As Hades began his fateful descent into the realm of souls, a soothing feeling surrounded him, gently permeating his body and soul. It was hard to grasp, impossible to explain, yet the ascian felt carried away. The deeper he fell, the deeper he separated his soul from the realm of the living, and the more an image began to form.
The very heart of the aethereal stream is a place where memories are buried after spreading their spark for the last time. Thousands of souls are on the verge of forsaking their fleeting and temporary lifetime, only to start everything anew in a new age. And endless cycle for those souls, those flashes of light, they held so much power in this place, under her watch, that Emet-Selch was reminded of his own brethren in the midst of his fall.
A world where a soul did not need gods, where each burned brightly for thousands of years. As Hades closed his eyes, he ventured back into this realm of broken dreams of shattered promises, forcing tears to flow to his eyes. Those tears were his memories. Memories of spending time with the two of his best friends in the glorious city of Amaurot and beyond. The boundless emerald plains of majestic nature that their people nurtured and protected since time immemorial. Each of them had their duty, and for each of them, it was a joy. Creation, exploration, theories, debate, there was no shortage of roles in their world, no shortage of eager souls that fulfilled them. Miryads of them, all in different colors, be it crimson, azure, ebony…All with their dreams, all of them willing to serve the star.
For that did his tears flow. For every time Apollo would take him and Hythlodaeus out on an adventure, the ones Hades often pretended to hate while getting immense fulfillment. For every time Hythlodaeus presented a new concept of his, always did his best to convince Hades of practical implications, while Apollo would be in awe from simply looking at those new creatures. For every time, Hades would take them to the Hall of Rhetoric and show his finest debating skills, while they would always help him with decision-making. For every time they peered into the Underworld…
For the time when the Final Days ravaged their home. When the sky turned red, meteors fell, and hellish monsters began to form from their most horrid imagination. So many souls perished, and so many of their people saw their homes decimated, their loved ones slaughtered, to see the work of their life turned to ashes. There was no shortage of despairing tears for all the memories that were tarnished and purged.
It was then that the Convocation came up with a plan that would take the future from half of their people so that the other would persevere. A plan that cost the Convocation one of their finest members and Hades's best friend. He remembered the day when Apollo defied the Convocation despite his friends' pleas, abandoning his seat and leaving Amaurot forever, never to be seen again. And yet soon after losing one friend, Hades had to lose another, for Hytlodaeus was just as numb to Emet's pleas to stay.
When Zodiark arose, shielding their star from this monstrous cataclysm, the remaining Amaurotines were left with a barren world, bereft of life. A star that was utterly broken by chaos and would soon perish if nothing was to be done. Thus, with a heavy heart, did the Convocation resort to sacrifice once again. Half of their remaining population was forced into the hellish purgatory of Zodiark's essence so that he could allow the star to flourish.
And so did the rivers begin to flow, the trees growled tall and green once again, and the rains fell on the surface of the world once again. New wildlife has emerged, many new species to replace those that went extinct after the cataclysm. The beauty Hades admired has finally returned to their world.
But what joy was there to be had when both of his friends were not here to see it?
Mankind was left broken and shattered, with only a quarter of its stewards remaining in its service. Some moved on and began to rebuild the world after all the strife and chaos that engulfed it for so long. But many more could let go of their family members, friends, and loved ones being gone forever. The god that rested beneath the capitol was still bursting with their vitality; they were still there; the very heart of the elder primal attested to that. They never got a chance to return to the star or live, forever stuck in the hellish cycle of service. No one deserved such a fate.
And so their hope was ignited once again, along with never-ending debate in the Convocation on how to proceed.
Even after thousands of years, that day stung. The day when flashes of light began to appear in the sky when the city trembled from another summoning. A day that many spent in both anticipation and dread, a day when they all placed their faith in Zodiark's shield and blessing. No one could expect what would follow.
As the sky burned in golden flames, a lone man in black robes and a red mask of Emet-Selch walked across the bridge near the capitol. The bridge remained half broken, with cracks permeating its surface ever since the final days. There was only so much their people could focus on, with only a quarter of them remaining. Not when the city walls were ravaged by the newly-formed beasts, and their new concepts were deteriorating. The man was alone in his journey, for he needed a break after a heated debate. A debate in which, for the first time in hundreds of years, the man knew not which side to take. The reason for such doubt was more than clear, however. It was for the two souls that could not walk this path with him, not anymore. Without them, Hades was never able to feel that their world was whole again.
There were many who felt the same, and it was for this reason that the debate happened. He was getting sick of it all. Sick of Fandaniel and Halmarut spouting their drivel about preserving the natural order and life, sick of Pashtarot and Mitron yearning for another sacrifice without considering the cost, sick of the never-ending cycle of suffering and discord. Their people have always prided themselves on rationality and civility, even in the most fateful of arguments, yet after so much loss they have endured, was it truly a surprise?
And so he found himself amidst the streets bereft of hope, a lone man whom the people looked up to, yet he was just as lost as the rest of them. Among his wandering, he did not encounter any of his brethren; instead, finding an iron cage, the tribute that their "explorers" had brought. There lay the answer.
Hades moved closer to examine the creatures inside. There were four in total, clearly of the same species yet of different ages. A mixture of man and sea beast, the scales covered their skin, meek and primitive creatures that were found suitable as an offering. They had no affinity for creation magics, they had lifespans that were less than the smallest fraction of theirs, and they killed each other in clashes for food and shelter; this was the new life Zodiark brought. Hades saw one of the beastmen look at him with eyes of hunger. He walked to the bars, trying to reach out to Emet-Selch.
"Raghr-e…Ark-sa, kare…" - The creature mumbled in a faint voice. Hades knew now whether to feel pity or disgust.
Yet there was a reason creatures like this one were chosen. They had something no other animal had, a soul. It was considered a miracle to find an animal graced with a soul, but this was something unseen before. Entire tribes of primitive people, blessed with language and souls, something only their people could ever achieve. Some on the Convocation were quick to decry them as lesser and simply another of the star's experiments. Others believed them to be a foundation for a new civilization that would spur. But everyone saw the potential.
A life for a life. A soul for a soul.
To bring their sacrificed brethren back, Zodiark would need something to feed upon. When there are enough of these beasts, their souls can be used to replenish the primal and bring back those who they have lost. The chance of seeing Hythlodaeus again sparked a fire in Hades's heart, but he saw no point in denying the bitter truth. The duty of their people was to protect and nurture this world to the best of their ability, to enhance the natural cycle of life, but never to disturb it. To sacrifice those creatures would be placing their own benefit above that of the planet, that which was considered the gravest offense before the calamity, but now it was a simple point of debate in the ranks of Convocation.
There were those who disagreed, quite many of them, in fact. Some even went as far as to separate themselves from Amaurot to form another faction, decrying Zodiark and all he did for their people. Those dissidents were left by Venat, another soul who Emet once considered a friend, and now abandoned once again. And now, their sky was consumed by the chaotic dance of light and darkness as another force entered the domain of Zodiark. This could only be Venat and her allies. Some did not believe that she would go as far, but Emet never had a single doubt about that.
Those unholy actions instilled worry into the people of Amaurot once again. As Hades overlooked the gates of the capitol and the crowd that gathered around. People were demanding an explanation; they must have been tired of placing their blind faith in their leaders and god as well; Hades could not blame them. Most of the Convocation remained inside, continuing the discussion over the merits of another sacrifice, but a white-robed man stood outside, trying his best to bring some solace into their hearts.
"What is going on? Where did the light come from?"
"Does the Convocation know why it happened? Do they even have a plan?"
"Please, tell us! You can't just hide from us!"
Many questions and demands were thrown at Elidibus, yet the EmissaryEmissary received them with grace. He was the figure that inspired each of them, both for his brave sacrifice and miraculous return. The day when he graced them with their presence was that of hope and rejuvenation for Amaurot. However, he changed. His time inside Zodiark took his toil on Elidibus, forcing him to become much more distant, reclusive, and cold than he was before. At times it felt as if the man that he once was had been erased, only for a new being to form, a representation of everything the seat of Elidibus stood for.
"I understand your dissatisfaction, and those in the convocation share it." - Elidibus spoke calmly and soothingly. "Yet I pray that you keep your calm amidst the chaos, for it will benefit no one for us to lose hold of our emotions and desires once again. On my word as an Emissary, I shall have you know that the Convocation is already working on a solution. Such is the will of this star, and such is our path." - He lied without hesitation. Emet wanted to be sure that they would find yet another solution, but his hope had been waning for a long time now.
Unwilling to look at the crowd, he sought solace in another place. Hades found himself amidst a ghostly lawn near one of the charred houses, the one that was a place of respite for him. Here he looked into the stars, peering into the stream and seeing the hues of a thousand souls, exploring their uniqueness. Today, the light-shielded all of it. It was truly horrific, finding oneself amidst a clash between forces of nature that could explode at any time should Zodiark falter for as much as a second.
Still, perhaps this was the perfect place to ponder. Hades sat down on the grass, thinking about what his position would be when he returned. Shall he choose to stay true to their purpose and forsake the chance to reunite with his friend, or would he indulge himself and give away the souls of those who have not given their consent?
He did not have long, however. Soon, a shade towered above him; for once, Emet truly wished that it could be Hythlodaeus.
"Emet-Selch." - A familiar gruff voice echoed from behind him, not exactly a visitor Hades wished to come. He turned another to see an old man of the Convocation dressed in black robes, like Emet. He was one of their oldest and wisest, renowned both for his skills in rhetoric and magnificent concepts that inspired hundreds of researchers. Before the man spoke further, Emet was ready to give his response.
"I knew why you came here." - He sighed, realizing that his fleeting moment of peace was just cut short in the most abrupt manner.
"Your presence is required in the capitol." - Lahabrea said, encouraging Emet to focus on their matters.
"I have barely contributed to our previous discussion; I doubt that you require my presence."
"I am not blind, and I know that such silence is very atypical for you." - Lahabrea pointed out that he knew exactly what Emet felt, but even if he shared his feelings, he would not show a single sign.
"What would you have me do, I wonder?"
"No more than it is necessary. You have not given your vote yet." - Lahabrea said coldly, looking Emet-Selch in the eyes. Of course, this was the key process before deciding on their course. Each of the thirteen would be given an opportunity to speak their mind on the issue. Hades wished he knew what to say.
"I see…Has anyone spoken up yet?" - He wondered.
"Some have. Deudalaphon has made her intentions known; she is against further sacrifice, and Fandaniel and Halmarut are in agreement. I stand with Pashtarot, Mitron, and Loghrif on claiming the sacrifice's necessity. Others still ponder, yet we need a choice from each and everyone." - Lahabrea recounted, to no surprise of Emet's. He was one of the main proponents of this sacrifice, having no doubt that this was a fitting price to pay to bring back those who were lost. "I trust that you will not take too much time."
"And I know full well your expectation." - Hades shook his head. "You want me to vote in favor, do you not?"
"I want you to make up your mind, whether it be for or against. I have known you long enough to know you are a practical man; you know how much is at stake." - Lahabrea spoke with confidence. "Perhaps you have your own queries regarding the convocation's course?"
"Do you want me to speak the truth?"
"Only the truth."
"I am still wondering about what Apollo would have done had he been here…But I know his answer. He wouldn't have approved, would've looked for another way."
"He relinquished his seat and chose to abandon his people in the hour of need. What point is there to give him any more consideration?"
"Easy for you to say when he was nothing but an eccentric colleague for you…He was my best friend. One of my best friends." - Hades allowed a shade of grief and sorrow in his voice to be evident, and this seemed to change Lahabrea's disposition. The old man sighed and shook his head, sitting beside Hades and looking at him with sympathy.
"I suppose it is not for me to judge. Yet I know how it feels to lose one so close to you, to be betrayed by the one you put all your trust in…It shall take time and much of your resolve, but you have to let go." - He spoke with wisdom.
"If that is so, then why do we not let go of those sacrificed? Why is it that you wish to bring them back?"
"Because they are still there, awaiting their hour. Their lives were stolen away from them by the calamity, and they never got a chance to fulfill their purpose. They went to unimaginable lengths to save all that remains, and I believe that it is now our time to make those difficult choices."
"And what of our duty?" - Hades was still not convinced. "Were we not supposed to watch over the star, protecting the life it spawns and enriching its cycle. What enrichment is there to be found in destroying the life that found its way without our interference?"
"Do you not see? Don't allow your judgment to be clouded by sentiment. Our sacrifice is to bring back the stewards of our star that had their duties, too. With such a low number, we cannot even fully sustain our city, much less the entire world. The ones that remain have their spirits tarnished after loss; seeing their loved ones return will inspire them like nothing else…"
Lahabrea was about to continue, but another figure entered the park. White-robed Elidibus looked over Emet-Selch and Lahabrea, his eyes hidden behind the mask and little emotion coming from his white soul.
"Here you are." - He stated. "You need not waste your energy on arguing outside the capitol."
"How goes the negotiation?" - Lahabrea asked.
"I have managed to dissuade people from further inquiries, but our time is short. The will of our star is in trouble, and lord Zodiark himself demands a solution. We cannot ignore the light's power, for it only grows stronger." - He recounted calmly. Elidibus was the one closest to Zodiark and souls that rested inside him, often hearing his voice and reciting the god's will to the Convocation. "Both of you need to return as soon as possible and speak your minds."
"And have you spoken already?" - Emet asked, knowing the answer already.
"I am not to speak, only recount and assess. Be it his will or that of the Convocation, it is my duty to oversee those decisions and maintain our star's balance."
"Then we should be on our way." - Lahabrea stood up and took the lead; Emet sighed at the realization that he would have to face the rest of the Convocation. Perhaps it is better for it to happen sooner rather than later.
Yet the moment he stood up to follow Lahabrea and Elidibus, a sky-piercing shockwave raged above them. The three men fell to their knees due to such unexpected power, and when they looked up, the sky burned with a golden gleam. It was not faint anymore; the light had grown so strong as to pierce their eyes. The aura that Zodiark created above their majestic city was being broken by an unknown monstrosity from above.
"What have you done, Venat…" - Emet whispered before helping Elidibus get up. Lahabrea was the first to utilize protective spells of darkness around the three of them.
"What is going on?" - He asked Elidibus, hoping that his connection would provide an answer. The EmissaryEmissary clutched his head.
"The light grows stronger…Lord Zodiark cannot sustain it anymore." - He spoke with a shade of fear, uncommon for his current state. It was enough for Lahabrea to understand the gravity of the situation.
"We must return to the capitol, now!" - He commanded; Emet and Elidibus had no objections. The trio rushed out of the park, charging towards the capitol and the ten that awaited them there. They needed to find a solution and empower Zodiark while there was still time. The few people that remained on the streets gazed unto the skies with horror, praying to Zodiark that the chaos does not ensue. A futile hope for all of them.
"It is here." - Elidibus said as he saw the skyline transform, with Lahabrea and Emet-Selch seeing a feminine figure emerge beyond the golden aura. A figure distantly reminiscent of one of them, yet imbued with power beyond their limits. This entire world was in her hands, with thousands of lives simply lambs for the slaughter begging at her whim.
"What is it?" - One fearful voice uttered.
"Help us, please!" - Another one begged, looking at the three convocation members. It was a horrifying shame to admit that they have found themselves in the same position, not knowing how to stop it…How to stop Venat.
"Has she summoned another god?" - Lahabrea uttered in shock and disdain while Emet was enamored by the image above him. This angelic, mighty creature instilled despair and fear in their souls, once again making the Amaurotines feel powerless before a calamity. Another challenge for them is to overcome another trial of loss, fire, and faith, slowly wearing out their souls.
Yet, in an instant, Emet froze. He heard an echo in his mind, distorted and unintelligible, yet somehow hauntingly familiar. He looked to his side, seeing a bridge that appeared empty, yet there was something there, something that called to Emet with such power that he believed that this mysterious echo could be the answer to all of their questions.
"What are you waiting for?" - Lahabrea exclaimed, prompting Emet to follow, but he wasn't going to abandon this call. This mysterious place was a small spot where the light was powerless, and darkness reigned.
"Wait!" - Hades called, making Elidibus and Lahabrea stop. "Can you feel it?" - He pointed at the bridge. "There is something there, something pulsating with darkness, the echo…" - He tried to explain, only for Lahabrea to decisively shakes his head.
"There is nothing there." - He answered sternly. "Come on, we have no time to linger." - He was about to walk away with Elidibus following, but Emet would not abandon this call.
He manifested a magical axe in his hand, launching the powerful weapon into the exact spot. Surprisingly, when it reached the place, the weapon dissipated into oblivion as if consumed by something beyond their control. It left a few cracks of darkness there as if the fabric of reality was pierced in this particular spot, opening a gateway to a dark current. As the light engulfed the city, it was the place it chose to avoid.
"See?" - Emet pointed at the cracks, much to Lahabrea's surprise. "There is a current there; if we unleash its dark power, we will be able to stifle the light! Help me open it!"
Elidibus and Lahabrea looked at each other with the EmissaryEmissary nodding his head and following Emet's lead. Lahabrea had to accept his defeat eventually and join the other two.
The trio combined their dark power to power through, one spell after another, and they attempted to break this mysterious seal. The weaker it got, the louder the echo in Emet's head rang. He did not know why others could not hear it, but its presence was unmistakable. Eventually, the mumbling became short words, mixing into the simplest of phrases, and an enigmatic voice began to sound clear, even if Hades still could not understand who this was.
"Do not squander it. The legacy I leave you."
Moments after, the seal was completely broken, and a dark vortex emerged. It was a rift between their realm and the Underworld, a place that did not exist in any plausible sense yet was their salvation. Before any of them could react, the three men were dragged into it, separated from the physical world.
They found themselves amidst eternal darkness, three lone souls stranded. Three faint glimmers, violet, cyan, and white, flew through the rift, crying out in agony and wrestling with the chaos around them, yet they could not prevail even with their strength combined. The whirlwind of aether has taken over their bodies and souls, dragging them further into oblivion.
And yet, they could still see and hear the echoes from their world. They saw their people run from the wave of light in utter despair, kicking and screaming as this poison consumed them. They saw men, women, and children trying to hide or shield themselves with creation magic, only for all their attempts to be rendered obsolete. They saw their people screaming as the blade of life pierced their essence, tearing their flesh and soul apart.
There was no moment for tears this time, not when a horrific spell of destruction engulfed their city and no one was spared. Emet remembered how he tried to reach out, but this was only a fleeting image before him. He was too overtaken by shock to even begin to process that which had happened; it must have been the same for Elidibus and Lahabrea.
For a moment, they must have accepted that this was the end for their souls, that they lured themselves into a trap that would extinguish them once and for all. Yet moments after, they sensed a way out. Another rift formed right on the path of their flow, absorbing their souls and bringing them to the heart of this nightmare.
It was a blur, the one Hades remembered much more vividly than the enigma that unfolded before his eyes. He remembered his shock after finding himself back on Amamurot's surface of the stone, tossed towards it by the power of gravity as the shadows left him.
As the Amaurotine raised his head and looked around him, he realized that he was back on the bridge at the exact same spot he found a disturbance in the fabric, although it was not present anymore. Lahabrea and Elidibus lay around him, the former of which was slowly waking up while the latter remained unconscious.
"What…Happened?" - Hades heard Lahabrea's voice; even one of their wisest was puzzled.
It was then that both of them realized that the sky above them was bereft of light. Not a single cloud, a single spot remained. The night's sky gleamed above Amaurot with the distant stars sending fainting rays of their light. Silence has fallen upon the great city. All the chaos that erupted, the screams and horror, everything was purged in an instant. But something else felt wrong, too, although Hades could not quite understand. His usual sense of comfort was brought by many souls that he saw before him, yet now there were none left except theirs.
"They must be still there…" - Lahabrea looked at the capitol and said with hope. "Let us be off; they must know what occurred. I can only hope that the loop did not keep us for much longer than it felt." - He felt something was off, though, for someone not versed in soul sight, this realization would not come as stark as it felt for Emet. "Take Elidibus if he hasn't awakened yet. We…"
"Aaaargh…" - A heart-wrenching scream pierced their ears as the two saw the EmissaryEmissary open his eyes, immediately clutching his head with both hands, clenching his teeth and desperately resisting the pain.
"What's wrong?" - Hades asked cautiously.
"Our Lord…I heard him scream, all the souls, the voices…They spoke to me. He was pierced by her blade, all while I was away…And then it became fainter. So much fainter." - He spoke frantically, filling Emet and Lahabrea's hearts with horror. Did Venat take on Zodiark? Did she wound, or worse, kill their lord and savior? All those souls that were inside him?
They would not have to wait long for an answer, for it came their way. The trio watched a pale, formless creature crawl beside them. It did not have limbs, only a few tentacle-like formations, two miniature sockets without anything inside, and a small mouth with only a few teeth inside. A disgusting aberration that Hades would expect to come out of a child's nightmare. If not for one thing.
"Is this how the light's creations look? Unimpressive." - Lahabrea was about to extinguish it with a spell of fire, but Emet-Selch stopped him.
"It has a soul?"
"What?!"
It did. A fractured and faint one, but still distinguishable. Lahabrea, Emet-Selch, and Elidibus watched this creature in disbelief as it desperately crawled beside them, gulping as if trying to speak but failing at every turn. Seeing its soul retain a color, exactly as an Amaurotine's would, was surreal and terrifying. They could deny what they saw, but there was no point in prolonging their dread.
"It is one of us; it was…" - Elidibus uttered before looking at the nearby house and raising his hand. There were at least three more similar aberrations crawling near the stones, and each had a soul of a different hue. In fact, now Hades understood what had happened. This sent chills down his spine and an unimaginable fright through his head.
Every single soul became fractured. Divided many times in strength and glow, they were broken and fleeting, all exactly the same as those found in those disgusting creatures.
"All of them have become fractured, like this…" - Emet's lips quivered. "Every single one." - He said, watching genuine trepidation finally break through in Lahabrea's eyes. The Amaurotine approached the nearest creature, kneeling to examine it. Yet the second Lahabrea's hand touched it, the creature minced and recoiled from him. He did not pursue it, instead charging into the southern plaza.
Neither Emet nor Elidibus tried to stop him; they knew that his home was there, a home where Ericthonios awaited his return. The EmissaryEmissary remained silent. He could not speak, though Emet could barely imagine the whirlwind that was raging in his mind, for a new echo of thousand voices emerged, the souls that cried out in despair for their salvation.
He left for the capitol to see their brethren in the Convocation with his own eyes. Perhaps Hades should've followed, but he could not think clearly. The man simply walked beside the houses, watching the ruins that surrounded him.
He walked alone, gazing as the malformed creatures emerged, pitiful beings stripped of any powers or memories and forced to blindly thrash about. Their unintelligible screams made Emet wish he had gone deaf or perished altogether; it was impossible to look at them. For every time he saw one of those pale aberrations, Emet would know that it was one of their own, a soul that fell to her strike. He did not know how it was even possible for Venat to do this, but she pierced their entire star, wounding it in the most horrific way possible.
Only the three of them could retain their souls by the force of a sheer miracle, though that night, they were indistinguishable from those creatures, for they screamed too.
Screams of a broken father who witnessed his son turn into a faceless creature, all while he was powerless to protect him.
The agony of an Emissary who searched for his peers in the capitol, only to find that none were spared the strike.
Tears of a lone, broken soul who lost his best friends and now the entirety of his people amidst a dreadful nightmare that would never end. Tears fell on the floor and glittered beneath a newly created moon.
And here they were. Three men unsundered, three souls unbroken. Three brave little sparks, violet, azure, and white. Sparks that transcended time and space, braving those expanses together, falling amidst a stream of darkness and despair with their hope gleaming in the distance, yet always evading their reach. At times other, smaller sparks emerged before them. Green, grey, crimson, orange, and dark blue…The memories of those that were long gone yet still had a part to play. Ten of them in the endless cycle of death and rebirth, of remembering and forgetting again, drowned by their endless service. Only three persisted. Yet the azure spark was broken by a blade of burning light that extinguished it, and the white spark was corrupted and forced to fade by a traitor in their midst, burning away its shriveled shell. Many others left, abandoned them, or have gone as well. Only the lone, purple spark remained.
And now he has finally reached the light.