The man in the cloak
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A man seated in the chariot with travelers from other countries and cities is wearing an enigmatic, old-looking cloak, and expensive-looking leather shoes, and his face is hidden.
There are several other chariots filled with travelers as well, and they are all traveling to Setranos, the Deproseth Empire's capital.
"We are entering Mrizton", the leading chariot's driver shouts, another chariot's driver blows a conch shell, and Mrizton's gate opens, allowing all the chariots to enter.
"Are the chariots going to halt in Mrizton?" "I don't think so, I think it will stop at Tralbert," two of the people in the same chariot as that suspicious-looking man, began to converse.
Another passenger in the same chariot interjects, "Yes you are right, we will stop at tralbert but not at mrizton."
One of the two men questions, "If we won't stop at mrizton why are we even going through this route?"
"There are other Chariots in Mrizton that will travel with us to Setranos. We'll pause at Tralbert to rest and eat before continuing on our way." responded the man who had earlier interrupted their chat.
"I am a cartographer, I make maps, and to do that I have to travel everywhere. I have traveled from Maulverisaus to here, and I will keep traveling until I reach Villeurtoise," the man replied with a proud smile.
This caught the attention of the suspicious-looking man.
"maulverisaus? Haven't heard of that location. And why are you on this chariot if your destination is Villeurtoise, we are going to setranos." One of those two men asked in a perplexed manner.
The cartographer questioned, "What is your name?"
One of the men stated, "Haryk here, I've been looking for work for a while, so I'm heading to the capital to look for a well-paying job like a royal messenger"
"I'm Esskag and I'm going to the capital to sell some spices" another man added.
"I'm Crawforde, and I'm from Maulverisaus, which is in the Metia Empire. It's nice to meet you both." the photographer claims
"The Metia empire?" Esskag said in disbelief.
Haryk added, "Why have you traveled so far?"
Crawforde explained, "Well... there are a lot more facilities for cartographers in Deproseth compared to Metia so I have decided to move there and work under one of the greatest cartographers ever to exist sir Clotaire Vendove but I'm quite worried because I have some of my self-made maps to show him but I don't know if he will like them or not. If he rejects my maps and won't train me then I guess I need to find another verified cartography master to teach me and help me pass the DEPROSETHIC CARTOGRAPHER'S ELIGIBILITY TEST. After I pass it, I'll be a verified cartographer, and after that, I can apply for other exams like the DEPROSETHIC CARTOGRAPHER'S MASTERY VERIFICATION and the DEPROSETH CARTOGRAPHY UNION ENTRANCE and many more, which will advance my career as an elite cartographer."
"Wow, you went all that way for that? You are so committed to your career, my buddy, I am so sluggish even I find it impossible to consider leaving Deproseth," said Haryx.
"Thank you for the compliment, but that's not the only reason why I left Metia," crawforde responds. "There is currently a war there, and the capital of Metia, Jonkriva, and other places close to it, like Grudar and Biuzu, is very close to the end. Thankfully, I was living in a less populous and safer town which I had to leave because I knew that won't be safe for a long time and moved to Vindinium town Because the transportation infrastructure between Metia and Deproseth was so degraded by the conflict that I could only go there by aquatic means, one of my friends lives in Vindinium and I left my wife and both of my kids at his house and embarked on my journey." Crawforde retorted.
"YOU HEARD THAT HARYX?" yelled Esskag. "A WAR?"
"Yes, I heard everything," Haryx continues, "and I'm as shocked as you are because I haven't seen anything like that in the newspaper today or yesterday when I was looking for a job advertisement."
"The majority of migrants in many of the large empires are from metia who moved and settled in other empires and kingdoms, so if they know what is going on in metia they will appeal to the government of the country they are living in, so the news agencies of metia are already shut down and other country's government are not letting news agencies to publish anything about it," says Crawforde
Haryx responded, "I'm sorry about it," with a look of remorse on his face.
Everyone else in the chariot, including the cloaked man, was attentively listening to their discourse.
"We are about to enter, we are entering the galemire," the leading chariot rider yelled in the middle of this, and once more someone from behind blew a conch shell. This time, however, there was no gate to open, so several soldiers arrived and superficially examined all the chariots.
The chariots were then permitted to proceed through Galemire City without restriction. "I wasn't even aware when we left Mrizton, I guess it was just a little city," Esskag said.
"little? We are the ones going quicker than usual, it comes in the top 25 largest cities of Deproseth in terms of area," replied Crawforde in a jesting tone.
Despite feeling insulted, Esskag realized that he could not debate a cartographer on geographic issues, so he nodded in agreement.
then, for a few minutes, no one spoke until the silence was interrupted by the question, "What do you think? Will the emperor aid Metia in escaping her predicament? I've heard nothing but positive things about him. If he has saved other rulers' empires and kingdoms from terrible situations several times, why can't he save Metia too? the hooded man stated in a calm voice.
Esskag was about to say something, "Our emperor will---," when Haryx cut him off, saying, "I don't think so. Lord Zatrix has got a very intelligent council of ministers that takes difficult decisions in very less time compared to other empires. If he was planning to do something he would have done it already."
"Yes, I have heard so many heroic tales of the emperor, how he vanquished the Zoyalum Dynasty, the war of Cridia, the great war of Kedovell, or the battle of Aeramoor, where he defeated an entire army of 8000 Oshimorians with only 40 deprosethic soldiers, and how can we forget the great war of tretus it is the reason why the current mega empires exist, However, what Haryx says makes complete sense," Crawforde stated.
"I have heard most of them, But can you tell me about the war of Kedovell?" Esskag appeals.
In response to Esskag's question, Crawforde begins the narrative by stating that "many years ago, when Emperor was only a king of a kingdom called Deprosile, it's the same place where we are currently."
"Wait so we are in galemire, Was it formerly known as deprosile?" questioned esskag in confusion
"Where are you from, mate? You seem to lack even an elementary knowledge of geography." haryx asks esskag with a disappointed expression on his face.
In a hesitant voice, Esskag explains, "My father was a spice seller just like me, but our business didn't work there so we always slept with hunger and I couldn't even get elementary education due to lack of money so I only know about spices so I'm doing what I can."
"There's nothing to be dismayed of, my friend. Life isn't the same for everyone. The wonderful thing is that you're working hard to make a livelihood even after experiencing things like that. If your father were alive, he would be very proud of you." said crawforde in a comforting tone.
Haryx said, "You gained my respect brother, I'm sorry to ask that question" and the whole chariot filled with supportive energy.
Someone encouraged him by telling him, "Your father raised you like a real man", Another person added, "We are all proud of you because people like you are the ones who made Deproseth so powerful."
"This is true masculinity this kind of brotherhood is what we need to succeed in life, real masculinity is not only in fighting battles in war but working hard, brotherhood, respect, and understanding all these things are masculine traits we should always maintain the highest degree of brotherhood we can maintain because that's what makes us men, look at lord Zatrix he is the symbol of masculinity, courage, and willpower even gods praise his character he is an ideal man a complete man, A man who can"t be broken by the misery and agony of fate HAIL DEPROSETH," said the elderly man sitting there who spoke in a very manly voice with dignity and courage in his eyes. All of the men in that chariot began to shout "HAIL DEPROSETH" "HAIL DEPROSETH" "HAIL LORD BLACKZATRIX" "HAIL LORD BLACKZATRIX", and soon all of the men in other chariots followed as well. The entire sky was filled with loud roaring noises praising the supreme emperor of the great empire.
The man in the cloak was intently observing everything that was going on; his cloak obscured every aspect of his body, but his eyes shone with such hopefulness that a blind person could see it.