After the end of Kourosh's stunning presentation for the Persian nobles and hearing their whispers of admiration and doubt, it was now the turn of the Median section of the hall. The heavy and sometimes skeptical gazes of the Median chiefs and Zoroastrian priests, who were seated in their orderly rows, were focused on the display platform and the three leather-bound books. Little Kourosh, without any disturbance to his unparalleled calm and with the same confidence that stemmed from his vast knowledge, walked towards them with dignity. With the utmost politeness and humility befitting a Persian prince, he began to introduce his innovations: "Elders of Media, this language and this paper are not only for Persia, but for all the peoples of this plateau and for the glory of Ahura Mazda; tools that can spread the light of wisdom throughout the land."
He first presented "The Comprehensive Dictionary of New Persian" to one of the leaders of the Busae tribe, Ormozd, a dignified and traditional man with a serious face. Ormozd took the book with curiosity and a careful gaze, touching its smooth pages. Then Kourosh, with the same elegance and intelligence, demonstrated the efficiency of "A Guide to the Writing of New Persian." Some of the Median chiefs, who were more interested in practical benefits and improving their livelihoods, like Fereydun from the Budii tribe who represented the farmers and herders, were wide-eyed with astonishment upon seeing the ease of writing and reading. Fereydun said in a loud and passionate voice, "If it is this easy, we can use it for accounting for our products, registering our assets, and even corresponding with merchants! This is a miracle!" An excitement for its utility and efficiency was evident in his gaze.
But the majority of eyes were fixed on the Magi of the Magian tribe, those who formed the religious backbone of Media and whose power lay in their monopoly on religious knowledge. Atropates, the chief Magus and the most traditionalist among them, looked at Kourosh and his books with a scowl and a gaze that shone with worry and anger. When Kourosh elegantly took the "Achaemenid Avesta" in his hand and spoke of collecting the wisdom of Ahura Mazda, Atropates stepped forward with heavy steps. In a voice that showed deep concern and dissatisfaction, he said, "Child! The wisdom of Ahura Mazda is in the heavens and in the hearts of the Magi, who have preserved it orally for years, not on these thin sheets and with these strange scripts! Do you wish to question our thousands of years of tradition with these new games and break our authority?"
Kourosh, in the face of Atropates's protest, maintained his unparalleled calm. His gaze was piercing and decisive, as if looking into the depths of the chief Magus's beliefs. "No, Chief Magus! These are merely tools for preserving and spreading the wisdom of Ahura Mazda. Is it not better for the sacred teachings to be accessible to all, instead of being confined to the hearts of a few or written on hides that decay and perish? This 'Achaemenid Avesta' is the very light of Ahura Mazda that has now shone upon paper; for everyone, not just for a select few. This is a way to bring the people closer to Ahura Mazda." These words made some of the younger Magi, who were tired of the monopoly on religious knowledge, ponder and planted seeds of doubt in their hearts.
On the other hand, the Median chiefs who were more loyal to Astyages and saw their power in the sword, like Ormozd of the Busae, looked at this display with ridicule. Ormozd said in a sarcastic tone, "These are just deceptions from a Persian child. The power of Media is based on our swords, not on fragile papers and scripts that are only for scribes!" Some other military chiefs, like Aryobarzan of the Paraetaceni, despite admiring Kourosh's intelligence, were skeptical about the effectiveness of these innovations on the battlefield. Aryobarzan asked in a loud voice, "What good is it if our soldiers can read, but cannot stand against the enemy? Can these papers protect us from an enemy's blade?"
Kourosh calmly and in a persuasive tone answered them: "Power is not only in the sword. An army that can read and write commands is more disciplined, more coordinated, and more efficient. An empire in which knowledge flows is stronger, and its people are more informed and more loyal. These are tools for peace and prosperity, but in times of war, they can also be an invincible force. Precise and swift commands, organized logistics, and an informed morale make the army stronger." He emphasized that this language and these books would be a bridge between Persia and Media and would help to unite the two peoples, so they could stand like a steadfast mountain against common enemies.
The end of the assembly was accompanied by an atmosphere of wonder, curiosity, and of course, deep resistance. Kourosh, in the gazes of the Median chiefs, saw both hidden admiration and a shadow of fear and concern. He knew that to spread his ideas in the land of Media, he had a long and challenging path ahead and had to fight against the deep-rooted opposition of traditionalism, political envy, and the fear of losing power. This was his first battle in the conquest of minds, a battle that would gradually bring the whispers of his revolution to the ears of Astyages himself and shake the foundations of his rule.
This assembly was not only a display of Kourosh's intellectual power but also a mirror of the internal state of the Medes; a society fluctuating between tradition and innovation, between fear and hope, and between the old power and the emerging new power. The seeds of Kourosh's revolution had now been planted in the soil of Media as well, waiting for the right time to sprout and flourish.