Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 128

Chapter 128

“The Hero of Agade and the Lion of Inanna will both go?” Samuagon asked, tying the discussion together.

“This mission is too dangerous,” Medeus countered. “If too many go, we’ll draw attention. I should go alone.”

But this time Nataek refused to yield.

“Medeus, you’ll draw attention whether alone or not. If I go with you, it may actually be less suspicious. And besides—for Inanna’s blessing, I must accompany you.”

“Blessing? Blessing is—!”

Before Medeus could continue, Nataek stomped firmly on his foot. Their ongoing cold war was forgotten for the moment.

No. This time, I won’t back down either.

“Oh ho! If Inanna’s blessing is with you, then my own heart is at ease!” Samuagon exclaimed happily.

Medeus, unusually flustered, tried to interject.

“Ensi, that isn’t—”

“If the Lion of Inanna is willing, then I too will give my full support!” Samuagon declared.

Was volunteering as a spy really the right move? Perhaps not—but if it were truly outrageous, Medeus, of all people, would have blocked it at once. And then further conviction came when the princess herself, until now calm, declared firmly:

“Then Delam also wishes to aid you. We shall supply all equipment required for such a mission of espionage. Furthermore, as proof of our lasting alliance, we will bestow to Kish the secret of our qanat technique!”¹

And Umma’s ruler, not to be outdone, followed quickly:

“Umma too… Umma too will not withhold support! Recently one of our blacksmiths obtained a strange method of weapon‑making—stolen from the Hittites! The script is difficult, and the technique still being deciphered, but surely it will make powerful arms. We would share this knowledge with Kish as well!”

Their words left Samuagon beaming in satisfaction. His booming laughter filled the hall—until everything froze, shimmering text rising in Nataek’s sight.

Which secret will you inherit from another city‑state?

[1. Umma’s Secret Weapon‑making Method]

[2. Delam’s Qanat Engineering Technique]

Nataek knew it then: this was the prelude to Ur’s conquest. Quests to inherit the secrets of neighboring states always emerged right before the final campaign.

Always before, he had chosen the weapon‑making method. The mysterious metal had always turned out to be iron—vital against the Hittites later. Surely iron arms would raise their chances.

So again—Option 1? …No. If I keep doing what I always did, it will end the same. I cannot afford another failure… But Option 2? What practical use does digging channels have?

No matter how he turned it in his mind, the qanat² seemed useless in war.

Damn it. I don’t know. But this time, Option 1 feels wrong. Feels like it will doom me again.

Nataek squeezed his eyes shut. Change. What I need now is change. Risk, boldness… Choose what I’ve never chosen before. Option 2. This time—I choose 2.

The words lit up, shimmering, and life flowed back into the hall. The princess smiled radiantly.

“Kish’s acceptance of Delam’s gift brings me joy. Our qanat knowledge encompasses many methods. Delam now offers all of them freely—to Kish and to the goddess Inanna.”

The council had begun suddenly, and ended just as abruptly. But Nataek knew one thing: True Ending could never be reached by playing safe. Sweat slicked fists clenched tight, he resolved to push forward.

Yet the air between himself and Medeus had grown colder still. They returned from the council in icy silence, Medeus billowing with chill until they reached their quarters. After acting without even warning him, it was no wonder the general was furious.

But damn it—I didn’t act recklessly. I had a reason.

Nataek pondered ways to mend this rift. Childhood quarrels with friends, social disputes at work, all sorts of conflicts—none seemed to offer an answer here. Instead, instinct tugged him elsewhere:

This feels more like… love. Maybe my past relationships hold the answer.

So he watched Medeus carefully.

“Medeus.”

No response. Nataek quickened his pace to walk beside him.

“Medeus—sir?”

He lined up shoulder to shoulder.

“Please forgive me. I was in the wrong.”

The tall man suddenly halted.

“If you’ve done nothing wrong—don’t say you did.”

“I think I did. That’s why I apologize.”

Medeus’s glare was cold—perhaps more feigned than genuine. Nataek stepped even closer.

“I was the one who hurt you. That alone means I bear blame.”

“….”

Nataek pressed on.

“Sometimes my thoughts differ from others’. At times, I don’t realize it myself. I think this was another such case. I may not have fully considered your feelings, Medeus. Please, just tell me once why you were upset.”

“….”

“If you tell me once, I swear it won’t happen again. I’ll change, truly.”

With earnestness plain in his voice, even Medeus could not ignore it. Finally, he dropped his head low.

“My apology is sincere. I never meant to hurt you this way. If my suspicions are right… it wasn’t the treatment itself but… that even for medical care I would attempt such contact with another?”

“…Yes.”

At last, the ice cracked. It wasn’t only possessiveness—it was that Medeus couldn’t accept his man giving physical contact, no matter the reason, to someone else.

By Nataek’s standards, that hadn’t counted as skinship at all. If anything, the goddess’s blessing ritual he’d shared with Medeus had been closer. But as always, his own standards did not matter.

“It won’t happen again,” Nataek swore.

Medeus slowly raised his gaze.

“And the spy mission? Why insist on coming? Why decide without me?”

Yes—this too had added to his fury.

Nataek met his eyes. “Because I cannot send you alone. And forgive me, but this I won’t apologize for. The idea of infiltration was mine first.”

“It’s an extremely dangerous path.”

“It is equally dangerous for you. But as I said before—wherever you are, wherever you go, I will always be beside you.”

“….”

A hush fell.

Did I just make him angrier?

“Medeus?”

“…Can’t…”

“What?”

The murmur was so faint it seemed Nataek had misheard. He leaned close, ear to those tight red lips.

“What did you say?”

Suddenly, Medeus seized him in a crushing embrace.

“Medeus?!”

Arms closed tight, fierce enough to break bone, cheek pressed into his shoulder. Medeus whispered roughly.

“I can’t hate you.”

Still awkward in the hold, Nataek stammered, “So… does that mean you forgive me?”

No answer—just tighter arms.

“Medeus? Truly? You’ve forgiven me?”

A small nod. At last Nataek exhaled in relief, muscles slackening.

“I… I’m sorry. I promise—never again,”

“No. Do as you please. Follow your will.”

“What…?”

“Live as you wish. It’s only my own narrow heart that failed to understand you.”

“No—it was my failure, not considering your feelings.”

Back and forth the blame volleyed, until at last Nataek raised the white flag.

“Fine. Then let’s call it shared fault. We both promise never to let it happen again.”

“…Alright.”

Medeus’s tone softened. Nataek’s eyes darted, unsure if this awkward truce counted as reconciliation. But as he endured the warmth of Medeus’s strong arms, a breeze stirred in his chest.

Gently, he pushed away.

“We still need more from Ur’s noble. I should see if he’s able to speak now.”

Medeus nodded. Nataek stepped inside to the chamber. Watching his small figure vanish beyond the door, Medeus stood rooted to the spot.

How could I ever hate you when you are so kind?

What Medeus wanted was selfish: that Nataek touch no one but him, give no kindness but to him. He couldn’t even bear others’ admiration of Nataek. His compassion must belong to him alone.

He knew it was excessive. Nataek’s heart was not his—could never be.

And yet… and yet, he still desired. How could he not? When Nataek treated him so warmly, how could he resist?

He knew he should restrain himself, knew his jealousy was ugly. But he failed—resenting his own weakness.

Even so, Nataek still tried to understand him, even at his worst. Medeus’s heart now overflowed only with Nataek—but Nataek knocked still deeper, kindly prying at doors Medeus did not want to open.

He should stop. He should let go, before he lost him. For if Nataek left him—if he vanished too—could Medeus survive the emptiness that would remain?

Footnotes:

1. Qanat – an ancient Persian system of underground water channels, an advanced irrigation method that spread across the Near East. Here symbolizing Delam’s gift of hydraulic engineering. 
2. Qanat Engineering Technique vs. Iron Weaponry – a branching “secret quest” that forces the protagonist to choose either sustainable infrastructure (qanat) or military advantage (iron weapons). This parallels choices in strategy games where utility vs. power determine later survival.