The Flaming Gates. Leonidas's ultimate defense.
"The Persian enemy numbered a hundred thousand. My Spartans numbered only three hundred. A mere handful of the gathered Greek alliance. To fight was to embrace certain death. But if we surrendered and let the Persian army pass, they promised Sparta would be spared. Their true target was Athens. —However, if we did not hold the line, Athens' destruction was guaranteed."
A delay of one day, or a few. A decision that decided the fate of a nation.
To choose honor, or to choose life. He had agonized. He had been seized by a terror unlike any other.
To leave behind a wife and child and march into the jaws of death—that was more terrifying than his own death.
"But you went to war anyway. —For days, you held back a hundred thousand Persians… and then, you fell."
Was it because you embraced that terror and went anyway? Mash asked.
"No. —There was an oracle, Ms. Mash. In my doubt, I prayed to the heavens and sought the voice of the gods. And the oracle spoke."
—'If you go to war, you shall never return to Sparta.'
"…"
"With that, my hesitation vanished. I realized I could fight as I always had, without doubt or fear."
"Wh-Why? Even though you were told you wouldn't return?"
"Because the gods did not say 'There is no meaning in the fight.' They said that even if we fell, Sparta would not perish. We would not return from the battlefield, yes. But it would not be in vain. I knew then that even if we had no home to return to, our struggle would protect those who came after us."
Even if the body rots, the will does not perish.
Beyond protection, there are those who follow, there is a will that continues, there is a future.
"I realized that strength isn't about swallowing fear, but about painting over fear with hope. —I bragged about that fact to my friends with a smug look on my face. 'How about that? Did you know?' I asked."
—'Honestly, you're telling us something everyone else already knew like it's some big discovery?'
"—Hahaha! All three hundred of them burst out laughing. I've always been a bit dense, you see. I didn't realize the source of my dear friends' strength—the state of their hearts—until the very end. —No, it was only at the very, very end that I finally understood."
If miracles exist.
If a true miracle ever occurred, it was that divine grace.
"Listen well, Mash Kyrielight. You fear battle because you have found so many things that are precious to you. To the extent that those things are many, and to the extent that you overcome that fear, your heart will grow stronger. That will become your greatest weapon. As long as that heart does not break under its own terror—your shield shall never be tarnished by any other. You will not lose."
"—To the strong, glory and victory; to the weak, disgrace and death. …You must never become like that."
King Leonidas's teachings soaked into her heart.
"—Thank you. You really are the greatest shield-user I know, King Leonidas!"
"Hahaha, I am honored. —And good work in the Underworld. …Though, as I said, I can't handle ghosts for… various reasons. —Since you seem more scientifically minded and faster at calculations than me."
"S-So that was the reason—!"
The two guardians laughed together, sharing a moment of peace.
VII. The Starry Canopy
High above Mesopotamia—
—Woooow…!
Above the clouds, looking down upon the distant canal, in the high reaches of the sky—
"This is where Gil and I fought the Bull of Heaven. It's a place of memories from when Gil was at his strongest and most formidable as a hero."
Enkidu smiled proudly aboard the Vimana.
"If you've come to Uruk, you have to do some sightseeing. What do you think of our secret spot?"
—It's incredible! Amazing! The sky, the clouds, and—!
In Air's eyes, the shimmering stars were reflected. A primordial brilliance, unobstructed. A gift from the distant past, scattered across the dawn sky—
—Look, Fou! I feel like if I reached out, I could touch them… they're so bright, so sparkly…! It's just us! We have this whole view to ourselves…!
(Yeah. Yeah! This is what you'd call a natural jewelry box! More than anything—seeing you so excited is the greatest radiance and treasure of all to me!)
Fou and Air basked in the sight, their eyes sparkling with wonder. They leaned into each other, looking up, letting the light of the stars wash over them.
«You exaggerate. We have seen the brilliance of the stars countless times before.»
The King of Heroes laughed as he tilted back a cup of celestial wine. His voice was unusually gentle.
—This sky is special! Because it's the sight glimpsed and loved by the King I admire most in this world, and his dearest friend!
«—…»
—I will never forget this sight as long as I live…! King of Heroes, Enkidu! Thank you so much… for showing me and Fou such a wonderful world!
The two great heroes of Mesopotamia accepted Air's heartfelt admiration and gratitude with satisfaction.
"I'm glad you like it. …Actually, I was certain you would."
«...»
"You're making that face, too. The kind of face Ishtar wanted to see."
«—Your jests go too far. Don't you dare say a word of this to Air… or anyone else.»
"I know. …Yes. I'm glad the soul who stayed by your side was her."
Enkidu felt his heart swell at the expression his friend showed to no one else.
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