After a month had passed since the accident and everyone had calmed down, I was finally able to leave confinement, though I'm not sure if it can be called that, as I had all the freedoms except for not being able to go to the city. Everything else remained the same.
As I went out to stroll through the city, observing the changes that had been made, I was both impressed and excited. I had anticipated the possible changes, but seeing this prosperity was different from imagining or predicting it. The streets were filled with people, smiles on their faces. Some nobles used carriages drawn by bison. More people arrived, merchants and the city itself expanded.
A law had to be enacted to prevent the accumulation of bison dung on the streets. They even used a small net behind the animal to keep the streets clean, but there were still people who cleaned up. This sometimes caused people to become careless and lazy, not caring much about it, so a fine was invented to punish offenders.
While walking through the markets on my young white bison, which I named Yetty—it was first Hades and then this name—people asked me what it meant, and I just said I learned it from a dream I had, to avoid too much explanation, and they believed it. This surprised me.
I watched as bison horns, meat, hides, and even milk were displayed, and beverages prepared. Of course, I had to intervene and taste some modern delicacies of these times, which is indeed a luxury, but I couldn't help it. I was very happy that with the little I had done, a new future was already beginning.
Then, while exploring and admiring the city, whose population was now among the ten largest in the world, surpassing many European cities and competing with Constantinople, I had to ask my system for a list to understand what had changed.
~ answering the question ~ In 1499, the most populated cities in the world were centers of commerce, culture, and political power. Here is a list of some of the largest cities of that era, ordered from largest to smallest population:
1. Beijing, China
Population: ~1,000,000
Description: The capital of the Ming dynasty, Beijing is one of the largest cities in the world, with a thriving commercial center and an important political and cultural hub.
2. Vijayanagara, India
Population: ~750,000
Description: The capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in southern India is a large urban center that hosts significant trade in spices, precious stones, and textiles.
3. Cairo, Egypt
Population: ~500,000
Description: As the power center of the Mamluk Empire, Cairo is a prosperous city at the crossroads of important trade routes between Africa, Asia, and Europe.
4. Hangzhou, China
Population: ~450,000
Description: Famous for its natural beauty and thriving economy, Hangzhou is one of the most important cities in the silk and tea trade in China.
5. Tabriz, Persia (Iran)
Population: ~400,000
Description: As one of the main cities of the Safavid Empire, Tabriz is an important center of commerce and culture in the Middle East.
6. Gaur, India
Population: ~400,000
Description: Gaur is a prominent city in the Bengal Sultanate, known for its wealth and trade in the Indian subcontinent.
7. Constantinople, Ottoman Empire (Istanbul, Turkey)
Population: ~375,000
Description: After the fall of Byzantium, Constantinople became the capital of the Ottoman Empire, serving as a political and commercial center between Europe and Asia.
8. Tenochtitlan, Mexica Empire (Mexico City)
Population: ~375,000
Description: The capital of the Mexica Empire, Tenochtitlan is an impressive city, famous for its complex urban structures and advanced engineering systems.
9 . Nanjing, China
Population: ~350,000
Description: Before Beijing became the capital, Nanjing had been the seat of Ming power and continued to be an important cultural and political center.
10. Paris, France
Population: ~300,000
Description: Paris is the largest city in Western Europe, serving as a significant cultural, intellectual, and commercial hub.
11. Hangzhou, China
Population: ~275,000
Description: Renowned for its beauty and prosperity, Hangzhou is an important commercial center, especially in the silk trade.
12. Granada, Spain
Population: ~250,000
Description: After the Reconquista, Granada was a key city in southern Spain, known for its rich Muslim history and cultural influence.
13. Malacca, Malaysia
Population: ~225,000
Description: A vital trade center in Southeast Asia, Malacca is a cosmopolitan city attracting traders from around the world.
14. Naples, Italy
Population: ~200,000
Description: One of the largest cities in Italy, Naples is an important center for commerce and culture in the Mediterranean.
15. Fez, Morocco
Population: ~200,000
Description: Fez was a cultural and educational center in North Africa, with a rich tradition in Islamic learning and commerce.
16. Lisbon, Portugal
Population: ~175,000
Description: The capital of Portugal was a crucial port during the Age of Discoveries, connecting Europe with new routes to Asia and America.
17. London, England
Population: ~150,000
Description: Although still growing, London began establishing itself as an important political and commercial center in Europe.
18. Florence, Italy
Population: ~120,000Description: A Renaissance cultural hub, Florence is known for its art, architecture, and thriving commerce.
19. Novgorod, Russia
Population: ~100,000
Description: As one of the most important cities of medieval Russia, Novgorod is a center of Slavic trade and culture.
20. Kyoto, Japan
Population: ~100,000
Description: The former capital of Japan, Kyoto is a cultural and political center, known for its temples and gardens.
Upon learning this list, I was upset. I had projected that we would be among the five largest cities in the world, but then I remembered that the change was beginning, and it had only been almost a year, so there was no need to be alarmed or impatient.
While exploring the market, I encountered a group of people gathered around a jewelry stall. There was the captain of the city's Golden Eagles football team, a young athletic man from the noble Tecuhtli family, famous for his skills on the field. With him was his little sister, a girl with dark hair and a shy smile.
Seeing Cuauhtémoc and his bison, the captain smiled broadly and greeted him with a nod. "Prince Cuauhtémoc!" he exclaimed. "I didn't expect to see you here in the market."
Deciding to greet him, feeling important, I raised my hand in a greeting gesture. "Hello," I responded enthusiastically. The bison, accustomed to the company of its young rider, remained calm, observing with its large dark eyes.
The captain's sister, curious, approached and looked at the bison with admiration. "It's a magnificent animal," she said in awe. Flattered by her words, proud of his companion, I nodded vigorously.
The captain, noticing his sister's interest, moved closer. "We're here to buy some jewelry for the full moon ceremony," he explained, pointing to the stall. "But before we continue, would you like to join us for lunch? I know a nearby place that serves the best tamales in all of Tenochtitlan."
The proposal excited me, as I had only eaten at the palace, and without hesitation, I accepted. "Yes, I'd like that very much," I replied with a smile.
The three of us, with the bison walking beside us, headed to a corner of the market where a small stall offered delicious tamales and hot atole. While we had lunch, I listened attentively to the captain's stories about his adventures on the field and his sister's dreams of becoming a great artist.
Time we were passed quickly as we shared laughs and anecdotes.
I said goodbye to Zolton, the captain's name, and his sister Citlalli. I had a great time and was invited to eat for free.
As I returned to the palace after lunch, I saw my father's caravan preparing to leave. I didn't know where they were going.
So I approached and asked, "Hello, father, where are you going?" I realized he hadn't even noticed my approach.
Ahuizotl, emperor of the Aztec Empire, turned to me with a momentary expression of surprise before smiling. "Ah, Cuauhtémoc, I didn't see you. I'm heading to inspect the aqueduct that will bring water from Coyoacán to Tenochtitlan. It's a crucial project for our people."
"Can I come with you?" I asked, excited at the idea of seeing the project up close and spending time with my father.
He nodded. "Of course. It will be a good opportunity for you to learn about the importance of our resources and how to manage them."
The caravan set off, and I decided to ride my bison, an imposing animal that gave me a sense of freedom and power. As we headed towards the aqueduct, I enjoyed the surrounding landscape: green fields, clear skies, and the murmur of rumors carried by the wind.
Upon arriving at the construction site, I could see the magnitude of the project. The workers were busy, directed by the engineer Yelitza, a woman known for her skill and knowledge. However, not everything went as expected.
Suddenly, my father's white bison acted erratically, snorting and shaking its head. Before I could react, the animal completely lost control. I watched as my father tried to maintain control, but the bison charged forward, crashing directly into a low section of the aqueduct.
Ahuizotl fell to the ground, hitting his head hard. Chaos erupted around us. My father's ministers quickly approached, their faces filled with concern. Yelitza, visibly affected, ran towards us.
"Quick! Take him back to Tenochtitlan to receive medical attention!" I ordered my voice firm despite the situation.
With speed and care, they lifted my father and placed him on an improvised stretcher. The caravan urgently returned to Tenochtitlan as I watched helplessly from my place.
The return journey was tense and silent. My mind was filled with worry for my father's well-being. Upon arriving in the city, the doctors immediately took charge of him, bringing him to his quarters for treatment.
The wait was endless. Finally, a doctor emerged from the room, informing us that Ahuizotl had suffered a concussion but that, with rest and care, he would make a full recovery.
The news brought relief to everyone. I stood there thinking about what had happened, promising myself to learn from this experience and be more careful in the future, fearing that although I prevented the city from flooding and people from dying, I couldn't avoid my father's injury.
Although I spent 50 years of my life to prevent the injury from being severe, I know it's a significant psychological blow, and I even fear that my father might begin to fear bison.
While I was deep in thought, worrying because, although I prevented the city from flooding and people from dying, I couldn't avoid my father's injury, I noticed notifications on my system that I had been ignoring.
Ring ~ A high concentration of unknown energy has been detected in the area of the accident. For 10 years of life, the matter will be revealed ~
I was too distressed and scared by the situation that I had ignored that I could use my lifespan through the system to investigate what happened because it was quite strange that white bison, genetically modified animals, would go crazy and even injure a member of my family, especially my father.
After instructing it to proceed with the order.
~ After the ancestor of the Habsburgs learned of the recent arrival of the bison, animals he had never seen before, he devised a plan to alter the animal's mind with his power, causing it to go crazy and attempt to kill the emperor for the next part of his plan ~
When I learned all this, I assumed he had already withdrawn. It was too late. I increasingly felt the need for a powerful guard to prevent these accidents, but when I looked at the prices, I hesitated. I even thought of revenge, but each time the course of history is changed, it costs more. I then consoled myself that the best revenge is to dance on their graves.
But I also knew that I had to do something before these supposed accidents became more common and more serious, which is why I was motivated to formulate a plan that later became useless, because the ancestor of the Habsburgs withdrew from the continent, apparently luck and Destiny is things that very few dare to get involved with.