Now you can turn back like a good little man, or I can send you home the painful way. What'll it be?
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Now you can turn back like a good little man, or I can send you home the painful way. What'll it be?

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Near styx again
when did Hydra kill you again
yo what da fuck, are you seeing dis guy? whadda fuck!
Don't I want to see my Phyllis again...? Why, yes. That, more than anything, my friend.

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Oh my gosh I adore Hades so much, just everything about it omg
I also feel gender envy for Orpheus and Hypnos
Spoken, Not Said
Rating: T (for now)
Pairing: Theseus/Asterius/Zagreus
Warnings: Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Banter, Bickering, Theseus being Theseus, Slight spoilers      Â
CH: 2/?
WC: 5K~
Read on AO3
The multitude of reasons for why this is perhaps the foolhardiest thing Theseus has ever done in both his life and afterlife are made obvious the moment he exits his chambers to âfaceâ his opponent in Elysium Stadium.
During their last battle, the daemon would find moments to speak with him, detailing a plan to aid in their escape from Elysium and find the Bull, Asterius. It is a basic order of events; that of which Theseus easily could have concocted in his sleep, no less! Were that he a horrible trickster, such as Zagreus, that is.
Zagreus stands on the opposite end of the stadium, his daemonic sword at his side once more. Theseus has felt its blows too many times to count, and even now he raises his chin, having no intention of making his victory an easy one.
âSo you have returned again!â he calls boisterously. The crowds rise, cheering at the sound of his voice. Theseus grins wide with a practiced ease. âYou really must enjoy being bested by me to have come so far so quickly. Well, by the power of the gods, weâll see to it you remain yet in death!â
âNot even going to give me a chance to say hi?â Zagreus says, sounding bored. Truly, even though it may be within their shaky, agreed-upon truce, he is still but an uncouth, blatantly disrespectful creature. âLetâs get this over with. Iâve got to get to the surface by noon to share lunch with my mother, and Iâve no idea what time it is.â
Often his speech is constantly riddled with peculiar sentiments and senseless asides. Asterius had once remarked at how he could be humorous even not the worst of times. Ha! Theseus sees no humor in him.
âOn your guard!â Theseus roars, wasting no more time.
For all his preparedness, and despite knowing the truth lurking behind their shared façade, Theseus isnât able to maintain much of a façade in the face of all of Elysium watching him. He fights the daemon dashing about the hallowed grounds with everything he has, as he always does and always will, because he knows no other way. To lose is to fail, and to fail on purpose?
Even so, he is not the only one giving it his all. Zagreus wields his enormous sword as though it weighs nothing; he slams it against Theseusâ shield hard enough to rattle his core, and he is incredibly light on his feet. In a single instance, he is able to step away from him and appear behind, delivering onto him blow after blow until the blood pooling in Theseusâ mouth overflows.
Still, he cannot bring himself to yield. Asterius may be his most important and dearest friend in this undying life, but he is King; he is King Theseus of Elysiumâ
Suddenly, his internal monologue comes to a thundering halt. Theseus looks down in shock, finding a sword thrust straight through his chest, mere minutes after they began. His grip loosens, going slack, and his spear slips from his fingers.
When he wakes up, he is in his chambers again.
The fury he had felt just moments ago feels distant and faded. It will be minutes before it returns and he feels himself, as is to be expected. The river Lethe washes away their aches and pains, but so does it dull their sensesâtheir very memories if they allow it.
Theseus takes a few moments to stare at the architecture above his bed, admiring the intricate greenery surrounding figures in combat, as he so often does after losing a battle.
Movement out of the corner of his eye catches his attention. Since he was here last, a few butterflies have sneaked into his chambers and flutter by his bedside, surrounding the halfâeaten apple resting on the end table.
He sits up and slides to the edge of bed. There are several apples in a basket nearby, untouched thus far. He had gathered them himself to give to Asterius on their next win. Asterius is fond of the taste of a fresh apple, nearly as much as nectar when they happen upon it.
Something in his chest constricts, binding him to the spot until he can make himself stand and head for the door.
The daemon is standing outside his door when he steps outside. Theseus is immediately struck by the oddness of the situation.
By the gods, he thinks, taking a moment to drink in the sight of him before he notices his presence. Are we really to do this?
âOh good, youâre awake,â Zagreus greets him cheerfully upon noticing. His sword is free of blood and ichor, as though it were never there in the first place. âI made it look like I was going on ahead, then I came back around and bothered a few shades until I found your chambers. Is there a reason your doors are so big? Is it a test of strength to see if you deserve to lie down and sleep or something?â
âYou insult the great architects of Elysium!â Theseus yells, nearly as loud as when they are in the stadium. Zagreus winces, raising and lowering his hands in a gesture meant to imply he be quiet. Fool! As if he can contain him, as if he has any right to even stand within five feet of him, with his muscled arms and nimble fingers.
âAre you going to do that the whole time?â Zagreus bites, keeping his voice low. âAnd Iâll have you know Iâm very familiar with those whoâve worked on this place. Theyâre not all theyâre cracked up to be, trust me. And we should probably get out of here before one of your service shades or whatever comes to check on you.â
Theseus makes a sound of discontent. To hold a conversation like this with someone who offers little to no respect to those greater than him should not be well within these halls. His fist closes around air, aching for his spear.
I gave you respect, and you threw it in my face. Howâs that for respect, King?
Theseus grits his teeth and turns to march back into his chambers for his spear and shield. Moving beyond the fields into the unknown realms is unthinkable, but having Asterius taken from him even more so.
âDonât enter my chambers,â he tells Zagreus before he steps away, who has not moved an inch. Once his position is assured, he finds his weapons and returns, eyeing his unwelcome companion with obvious distaste.
Was he always slightly taller than Theseus? Had his height always escaped him, or is this another feeble attempt to gain one up on Theseus?
âYou are pathetically short, for a god,â he says upon approach, without thinking. He adds immediately after, âSo are your false claims thus far, though Iâve a mind not to believe a single word that comes from your lying lips!â
Zagreus looks at him then, and Theseus feels inexplicably exposed.
âListen, Theseus. If weâre going to do this, youâre going to have to try your best not to insult me every chance you get. I donât like bullies and Iâm not going to put up with it like Asterius will. Darkness knows why he does. He deserve so much better.â
Theseusâ grip tightens around his spear.
How is it that the daemon is able deflect everything Theseus says back at him, and much more painfully so? He is nothing; no, worse than nothing, and yet he would find ways to gnaw at Theseusâ insecurities.
Unbeknownst to his internal struggle, Zagreus carries on.
âWeâre headed to Asphodel first. Though Tartarus is our resident torture realm, itâs a little too close to the House. Asphodel is filled with magma and lava. Heâs got all that fur, so.â Zagreus shrugs. âIf any place was going to cause Asterius the most suffering, it would be Asphodel.â
He continues to speak, but Theseus is barely listening, too consumed by his own thoughts. He opens his mouth to deliver a tirade on who exactly is putting up with whom, when the sounds of shades walking the path near his chambers echo around them. They are not far off; seconds within seeing the pair, and Theseus flounders for a moment, panic settling in.
If he is seen with Zagreus, it will truly spell the end.
âCome on!â Zagreus hisses at him. He gestures in the direction opposite to the approaching shades and then takes off without waiting to see if Theseus has followed. Theseus is then forced to really consider their foolhardy quest.
Is it worth risking his position? Is this truly worth risking everything he has worked so hard for his entire natural born life?
His mind unintentionally draws up the memory of Asterius shortly after he was promoted to the realm of Elysium. He had knelt on the ground in front of Theseus, gazing up at him with something akin to wonder. Even kneeling, he was frightfully tall.
âWhat have I done to deserve this chance, King Theseus?â he had asked.
Sometimes still Asterius would ask him that question, or allude to it, and Theseusâ heart would be plundered.
How could he not see?
Theseus steels himself with a breath and moves to follow the direction that Zagreus went.
âGods, blood and darkness, gods, what am I doing? Why am Iâ?â
Zagreus lifts his head from where heâs worrying it between his palms when Theseus rounds the corner to the secluded spot. They are surrounded by lush greenery, obscuring other shades from peering in easily.
âOh, good, youâre here,â Zagreus says, sounding like he means the opposite. âCome on letâs justâfollow me. We need to move quickly.â
For once, they are in agreement.
Zagreus leads him through tunnels and passageways long forgotten by most of the shades that wander the fields. Elysium is still recovering from his most recent thrashing, so the way is quiet and undisturbed. By the time they reach the passage, that is when reality begins to crash over him again.
Zagreus looks back at him. He looks nervousâfrightened, evenâcasting him glances as if Theseus will turn around and pummel him with his spear. He would readily admit he is tempted, but his palms have become unreasonably sweaty despite the cool temperature of the realm.
âItâs just through here. Your pesky warriors wonât have come back just yet, so this is our best chance. Iâm hoping the Hydra hasnât reformed yet either.â
âLernaean Hydra?â Theseus gasps. He has always been aware that it guards the passage to Elysium, but to know they are knowingly trespassing through its lair is another thing entirely!
âKnow this, daemonââ
âZagreus.â
ââIf you are attempting to lure me into a trap, you will not succeed! Should you slay me, I will only return to my chambers, as healthy as I ever was! Nay, better than ever!â
âI know,â Zagreus drawls. âIâm risking a lot here, too, you know. If my father finds out Iâm leading the King of Elysium on a rescue missionââ he breaks off, then barks a laugh. âIâm not sure heâd believe it, if Iâm being honest. I canât quite believe it.â
âYour mind does seem remarkably unsound.â
The looks Zagreus shoots him is withering. He turns around, hefts his sword over his shoulder, and without another word stalks away towards the passage, disappearing past its glowing splendor.
Theseus hesitates, sweat pooling in every orifice. This isâthis is blasphemy. The daemon Zagreus will lead him to ruin should he follow.
Then he thinks of Asterius, suffering from a torment unknown, and he lifts his chin, moving his feet until he passes through himself.
âMake no mistake, fiend!â Theseus calls the moment he catches sight of Zagreus. Heâs standing at the center of a room with large pillars scattered about, staring at the lava as if he expects it will come alive. âI journey on this quest for Asterius and Asterius alone! Do not let my presence inflate your overimaginative ego.â
âOh, blood and darkness, you donât have sandals!â Zagreus cries when heâs close, ignoring his prior words completely.
âSandals?â
âI didnât even think about sandals.â He makes a motion as if to rip the hair from his head. âLook around us, King. I hope the shades of Elysium are fireproof. Or resistant.â
Theseus lifts his head and gazes at their surroundings. They are on an islandâone of many âsurrounded by lava and more islands. The molten liquid pools and drips over every orifice, and oh, the heat.
He no longer lives, nor breathes, but by whatever mechanism allows his body to continue with its existence has endowed him with the ability to sweat. The heat sinks into his skin quickly, and after a few minutes its oppressiveness threatens to steal his breath away.
âYou look well,â he tells Zagreus. âIt would suit your daemonic nature to find solace in this terrible heat, I am sure!â
Zagreus leans on his sword and regards Theseus. âI am Prince of the Underworld, you realize. If I canât stand a little heat, Iâd make a poor Prince. Besides, itâs not like Iâm fireproof. Just fire resistant.â
He lifts one of his flaming feet into view and Theseus does not admire its structure, nor how the flames create a gradient much like a flower in full bloom.
He scoffs, casting his gaze about until it lands on a structure far off their current position. A coliseum, it looks like.
âTell me, what lives on in that structure,â he demands, pointing.
Zagreus follows his finger and then nods. âThatâs the coliseum. Iâve only been there once or twice; mostly I stick to the lava pools. Itâs much faster. Thatâs the first place I think we should go. Giant pool of lava, no escape, etcetera. If Asterius is anywhere in Asphodel, heâll be there.â
The coliseum is foreboding in size even without the lava cascading around it. Theseus walks along the island rock to find a better angle for viewing, and he hears Zagreus sigh.
âAt least youâre not burning up on these rocks. Wellâ he pauses, and when Theseus looks at him, his eyes are glancing up and down his figure, taking in his sweaty appearance âno more than usual.â
His cheeks do not burn. âYour appreciation of me is noted. I, too, sometimes cannot help but marvel the way sweat gleams on these fine muscles.â
âOh, for the love of Aphroditeâ" Zagreus shakes his head and starts walking. Theseus has no choice but to follow.
That is not to say he is willing to stray behind like a lamb following its mother; he strides to Zagreusâ side, then even further, following whilst leading, as any King would do.
For most of the walk, there is silence. The Hydra has yet to reform, as have several of the souls Zagreus evidently dispatched prior to his trip through Elysium. Zagreus does not attempt to make conversation, and due to the heat and how carefully he must walk to avoid the hotter patches of magma infused rock, Theseus is quiet as well.
Eventually they reach a larger island that does contain a number of shades. Witches, Zagreus calls them. They wield dark magic that they send flying in their direction, but with Zagreus on the left and Theseus on the right, they are dealt with quickly.
âWeâll have to avoid the shades if we can,â Zagreus says. âWe donât want to risk any of them getting back to my father about all this.â
Theseus says nothing in reply, for once. His thoughts cling to the image of the wretched witchesâ still dissipating images. Watching his spear fly through the gut of one of the witches made an odd unease settle over his spine. These shades may be wretches sent to live in this unpleasant place, but they are shades all the same. He is not their King, but he feels something tug at him to destroy them so readily.
For Asterius, he reminds himself firmly. For Asterius, I will stop at nothing.
After they have fully dissolved into nothing, an odd glowing object appears before Zagreusâ feet. His face lights up, and then he presses his palm to the surface of it, revealing the symbol of...of Ares.
âWhat is that?â Theseus demands, walking up to peer at it more closely. âWhat is the Boon of a god doing here? Were these witches able to somehow gain their favor?â
Instead of answering, Zagreus faces the Boon and says, âin the name of Hades! Olympus! I accept this message.â
The Boon glows brighter, and shortly after the voice of Ares booms in the cavernous space around them.
âGreetings, my death-inflicting kin. I see your fighting spirit hasnât left you yet.â
Theseus watches in absolute bafflement as Zagreus is gifted a Boon of choice. He deliberates, whilst Theseus loses his mind.
âHe has gifted you a Boon!â he belts, at length. âAres, the god of war, gifting youâyouââ
He flounders, a rare occurrence on its own, and Zagreus looks at him as though he is the one acting strange.
âThey all have at some point or another. They want to help me reach the surface,â Zagreus tells him, as if it makes sense. âThough they donât know I canât survive up there for long.â
It makes no sense. The gods were generous enough to grant Theseus their favor, but only once he had proved himself a valiant and honorable warrior. He is the king of Elysium; he is deserving. This fiend; this wretch; this monster knows nothing. His supple flesh and his soft gaze know nothing.
Iâm a god, in case you forgot.
âYou are no god,â he says lowly. âIn case you have forgotten, the reason Asterius is currently being tormented is due to your neglect!â
âWho have I been neglecting?â Zagreus replies, blinking in response to his sudden aggression.
âYour duty! Your honor! You act like no god I have ever known, traversing around the realms without a care for those you hurt in the process. Asteriusâmy dearest friend, my brother in armsâhe is far more worthy than you!â
âDonât act like you know me,â Zagreus says, his tone shifting from agreeable to threatening. âI feel bad about Asterius, but thatâs my fatherâs doing. He doesnât have to stand in my way, but he does. He doesnât have to send you all after me, but he does.â Zagreus points a finger at him. âAnd anyway, you donât know anything about my father, or me, or any of the other gods. Have you ever wondered why Iâm trying to escape? Has it ever crossed your mind?â
âIgnorance swine, I think of you not! You are but to smear the filth trapped in recesses of my mind. Would that I could, I'd kill you where you stand!â
âBlood and darkness, I have never met someone so full of themselves in my life, and I lived surrounded by the worst shades mortals have to offer.â Zagreusâ fist curl at his side, and Theseus is suddenly aware of the slight glow of red coursing along his skin. His single wretched eye seems to glow even brighter under the dim haze of Asphodel. âI canât believe that Asterius puts up with you! Even at your best, youâre just a self-righteous ass.â
âYou dare bring Asterius into this! Have I not said you shanât invoke his name?â
âI am helping you find him!â Zagreus snaps. âHis name is going to come up!â
âThen try to restrain yourself! After all, he is missing because of you!â
âI am not my father!â Zagreus thunders. Theseusâ grip on his spear loosens as the world shifts, trembling underneath. Magma bubbles from open pockets in the ground. Zagreus is glowing with a dim, reddish light, and Theseus can feel Ares presence in the room, as though he is there.
Fear worms its way into Theseusâ chest. In that moment, gazing at Zagreus endowed with the godsâ favor, he isâŚ
He is beautiful.
Then, mere moments after the display, Zagreusâ fierce expression softens into concern. He backs away from Theseus, concern transforming into guilt.
âIâIâm sorry. The magma, the...I didnâtâŚâ Zagreus scratches the back of his neck, taking an aborted step towards Theseus. He raises his hand, then lowers it. âAresâ Boon always keeps me a little more on edge. I didnât mean toâI wasnât trying to hurt you. You didnât even say that IâŚâ He shakes his head, sending petals from his laurels floating into the air. âDarkness, you really do know how to get to me. I didnât mean to do that.â
Theseus is still brandishing his shield in front of himâan instinctive and defensive actionâand behind it his arms are trembling.
He really is like no other god.
âSo you claim,â Theseus says. The sensation in his chest has formed into a hard knot; he will not name it guilt. âIn this instance, I forgive you.â
The silence thereon after is distinctly uncomfortable. At length Zagreus sighs and motions for Theseus to follow him up the path towards the magma-drenched coliseum.
âLetâs just go. The sooner we find Asterius, the better.â
âFine by me!â
Theseus slams his spear into the ground and then theyâre off.
On the way, more shades rise to fight them. And on occasion, a Boon will be made available for Zagreus to take. There is always a message attached, and Theseus listens as each and every god and goddess expresses gratitude or interest in Zagreusâ well-being.
Itâs nothing like he expected. In the face of the mounting evidence contrary to what heâs always believed, Theseus doesnât know what to think.
Zagreus will sometimes look at him while he absorbs the Boonâs power, the expression on his face unreadable. Nothing about him changes physically, but Theseus can sense the difference now that he is so close. He feels like a fool for not noticing it before; for thinking that had somehow cheated his way into being granted their Boons.
Why? he wants to ask. Why do the gods help you?
Because they find me more worthy than you. Is that what youâre afraid to hear? that traitorous voice answers.
He angrily wipes sweat from his brow and charges ahead, past Zagreus and up the ramp leading to the coliseum.
Once they enter the coliseum grounds, Theseus understands why Zagreus claimed he could not do it on his own. Since embarking on their journey, he had his doubtsâso far, they had met little resistanceâbut in seeing the enemies awaiting them, he is more convinced.
âThat isâŚa lot of witches,â Zagreus says, peering around one of the pillars. From their position, they canât see much of the magma pool, and Theseus is aching to get a better view and spot Asterius there. âHypnos mentioned the witches were gathering their covens somewhere, but I didnât realize it would be here.â
âHmph.â Theseus squeezes past him and peers around the same doorway. âI can see now why you were so desperate for my aid.â
Zagreus shoot him a look. âDesperate is not the way I would put it.â
âStand aside, daemon. Iâll vanquish these foes posthaste!â
âWould you please stop calling me that?â Zagreus grumbles. He lifts his sword and starts inching towards the doorway, bouncing on the balls of his feet. Heâs never still for long, Theseus has noticed. Always moving, always eager to face the next enemy. Quite the opposite of Asterius, who stays calm and collected even in the face of certain death. âIâve dealt with these before. Stay far away, and keep your shield up!â
His advice soon proves to be sound. Zagreus dashes forward, sprinting with that same swiftness that Theseus in many instances has found dizzying. He hops from molten rock to molten rock, avoiding lava while slicing through the dark magic their enemies form and toss their way. Though Theseus has been forced with time to admit that Zagreus is an opponent to be feared, still he canât take them all, and several pockets dark magic surge past him and bounce off the pillars towards Theseus.
His shield stands firm, as does he. When he isnât strategically crouched behind its girth, he tosses his spear at witch after wretched witch. Several times Zagreus bears the full brunt of the witchesâ magic, and they burn him just as surely as they would a mortal. Zagreus however, is the son of a god, so he keeps going, until they have managed to work their way through the worst of it.
There are just so many. Itâs difficult for Theseus to find openings when there magic constantly cascades in his direction, nd Zagreus canât move in close on the largest grouping of witches due to the enormous lava pool blocking his way. Were he with the Bullâ
The thought stalls in his mind.
Such strategies are reserved for Asterius, he thinks firmly. Asterius may weigh more than two of him combined, but when they work together, tossing him towards Zagreusâor any enemy for that matter, is too easy.
And yet.
Asterius isnât here, so youâll have to make do with me. You want to die here and pretend that none of this ever happened, or do you want to win?
His fist tightens around his spear.
Whatâll it be, King?
Theseus lowers his shield to look at their surroundings. Zagreusâ shoulders are scorched, and his chest is heaving as he fights nearly single-handedly at this point.
For Asterius, he thinks.
âFiend!â he bellows, but Zagreus does not turn.
âDaemon!â he tries, but all that Zagreus does is crouch and burst forward, slicing through another swathe of magic. His shoulder muscles gleam with sweatâevidence of his efforts.
Swallowing down a curse, Theseus tries again. âZagreus! To me!â
Zagreusâ entire body jolts. He turns to face him, eyes wide, but there isnât time to marvel at his generosity. Once he recovers, he dashes to Theseus, and then, as he approached in range, Theseus calls out again:
âDash into my shield! I shall propel you to the other side where the witches are!â
For a moment Zagreus expresses confusion, then his expression hardens with fierce determination. He speeds up, as fast as Theseus has ever seen him, and when the pounding of his feet is close, Theseus heaves his body forward at the same moment that Zagreus lands on his angled shield.
He is heavy; it is a wonder that Asterius is able to toss Theseus across the stadium as easily as he does. And truthfully, this is the strategy that he and Asterius had planned to employ later. Heâs not certain heâs strong enough on his own.
But he will do it. He will not fail.
Theseus heaves him with a roar, hefting his shoulder against the weight of Zagreus pushing into him in preparing his own jump, and when he is released, he lifts his head over his shield so he can watch Zagreus sail across the lake of lava and land at the edge of the other island.
Theseus bursts into motion, getting as close as he dares while they prepare their next round of magics. As their attacks grow focused, he stabs as many with his spears as he can, taking out the ones that aim for Zagreus while he is otherwise occupied.
Several long minutes pass, and then finally, finally, they achieve their goal and vanquish them all.
âHaha! Yes!â Theseus booms, dropping his shield. He raises his fist triumphantly, and without a second thought he sets his shield into the lava and sends it towards Zagreus so he can make use of it as a makeshift boat.
This is what it is like to feel alive again. Surrounded by danger, circumventing certain death to achieve a goal and prove his meritâhe can feel his blood burning in triumph.
Zagreus returns to him grinning and bouncing on his feet; hardly the picture he should be covered in burns and dust from their magic. He walks up to Theseus and Theseus to him, and together they clasp their right hands, as brothers in battle would.
âThat was amazing!â Zagreus says. Both of his eyes burn into Theseus. The green one is a beautiful, shining emerald, but the otherâ
Realizing just who heâs embracing, Theseus scrambles backward, still out of breath and sweating fiercely.
âYou should not forget why it is we are here!â he says loud enough to drown out the pounding in his chest. âWhilst my skill is impressive, donât let it get to your head.â
âOf course not,â Zagreus says. He cocks his head to one side and regards Theseus, still smiling a joyous, disarming smile. âI wouldnât dare, King.â
There is an odd fondness in the way he says his title. âSee that you donât,â Theseus replies, relieved his voice remains even, since his heart refuses to.
He ignores the fluttering in his chest and moves to pick up his shield, only to pause once he realizes it still glows from the lavaâs heat.
âI can hold onto that for a while,â Zagreus says behind him. âIf youâd like.â
Theseus stares down at his shield, hands on his hips.
âI would never leave my precious shield in your hands, fiend,â he says, but it lacks the heat usually reserved for Zagreus. âSince we are already in a rush to find Asterius, Iâll overlook it this time.â
With that settled, he grabs his spear and glances around.
âNow: where is he?â
Zagreus sighs and reaches down to pick up Theseusâ shield. Though it still glows from the heat, he merely adjusts the way the handle rest in his hands.
âI thought he might be in the center of all that lavaâfather has punished a few people by leaving them thereâbut maybe heâs⌠Somewhere else in here.â Zagreus bounces from foot to foot, revving himself up. âIâm going to take a look around the more lava-ridden bits. You circle the outer ring and Iâll meet you up top.â
âMake it quick,â Theseus says. Zagreus nods, distracted, and hefts the shield over his shoulder. Then he jogs in the opposite direction, leaving Theseus to his own devices.
They search high and low, but due to the coliseumâs open passageways, itâs obvious very quickly that Asterius is not being housed there. There are several shades living in the coliseum, minding themselves, but when Theseus probes them for information, they have nothing to offer.
The hope that had been slowly flitting inside him is quickly dashed. He makes his way to the top of the coliseum, feeling like a fool, and when he arrives, Zagreus is already there. He appears pensive, and at the sound of Theseus approaching, he turns to face him.
âWell, it looks like heâs not here. There are few more places in Asphodel Iâd like to try, but if heâs not thereâŚâ Zagreus trails off uncertainly.
âYou brought me to the sorry place just inform me that Asterius is not here?â Theseus places his hands on his hips. âYou claimed you knew, yet youâve dragged me to this place and not a scrap of him to show for it! I should have expected as much.â
âI said I know where he might be. Thereâs more to Asphodel than this coliseum, Theseus.â Zagreus frowns. âWe have a few more places to check.â
He doesnât say what he expects to happen in the event that Asterius is not in Asphodel and they must confront other realms. Theseus also doesnât want to consider its implications, so instead they agree to continue their search. After all, what choice does he have? He has set in motion events that he cannot back away from. Even though his body aches and he is covered in sweat in a way he hasnât been since he was alive, he will not falter.
He will find Asterius, and they will go on from there.
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couple of lads flower picking in elysium ... @zagriusÂ








