Shamash's Discipline and the Descent of the Law
I looked down at Shamash, who was kneeling in midair, and said,
"The trial?"
"It's not a spectacle…."
"The verdict?"
"Must be fair…."
"The innocent?"
"Must not be punished…."
"Good."
With a solid smack to the top of Shamash's head, I created a brief solar eclipse. Then, I gave her a forceful infusion of education laced with physical power.
It was a bit harsh, but for Shamash—who'd treated a courtroom deciding guilt and swaying lives as mere entertainment—it was just the right dose.
"From now on, don't treat trials like a show. Approach your verdicts with sincerity. Got it?"
"Yesss…."
Shamash's avatar still had a dent in the top of her head. Seeing that indentation on the crown of a golden-haired beauty made for a bizarre sight.
But was my strike that painful? Enough to cause an eclipse, no less.
Well, part of it was because it was an avatar made from her main body, but still—that meant it hurt.
Speaking of which, that eclipse… If the humans see it and panic, thinking something's wrong, that'll be a problem. Hmm… I should have the Lizardmen spread the word. Something like, "Our kid messed up, so we smacked her quiet—nothing to worry about." A simple explanation should keep them from freaking out.
"Anyway, this body… It's truly amazing. I can even feel the pain just like it's real."
"Of course. It's made directly from your main body. It has to hurt."
"Pardon…?"
Shamash patted herself down in confusion. She seemed shocked by the body faintly emanating light.
"I did it to punish you properly. No matter how much you beat a body made from a clone, you wouldn't feel a thing."
I wondered if even shattering a clone would just tickle at most.
"I-if it's made from my main body… Can I return to my original form?"
"Easy enough."
With a snap of my fingers, Shamash's body scattered, reverting to her original light.
「Eek! I'm really back!」
"Using your main body for a physical form lets you feel sensations perfectly, but pain hits just as hard. It's got pros and cons. Who knew a smack to the head would cause an eclipse?"
「That's what I wanted to say! You dented my head like that! I thought my beautiful hair was getting smashed flat!」
"At least it's a created body, so it doesn't kill you. Just hurts a lot. Even if it's destroyed, you revert to normal."
「Even so, I don't want to feel that pain again. It hurt so much. That did.」
I nodded slightly at Shamash's words. Of course it hurt—I hit her to make it hurt. If it didn't stick, that's on Shamash for not learning.
Obviously.
After teaching Shamash how to make an avatar, she whipped one up to test it out, and we caught up on everything that had piled up.
She'd tried finding Erebos to reclaim her dragon body but, being light, could never locate the darkness. After that, she'd just wandered the world aimlessly, shining her light. Now humans worshipped her as the goddess of light, which thrilled her. Law and justice were tougher than expected—she needed to think harder.
"Oh, when can I learn to read memories and detect lies?"
"It's already made."
Yeah. I'd long since created mind-link magic. Tweaking it was no big deal.
Though I added a restriction: it only works if there's an overwhelming gap in power between caster and target. Shamash would totally mess around testing it otherwise and cause accidents. A limit like that makes sense.
I taught Shamash the memory-reading spell. Gods learn fast, even if they're lacking in other areas.
"Um… I can't read your memories, Mom?"
"Unfortunately, it only works on those below your level. Criminals, basically."
She could read any human, but I wasn't telling her that.
"Hmm. Well, doesn't matter. This'll make verdicts easier."
Verdicts. Verdicts, huh… Come to think of it, did humans even have laws yet? They were barely scratching words on stone or clay tablets.
Any real laws? Probably not.
"Shamash. Do humans have any clearly defined laws?"
"Huh? They wouldn't ask me for verdicts if they did."
Yeah, figured. That's why they relied on Shamash's rulings. No codified laws meant she was the authority.
"Then… we need clear laws."
Laws. Rules. Precepts. Whatever you call them.
Humans… no, other races too. Defining rules for intelligent beings not to break would enable clearer judgments.
"Can't I just handle all the verdicts?"
"Trials will multiply. You think you can cover them all?"
Not many yet, so she could solo it. But no guarantee forever.
"I'll give it my all! Those foolish humans need a goddess of law and justice!"
"Wouldn't they be less likely to break rules if they're clearly defined?"
Trials on vague standards must feel unfair.
"Yeah… For fair verdicts, no wrongful punishments—clear rules are needed."
"Right. Let's set some simple laws."
I created a pure white crystal tablet. Flawless, unblemished white crystal.
"We'll inscribe the laws here to make a codex and bestow it on humans. Put your name on it as the goddess granting the crystal tablet."
Come to think of it, the famous "eye for an eye" Hammurabi Code was from Shamash too. Fate in a name? Kinda neat.
"My name? Not yours, Mom?"
"You're the goddess of law. No good encroaching on others' domains."
Stick to your lane. Obviously.
I raised a finger and began scratching letters into the crystal tablet.
First, clearly state who's issuing it.
"I, Shamash, goddess of light, law, and justice, establish justice on this land to punish the wicked and protect the weak from the strong. With my light illuminating the world above you, I bestow this codex."
My finger flew across the tablet, elegant script etching into the hard crystal.
"First, the greatest rule to set."
Endless details, but start with the core trunk.
Let's see… The famous Ten Commandments? Adapt them—no copying a monotheistic god's exactly.
"One. Worship the gods with sincere reverence."
"What's 'reverence' mean?"
"Admire and respect them… Eh, humans won't get it either. Simpler words."
I rubbed out part with my finger and rewrote.
"One. Sincerely admire and respect the gods."
"Two. Do not despise others' gods."
"Three. Honor and care for your parents."
"Four. Do not take life lightly."
"Five. Do not commit adultery."
"Six. Do not steal."
"Seven. Do not lie."
"Eight. Do not discriminate against self or others."
"Nine. Do not harm yourself."
"Ten. Rest one day in seven."
"Violate these ten rules, and face punishment matching the crime's weight."
Hmm. That covers the basics. Bootleg Ten Commandments, but no Catholics, Christians, or Jews here anyway.
"These the basics? Some are hard to grasp."
"They have reasons. Now, add specific punishments."
Plenty of space left. More to add.
And of course… Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. Crucial to cap punishment at the crime's level.
Long ago, in an era with no laws, Shamash—goddess of light, justice, and law—bestowed this pure white crystal tablet upon humanity.
Etched with unbreakable crystal, this codex formed the foundation of kingdom laws, detailed to an astonishing degree.
Rules foreseeing interspecies conflicts, tensions between faiths, and protections against overwork were hailed as prophetic visions of the future.
Today, it rests in the deepest chamber of the Temple of Light, gleaming flawlessly white after countless ages.
May the Goddess of Light watch over you—please observe with reverence.