my arts!

Just another escape attempt gone horribly wrong. Maybe it was the lack of good boons (not that he’d ever blame his relatives for that), or maybe he was losing confidence in his abilities after several dozen times of trying to exit the Underworld and failing. Top top it all off, his father, the god Hades himself, decided to mock him one more time.

“See, boy? There is no way up for you.” Lord Hades didn't even look up from his paperwork to meet his son's eyes. “Are you finally ready to give up?”

“I've been making my way up, father.” Zagreus replied, sounding as aloof as always.

“What killed you this time? Was it the Doomstone, or a Skull-Crusher? Or maybe King Theseus himself all the way up in Elysium?” Hades pretended to read for the first time the paper in front of him. “Ah, wait, I see you fell to a small vermin.”

Zagreus managed to give his father a rather convincing smile. “Ah, but it was all the way up in the Temple of Styx this time.”

The prince wasn't going to despair. He knew it would take time, and his determination was still even stronger than the most powerful of his weapons. He decided to approach Achilles, maybe he had some new advice for him. Or maybe some old advice, which was more likely and equally as useful. As he walked to the hall where the forgotten hero guarded the place, he saw from the corner of his eyes a new shade. It must have died just after he arrived. It caught his eye when he saw it was talking to Hypnos, which was odd for a shade, especially one which had just been brought to the Underworld.

“I wouldn't worry too much, you must have chronic fatigue,” said the shade to Hypnos, “I am a doctor, you see? And it's nothing to worry about, did you know Florence Nightingale also had it? And that never stopped her. Well…”

The shade was awfully chatty, but Zagreus wasn't one to eavesdrop. Not right now, at least. He had better things to worry about than a weird shade, like speaking to his mentor. Unfortunately, Achilles was busy talking with Megaera of all people, which meant that, if he really didn't feel like listening in on other people, he had to go back. Go back and try once more not to get beaten, determined and alone.

“If Your Majesty would listen to me, I don't belong here.” It looked like the shade from before had reached his father.

“Your Majesty?” Hades scorned it. “I am Hades. And you are exactly where you belong, shade.”