Your stories are always imaginative and atmospheric. This piece reads like a moral parable, warning against youthful arrogance and impatience. Igor chooses to bypass the laid down rules and create a new order from the old. His conflict with his father feels human and original in the sense that the young often rebels against the elders, driven by ambition and know-it-all attitude. That is until disaster strikes. The consequence is costly.

No one's life is perfect. Yet you sought perfection. You already had what you were searching for.

I'm fascinated by Scythia. She's wise. I see her as an ancient guardian spirit who sets Igor back on the right track. Alas, he turns 101 years old, losing the better part of his life to chasing paradise that is already inside him. He didn't need to look elsewhere. Hubris and his contempt for the wisdom of the elders cost him everything. Can he find his paradise at that age?

Your piece is beautifully written and your worldbuiding is vivid. The contrast between the desert and the sea really immerse me in the story. Thank you for sharing.