Deep Within the Mountains of the North
"So, this is the place where your mentor established his sanctuary?"
Gilgamesh, Siduri, Ur-Namu, and a group of veteran commanders followed Enkidu-Sa along a treacherous, narrow mountain path. To their left, the cliffs dropped into a misty abyss; to their right, the jagged rock face was carved with ancient, weather-worn symbols.
"Yes, Your Highness. My mentor, the venerable Lord Hamilcar, wished to be no longer entangled in the rotting politics of the Palace. He chose this fortified seclusion to preserve the 'Old Wisdom' and take on only the most worthy disciples," Enkidu-Sa replied, his breath steady despite the steep climb.
"But if the Old Master truly wishes for silence, won't our arrival be seen as a transgression? We might be met with closed gates rather than counsel," Siduri said, her hand resting on the hilt of her dagger. The sheer isolation of the grotto was a testament to the Architect's desire for peace. "Master Enkidu-Sa, what is your true intent in bringing the King here?"
"Trust in the bond of the scroll, Lady Siduri. I have not led you astray yet," Enkidu-Sa said, offering a small, knowing smile.
"Alright, Siduri, ease your mind," Gilgamesh interjected. "If Enkidu-Sa is this confident, he has already weighed the Old Master's temperament."
Though the King's rubicund eyes scanned the heights for hidden sentries, he remained composed.
"Thank you, Your Highness. Once we secure the Old Master's support, we need no longer fear the Bronze Colossi of the Imperial host." Enkidu-Sa bowed. He knew that Gilgamesh's willingness to trek into the clouds was the ultimate sign of his commitment to his people.
"But Master," Ur-Namu grunted, wiping sweat from his brow. "How can one old scholar stop those machines? We've seen the Colossi—towering constructs of bronze and steam that crush shield-walls like dried reeds. No bow or spear can fell them."
"Because, General, it was the Guild of the Hidden Gear that designed them. And my mentor was once their Grand Artificer," Enkidu-Sa explained. "The Palace did not build the Colossi; they merely bought them. If we can reach the Guild through Lord Hamilcar, we can learn where the bronze heart beats."
Following Enkidu-Sa's lead, the party eventually reached a natural stone archway guarded by two silent men in heavy leather aprons, their arms covered in strange, brass-fitted bracers.
"We have arrived. Hand over your steel," Enkidu-Sa instructed. "To enter the Grotto of Wisdom, one must leave the tools of war outside. It is the only way to ensure the Old Master's safety from those who would silence him."
After a reluctant surrender of their weapons, Gilgamesh and his party followed Enkidu-Sa into the cool, lantern-lit depths of the cavern.
"Mentor, your disciple Enkidu-Sa has returned. I have brought the Sovereign I serve to stand before you."
The interior of the grotto was a marvel of ancient engineering—water-wheels turned silently in underground streams, powering strange, clicking devices that measured the stars. Every disciple they passed bowed deeply to Enkidu-Sa, recognizing him as the greatest of their order.
At the center of the hall sat a white-haired man, his back hunched over a vast table covered in complex blueprints etched into copper sheets. He was Lord Hamilcar, the man who had survived the political floods of the capital to preserve the secrets of the gears.
"Ah, Enkidu-Sa. You have finally found a King worth the climb." The old man looked up, his eyes sharp and clear. He studied Gilgamesh for a long moment before nodding slowly. "You possess the aura of the first Kings of Kish. You look like a man who would wrestle a lion to save a lamb."
"You flatter me, old master. I am merely a man trying to mend a broken world," Gilgamesh replied, performing a respectful bow.
"I imagine your visit is not for tea and philosophy," Hamilcar smiled, his voice raspy like parchment. "You seek a way to break the Bronze Colossi."
"I do," Gilgamesh said solemnly. "The Palace uses the Guild's creations to burn our fields. Master Enkidu-Sa said you might act as a bridge—to help me reach the artisans who build these monsters."
"Enkidu-Sa, you always were a troublesome student! You bring the weight of the world into my quiet cave," Hamilcar laughed, though there was pride in his eyes.
"But Mentor, you are the only one who knows the 'Kill-Key' of the gears!" Enkidu-Sa replied with a grin.
"Very well," the Old Master sighed, standing up with the help of a brass-headed cane. "For the sake of the commoners who bleed under those metal feet, I will help. I will send word to the Guild. But remember, King Gilgamesh—once the gears stop turning for the emperor, they must start turning for the people. Do you swear to use this knowledge for the Alluvium?"