Enkidu, who had just found Siduri and Shamhat, and Annanu, who was heading outside the temple to look for Nanshe, both suddenly felt a violent palpitation.
Pain crashed over them like a landslide, only to recede like the tide.
"W-what?"
Annanu dropped to one knee, needing one hand on the ground to keep from falling.
Gritting his teeth, he clutched the clothing over his heart with one hand. Veins bulged across the back of his hand, and his pupils trembled.
A fine layer of sweat already covered his forehead.
That fleeting sensation definitely hadn't been false. Th-then what had it been?
Why had he felt that way?
Though he looked human, this appearance was merely a mimicry. He did not have something like a "heart" at all. He was nothing more than a mass of mud.
There was only one possibility for the "heartache" he felt.
His soul was in pain.
But—
What had happened?
Why was he suffering so much?
"Urgh—"
The intense, terrifying pain struck again. Annanu let out a feral low growl, his arm no longer able to support him as his whole body went limp and collapsed onto the ground. A mouthful of saliva spilled uncontrollably from his lips.
The pain left him unable to think. Only one thought filled Annanu's mind.
What, what exactly had happened—?
And—Enkidu!
How was he!?
Annanu himself had already fallen into such a state. What about Enkidu, who was originally one with him!?
The Key of Heaven unconsciously controlled his body, his nails scraping against the incomparably hard bluestone floor with a piercing screech.
Enkidu, he had to find Enkidu!
There was no sanity left in Annanu's eyes. He only wanted to get to Enkidu's side as quickly as possible—to Enkidu's side.
"Pwah—"
Annanu cried out in agony again. His