Far above the limits of the Silver Sky World was a realm that could not be felt by any mortal being. It could not be seen nor imagined; it was impossible to attain unless one confronted Heaven itself, and pierced the veil.
This realm was merely an interstice between the Silver Sky World and the rest of what existed under Heaven. Yet, beyond the cosmic sky, nothing could be seen. A layer of specialized space encased the entire planet, and the interstice with it.
Beneath the cosmic sky, yet far above the borders of the Silver Sky World, The Phantasm sat beside its large sword and stared out from under its helmet. It was looking at something, that occurred at some point in time, somewhere upon the face of the world below.
Of course, it was looking at Gilgamesh.
As it observed, the clear cosmos above it began to warp into a cosmic storm, churning the image of the void and making it a muddled, whirling mass of energy.
Without looking, The Phantasm knew the storm had appeared. Even so, it flinched when it heard the sound of The Lord's voice, which to anyone else would sound exactly like mighty thunder.
"He suffered spiritual wounds. There is no way he is a Thematic Being." The Phantasm said with a somewhat shaky voice; The Lord had unsettled it even further.
Another boom of thunder shook The Phantasm, and it subconsciously reached for its sword before withdrawing its hand in realization.
"No, Lord. If he is not a Thematic Being, then I have no idea at all what he could be."
The interstice shook with thunder, and The Phantasm bowed its head.
"If that is what you wish, Lord."
The thunder softened after that. The Lord seemed to be speaking in a much calmer tone.
"So you were paying attention to the trial? You saw the impossibility of it with your own eyes?"
The Phantasm shifted when it heard The Lord's response, and finally raised its head to look to the sky.
"The Idea of Truth has always revealed all there is to be known, even if it is limited to the mortal ways of that 'Mariam' girl. Her crop has never failed to produce a fruit that revealed the innermost truth of the Thematic Beings we sent her way."
The Lord made a noncommittal sound.
"So how is it that the crop produced fruit that was not of its nature? It goes against everything we've come to understand about the 'Mariam.' Is her control over the Idea of Truth no longer limited to her corn field?"
The Lord thundered briefly, and The Phantasm threw it hands up.
"Then how, Lord? How can corn produce fruit that is not corn? How can Gilgamesh's truth be a truth that doesn't belong to him? How can such an impossible thing be made manifest in a being that did not even exist a year ago!?"
To these questions, The Lord did not immediately offer an answer. Instead, it ruminated in silence before the storm calmed, and the swirling slowed to a snail's pace.
Finally, The Lord responded with a single, booming, sharp peal of thunder that left the entire space in silence.
"...impossible... you say? It is impossible. Indeed. It is. So what do we do with him now?" The Phantasm bowed its head, kneeling now.
The final sound of thunder filled the interstice, and the storm began to disperse.
"Let it be so, Lord. Gilgamesh shall never leave my sight."
The Phantasm turned around; The Lord's presence was already fading away. It continued to watch Gilgamesh without ever looking away, literally not allowing him to leave its sight.
It watched for time. A short time. A long time. Even all time.
Or, perhaps, it was not watching Gilgamesh at all, but everything that happened around him. Perhaps it could only see the effect without ever properly viewing the cause.
Then again... what do I know?
___________________
"Where are we going, Mariam? And are you going to tell me what happened with the corn or not?"
Gilgamesh was being led through the main house by Mariam, who was moving toward the basement without stopping. Many of the house staff found her behavior strange, as they would usually have to be the ones ignoring her.
Most of them hadn't seen Gilgamesh either, so they stopped to marvel at them both as they sped through the house.
"I'll explain it all once we get where we're going." Mariam dryly responded, increasing her speed.
"Tell me where we're going then," Gilgamesh frowned, impatience getting the better of him.
"To see some people. The Great Elders. Now quiet down and hurry up."
Gilgamesh's brows met at an angle as he regarded Mariam with curiosity. She was nothing like the Mariam he had come to know, which he now realized was some kind of act.
She was beginning to reveal more of who she was, just in the way she spoke and acted when something urgent had come up. Gilgamesh watched with interest as she led him all the way down, and toward the giant sealed door.
Mariam hastily pushed the door open, and the seal released itself in order to let her through. As Gilgamesh was attempting to pass through, though, the runic markings on the door came to life, and an ancient but emotionless voice spoke.
"Unrecognized blood, not of the Felis Clan. By Order of the Founding Ancestor, you must begone from this place or perish by my hand!"
Mariam sucked her teeth and aimed at finger at the door, glaring while she flashed her teeth in an angry expression.
"He is my guest. Recognize him, or else."
The runic markings on the door were instantly cowed, and the voice tried to offer a shaky apology. Mariam did not stay behind to listen, and Gilgamesh was pulled in along with her, to the darkness of the underhall.
"Just who are you, Mariam?" Gilgamesh asked as he tried to spot something in the dark. His crimson eyes glowed mystically as he made his way through, and eventually they settled on the little hut that sat atop an artificial hill.
From above, the earth itself seemed to fracture, and out of those cracks came a bright light that perpetually lit up the hut and its immediate surroundings.
"Looks a bit simple to be the home of some 'great' elders, doesn't it?" Gilgamesh joked.
Mariam scoffed and shook her head, then entered the hut without announcing herself or who she was bringing with her. As soon as she stepped into the hut and saw the room, she sighed.
The Four Family Heads were having an audience with the four Great Elders, and were sitting on the floor directly opposite them. When Mariam entered without announcing herself or her guest, it was an act of blatant disregard for the rules.
The Family Heads and Elders turned to look at Mariam with differing expressions.
Head of the Northern Family, Vienna, looked out from under her greying black bangs and gave Mariam a disdainful glare.
The Family Head of the Eastern Family, Nolan, passed a hand across his bald head that lingered on the tattoos on his forehead. He shook his head when he saw Mariam, looking disappointed in her.
"Still no manners, Mariam? Not even here, where the Great Elders reside?"
The Western and Southern Family Heads, Daius and Drias, were actually twin siblings, a man and woman. One of them had a full head of white hair, the other a full head of pure black hair. They raised their hands immediately to point at Mariam.
"You should be punished for this disrespect!"
"Great Elders, allow us to put an end to this child's recalcitrance once and for all!"
Mariam sucked her teeth in response; Gilgamesh looked between the Family Heads, Great Elders and Mariam, unsure of what to say or do.
He noticed the Great Elders looking at him funny, as if he were a rare animal on display for the first time, and he gulped. He felt like he was being stared at by thousands of people, yet only the four of them were looking directly at him.
"She brought the stranger here!? Do you think this is some playground where you can bring all your friends?" Daius scoffed, sounding personally offended.
Nolan snorted coldly, "This is the Underhall! The sanctuary of our Felis Clan's Great Elders. What madness would drive you to bring a stranger here!?"
Vienna stood up, adjusting her dress before clearing her throat.
"Enough. I shall take responsibility for this one and discipline her myself. No need to sully your hands, Great Elders."
"...ooooh..." Gilgamesh covered his mouth as his eyes widened, and he gave Mariam a look of 'are you gonna take that?'
Mariam groaned, massaging her temples for a bit before she sucked her teeth again and shot a menacing glare at the Family Heads. "Fuck it."
"All four of you, listen up!"
The Family Heads were startled by her tone and demeanor; Mariam had used a manner of speaking that did not at all suit her, and the way she stood suggested more confidence and authoritative power than she should have.
They looked on in confusion as Mariam's floral aura sprouted from her body, and her presence grew just a tad bit. She was releasing a tiny fraction of her power in order to accomplish something.
"What is it, brat?" Drias folded her arms across her chest.
"What's with this attitude? Are you looking down on us Family Heads?" Nolan gave a tiny, twitching smile, and his fist tightened as veins bulged on it.
Mariam pointed a finger at them, and enunciated her words with clear authority and power, shocking all those who heard them, even the Great Elders.
"As your Founding Ancestor and Progenitor of the Felis Clan's bloodline, I command you... to shut the fuck up!"
Her words carried restrictive power that resonated with the Family Heads, and caused a spiritual sigil to appear above all of their heads. This sigil represented Mariam's power over them, and once it appeared they could no longer control their own wills.
Their bodies were forced to sit, and they could offer no kind of resistance at all. All they could do was watch in silence as Mariam walked in past them, and Gilgamesh followed cautiously.
Mariam slowly reined in her aura and presence, then took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself. Under her breath, she cursed the family heads while coming to stand before the Great Elders.
"Pesky little shits- I was NOT in the mood."
"You..." Earl started, but could not finish his thought.
"You revealed your identity to them." Pontius finished, and Earl nodded vigorously.
"About time you did," Carael smirked, finally putting his book down. He had not done it for the Family Heads- in fact he had been reading all the while they were prattling on about clan business that he did not care for.
"What can I say? The act got stale." Mariam shrugged before motioning to Gilgamesh. "You should know who it is that I brought here."
Darla smiled, "I can feel the lingering energy of the medicine I made. That must have been some damage to your spirit. As a non-cultivator, you're lucky to be alive."
Gilgamesh realized that Darla was the person Mariam had gone to for the medicine, and he immediately expressed his thanks. "Your medicine worked wonders. Without you, I would not yet be able to walk."
Darla wordlessly acknowledged his gratitude, a small smile playing across her lips at his apparent temperament.
"Welcome to the Underhall, Gilgamesh. It may be simple," Carael paused with a smirk, "but it is the most spiritual point in all of Conceala-- perhaps even the entire region."
Mariam huffed, "That's why I chose to build here."
The Great Elders laughed wryly.
"On to the important stuff. You had questions, so we will all do our best to give you answers." Mariam walked over to the spot between Pontius and Darla, then sat there, directly in the middle of them all.
"However," Carael interjected, "we would like to ask you something first."
Pontius spoke up in his strange voice, which Gilgamesh was still adjusting to. "It is a simple question, although we will understand if you are incapable of answering it."
They all- the five of them- looked at each other and nodded. Then, Mariam took the lead and posed the question.
"What is Gilgamesh?"
Hearing what he thought was going to be some highly sophisticated and philosophical question turn out to be something as simple as that, Gilgamesh chuckled.
"Why, that's easy."
His ease and confidence surprised the Elders and Mariam, but they listened close to his answer.
"Gilgamesh is the very idea of who I am, yet it is also an identity that I have created anew for myself. Gilgamesh is the creation that created itself, and thus I entered this world."
Smiling with his bright red eyes, Gilgamesh gave off the impression of one who was at peace, fully understanding himself and his own mind.
"That is what Gilgamesh is. That is who I am."
Thus, a lengthy period of questioning, answering and chatting began, with both parties learning valuable information about one another.