Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 159

Chapter 159

War can make one lose reason. It can cloud judgment and incite impulsive acts.

Thus Shuran and the soldiers assumed the two exchanging blessings in the heart of the battlefield were of that sort as well. With generous hearts, they pretended not to see the scene of blessing. For these two had already fulfilled their assigned duties perfectly, had brought victory to Ur, and had played a decisive role in winning freedom for the people of Ur.

With support from Kish’s army, the cleanup proceeded swiftly. Every escape route from Ur’s walls was blocked, and the Guti, turned into rats trapped in a jar, were subdued one by one.

“I hardly know how to convey my thanks.”

Nammuwa expressed his heart to Medeus. Despite having earned the greatest merit, Medeus stood quietly in a tucked‑away spot. He had entrusted without regret the glorious task of holding the enemy commander’s head aloft to proclaim victory to Shuran.

“You are a hero of Ur.”

Nammuwa bowed his head with sincerity. Medeus had no thought for bearing glory. Wracked with guilt for not noticing his lover’s injury, he could not leave Nataek’s side, and in his pain over each of Nataek’s wounds he had no space to be moved by words of thanks.

Medeus spoke to Nammuwa.

“Teresi, not I, is the one who should receive all honor. Please direct all thanks to him.”

Nammuwa nodded.

“I did not expect we could escape Lagab’s clutches so quickly. I wish to offer my highest respect to you.”

Supported by Medeus, Nataek fixed his gaze on Nammuwa. All he had done was hurt his hand, and yet Medeus acted as his crutch as though Nataek had broken a leg. Resigned, Nataek leaned into Medeus and spoke.

“Lagab has been defeated, but not the Guti as a whole. Many forces still covet this land, so it is my hope that Ur will join strength with Kish and accompany us in defending it. If you stand with Kish, the ensi of Kish will also devote himself to protecting Ur.”

Nammuwa slowly surveyed the surroundings. Collapsed buildings, traces of embers yet undoused, and wherever his eyes fell, the bodies of soldiers. Most of the lives turned to ash were Ur’s own. He clenched his fist.

“What I could not protect, you protected for us… It is Ur’s duty to show the honors befitting that.”

Then he turned his gaze to Shuran, who was consoling the surviving soldiers.

“Kish’s envoys are as benefactors to Ur. As a man of Ur and as Ur’s ensi, I wish to render full respect to our benefactors. Henceforth, Ur will show its utmost friendship to Kish. Should Kish be in difficulty, or require Ur, we vow to run forth at any time.”

Nataek smiled gently.

“Ur’s pledge will be conveyed to the ensi of Kish.”

Nammuwa then proclaimed to the people of Ur.

“Having overcome a time of many hardships, Ur has reclaimed our home. This is thanks to benefactors who shared our goal. Those who share life and death with us, Ur calls family. Thus Ur will now make a covenant of brotherhood to advance together with Kish.”

Shuran, still facing Nammuwa, raised Lagab’s head high. Ur’s soldiers stamped their feet and placed fists to their chests. At the same time, against their backdrop, letters of light floated into Nataek’s vision.

[Main] ‘The Last Puzzle’ story has been completed.

The land of tangled chaos had at last become one. Forgetting there were eyes all around, Nataek simply threw his arms around Medeus.

It’s over… We truly unified it.

“Ha…”

Seeing Nataek sag with his weight as if collapsing, Medeus stared down at him in surprise.

“Teresi, what is it? Are you unwell somewhere?”

“No… I’m happy.”

He was happy. He should be happy. Even surrounded by burning buildings, he should be so drunk on the sweetness of victory that such things wouldn’t even register.

But Nataek could not. The pounding thud of Medeus’s heart, the low voice fretting over him, the sense of his big lover, scabbed cheek and all, too anxious about his state to be still—feeling these made his chest tighten.

It felt as if the parting of the two of them could be seen in the distance.

From the day they entered Ur until the day they left it again, there had been no time to breathe. No sooner was the battlefield of the previous night settled than most of Kish’s forces returned to Kish city. But Nataek and Medeus, and part of Kish’s soldiers, remained in Uruk—more precisely, in Kish, which had once been Uruk.

After a day or two of reorganization, they planned to return to Kish city. This was Nataek’s plan as well. But the reorganization went awry from the outset.

“I can wash alone.”

“Your hand is injured.”

“It’s only a little swollen. I’ve applied medicine too. It’s not broken—this much is fine.”

“Teresi, as I’ve said before, do not treat your body carelessly.”

Medeus frowned in displeasure.

“No, truly, it’s a trifling wound.”

“And how did you treat my ‘trifling’ wound?”

At that, Nataek pressed his lips shut. For it was he who had smeared herbs on that white face and even laid flax cloth on it and made him lie still so it wouldn’t move.

“But that wound is on the face. One must take greater care so it won’t scar.”

Nataek tended Medeus’s face so thoroughly there was no chance for a scab to form. He kept replacing the mixed herbs so they wouldn’t dry. Whether for that care or Medeus’s monstrous recovery, new skin was budding instead of scabs where the wound had been.

Medeus glared at Nataek and spoke.

“If healing is slow, the more inconvenient part isn’t the face but the hands. So come with me.”

Nataek scratched his brow. Medeus stood in the doorway with arms crossed. He couldn’t very well shove him aside to go wash alone. In the end, Nataek raised the white flag.

“Yes… Understood. But truly—only help with my hair.”

“Alright.”

Only then did Medeus smile meekly.

Any faint worry proved needless; Medeus devoted himself to washing Nataek with utmost care. Thus Nataek accepted the touch obediently.

“Teresi, does your arm hurt?”

“No. It’s fine.”

Supporting the injured hand, Medeus scooped water with the other and gently poured. The touch, as if handling a precious piece of pottery, made his chest tickle. Nataek cleared his throat needlessly and scrubbed at his own cheek.

“Don’t. You’ll hurt your face.”

At the quiet admonition, Nataek’s hand hovered awkwardly in the air. Then his fingertips brushed Medeus’s cheek. The scar on Medeus’s face entered Nataek’s view. He slowly reached out and gently rubbed over it.

Medeus glanced at him, then returned to washing his hand with focus. Nataek recalled Medeus fighting for his life in Lagab’s quarters, overlaying that image with the man before him now—the long lashes casting shade on downcast eyes, the smooth nose, and the red lips pressed together. For one who had slain Lagab, his look was far too gentle.

With his thumb in the air, Nataek covered the scar on the white cheek. It pained him that a mark had been left on this pretty face.

“Is there something on my face?”

Medeus answered with an easy smile—he had clearly forgotten the cut on his own face.

“…No.”

Nataek’s hand slipped down; his gaze slid with it and stopped at Medeus’s chest. On the flat chest hung the necklace Nataek had given him. Nataek tapped it with an index finger.

“Why are you wearing this while washing?”

“You gave it to me—I should carry it with me always.”

The star necklace was meaningful to both Nataek and Medeus. But seeing how dearly he held it, Nataek felt he should have given something prettier and finer as a first gift. Feeling pointlessly sorry, he rubbed the family crest engraved in the pendant. It was a symbol of the faith that the two could always be together.

Suddenly, Fumarshin came to mind. Thinking of how he had endured separation from his wife with that faith, Nataek recalled a conversation once shared with Medeus.

“It may sound absurd, but… may I ask a question?”

“What question? Say it.”

“There’s something I’ve dreamed of for a very long time. Mm… a wish for my future, you could say. Someday to meet a beloved wife and live cozily in a quiet village—a modest wish like that—”

“…Meet a wife?”

He suddenly burst into laughter.

“Why are you laughing?”

Medeus looked up at him in puzzlement. Now that he thought of it, he truly hadn’t gotten a proper hint about the hidden skill then.

“Why make such assumptions?”

“Don’t—anymore.”

Up to then, he had staked everything only on escape. He could not say when it had begun; the change had arrived so naturally. At some point, Medeus had settled into his daily life as if it were the most natural thing.

“Why are you laughing? Is there something on my face?”

Medeus raised his brows as he asked. Without even knowing why he laughed, his cheek rose softly to mirror Nataek’s. That smile pricked his heart anew. Nataek shook his head gently.

“No. Just… something from before came to mind.”

“What from before?”

Nataek quietly held Medeus’s gaze. He had not given up on escaping the ancient world. Thus his curiosity about the hidden skill remained. But for now, he was more curious about Medeus’s heart that day. Tilting his head slowly, he asked,

“Medeus. Do you happen to remember something from before?”

“When?”

“When we went to Umma—about the day we talked of my modest wish.”

At that, Medeus’s brow knit at once.