As the night deepened, thin starlight streamed through the skylight carved into the cavern ceiling, spilling across the wide bed.
Samael let out a quiet breath, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he set the clay tablet aside. He slowly drew his arms back—first from Athena's embrace, then from behind Tina's head.
Good night.
After a brief glance at the starlight above, he leaned down to place a gentle kiss on the foreheads of the two peacefully sleeping girls. Rising carefully, he slipped out of bed and padded silently toward the cave's entrance.
Parting the branches at the edge of the thicket, he caught sight of a graceful figure who, hearing the sound, turned to face him.
Bathed in cool moonlight stood the tall goddess, the blood-red serpent mark glowing faintly on her forehead. When her eyes met his, a spark of joy flickered there—only to be quickly veiled as old, familiar self-doubt made her lower her head. She tucked a loose strand of purple hair behind her ear with delicate fingers, the motion softening her icy beauty with a shy allure—like vintage wine that had grown richer with age.
"Sorry, Ana. I just put them to sleep. How long have you been waiting?"
Samael waved casually as he stepped forward, smiling warmly at his old friend.
"Not long…"
Medusa answered lightly, trying to sound at ease.
His gaze dropped briefly to the bare branches at her feet, leaves scattered around them. He couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.
As always. Still the same old Ana.
He closed the distance, resting both hands on her bare shoulders and speaking with gentle solemnity.
"Happy birthday, Ana."
"Mm…"
The purple-haired goddess, now a statuesque beauty, lifted her head slightly. The tension in her frame eased as her body softened.
Today was not only Athena's birthday, but also Ana's—and in fact, the birthday of all three Gorgon sisters. They had been born together on the same day.
Naturally, none of the adults or friends would ever show favoritism. While Athena was still awake, they had already gone to the Mother of Serpents' lair to bring gifts and blessings to the sisters.
But the meals and the setting there were rather poor. Expecting the less clever monsters to host a proper banquet was asking too much.
So in the end, everyone agreed to simply merge the celebrations and head to Samael's home for food.
Otherwise, with how often Euryale and Stheno gossiped behind his back, there was no way Samael would just let them laze around like honored guests, doing nothing but eating and drinking.
Even so, the ancient serpent still felt it wasn't enough. Tonight, Ana deserved a blessing and a gift meant only for her.
"Come on, little Ana."
Samael smiled and, out of habit, reached out to ruffle Medusa's hair.
"Samael, I'm not a child anymore."
Medusa bit her lip and gave a soft, sulky hum, but her head instinctively lowered, meeting his palm right where he placed it.
"The night isn't long. Don't just stand there—keep up."
He smirked inwardly, then quickly straightened his expression into something more serious so as not to provoke her embarrassment. Without another word, he drew her toward a hidden entrance on the far side of his cavern. Pushing open the stone slab, he lifted a lantern burning with a ghostly blue flame and led the way down.
Lighting runes carved into the walls flared one after another as he activated the Magecraft arrays. After several twists and turns, the two finally reached a private chamber reserved for such moments.
Snap!
Samael released Medusa's hand, set the glowing lantern in place with deliberate care, then clapped his hands sharply. A bright smile spread across his face.
"Now, Ana's birthday banquet officially begins. Friends and family, please offer your blessings!"
In an instant, lines of light flared to life across the underground rock walls. A dense Magecraft array, studded with hundreds of divine cores, activated, and from its center a transparent blue-white pillar of light rose skyward.
"Mm, Ana, you've grown. Just seeing you safe puts my heart at ease. Happy birthday!"
In the vast hall, a beautiful shrine maiden in a pale green dress, hair neatly tied back and a clay tablet in her hands, leaned slightly toward the light screen, her smile soft and warm.
"Well, it's been a long time, Ana. I'd love to invite you to visit the Underworld, but it seems that won't be possible anytime soon."
"But with this one by your side, I'm sure you'll be very happy. Happy birthday."
The Goddess of the Underworld waved first at her old friend, then gave a light snort and cast a sidelong glare at a certain figure.
Siduri… and Ereshkigal…
Medusa froze as familiar figures appeared within the light, raising her hand to cover her Sakura lips as her eyes filled with the joy of reunion.
"An adult now? Happy birthday, Ana."
"No—can't call you 'little' anymore. You've developed well. Tell me honestly—was it because that guy massages you so much?"
The green-haired, supposedly dignified lady dropped her facade in a single line.
"Haha, so the connection works again? Let me see! Happy birthday, happy birthday! The spell's still unstable, so gifts don't count, right?"
Ishtar grinned, her excitement soon giving way to a flicker of her gaze.
"Someone else's birthday? Hmph! What does that matter to this king? Thanks to the one beside you, I've been worked to the bone!"
From the corner of the hall, Gilgamesh scowled darkly, grumbling as he picked up a clay tablet on judgment of the dead.
But before the Underworld's Chief Judge could continue, a pale arm seized his collar and hauled him out of the spirit communication area.
"Apologies. Gil's been on duty for half a year straight. Today's his first day off, so his mood's a little unstable."
Clad in white robes, green hair tied neatly, Enkidu gave an embarrassed explanation before turning with sincerity toward his old friend.
"Ana, happy birthday."
Medusa's eyes brimmed with uncontainable joy. She nodded at each familiar figure as they appeared within the light pillar, whispering softly in reply.
That radiant smile spread across her cold, beautiful face, shining from within.
This truly was the best gift she had ever received since birth.
Who would have thought, after so many years, that Samael could use such limited means to secretly locate her companions in Mesopotamia and establish a spirit communication link.
Through the pillar, she could see the people of Uruk gathered in a vast and splendid hall.
Beyond its edges stretched green meadows and fields of blooming flowers. Transparent figures, souls given form, stood armored and armed, guarding the palace.
Many of the faces belonged to soldiers who had once fought in the Third Storm and the Battle of Uruk.
Medusa even spotted the one-armed General Tim among them, and the kindly old man who had once given her a wheat cake at the city gate.
So this was the Paradise Lost, the sanctuary built by the Underworld where only innocent souls might enter.
Everyone was here. No one had changed. How wonderful.
Medusa's eyes shone bright as stars as she sat cross-legged, speaking warmly with her friends within the pillar of light.
In that moment, she forgot her fate, forgot the tragedies yet to come, forgot the looming crisis overhead.
It felt as though she had returned to Uruk once more.
...
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