Setting the Wheel in Motion
"Does it really need a particular owner?"
Enki gave Sunya's shoulder a few light pats.
"This friend of ours says the city is dedicated to the Seven Great Gods. Inside the temple, statues of all seven of us have already been erected."
At Enki's gesture, something resembling a vertical pool of water took shape in midair. Upon its surface, the interior of the temple Sunya had built flickered briefly into view. Within that particularly vast and ornate sanctuary, just as Enki had said, statues of the Seven Great Gods stood in impressive array.
"So it's a city jointly owned by us Seven Great Gods. At least for now."
"……"
"While we're on the subject, how about this — not only we Seven Great Gods, but each of us recommends an outstanding educator we know to live here. That way, someone will naturally come to be worshipped as the city's guardian deity, won't they?"
At Enki's words, every god present showed keen interest. Human faith was, after all, a means by which gods grew their power and elevated their divinity. If a recommended educator rose to fame, the faith of the one who had introduced them would swell by association. Perhaps this very moment was an opportunity to aim for the seats of the Great Gods themselves — such thoughts drifted through the minds of the assembled deities.
The gods sensed it instinctively: just how vast a wave this City of Education would set in motion.
"Well, enough of the details for now. First, let's celebrate the completion of the city!"
"Waaah!!"
The gods erupted in cheers. When Enki's attendants brought forth the food and wine they had prepared in advance, a banquet sprang up on the spot. Musicians sang, handsome men and beautiful women attended to every need, and the air of the gathering quickly grew warm and lively. Once the mood took hold, the gods laughed and chattered and gave themselves over to revelry.
Stepping away from the celebrating throng, Inanna and Ninhursag walked the streets, taking in the city. Each held a wine glass in one hand.
"I still can't believe that tomboy of a girl is already a mother. It doesn't feel real at all."
"This is the first time I've seen Auntie with such a round belly, too."
"Right? We really do look alike in all sorts of ways."
Ninhursag had conceived around the same time and was herself heavy with child. Though she claimed it was their first meeting in this state, Inanna thought that Ninhursag, bearing life within her, looked remarkably fitting — and beautiful.
"By the way, your husband seems to have quite the skilled hands."
"Doesn't he?"
"Even if Enki's sons handled the design, for a single god to raise a city of this scale is no ordinary feat."
It was hard to believe the work had been finished in a mere half year. Nowhere on the roads, the buildings, or the walls was there so much as a single flaw. Every brick that composed the city was clean and true. Built from the outset under thorough planning, its structure displayed a perfect functional beauty.
"Truly a magnificent city."
Ninhursag could not help but murmur in admiration. Imagining the day when this place would throng with countless human souls, she found herself lost in quiet sentiment.
"How did he even conceive of building a city like this? According to Enki, the very ideas of a planned city and an education city came from your husband."
"Well, Sunya is... ahem. I won't say. I'm keeping that as a secret only I know."
"Judging by that reaction, it must be quite an impressive secret. For him to confide something like that, your husband must be rather honest, no?"
"Of course. Sunya doesn't hide a single thing from me."
"I wish Enki were a bit more like that. That one is secrets from head to toe."
"Well, everyone has at least one secret they'd rather keep. Grandpa Enki just happens to have a few more than most."
At those words, Ninhursag looked at Inanna with fresh eyes.
"What is it?"
"No... I simply didn't expect you to say something like that. Not just your appearance — the way you speak has grown quite mature as well."
"...If saying just this much makes me mature, how exactly were you seeing me before?"
"I'll keep that a secret."
"Ahh~, so that's how you're counterattacking."
Just then, Ninhursag's eyes caught sight of Sunya approaching them.
"There's your husband coming. You're still newlyweds — you must need some intimate time alone together."
"Oh, come on! Even if it's true, saying it out loud is embarrassing!"
"Hehe. Well, a third wheel should have the courtesy to step aside, shouldn't she?"
Ninhursag took her leave. And Sunya came to stand at Inanna's side.
"So this is where you were."
"Why are you here? This is a chance to build connections with the others."
"Socializing of that sort doesn't really suit my temperament."
Sunya fell into step beside her, matching her pace.
"Even so, I never thought you'd make something like this all by yourself."
"I needed to build some reputation, in my own way."
"Reputation?"
Inanna tilted her head at words that seemed so unlike him.
"You wanted it, didn't you? You said you hated seeing others look down on me. I'd say this is about the right amount, wouldn't you?"
"...So you went this far just because of something I said back then?"
When Inanna's face filled with emotion, Sunya waved a dismissive hand.
"It's nothing. It wasn't that difficult a task."
For a man who had single-handedly raised an entire city in half a year — design or no design — that was not something one ought to say. Taken at face value, the remark was thoroughly arrogant; for Sunya, he was simply stating the facts with quiet calm.
As they talked of this and that, they soon found themselves before the massive temple that stood at the city's heart.
"Can we go in?"
"By all means."
As they entered, Inanna took Sunya's hand.
The temple's structure was simple. Along the corridor walls that led from the single entrance, the great forms and achievements of the Great Gods were depicted in mural. At the corridor's end, seven magnificent statues — scaled to the temple's grandeur — proudly displayed their majesty.
"...It's impressive, but the embellishment seems a bit excessive."
"From my perspective, they don't look all that different."
"That's because you always see people in a good light, Sunya."
Inanna toured the temple at a leisurely pace, examining every small detail. And through it all, she never once released Sunya's hand.
"Do you dislike being worshipped by people, Sunya?"
She asked the question suddenly.
"I don't dislike it, but there are aspects I find troublesome."
"If people worship you, faith accumulates and your divinity rises. Can't you put up with a bit of trouble for that?"
"As I've said before, I gained my power through cultivation and training. Relying on the faith of an unspecified many feels unstable in various ways, I suppose? Haha. And while being revered by someone is certainly a pleasant feeling, it is at the same time quite a burdensome one."
"...We've shared love every day for nearly a year and slept in the same bed, but I still feel like there's so much I don't know about you."
"Is that so?"
"But I still love it."
"Love what?"
"Walking side by side with you like this. Talking with you. Feeling your warmth in your arms. Waking up to find you beside me. And also..."
Inanna looked down at her belly and caressed it gently.
"Having your child growing inside me — all of it."
"Mm... even for me, that makes me a little embarrassed."
"I don't fully understand it, but just being with you makes me feel full inside. That's why I love it."
Inanna beamed, her smile bright and open. Sunya found that smile utterly endearing. Titles like Goddess of Love and War, or Queen of Heaven, meant nothing at all. The status she held in myth, the role she played, the deeds attributed to her — none of it held the slightest meaning for him. Simply the woman before his eyes, holding his hand beside him in this moment — he loved her so very much.
"I do too."
"Hmm?"
"I love you too, Lady Inanna."
Sunya kissed her. He did not deepen it with his tongue, but neither did he draw his lips away for a long time.
"Oh my."
Ninlil, who had just stepped into the temple, unconsciously covered her mouth at the sight. Watching her granddaughter and her husband so sweetly absorbed in each other, memories of her own past rose unbidden.
"It's like looking at Enlil and me from back then."
Even now their marriage was not a poor one — but seeing that scene, the passion of those days seemed to stir back to life.
"What is it?"
Just as Enlil was about to enter the temple, Ninlil hurriedly blocked his path.
"Don't ruin the mood. Go outside."
"What's gotten into you all of a sudden?"
When Ninlil and Enlil withdrew, silence filled the temple for a long while.
That day, as promised, Enki received from each of the gods their recommendations for educators who would teach talent within the city. The gods introduced their own demigod children, or humans as intelligent and capable as Adapa.
In that regard, Inanna once again stood out from the rest.
"I recommend Sunya as an educator."