24 -|

"I'm sorry, Ravel." He smiled down at me, blissfully unaware. "What do you need?"

The words tore at me, despite how often I had heard them before. Because of course he didn't remember. No one did.

I frowned, tugging at my brother's sleeve. "But Nii, you promised!" I whined, looking up at him. As if I were only complaining, rather than hurting inside.

He blinked, looking down at me. "Oh. Right. I promised to take you to the park, didn't I?" He sighed, rubbing his eyes. "I'm sorry, Ravel. I can't…. I have to spend time with Rias."

My frown deepened, but I let go of his sleeve. "Nii… that's what you said last time."

He forced a smile. "How about tomorrow, then?"

"You said that yesterday." I murmured, drooping. "And the day before, and the day before that."

His smile faded, and he sighed. This was the part of my brother that I looked up to—the mature and honest man with a heart of gold. Whenever it came to something like this, and our parents weren't around to see us, he took off his mask and talked to me like he would an adult.

Sure enough, he got down on one knee and looked me in the eye. "Ravel, I'm sorry." He murmured. "I have a lot to do, and never enough time to do it in. When I'm not training myself, I train my Peerage, and when I'm not doing that, I'm courting Rias. My schedule isn't always my own, remember? The burden of a High-Class Devil."

I nodded, remembering what Father had said. "The burden of a High-Class Devil is to give up one's time, money and effort for their duties." I quoted.

He smiled at me. "Exactly. I train so I can get stronger, so no one can hurt me. I train my Peerage for the same reasons. Gaining strong Devils is necessary for the future of Devilkind, as is my marriage with Rias. I would love to be able to spend more time with you, Ravel, I really would. But I have responsibilities, so I can't always do as I want. You'll understand once Mother starts training you in the ways of the household."

I frowned, but nodded reluctantly. "All right. I understand." I looked around the empty house, feeling the familiar sense of loneliness beginning to form a pit in my stomach. "B-but what will I do all day?" I asked, fighting back tears.

Riser laughed softly, ruffling my hair. "Whatever you want to do. Go to the library, read a book. Practice your magic. Train to be stronger. Eat good food. Take a nap. You're still young, Ravel. You don't have the responsibilities the rest of us have. You can do anything."

I nodded, sniffling. "But… there's no one here." I whispered quietly.

His smile turned sad. "I know, Ravel. I was in the same place you were, once. I was lonely, with no one but myself for company. No one but myself to challenge, no one but myself to play games with. And because of that, I got reckless. I let my ego get the better of me, and thought myself the best because I didn't know of anyone better."

"S-so what did you do?" I asked, perking up slightly.

His lips twitched. "I found a friend to kick my ass for me whenever I was acting like a moron." He whispered conspiratorially.

I burst into giggles. He laughed along with me, ruffling my hair and kissing me on the forehead. "See? That's the stuff. Laughter is the best way to deal with problems. Find one good thing to laugh about, and everything else fades away." He rose, still smiling down at me. "But whatever you do, you have to stay safe, all right? You've got your whole life in front of you, so don't waste it doing something stupid. In fact…" He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small box. "I have something right here to keep you safe. Do you want it?"

I nodded, eyes wide. "What is it?"

He laughed. "It's a gift, from a friend of mine." He knelt down once more, whispering as if he were confiding some great secret. "He's the most powerful Devil I know." He explained, eyes sparkling. "He can take me down without a scratch."

"Would he beat Ruval-nii?" I whispered excitedly.

He nodded. "He would. But he would never challenge him, because he hates publicity. He keeps his powers a secret, and only uses them for good."

"Who is he?" My eyes were wide, and I was practically buzzing with excitement.

He chuckled. "His name is Millicas Gremory, but I just call him Sensei. He beat an entire Peerage of High-Class Devils when he was six."

My eyes widened. "But that's how old I am!" I whispered in awe.

"It is." He agreed. "Sensei is the strongest Devil I know, but he doesn't flaunt it. He acts like he's weak, just so he doesn't stand out. But when he has to, he can be mean. He has this spell, see, this really powerful spell. Whenever he uses it, his enemies lose."

"Is it a special attack, like in Drag So-Ball?" I asked, remembering the anime Ise-nii had given me.

He grinned. "Exactly like that. It's called Nightmare. Imagine millions of tiny threads, that can cut through anything. And he can control them all at once, using just his mind."

I gasped. "Really?"

He nodded once. "I swear to Satan. Once he uses that attack, no matter what I do, I can't win." A note of irritation crept into his voice at that, but I ignored it.

"That's sooo cooool!" I squeed. "Can I see it?"

Riser shook his head. "Sensei doesn't like showing his power, remember?"

I pouted. "But Riser…"

He ruffled my hair. "But I've got something better, remember?" He held up the box. I had honestly forgotten about it in my excitement. "This is a powerful protection array, that he made just for you." He whispered. "It's something that not even Nightmare can scratch, and it's the only one of its' kind. He made it to keep you safe."

My eyes widened. "R-really?"

He nodded once. "Really."

I reached for the box, and he allowed me to take it. I opened it, and I gasped.

A necklace of priceless gems, held together by pure gold. Each gem was individually set into the chain, a flame pattern of opals and rubies stretching up the links. In the center of the beautiful piece, a blood ruby set within a large red diamond glistened in the light of the chandelier.

"T-this is for me?" I gasped softly, reverently picking up the necklace. Despite all the gems, it was featherlight. Even with my weak ability to sense magic, I could tell that this was a masterpiece housing more mana than even Mother's most powerful focus. I ran a finger over the smooth face of the diamond, tracing the flame-shaped ruby with slight awe. "It's beautiful." I whispered in awe.

"It is." Riser agreed softly.

"Where did he buy this?" I murmured, still tracing along the delicate chain of gold and gems.

"He didn't." I could hear the smile in his voice. "He made it."

I gasped, looking up in shock. "He made this?"

My brother nodded, serious despite his grin. "It's the only one of its' kind, and it's meant to keep you completely safe, no matter what."

He reached out, taking the necklace out of my hands and undoing the clasp. He draped it around my neck, brushing my hair aside and fastening it. It rested just below my collarbone, glowing softly from an inner light. Then he stepped back. "Ravel, do you trust me?" I nodded, still transfixed by the masterpiece I wore. He smiled, taking my hand. "Then watch."

I almost jerked back my hand as he summoned a ball of flame, glowing brighter and brighter as it turned a brilliant white. Then he carefully placed my hand above it, so it licked at my fingers.

I felt nothing.

I gasped, touching the flames directly. Fire of this intensity should definitely be able to burn me, but it wasn't so much as singing the sleeve of my gown. Riser smiled. "See? Protection. That little necklace can withstand my strongest attack without any issues whatsoever. Cool, huh?"

Cool didn't cover it. I fingered the necklace, noticing that the power in the gems seemed to pulse like the flickering of flames, or the constant beating of a heart. It was a masterpiece, handmade by a powerful Devil. Made for me. To keep me safe.

"H-how old is he?" I squeaked, trying to keep my voice steady. "Millicas, I mean."

Riser grinned, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Oh? Does my little sister have a crush?"

"W-what? N-no!" I stammered. 'Of course I don't have a crush, crushes are for little girls! And I'm a big girl, mommy says so!' "I-I just want to know more about him, that's all."

Riser gave me a knowing look, but didn't press it. "He's about a month older than you are, I think. Would you like to meet him?"

Meet him? "Ye—!" Wait, no! He's a powerful Devil, and I'm me! I can't show my face to him as I am! "N-no, definitely not. I don't want to meet him." Not until I can get strong enough to pay him back, at least.

His lips twitched, but he managed to keep a straight face. "All right, then. Just tell me if you want to change your mind."

I huffed, turning away. "Go get your girlfriend. I'll just… practice some spells." 'Alone. Like I always do.'

He nodded, his amusement fading. "Just be careful, then." He told me seriously, and I could practically see the mask he wore slipping back on. "As for me, I have a wife to woo to my side." He purred, gesturing grandly.

I rolled my eyes, heading for the stairs that led to the library. "Bye, Onii-sama."

"Bye-bye, little imouto." He called back, and I could feel the heat as he disappeared in a burst of flames.

Now… I wonder what spell I should practice?

Father frowned, inspecting my necklace once more. "Who did you say this came from?"

"Millicas Gremory." I replied, glancing nervously at the door. We were in my father's study, and I was feeling rather cornered at the moment.

"I see." He murmured, tracing his finger along the back of the necklace. "The runework on this is impeccable, and each gem seems to either hold mana or draws mana from another gem. I can't tell what each gem is doing, though. Where did he buy this?"

"He didn't, h-he made it." I answered, stumbling slightly over my words as he turned a sharp glare onto me.

"I'm serious, Ravel. I need you to tell me where he got this." He repeated, eyes glowing softly with power.

I quailed. "I-I'm telling the truth!" My voice was squeakier than I would've liked, but I pushed on. "He made it himself, just for me! Riser told me so!"

He stared at me for a moment longer, before looking back down at the necklace in his hands. "I see." He murmured. "Item crafting. That's why he hasn't shown any talent. Incredible. If only he were to show any power, we could…" He trailed off with a sigh. "It's a pity that boy didn't inherit his father's Power of Destruction."

I almost opened my mouth to argue, remembering what Riser had said about Nightmare, but said nothing. Millicas had great power, but refused to show it unless he had to. The least I could do is help him. B-but he'd better thank me later! I'm lying to my father for him!

My father sighed, rising from his chair. "I'm going to borrow this for now, just to see if there's something bad on it. I'll give it back by tomorrow, all right?"

I forced myself to nod. "Yes, Father."

Inwardly I fumed. As if my Millicas would ever hurt me! That necklace is something he made himself, just for me, to protect me! Father was wrong, and he would see that. Everyone would see.

I was almost glowing with joy. Father had given back my necklace, and he was extremely impressed. He said that he had thrown a lot of fire at it, but it didn't melt. I put it back on, smiling widely. Millicas was my protector, my guardian. His necklace would always protect me, no matter what. This just proved that.

I tucked the beautiful necklace under my dress, deciding right then and there that I would repay Millicas one day. I would thank him for protecting me, and protect him in return. Like all those stories I was told growing up.

Nii-sama told me that Millicas was a High-Class Devil, so he must be in need of a Peerage. Maybe I can serve him there?

I told Riser-nii of my plans, and he laughed. Apparently Millicas has a )Rook( and a )Queen( already, meaning I can be his )Bishop( if I want to. But he warned me that I'd have to work hard, to grow stronger, in order to fight by Millicas's side.

I know what I have to do now.

I wiped the sweat off my brow, panting softly as I watched the dummy regenerate itself. I hurled another fireball at it, a frustrated shout leaving me. The fire barely splashed over the surface of the dummy, singing it slightly but not damaging it.

"That's enough for today, Ravel." A voice called.

I whirled, glaring at Riser. "But you said—"

"No, Ravel." He interrupted. "I know you're determined, but if you push yourself too hard you'll burn out. There's always tomorrow.

I fumed silently. The longer I waited, the more of a chance there would be that Millicas would find a different )Bishop(. I can't let that happen. I have to be the one to serve him, otherwise I can never pay him back.

Riser sighed, waving me towards the house. "Go take a bath and start doing your homework. If your grades drop because of me, Mother will have my hide."

I pouted, but did as he told me.

Tomorrow, then. Tomorrow I'll finally destroy that dummy, and earn my place at Millicas's side.

I fumed, watching as Riser once more tried to strike up a conversation with his fiancé. She ignored him, simply continuing her meal in silence.

Ungrateful bitch.

I soothed my nerves with a quick drink of tea. Rias would be gone soon, and I could get back to training. I already did my work, impressed my tutors, and read up on more magic theory. But when I try to find Riser so I can get him to train me, I find this bitch. She wouldn't be that bad, if not for her snobbish attitude and refusal to speak a single word to my brother. Admittedly, he is wearing his mask, still, but if she actually cared about him, she would see past it. So here I am, eating dinner with my family and the bitch, waiting for her to leave so I can get back to fighting. I just mastered the latest control exercise Riser gave me, and I was excited to show him.

Finally, Rias rose from her seat. "I apologize, Lord and Lady Phenex, but I must be leaving now."

Yes!

Riser rose as well. "I will escort you back to your home, then."

No!

I shifted my glare to my idiotic brother. 'You picked a terrible time to pick up a code of chivalry, moron! I've been waiting forever for her to leave, and you decide to go with her?'

As always whenever I got too frustrated, my hand moved to my necklace. I felt its' comforting weight around my neck, soothing my rage and reminding me of my responsibilities. If I lost my temper now, in front of a guest, then it would not only be shaming my family but also Millicas. He gave me this magnificent token of affection, marking me as his own, so acting out and shaming him would make me unworthy of it.

I ignored the fuzzy tingle that came from the thought of belonging to him. He marked me as his belonging, and it's only right that I respect that. It's not a crush. It's not. At all. And if I found myself thinking of him more and more often? Well, that was just because I wished to become the perfect Piece for him. Becoming his )Bishop( would be a dream come true, a goal that proved how far I've come.

That dream kept me from lashing out, though I was far from calm.

My father smiled at Riser-baka. "Excellent idea, son. I trust you know the way?"

He nodded once. "I do, indeed."

Rias visibly gritted her teeth. "I'm not so incompetent as to need the likes of you guarding me, Riser." She growled, forcing a polite smile.

Riser sighed. "Rias, darling, I would hardly be a gentleman if I didn't walk you home. It's not a matter of incompetence, it's a matter of chivalry."

Rias was silent for a few seconds, obviously trying to find a way out of the situation, before sighing. "Fine. But you're not staying at my house for any longer than necessary."

Riser nodded once. "Very well."

He rose, offering his arm, which Rias reluctantly took. They disappeared around the corner, and I finally let my temper go. Flames burst to life around me, ghostly and incorporeal as I absently removed all their heat. They danced endlessly, growing and stretching further into the air as I slammed my fist into the table. Then, as quickly as they had appeared, they vanished.

I sat back down, smiling politely over at Mother. "My apologies for my display, Kaa-sama. This will not happen again."

Mother smiled back and nodded once. "Excellent. I'm impressed that you managed to restrain yourself so well. A month ago, you would've incinerated your chair."

The joy that I got from being praised was dwarfed by the crushing depression that came from realizing that the largest amount of praise my own mother had given me came from me suppressing my emotions rather than showing them.

I shook off those thoughts. If it was right to suppress my emotions, then that was what I would do. As long as I kept Mother happy, she would allow me to do whatever I wanted. If I acted as I felt I should, she would remove all my privileges until I acted in a manner 'befitting the household'. I don't even hate her for it anymore, not after I realized that this was what was expected for me. It was better to just go along with it, lest Mother use less… peaceful… methods.

As always, I fought off the wave of bitter loneliness by clutching at Millicas-sama's gift. Even if my own family viewed me as nothing more than a tool, I had physical proof that someone cared for me. And in the end, that's all I can hope for. That one day, Millicas-sama will come along and rescue me from this hell.

I took a deep breath, rising from my seat and excusing myself. I headed out into the yard, and began preforming the control exercises that Riser had taught me.

I blinked, realizing abruptly that if Riser had taught me the exercises, he must've learned them from somewhere. The Family Magic doesn't focus on control in the least, but rather raw, overwhelming power. So where would Riser learn control?

The answer slipped into my mind as easily as drawing water from a well. Sensei. Riser had called Millicas-sama 'sensei', meaning he had been taught by him at some point. And from what I know of Power of Destruction, it's the least controllable force in existence. To make a thread of Destruction so thin that it's almost invisible? That would take an incredible amount of control. And Millicas-sama used thousands of threads.

I felt a smile cross my face. Even now, Millicas-sama is helping me.

I felt my excitement flow into irritation as the time passed. How long is Riser going to take? Honestly, the walk between our two houses is less than ten minutes!

In fact…

I glanced at the setting sun, determination growing. If Riser isn't back by now, then he's probably still at Gremory Manor. He promised that he'd train me tonight, and I'm getting really tired of him not following through with his promises. If he's still talking with one of the Gremory, then maybe he needed a reminder of his promise. The sun is almost down, so I have less than an hour to get any training at all before I had to face yet another day of sucking up to tutors and mindlessly completing lessons. And considering that I just realized that Riser's teachings were actually Millicas-sama's? There's not a chance in hell of me skipping a single one.

Ten minutes by foot to Gremory Manor. Twenty for a round-trip. Not acceptable. That would leave me with a maximum of forty minutes to learn more of Millicas-sama's control exercises. But… if I flew…

I glanced over at the darkening forest, hesitating only slightly. Mother and Father always tell us to stay on the paths, but if I cut through the forest, I would shave the time down to a minute. One minute to get there, one to grab Riser, one to fly back. That left me almost a full hour of training.

I smiled, spreading my wings and taking to the air. This was going to be simpler than I thought.

I began to fly over the stretch of trees, slightly irritated by the fading light. Devils may have excellent night vision, but it only works in total darkness, not this mix of dark and light. If I could only see…

Something heavy crashed into me, and I felt my necklace activate. I was too surprised to do anything but try to stabilize my flight as something clamped over my mouth. My head became lighter and lighter, and my thoughts dissolved into colorful bubbles…

I woke to the foreign feeling, like having my head stuffed with cotton. Darkness greeted me as I opened my eyes, the bits of light around the edges speaking of a blindfold. Voices all around me shouted at each other, but I couldn't make out what they said. Even as I focused on them, their words were garbled and unintelligible. Then someone had grabbed me by the back of my dress and thrown me, my sudden flight halted by another pair of hands catching me. More words were exchanged, and I was set on a hard surface. Then my face was covered once more, and my thoughts dissolved.

This time when I awoke, I felt something stiff against my back. I opened my eyes to a blurry field of odd faces, which focused when I blinked a few times. The faces were all concerned, and belonged to children ranging from my age to a few years older.

I took a moment to take stock of my surroundings, just as Riser taught me. I always thought that training was useless, but now it's all I have. I can't feel my magic, and I'm not anywhere I can recognize. I have manacle-like bracelets locked around my wrists, and no flames come when I summon them. I don't know why my clothes are sack-cloth and threadbare when I clearly remember them as a light pink gown, but they are. The object that's pressing into my back isn't simply bound there, no, it's chained onto me with blessed metal. The runes on each individual link are glowing softly with white Light, telling of their otherworldly origins, but they can't even begin to outshine my necklace. It's glowing now, with the brilliance of a fallen star. I know that, if not for Millicas-sama's gift, the chains would've burnt clear through my torso rather than merely resting on me like some bizarre harness.

I finally decided that I was finished checking my surroundings. Without my magic, I can neither see in the dark or understand different languages, so I'm stuck in a dark room full of children speaking with words I don't know.

I frowned, trying to remember my scattered knowledge of different languages. "Er… English? Does you speak English?"

There was a smattering of whispers between the children, before one of them stepped forward. "I do. I'm Isaiah. Who're you?" The small blonde asked innocently.

I mentally wrote him off as nonthreatening, relaxing slightly. "I'm Ravel. Where are we?"

The boy smiled. "We're in the Church, of course. Don't you remember? Your orphanage should've told you."

I shook my head. "Not orphan. Have family. Taken."

Confusion flickered across his face, but he skipped that bit for the moment. "Well, whatever you're here for, it's because of God's will." I flinched slightly at The Name. "We're here to aid in the Holy Sword Project, in accordance with the wishes of the Church, His presence here on earth."

I shook my head, fear growing. "Not human. Akuma. Er… D-Devil." I might've mangled the word, but my Japanese is better than my English.

He shook his head. "Don't worry, there aren't any Devils here. We are in a church, after all."

I growled. "NOT HUMAN!" I shouted, irritated. "I'M DEVIL!"

The children all stepped back in alarm. Even if they couldn't all understand the words, I was obviously enraged. Isaiah just looked confused. "But that's impossible. You can't be a Devil, you'd burn up. Devils burn up in churches, everyone knows that."

I finally stood, my rage overcoming my fear. "I know. Not supposed to be here. Let me OUT!"

He took a step back, likely noticing my eyes flashing with restrained power. "L-look, I'm sorry. We're all orphans here, so we don't know anything. The Bishop will be here soon, so you can talk to him."

I felt my rage blow away like a cold wind as fear formed a hard ball in my stomach. He didn't mean the Bishop Piece. He meant the more powerful priest. Very, very bad. "B-Bishop?"

"Yeah. Father Valper. He's nice, so he might let you go if you ask him. We're all here because we wanted to be, so he shouldn't have any problems letting you go."

I doubted it. I really, really did. I took a deep breath, fighting back tears. At least Mother's lessons taught me this much. Crying in front of others is unacceptable.

But what am I going to do? I don't know where I am, and I have Holy Chains wrapped around me. My magic is bound, so I can't burn through them, and even if it weren't, I can't fight a Bishop. I'm a Devil, and he's a priest. He'd kill me. And even if I did escape, where would I go? There's nowhere to run, and I can't teleport. I'd just be forced to hide until they found me again.

The tears finally slipped through as I realized that the Phenex family wouldn't, couldn't, go looking for me. I'm the fourth child, a daughter among sons. I'm a pawn, useful only for marriage, and Riser's marriage will give them more than anything I could ever offer. Riser might try to look for me, but he wouldn't even know how to start the search.

I am alone.

My family isn't coming for me.

So what hope do I even have?

My hand went to my necklace. My warm, comforting necklace, with its' heartbeat pulse and its' soft glow. A necklace protecting me from the power of Heaven itself. A gift, given by a wonderful boy who made it just for me.

'Millicas-sama will protect me. He always will.' I drew what little comfort I could from that thought, closing my eyes and wishing with all of my heart that I had him here right now. Here to save me from this nightmare.

I sighed, running a brush through my snarled hair. Millicas-sama's necklace still shone with its' flame-like glow, shielding me from the Holy Sword on my back. That's what it is, a Holy Sword. I was terrified at first, knowing that the slightest cut from it could kill me instantly, but I relaxed when I realized that my gift had protected me from it already. After all, the Church wouldn't have chained me to the sword if they didn't already know it wouldn't work on me.

A-holes.

I finished with my hair, setting aside my brush and running my fingers through the golden strands. Ringlets don't exactly suit me anymore, what with my worn clothes and smudged face. Even if I can hear the surf crashing in the distance, they never take us to the sea, and only let us bathe once every two weeks in a bucket of salty water. I learned to stop complaining after they took away food for a week, so I take things as I get them. My hair is always crusted with something nasty, and smelled like dead fish. But none of the other orphans were any better, nor did they seem to expect better.

"Hey, Ravel-nee!"

Speak of the Devil.

I turned to Isaiah, who wore an excited smile. "Yes?"

"Bishop Galilei is here!" He exclaimed. "Isn't that great?"

I forced a small smile. "S-sure."

He rolled his eyes. "Oh come on, Ice Queen. You're supposed to be a spitfire, aren't you? What happened to the girl you were when you got here?"

I sighed softly. "Most High-Class Devils are like this, Isaiah."

"But you're not a High-Class Devil!" He protested. "You're a kid!"

I thought back to the warm memories of Riser telling me wild stories of fanciful creatures, and the long hours spent playing dress-up with the maids. It was a lifetime ago, really. I wish I were back then, instead of here and now. I wish I could grow up in my lonely house, meet the knight of my dreams, and become his princess. But I know that's not happening. I've come to terms with it a long time ago. Now I'm just a girl waiting to die.

"S-sure." I murmured, unable to force any enthusiasm. "Whatever."

He drooped. "S-sorry. I forgot about… that."

We stood in silence for a while, ignoring the unmentioned death sentence. Isaiah finally left, leaving me alone. I looked at myself in the mirror once more, seeing the girl with a necklace of gold and gems. A girl wearing sackcloth and chains. A girl forced to bury what little emotions she had. A single tear traced down the girl's face, but no more followed.

I wish someone would save me.

The day I had been dreading arrived. I numbly followed orders, knowing that if I refused like I did last time, they would just starve me again, or hurt Isaiah like they had threatened to. The necklace, Millicas-sama's gift to me, was handed over to a priest wearing a smile too large to be anything but disturbing. Its' glow died, but there were no Holy Chains left to burn me. If I died, they wouldn't be able to get the Piece within me, and that would be a waste of resources.

I allowed them to place me onto a large cross, iron bands fastening around my hands and feet. The Bishop smiled up at me, but I was anything but reassured. "Worry not, little Devil. What you will feel is nothing compared to what Christ felt on the Cross. Rejoice, for perhaps if you die like this, you may have a chance to save your damned soul."

I swallowed my fear, steeling myself. Emotions wouldn't help me now. Nothing would. I looked up at the moon, knowing that I wouldn't survive this. The chanting of many voices surrounded me, and I closed my eyes.

'Millicas-sama… I'm sorry.' I whispered within the confines of my mind.

And then the pain started, tearing into my very soul as it ripped my Piece from me. It was agonizingly slow, and my voice gave out from screaming well before the pain stopped. But it did indeed stop. And when I opened my eyes, I saw him.

My guardian. My angel. My light in the darkness.

I knew it was a dream, that I was already dead. But still I watched as the beautiful threads tore through my captors and caught me as I fell. His face was just as beautiful as I had imagined it. No, it was better. If this was what being damned felt like, then I'll happily give up Heaven. His perfect face, marred with concern, was easily better than any afterlife.

My hair a mess, dressed in dirty rags, and smelling like a corpse. Yet he still looked at me like I was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

I felt myself smile as I looked up at him. My perfect knight, come to save me from the evil villains. If this was a dream… it was the best one of my life. "Mi-kun?" I asked, allowing myself the luxury of addressing him as I had in my wildest dreams. The ones in which we were married, and he loved me more than anyone in the world.

He smiled down at me, relief visible through his every feature. "Are you sure you should be calling me that?"

I frowned. "This is my last dream, so I should be able to call you what I like, Right?" I paused, my hazy mind grasping something I had forgotten to tell him. Something utterly unforgivable. "I'm sorry, but I lost that beautiful necklace that you gave me." I admitted quietly. "They made me take it off, otherwise they would've killed Isaiah."

He sighed. "Forget the necklace, we don't have enough time."

I held back a giggle. Of course Dream Millicas wouldn't care. He was perfect, after all. And he was speaking so kindly to me, as if I were a precious treasure he was about to lose. I was his princess, and this was my romantic ending. Some of my sillier fantasies had been like this, all mush with little chance of making it into reality.

He spoke once more, his soothing voice brushing past my ear like soft velvet. "I can bring you back, but not as you are. You'll only be part you."

'Only part me? Like a vampire? I think I read a book about that. Twibright or something. Is he going to turn me into a vampire now? Well… I guess I could live with that. The more important question is…' "Does it mean that I can stay by your side?"

He nodded seriously. "Forever."

I smiled, then. A spark of hope, though I knew this was just a dream. A hallucination caused by my impending death. "Then I agree. As long as I can stay with you forever, I'll…do…any…thing." My voice trailed away as I felt my heart finally stutter to a stop, and darkness spread across my vision. I forced out the last few words, trying to let Millicas-sama know how much he meant to me, how much I'd go through to be with him. Even if it was a dream, I still wanted some part of him to hear me.

And then, blackness claimed me for the last time.

Part 2—Gilgamesh

I sighed, looking out over the city of white marble. It was a magnificent kingdom, to be sure, but nothing compared to Babylon. Uruk would always hold a special place in my heart, the city that I built to its' highest heights and led into its' golden age. I long ago accepted its' loss, however. There's no sense in prolonging the past. Both I and my kingdom have passed, and we shall never rise again.

I rose from my throne and stepped from the alcove, moving away from the window and into my luxurious room. Fine silk draped from the walls, and exquisite tapestries woven with gold glistened in the daylight. My bed was large with a four-poster wooden frame carved with impossibly detailed creatures. The bed itself was so soft one might as well be lying on clouds, and the sheets were soft and warm.

The mirror chest to the side of the bed was just as large and well-detailed, with the mirrors themselves being solid sheets of silver lightly engraved with shimmering designs. It was well-stocked, with all manner of accessories and makeup. The closet beside that was similarly stocked with the finest outfits of any age, all perfectly sized and tailored to my preferences.

Carpet so soft it was like walking on grass, a bed so comfortable that it defied reason, more gold and jewels than even the most lavish of queens could boast. And yet…

I sighed, turning and exiting the room.

All this luxury, simply handed to me. All I ever wished for, given me on a golden platter studded with diamonds. It was all so… pointless. What use is a throne if one never fights for it? A kingdom without any people? A treasury without any new additions? I am the Lugal of Heroes, a ruler mighty and unparalleled. Yet I cannot find a single person to match my strength, to make me feel alive once more.

A soft voice broke into my thoughts, bringing a smile to my face. "Good day, Gilgamesh."

I turned, seeing a head of green hair and a flawless robe of pure white. Hair long enough to brush the ankles, a small smile, an androgynous face. A true beauty, paired with the voice of an angel and the softest skin one could imagine. And yet, somehow, he insisted he was male. It seemed a matter of personal pride to him, so I respected his wishes. Privately, however, I always treated him as if he were a female. He doesn't have any reproductive organs, so it's all the same anyway.

Enkidu, bearer of the Chains of Heaven.

"Good day, friend." I greeted, gracing him with a smile. "How was your rest?"

He hummed. "It was very nice, though there was some ruckus that caused me to awaken prematurely."

I sighed, shaking my head. "Some mongrels never learn, do they?" I asked rhetorically, reaching into my Gate and pulling out a flask of the finest liquour. "Do you wish for me to take care of the issue?"

He shook his head. "For once, they are somewhat justified in their squabbling. It would seem that the Red Dragon Emperor has taken up residence in this plane."

I raised an eyebrow, taking a sip from the flask. "I see. And what felled her? Did Albion finally do with her as he wished?"

Enkidu grimaced. "No. And even if he did, I would not ask her. I find such things distasteful."

I sighed. "I do as well, but those with power are entitled to use it on others as they wish. I suspect that I would do the same if I ever wanted for the pleasures of the flesh. Goddess Ishtar was certainly enthusiastic enough about it, so I imagine I would be the same."

He said nothing, his perfect face smoothing into his default expression. "She has been spreading news of her new fiancé, and all he has done to woo her."

I raised a single, delicate brow. "Is that so?"

He nodded. "It is indeed. She seems quite convinced that she will be leaving this plane at his side."

I hummed in thought, closing my stunning red eyes. "A Living Soul, then. Interesting. There are seldom few of those here." A thought occurred, and I opened my eyes once more. "Perhaps she is a vassal of the Lugal of Dreams. A powerful Lugal demands powerful subordinates, after all, and perhaps he wishes to Claim her as his Mate in order to show his ability. Ddraig would not bow to any male she could defeat in battle, so merely Claiming her would show his conquest."

Enkidu shook his head. "I doubt it. The Lugal of Dreams is a mighty King, but he is not prideful in the least. See how easily his soul bends to the whims of its' inhabitants? How easily a valley folds into a castle, or a verdant plane? No soul that willing to bend would ever wish to assert superiority over another."

I nodded absently, conceding his point. Indeed, he was not a man that would force another to submit, or take advantage of his position. Rather like the Lugal of Knights in that way, really. "Perhaps it was a romantic conquest, then. She was wooed to his side, and he wishes to keep her close. I have heard from the Lugal of Hell that Devils now have a Reincarnation System based on chess pieces, so perhaps he wishes to exalt her with a powerful Piece."

Enkidu smiled slightly. "That sounds far more likely. From what you have told me, he is one that leads by example and takes more pride in his subordinates than himself. His way of ruling is then likely to sit in the shadows as those he has picked and trained take the spotlight. Even without saying a single word, those who see his work will respect him as a ruler. Is that not what every Lugal wishes to attain?"

I laughed, my golden voice carrying down the marble hall. "Indeed it is. I know not why that had not occurred to me earlier. He is one who teaches rather than fights, a leader by respect rather than pride or fear. And since he does not show himself as above, his worth is left in the minds of the people. I would call this foolhardy, if not for that it worked so well in his kingdom. Most of the souls that reside here think him some manner of benevolent god, and some have even begun to worship him."

I brushed my hair over my shoulder, and began to walk down the lavishly decorated hall. My friend followed, effortlessly keeping pace with me. "Are you going to seek out the Red Dragon?" He asked curiously.

I shook my head. "No. I have far too many Anti-Dragon armaments in my armory to consider a decent fight, and if she is indeed a Living Soul, then slaying her might end her chances of returning to the Mortal Plane. Doing so may anger the Lugal of Dreams, and that is something I wish to avoid."

"Out of respect, or something else?" Enkidu asked, a knowing tone in his voice.

I shot him a scathing look. "I do not know what you are referring to."

He smiled innocently at me. "Oh, nothing. It's just seem to recall some of your dreams being more than—"

A blade flew past his head, and I blamed the flush in my cheeks on the alcohol. His eyes twinkled with mischief, but he said nothing more on the subject. I rolled my eyes. "Enkidu, he has not even defeated me in battle. I respect him as my landlord, nothing else."

The words were spoken with authority and finality, but Enkidu was never one to pay attention to either. "And if he were to defeat you?"

"That would not happen." I replied simply. "No male has the ability to defeat me, else I would be wed by now."

He smiled. "Well what if he did, and he did so fairly with no hint of deception?"

I frowned at him. He was just trying to rile me up, now. "You know full well that I made an oath to the Goddess Ishtar that I would submit to any male to fell me in battle, so long as she swore I would not be wed to any male before that."

He nodded in satisfaction. "And I'll hold you to that."

He was not quite as lucky as the first time when dodging my blade, but that didn't matter. No one can die here, anyway. He just pulled the knife from his eye socket and continued walking.

I refused to apologize. He was practically asking for it, anyway.

"However…" He continued, that damnedable mischievous gleam returning. "I can't help but wonder why you gave the oath to the Goddess of Fertility."

I scowled at him. "Ishtar reigns over marriage as well, you dolt."

The gleam didn't so much as flicker. "Well, it's just that gods always use their own power to hold mortals to their oaths."

"And?" I demanded, irritation lacing my voice.

"Do you honestly think that Ishtar would use her power over marriage to subdue you?" He asked in amusement.

I froze. And for the first time in a very long time, a cold trickle of fear made its' way down my spine. 'No, of course not. That bitch always was jealous of my beauty, and I can think of countless other times I've offended her. She would love nothing more than to… than to…'

"And that's the expression I was looking for." Enkidu crowed smugly, holding up a small device. There was a flash of light, and he fled, cackling.

…I think I need a stronger drink.

I sank into my throne, a long table laden with rich foods before me. Servants, mere wisps of light and wind, rose and began placing the choicest cuts and most sumptuous wines before me. I took them all, and yet… it all tasted like ash.

Fuck Ishtar.

Fuck the oath I made when I was six.

Gods above, how stupid was I? And how on earth did I not realize the catch in my remaining years? In life, I could've broken the vow, but in death it had been seared into my very soul. Now I know why the bitch was always so smug around me. She would've loved nothing more than to see my pride replaced by meek submissiveness.

No, no. That oath was traditional. I foreswore marriage so long as I remained undefeated. As did my father, and his mother before him. I did nothing more than what was expected of me. And if I hadn't, another kingdom would've tried to foist their mangy mongrels upon me in hopes of an heir.

I growled, beheading one of the anima in a fit of rage. It reformed instantly, not even dropping the glass of wine it was serving me as it did.

Fuck Ishtar, may her bones rot in hell.

I tried, as I had many times before, to put the matter from my mind. Enkidu had only brought it up as a harmless joke, and now he was starting to get worried by my constant mood swings. He repeatedly assured me that the Goddess had long since Faded in the time since we died, and that my Divinity shielded me from such vows anyway. But I knew that even if he was right, the bitch would find a way to haunt me from the grave and bypass my Divinity to make my life utter hell. It would be better if Ishtar were here to stab repeatedly, but she's still in the Godly Plane she was in while I lived.

Fucking bitch.

The wineglass in my hand cracked, and my teeth ground together in rage.

Maybe it was time to beat a few mongrels into the dirt, if only to show them where they belonged. The stress-relieving effects of utterly destroying the pride of those who thought themselves best are second to none. If fine wine and all the luxury I could ever ask for can't distract me from my problems, then maybe it's time to do a mass purge.

Ah, yes. That's much better.

I glanced around me, watching in amusement as the sorry mongrels screamed and fled at my approach. I fired a dozen or so weapons towards a certain spear-wielding mutt, smiling to myself as he went down in less than an instant.

Serves him right for thinking he could strike me while I was lost in thought.

A large man with dark skin and a roughly hewn stone axe roared, charging me at full speed.

Schink.

And now he's a pincushion!

I laughed to myself, watching the blood drip from his wounds as he tried to pull the blades from his skin. The chains of Enkidu stretched from my treasury, binding him in place as I hurled more and more weapons at him.

Oh, yes. Much better.

I eventually got bored of tormenting the poor mutt, releasing him and turning in place. Time to see what else there is to do in this wretched village.

A familiar figure stepped in my path, a white linen robe wrapped around his slight frame. I blinked, recognizing the face of this kingdom's resident god. Or, rather, God.

"Greetings, Gilgamesh." He greeted calmly, uncaring of the blades hoovering half-deployed out of Gates.

I sighed, dismissing my treasury. "What do you need, God." I spat the last word, as if it were poison in my mouth.

…Hm. I wonder why I'm so frustrated at him. Maybe it has something to do with why I'm killing mongrels? I've honestly forgotten by now. Maybe he insulted me? No, that's not it. Did another of the gods in this kingdom spite me in some way? No, I—

"Gilgamesh." He interrupted, voice stern. "You've been killing people for a long time, now."

I scoffed. "Please. The mongrels I face aren't people, they're dirt beneath my feet. And besides, this damnedable Marble prevents them from truly dying. The trash will rise once more, and pollute this beautiful kingdom with its' vile taint."

"Gilgamesh." He repeated, eyes narrowing. "You've been killing people for ten years."

…Has it truly been that long? I've forgotten. Ah, well. No wonder I was getting bored of the activity.

"Very well, I was getting bored of this anyway." I sighed. "I shall leave the rest of the clean-up to someone of lower rank."

I stalked past him, knowing he wouldn't stop me. He had gotten what he wanted, and angering me would only serve to fill him with Anti-Divine weaponry.

Perhaps I could return to the Capital and visit the other Lugal. I'm sure that will raise my spirits.

"What." I demanded, voice dripping with scorn. "Is. That."

Altria frowned, looking down at the stuffed monstrosity. "It's a lion."

"Well, yes, I know that." I shouted in exasperation. "But why on earth are you hugging it?"

"Because it is soft and cute." She replied, voice laden with the dignity of a ruler.

"On your throne?" I spluttered in indignation. "In those clothes?"

"It is what the common folk call a 'sleep over'!" Iskander boomed in excitement. He was dressed in a one-piece bunny onesie, and holding a large axe like a teddy bear. His muscular frame most definitely did not fit inside that onesie, either. I felt my eyeballs melting at the sight.

Minato, bless the man, looked just as disturbed as I was. He simply wore a light tee shirt and shorts, and held nothing overtly worrying. It would seem that I've found the only sane man left in this place.

I stared at my fellow Lugal for a moment longer, before turning and leaving without another word.

Maybe I could explore the Marble a bit more. All three of my fellow Lugal have kingdoms here, so there must be more to it than just the Light and Dark Capitals.

…

…

…

I need to get out of this place.

I stared in mild horror at the enormous swamp, bats and lizards the only life to be seen. I wasn't just horrified at the disgusting swamp, but rather the bugs that lived in it. Flesh-eating mites that stripped any animal that wandered in to the bone in less than an instant.

'Who on earth would make a nightmare like this?' I asked in mild disgust as I watched the mites pick clean a fish that had leapt into the air a second before. 'It's dirty, creepy, and muddy. Is this truly the result of some mongrel's imagination?'

I swallowed the bile in my throat, turning and summoning Vimana once more. I've had enough of this place—not just the swamp, but the Reality Marble itself. There were indeed some gorgeous sights and kingdoms in which laughter could be heard from the inhabitants, but for every beauty there was something just as hideous. Castles of bone, from which screams sounded at all hours. Skies of red and seas of blood. Dens of sirens, luring the unwary to an eternal torment.

For the first time, I saw the terrible nightmares within this endless dream. Yes, we can live forever. Yes, we cannot die. But those things become a curse when your will is not your own and your body acts against your direction. When you're chained in place, to be tortured for the rest of time. When the very place you thought was the essence of purity has walls made of powdered bones and curtains of living flesh.

This world is beautiful and hideous, ever-balanced yet ever-changing. A dream in every sense of the word.

I realized, in that very instant, that the Lugal of Dreams must never be enraged. We had seen the Dream… but where was the Nightmare he hid? Was that what had allowed him to so easily subdue the Red Dragon Emperor?

The White Capital came into view, and I gradually slowed my vehicle. I came to a full stop just before the balcony of the throne room, tiredly dismounting and stowing my treasure before entering the room.

Only Minato Arisato was there, silently reading a book while eating some odd crispy things from a bag labeled 'Lay's Barbecue'. I didn't bother to acknowledge his presence, instead sinking into my throne and pouring myself a glass of wine.

We sat in silence for a while, the only sound the flipping of pages. Finally, having drained my third glass of wine, I decided to speak. "So… what is there to do around here?"

The blue-haired young man glanced up, a small smile on his face. "I thought you'd never ask."

"Do you have any sixes?"

I glared at the innocent-looking blonde across from me. "I hate you."

"Full house." I called smugly, laying down my cards.

Minato silently laid down a royal straight flush, face showing boredom.

I blinked in shock, rage building. "What? How! I could've sworn—"

"Pay up, King of Heroes~!" Iskander sang, face irritatingly smug. "Minato never loses at poker."

I glared. "Ten seconds ago, he had two of a kind! I call bullshit."

Minato merely shrugged. "I got lucky." He explained simply. "Can we play another game now?"

I growled to myself, knuckles white. "Fine! What else is there?"

I gave the other three Lugal a superior smirk. "Did you really think you could beat me at Life?"

"You cheated!" Altria complained, starting mutinously at the little roulette wheel.

I smiled at her. "My dear, a Lugal such as myself has no need to cheat."

Minato blinked. "I went bankrupt the second turn."

"I have six children! Six!" Altria raged. "And I had to pay tax on all of them!"

Iskander shrugged. "I still don't know what we're even doing, I just like spinning the dial." He admitted sheepishly. "What are we doing?"

I sighed. "Don't worry, oaf. We weren't doing anything too important."

Minato folded the board, putting the cards and pieces back inside their box. "So what now?"

"Checkmate." I sighed.

Altria looked ready to pull her, admittedly adorable, ahoge out of her head. "How do you keep winning like this? It's impossible! You won in six moves!"

I frowned. "I did say I was going easy on you."

"Six moves!" She repeated, enraged. "All of my battle experience, worthless!"

Minato, ever-calm in the face of enraged women, shrugged. "She beat me in three."

Iskander nodded. "I only got four. You must be good."

I shot him a look. "I said I was going easy on her!"

He held up his hands defensively, a wide grin on his face. "Yes, yes. But she still got six moves in before you won."

I rolled my eyes. "I really don't get why you all are so shocked. A Lugal looks upon the field of battle and allows the proper moves to be known, regardless of the decisions involved."

Altria growled. "Bullshit."

I just smiled.

"Go to jail." I read, slightly amused.

Minato smirked. "Do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars and do not, I repeat do not, drop the soap." We all stared at him for a moment. He shrugged. "My friend Junpei used to say that whenever someone went to jail."

I smiled smugly, ignoring the odd man. "I own half the board, going to jail will only help me."

All three of them blinked. Altria cursed. "Why the hell can't we find any game we can beat you in?"

I shrugged in false modesty. "I am the best at everything. It should be expected that this is no different."

Minato sighed, picking up the dice. "My turn."

After far more games than I would like, I finally got sick of them and returned to my room.

My… room.

I stared around at the pristine room. Ornate furniture, finely carved and polished to perfection. Sheets of cloth soft enough to bely the highest of expectation. A throne in an alcove, allowing the best possible view of the White Capital.

How long has it been since I was last here? A month? A year? Longer? God said it was over a decade, but I know better than to trust gods. Yet it was exactly as I left it, not a fingerprint or speck of dust to be found. My room, in the palace of dreams. An ever-shifting nebula of chaos and order, good and evil, creation and destruction. Yet it remains perfectly pristine, not a thread out of place.

I never quite appreciated that before, I don't think. The sheer amount of memory that was taken up in this seemingly simple world is staggering. How mighty is the Lugal of Dreams to so casually provide every want and need of his people? How powerful would he be if faced in battle?

I felt a smirk cross my face, before it faded away.

If he truly was a ruler… then why would he provide everything we could possibly want, free of charge? Why would he simply give, rather than desiring something in return? Even I, as wise and generous as I am, do not give freely. And from what I know from my kingdom's philosophers, giving the people everything they could possibly want, free of charge or consequence, is a recipe for disaster. The people will just become fat and lazy, sitting around all day without bothering to work for the betterment of their country. So why…?

I absently sat upon my throne and took the glass of wine I had put there, so very long ago.

Boredom, I realized. I grew tired of opulence, so I set out to find something else. I can't imagine the living version of me ever going into a swamp, let alone exploring the world alone. My pride wouldn't let me. It wasn't until I ceased finding any pleasure in my surroundings that I did anything to change them. It wasn't until I bored of affluence that I bothered to do anything myself. Even the castle I sit in now is the product of others' work, those who had dared to imagine a land of bright fantasies. And yet, I still find myself bored.

When I first arrived, I tried to form the world around me into the same kingdom I had left. To once more see the beauty of the place I gave my heart to. To live forever in the glory that was Uruk. But I achieved nothing, no matter how hard I tried, the Marble around me refused to grant my wishes. So as everyone around me sat in the ashes of their past and built their future, I aimlessly wandered from place to place.

A Dream is something one must build for themselves.

A voice whispered around me, startling me. It was amused, and seemed to be comprised of thousands, no, millions of separate voices in an eerie synchrony.

I give only the tools, for the methods are your own. Would you be satisfied, oh Lugal of Heroes, if I were to give you your kingdom back? If I were to make all of your people loyal to you alone, with no effort on your part?

The voice was no longer a whisper, but a chorus that spoke from every direction at once.

I blinked, feeling uncertain for the first time in a very long while. "N-no." I whispered, glass falling from my fingers. It shattered on the ground, only to reform a moment later. Perfectly pristine. Unnaturally perfect.

I didn't deserve this, as much as I tried to convince myself otherwise. I didn't make this room myself, nor did I command my subordinates to build it for me. It was all utterly empty, as tinted glass is before jewels. A pale mockery. An imitation of reality. A simulation.

'How is it that all the others discovered this before me?' I wondered, closing my eyes.

Your arrogance has cost you, oh Lugal. The voice commented dispassionately. Why do you think We are here? We do not merely build Dreams, but rather show you your true self. Where is your arrogance, oh Lugal? Your shining army? Your treasury of ten thousand blades?

I gritted my teeth. "I still have all of those!" I shouted, eyes flashing with rage. "I can order anyone I choose to do whatever I like, I can create an army the likes of which you have never seen! My treasury is beyond all human knowledge, and yet more besides!"

Where is your pride, then? It asked simply. How long ago did your pride become arrogance, and your privilege become entitlement?

I scoffed. "Please. A Lugal must act as they ought. I will do as my ancestors did, and live like the ruler I am!"

Of course. It murmured. But… are you happy?

The words were said without rage or malice, only kind concern. They cut me deeper than any blade, and I felt all my pride drain from me in an instant.

"No." I whispered. "I'm not." A Lugal was meant to do things with their own strength, and build their kingdom by their own merit.

Why not?

"I… don't know." It was a crushing emptiness, something I had only noticed after it had been pointed out to me.

You were one of the first to come here, and yet you are the last to realize it. It mused. I am here to let you find out what holds you back. What have you missed? What has your life lacked, that you so stubbornly refuse death?

I had no answer. And, in time, my surroundings returned to what they were.

"You're having a what?" I asked, confused.

Iskander grinned. "A Monopoly match to decide the fate of the land!" He boomed excitedly. "It shall be greater than any before it!"

I stared at him for a moment, utterly bewildered. Here I was, trying to discover truths about myself that I've never before thought possible, and then this buffoon simply comes along and offers to let me play a high-stakes game of monopoly. I'm not sure if I'm more disturbed that a board game determines land lines, or that this isn't the first time they've done it.

Are you happy? I remembered the voice's question, and closed my eyes.

Fuck it.

"Sure." I sighed. "I'll play."

His smile faltered, and he sighed. "I won't ask what he told you." He murmured, placing a large hand on my shoulder. "But I will say this. He has spoken to all of us precisely once, and only ever once. He is there to guide, rather than to lead. Whatever he told you, take it to heart. He knows your soul better than any other, and he knows your flaws better than you yourself do."

I glared at him for a moment. "I don't know what you're talking about. Get your hands off me, you oaf. I have no flaws, I am the Lugal. Leave my sight before I end you."

He chuckled, patting me on the shoulder once more. "Deny it all you want, but I know that face. This Dream is one of our own design… and, in time, it shows you a part of yourself that you never thought you had. All of us have seen it, and we all deal with it differently. You're in the endgame, now. You're a broken mess, uncertain of even your most sacred beliefs. But in time, you will repair." He grinned, pulling back his hand. "If you pull through, however, you will be happier than you've ever been before. Take it from me."

I glared at the grinning oaf. "Why are you still here? I told you to leave."

He shook his head with a sigh. "If you wish to play Monopoly, we'll be meeting at seven tonight."

I grit my teeth, turning and slamming the door behind me.

"I don't know how you talked me into this." I growled at Iskander, sitting in my golden throne.

He grinned at me. "I didn't."

Prat.

I rolled my eyes, reaching into my treasury and pulling out my canister of Nectar. It was a drink I did not often partake of, but I believed tonight to be an exception.

Cards were dealt, money was distributed, and the game began.

As I usually did when given a die, I made the exact rolls I needed, but Monopoly was a random enough game that most of my Skills were rendered useless. I could push it with )Sha Naqba Imuru(, but I didn't see the point for such a simple game. Perhaps if the game were at higher stakes, or something other than a children's game, I might be forced to use it, but I'm content to merely take over half the board for now.

As Minato picked up the dice to take his turn, the hall around us warped. A crystal throne, twisted and bent, formed from the ground below, and a foreign power permeated the air.

We didn't so much as blink.

Minato rolled the dice, and sighed. He moved his piece precisely ten spaces, and landed squarely on Park Place.

The doors to the balcony flew open, and the Lugal of Dreams soared into the room.

None of us moved a muscle. Iskander was wilder with his entrances, even on his calm days. Minato sulkily paid the full hotel price, accompanied by Iskander's cackling. After watching the odd sight for a moment, the newcomer turned and addressed me. "Gilgamesh, King of Heroes, I wish to bargain with you."

I frowned, irritated at the intrusion. A bargain? What could he possibly want with me? "Very well." I decided, setting down my cards. "What do you desire, and what do you offer in return?"

"You said you wanted a new life, yes? What if I gave you a new mind and body, too?" He asked, stance shifting.

I blinked, thinking back. I had indeed said something to that effect, though it was a very long time ago. On the one hand, I no longer felt the burning need to return to a kingdom. A Lugal that does not know themselves is not fit to rule, after all. But on the other…

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Explain."

"I plan on trying to merge your soul with an Evil Piece." He began, voice deadly serious. "The girl I plan to save has most of her soul missing, but her mind and body are still intact. As such, you'll completely merge with her, magic circuits and all."

Ah. Of course it's for another's benefit. His very soul is built to help, after all. 'A missing soul, and a healthy body?' I mused, tapping my chin. 'How odd. When he says 'merge', he likely means a Soul Meld. Not my preferred method of resurrection, but I'll take what I can get.' I frowned. 'But a bargain goes both ways, so what should I ask him to give?'

I eyed him, trying to figure out what I could ask for in return for such a hefty favor. He was well-built, and his stance was perfectly balanced. A warrior, to be sure. Amusement blossomed in my chest as an idea occurred. Whatever I was distracting myself from, a fight was sure to do the trick. And I do remember commenting to Enkidu that I'd always wished to test myself against the Lugal of Dreams.

I rose from my throne, stretching and filling my body with magic. "I shall agree, only if you can fight me in the way that my only friend does. Eagerly, and without restraint." I told him, curious to see his reaction.

He merely raised an eyebrow, not moving a muscle otherwise. "…Okay? But, um, can we go somewhere of my choice?"

I blinked, a smirk making its' way across my face. The boy shows uncertainty, and any competent fighter would refuse him merely on principle. But I am generous, and he has aided me much already, so I can concede this at least. "Very well. It is only fair."

He sighed, presumably in relief. "Would you like me to carry you?"

I nodded, amusement returning. The boy is adorable, really. I wonder if he's ever actually fought at the level I'm on. I should make this a quick death, if only out of respect for his status.

He picked me up in what Altria had once dubbed a 'bridal carry', before spreading his wings and taking flight. My stomach fluttered slightly, and I frowned. My instincts were screaming at me, though I knew not why. There was no real threat, and they weren't warning me about him, so what's going on?

…I'm missing something, I swear.

We finally landed on the edge of a crater, one that held a large body of water. He set me down and retreated close to the waves. I mentally prepared myself to fight a water mage if need be, and began to open Gates.

"Let's get started!" He called, a smirk visible on his face.

I rolled my eyes. Arrogant moron. I increased the number of Gates, surrounding him on all sides. "Worry not, I shall make this quick." I comforted him.

He said nothing, but I could feel mana beginning to gather around him. I waited a moment, but was disappointed to find no attack forthcoming. 'Well, it was a nice thought.' I sighed. Then, I began launching blades.

I noticed something was wrong a mere moment later, when each weapon disintegrated before so much as scratching his skin.

What?

Any blades not outright destroyed were deflected so that I had to waste yet more treasures blocking.

You… you…

My teeth clenched, and I abruptly noticed my mana draining far faster than it ought to. He must be trying to drain me, so he can just call it a win without either of us landing a single blow. The idea itself was commendable, but—

He grinned, shouting "I'm sorry, what was that? I couldn't hear you over the sound of breaking weapons!"

…All right, he is dead.

I gave a shout of rage as I redoubled my efforts to kill the little mongrel. How dare he taunt me? ME! And breaking my treasures? Holding back isn't even a passing thought anymore. I began allowing my more powerful blades into play, trying to end the fight before any more treasures were lost.

Nothing. All destroyed, redirected, or dodged.

'That's it.' I hissed. 'I'm going to put down this dog before it slobbers over any more of my treasures.'

I grabbed Durandal and charged the mongrel, pissed to high hell. If throwing weapons wouldn't work, then I'd have to deliver one manually. I swung towards his ribcage, aiming for his heart—

*CLANG*

I stumbled back in shock as he pulled a gleaming blade from absolutely nowhere to block with. My eyes narrowed, and the battle began anew.

We moved at speeds too fast for most eyes to track, moving from one end of the crater to the other in an instant. Soon enough, we were both laughing from the thrill of the fight. It was like a dance, one that changed every second it went on. I stabbed with a spear, he blocked with a pair of daggers. He sliced with a katana, I blocked with a battleaxe. We continued in this way for some time, just basking in the experience.

And indeed, it was an incredible experience. The wind in my hair, my hands holding a familiar blade, clashing against an opponent of an equal level to my own. He had the perfect counter for every one of my strikes, just as I did with his. A fight that not even Enkidu could match, one that pushed me to the very limits of my ability.

A perfect fight.

A thought occurred, a flicker of disappointment robbing me of the joy I felt. Not quite perfect, not yet. I am the sovereign of magic wands, after all, and I have yet to truly see my match in the Artes.

I quelled my laughter, placing my halberd back into my treasury and taking a step back. "All right, I shall admit, you are indeed a worthy foe. For that, I shall cease holding back." I drew out my crowning joy, the treasure beyond all compare. "Wake up, Ea!" I shouted, glee suffusing my voice.

As fitting a fellow Lugal, he merely grinned as I began to charge my attack. He didn't flee as a coward would, but rather stood strong before my full might. No, better, I could feel him summoning a spell of his own, one that matched my own. Magic circles sprung to life around us in a hemisphere, their number increasing by the moment. Then, without warning, they vanished.

I looked my foe in the eye, raising my treasure high and pouring the last of my mana into it. "ENUMA…ELISH!"

My most powerful attack, a force that none of my peers could match. I waited with baited breath, excitement brewing as it raced towards him. He merely wound back a fist… and punched it.

And the entire mass of mana, my ace in the hole, my strongest attack… dissolved.

I'm not ashamed to admit my jaw dropped at that.

'How is that possible?' I marveled. 'He just… punched it, and it shattered!'

My foe didn't allow me to regain my wits, keeping the fight flowing. "My turn!" He called cheerfully, raising a hand. The circles reappeared, creating seemingly random rings that stretched into the sky.

The world itself was suddenly everywhere, the air screaming around me as power gathered. Thousands of voices whispered in synchrony, raw mana blowing my hair back and whipping it about as if I were in the midst of a windstorm.

))FALLEN DOWN((

I don't know what happened next, but something incredibly bright blocked out the rest of the world for a moment. When it faded, I was panting from the exertion of pushing against the power the attack held. My armor, the greatest in all the land, was chipped and broken. My mana was nearly gone, and I had burns all over my body. I was standing in a deep crater, and the water from the lake next to our battleground began to flow inside.

I looked up at my foe, flying high above me, and raised Ea once more. He had to have been weakened after throwing that much power at me, and his attire was just as ruined as mine. If I—

The water gathering around me rose into the air, floating in small orbs that drifted lazily.

Fuck.

Water mage. I forgot about that.

"Surrender." He commanded.

I realized that I had too little mana left from surviving his previous attack, and that he seemed ready to continue for some time yet. The most I could do is stall, and even then, I'd run out of stamina before he did.

I nodded once, unable to get my heaving chest under control for long enough to reply verbally. It was my defeat, done fair and square. He was my equal, if not my better.

My lips twitched as he used the water to lift us from the crater and place us at its' edge. I took a wobbly step, slightly humiliated that I was left in such a state. Or, at least, until I saw that he was no better. We locked eyes for a moment, and both of us burst into laughter.

The rush of battle. The feeling of excitement. The joy that came from facing a superior foe. I had all but forgotten it, really. It was magnificent. We were alive, and it felt wonderful.

Finally catching my breath, I spoke. "Now, what was your offer, again?"

"Like I said, you will be starting from scratch with a new mind and an untrained body. Plus…" He grinned. "Devils are immortal."

I blinked. Immortality? I'd almost forgotten about that, what with how long I've been locked at this age. It would be a pain to grow old as I had in my first life. I gave up my quest for immortality after I learned of its' cost, but perhaps…

I favored the young man with a kind smile. "You drive a hard bargain, young Lugal. I approve. I accept you proposition, O Lugal of Dreams. So long as you hold up your side of the bargain, I am yours to do as you will."

Something in the back of my mind clicked, and I frowned slightly. I was still missing something, something important. What was it?

The red-haired man nodded once, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a crystal trinket. I felt a tug, and my vision dissolved into golden light. And then, nothing. No sight, no sound, no scent. Nothing. Total blackness. I waited, knowing that the young Lugal had sworn to give me a new form, but failed to say how long it would be.

I waited a fair bit, trying to figure out what I had been missing. It was something important, I know that much. Was it something Enkidu had told me? One of the other heroes? Or perhaps—

I felt a powerful tug, like something giving. Then, gradually, my senses started to return. But it wasn't a good kind of sensation, not in the least. It was like grasping a hot iron within a forge. It started in my chest, near my heart, and began to spread outward. My arms were on fire now. Burning, charring, becoming lumps of charcoal. I would've screamed if I had the lips, and I found myself grateful for my silence. Pain is nothing new to me, and it would be humiliating to scream.

The pain spread, burning from my elbows to my fingertips, from my sternum to my pelvis. Flames licked at my every feature, burning it away. If I had a body, I decided, I would be a pile of ash on the floor. In fact, I ought to be ash on the floor, soul or not. The pain continued down my body, bringing fresh waves of agony into my already taxed mind. I felt some relief as it reached my toes, knowing the pain might finally stop, but it continued burning even after all of me had been consumed. In fact, the burning became stronger, like someone was deliberately stoking the flames. The flames burned higher and higher, hotter and hotter, and when I finally felt that I could take no more—

Nothing. Dear, sweet nothing. I would've sang praises to the nothingness if I could, yet I had no voice.

Thump.

I felt my entire form jostle, as if I had been shaken by some incredible force.

Thump.

If I had bones, they would've vibrated.

Thump.

If I had eyes, they would've fallen from their sockets.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

I recognized it, now. It was the steady beating of a heart. My heart, forcing blood into a fallen corpse.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

I gritted my teeth, feeling the barest hint of sensations. A breeze across my skin, the faint clatter of something in the distance. I was so close—

And then, another mind seared into mine with the force of a thousand branding irons.