Ninsun

"Gilgamesh…" Ereshkigal vainly tries to find her words.

The screen flashes to the audience. Thousands of deities stare in shock as the fiery orb covers more and more of the sky. It's getting closer. With a loud crash, a bottle breaks, and the screen now shows mankind's side. Belongings are dropped to the floor, their owners' hands unable to hold them any second longer. None of them try to run. The panic in their hearts is so strong it's rendered them completely immobile. If the gods do win… or if Ragnarok never happened in the first place, would the same sight have presented before them? Ereshkigal glances over at her sister. They both know how strong Gilgamesh was when he was alive, but even she seems scared. Not concerned. Scared.

"I need my blades," she says, scrutinizing the overly packed room. "Where are they?"

But a loud knock promptly interferes with the goddess' search.

"Whoever's out there, you can just come in, you know?" Ereshkigal responds, kicking her feet up once again.

Thus, the door creaks, and soon the veiled silhouette of a woman appears from behind it. The elegant but simple robes adorning her delicate frame rustle as she tries to push it fully open. Once her arduous task is completed, the woman bows before the three deities. A deep bow, executed perfectly.

"You are too considerate, Siduri. No need to wear yourself out like this. It's a door I could have opened very well myself," a gentle voice scolds with a giggle. "But I must thank you. I would not have gotten here without your help."

"I am unworthy of such praise," Siduri says in return and she steps to the side.

A second veiled woman enters the chamber, large golden earrings dangling from her ears. Her steps hold no haste, and her head remains hung low. Save for some complex ornaments reminiscent of runic scribbles, her robes resemble the shorter woman's.

"I apologise for the intrusion. Enki-sama, Inanna-sama, Ereshkigal-sama… Though it is not my place to ask this, I come bearing a most important request," Siduri hurries to say with a second bow.

"We got it." Inanna smiles, a gentle light emerging in her eyes. "It's fine. You don't need anyone's permission to be here," she tells the both of them.

Siduri returns her smile, but there's a certain stiffness to her demeanour. Her hands are tightly clasped together, and her eyes betray profound anxiety. Inanna nods encouragingly. She's convinced now. That girl really is too considerate. Or maybe it's not respect that guides her actions, but fear. After all, she's… only human. By all means, she should never be allowed to step foot into any of the gods' lobbies. "But who decided that?" Inanna tells herself as her smile grows wider.

"We're sorry to impose," the taller woman says, and her voice is more soothing than any lullaby. "And, from the bottom of my heart, I hope you'll forgive Siduri. It was at my request that she came along. For this was the only place I thought would welcome me. If perhaps I am mistaken, I apologise once more."

"Jeez! No matter how many millennia pass, you never change, do you? Come, just sit next to me!" Ereshkigal responds, patting the sofa energetically. "For real now, you're too humble, Ninsun-chan. Like, totes humble. Makes you wonder whom your idiot son takes after."

Thankful tears shine in Ninsun's eyes as she approaches the laid-back goddess. "It's been too long, Ereshkigal-san. I'm sorry we must meet under these circumstances."

"Oh, come here, you!" Ereshkigal bursts, drawing her into a hug. "It's been a while since I've seen you around too, Siduri-chan. Don't be shy, join us! Also, apologies of any kind are prohibited from this point onwards~!" she adds playfully.

"Then I hope you won't think less of me for saying this," Ninsun begins, the tears now making their way down her cheeks. "I'm certain Inanna-san worked it out, but I cannot be at ease unless I hear myself say it. I… am on humanity's side. This round… no matter how much I try… I cannot root for Tezcatlipoca-san," the goddess explains, squeezing her eyes shut. Powerful sobs shake her body with each word. "Be it goddess or human… I don't think there's any mother in all heaven and earth who would… want to see her child killed. So I ask for your forgiveness… but allow me to watch from here. And allow me to pray for my child… for Gilgamesh to emerge victorious. That is… my only request."

Before she can help it, Ereshkigal's eyes well up. Siduri reaches her hand out, but stops, unsure what to do. Inanna seems just as moved by the goddess' heartfelt words, and even Enki turns around to face her.

"Don't you worry, Ninsun. We feel the same way," the old god says. "Mankind has strayed from the right path. They've grown conceited, harming both themselves and the world around them. That much we agree on. That's why we voted in favour of ending it. But if you were to ask us about Gilgamesh-kun… We don't want to see that kid suffer any more than he already has. Ragnarok be damned, and me along with it, if I'll ever wish for his death!" he yells, almost spilling his wine. "He did some awful things when he was alive, but he also did some good ones! Any quarrels we might've had with him before are long solved. He can hate us all he wants, we're done reciprocating. But everything else aside, we've known him for a long time. In some weird way, I guess he's an exception to the rule. We, the Sumerian gods… have always considered him our equal. What I'm saying is, we also want Gilgamesh-kun to win, damn it!"

***

"Svipul. I want you to guide my weapon one more time. It is of paramount importance that my next order be carried out with great care. The tide of this battle rides on it," Gilgamesh says.

A transparent figure manifests next to the king, floating right above his head. The Valkyrie gazes down at him. Between the dark mask covering her mouth and her gutsy undercut, she looks almost like a bandit one would see in a children's book. The shabby clothing doesn't help her case either. But her eyes… there's a brave shine in them as she stares down the hero.

"Are you sure this is what you want? I doubt things will go the way you want them to," she answers straightforwardly. "I don't mind it doing it, but…"

"I will not allow you to doubt me." Gilgamesh's eyes reflect the ever-growing light of the incoming sun. "Nothing has ever gone according to plan. That's what being a true king is all about. Fight the unexpected, and win. You're Svipul, the fourth Valkyrie. Your name means 'change'. In that regard, they couldn't have given me a better accessory. I shall change everything these filthy gods have ever thought about mankind, and I shall do so without fail. Aid me, Svipul."

The Valkyrie nods. Like all her sisters, she's entered this fight ready to lay down her life if necessary. Her outline disappears back into the weapon. Despite his at times nasty attitude, she's pleased with the way Gilgamesh has carried himself thus far. "Truly, if there's any human who can stop that thing… it's him," she finds herself believing.

"Shouldn't we be doing something about this, Zeus-sama?" Hermes asks. "At this rate, those two won't be the only casualties."

"D-don't t-tell me you're scared, Hermes," Ares replies in his stead, though his restless foot-tapping makes it impossible for Hermes to hear him.

"Say… doesn't this get your blood pumping?" Zeus remarks, and the muscles in his right arm convulse, instantly turning the armrest into dust. "Makes me want to have some fun myself. Maybe it's not too late to—"

"Zeus-sama, shouldn't we be doing something about this?" Hermes repeats, this time shouting the question. "That thing doesn't look right."

"Don't worry so much about it, it'll be fine. It's too early to call any shots. Wouldn't want to interrupt the show, would we?" The supreme deity laughs, but his fist remains clenched. "Besides, that's not a real sun, see? It's bigger than the arena, but it's still too small. We can take it out in a jiffy if push comes to shove."