The ache in his chest was unbearable. Hades ran his fingers through his chaotic curls, trying to settle this turmoil within. He glanced up briefly, let out a sigh, and stood up from his throne.
Minos glanced up from accessing the souls, and gave Hades a nod. Hope you feel better, friend, the silent dismissal spoke words.
The echo of Hades' exit left silent tension floating thick in the air.
Turning back to his work with Aiakos, Rhadamanthys, Minos decided not to think much of Hades' behavior. There was work to be done and Hades' abandonment the past few days has been hitting the judges hard.
Shaking his head, Minos focussed his sight at the soul of a child perished by the plague. The small boy had lived a short life and looked lost, so Minos directed him to drink from the Lethe. As the next soul approach the table, Minos glanced at the unending line of the dead.
The influx of souls entering the Underworld had increased by the tenfold and Hades was messing around with a maiden, Aiakos said the other day, shaking his head as he judged the next soul.
Minos contemplated the reason behind this new behavior of the King, but decided that it was none of his business and there was work to be done. He silently prayed for clarity to unfold upon his troubled leader.