THEBES UNDERWORLD

Erianthe felt empty at that moment, kneeling on the floor of the hospital room, remembering again the last days she spent with her father before he left. She always tried to be strong and positive, but she couldn't deny that the memory still hurt.

Hades watched as the girl sobbed, and every now, and then he heard the girl saying "daddy", like a faint whisper. He had been watching her all day, and he already knew what her Achilles heel was—her family. It was obvious that they were the most important thing to her, especially her father and how traumatic it had been when he went off to war. He had to admit that this situation made him uncomfortable. To him, family meant nothing, and all this sentimentality disgusted him, but in part, he knew how she felt.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but ironically, it took him an eternity to witness Erianthe cry, and he didn't understand why, on earth, a part of him wanted to comfort her. "This isn't like me at all. I don't know what this child is doing to me," Hades thought.

Suddenly, the door to the room opened, and the guy from the quarry appeared. "What's that damn brat doing here?" He wanted to blast that kid, but he had to calm down and not make himself obvious, or they might notice that the room was getting hot.

"Eri, what are you doing? Get up!"

Eri just looked at him. Her eyes were swollen from crying. It bothered her that Patroclus was talking to her that way. She was beginning to feel trapped in that room. The walls were getting closer and closer, as if they were going to crush her and consume her in agony and sadness. The loneliness in her heart felt like she was a prisoner.

She had always been able to count on her childhood friends, and although circumstances had kept them at a distance, they had always been able to help each other, especially her best friend Patroclus. He was there to support her and keep her feet firmly on the ground, not dwelling on her suffering and struggling to move forward. He was always reaching out to her and reminding her that they had to overcome any adversity.

She glanced towards the corner of the room and could still sense the presence of that being due to the faint smell of sulfur. For some reason, she felt embarrassed that this person had witnessed something so personal. It was still difficult for her to decide if it was good or bad. She was not that naive, and something told her that this presence could bring trouble, "although talking to him is nice".

Patroclus was right and could not be "defeated" by the words of that woman:

"Don't tell me you've been eavesdropping." Eri answered. She knew her voice sounded dry and raspy, but she simply didn't want anyone to see her or, as Patroclus had done, to hear how vulnerable she was.

"I wasn't going to leave you alone in the hospital, and especially not when I saw that pervert of Pancras and that high priestess witch."

"It's like you're not a pervert, hahaha. You know you can't be here."

It was true. If they discovered he was there, he could get into a lot of trouble, as it was forbidden to forge any kind of relationship beyond your family. It was an absurd law of the king to divide the population and keep the distance between everyone.

"Ha, ha, you're very funny." The boy exclaimed with pride, "I know how to admire a woman's beauty."

Eri couldn't stop laughing. Patroclus had a funny sense of humor; he rarely showed that side of him, but he always did with Erianthe.

"As the saying goes, family breeds contempt." She thought amusingly.

"Thanks for coming, Pat, but don't just stand there and help me up. My back is aching."

"You're acting like an old lady, hahaha. I'll have to grease the wheels on your cart."

"Stop making fun of me. I've been attacked by a manticore. Everything hurts, even my eyelashes," she replied, pretending to be annoyed.

"I'm telling you, you're getting old."

"You should respect your elders, Pat."

"Pff, don't give me that, Eri. You're only 5 minutes older than me."

"Enough for you to respect me as the eldest!" said Erianthe with an air of self-sufficiency.

After that comment, the two looked at each other and started laughing. The truth is that they enjoyed those moments when they joked and had fun; basically, they were still kids who had to carry the responsibilities of an adult.

Hades looked at them with irritation. It pissed him off that they got along so well, and had such an intimate relationship. But he understood that they were born on the same day, almost at the same time, so they had been raised together all their lives. Which meant he could not possibly compete.

"The brat will know when I get the girl for me. He won't be able to joke anymore", thought the god of the underworld, while he was already scheming his plan.

Suddenly, a noise was heard outside the room, and the two boys immediately shut up. Luckily, it was a nurse who was going to the next room, but that was the signal to start thinking about getting out of there.

"Patroclus, help me to pick up everything. We have to get out of here. I have a bad feeling," and without saying it twice, the young boy picked up his friend's belongings and helped her to get up.

"Ouch! It hurts," complained the daughter of Hercules. Although her injuries were not serious, she felt that her body was numb, so Patroclus decided to carry Eri on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"What the hell are you doing? Put me down!" Erianthe was very embarrassed by this situation, but she really had no choice.

"Do not complain. Come on! Let's get out of here before the guards come in. I have a gut feeling that they will come looking for you, and if they catch me here, it will be even worse." They went out the door quietly.

Lucky for them, there was no one around, and they were able to go straight down the corridor to some auxiliary stairs, which not many people used.

Patroclus was a skinny guy, but he was strong and fast; carrying Eri, who didn't weigh much, and racing as much as the situation allowed him, was a piece of cake.

They walked down the stairs to the basement of the hospital because there was a secret there. The fact is, there was a subway hospital dedicated to the community that could not pay the medical expenses—basically, almost the entire city. It had been the idea of Hippocrates himself, who always thought of curing others above their social status, regardless of whether they could afford it.

Anyone who went down to the basement would not see anything out of the ordinary. Behind a tattered shelf was hidden this clandestine place, which also connected with several places that wanted to go unnoticed in the eyes of the king.

Patroclus moved the shelf, and the two passed. Although he was about to close, he noticed that something else was going on, as if there was another person, but he did not see anyone, so he did not give it any importance. What he did not know was that the Lord of the Dead himself was following them and was curiously observing this new place.

"What a filthy basement," Hades thought. The room was big and plain. It had many columns and some torches that made it look dark. It feels like home, but with living people instead. And he was not wrong.

Throughout the room, there were many stretchers, several of them together with injured or sick people, almost on the verge of death.

"Hold on, Pat. Put me down. I'm going to change in the janitor's closet over there; I'm still wearing my hospital gown," said Eri because she couldn't go on like that.

The boy asked, hastily, "Do you need help?"

"No way. I'm old enough to tie my sandals. Besides, I'm not going to let you grope me," Eri told him, even though she knew he was teasing her.

"That's so Meg," Hades thought.

The boy laughed and put Erianthe down on the ground. He quickly went to the closet and changed into her work clothes. They were dirty and stained with blood.

"Damn," Eri thought, knowing she'd have to come up with an excellent excuse to show up at home looking like that.

"Okay, I'm ready. Where should we start ?" She couldn't finish her question because a boy on crutches approached them.

"Guys! What brings you to Thebes underworld? Are you here to deal?"

"As if you were a drug dealer, Tadd," Patroclus shot back at him.

"Oh, come on, you guys have no sense of humor." Tadd was a short boy due to a problem with his legs. When he was a kid, he had an accident that almost left him paralyzed, but with great determination, he regained some mobility. However, his legs never fully developed properly, which is why he needed crutches to walk. Despite this, he always had a great sense of humor and remarkable intelligence. In fact, everyone who knew him knew he was a genius. "So, what brings you… by Hera, Erianthe, what happened to you? You look, you look."

"Hurt?"

"No, I was going to say horrible, but that's also a good question. Are you hurt?"

Everyone stared at the boy in disbelief, though Patroclus and Erianthe were already used to him. Hades, on the other hand, was stunned and thought, "Great, a weirdo."

"Well, you see, Tadd."

"She was almost eaten by a manticore. What do you think?" Patroclus cut Eri off.

"Hey!"

"Awesome! Did you know manticore tails carry a paralyzing venom? You were lucky it didn't paralyze you, Eri."

"Wow, I didn't know that. I'm glad it didn't happen."

"Tadd, will you walk with us to Ilena's tavern? We need to get Eri out of the city."

"Sure, no problem. Follow me."

They started walking, dodging the many stretchers scattered around. They remained silent for a while until Tadd decided to break the silence.

"What kind of trouble are you in, Eri?"

"The high priestess showed up in her hospital room," Patroclus answered before Erianthe could respond.

"Mmm, I see. So, she revealed your identity, and I imagine she's proposed you go to the palace to serve the king, right?"

Erianthe was always surprised by Tadd's quick wit. He was incredibly sharp and could connect the dots in no time, making him the best strategist, though he wasn't the best at dealing with people. Still, he was a brilliant guy who could always be trusted.

"Yes, she suggested it."

"I imagine you're going to say no," Patroclus retorted.

"I can't refuse. If I do, they'll kill my family."

"You know perfectly well that if you enter the palace as a courtesan, you'll never be able to leave."

"I know, Pat, but I don't have another choice. Money is scarce at home, my mother's health is not great, and we need to buy more medicine," Erianthe said with sadness.

"Then bring her here, and Hippocrates will try to find a permanent cure."

"No, she doesn't want to come to Thebes. Not since what happened years ago."

"But Eri, if you enter… you know about the disappearances, right? We're certain the king is killing all the girls who enter the palace."

"Did Evan tell you?"

"Yes, you know, he's infiltrated to become part of the royal guard."

"Although he has inside information, it will be another year or two before he becomes an actual royal guard, so our plan will be delayed even further." Pointed out Eri. Tadd stopped and looked at her with a serious expression.

"Are you suggesting we move the plan forward? Do you want to be the one to open the palace doors for us?"

"You all know, as well as I do, that it would be the best option. We need to overthrow the king."

"But Eri, you could put yourself in danger—"

"Actually, Pat, it's our only hope."

"What? What are you talking about, Tadd? You know they could kill her!"

"I know, but you're well aware that the people in the palace are up to something. Aside from the disappearances, there have been more raids by the guards. Haven't you noticed how packed the hospital is? More than usual. Whatever the palace is plotting, they're accelerating it, especially now that they've sent the high priestess to find a courtesan for the king."

"Pat, I'll be fine. Don't worry."

"Yes, but you're going to have to hide until then. You won't be able to go to the quarry."

"I still have to work!"

"Eri, they know who you are! If we hadn't left the room, the guards would've arrested you and thrown you into the dungeons until you turned 16."

"You're right about that, Patty"

"Don't call me Patty, you idiot," Patroclus snapped, irritated by the nickname his friend used.

"Hahaha, you are easy to provoke, but you are correct. Eri has to hide. They won't let her escape now that they've found her. You did the right thing, but there'll be more raids to find her."

Erianthe lowered her head, not wanting them to see her face. It hurt her to think that things would get worse because of her. She had always tried to remain unnoticed so that no one would find out who she was.

Hades watched her. He was pleased with the chaos, despair, and odor of death that filled everything—a putrid, nauseating smell. But he didn't like that the girl was becoming the key to their supposed plan. He was the only one who should have the power to make her suffer eternally, but he didn't want her dead yet.

Erianthe stopped. A hand rested on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Patroclus' face.

"Don't worry, Eri. We'll make it work, I promise," he said with a gentle smile.

"You convinced me, okay? But I'll hide on my own. Luckily, I live in the countryside."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, besides, how am I supposed to disappear for six months without my mother knowing? Or without giving her money for food or medicine?"

"True. Well, that makes me feel better."

After making their way past the hospital and seeing people miserable, with amputations, ulcers, etc. They arrived at a network of tunnels, which thankfully Tadd knew by heart as he traveled them every day. He lived underground due to his disability, since if he were caught, they would execute him for not being a useful citizen able to work. When they reached a large door, Tadd pulled three masks from his bag.

"Guys, put on the masks. We need to keep our identities secret," he whispered. Once he saw everyone had put on their masks, he knocked three times, and a small hatch in the door opened.

"Password."

The boy on crutches said happily, "Blessed are the tavern owner's breasts."

The door opened.

"Well, well, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the underground tavern of the Children of the Revolution!"

Surprise! Another chapter is translated.

I hope you like it! I hope to be able to translate more chapters soon, maybe tomorrow or next week. So, I could keep up with the original story.

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