"Ryu, you can't always pamper me like this. It's too unfair!"
Perfectly content, Gilgamesh pressed herself tightly against Ryuya. Her nerves, which had been so taut, finally relaxed completely.
"Hehe, who else would I spoil if not my own wife? After all, you are the most ancient King."
"Hmph, no need to explain. I didn't say I was unhappy."
With her face weary, her eyes strained, as she looked at Ryuya, Gilgamesh felt she had gained everything.
She poured out her love without restraint. This quiet moment felt as precious and distant as the path to salvation.
"It's not an explanation, nor is it just sweet words. I truly love you, Gilgamesh. I want to be with you forever, even if this place is..."
Her breath hitched for a moment. Hearing Ryuya's confession, Gilgamesh gently reached out and stopped him from finishing.
Smiling, how could Gilgamesh not understand her beloved's meaning? She simply shook her head, "It's alright, Ryu. That's enough."
Every day since meeting Ryuya flowed through Gilgamesh's memory.
In her view, even if they were to die tomorrow, she still wanted to look upon Ryuya's face properly today.
"Ryu, for me, every day spent with you is the most beautiful, the most precious time."
The stars seemed to beckon. The sounds of nature from the mountains and fields swept through the crevices of Uruk, past Gilgamesh and Ryuya, causing flowers to bloom everywhere.
She could feel Ryuya was about to leave. She could feel this dream was ending. But this was enough.
To finally receive Ryuya's embrace one more time, to hear him say 'I love you' once more… how could she ask for greater happiness than this?
Gently kissing Ryuya's lips, Gilgamesh's voice, though soft, seemed to resonate between heaven and earth.
"I swear in the name of Gilgamesh: From this moment, I will no longer be weak and lost. I will not cling to the past. I cannot let you worry about me after you've gone."
"I swear in the name of Gilgamesh: From this moment, I shall be Ryuya's wife. My body, my heart, my soul… they all belong to him."
"I swear in the name of Gilgamesh: Even as time passes and the world changes, the time I shared with Ryuya will forever be my most important memory."
"I don't fully understand love, but I know I love you. Though our time together was not long, it was my happiest time."
"Knowing you was happiness."
"Loving you was happiness."
"Waiting for you is happiness."
"Being able to be with you, as your wife, becoming part of our shared memories… this is my happiness."
"Ryuya, you... are my greatest happiness."
As time passed and the two figures gradually faded, like atoms of the world that never truly vanish, even after 6.5 billion years, if reborn in quantum form, they would embrace each other tightly in another form.
In the end, Gilgamesh stood up. Having regained her kingly pride, she restored her dignity.
Under the quiet world, everything that turned to foam represented love until death. Having fulfilled her wish, Gilgamesh had no more regrets.
"Ryuya, I will wait for you to return. Forever and ever. Even if I die, I will remember you always."
Her final words before disappearing were an anticipation of their future reunion. In Gilgamesh's eyes now, she was the most wonderful, the happiest wife in the entire universe.
"Yes, I will return, Gilgamesh."
"I swear in the name of the Sun-Crowned King: No matter how long we are apart, I will not forget. I will find the path home, to pick up you, Siduri, Tia, and all the others... and bring you home."
Those who are forgotten experience the true, eternal death.
To be remembered in the heart is to achieve eternal life.
In the world scattered like dust, the vows shared by Gilgamesh and Ryuya vanished from this dream world. But filled with endless beauty and hope, this was a flavor they could both recall for the rest of their lives.
"Ryu, I... we will wait for you to come pick us up and take us home."
"Yes... I will find you, and then we will... go home together."
Back in reality, at the Myriad Races assembly, watching the still-arguing tribes, Ishtar and Ereshkigal felt their heads were about to explode.
Even the usually gentle Siduri looked rather displeased now… clearly, the Chief Priestess of Uruk was also finding it annoying.
Just as the scene was growing increasingly chaotic, the main hall doors were suddenly blasted open. The radiance of Ea illuminated all of Uruk.
"All of you, shut up."
Clad in her proud golden armor, her crimson eyes radiating a king's aura, she sat decisively upon the highest throne.
Looking at the Kings of the Myriad Races, the most ancient king named Gilgamesh smiled.
"Nothing but a bunch of mongrels. All this chatter is truly troublesome."
"From now on, this king will find some work for you to do."
As she spoke, she glanced at the world outside the hall, silently reciting in her heart:
'Wait for me, Ryu. I will bring Babylon to you in its finest form.'
'As your wife, this is what I should be doing... isn't it?'
Meanwhile, in the Underworld beneath Uruk, the seventh layer.
"Mother Goddess, did you feel that? It seemed like Ryu was back just now."
Staying in the deserted Underworld with Tiamat for no other reason than its quietness.
Staring quietly at the motionless, statue-like Tiamat, Enkidu didn't understand.
'Why wouldn't the Mother Goddess speak? Didn't she miss Ryuya?'
'Sigh... even though my Chains of Heaven could bind the gods of the sky, they couldn't hold his footsteps. I feel so useless.'
"Miss Ryu?"
Her pink starry eyes blinked. Looking expressionlessly at Enkidu, Tiamat showed no reaction unless Ryuya was present.
Seeming to process what her 'daughter' was asking, after a moment, Tiamat finally continued, "I miss Ryu. But it's okay."
Gently placing a hand over her chest, feeling all the moments shared with Ryuya, the love in Tiamat's heart was enough. Enough to wait for Ryuya's return.
So...
"Enkidu."
Standing up, she gently embraced her 'daughter'. The tenderness of the Creation Mother Goddess warmed the pure white Enkidu.
"Let's wait. Believe in Ryu. He will... come home."