In a private hall of the palace, the light was dim. The morning sun barely seeped through the narrow windows, casting thin beams that cut through the dusty air. Lugalbanda and Ninsun sat side by side, their postures tense, as if waiting for something they couldn't control. In front of them, the Mirror of Nergal rested on a pedestal made of dark basalt, its surface smooth and obsidian, shimmering faintly.
It was a divine artifact, capable of reflecting important events as long as it was supplied with enough spiritual energy.
On the dark, glass-like surface, the training grounds appeared—Ereshgal, panting and bleeding, his shoulder still oozing crimson, with Kisaya kneeling beside him, her arms wrapped tightly around his chest. At his feet, the Wendigo lay motionless, its head twisted unnaturally, the sword still lodged through its mouth, dark blood pooling around the corpse.
Lugalbanda watched silently, his arms crossed, his face a mask of stoic calm. Yet, his jaw was tightened almost imperceptibly.
Ninsun let out a long, shaky breath, one hand covering her mouth as relief washed over her features.
"He did it... he defeated it" Ninsun whispered, a faint smile breaking through her tension.
Lugalbanda didn't take his eyes off the mirror.
"It's not that surprising. He had the skill. Even without a blessing, he's stronger than most."
Ninsun shot him a sideways glance, exhaling slowly.
"Can't you just... acknowledge what he accomplished for once? You know how hard that was."
Lugalbanda's lips curved upward, barely a smile.
"Why are you so surprised? I didn't expect any less."
Ninsun shook her head, half-amused, half-frustrated.
"Sometimes I wonder if you'll ever just say you're proud of him."
He turned his head slightly, glancing at her.
"I am proud. Just because I don't put it into words doesn't mean it isn't there."
Her shoulders relaxed, the tension slipping away, but her eyes remained focused on him, searching for something deeper.
"When the Wendigo bit his shoulder... I thought... just for a moment... that he might not make it."
Lugalbanda's gaze hardened slightly, and his voice dropped just a fraction, as if he was struggling to keep his tone steady.
"Ereshgal is resilient. He always has been."
Ninsun glanced at him, frowning. "But if the Wendigo had really overpowered him..."
Lugalbanda gave a slight shrug, but his shoulders remained tense.
"If the beast had gone for a fatal blow, Ashren would have stopped it. He's always calculating that line."
Ninsun traced her fingers along the edge of the mirror, her touch light, almost hesitant.
"And when he raised his sword at the end... I couldn't breathe. Just that moment—it felt like it stretched on forever. That's him, though, isn't it? Always pushing through when I think he's reached his limit."
Lugalbanda nodded, almost imperceptibly.
"He had the ability."
Ninsun placed a gentle hand on his arm, her smile softer now.
"You worry more than you let on."
Lugalbanda opened his mouth to respond, but his eyes shifted back to the mirror, his brow furrowing seriously.
(Ereshgal POV)
I struggled to calm my breathing, my shoulder throbbing as blood soaked my side. The pain was intense, radiating through my body, but still bearable. Around the wound, the flesh had already started to darken and rot, twisted veins crawling outward—a clear sign of the Wendigo's toxin.
Kisaya's presence beside me was the only thing keeping me steady. Her hands gripped my arm firmly, not letting me fall.
Ashren approached, his expression softer than usual, and placed a hand on my good shoulder.
"Good job. Not many can say they took down a Wendigo without a blessing. Now, let Dalila take care of that wound."
I blinked, my brows knitting in confusion. "Dalila?"
He gestured behind him, and I followed his gaze.
The priestess.
Ashren gave me a small nod, a hint of a smile on his lips.
"Didn't doubt you for a second. You kept your head when things got rough—more than most would."
He glanced at the ground for a moment before looking back at me.
"I was about to raise a barrier when it got bad, but... the way you looked—I knew you had it. You made the right call."
I gave a weak smile, nodding.
"Thanks."
Dalila knelt down in front of me, her movements calm and deliberate.
"Lie down. I'll take care of it."
I hesitated but did as instructed, laying back on the cold ground. The chill seeped into my back, but I barely noticed. Dalila moved closer, tracing a rune over my shoulder, murmuring a prayer, her fingers steady and confident.
Kisaya stayed right beside me, unmoving, her eyes fixed on my face, unwavering. Ashren stood nearby, watching intently.
I forced myself to focus on the others—anything to distract me from the pain gnawing at my shoulder. My vision was hazy, and the distance made it hard to see clearly, but I could still make out their silhouettes and the way they stood.
Erenai seemed frozen, barely moving, her outline stiff and unmoving. It almost looked like she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Darek's shape was more relaxed, and I thought I caught a glimpse of a smile—different from his usual cocky grin. Maybe it was just relief. I wasn't used to seeing him like that.
Ilkar stood a bit away from the others, rigid and tense, his hands curled into fists. Even from here, his stance seemed caught between admiration and something darker.
Then there was Neval. I squinted. Her posture was stiff, her head slightly lowered, eyes narrowed as if she was... disappointed?
Why would she be disappointed? It didn't make sense.
Tarin didn't move at all. His posture was like stone, jaw clenched tight, eyes fixed on me. Whether it was anger, jealousy, or just shock, I couldn't tell. Maybe all three.
Dalila pressed her palm harder against the wound, her brow creasing in concentration. A jolt of pain shot through my shoulder, and I sucked in a breath, trying not to let it show.
"It's... not working" she whispered.
Ashren frowned, stepping closer. "Explain."
Her eyes widened, and I could hear the tremor in her voice. "My healing... it's not affecting him."
Panic prickled at the back of my mind, and I tried to sit up despite the pain. "What are you talking about?"
Ashren's expression darkened, his usual calm slipping. "Try again."
Dalila traced a more complex rune.
The wound stayed open, oozing steadily.
She looked up, her face pale. "It's not normal... I can't heal him."
Ashren's gaze shifted to me, his expression tightening for a moment before he forced it back to calm.
"Alright. We're taking you to the temple—just to be safe."
He gestured to two guards to prepare a stretcher.
My mind raced, trying to make sense of it. Why couldn't she heal me?
Ashren squeezed my good shoulder.
"Don't worry. They'll heal you at the temple."
The guards lifted me onto the stretcher. As they carried me away, I caught a glimpse of Kisaya's face—her eyes filled with worry.
I closed my eyes, letting the steady motion of the stretcher lull me into a daze. Thoughts kept swirling in my head.
How could this be happening?