Silence.
Annanu and Enkidu floated in the depths of this consciousness, expressionless, yet tears hung on their faces.
—After all, they did not understand human emotions. The beginning of everything had merely stemmed from an instinct to imitate produced by their programming.
But why were they crying?
Annanu gently reached out and wiped the tears from the corner of the somewhat dazed Enkidu's eyes.
"Ahaha. Thank you for grieving for me."
A voice appeared for no reason at all.
The girl in the white dress stood amid the boundless darkness, a blissful smile on her face. With her hands behind her back, she rose onto her toes and looked at Annanu and Enkidu.
And at the pure-white wreaths above their heads.
"Humbaba."
"Y-you're here."
Annanu and Enkidu moved closer.
"It's been a long time, Annanu, Enkidu." Humbaba smiled and nodded, tilting her head as she affectionately called to them. "The unchanging ones who could remember me, the friends who could grieve for me."
"It's wonderful that I can still see you." Humbaba stepped forward and embraced Annanu and Enkidu. "For me, this is the finest gift and ending."
"Why did you hide from us, Humbaba?"
Enkidu asked sorrowfully.
"We... wanted to see you." Annanu's voice choked up involuntarily. "So much. So very much."
"It wasn't that I was hiding from you."
Humbaba took a step back, looked at Annanu and Enkidu, and let out a soft sigh.
"I told you, didn't I, Annanu, Enkidu? One day, I would forget you. I would forget everything."
"But... you still remembered me."
Humbaba took their hands and smiled as she nodded.
"And you stopped me. You made me stop before I could destroy everything unconsciously, and in this final time, you also made me remember you."
"Thank you."
"What... will happen to you?"