(Ereshgal POV)
"Are you… a chosen? How?"
I had expected the question. The problem was, I did not have an answer.
"I don't know. It just… happened." I paused for a moment before continuing. "When I can tell you why I disappeared five years ago, you'll understand. At least a little."
It wasn't enough. I could read the disappointment in her face. But there was nothing I could do about it here.
"But don't worry. I'm strong." I gestured toward Kisaya. "She can tell you."
Ennari looked at Kisaya. She nodded.
"That's why you have to stay. If a fight breaks out, we won't be able to protect you. And if we try, we'll be putting ourselves at risk too. Is that what you want?"
She looked at me for a few seconds, then wiped her tears with the back of her hand and pulled away from me. After that, she sat down and took a slow breath.
For a few minutes, she said nothing. The silence stretched long enough that I glanced at Kisaya in confusion. She simply shook her head. Then Ennari finally spoke.
"You're unfair. Now I can't say no to you."
I smiled, though I was not done yet. I hoped I was not pushing my luck with what I was about to ask, but knowing her, I had to make sure she wouldn't follow me.
"Now that you understand… I need you to promise me something. Don't follow us. Stay here until Kisaya, Ishtal, or I tell you it's safe."
She flinched slightly when she heard it. I was ready for her to argue, but she only smiled. She opened her mouth, struggled for a moment, then forced the words out.
"I won't follow you, as long as you come back within three weeks. If you don't, I'll go to Uruk myself and find you. I promise."
I blinked. Did she just promise that? I stared at her for a second, then let out a quiet laugh. It didn't change anything. I just had to make sure I succeeded.
"You're really troublesome" I said, reaching out and pinching her cheek.
"Ay, ay, ay!" she cried, pretending it hurt.
"Keep training with Kisaya. If you want to come with me next time, you'll need it. I'm going to let Ishtal know and take care of a few things" I said.
As I turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of her touching her cheek, her expression already turning serious as she walked straight toward Kisaya. I pulled my hood up and stepped out of the house, starting down the street.
Now… where do I begin?
I made my way through Sippar at an unhurried pace, passing through the market until I stopped beside the statue of Shamash, the same place I had first seen her.
And there she was. Standing in front of it, Darim holding onto her hand.
"I didn't expect to find you here" I said.
They both flinched at the sound of my voice and turned at the same time.
"Ereshgal!" "Sir!" Their synchronized reaction almost made me smile.
We talked for a while, and I spent some time playing with Darim as we did. After a bit, I decided to ask the question I had come for.
"Have you decided?"
Arisha hesitated. I waited without pressing her, giving her the time she needed. She looked at the statue for a moment, then turned back to me and spoke.
"Ereshgal… after everything that happened, I can't stop worrying. What would be more dangerous for us? Staying… or leaving?"
The way she looked at me made it seem like she would trust me no matter what I said. It was too much trust for someone she barely knew, but she was not really looking at me. She was looking at him.
Akhem.
I didn't like that. It wasn't something that would end well for her.
I thought about her question. The only reason I had suggested she come with me in the first place was because she had once said she wanted to return. Traveling with me would have been a safe way to reach Uruk.
But safer than staying here? No. If everything went as planned, staying here would be the better choice, especially if anyone started connecting her to me.
"Honestly… it's safer for you to stay here" I said. "At least for the next few months."
Arisha nodded, her expression falling slightly. "Then we'll stay."
"Don't worry" I added. "I'll make sure you're safe while you're here."
She smiled. It was a smile I had seen before. One that appeared from time to time in Akhem's memories.
"Thank you" she said softly. We talked for a while longer, and then I took my leave.
Now I had to visit Ishtal. But where was I even supposed to find him? I glanced to the side and caught the shadow of someone trying to hide.
Perfect timing.
I focused spiritual energy into my legs and vanished from his sight. A moment later, I landed on the roof above the alley where he had been watching me. I sat on the edge, one leg hanging down while my elbow rested on my other knee.
Below, the man froze.
He looked left, then right, then behind him, growing more nervous with every second.
"Again? Lord Ishtal is going to kill me."
He was young and bald, dressed like any ordinary man in the city. A rough wool skirt reached his knees, tied at the waist with a simple cord. His chest was bare, and his worn sandals were covered in dust.
Just as he was about to run off in some random direction to look for me, I spoke.
"Looking for someone?"
He shouted in surprise and snapped his head upward.
"You!"
Anger flashed across his face. He opened his mouth, probably to say something stupid, then caught himself. After a moment, his expression shifted into something painfully forced.
"Who are you? Do you need something?"
I stared at him.
He clearly needed more training for this kind of work.
"I want to speak with Ishtal. Take me to him."
He froze for a moment. "I… I don't know what you're talking about. Who is Ishtal?"
I rolled my eyes. "Don't waste my time. If you don't take me to him, I'll disappear from your sight again. Would you prefer that?"
Fear crossed his face, but he still said nothing. So I started to stand, pretending I was about to leave.
"W-Wait!" He stretched out a hand as if he could stop me from down there. Then he lowered both arms in surrender.
"Follow me." I jumped down from the roof and followed him in silence.
He led me toward the entrance of the city. As we walked, he kept glancing at me from the corner of his eye, clearly unsure whether he should say something or keep quiet. The farther we went, the clearer our destination became. We were heading to the same Temple of Shamash where Kisaya and I had stayed when we first arrived.
From the outside, there was nothing unusual about it. At least, nothing unusual for a temple of Shamash.
Temples were not simple places of prayer. They were houses of the gods, yes, but also centers of wealth and order. They stored grain, received animals, organized workers, kept tablets, and supported workshops. Along with the great houses, they were what kept merchants supplied and the city functioning.
Even so, every temple carried the nature of the god it served.
Here in Sippar, every temple belonged to Shamash, so that influence was everywhere. Justice, truth, and sunlight shaped the way these places were built and used, from the open courtyards to the lesser priests judging disputes near the gates.
The young man led me close to the entrance, then hurried inside after telling me to wait. I stayed where I was, watching people move in and out beneath the bright stone walls.
A few moments later, he returned. "Lord Ishtal will see you now."
I followed him into the courtyard, then crossed the doorway into the temple itself. He stayed outside while I entered. Several people turned to look at me, surprise clear on their faces. It made sense. Common people did not enter the heart of the temple. They only reached the courtyards, the gates, and the areas where officials received offerings or listened to petitions. Beyond that, only priests, temple servants, and those with permission were allowed to pass.
The moment I stepped inside, that uncomfortable feeling returned.
I frowned slightly.
Why?
My gaze moved across the hall. The door to the inner sanctuary was closed, which was normal. But… the last time I had stayed here, it had been open. Back then, I had not known enough to understand how strange that was.
Ishtal stood in front of that same door.
The moment he saw me, his familiar smile appeared, and he walked toward me as if my visit had pleased him more than it should have.
"Little brother" he said. "The last thing I expected was for you to come visit me. What brings you here?"
I had no interest in making the conversation longer than necessary.
"I convinced Ennari to stay" I said. "But only for three weeks starting today. She promised."
Ishtal looked genuinely surprised when he heard that, but the expression vanished quickly, replaced by a satisfied smile.
"Excellent."
"Don't smile yet" I said. "If we don't come back for her before the time is over, she'll go to Uruk on her own."
His smile faded a little. He sighed and became more serious. "That was part of the promise, wasn't it?"
I nodded.
"Fine" he said. "Anything else?"
"Yes. Arisha and Darim are staying here. I want you to protect them while they do. Can I trust you with that?"
Ishtal's smile widened. I knew he would like that request.
To him, it would look like another sign that I was still naive. That I trusted him more than I should. If I kept doing a few small things like this, he would eventually believe I relied on him completely.
"Of course," he said. "You can trust me. I have a great deal of influence in this city."
'Less than you think.' But I did not say that.
"Good. That's all, then. I'll prepare to leave tomorrow. Is the carriage ready?" I asked, already turning to go.
"It is ready" Ishtal answered calmly. "Take care, dear brother."
As I left the temple, the discomfort faded.
Now that I had spoken with Ishtal, there was only one thing left to do before leaving the city. I had to make sure hunger would not become a problem on the road.