Annanu had been observing for quite some time—ever since before they had set out for the Cedar Forest.
Uruk's army was, without a doubt, the strongest fighting force in Mesopotamia.
But it was still utter crap.
Because of Gilgamesh's reign of terror, the soldiers had lacked the will to take up weapons and fight on any battlefield. Now that Gilgamesh had finally begun to change, Annanu felt that some things needed to change alongside the king of this city.
Gilgamesh had promised him that he would not use this army for conquest. At least in this era, that promise carried weight.
And all Annanu wanted was a promise for this era. He was not someone who cared about what might happen in the future.
After leaving Gilgamesh's palace, Annanu first went to snuggle with Enkidu for a bit, then sought out someone he was fairly familiar with.
"Adekate, do you remember me?" Annanu drifted down from the sky and landed before the old farmer who was clearing wasteland.
"Lord Annanu."
This time, Adekate recognized Annanu.
Or rather, during this period, all the people of Uruk had come to recognize Annanu and Enkidu. They had gradually grown accustomed to the reality of two beautiful figures dressed in white flying about in the sky.
"The one whose smile is as gentle as spring is Enkidu; the one whose smile is as quiet as autumn is Annanu." Poems and songs like this had even emerged among the people to distinguish Annanu from Enkidu.
"Have you been doing well lately?" Annanu asked as he walked over to Adekate, whose eyes held little light.
Adekate did not answer.
After returning from the Cedar Forest, Adekate had chosen to lay down his armor and return to farming—he no longer wanted to fight.
Nor did he need