"Is the place we're going to called Eridu?"
Anna followed closely behind Merlin and looked up to ask.
Merlin was a peculiar person. Pink flowers would briefly bloom wherever he walked.
Anna found it a little creepy.
"That's right."
Merlin waved his staff, which resembled a dead branch, and smiled. "In Mesopotamia, Uruk is not the only prosperous city. There are several other city-states living affluent lives as well."
"Eridu is one such city-state. Its founder was Enki, the water god who stood alongside Ishtar, the goddess of Venus, as one of the seven chief gods governing fate. For a considerable period, Eridu was even the most prosperous and powerful city on this land, until Ishtar stole Enki's divine decrees."
".Stole?" Lemoni raised an eyebrow.
That was hardly a flattering word.
"If you wish to hear about those matters, I could tell you—but... never mind. At least for now, never mind." Merlin gently shook his head. "Some stories are better told while resting, gathered around a campfire. All we need to know is that even after all its decrees were stolen, that city-state still firmly held the position of the foremost city beneath Uruk."
"I'm not particularly interested in that."
Stheno sat on Lemoni's shoulder, wearing a smile comparable to Merlin's, and lightly poked Lemoni's earlobe with her small, slender fingertip.
"Right now, I only want to know how to deal with someone who has no sense of romance."
"Stop poking me. It tickles."
Lemoni reached out and grabbed Stheno's hand, speaking expressionlessly.
Merlin glanced at the two of them and rolled his eyes.
What was this?
Still, Lemoni really was a weirdo.
No, this was probably only natural.
Stheno was a goddess who liked heroes. Was there anyone here more of a "hero" than Lemoni?
Oh, wait.
Merlin had