An eleven-year-old Kourosh sat on the magnificent, jewel-adorned throne of Ecbatana.
The crown, which was slightly large for his small head, pressed on his temples with the weight of a history.
He was no longer that child who planned in the shadows; he was now the center of the world itself.
To his right stood his father, Cambyses. His fist was clenched on the hilt of his sword, not out of anger, but from an overwhelming pride that could not be contained in his chest.
To his left, his grandfather Azhidahak stared at an unknown point with a calm face.
This image was the perfect symbol of the new empire:
A combination of the young and innovative power of Pars, the ancient and surrendered legitimacy of Media, and the wisdom that had bound the two together.
In the imposing silence of the hall, Harpak, with firm and deliberate steps, passed through the nobles of Media and Pars.
His armor shone in the torchlight, and his face, on which the lines of revenge and victory were etched, was calm and resolute.
He stood before the throne and made a deep bow; a bow not for a prince, but for an absolute power.
He raised his head and looked into Kourosh's eyes.
In that gaze, an unbreakable pact of loyalty and a shared power surged.
His revenge was over.
Now, it was time to build.
Then, with a clear and respectful voice that echoed in the silence of the hall, for the first time, he addressed Kourosh with a new title.
A title that was beyond "king" or "ruler."
A title that was only befitting the ruler of rulers:
"Shahanshah!"
This word echoed through the hall like a thunderclap.
For a moment, time stood still.
This was not just a title; it was a declaration.
The official announcement of the end of one era and the beginning of another.
The announcement of the death of the Median Kingdom and the birth of the Achaemenid Empire.
The first person to respond to this call was Arash.
He drew his sword from its sheath like a lightning bolt, raised it to the sky, and shouted with all his being:
"Long live the Shahanshah!"
This cry, like a spark in a powder keg, ignited the entire hall.
The Persian commanders, from Bagpat to the other Hezarbods, immediately raised their swords.
Then, a moment of hesitation.
The Median commanders looked at each other, at Mazares, and then at Harpak.
Harpak, with a nod, confirmed their pact.
Mazares, the elderly general, was the first Median commander to raise his sword.
The cry of "Long live the Shahanshah!" rose from hundreds of throats and made the palace tremble.
This roar passed through the walls of the hall, echoed in the palace courtyard, and reached the streets of Ecbatana.
The people, who were still celebrating, repeated it upon hearing the roar.
This was no longer just the cry of a hall.
It was the cry of a capital.
It was the cry of a new nation.
Mandane placed her hand on her heart, and her tears flowed silently. This tear was the tear of her son's victory and the end of her nightmares.
Cambyses placed his hand on his son's shoulder with pride, as if he wanted to transfer all his strength to him.
Azhidahak closed his eyes, as if accepting his own inevitable fate and that of the world.
And Kourosh, on his great throne, only responded to this roar with a calm smile and a nod of his head.
In his mind, there was only one thought:
"The first game is over. Now, the bigger game begins."
The Median Kingdom had officially ended.
And the Achaemen-id Empire had dawned.
Author's Note – End of Volume Two
Dear friends,
With this chapter, the second volume of My Persian Empire also comes to an end.
At the end of this volume, I have included four historical chapters so you can better follow the timeline of real events and the differences with the story's events become clearer. In this volume, my focus was more on storytelling, and I tried to make the novel's atmosphere more prominent. I hope you have enjoyed this new style more.
There is a high probability that I will also rewrite the first volume in this same style to create more cohesion in the overall work. Regarding the writing of the third volume, the situation is not yet clear; it's possible that as this chapter is being newly published, I am undergoing my military service training. Therefore, the continuation of the work will greatly depend on the time and circumstances after that.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this volume and will support me with your kind comments. My main energy and motivation to continue this path is your companionship and valuable feedback.