A feeling of satisfaction spread through his heart. Thick, sticky blood covered his hands in a testament to victory.
Anku steadied his breathing and frowned as his hands went numb. An uncontrollable weakness filled his body, and the young boy fell to the ground with a thud.
This time, however, two arms gently held his head from below and protected him from a concussion. Enheduanna stared at the boy, whose eyelids traveled up and down in his fatigue, though he was clearly persevering and trying to remain conscious.
She took a look at his brown eyes, and the light smile he wore, and in one motion, she gently closed his eyes and carried him into her embrace.
They had done it.
He had done it.
Enheduanna found herself smiling uncontrollably.
Pride welled up within her towards the child and a string of kinship formed between the two. It was a feeling of innocent admiration and pride, and she thought that maybe, perhaps this was how parents felt when their child did great things.
Over time, she had gone on from feeling burdened by having to raise an orphan, and guilty at the death of his parents, to feeling like he owed her love and parenthood.
The little boy laid his head down on her shoulders and took light, regular breaths.
Not all was smile and rainbow, however.
As she inevitably entered her home, a gasp came from the corner of the room. Melem scanned the little silhouette on her back with great shock, and her mouth opened wide.
"You've been housing a little devil in your home?! Do you want another drought?!" The ill woman stood up and charged at her menacingly.
However, Enheduanna moved to the side, and the former, being unable to stop her running, hit the wall, causing a comical thud to reach them.
When she turned back, it was clear she had left a shallow imprint of her face on the wall.
Melem looked at the imprint with shame. Her shameful anger would now forever remain on this wall. On top of that, her entire face was red and swollen, and the pain made her groan dryly.
Enheduanna chuckled, and she said, "You should calm down a little, I'm not sure your heart can handle...that."
She pointed at the embarrassing imprint on the wooden wall. The other seemed fuming, but then, she saw Enheduanna smiling deviously and stopped in her tracks.
"You know, when I was listening to your heart, I also put in a few drops of poison into your body."
Melem laughed in disbelief and stared at the doctor continuously. Yet, the other's expression did not twist or contort, and over the span of a few seconds, Melem started having doubts.
"You are lying, aren't you?"
'Of course, I am, moron.'
"If you doubt the truth of my words, then you are doubting what the priests taught me..."
At the mention of 'priest', Melem suddenly spasmed, and she started shaking uncontrollably. Enheduanna chuckled internally, as she knew this would work.
The priests were the most mysterious breed of individuals, and out of that mystery, fear and reverence towards them developed among small villages like theirs. In a sense, she wasn't completely lying.
'Speaking of the priests...' Enheduanna caressed Anku's head.
Every 12 spring equinoxes, the head priest of the city, and the temples would come to the various villages of the land to bless the soil. It was an extremely important event, though she did not usually care too much.
This time, however, it was different.
Under her care, she now had a child who had the talent to become a great priest and have a greater destiny than she could ever dream of.
She would not waste this chance, never.
Mentioning priests seemed to work a little too well, as Melem was now kneeling, and pleading, "Please, doctor, I don't want to die, I'll do anything."
"Anything?"
Melem frowned at the question, she did not like the direction in which this was going.
"Anything."
"Never mention that you saw Anku here."
"If I hear that a single soul knows of his presence other than you, you will die...a painful death."
'If only.' Enheduanna swallowed her thoughts.
Melem's eyes grew hopeful, this was a reasonable exchange for her pitiful life, and in an instant, she ran out of the hut after the doctor gave her a medicinal concoction for her heart problems.
Enheduanna proceeded to lay Anku down on the bed. She covered him with the wool blanket, and as the orange rays of the setting sun illuminated her face, she knew it was time for her to go to sleep too...
_______________
*Splash*
Anku ladled a handful of freezing water from the stream, and brought it up to his face, washing it as the harsh morning sun warmed up his bare shoulders.
Then, as he finished this, he paused for a second.
His eyes were fixated on the clear reflection upon the surface of the water.
This was him, who he was. A pair of juvenile brown eyes stared at their mirrored reflection, while curly black hair reached his upper neck. His face was that of a child, and his tan skin was a testament to the harsh sunlight.
"Anku?"
Anku turned around in response to hearing his name, and behind him, a tall, familiar figure smiled at him.
"Yes, auntie?"
"During your sleep, you muttered about wanting to hold the sword on your own..." Enheduanna chuckled innocently.
Anku turned red.
After yesterday, he realized something. He wanted to become stronger, so he wouldn't ever be the helpless brown rabbit, awaiting protection from others.
Strength would be his salvation.
"You are very strong, child, but you have to start slow."
As soon as she muttered 'slow', however, she began running towards the forest. Anku stood there, clueless, though he also began running when he heard her instructions.
"Run, Anku, run with me until you can't do it anymore."
And thus, he began running through the thick forests.
There were many obstacles in his path, trees, twigs, little animals, big beasts, his own weakness, and many others.
Anku's face was red, and his breathing was slow and horrible.
Suddenly, he tripped upon a small stone.
"Huff...Huff..." They had run for too long, and Anku grasped his waist from pain.
However, he stood up again.
He did not notice it, but the stone which he tripped upon had a small inscription on it, and it read 'Siria'.
As soon as he resumed running, Anku felt a burst of determination in his mind.
There were many obstacles in his path, trees, twigs, little animals, big beasts, his own weakness, and many others.
However, he would ascend them all, and that would be the beginning of his...
...age of salvation.