Ezro slowly opens his eyes. His head was hurting, as well as the rest of his body. Everything was stiff. He tries to move, but feels a weight on his chest. Sphyr was forming a heap over there.
He caressed her, and she woke up at the touch and opened her mouth, releasing her not-so-pleasant breath. Ezro put her aside and sat up, but felt dizzy as he moved.
What had happened to him?
His head was heavy, and his thoughts were confused, as if a fog was hindering his memory.
Ezro looked to the side and saw that he was in a dark alley. The smell of the sea filled his nostrils, brought by a steady breeze. But he didn't recognize the place. He tries to get up, but his body opposes the idea. So he takes a deep breath and uses the wall for support as he stands up.
He starts walking down the alley to the end of the walls and when he gets there, he finds himself in front of a crowded street and on the other side was a pier. Ships were moored and fishing boats were coming and going, accompanied by the sounds of seagulls in the distance. Ezro tries to remember how he got there, but his mind remained blurred, but some thoughts arise amidst the confusion.
He remembered the ship that had set sail days before for the New World. He remembered being in the hold of the ship. The young man with the sad look in his eyes and going up on deck and the fog that covered everything... but the rest was gone. His head ached as he tried to force these thoughts.
Ezro then looked at Sphyr who was just behind in the alley, staring at him with her golden eyes and he sighed.
"A pity you didn't learn to talk yet."
People were walking back and forth across the street in front of him, many carrying heavy loads and not even paying attention to what was going on around them. But some were casting leering glances in his direction. Ezro then imagined that he must look suspicious standing there.
He had better find out what was going on.
So he gestured to Sphyr, and the lemire leaped to its favorite spot, over the boy's right shoulder, and just as he stepped out of the alley and turned his attention in the direction opposite the sea, something caught his eye.
An immense building that covered the sun in the east and cast its shadow over the city. A huge tower that, even from that distance, made Ezro feel tiny. It cut the skyline in half and seemed to be the center of the city.
This reminded Ezro of something and his mind began to race as he walked through the streets towards the enormous tower.
A name kept popping into his head, and he was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't notice the curious glances in his direction.
Ezro was tall and thin, with unusual orange hair, which was tied up in a long braid that fell down to the middle of his back. He wore a sleeveless shirt that had seen better days, its original color, perhaps beige, and a pair of dark linen pants. Battered sandals protected his feet from the tiles on the floor.
But what was most striking about him were the bands that covered his arms. But there was nothing he could do about it; what was underneath would draw even more attention.
Ezro suddenly stopped in front of a store. Baskets filled with fruits, vegetables, and greens stood between the street and the doorway, and a short man with dark hair smiled at passersby.
He grimaced when he saw Ezro, but that didn't stop the boy from stopping and asking,
"What is the name of this town?"
The vendor grimaced suspiciously. He was wondering if he had understood the question correctly.
"Huh?"
"Where are we?" Ezro insisted.
"Augus? We're in Augus as far as I know."
Ezro's eyes widened, and he couldn't believe his ears. Had he really arrived in the New World? That didn't seem to be true.
"Hey boy, is everything okay?" The man wasn't understanding anything.
"Yeah, it's just that..." Ezro tried to speak, but the other interrupted him.
"If you're not going to buy anything, don't just stand there. It's bad for business."
Ezro then realized that he was hungry, so he looked at the fruits and recognized the apples in the basket.
"I want some apples. What's the price?"
The vendor looked even more suspiciously at him, as if deciding if Ezro would be able to pay for food or not.
"Four talis for half a dozen apples."
"Talis?" Ezro made a face.
The man sighed and said,
"Go cure your hangover somewhere else. I don't have patience today."
Ezro then began to run his hands over his body and found his bag with the coins that were left after buying his passage. He took out a nirme from it and showed it to the vendor.
"And what can I buy with this?"
For a moment, the man looked at him with an irritated expression, but then he recognized the imperial coin and his jaw dropped as if he were seeing his wife in bed with his best friend. Ezro noticed the reaction as the other tried to compose himself, making a disinterested face after clearing his throat.
"Ah, that's enough to buy six apples."
"I see," Ezro shook his head. "I think I changed my mind. Maybe some bread and butter..."
And he threatened to leave, but the vendor held him by the arm.
"Where was I with my head? With this, you can buy your apples, grapes, maybe some peaches, and I can still get a fresh melon for you."
Ezro smiled, satisfied.
"Can you get something for me to drink in exchange for all this?"
"Orange juice and a couple of fruits of your choice. What do you think?"
"Deal," Ezro spoke as he picked up an apple and took a loud bite. Sphyr remained on his shoulder, but she knew it was not the time for her meal. Later, he would take care of her.
While Ezro ate and drank his juice, the vendor was admiring his coin.
"So you came from the other side of the sea? Should have said earlier. It's rare for travelers to bring coins with them."
Ezro knew the reason. Most of those who made the crossing were prisoners or exiles. They had no right to carry coins with them.
"Well, I'm glad I have my money. I have no idea how I got here."
The vendor cast a confused look at the boy and blinked three times before asking,
"What do you mean?"
Ezro then explained to him what had happened before he arrived there and the vendor listened in silence. In the end, he scratched his chin and adopted a thoughtful expression.
"I've heard stories about that, but it's rare. Of people who arrive here even after their ships were lost on the way, they say that these people simply wake up without knowing how they got there. Maybe that's what happened to you."
Ezro's head hurt again when he thought about that. He then pushed that thought aside and drank his juice in one gulp. The liquid cut through his dry throat and invigorated his spirit.
Ezro then thanked the vendor and set off in the direction of the tower in the center of the city.
If he was in Augus, it didn't matter how he got there and it mattered that he was there. For so long, he dreamed of that. He crossed the Empire to be able to board a ship capable of crossing the End of the World for only one goal.
Ezro wanted to start a new life being an explorer in the New World and in that giant tower was the answer to how he would do it.