Enkidu Ishtar is confronted by the reality of things. Having successfully put down the last of those who’d rebel against his rule he is at odds. For in doing so he has killed his late wife’s entire family line. He stands broken in this moment, reflecting on all the good times, hopes and dreams he and they all shared with one another. 

The waste of it all cuts him to his core. These thoughts flooding him are only amplified by the scene of devastation that surrounds him. The Hyades capital is on fire and the halls he once chased his lost love through… performed mock battles with her siblings now are broken or burning.

For they had sought vengeance for the crime of their sister’s death. An event brought about by his own kin’s love affair with the Imperials that rule over all the realms. His wife,  desire for vengeance forced his answer and hand as he slayed their armies, laid waste to their fortes, and reclaimed their cities. His family being maimed themselves. He was the only one allowed to survive and carry on Royal House Ishtar.

He recalls in this moment of ultimate despair his youth. When he built an alter to the stars above in secret worship as he desired for himself a life of the heroic fairytales of old. How sincerely he prayed to them and in his wild youthful imagination he had risked imagining they’d answered. He wished to be the greatest conqueror of them all, to be sung till the stars showed no more, that he’d pay any price for the opportunity to be proven supreme. 

His greatest secret, to no one he’d tell, that the stars did answer. That a shooting star fell upon him from a crack that existed only in his mind’s eye and to him it heralded: Great Prince of Heaven’s Bull, next and deserving leader of the great herd, I bring you notice. Fore the Stars above have felt your love and know you completely. They divine a course that should make all their desires align should the price be paid.

The child bewildered, Enkidu fell to his knees and threw his head to the floor in submission and recognition. Unwilling to Sully even a messenger with his mortal eyes. “Anything” are the words he spoke then and the words he speaks now. 

“Anything…”

The bodies are still warm of those he loved and was forced to kill. A royal room painted in crimson. The silence of death is deafening. The door shut behind him upon his entry, his guard and retinue made to linger outside this new cacacombe’s chamber door. Shut tight and designed to resist the greatest of assaults from the mightiest of conventional to magical devices. 

So it was made to move, the walls painted scarlet, as an unnatural gusting torrent swirled around him. Playing a tune that was but a whisper upon the broken king’s ear. It’s vibration felt upon the hairs at the back of his neck, the voice from behind his ears.

“Poor old Enkidu, mightiest bull to ever escape from heaven…”

“Indebted to you now the Stars be…”

“Sorrow be felt but be left behind for your path is set and our deal is made now of true steel.”

“Glory is yours by right all you need to do is force time to surrender it.”

“I’ve seen what vengeance brings, oh all my stars” Akindu sobs, attempting to reject.

“Vengeance is but a course of many…”

“A desert to be enjoyed if you’ve room enough at the end.”

“What I give you now is but an acknowledgment of debts paid in full.”

“For the Future the Star’s have yet to be told.”

“The Imperial line be immortal by your own mechanisms.” He protests

“To you, truth be told, you have seen them culled by their own hands.”

“The purchase is made and the gift is granted.”

“Your charge to carry a sword of thunder.”

“Your kins baby.”

“Blood of the bull and the Orion.”

The room is set ablaze by unnatural flame as the door behind him is kicked open by his guard who fear the worst. The fire reveals a baby beneath the bodies. The Imperial daughter, indomitable Imperial, the Hyade’s could not kill. 

Ishtar is left naked but untouched by these unnatural flames child in hand. As he walks out of the room before the eyes of his vassals. Moments before they measured unsure but now all who see know the truth of it. Enkidu Ishtar is loved by the stars.

 Ending text : Rend onto my flesh my sins pray that my soul be set free… 🕊