"What do you mean?"
Annanu half-knelt on the bed, glaring at Ishtar.
His expression suddenly turned vicious. He lunged forward, and the Key of Heaven appeared abruptly, sealing off Gilgamesh's entire room almost instantly. Countless fragments of the Key of Heaven appeared, assembled, and—
Every sharp edge was aimed at Ishtar.
Enkidu was Annanu's only taboo. Nothing else mattered—not even if Gilgamesh himself came.
Yet Ishtar remained exceptionally calm, though there was a faint hint of loss in her eyes.
Noticing her own expression, she could not help but freeze.
Why did she feel a sense of loss over the impending deaths of Annanu and Enkidu?
"Tell me—what do you mean!?"
Tears of terror filled Annanu's wide eyes. He seized Ishtar by both shoulders, his voice so loud that Shamhat had to cover her ears.
"Annanu, calm down first."
A sheen of cold sweat appeared on Nanshe's forehead.
She knew about the Meeting of Destinies.
Annanu froze for a moment. He swallowed, his trembling hands releasing Ishtar's shoulders as he nearly collapsed back onto the bed.
He knew that losing his temper at Ishtar here would accomplish nothing.
Ishtar sighed and gently shook her head.
"The Meeting of Destinies is a public assembly held among the seven chief gods, led by the great god Enlil." She sat beside Annanu, lowered her head, and began to explain. "Enlil, Anu, Enki, Mami, Nanna, Utu, and me—the seven chief gods hold a meeting that can decide all destinies."
"And at the foundation of the Meeting of Destinies is the Tablet of Destinies. It is a wondrous artifact held by the great gods, formed from the umbilical cord connecting Anu and Ea. It is the ultimate symbol of divine authority and royal authority, and its function is also the strongest, most unreasonable ability of