Elias Carter sat in the grand council chamber of the Paragon Circle, his hands clammy against the arms of the chair. The room, imposing in its ancient grandeur, felt more like a trial chamber than a place of welcome. Around him sat the greatest figures of history—reborn in modern bodies, yet still carrying the weight of their past lives.
Their eyes were all on him. Judging. Weighing. Deciding.
Artemisia Callas, the reincarnation of Artemisia of Caria, regarded him with an impassive gaze.
Artemisia: (firm, unwavering) "You have awakened, Elias Carter. But whether you are truly Gilgamesh reborn remains to be seen."
He swallowed hard, shifting in his seat.
Elias: (hesitant, confused) "I didn't ask for any of this."
A dry chuckle came from Nathaniel Graves, the reincarnation of Alexander the Great.
Nathaniel: (smooth, slightly mocking) "Destiny rarely asks permission."
His voice held a strange mix of amusement and something else—something Elias couldn't quite place.
Victor Han, once Sun Tzu, leaned forward, fingers steepled.
Victor: (calculating, pragmatic) "Power does not simply return without purpose. If you truly are Gilgamesh, then you must prove it."
Genevieve Moreau, once Joan of Arc, frowned.
Genevieve: (gentle but firm) "We should not treat this as a test of worthiness. He is still a man, just as we all once were."
Darius Cain, the reincarnation of Hannibal Barca, scoffed.
Darius: (gruff, unimpressed) "A man? He shattered a car with his bare hands. That's no ordinary office worker."
Elias clenched his fists. He didn't ask for that either.
Lillian Karras, the modern Hypatia of Alexandria, adjusted her glasses, studying him like a puzzle waiting to be solved.
Lillian: (measured, intellectual) "What is at stake here is more than simple power. If Elias is Gilgamesh, then his past life holds answers—ones we cannot afford to overlook."
Artemisia nodded.
Artemisia: (decisive, final) "Which is why we will invoke the Anamnesis Crucible."
A hush fell over the room.
Elias blinked.
Elias: (uncertain) "…The what?"
Isadora Laurent, the reincarnation of Cleopatra VII, leaned back in her chair, toying with a golden bracelet.
Isadora: (teasing, yet deadly serious) "A rather poetic name for a brutal process."
Lillian spoke, her voice precise.
Lillian: (explaining, patient) "The Anamnesis Crucible is an ancient method of restoring past-life memories. It requires retrieving three artifacts—physical remnants tied to your past soul. These artifacts hold echoes of who you were."
Elias stared.
Elias: (disbelieving) "You want me to find… ancient relics of myself?"
Nathaniel leaned forward, his blue eyes glinting.
Nathaniel: (encouraging, but with hidden intent) "Not just any relics. Objects that carry the weight of your reign—items that defined Gilgamesh himself."
Victor nodded.
Victor: (thoughtful, strategic) "Weapons, crowns, personal effects—anything that might trigger the reawakening of your past self."
Elias exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
Elias: (frustrated, overwhelmed) "And if I refuse?"
Artemisia's gaze was unyielding.
Artemisia: (firm, absolute) "Then you walk away from who you truly are. But understand this—your awakening has already begun. If you do not claim your past, someone else will do it for you."
Elias felt a chill run through him.
Nathaniel smiled, but there was something behind it—something Elias couldn't quite trust.
Nathaniel: (smooth, persuasive) "Think of it as an adventure, Elias. A king reclaiming his throne."
But somehow, Elias knew—this was no adventure.
It was a test. A trap. A reckoning.
And there was no turning back.