As I hold the stranger in place, the moment I hear them protest, I start to realize that I may have done this to someone I know.
"KHIRELLE! HOLY SWEET MOTHER OF—! It's me! It's Hades!" The poor guy groans out as he struggles to maintain his position. I've got him in a lock where it's a bit difficult for them to move around much as they are bending backward real awkwardly.
As soon as I release him, he starts rubbing the side of his neck, where I pushed the edge of my halberd's blade up against.
Scoffing, he jokes dryly with me, "I know none of us would die, but you still make me forget that sometimes when you pull shit like this."
I chuckle a little in reply as I draw my weapon back and put it away.
"Hades, long time no see. You look well."
"You don't look so bad yourself, war goddess."
My eyes start to narrow, and I look at him with suspicion. "Sooo... How did you know that I was here? Hmm?"
The god of the underworld flinches as soon as I raise that question and laughs wryly, "Hahaha!~ Funny thing... I, uh, how do I tell you something like this without making it sound cree— I mean, weird, as heck?"
Within a split second of when he's clearly about to say 'creepy', one of my eyebrows shoot up. "Please don't tell me you have been stalking me the entire time I've even set foot in he—"
"NO, NO, NO, NO!" He quickly denies it; quite vehemently, I might add.
"It's not that! Wow! I'm not some kind of crazy as—" Hades stops. He then looks at me; with a little bit of guilt in his mesmerizing eyes, which glows like a vivid sapphire flame.
He continues, "Okay, maybe this is a few levels lower of being a stalker, but I kind of cast a spell on my buddy over there to— uh, send me like, kinda like a... you know, notification of sorts, in case you were trying to get past these gates."
I'm as blunt as they come; the corner of my mouth raises a smidgen. And to make it easier for anyone within earshot to process, I sum it up for him, "In other words, you're STILL stalking me."
"Oh, come on, Khi! Don't make me sound real awful like that. You leave me no choice when you keep trying to avoid me and everything!" The big lug of a guy whines.
Not wanting to be held back for longer, I get straight to the point and tell him, "Well, that's just the nature of that spell. I mean, you specifically made it inform you if it's 'me', and not anyone else, right? Anyway, I'm bored. Let me through."
I don't know why it matters at this point, not like knowing why he's always getting in my way would do anything for me.
I'm still somewhat unsure about what he wants from me, though.
He's usually so aloof and uncaring as well, and yet he's subjecting himself to this. Hades must be at the end of his rope and is just very desperate to talk.
"Can't we just talk for just a goddamn moment, Khirelle?! And THEN I'll let you go! I promise! I'll NEVER bother you again if that's what you wish to happen right after this." The exasperated god sighs out deeply as he finishes pleading with me.
I close my eyes and let out an irate breath in return, "Fine... make it quick. I've still got so much to do."
"Alright. Excuse me." The man before me extends his palm towards my direction, and some light begins to glow.
We quickly vanish from the scene, leaving a confused Cerberus behind.
He tilts his head to the side. In his mouth is an almost thoroughly eaten carcass of the bribe I gave him earlier.
The loyal canine wonders how his master and a guest he has been well-acquainted with for as long as he could remember, disappear from his sight—especially without so much as saying a proper goodbye. Out of shock, he drops one of his most favorite foods in the world onto the ground.
He so wished that he showed the guest how much he had enjoyed her gift. Not many celestial beings are as kind as that guest was, so he truly appreciates her visits.
Cerberus' eyes narrow sadly as they close halfway.
A heart-breaking whine escapes his semi-snuffed out throat. Eating something usually pacifies the raging fires within his stomach for about an hour or so.
Feeling lonely and dejected, the poor dog slumps onto the floor as three of his heads rest atop the cold dirt—plopping the underside of his belly on broken pieces of cinder, soot, and ash.
All the ears on each head are tucked down towards the back. The ever loyal canine decides to wait for the two to return—no longer taking another bite out of his delectable hush money.
[...]
It's been some time since Hades has gone to make some of his famous tea.
I've been sitting here for about ten minutes, feeling bored out of my mind. I want to get going already and get my first task started.
But ever since he tried a particular tea blend, from a niche shop located in the human world, he has become obsessed with recreating it himself. It has rhubarb, raspberry, strawberry, chocolate, rose petals, and rooibos tea.
This taciturn god is not exactly a massive fan of tea, nor sweets, but this has somehow won him over.
A divinely sweet smell wafts from outside the door.
The louder the footsteps get, the more I hear some things clatter and shake on top of a tray.
"I apologize for the long wait. I made sure it's worth it, though." Like a veteran butler, he places everything down. Hades barely makes a sound as he sets all the china without a moment's hesitation.
The smell of the tea is fantastic.
It's so unbearably enticing that it's almost akin to torture to stop from helping myself to a quick sip, in case I burn my tongue out of impatience.
I'm about to reach out for my cup when Hades clears his throat, breaking my single-minded focus.
"Okay, I know you hate it when people beat around the bush, so here goes..." With his eyes staring straight into mine, he takes a deep breath and then closes them. "Khi, I am... truly sorry for everything."
Huh? Is he really sorry? Don't tell me he's still hung up on the same thing in the past...
Hades eyes open and his eyebrows furrow as he continues to tell me more, "I know we were on a 'break' at the time, as things were getting too... crazy between us. But still, I am genuinely sorry. I'd... like it if you'd consider starting over and being friends again."
... If it wasn't obvious enough already, Hades and I used to date.
It was, unfortunately, a very toxic relationship.
We were a 'match made in hell', so to speak.
I sincerely apologize to myself and anyone else, for the pun.
...
At the time, we wanted to see if we could somehow salvage it, so we decided to take a break instead of breaking up immediately.
During that time, though, that was when the ruler of the underworld had met the love of his life, Persephone.
Of course, like almost every other great Grecian love story, it was love at first sight. Just one look and this stoic god was a goner.
After that, it was all about Persephone. It's as if everything in the world no longer mattered as long as Hades could have her.
... And have her, he did. He pretty much kidnapped Persephone from her mother, Demeter. Everything was a mess for some time, that's for sure.
"I don't want to promise you anything, Hades, but I will do my best," I say with a lot of reluctance from my end.
His eyes light up and tell me with a lot of enthusiasm, "That's great, Khi. That's good enough for me."
Just when I think the conversation's over and I could be on my merry way, he suddenly asks, "So... what are you doing here? I'm fairly sure it's not to visit me."
I gulp.
This... is going to be a bit awkward.
"I've been tasked to run some errands in a few places here. So..." Hoping that he'll drop it, my explanation trails off.
He eyes me suspiciously and proceeds with his line of questioning, "Well, I mean, you're a goddess, so it's not like I can prevent you from doing so, but it'd help if I knew what you're trying to do. I might be able to provide you with some assistance?"
... I'd appreciate it if he can stay out of this. I know this is unfair, but I might as well take advantage of the circumstance. If he finds out about what I'm trying to do to complete these 'errands', he may prevent me from going.
Fully aware of what this means, I take advantage of the situation and do everything I can to guilt-trip him and use it to my advantage, "So... I was wondering; I think it's time for you to do something for me, to make up for all the hurt you've caused."
Slack-jawed, Hades remains stock-still after dropping a bomb on him.
After what seems to be forever, he finally opens his mouth to respond, "... Alright. That... is quite unfair, but fine. I'll do as you request and will leave this be... for now. Just promise me you won't make a huge mess of things."
Feeling quite satisfied with the outcome, I reassure him with an 'It'll all be fine' to get him off my case.
[...]
After finishing tea time with Hades, he finally lets me go, and I am on my way to my first stop: The Plains of Elysian.
It broke my heart to see Cerberus feel excited to see both me and his master come back, only for me to leave right away. I'll make sure to give him another treat when I get the chance.
The plains aren't all too far from the entrance, but I still opt to fly to get to my destination faster.
What was once an area filled with nothing but death and decay, the scenery starts to change the closer I get to the Elysian plains.
Vegetation starts to appear, and I begin to see some life around the area. It thankfully resembles the paradise it's meant to be. Only beings of good standing may have this as their 'final' resting place.
Animals are grazing and frolicking about, evidently happy being able to live in such a wonderful place.
As a breeze goes through some fields of wheat down below, it reflects light off as the wind combs through, making it appear as if each stalk is made of pure gold.
I smile to myself as I randomly remember the times when I laid down on the ground with Hades.
I recall the gorgeous afternoon sun, streaming through the grass as we lay there, just enjoying each other's company.
The side of his face, being illuminated by the sun, was a gorgeous sight to behold.
I quickly shake my head and try to get myself back into the game. Quickening my movements, I pick up the pace and fly faster than ever.
In the distance, I finally see some structures and figures moving about.
The sight of this encourages me to go at break-neck speed so that I can get to work on the first task.
Gliding down, I prepare myself to land just outside a huge building.
I look around and remember this to be a theatre of sorts that has scheduled plays and other types of shows.
This place has every possible type of entertainment you can think of; there's just so much to do that you'll never get bored. It's the type of afterlife a human would feel it's worth working towards.
That's when it hit me.
My first task is to collect one oka of Heroes' Tears.
How should one go about collecting such a huge amount of tears from people who, quite obviously, live in a perfect world?
My heart sinks as soon as reality punches me square in the face.
-
[Note:]
Oka - Greek unit of measurement that's around 1,280 ml.