Still, she had given me the best stew I had eaten in a long time, so I might as well continue the conversation.
"What advice do you have for me?" I asked.
Siduri rested her elbows on the counter and propped her chin on her hands.
"Do you want to be free?"
Free?
Of course I did, but I was certain it was impossible. Lord Ereshgal had said he would release me once he became king, but I was not naive enough to believe him. I knew how valuable I was, and he surely wanted to keep me close.
I would probably never be free.
"Who doesn't?" I replied sarcastically.
Siduri nodded as though my answer had been completely serious.
"Well, you will be. Soon."
I frowned. Was that supposed to be a joke? It was not a very funny one.
"When it happens, you will have a decision to make" she continued. "You can leave, or you can stay."
She paused for a moment before adding, "My advice is simple. When that time comes, leave the city."
I stared at her.
"What?" Siduri asked.
"Were you expecting something cryptic? Something with a hidden meaning?"
She shook her head.
"No, no. This is advice."
I slowly shook my head. This woman was insane.
"If that ever happens, I'll keep it in mind," I replied.
Siduri nodded, and I returned to my meal.
"By the way, how do I get back to the market from here?"
"Go straight when you leave. You'll find it." Siduri said.
I nodded and rose from my seat.
"Thank you. How much do I owe you?"
Siduri waved one hand dismissively.
"On the house."
Really? Lucky me.
I thanked her again and hurried toward the door before she could change her mind. Just as I reached it, however, it opened from the other side.
A tall, athletic young man stepped inside. He had brown hair and only a light beard along his jaw. His tunic was made from fine cloth, decorated with simple patterns, and several pieces of jewelry marked him as someone important. His gaze was confident, almost proud.
Seriously? Why did the handsome man have to arrive just as I was leaving?
He walked past me and took the seat I had just left. Siduri greeted him as naturally as she had greeted me, while I turned back toward the door.
"My name is Siduri," I heard her say.
The young man answered just as I stepped outside.
"Agga."
Agga?
I could have sworn I had heard that name before.
Well, it probably was not important.