The Magic That Sees the Past
An emerged from his palace for the first time in centuries.
Even when banquets were held or special matters arose, other gods would come seeking him, yet for him to leave his palace in person like this was truly a rare event after so long.
The fact that the Supreme God himself had moved carried meaning in itself.
An shaped the clouds into a vast hemispherical space and summoned every god there, excluding Inanna and her children.
It could well be regarded as a kind of assembly hall.
“I have called you all because I recently sensed a clash of divinities so powerful it defies description. Depending on the circumstances, it was a force strong enough to destroy the world. One was familiar; the other was not.”
An stood in the center and spoke.
Enki thought of his father as a man like the clouds.
Usually he seemed to drift quietly along, yet merely by moving he could blot out the sky, and when enraged he unleashed thunder and lightning that shook the world.
In pure combat power he might fall short of Marduk, but excluding him, among the current gods of Kienkingir he was the oldest god whom none could match.
Though he had passed the throne of the God-King to Enlil, his influence and authority still remained beyond anyone’s challenge.
“Enki.”
He turned to his son.
Enki stepped forward, concealing the tension in his heart.
“Why did you release Marduk’s seal?”
“I believed that without Marduk, we could not stop ‘him.’”
Though the truth would eventually come to light, Enki did not mention Sunya’s name directly for the moment.
There was no particular reason; he simply did not wish to.
“Why did you need to stop this ‘him’ of whom you speak?”
“……Because it seemed he intended to harm Enlil.”
“I see. Then who is this one who dared try to harm the God-King I chose?”
At that moment, contrary to everyone’s expectations, Enlil interjected.
“Father! It all stems from my own fault. Though I have diminished the authority and honor of the God-King, that is something I must bear myself, so please do not concern yourself further.”
“It is true that the fall of your own authority and honor is something you must take responsibility for. However, the fact that someone tried to harm the God-King I appointed is an entirely different matter.”
“……”
“I ask again, Enki. Who is the one who dared try to harm the God-King appointed by Heaven?”
Even without employing the power of Command, An’s words carried an oppressive weight that was hard to endure.
In the end, Enki had no choice but to speak Sunya’s name.
“Sunya…… Was he not the husband of that child Inanna?”
“That is correct.”
“Why has such a powerful god remained unknown to the world until now?”
“That is because he can conceal his divinity and divine status……”
“I shall rephrase the question. This is not only for you, but for all the gods present here.”
An looked around as he spoke.
“Among those gathered here, is there anyone who knows of Sunya’s origins? If anyone knows whose son he is, where he came from, or how he obtained such power, raise your hand.”
At An’s words the gods murmured among themselves.
Even as time passed, not a single one raised a hand.
“I have never seen that one before this world took on its present form. As if he appeared suddenly. Enki, do you know the reason?”
“……Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because…… he is a being who came from outside the world.”
He said it.
In the end, he confessed.
At the shocking revelation, the gods present were so astonished that they all fell silent with mouths agape.
“Outside the world…… Does that mean this Sunya is an outsider who came from beyond Kienkingir?”
“……Yes.”
“I see. As for the reason you kept this fact secret, I shall let it pass without further inquiry. You must have had your own considerations. However, leaving a being from the outside unattended will not do either.”
The conservative An could not help but be exclusive toward an external existence he was encountering for the first time.
Fearing that a command for extermination might fall from An’s lips, Enki hastily continued.
“I shall prove it.”
“Prove what?”
“The fact that Sunya poses no danger to us.”
“That one is dangerous.”
“Even so, you must give him a chance. If we try to deal with Sunya now, internal strife will break out among us. Not only Inanna—her children are far more powerful gods than even Ninurta or Nergal. Surely many gods will die or be injured!!”
Enki came on strongly.
He heatedly tried to persuade his father by any means.
In the end, after a long and fervent persuasion, An finally raised his hand.
“Then, as you say, prove it once. Whether he is a being who will bring harm to the safety of Kienkingir or not.”
With permission granted, Enki immediately headed to Inanna’s palace.
As expected, the atmosphere of the palace was unusual.
Armed soldiers stood guard even more tightly than usual, and at the palace entrance Ninshubur stood fully armored and armed without a single gap.
“I apologize, Lord Enki. You cannot pass beyond this point.”
“I understand. That it has to be this way. Given the situation. So, could you call Inanna for me? I have something to discuss.”
“……Please wait a moment.”
Enki had come alone without a single attendant.
No matter how urgent the situation, she thought it would not do to drive away a great god of the Anunnaki without even informing her master.
Ninshubur sent someone to inform Inanna of Enki’s visit.
“……Tell him to come in.”
With permission granted, the soldiers opened the way.
Thus Enki was able to meet Sunya and Inanna in the audience hall.
Surrounding them were the couple’s children, creating a hostile atmosphere.
Though he already knew the fact, it was truly bizarre that in only a few decades they had given birth to so many and were using them as direct combat forces.
“What did they say at the assembly?”
Inanna asked.
Sunya himself merely sat quietly beside Inanna, showing no particular emotional reaction.
“Nothing has been decided yet. And I came here to prove that Sunya is not dangerous.”
Enki cleared his throat once and continued.
“I have a magic that can see a subject’s past. Using it, to exaggerate a little, one can accurately know everything about the life the other has lived, from one to ten. While the magic is in use the subject becomes defenseless, but this is your palace, little one, so nothing too dangerous should happen.”
Naturally, Inanna showed a displeased reaction to Enki’s words.
“So…… you’re saying you’ll dig through my husband’s memories from one to ten? I don’t think Old Man An will be convinced by that, and before any unpleasantness it’s pure loss! And you think we’ll allow that?”
“He will be convinced. Father knows me. How much I act for the greater good and the safety of the world.”
Enki’s eyes did not waver in the slightest.
He was truly certain.
Even so, just as Inanna was about to object, Sunya, who had only been listening until now, opened his mouth.
“Very well.”
“But Sunya……”
“It’s fine. If that will put minds at ease, I can certainly do that much. There is nothing I am hiding in the first place.”
“……Thank you.”
“We should try as much as we can. I have grown rather fond of this place myself. However, I would appreciate it if you could avoid the parts related to private life as much as possible.”
“I shall try.”
“Then shall we begin right away?”
“I like how quick you are.”
“Wait!!”
When things progressed in unexpected harmony, Inanna hastily intervened.
“I don’t know much about magic, but when you say you’ll look at memories, couldn’t you rummage around inside the head?”
“Impossible. This is magic that sees the past. It’s a little different from looking at memories.”
“Even if that’s not the case, Grandpa Enki could pull some trick. Since we’re complete novices about magic, if he uses some special method without us knowing, we wouldn’t be able to counter it at all from our side.”
“Even I am not bold enough to cause an accident in your house…… Then what do you want to do, little one?”
“I’ll watch too. This past of Sunya’s.”
“Eeh?”
At Inanna’s words, Sunya visibly flustered.
Seeing that, Inanna raised her eyes sharply.
“Why? Grandpa Enki can, but I can’t?”
“It’s not that you can’t……”
“Then is there something you’re hiding?”
“Not so much hiding…… as rather a bit……”
“So why!”
Overwhelmed by Inanna’s momentum, Sunya finally gave up and nodded with a weary face.
Seeing that, Enki felt a little pity for Sunya.
“First, Sunya, you lie quietly on the bed. When the little one and I drink this water, our bodies will turn liquid and enter into your body. To be precise, we will enter into the traces of life engraved upon your soul until now.”
Saying so, Enki shook a leather pouch containing special water.
“You won’t understand well just from words. These things you only know by doing them yourself.”
“I understand. Then I shall trust you all.”
“Kids, if anything seems off, you need to put in some effort!”
After finishing the preparations appropriately, Enki cast the magic.
When Enki and Inanna drank the water, their bodies lost form like water and were sucked into the ear of the lying Sunya.
What is this?
Inanna was surprised by the sensation she was feeling for the first time.
Her bodily senses were strange, and unidentifiable scenes continuously flashed before her eyes.
It’s alright. It will stabilize after a little more time.
At Enki’s words, Inanna waited quietly.
Before long, they were able to glimpse the landscapes of the life Sunya had walked.