The Tablet of Destinies
"Just say I left for somewhere due to personal circumstances. I don't want to lie."
"...Understood."
"Even though I put it that way, I'll still visit often — so don't feel too sad about it."
Sunya gave Adapa a few firm pats on the shoulder and left.
Adapa watched his retreating figure until it vanished from sight, then shook his head.
"I still don't really know what kind of person you are."
But a smile soon found its way to his lips.
"...Still, I feel as though I understand you far better than I once did."
Sunya walked on, surveying his surroundings. Ku'ar had changed in countless ways since its earliest days. Far more people filled its streets, and renovations and expansions had altered the shapes of many buildings.
Even an educational city — a city without a king — was still a city where people lived. A favorable environment inevitably drew people in, and once people gathered, they inevitably constructed a society of their own to manage themselves. Ku'ar was no exception. It differed somewhat from ordinary cities, yet its systems had grown far more firmly established than before.
Merchants of every kind came and went, and though labor was hired for wages, no hierarchy of rank existed among the humans themselves. The citizens living in the city elected representatives through voting — but they were representatives in the truest sense, nothing more. They might enjoy certain privileges, yet they held none of the power or stature of a king.
At least for now, things were unfolding as Sunya had intended.
Though I have no idea how long this will last.
Sunya held no great expectations for Ku'ar. In time, when the worlds of gods and humans were fully divided and the city belonged entirely to humanity, Ku'ar would forget its founding ideals — degenerating into a tool of power, or letting corruption run rampant. He only hoped that day would arrive as late as possible, or that even if it came, the city might reclaim its original meaning through its own capacity for self-correction.
"You're working hard even at this late hour."
At the city's entrance, two creatures lay crouched — beings with human heads, the bodies of bulls, and the wings of birds. They were the Lamassu who guarded Ku'ar, named Bavana and Barma.
"A dull beast greets the heavenly god."
"Great Master."
The Lamassu bowed their heads in reverence. Sunya waved a hand, gently stopping them.
"Please don't do that. We aren't strangers who've only met once or twice. Treating me so formally only makes me feel sad."
"But you yourself always use honorifics, do you not, Sunya?"
"That's more of a personal habit of mine..."
"It is our habit as well. We hope you will understand."
"Ahem. It seems I said something unnecessary. More to the point — you must be getting bored out here. Please have some of this."
In Sunya's hands was a basket filled with figs and all manner of other fruit. Beyond that, bread, cheese, dried meat, and everything else the Lamassu might enjoy had been packed to the brim.
"Our thanks once again."
"It truly seems that only you ever think of us, Sunya."
They ate the food right there before him. For a long time now, Sunya had made a habit of bringing snacks for the hardworking pair.
"I am always truly grateful for everything you do for Ku'ar."
"It is our duty. There is no particular need for thanks."
"Even so, gratitude is gratitude. Without you, Ku'ar would have been far more chaotic than it is now."
"Rather, we are the ones who should be grateful."
As they shared snacks and exchanged warm words, Barma suddenly asked a question.
"Come to think of it, we heard that you are stepping down from your work as an educator. Is it because of Enede?"
"That has some influence, but it isn't the only reason. I've done it for a long time. It's about time I stopped."
"Did you not enjoy bestowing teachings? Moreover, we understand that your wife, Lady Inanna, benefits considerably from it as well."
"That's true enough, but... call it a matter of principle, if you like. My disciples are already beginning to notice that I'm no ordinary human. If I were to reveal that I'm a god under these circumstances, it would look as though I were making people follow me through sheer power and prestige. What I've taught them only has meaning when it comes from a human sage."
"...I have long thought this, but you live a truly complicated life, Sunya."
"Haha..."
Because they were close, their conversation remained quite free of formality even while honorifics were observed.
"Since you are leaving, there is one thing we would like to ask."
"What is it?"
"You taught us to avoid relying excessively on anyone — so why do you go about saying that you serve Lady Inanna?"
"I've already explained this to my other disciples, but when I say I serve Lady Inanna, I don't mean I worship her because she is strong and great. I use that expression because she is my wife and the person I love. Even aside from that, Lady Inanna is someone to whom I owe a great deal. I've received so much from her in so many ways that 'serving' simply feels like the most fitting word."
Sunya paused a beat, then continued.
"I don't think serving the gods is wrong. I have no desire to say that it is. Thanks to them, countless people enjoy abundance and stability — so how could it be wrong to revere them with gratitude? What I caution against is worshipping the gods out of expectation of reward, or simply out of fear, and following them blindly."
"...I feel awkward saying this, but is it truly all right to speak that way?"
"And why wouldn't it be?"
"I have a question as well! You once said not to reproach the faults of others, but to reflect upon one's own conduct. Why must one do so?"
Seizing the opportunity, the Lamassu fired questions at Sunya one after another. They, too, were believers who followed his teachings.
As the conversation continued, someone approached them.
"How long are you going to keep talking? At this rate the sun will come up."
A familiar goddess stood watching them with a look of clear displeasure. It was Inanna.
"We greet the Goddess."
Unlike with Sunya, the Lamassu rose as one. Inanna glanced at them, then seized the arm of the still-seated Sunya and pulled him to his feet.
"I'll be taking my husband now. You've chattered more than enough."
"Of course."
"What right would we have to refuse? There is not a soul who does not know that Sunya belongs to Lady Inanna."
"Haha..."
At the Lamassu's words, Inanna's expression softened just a little.
"Hanging around with Sunya has made your speech a bit smoother."
"Then I'll see you next time."
"Farewell!"
Receiving the Lamassu's send-off, Sunya and Inanna walked on in quiet companionship. They rose slowly into the sky, taking in the night above.
"Are you sad?"
Inanna asked along the way. The years they had spent together were long enough that she could now read his mood from the subtlest shift in his expression. Even without that, Sunya had always been rather honest about such things.
"It would be a lie to say I'm not. I'm not particularly remarkable, but I still wanted to teach them more."
"Why do you like teaching other people so much, Sunya?"
"Simply because it's enjoyable. Watching those who've learned from me grow is interesting in all sorts of ways. You could say it's similar to a gardener feeling fulfillment as the plants they've tended grow taller."
"But a gardener keeps looking after the plants they raised until the very end, doesn't he?"
"I can help to some degree at first, but I believe they must eventually grow on their own. Since I can't always be at their side watching over them, they need to learn how to stand alone."
"Hmm~ — so you're sad either way."
Inanna reached down and touched him below. She didn't merely rest her hand there — she rubbed, deliberately stirring him.
"Then shall we make another child to wipe that sadness away?"
"Uh — the sadness itself isn't particularly a bad thing..."
"So you don't want to?"
"That's not it."
Marital passion ordinarily cools with the passage of time, yet strangely, nothing of the sort had ever taken hold between these two. Their bond remained so strong that a quiet heat still lingered between them. Had it not been for the tremor that followed, Gula might well have gained a younger sibling that very night.
A deep rumbling shook the earth. Rivers and seas heaved. Even the clouds in the sky warped as the world itself convulsed.
"This isn't a simple earthquake..."
"Did those stuffy old geezers do something?"
"That could be — but I think it's something else. This is no ordinary disaster."
Sunya could feel it. The Prana flowing through the world was moving with a deliberate purpose. Phenomena like this sometimes appeared when certain gods wielded the power of creation — but this time, the scale was immense. He couldn't be certain, yet it felt as though powerful beings were awakening.