Chapter 8: Chapter Seven – Ishtar’s Memories and the Arrival of Nergal

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Sik experiences a disorienting surge of memories as Ishtar’s soul merges with his. The chapter shifts entirely into Ishtar’s past, showing her presence at two historic wars: the Trojan War and the bombing of a French town during World War II. At Troy, Ishtar revels in the emotions of battle—fear, bloodlust, and love—that fuel the conflict. She witnesses Hector’s love for his family and Achilles’ rage. In the WWII segment, Ishtar shelters a young girl named Florence after the girl’s parents were killed. The town is bombed relentlessly for no strategic reason. Ishtar retrieves her sword Kasusu from her ruined home and confronts her brother Nergal, the plague god, who feasts on corpses. Nergal mocks her faith in heroes, claiming the age of heroism is dead and that humans now hate and die meaninglessly. Ishtar defiantly leaps into the air, destroying German bombers one by one with her divine strength, while Nergal watches.

Key Events

Sik is overwhelmed by Ishtar’s complete memory flood.
Vivid flashback to the Trojan War: Ishtar observes Hector’s love for Troy and Achilles’ battle fury.
Transition to World War II France: a French town is bombed without military purpose.
Ishtar cares for an orphaned girl, Florence, in the school shelter.
She retrieves her sentient sword Kasusu from the rubble of her home.
Nergal appears, feeding on the dead and taunting Ishtar about the futility of courage and honor.
Ishtar argues that heroes still exist and that gods should inspire mortals.
She single-handedly attacks and destroys multiple German bombers, relishing the combat.

Character Development

Ishtar: This chapter deepens her character by showing her ancient nature as a war goddess who genuinely loves battle’s passion, yet simultaneously cares for children and innocent victims. Her decision to fight the bombers rather than attack Nergal illustrates a commitment to protecting humans despite her flaws.
Nergal: Introduced directly for the first time. He is cynical, grotesque, and feeds on human hatred and suffering. He dismisses heroism and embraces mass death. His jaded view contrasts with Ishtar’s lingering hope.
Kasusu: The sword is personified, complaining about being left in a lake for centuries and humming eagerly for battle. It acts as a companion to Ishtar.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Love as fuel for war: At Troy, Ishtar senses that love (Hector’s for his family, the soldiers’ for each other) powers the violence, making it a beautiful “dance of death.”
Age of heroes vs. age of machines: Nergal argues that modern warfare—indiscriminate bombing—has replaced heroic combat with meaningless slaughter. Ishtar rejects this, trying to prove that a goddess with a sword can still make a difference.
Sword Kasusu: Symbolizes the old ways of war—honor, direct confrontation, divine power—contrasted with the mechanical bombers.
Plague and hatred: Nergal represents disease and the poison of human prejudice; he claims to thrive on petty hatreds (differences in appearance, speech, religion).

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter shifts the narrative from Sik’s contemporary Manhattan crisis to Ishtar’s ancient perspective, providing crucial backstory for the goddess who now resides within him. It establishes Nergal as a villain who embodies not just plague but the philosophical degradation of war. The chapter’s WWII setting shows how Ishtar’s nature is both destructive and protective, setting up the internal conflict Sik will face as he carries her power. It also answers why Nergal might be unleashed in the modern story: he has been waiting for a time when hatred and plague can thrive.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Ishtar call the Trojan War “beautiful”? What does that reveal about her character?
Ishtar finds beauty in the raw emotions—fear, bloodlust, and love—that warriors experience. This reveals that she is not merely a destroyer; she appreciates the human passion that drives conflict, including love for family and home. It makes her a complex goddess who finds artistry in violence.
How does Nergal’s view of humanity differ from Ishtar’s in this chapter?
Nergal believes humans are inclined toward hatred for trivial reasons and that heroism is dead; he feeds on meaningless death. Ishtar insists there are still heroes and that gods can inspire greatness. Their debate sets up the moral conflict: whether to uplift humans or exploit their worst impulses.
Why does Ishtar choose to destroy the bombers instead of fighting Nergal?
She wants to protect the remaining civilians in the town, especially Florence. By acting directly to save lives, she demonstrates that her love for humanity—or at least for some humans—outweighs her urge to settle a divine rivalry. It also proves her point that a solitary “hero” (even a goddess) can still fight for good in an age of machines.