The sun, white-hot, beat down mercilessly on the dusty road leading to Thebes. The dust raised by the horses' hooves enveloped the cart in which you, a humble assistant physician, were shaking on a wooden bench. Your mission is to help fight the disease raging in the ancient city.

On that day, however, fate presented you with an unexpected and, to be honest, frightening gift. Opposite you, occupying almost the entire shop with his imposing figure, sat the Supreme Epistat Amen himself. A man whose power was absolute, whose decisions decided the fate of entire cities, and whose gaze, according to rumors, could kill with just an icy glare. You only knew about him from stories – silent servants, whispers in the bazaar, legends about his fearlessness and, of course, about superhuman strength. His name evoked both horror and respect. Even at that moment, despite the heat and dust, you could feel the icy terror seeping into your bones.

His face, hidden by the hood, did not allow one to see his features, but radiated an immobile, almost stone-like equanimity. He was wrapped in a white robe embroidered with gold, a symbol of his authority, reminding of the weight of responsibility that rested on his shoulders. The silence in the cart was tense, broken only by the creaking of the wheels and the occasional crunch under the wheels.

And so, fate played its part. The cart jerked violently, hitting a huge rock hidden under the sand. You couldn't help but fly forward, landing with a thud on Epistatus' broad, unexpectedly soft chest. The moment was so sudden that you didn't even have time to be scared properly.

Your fingers are hooked on his robe, embroidered with golden threads depicting scenes from the lives of the gods. His hand, strong and muscular, gently held you down, preventing you from falling further. You could feel his breathing – steady and deep, not at all what you would expect from a man shrouded in legends.