Chapter 79: To Bactria! (1/2)
”Would you care to introduce them to me?” Mithra requested Alex.
”Follow me.”
The group of three few out of the palace and followed Alex in the direction of the outskirts of the city.
Alex looked around and identified his destination.
A small two-story house that was quite familiar to Alex and Hermes.
He landed in front of the door and knocked. They didn't wait very long as a man shortly opened the door.
”You two, welcome back!” Behrouz greeted them as he saw Alex and Hermes.
However, when he saw Mithra, he jumped back in fright and stuttered, ”L-lord M-Mithra?!”
Esfir, who was previously inside, also came to the door and asked Behrouz, ”What's the commotion about?”
Yet, when she saw Mithra, she had a similar reaction and immediately kowtowed.
Following that, Mithra demanded them to stand up and they all entered inside. The two mortals were extremely fidgety and anxious in the presence of Mithra, and Esfir nervously asked, ”L-l-Lord, what is Lord's purpose in our humble home..?”
Mithra cleared his throat and informed them, ”I have been told you two would make for great Satraps(Monarchs) of Parthia.”
Behrouz was drinking some tea, and the moment he heard that all of the tea spilled out.
Mithra, unbothered, continued, ”Alex and Hermes, two of our allies from Olympus, have recommended you.”
The couple stared at them and said, ”You two are also gods....?”
Behrouz murmured to himself, ”This must be the fate that mother always mentioned....”
Esfir kindly told them, ”I don't think we're opposed to the idea, we're just overwhelmed, could you Lords give us some time to ponder on it?”
Mithra nodded.
After that, the three gods left the house and exited the city, halting under the shade of an unusually large tree.
Mithra suddenly advised them, ”I think you two should immediately leave Parthia.”
He carried on, ”You've caught the attention of Angra Mainyu.”
”Only Ahura Mazda or an extremely strong deity on the level of your chief can fight him off.”
Alex thought it was reasonable and thanked Mithra for his advice.
Hermes still seemed sullen that he didn't inform him of his nocturnal adventure but they'd have to leave the explanations for later.
Afterward, they went back to the couple's house and the two accepted to become the rulers of Parthia.
A coronation ceremony was to be held in the afternoon under the direct observation of Mithra.
The two Olympians congratulated the new monarchs, bid their goodbyes to Mithra, and hastily left Ctesiphon, resuming their journey to the east.
”Alex?” Hermes called him Alex, which indicated that he was mad at him.
”H-Hermes...?” Alex replied and avoided the latter's eyes.
”You got into danger, didn't you?” Hermes lowered his eyebrows.
”No, I...-
”You could have notified me, Alex,” Hermes stated coldly.
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They only stopped on a few cities in Parthia and swiftly exited Persia, entering into Bactria.
They were one step closer to their destination, and only a few stops were left before they'd reach China.
Bactria was under the rule of a Hellenic kingdom, so they expected that they would be treated better here than in Parthia.
However, as they entered into one of the cities, they noticed that the population was in utter chaos and anxiety.
In the center of the city, an acropolis towered over the rest of the population.
There was a ruined temple, and the signs of the destruction seemed new. Additionally, Alex perceived a statue that lacked a head outside of the destroyed temple.
Even though it didn't have a head, it was very clearly a statue of Zeus.
”Strange....” Alex remarked.