The next day.
The morning sun was already quite high when the expedition reached its first stop. In a bustling port of the Northern Region, City of the Strait was already teeming with life and excitement. The ships had not fully docked, and the sound of drums could already be heard, a rhythmic cadence that mixed with the joyful singing of a crowd that had gathered on the pier.
This city, strategically located in the narrows that connected the immense Suaza Lake with the gulf of the same name, was a symbol of the kingdom's growth and prosperity.
Upon stepping onto solid ground, I was greeted by the city's leader, a man with a cheerful face and calloused hands, smiling priests, and an enthusiastic crowd of citizens who were dancing and singing.
"Welcome, Young Chuta! Welcome, everyone!" exclaimed the city leader, his voice almost drowned out by the celebration. "It is an honor for us to receive you in our humble city. The people await you!"
As we walked through the port, a carnival erupted. Everyone seemed happy.
We spent the day being guided by the priests and the leader on a complete tour, where the smells of food mixed intensely with the salty aroma of the sea.
In the market, Umza, Nyia, and Turey, along with my father Hyba and my mother Za, were surprised to see the great variety of dishes.
We tasted foods different from what we were used to, most of them based on fish and seafood, from both fresh and salt water.
There were open-air stalls with delicious marine delicacies. These were filled with fried and roasted fish, fresh shrimp, and sweet drinks made with natural fruit from the islands.
My mother, with a smile of astonishment, realized something.
"Son, look!" she exclaimed, approaching a stall. "They are using a very similar version of my meat dishes. They have adapted it brilliantly for fish!"
Both my father and I smiled proudly. We both knew perfectly well how much she loved cooking and continuing to learn new dishes.
"It's the ingenuity and creativity of the people, mother," I told her with a smile.
We all enjoyed a great banquet with delicious marine delicacies.
To accompany the meal, we drank juices made from natural fruits brought from the islands of the Federal Region of the Rising Sun (FRIRS), a direct product of the new maritime trade that had been in operation for more than a year.
After the meal, we walked through parks, commercial areas, and workshops.
We observed the city, still young and growing, but already with a dizzy pace.
My family looked happy, with eyes shining from the novelty, and Turey in particular was happy to see the food and drinks from her place of origin, the islands.
Nyia stopped to watch a craftsman carving a figure in wood. Her eyes were fixed on the great skill of his hands.
"What skill. Look at the precision of his movements, Chuta," she said, her voice full of admiration.
Umza, for her part, was happy to see the people, the great joy on their faces, and the different dialects she was hearing. With her unparalleled linguistic ability, she had already learned several of them. From time to time, she would stop to talk to people in their dialects.
Turey, on the other hand, was more interested in the animals that were seen around. Her curious eyes fixed on the vibrantly colored birds perched on the roofs of the houses. She approached one of the stalls in the market, intending to touch a fish that was moving, and a fisherman, with a smile, let her touch it.
In the afternoon.
We were invited to stay in an unoccupied and comfortable house, which was owned by a merchant. While my family settled in and prepared dinner, I went to the city leader's house, where he and his council were waiting for me for a meeting.
The first thing they did was thank me.
Each of those present stood up to express gratitude for some advancement in the kingdom. They thanked me for the new houses, the food, the bronze or iron tools, the health, the writing, and the painting. Many things, which, although they might mean little to someone from the future, in these times were a significant advance.
A middle-aged man approached me with watery eyes.
"Young Chuta, I thank you for the life of my wife. She was able to give birth to several children, and this time she finally stayed healthy. The doctors from the Kingdom's Academy taught her the importance of hygiene care that you proposed. My eldest son is now studying there and is learning the knowledge of the gods. Your wisdom has blessed us," he thanked me, sobbing.
His words moved me deeply.
The big decisions I made in the Central City felt distant, almost abstract. But here, in this small city, they had become something real, a life saved. It was a powerful reminder of why I did what I did.
"It's good to hear that your family is growing and your wife is healthy... I hope that, just as I helped you, you are helping your people," I said with a formal tone, which sounded amusing with my still childish voice.
The rest of the meeting was spent on detailed reports about the city, the improvements applied, the general well-being of the population, the levels of study, and the development of new civil works.
It was a moment for everyone to be heard appropriately and for the kingdom to observe the valuable fruits of its work.
The next day.
I woke up to the sweet chorus of birds singing in the trees just outside my window. The sea breeze, fresh and salty, slipped through the cracks, bringing with it the promise of a sunny day.
My family and I gathered at the table for breakfast.
The potato tortillas, creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, and local or island-brought fruits filled the air with their aromas, a feast from the land and sea that the people of this city had mastered.
"Son, this is wonderful," my father commented, trying one of the tortillas. "The kingdom's cuisine is expanding everywhere and each region modifies it according to its own specialties. So simple and full of flavor... But obviously your dishes are the best, Za."
My mother nodded with a big smile upon seeing my father praise her dishes over the delicacies he was trying at that moment.
"Hahaha... And to think that the man who seemed so rude when I was born transformed into this," I thought, amused by his reaction.
After breakfast, we headed to the beach, where the sand was a soft carpet under our feet and the gulf water felt warm and clear. The atmosphere was one of pure joy. With my fiancées and my parents, we played with a rubber ball, and our laughter echoed along with the sound of the waves.
At one point, Nyia sat on the sand, and her hands moved with a grace that I already knew well.
In a short time, she had sculpted a small but very detailed structure that looked like a temple with its perfectly defined levels in the sand. Her artistic sense, superior to that of any person I know, was manifested in every figure she touched, even in structures like those.
"Nyia, it's truly incredible," Umza said, with sincere admiration. "It looks like a temple of the Mexica peoples that the priests mentioned."
Turey, on the other hand, was more interested in the small shells that glistened on the shore. She bent down, letting the water touch her fingers. By just approaching the water, many crustaceans came out of their hiding places and approached her as if she were their mother. They seemed very happy to see her.
After a sumptuous lunch, the atmosphere changed completely. The time for play and fun was over, and the kingdom's responsibilities awaited me. I said goodbye to my family with a kiss on the forehead of my fiancées and a smile to my parents.
Upon arriving, the Governor of the Northern Region was already waiting for me along with some ministers who came from the regional capital. This was located in the southwestern part of Lake Suaza.
The formalities of the meeting were a stark change from the family atmosphere of the morning, but the respect on their faces was exactly the same.
"Young Chuta," the Governor began, a middle-aged man with a sharp and confident gaze. "I am very happy that you are here. The region has prospered notably thanks to your vision."
The Governor told me about the growth of trade, the improvement in the fishing and glass industries, which were now in full swing. He also informed me about joint projects with neighboring regions to exploit the minerals in the mountains.
"Also, and this is very important," the Governor continued, with a proud smile. "Our reports indicate that the number of children born each year is increasing considerably. It is a clear testament to the prosperity and well-being of all our people."
As I listened to the report, my mind traveled back to the beach.
Seeing Nyia's sand figures and Turey's joy with the shells, I realized that the Governor's words were not simply data in a report.
They were happy families; they were future generations.
Despite the fact that the meeting was formal, I enjoyed this moment, because it was a tangible reminder that the decisions I made in the capital had a real impact on the lives of my people.
"Young Chuta, I have a personal request," the governor said suddenly, while I was lost in my thoughts.
"I'm listening."
"We would like to create a great sculpture in your name... A very large one," he said with a proud smile, while the rest of those present nodded with excitement.
The room fell into an awkward silence. I did not know what to say.
At first, I thought it might be a request for resources, perhaps to participate in the expedition, or I even came to think that they would try to give me a new fiancée, but I really didn't believe it would be this.
"Phew... Alright. You have my permission," I said, resigned.
.
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I think this will be the only one of its kind on the entire trip, and I'm doing it so I don't make a section of each of the following chapters like this.
It will be an entertaining trip, but one we won't see. We'll only be informed of some developments, visits to islands, and finally their arrival in North America, where we'll see the full power of Turey in action.
Unnecessary Fact of the Day: An animal native to America is the Caribbean manatee, which is known as the "sea cow." It's a slow-moving, herbivorous aquatic mammal that feeds on marine vegetation.
And maybe you'll see it on the trip, but we won't be able to read it, haha.
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Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future. (Chapter 72)
#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis. (Chapter 19)
#The Walking Dead: Patient 0 - Lyra File (Chapter 5)
You can find them on my profile.]