"Are you ready to go?"

Mingi bounced in the door excitedly. The gleam in his eyes at the prospect of exploring the city he had grown up in told Wooyoung that rather than their trip, Mingi looked forward to sharing Wooyoung's company. It was adorable to watch. Wooyoung presumed Mingi had few friends between his work and his life at the palace. He was still young, too, barely a match for the brusque and hard-working men that filled Babylon.

Wooyoung brushed some flaking skin off his nape. His sunburn had resorted to a painful throbbing by now, but he promised himself it would be the last time he made it worse. After today, he would return home and share Mingi's theories on the end of immortals with Yongguk. Through the ages, he would find their trail and find out if their means for a prolonged life were adaptable to modern humans. If immortals already existed and they had to die to create a handful of new ones, Wooyoung would treat the case as impossible until further research. But as of now, he still had 2500 years of history to work with. If more theories crossed over with Mingi's, he would visit the epoch of Bilgames and try to witness his end.

Since the researching part of his mission was over now and Wooyoung brimmed with theories and hypothesises that he needed to share with Yongguk to filter out period-typical nonsense, it was time to unwind. And what better to do than to visit the Tower of Babel with Mingi?

"I am," Wooyoung smiled once he had adjusted his clothes. He followed Mingi out of the door and down the corridor. Mingi's step had a little bounce to it that had his garments flutter around him. Amused, Wooyoung watched his glee.

He hadn't seen Suusaandar again after the gardens. As if the man had been swallowed by the ground, he was nowhere in sight. When Wooyoung had got food for himself and Mingi that morning, he had even taken a detour to pass the foyer in front of the throne room. But no sign of the concubine. Wooyoung didn't think too hard of where he could be and what he was doing.

The morning was still mild as they stepped outside the palace. Instead of through the bazaar, they used a less populated street free of carts and stands to travel to the tower. Mingi knew the city like the back of his hand, and he was excited to point out how their canal system fed the greens of their sandy oasis and how other travellers had marvelled at the colourful bricks lacing the city wall. Wooyoung listened in awe and agreed with everything the other man said. He would miss Babylon. Visiting the few archaeological ruins of Babylon in his day would serve only as a tragic reminder of the fallen metropolis.

"It's not the right moon for us to witness the religious rites in the temple, but I can show you how prayers work for us. Then again, you also showed little interest in our magnificent banquets. Are you by any chance a runaway slave?" Mingi eyed Wooyoung warily, but no threat crossed his brows. Even if Wooyoung were, he wouldn't refuse him.

"I'm neither a eunuch nor a slave," Wooyoung assured him. "My beliefs merely include a different take on intimacy. Not that I shun your culture."

Mingi looked at him funny, but he nodded still.

"You better not tell that anyone else. We regard the junction of people as a gift of Ishtar. Denying it means denying her grace. She blessed us with the ability to pleasure each other and use it to our joy."

Explaining the concept of rape to Mingi would have been a lost cause. So instead, Wooyoung acknowledged that information.

"As long as you all agree on that, I believe it to be a legitimate practice. The temple also has rites like that?"

They had reached the foot of the mighty building now. For the past few minutes, Wooyoung had watched it come closer to loom over them like a vengeful god. The sun made the stone of the ziggurat shine and fed the plants on the steps the building comprised with rich warmth.

"We do. We celebrate the fertility of our women in our temples. Depending on the shape of the moon, women and men come together here to relish in that gift." Respectful, Mingi glanced up the tower. Compared to the kings who built it to defy the gods, Mingi was intimidated by them still.

The people milling around didn't bother with them. Some knelt on the dusty ground to pray to the temple. Others challenged the endless staircase that led to the entrance high up. The guards at the bottom of the stairs probably baked inside their heavy clothing, but they stood stiffly in their posts still.

Mingi waited as Wooyoung squinted up at the prominent building and studied it in awe. Its tall walls had no windows, so the rooms inside must be enclosed in stuffy darkness. They reminded Wooyoung of the Egyptian pyramids. A death trap not meant to enter.

"Aren't you of age to have an own family by now?" They started to scale the intimidating stairs. They had no railing, and Wooyoung knew he would be half dead once they reached the heated top. The sun burnt in his nape as if forcing him to reconsider.

"I am, but work keeps me busy. His Majesty assured me that if I found someone to start a family with, she and my kids would get a good life and work at the palace. But so far, I was always too fearful to visit the fertility rituals to find someone I like." Mingi sighed as if that burden weighed heavily on his shoulders. Concerned, Wooyoung glanced at him rather than the obstacle the stairs posed. They weren't even a quarter up and every step drained Wooyoung's energy through the soles of his sandals.

"Take it easy. You are working on monumental projects and there is still time. Maybe you will find her in a different place," Wooyoung said in a confident voice. Mingi slouched his shoulders as he climbed the steps next to Wooyoung. Every lift of their legs had the warm breeze dip under their clothing to caress their naked legs. Wooyoung wasn't used to skirts, but he quite appreciated this aspect of them.

Mingi looked at him with big eyes.

"Where else would I find a wife? You can't possibly suggest the harem or a slave."

Wooyoung snickered at his indignant voice. Modern romance novels would agree with exactly that, but Wooyoung knew better.

"No, of course not. I thought about the river, maybe. Isn't it a more peaceful location to meet someone? Or maybe you see someone's daughter you like on the bazaar. Aren't these better than places that cause you discomfort?"

Impressed by Wooyoung's wisdom, Mingi rolled his lips between his teeth. Then, he released them with a pop.

"You're right. I will keep my eyes and ears open. For now, I am content with my life in the palace." With newfound motivation, Mingi climbed.

Wooyoung still hoped he would find someone in his lifetime. Tracing Mingi's descendants through all those years would be difficult, but Wooyoung wanted to meet those inheriting his blood in the modern world. He was curious to see whether any of Mingi's facial features would get carried throughout the centuries.

About halfway up the stairs, Wooyoung huffed and puffed so badly around his dry throat that they had to take a brief break. Huddled in the corner of the step behind them, they let the other people pass while Wooyoung caught his breath. Apart from the little locks sticking to Mingi's forehead, he seemed fine. He even grinned at Wooyoung's struggle.

Through the heat, Wooyoung tried to glare at him. Salty sweat wet his upper lip.

"Seems like you have no ziggurats where you come from," Mingi observed. His eyes gleamed with amusement.

"We don't build so high into the sky," Wooyoung complained. "We just stay on the ground and the highest viewpoints are hills and mountains."

"Oh, I heard of those! They are similar to the dunes in the south, but they stay in shape! Suusaandar drew them for the court once. He comes from an area with many deep cliffs and mountains higher than the clouds!" Astonished, Mingi stared at Wooyoung as if he were an ancient world wonder instead of the city they walked on. Wooyoung's curiosity about Suusaandar once more rose. He had travelled from that far? Right, his eyes hadn't looked middle-eastern, rather east Asian. And he wore silk that was not yet introduced via the silk road to this part of the world. Had he come all the way from China? It was possible on a horse, but it was a dangerous and long trip through nature, especially at his young age.

"Mine are probably not as tall. I think we came from different northern corners," Wooyoung smiled. Still distracted by Suusaandar, they took up their walk again. Since he didn't concentrate on the steps, they seemed only half as torturous.

When they finally reached the top, Wooyoung nearly collapsed. He leaned against the wall at the entrance and looked out over the city to catch his breath. From up here, the sight was brilliant. He could see far out over the desert and follow the trail of the Euphrates with his eyes. The only trees in the area laced the riverbed, and a caravan travelled in their direction at a snail's pace along the brilliant blue band amidst golden sand.

Wooyoung could also see the constant cloud of dust that surrounded Babylon in its constant movement. The sky seemed clearer above it and he bet the stars were extra bright at night. If this wasn't a holy place, he would have climbed to the topmost roof and laid there all night to look at the sky.

"Magnificent, isn't it?" A fond smile tugged on Mingi's lips as he looked out over the area as well. Wooyoung could only nod, his throat bobbing to adjust to the sand biting into his lungs.

For a few moments, they paused there to take in the city's allure. When the sunlight got unbearable and Wooyoung had to sneeze for it snapping at his face so viciously, Mingi beckoned him inside with a wave of his fingers. Wooyoung stumbled behind him into the dark halls of the temple.

Pillars identical to those of the Hanging Gardens carried the tall ceiling. Two exits that led deeper into the buildings branched off left and right of the hall. Most visitors remained here, however, and prayed to the altar at the northern end of the hall. Intricate decorations carved into the stone adorned the walls. They showed people and animals that directed their focus at the altar. The modest stone desk carried platters of fruit and a vase with fresh flowers.

Wooyoung and Mingi were careful not to step on anyone's clothes as they found a corner aside from the praying people. Their hums and mutters filled the echoing hall.

"These exits lead to chambers dedicated to our major deities. You should visit them only in great distress when you need to call upon them personally. Here, all prayer is centred on every god and goddess. Beneath the temple facilities are the burial sites of our past kings," Mingi explained in a subdued murmur. Fascinated, Wooyoung nodded.

"Do you wish to try a prayer?"

Wooyoung didn't believe his prayers would get heard through all the loyal believers around him, but he agreed. His appreciation for the Babylonian culture and the people he had met here had him sinking to his knees at Mingi's side. The ground was laid out by a colourfully woven rug that caught his legs softly.

"I pray to Marduk, our city's chief god. But you are welcome to pray to any of our deities. Just not yours, that might anger them." Mingi's whisper blended with the uttering voices surrounding them. Wooyoung nodded.

"You bow to the altar. Then, you raise your hands to receive their blessing and say your prayer. Then you bow again. Do it however often you deem suitable." To show him how to, Mingi cupped his hands together. Some people prayed with them raised high above their heads to be closer to the skies, others cradled them to their chests to hold the precious gift they received.

When Wooyoung had signalled Mingi that he was ready, Mingi busied himself with his own prayer. Wooyoung followed the steps slowly and with a certain shyness to it. He didn't want their gods to be confused about what he was doing among their protected sheep.

Wooyoung prayed to Ea, their god of wisdom and science. He was also the patron of humankind. Under his influence, Wooyoung prayed for Mingi's wellbeing and that his life may bless him with a wonderful time. With everything Mingi craved and happiness in his heart. He hoped that in 43 years from now, Mingi would have lived and died a gracious lifetime before Babylon fell.

Wooyoung would have no way of knowing whether his prayer got heard, but he wished all of Babylon prosperity in the last few decades it would exist.