but froze like other citizens. This invisible force didn't even seem to stop at the palace. Nait and Nabu kept pushing each other on. "We have to find my uncle!" Insisted Nabu. But would Shamash-Mudammiq really be able to avert this danger? As expected, the boys found Babylon's rulers in his throne room. He stared out the window and watched the invisible force with fear. All citizens were now frozen in the invisible ice. He sand lurked like a stone sculpture over the capital. "Uncle!", Nabu drew attention to himself. His uncle rushed over to him immediately and hugged him. Nabu got rid of it. "We don't have time! What should we do?" Asked the prince excitedly. King Shamash-Mudammiq's shoulders slumped. "Nothing. There's nothing we can do," he said sadly. Nabu did not accept this answer. Nait was now worried about his parents. Were they frozen like the rest of the people? "Marduk!" The king suddenly called. A hint of hope appeared on his face. Marduk had warned him that something terrible would happen to Babylon, but he was responsible for its protection. He just had to fend off the danger. That was his duty! Babylon's rulers began to run and Nabu and Nait followed him without asking. Shamasch-Mudammiq had meanwhile reached the stairs that led to Marduk's tower. The guards let him through without arguing, but blocked the boys from entering. They tried to fight their way past, but the guards were merciless. Schamasch-Mudammiq did not want to leave his nephew behind. The guards would not listen to him, which is why he resorted to more traumatic means. He slapped one of the guards in the back and kicked one in the shinbone. "Go!" Urged the king and the three continued on their way. However, the guards on the upper stairs had seen the spectacle and vigilantly blocked the way of the three. "Let us through! Babylon is in danger and only Marduk can help us!" He pleaded.The guards were undecided. When their comrades were caught by the invisible ice at the end of the stairs, however, they rushed to their aid. However, there was nothing more they could do for them. They too were frozen. At least the door to Marduk was now open. Shamasch-Mudammiq pushed it open and shooed Nabu and Nait inside. The boys were amazed. Nabu knew of Marduk's stay in the palace, but he hadn't expected a room like this. However, there was not much time for a tour. Babylon's ruler recognized Marduk immediately. He stood in front of his window and looked outside. He had stretched his arms forward and seemed very focused. "Marduk, something terrible has happened!" Shamasch-Mudammiq exclaimed. Nabu stared at Marduk in silence. He had never seen a god before. He'd almost thought it was a myth or a fallacy. But this person standing in front of him was impressive. Not just his clothes or his demeanor, but his whole appearance. However, Nabu still felt something. It was a feeling of familiarity. It was as if he had known this man all his life. How was that possible? "I know what's going on.", Marduk replied in a tortured voice. "You have to do something!" Pleaded the king breathlessly. Marduk already seemed to be doing this. "The one responsible for this is Nergal," he explained. Shamasch-Mudammiq swallowed. "The god of Irkalla?" He marveled. Marduk seemed to be in pain when he nodded. "He wants a renewal and he starts with Babylon. I can't stop his sand, especially since he borrowed energy from Nusku, the god of fire," he explained. Nait embroidered. "But you ... must be able to do something.", He dared to address the god. Marduk looked outside again. "I am currently doing that. I can only stop the sand by making it slower, delaying the time so to speak. I cannot stop the sand, but I can slow it down." Nabu understood. “That's why people don't move anymore. Their time stands still.” Marduk looked at him for a short time. He too had the feeling of closeness when he stood across from Nabu. He knew of Nabu's origins and had therefore rented out every time to get to know him. "The sand and the people move. But only so slowly that we cannot see it. A grain of sand may fall down in an hour. But that doesn't change anything. Babylon is lost. It may only have a few days left, at most a week. ", confessed Marduk. Nabu refused to believe this. While his uncle begged Marduk to try something else, he looked out the window. "No." he said firmly. Nait looked puzzled. "This will one day be my city. And my citizens. I will not allow any such god to harm these people," said Nabu coolly. Nait looked at him admiringly. "There is a way.", Marduk finally said. Before he continued to speak, he looked at the young prince again. It was a great moment for him to finally face Nabu. Nevertheless, he couldn't neglect his concentration." I can't do it on my own. Another God must take care of the matter. ", he announced. Schamasch-Mudammiq cheered prematurely." Someone will definitely be found. Babylon is the capital, they will not let you down. ", he said. Marduk agreed with him, but seemed to have something else on his mind." Unfortunately I cannot leave Babylon. The moment I lower my hands, the magic of time will fade and the sands will bury Babylon. You have to go and convince the other gods. ", Marduk explained. Shamasch-Mudammiq backed away." We? Do you really think the rest of the gods would listen to people like us? Not everyone is like you! "he reminded. Marduk knew that very well." There is no other way out. You have to go! Also, your time is limited. You only have a few days. ", Marduk persuaded the three. Shamasch-Mudammiq considered whether he could take Nabu and Nait with him. But then he remembered the time magic and decided to do it. Even if their journey would be dangerous. No soldier of Babylon was able to do it anymore to assist the group. "I used my remaining powers to open a portal. Unfortunately, I don't know where it's going to take you. ", said Marduk. Schamasch-Mudammiq nodded bravely, Nait was queasy and Nabu was ready for anything. Marduk strained his eyes and at the other end of the room a bluish mist appeared, with the shape of a gate." We have to…. really through there? ", Nait asked, perplexed." Yes. "Nabu provided the quick answer." For the citizens of Babylon. And for your parents. ", he explained to him. Nait understood now." Hurry up, you don't have much time left! ", Marduk hissed at them. Nait, Nabu and his uncle walked with bated breath towards the portal that should bring them out of Babylon. Nabu and Nait were already a few steps before Shamasch-Mudammiq and heard him groan. Nabu turned around in a flash and discovered that his uncle had tripped. He made an attempt to get up, but his legs were numb. Nabu paused. The time spell had already reached this room. It was the highest point of Babylon. So there was no escape route. Except for the portal. " Running! "Shouted the king to them. Nabu did not want to leave his uncle behind, but this time it was Nait who urged his friend. Both had doubts when they stood in front of the portal. Nabu's uncle was frozen meanwhile and still held his nephew's hand in silence The boys felt a cold coming towards them and forced themselves to enter the fog. It was as if the wind wrapped around them and carried them away. Away to an unknown place. After Nabu and Nait were through, the portal and the disappeared The wave that froze everything flooded the last corner of the city.The only one who was not at the mercy of this curse - and at the same time the protection - was Marduk himself. He continued to stand at the window and kept the time field upright. He didn't know how long his energy would last. The fate of Babylon was now in the hands of the young prince and his best friend. Marduk had hoped the king would have gone with them and taken care of them. Or maybe fate wanted Nabu and Nait to start this journey on their own. Nabu was stronger than he thought. As soon as the prince became aware of his origins, he would find the one who could save Babylon.
Zipacna
The environment changed completely when Nabu and his friend stepped on the other side of the portal. Nothing was left of the bluish shimmering room. Only the cold didn't change anything. Except that it didn't seem so scary to both of them. Nait couldn't suppress a cough. Both had expected to step out of the portal in the desert at the gates of Babylon, but the cold spoke for a different place. Were they still in Babylon? The boys looked around but could say no. They were clearly inside a building. a black wall stretched out towards them. They took a closer look and came across a grate. Otherwise there was no exit to be seen. It was clearly a prison. "That ... I don't understand. Why are we in such a place?", Nait paused. Nabu remembered. "Marduk said he didn't know where the portal would spit us out," he explained. Nait made a face. "And that's where we end up in a prison, of all places?" He couldn't believe his friend. Nabu was silent. He shook the grille, but it didn't move an inch. It looked old but seemed to withstand violence. Only a torch that hung on the ceiling outside the cell gave the boys light. "It went stupid that we ended up here, but we haven't got much time, remember?", Nabu seemed very tense. "Great, how do we get out of here?" Nait asked impatiently. Nabu seemed to have an answer to that too. "We're in a dungeon, right? So a guard or something has to be there. We clear up the misunderstanding and we're out," he said. Nait didn't share his friend's confidence. They didn't know where they'd ended up and what people they'd be up against. Then they heard a groan that made them startle. They backed away until they hit the grille. A person crouched in the corner, sheltered from the dark. The whole time she hadn't moved or spoken, which meant that the boys didn't see her earlier. Although they could barely see his face, they could feel the stranger staring at them. Probably all along. While Nait suspected an enemy in him, Nabu dared to