The Last Silver

The Ashen were running.

Dinraal had seen armies retreat before.

He had seen soldiers panic.

He had seen men abandon positions when the battle turned against them.

This was different.

The Ashen did not retreat.

They fled.

Black-armored soldiers dropped their weapons.

Some ran toward their ship.

Others simply disappeared into the darkness of the collapsing chamber.

Gilgamesh watched them go.

Then sighed.

"Still dramatic."

Dinraal stared at him.

"You know them?"

Gilgamesh looked over.

"Unfortunately."

Johanna's weapon remained raised.

Dinraal noticed.

"So."

Gilgamesh pointed at the weapon.

"Is she going to keep doing that?"

Johanna didn't lower it.

"Yes."

Gilgamesh nodded.

"Reasonable."

Dinraal blinked.

"That worked?"

Johanna looked equally surprised.

"No one has ever agreed with me that quickly."

Claire raised an eyebrow.

"That's because most people enjoy living."

Gilgamesh smiled.

"I do too."

The words were casual.

But something about them made Dinraal uneasy.

I do too.

He remembered Bahamut's warning.

The fewer humans there were, the stronger each human became.

Dinraal looked at the man again.

Simple dark coat.

No visible weapon.

No armor.

And an army of Ashen soldiers had fled at the sight of him.

"How old are you?"

The chamber became quiet.

Gilgamesh looked genuinely offended.

Dinraal blinked.

"What?"

"You don't ask that."

Claire covered her mouth.

Johanna slowly lowered her weapon.

Isolde looked toward Dinraal.

"I agree with him."

Dinraal stared at her.

"You too?"

Gilgamesh smiled.

"Your generation has no manners."

Dinraal crossed his arms.

"You're thousands of years old."

"Allegedly."

"Gilgamesh."

"Still allegedly."

Vael stepped forward.

The humor disappeared.

"Why are you here?"

Gilgamesh looked at him.

"Oh."

His smile vanished.

The atmosphere changed.

Dinraal felt it immediately.

Gilgamesh's expression became cold.

"I could ask you the same question."

Vael's hand moved toward his weapon.

Silver lines glowed beneath his skin.

The ancient human noticed.

"Interesting."

Vael's eyes narrowed.

"Don't."

Gilgamesh tilted his head.

"Don't what?"

"Pretend you don't know who I am."

For several seconds, Gilgamesh simply stared at him.

Then he smiled again.

This time, Dinraal didn't like it.

"Ah."

Gilgamesh nodded slowly.

"That's why."

Vael's expression darkened.

Dinraal looked between them.

"Why do all of you keep doing that?"

Neither answered.

Claire stepped beside Dinraal.

"It's becoming a pattern."

Johanna looked toward Gilgamesh.

"Answer him."

Gilgamesh glanced at her weapon.

"Still holding it."

"Yes."

"Consistency is admirable."

Johanna's finger tightened around the trigger.

Dinraal quickly stepped between them.

"Let's try not to kill the ancient human on his first day back."

Gilgamesh looked at him.

"First day?"

Dinraal stared.

Gilgamesh sighed.

"Fine."

He looked toward Vael.

"I knew his ancestors."

Vael's expression remained unreadable.

Gilgamesh continued.

"Before your people called themselves anything."

Dinraal frowned.

"How old are they?"

Gilgamesh smiled.

"Older than your Empire."

Arcturus stepped forward.

"That proves nothing."

Gilgamesh looked at him.

"And you must be Arcturus."

The old commander stiffened.

"You know me?"

Gilgamesh shrugged.

"Not personally."

Dinraal noticed the strange emphasis.

"But I've heard stories."

Arcturus crossed his arms.

"Good stories?"

Gilgamesh considered.

"Sure."

Claire laughed.

Arcturus stared at her.

She immediately stopped.

Gilgamesh turned toward Dinraal.

"So."

His expression became serious.

"You have the Gaunt."

Dinraal looked at his hand.

"Apparently."

"Do you know what it is?"

Dinraal sighed.

"I've been asking that question for several chapters now."

Gilgamesh stared at him.

"Chapters?"

Dinraal pointed at Claire.

"She started it."

Claire frowned.

"I did not."

Gilgamesh looked between them.

Then slowly shook his head.

"I've been gone too long."

The First Weapon remained still.

Its massive body filled the ruined chamber.

The creature's six red eyes had dimmed.

It remained bowed before Gilgamesh.

Dinraal looked toward it.

"Why does it listen to you?"

Gilgamesh's smile faded.

"He remembers me."

Dinraal waited.

Gilgamesh didn't continue.

"That's it?"

"What?"

"You're not going to explain?"

Gilgamesh looked offended again.

"Do I look like your personal historian?"

Dinraal pointed toward the creature.

"It bowed."

"Yes."

"You walked into a battlefield and an entire army ran away."

"Yes."

"You're apparently thousands of years old."

Gilgamesh folded his arms.

"Still rude."

Dinraal stared at him.

Gilgamesh sighed.

"Fine."

He walked toward the First Weapon.

Everyone watched.

Vael took a step backward.

Dinraal noticed.

"Vael?"

"Stay back."

Gilgamesh placed one hand against the creature's armor.

The First Weapon closed all six eyes.

The ancient human's voice became quiet.

"It was not the first."

Dinraal frowned.

"The first what?"

Gilgamesh looked over his shoulder.

"The First Weapon."

Dinraal stared.

"That sentence did not help."

Gilgamesh smiled faintly.

"It was the first weapon created to protect humanity."

The room became silent.

Dinraal thought of the memories.

The destroyed city.

The guardian.

The survivors attacking it out of fear.

Gilgamesh continued.

"It was built when Earth was dying."

Claire looked at him.

"Earth died?"

Gilgamesh's face became distant.

"Not exactly."

Dinraal didn't like that answer.

"What does that mean?"

Before Gilgamesh could respond—

a voice echoed through the chamber.

"Gilgamesh."

Everyone froze.

The ancient human closed his eyes.

"Oh no."

Dinraal looked around.

"What?"

Gilgamesh slowly turned.

A woman stood at the far end of the chamber.

She wore white and gold armor.

A long cloak fell behind her.

Her dark hair framed a face Dinraal immediately recognized.

Not because he had seen her before.

Because the expression on Gilgamesh's face told him everything.

"Oh."

Claire whispered.

Johanna slowly looked at Dinraal.

Dinraal nodded.

"I know."

The woman walked forward.

Gilgamesh smiled nervously.

"Cleopatra."

She stopped.

"Hello."

The tone was perfectly calm.

Gilgamesh stepped backward.

Dinraal stared.

The man who had made the Ashen flee was afraid.

Of her.

Cleopatra looked around the chamber.

Her eyes settled on the First Weapon.

Then the Mithril Gaunt.

Then Dinraal.

Finally—

Julius Caesar stepped through the broken entrance behind her.

Dinraal stared.

Caesar looked exactly as he had imagined.

Mostly.

Older.

Not physically.

His face appeared young.

But his eyes looked ancient.

He wore dark armor beneath a red cloak.

A gladius rested at his side.

Cleopatra turned toward him.

"You took too long."

Caesar looked offended.

"I arrived when I intended to arrive."

"You were late."

"I was delayed."

Cleopatra crossed her arms.

"By what?"

Caesar glanced at Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh immediately raised both hands.

"Don't involve me."

Caesar looked back at Cleopatra.

"Traffic."

Silence.

Dinraal looked at Claire.

Claire looked at Dinraal.

Johanna slowly lowered her weapon.

Isolde whispered, "What is traffic?"

Dinraal thought about answering.

Then decided he didn't know either.

Cleopatra stared at Caesar.

"Julius."

"Yes?"

"We crossed interstellar space."

"I know."

"There was no traffic."

Caesar was silent.

Cleopatra narrowed her eyes.

"Who was she?"

The entire chamber became silent.

Dinraal's mouth slowly opened.

Johanna looked at him.

"Don't."

Dinraal closed it.

Caesar stared at Cleopatra.

"Seriously?"

"Who?"

Gilgamesh turned around.

"Nope."

He began walking away.

Cleopatra ignored him.

Caesar sighed.

"Her name was Livia."

Cleopatra blinked.

Then laughed.

A terrifyingly calm laugh.

Dinraal took a step backward.

Claire did the same.

Johanna looked toward Isolde.

"Why are we moving?"

Isolde whispered, "Instinct."

Cleopatra smiled.

"Livia died two thousand years ago."

Caesar nodded.

"Yes."

"And you're still defending her?"

Caesar frowned.

"I am not defending her."

"You just said her name."

Dinraal slowly looked at Arcturus.

The commander was staring at the ceiling.

Dinraal whispered, "Are they always like this?"

Arcturus whispered back.

"I have no idea."

Gilgamesh called from across the chamber.

"Yes."

Everyone turned toward him.

Gilgamesh smiled.

"They're always like this."

Cleopatra's head slowly turned.

Gilgamesh stopped smiling.

"Oh."

Caesar looked at him.

"Why would you say that?"

Gilgamesh stared at the ground.

"I've made a mistake."

The laughter ended quickly.

It always did.

Cleopatra walked toward Dinraal.

He remained still.

Her eyes moved to the Mithril Gaunt.

For the first time since she had arrived, her expression changed.

"Do you know what it is yet?"

Dinraal looked at Gilgamesh.

The ancient human suddenly found the First Weapon fascinating.

Dinraal looked back at Cleopatra.

"Long story."

Cleopatra nodded.

"Of course."

She looked toward Caesar.

"Is this him?"

Caesar approached.

His eyes settled on Dinraal.

Dinraal felt something strange.

Not power.

Not exactly.

Recognition.

Caesar looked at him for a long time.

Then he bowed his head.

"Bahamut's son."

Dinraal stiffened.

"You knew my father?"

Caesar's expression became heavy.

"Yes."

Cleopatra's face softened.

"So did I."

Dinraal looked between them.

"How?"

Caesar answered.

"Your father came to Earth."

Dinraal became still.

"What?"

Gilgamesh turned.

The room suddenly felt smaller.

Caesar continued.

"Sixteen years before his death."

Dinraal stared at him.

"Earth still exists?"

No one answered.

That frightened him more than anything else.

Cleopatra looked toward Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh closed his eyes.

Caesar sighed.

Then Alexander arrived.

The wall exploded inward.

Johanna immediately raised her weapon.

Gilgamesh groaned.

"Oh, come on."

A man walked through the smoke.

He wore no helmet.

Long dark hair fell around his shoulders.

A sword rested across his back.

His armor was ancient in design.

But clearly made from materials Dinraal did not recognize.

The stranger looked around the ruined chamber.

Then smiled.

"There you are."

Caesar closed his eyes.

"No."

Cleopatra smiled.

"Alexander."

The stranger spread his arms.

"Cleopatra."

His eyes moved toward Caesar.

Then his smile widened.

"Julius."

Caesar stared at him.

"You are not supposed to be here."

Alexander laughed.

"And yet."

He looked toward Dinraal.

The laughter disappeared.

Alexander walked forward.

Dinraal felt it.

Power.

Not the strange ancient power of Gilgamesh.

Not the cold authority of the Mithril Gaunt.

Something else.

A human presence so powerful that the air itself seemed to resist him.

Dinraal suddenly understood.

The fewer humans there were—

the stronger they became.

And Alexander was strong.

Very strong.

Alexander stopped in front of Dinraal.

His eyes moved to the Gaunt.

Then back to Dinraal.

"So."

He smiled.

"You're the reason everyone is suddenly afraid."

Dinraal crossed his arms.

"Apparently."

Alexander laughed.

Then looked toward Gilgamesh.

"You didn't tell him?"

Gilgamesh stared at him.

"No."

Alexander turned toward Cleopatra.

"You didn't tell him?"

Cleopatra shook her head.

Caesar said nothing.

Alexander looked around.

Then back at Dinraal.

"Interesting."

Dinraal frowned.

"What?"

Alexander leaned closer.

"You really don't know anything."

Dinraal stared at him.

"I am going to start hitting ancient people."

Johanna immediately spoke.

"I support that."

Alexander laughed.

"Excellent."

Gilgamesh walked toward them.

"Enough."

The humor disappeared.

Every historical figure turned toward him.

Dinraal noticed.

Even Alexander became serious.

Gilgamesh looked at the Mithril Gaunt.

"The Gaunt is waking."

Dinraal raised his hand.

"It keeps doing that."

"No."

Gilgamesh's eyes hardened.

"I mean truly waking."

The cracks across the Gaunt spread.

Black light appeared beneath the silver surface.

The First Weapon began to move.

Dinraal turned.

"That's bad."

Cleopatra drew a weapon.

Caesar's hand went to his sword.

Alexander smiled.

Finally.

"Now we're getting somewhere."

Isolde stared at him.

"Are you excited?"

Alexander looked at her.

"Yes."

"Why?"

He considered the question.

Then shrugged.

"I've been bored."

Caesar sighed.

Cleopatra closed her eyes.

Gilgamesh whispered, "I missed nothing about this."

The First Weapon roared.

This time—

it did not attack Dinraal.

It turned toward the ceiling.

Everyone followed its gaze.

The black Ashen vessel was still there.

Silent.

Waiting.

Then its hull opened.

Something emerged.

Dinraal felt the Mithril Gaunt burn.

The historical figures became still.

Caesar's expression darkened.

Cleopatra slowly lowered her weapon.

Alexander stopped smiling.

Gilgamesh whispered one word.

"No."

Dinraal looked toward him.

"What is that?"

The answer came from Caesar.

"Someone who should be dead."

A figure descended from the Ashen ship.

Slowly.

A long black cloak moved around him.

His face remained hidden.

He landed on the ruined floor.

Ashen soldiers emerged behind him.

But they did not move.

They knelt.

The stranger raised his head.

Dinraal's breath caught.

He knew the face.

Not from memory.

From history.

The stranger smiled.

"Alexander."

Alexander's hand moved toward his sword.

"Darius."

Silence.

Dinraal looked between them.

Alexander the Great.

Darius.

Another name from the ancient records.

The dead were coming back to life.

One by one.

But Dinraal suddenly understood something.

They hadn't returned.

They had never left.

Darius looked toward the Mithril Gaunt.

Then at Dinraal.

"Humanity has been hiding for a very long time."

Gilgamesh stepped forward.

"Don't."

Darius smiled.

"You know why I'm here."

Dinraal looked toward Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh's face had gone pale.

That frightened Dinraal more than the First Weapon.

Darius raised one hand.

The Ashen soldiers stood.

Then he spoke.

"The humans are dying."

Silence.

No one moved.

Dinraal felt his blood run cold.

Darius looked directly at him.

"And every time one of them dies…"

The Mithril Gaunt cracked.

Silver light burst from Dinraal's hand.

Darius smiled.

"…the rest become stronger."

The ancient chamber began to collapse.

The First Weapon roared.

Alexander drew his sword.

Caesar stepped beside Cleopatra.

Gilgamesh moved in front of Dinraal.

For the first time since his arrival—

the ancient king looked afraid.

Dinraal whispered, "What happens when there is only one?"

Gilgamesh did not answer.

Darius did.

He smiled.

"That is exactly what the Ashen intend to find out."

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