Chapter 16: Eyes X Era
From every possible direction like water falling from the sky, all of Gilgamesh's swords were pointed at Kastro. It appeared like a frozen firework in the middle of exploding.
"It's truly magnificent!" The announcer lady praised Gilgamesh's Nen Ability.
"Remember this in your next pitiful existence, I will always be victorious," stated Gilgamesh as he began walking away from Kastro and his execution. The man was a captured prisoner waiting to be put to death, yes the man could struggle using his Nen or simply trying to run or dodge the swords but he knew it to be futile.
Every person in attendance had all reached the same conclusion, Kastro was dead.
A singular blade blitzed from behind Kastro and penetrated through the back and exited the man's chest, killing him immediately.
Gilgamesh abandoned the platform as the referee announced his victory.
"And that's all folks! Gilgamesh secured his tenth victory in a row and will be able to challenge a current Floor Master to steal their floor!" The announcer lady shouted into the mic and got onto her feet from excitement. The crowd cheered for Gilgamesh's victory and didn't spare a second thought of the dead fighter bleeding out on the cement tiles, because Gilgamesh remained in their presence and he was to be showered with love.
Gilgamesh strolled from out of view, entering the dark tunnel to the fighter's quarters. The fourteen year old boy was one final victory away from completing the first Contest to keep his status as King of Magi.
… 2 Days Later, Morning
Someone knocked on the door of his private suite, interrupting his peaceful breakfast, Gilgamesh rose from the dinner table and opened the door.
The punctual and astute assistant, Imane bowed in front of the barechested Gilgamesh. She wore her standard black tuxedo jacket and black skirt, carrying her clipboard. "Your Excellency, I have returned from my assigned task. Everything at the auction has been handled accordingly, they are excited for your arrival."
Gilgamesh nodded and tilted his body to give room for Imane to enter his private quarters. She found his previous sitting arrangements and stood by his side as Gilgamesh sat down and continued enjoying his breakfast.
"Your Grace, I did stumble upon a developing issue regarding the Scarlet Eyes and the Auction."
Using a fork and knife, Gilgamesh sliced into his cooked meat and stabbed it with his fork. "Go ahead."
"Are you familiar with a notorious group called the Phantom Troupe?" Imane asked. Gilgamesh shook his head as he chewed down on the meat. "They are powerful bandits and I have a strong suspicion of them raiding the auction and stealing the invaluable items and treasure that will be sold. I fear they will steal the Scarlet Eyes."
Gilgamesh chuckled as he swallowed. "They cannot steal what they do not own. I have already decided the eyes to be mine. Whoever is in possession of the Scarlet Eyes will get on their knees and place them into my hands."
Imane couldn't conceal her smirk as she nodded. "Understood."
Gilgamesh's hands swiftly carved into his meat, cutting off another piece of meat. "Do you fear them?"
"I am a firm believer of trusting the words that spread beyond the origin. Those who have had unfortunate encounters with the Troupe all testify unspeakable horrors and infamy of their individual prowess. As I am confident in my training from formidable assassins, I am no fighter so I will not attempt to challenge the claims," Imane answered in a calm and monotone voice. She didn't shift or move an inch. As she spoke, Gilgamesh swirled his white wine and watched the liquid twist in the glass. "However, I am confident that Your Excellency is superior in every way."
He sipped his wine, smacking his lips showing his approval. "Just don't get in the way and I will handle the rest."
Gilgamesh finished his meal in silence. He changed out of his bed garments and instead put on a luxurious black suit and tie. He returned to the living room where Imane cleared the kitchen table.
"Take me to the finest gallery this city has to offer."
Imane carried the last dishes off the table and placed them on the kitchen counter. She stepped out from the kitchen island to reveal herself before speaking. "Your Excellency, I have already hand picked an art museum that I hope to please your interest."
Gilgamesh remained silent, giving his approval.
Swiftly, Imane retrieved her phone and made a call. Once she ended the call, she signalled for Gilgamesh to follow her. Together, they traveled through the red and black hallways toward the elevators, then began their descent down the tall building. They exited the building and entered a black service vehicle that was waiting for them on the street.
Imane sat dutifully next to Gilgamesh as the car ventured toward their destination. Of course, Imane had researched potential galleries and venues for Gilgamesh to enjoy, similar to restaurants, lounges, and places for natural sightseeing. Based on her presumptuous nature of Gilgamesh's tastes and personality, she believed him to be a man in search of exquisite taste.
A sight worthy of a King.
She hoped to be able to satisfy such a great man like Gilgamesh, so naturally, she was nervous. But due to her professionalism, she would never show it.
The car reached their destination and Imane slid out the car and held it open in aid of Gilgamesh. Together, they climbed the ten sets of stairs toward the marvelous grand building. The entrance of the building had high rising columns as the roof was designed in a triangle. An ancient building made in stone that gave it an old embrace.
Gilgamesh took a second to digest the building, deciding whether this building was worth his presence of entry. In his observations, the surrounding people gawked at his beauty and infatuated presence. He ignored their comments and entered the venue.
Imane walked in and immediately went to the counter, handling all of the fees, information, and selecting a guide to escort them around the museum. She returned by Gilgamesh's side with an older gentleman named Oscar.
The man's head was gray and receding, but even with his older age, the man kept up with his appearance looking decades younger than it shows. He dressed in a classic black business tuxedo. Oscar approached Gilgamesh and introduced himself and offered a friendly handshake which of course Gilgamesh ignored.
"Sir, Gilgamesh, I have heard of your greatness from the lovely Imane," Oscar said in a warming tone. With a casual open palm gesturing toward Imane and then forward to express his desire for the tour had begun. He walked ahead of the duo but they followed. "Welcome to Gezu Gallery, we hold the finest oil paintings and sculptures on the continent. I am blessed to be your tour guide."
They reached the opposite end of the building and headed toward the far right corner, climbing a set of stairs to head for the second floor. Oscar explained the history and development of the grand building, the many endeavors Gezu hurdled to get the gallery up and running for the general public to see his marvelous collection of antiques and history.
Giglamesh's eyes wandered about the second floor, ancient technology and hunting tools were on display inside of protective glass, decorated masks suggested a person's rank depending on how many stripes or how colorful the mask was, and the earliest collection of rocks in means of spectacle beauty. A man's earliest knowledge of a personal treasure trove.
He smirked at the unworthy collection of opal glass beads and worthless crystals but admired the man's efforts.
Imane blended in the shadows and studied his employer, building a mental profile of whatever Gilgamesh's eyes linger on.
After a full circle completed on the second floor, the three of them ascended another set of stairs onto the third floor. This floor was adorned with full body sculptures of various important figures.
A bronze statue of a king hoisting a sabre in the air greeted them, in a celebratory fashion. A declaration of a great victory. The talented sculpture manipulated the bronze in a delicate and detailed manner, demonstrating the heavy presumably gold bracelets and necklaces. Thick rings decorated the man's fingertips but with all this performative wealth, the most captivating feature of all was in the king's eyes. The king's ferocity and intensity lives on through his declaration.
Gilgamesh paused in front of the man and with his eyes, he dissected every curvature of cloth and muscle.
Imane abandoned the shadows and made her presence known at his side before speaking. "Four hundred years ago, the powerful and great King Solomon united the world to defeat the enemy. To this day, the word "enemy" is ambiguous and vague, however throughout all document works on the planet, confirm this enemy and King Solomon's involvement."
"Do people still honor this man?" Gilgamesh inquired.
Imane pushed the glasses further up the bridge of her nose. "Not that I am aware of, Your Majesty."
Giglamesh scoffed. "Then he is not a great man. A truly great man's accomplishments will never be forgotten from the minds of each and every present."
Without any delay, Imane reached into her breastpocket and retrieved a pen to document Giglamesh's words. "How do you overcome the passage of time?"
"Time, just like everything else, is merely a tool to be manipulated," Gilgamesh answered, stepping away from the bronze statue. "Something that my great grandfather failed to see."
Imane nodded and continued to scribble into her clipboard.
After the next three sculptures, Giglamesh grew bored of the insignificant lives being documented and the technical craft of sculpting no longer pleased him, especially since the best one was done for King Solomon. He did appreciate that at least, the greater the man then the more time is required to get it done right. Someone less significant shouldn't be more detailed.
"Tell me about yourself, Imane," Gilgamesh asked as they ascended the last set of stairs to the fourth floor of the gallery. He didn't place much hope on this last floor but these oil paintings were supposed to be this gallery's specialty. "Feel free to answer the question however you wish. This isn't a test or requirement, I am making conversation to enjoy the art."
Imane climbed the last few steps keeping in pace with Gilgamesh. As her surroundings shifted to white walls with paintings hanging on them, she kept her attention onto Gilgamesh's right shoulder. She didn't answer the question immediately as she formed a proper response to refrain from potential disrespect toward His Majesty.
"I am a strong believer of doing what is expected of you, everyone is born in this world with responsibilities and there are those who rise to the occasion and fulfill those duties and then there are those who run from them. Cowards who abandon their responsibilities are truly worthless. " Imane answered. Gilgamesh listened tentatively as he stared at the oil painting in front of him, if he were to be looking at Imane, he would have noticed the unsuppressed emotion shaping her face. "I was molded and trained to serve our next master but then out of nowhere, he abandoned his responsibility as an assassin and left to go follow some other man. I only want to serve the greatest of men, especially those who do not abandon their responsibilities so once I heard of Your Excellency, I knew there was nobody else on this planet worthy of my services."
Once hearing this Gilgamesh's attention left the painting and landed on Imane, looking at her directly in her dark colored eyes. He lifted a finger underneath the woman's chin. "Yes, there is nobody else on this planet greater than I for you to serve."
Imane nodded.
Giglamesh's attention lingered on her body, noticing her attire. "Also stop dressing like it's a funeral, be a little more expressive, not dreary."
Once again, she nodded. "Yes, Your Grace."
Gilgamesh removed himself and continued down the fabricated tunnel to observe the oil paintings on both sides of him. He gave each and every painting five seconds of his time to appreciate the handiwork and the blend of colors. Surprisingly, he did enjoy the paintings.
At the end of the makeshift tunnel, an oil painting monopolized the single back wall. A large painting framed by a golden flowery design. At the center of the twenty foot long painting depicted a blood red rose growing from ash, concrete, and dead bodies. To the left of the scarlet rose was high rise buildings, engineered to perfection. To the right of the rose was desolation. The description underneath the painting read as follows:
The hauntingly beautiful rose brought destruction and renewal, flattening the land to a different uprising. A futile assassination attempt against King David of the Magi Kingdom.
Next to Gilgamesh and Imane, Oscar blew his nose into his handkerchief. "This piece evokes such striking emotions. This is Gezu Gallery's pride and joy, The Rose of Meteor City."
Gilgamesh kept his attention locked onto the blood dripping thorns of the rose's stem. "Does this Meteor City still exist?"
"Yes, Your Grace," Imane answered, jotting down a few notes to herself. "However, it remains as a wasteland."
Gilgamesh's glance soaked in the flattened desolate land on the right side of the canvas. "It seems they are in need of a new light."
"Do you remember the dangerous group of bandits I mentioned earlier? Those who wish to steal the auction goods," asked Imane.
"The Phantom Circus?" Gilgamesh responded without any emotion or indifference.
"Troupe, Your Grace," Imane corrected. Giglamesh shrugged his shoulders with a smirk, not noticing a difference in his words. "They were born from those ashes depicted in the painting."
"It's always so marvelous to see what breeds from adversity," Gilgamesh commented as he walked away from the painting. "I am a bit intrigued to see what has come from my father's work. I am going to usher the world into a new era of my own worship."
Imane followed behind with similar interest as she formulated the type of responses the members of the Troupe will give upon learning of this information, because she understood the machinations of Gilgamesh and deduced him to be the type of man to give such a revelation for his own enjoyment.