Name: Izu Evermore
Age: 530 years 6 months 12 days
(Physical appearance: 9 years old)
Year: 4470 BC
Height: 1.40m
"Time has been my ally and enemy, and boredom my muse. Not too corny, I admit."
I broke the clay tablet I was holding and threw it into a corner. Ever since I embarked on my long journey to the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, centuries ago, I have been practicing poetry. Although I have never been a great poet, it at least keeps me occupied. In these 300 years, I have written barely 20 poems.
During all this time, not much happened beyond walking around and dealing with the occasional werewolf attack. Seriously, those creatures multiplied like rats. They were not like the ones in Twilight, of course; no, those were humanoids, and ugly as sin. An abomination, like a deformed child, but far more horrifying.
After Pedro's death, some 250 years ago, I now travel riding my sixteenth donkey, whom I named Pepe I. As always, I continue exploring Europe at a snail's pace, trading and exchanging goods. I stay with tribes for a few years, resting and observing how civilizations rise and fall.
Recently, I invented something, or rather, reinvented it. It was a comb made from bone and elk or deer antler. I decided to make one just for myself because combing my hair with my fingers through the fallen leaves was quite an awkward task. This invention saved me a lot of time, and although I still have long hair, I have grown quite fond of it. I do not intend to cut it anytime soon.
As I checked the star system map, I finally let out a sigh of relief. I had reached my destination. It only took me about 500 years!
After a few more days of travel and rest, I arrived in the ancient lands of what would become ancient Sumeria. Several tribes were organizing themselves, but something particularly caught my attention: tall men with wings on their backs. They were not angels, that much was clear. Something about their presence seemed supernatural.
I was certain they were no ordinary humans. These men led the natives in the construction of grand structures, breathtaking temples. "Nephilim, perhaps?" I wondered, observing these giants with curiosity.
Finally, I arrived in the capital city, Uruk. I headed to the commercial area, where I saw stalls overflowing with fruits and vegetables, though spices were not yet available. After browsing a few stalls, I found one that caught my eye. I offered three emeralds and a bearskin for his spot, and the man happily accepted. From there, I began setting up my own little stall.
What followed was a whirlwind of activity. My stall attracted a lot of attention because of the exotic furs I possessed, which were not often seen in that region. Traders offered me gold, pearls, diamonds, and other goods for the rare furs, while I traded tirelessly. In the end, I made a deal that included three adult horses, five rabbits, and seven pieces of gold. I acquired a fairly large structure to store my goods.
My business grew rapidly, and I found it necessary to hire slaves to guard my treasury while I traveled to hunt and bring back more furs. Because they saw me as a child, they underestimated me, which gave me the advantage. When anyone asked, I told them I suffered from a disease that prevented me from growing.
In just five years, my income skyrocketed. I had trading districts in several regions, and gold flowed in nonstop.
However, one day something curious happened.
While I was tending my post, I saw several of those giant men approaching me. They were some kind of elite escort, with imposing bodies that stood between three and four meters tall. At the front was the leader, a man who, if I had to compare him, looked like a more handsome Henry Cavill, dressed in clothes similar to those of a pharaoh, with wings on his back. They stopped in front of my post.
Because of the height difference, I had to tilt my head up to look at them. Strangely, I did not feel intimidated.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" I asked, raising my voice so he could hear me.
"Who are you?" inquired the giant man in an authoritarian tone.
"Just a simple traveler going from one place to another," I replied. "May I ask who you are?"
"Do you not know who your king is, you inferior creature?" said one of his guards in an arrogant tone.
I rolled my eyes. "Looks like I have fallen into the arrogant guy cliché."
"I do not know, that is why I am asking," I replied, leaving the giant guard looking somewhat foolish.
The guard was clearly annoyed and was about to attack me, but the leader, who seemed calmer, stopped him.
"I am Innti," the leader said. "You must have heard of me."
"I'm sorry, but I travel a lot and I barely stay in one place for more than a few days," I replied.
In my mind, I quickly reviewed. "Innti, Innti... Ah, yes, the Anunnaki. It seems the internet lunatics were right, they did exist."
"So how can I help you? Are you here to buy something? I'm sorry to inform you that I do not have anything in your size," I said with a mocking smile, pointing to the furs that were for normal people.
"Even the greatest need a little beauty," Innti replied. "I have come to place an order."
"What kind of order?" I asked, interested.
"A statue in the middle of my palace," Innti said seriously.
"Sure, I can do that," I replied indifferently. I had made several statues before and sold them for a high price, often for their weight in gold and jewels. Perhaps this leader wanted something similar.
"When do you want it?"
"In 28 new moons," he replied. "I will pay you your weight in gold and jewels if the work satisfies me."
"Okay, Innti," I replied politely.
"Your name?"
"Izu, the merchant."
"Well, Izu the merchant, I await your work."
And so, he departed with his escort, leaving everyone in the market astonished and whispering amongst themselves. Before long, news of Innti's arrival had spread throughout the city.
A week later, I went to Innti's palace, where an enormous block of white marble awaited me. The stone, the size of a two story house, was breathtaking. After building a staircase, I began carving the statue of Innti.
Thanks to my photographic memory, I was able to capture every detail of her face and recreate it in the statue. Since she did not give me any instructions about the pose, I chose an imposing stance: standing with outstretched wings, conveying power and wisdom.
The work was slow but steady. Thanks to my immortality, I was able to work tirelessly, only pausing every two hours to take a short walk around Sumeria before resuming my task. Two years passed before I finally finished the statue, just in time for the agreed deadline.
When Innti returned, he observed the sculpture carefully. After examining it from head to toe, he nodded.
"A wonderful job," she said with a small smile. "As we agreed, I will pay you your weight in gold and jewelry."
"Thank you. You can take it to my land; my slaves will guide the load," I replied.
Innti glanced at one of his guards, who walked away silently. "If you have another job, let me know before my next trip."
"Actually, yes," I replied. "I need to carve the entrance to this temple once it's finished."
"Okay, come back in five years to start the work," Innti said before leaving.
After saying goodbye, I left the palace and embarked on another journey.