Chapter 70: Chain Of Heavens
The moment Grandfather and I climbed into the leather saddle strapped across the giant griffin’s back, the mythical beast unleashed a powerful, deafening screech that echoed through the clouds.
SCREEEEEECH!
With a single explosive thrust of its massive, golden-feathered wings, the griffin launched us off the stone dock and into the open sky.
The initial surge of acceleration slammed me back against the saddle, the rush of wind whipping through my hair as we rocketed straight upward. I instinctively gripped the leather reins, my knuckles turning white for a brief second as our altitude rose rapidly. But as my body adjusted to the flight, the overwhelming thrill of riding a flying beast across a magical sky took over.
Leaning slightly over the side of the saddle, I looked down at the breathtaking city below.
From this high up, the grandeur of Uruk was even more insane. The transit spire we had just departed from stood out like an imposing obsidian monolith, towering above the surrounding districts. But as I scanned the wider horizon, I noticed something interesting, there wasn’t just one of those spire.
There were four more identical spires positioned miles apart across the city, perfectly framing the central golden ziggurat in a massive, mathematically flawless pentagonal array.
’A defensive or spatial formation,’ I thought, my mind easily connecting the dots.
As the griffin glided smoothly through the golden twilight air, a few floating stone platforms drifted past us along the skyways below. Looking closely at the passengers riding them, I spotted a few individuals with distinct animal ears and tails...beastfolk.
’Huh... actual beastfolk,’ I mused, taking in the sight with genuine wonder. I mean, I knew the supernatural realm was vast, but seeing them casually riding transit platforms in an ancient Mesopotamian metropolis was pretty wild.
’I wonder if there are foxkins around here too?’ I pondered silently.
[Oho?!] Paige’s voice instantly erupted in my head, practically bursting with playful, teasing delight. [Did my Host just ask about foxkins?! Are you looking to add a fluffy, top-tier fox waifu to your growing harem collection, Seth?! Just say the word and I’ll manipulate fate to drop a gorgeous nine-tailed fox right into your lap!]
I couldn’t help a dry, amused smile from forming on my lips. ’Paige, a fluffy fox waifu is an absolute top-tier, classic choice. I’m not even gonna deny it.’
[Fufufu~ A man of refined culture!] Paige giggled happily.
As I continued scanning the breathtaking cityscape, my eyes suddenly caught sight of a figure standing atop one of the secondary spires near the inner district.
It was a lean, strikingly beautiful man standing near the edge of the high stone balcony. He possessed long, flowing green hair that fluttered in the golden wind like silk, and an extraordinarily handsome, elegant face that exuded an ethereal, otherworldly grace.
As our griffin glided past his spire, the green-haired man slowly raised his head. His clear, emerald eyes locked onto mine across the massive distance.
For a brief, suspended moment, the two of us simply looked at each other. Then, a faint smile touched the handsome man’s lips, a subtle, intriguing acknowledgment that was clearly visible to me even from high in the sky.
Surprised by his friendly reaction, I offered a warm smile back and gave him a casual wave.
"Seth. Look away."
Alistair’s sharp, stern voice suddenly cut through the air from behind me.
I blinked, lowering my hand and turning my head back toward Grandfather. "Huh? Why? What’s wrong?"
"That individual," Alistair said quietly, his dark eyes carrying a profound seriousness as he glanced back toward the spire. "That was Enkidu. The Chains of Heaven. He is an ancient, primordial existence who rarely pays mind to mortals and deeply dislikes being stared at by strangers."
I tilted my head, slightly confused. "Wait... really? But he literally looked at me and gave me a super nice smile. So I just smiled and waved back."
Alistair froze in the saddle. His sharp eyes widened slightly, staring at me in genuine surprise. "He... smiled at you?"
"Yeah," I said casually. "Clear as day."
Grandfather slowly turned his gaze back toward the distant spire, his dark brows furrowing as he stroked his beard and muttered softly under his breath. ..Interesting. Deeply interesting..." A thoughtful, calculating expression settled over his face, though he chose not to elaborate further.
The two of us traveled in comfortable silence after that. I leaned back against the saddle, thoroughly enjoying the cool, magical breeze and the breathtaking sights below.
Looking toward the distant edges of Uruk, I couldn’t help wondering what lay beyond the horizon. Did this magical realm go on forever, or were there entirely different supernatural nations bordering it? In a world built on magic and reality manipulation, the possibilities were genuinely endless.
After another ten minutes of smooth flight, I noticed our griffin beginning a gradual descent, angling straight toward the colossal golden ziggurat dominating the center of the city.
"Grandfather," I asked, pointing toward the massive structure ahead. "What exactly is that ziggurat?"
Alistair snapped out of his thoughts, offering a proud, nostalgic smile. "That, Seth, is the Royal Citadel of Uruk, the home of King Gilgamesh himself. In his era, he ruled the known world from atop those very terraces."
My eyes widened in genuine surprise. "Wait... we’re actually going to the home of the legendary King Gilgamesh?"
"Indeed," Alistair chuckled softly. "You wanted to see the heart of the supernatural world, did you not?"
As the griffin drew closer, the crushing scale of the golden ziggurat became almost overwhelming. The obsidian walls gleamed with liquid-gold inlays, intricate Mesopotamian runes pulsed with ancient authority, and massive statues of winged bulls guarded every elevated terrace. Just being near it gave off an aura of godlike majesty that commanded respect from anyone who looked upon it.
With a heavy gust of wind from its massive wings, the griffin smoothly glided down toward an extended, open-air stone landing platform protruding from one of the ziggurat’s upper levels.
THUD.
The griffin’s sharp talons scraped against the polished stone as it came to a complete, stable stop.
Alistair and I swung our legs over the saddle and stepped off the beast onto the solid ground of the ziggurat. The giant griffin let out a soft, respectful purr toward Alistair before spreading its massive wings and launching back into the golden sky, vanishing into the clouds above.
Turning around, I stood on the landing platform, staring at the massive carved archway that led deep inside the legendary king’s palace.
’Well...’ I thought, a quiet, excited smile resting on my lips as Paige hummed happily in my mind. ’Let’s go see what the king’s palace has in store for us.’