Ea stood at the edge of the world, her soul intertwined with the King's.
"Ah... ah...!"
Holding her precious friend Fou to her chest, she looked out at the reclaimed world.
Endless white peaks of mountains. The air was chilly yet warm, bathed in soft sunlight. Clouds drifted lazily across a piercingly blue sky. This wasn't the past. This was her era. The world she would live in and run through—the world of "Now."
"...It's beautiful."
Ea basked in the sensation. The wind on her cheeks. The blinding sun. The crunch of snow beneath her feet. She savored the 'world' itself with her whole body.
"I can feel what you're thinking," Fou's voice resonated in her heart. "You're so straightforward. It's wonderful. Ah, I wanted to see this. I wanted to see this scenery with you all."
The beast narrowed his eyes gently in her arms.
"Congratulations, Princess of Heroes born from the Nameless. The Beast of Comparison was defeated long ago, and the Beast of Pity has fallen by your hands. In happiness. In supremacy."
Fou's words struck deep.
"We caught a glimpse of a future no one could reach—a flawless conclusion to all that sorrow. Truly..."
I have seen something precious.
As Ea listened to Fou's overwhelming emotion, memories flooded back.
The trial and error in Singularity F. Her struggle to adapt to the King's way of fighting.
The sprint through the First Singularity. The birth of her first real hobbies.
The passion of the Second. Her first glimpse of the logic of creation—the flower of hope.
The adventure of the Third. The voyage, the encounter with the Great Hero, the exhilarating sea.
The gift of the Fourth. The King's heart and soul. Receiving her name and this form.
The love of the Fifth. The reunion of those who could never meet. The myth of heroes.
The conflict of the Sixth. Her answer to the Lion King.
The epic of the Seventh. Her farewell to the Primordial Mother. Her promise to the sea of stars.
And then—she looked at the ring. The ring of covenant Goetia had entrusted to her, which the King had placed on her finger. The answer of Life she had shown at the zenith of time.
As long as she had this, she would never forget. Her love for the King of Heroes. Her gratitude for the world. Her time with the Beast who was her friend. And... the one Evil who questioned the nature of life more than anyone.
(...Thank you, Goetia. Demon Gods. I will make you eternal. So—)
So, please, rest in peace.
She would never forget his deeds, his ideals, or his true intent. This ring on her ring finger was the proof of her resolve. A vow to love everything. As long as she had it, she could always return to the moment she found her answer.
She would live the future with integrity, worthy of that answer.
She would carry the names "Heroic Princess Gilgashana Gilgamesh" and "Lemegeton" forever. As Ea. As a living being.
Her refinement would never end. Until the end of time. Because—
"—..."
Because she had decided to stay by this King's side as his 'Princess' until the moment of final judgment.
"—Forgive me, Ea."
The King spoke, a hint of nostalgia and apology in his voice.
"It was a reckless promise on my part. The Human Order is restored, but the problems are still piled high. I spoke like a fool. The Beast of the End... the rebellion of the pruned futures... it seems the day I can truly grant your dream is still far off."
"He's right, you know? What a letdown!" Fou chirped.
"Ngh—I am being sincere. Refrain from your mockery."
Fou laughed, and the King looked genuinely apologetic. Ea responded with warmth and tolerance.
"It's alright. I'm still too immature to reach the great sea of stars. I must refine myself more and more until my soul is worthy of a King."
She meant it. Finding the answer wasn't the end; it was the beginning of a new "Now."
"With you, Gil, and Fou! We'll explore the King's garden to our heart's content and find so much 'Joy'! My joy has only just begun! The world is filled with love and hope! We shall mourn the tragedies and sing of the future!"
That was the Princess's wish.
"Forever! Even death can't stop me! Not until the day of the King of Heroes' judgment!"
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