Annanu was no fool. His capacity for comprehension, enhanced by the modules operating within his body, even surpassed that of humans.
His current circumstances bore some resemblance to Ereshkigal's.
Both had been unable to control their own lives from the moment of their birth, driven by fate to do all manner of things. Yet both he and she had something precious, irreplaceable, and singular.
For Ereshkigal, the Underworld and her omnipotence were the only things she possessed. As for Annanu, Enkidu was his one and only brother.
That was what Annanu and Ereshkigal had in common.
"Then, are you willing to let me go?" Annanu asked, gazing into Ereshkigal's crimson eyes.
Whoosh—
Ereshkigal did not immediately answer Annanu's question. She merely raised the lance in her hand and blew out the soul-fire within it, allowing it to temporarily sink into slumber.
As the flame within her lance went out, all the lances here that had lit up because of Ereshkigal and Annanu's arrival were extinguished at once.
If Ereshkigal had not come here, they would never have lit up in the first place.
"I don't actually want to let you leave."
A faint glimmer still lingered in the darkness. Ereshkigal looked into Annanu's eyes without the slightest trace of emotion.
"I told you before. There is only me in the Underworld."
As she spoke, she started walking back the way she had come.
"There are no other living things."
"I want you to stay here and keep me company. Can you agree to that?"
Ereshkigal stated it very directly.
"No."
Faced with Ereshkigal's directness, Annanu's answer was equally direct.
He did not care whether he might anger this goddess of the Underworld. No matter what method she used to make him remain in the Underworld, he would never agree. Rather