Yes, and he finds answers.

Chapter 32: The life under the earth.

I awoke suddenly, my chest heaving as I jolted upright. My breaths came quick and ragged, my body drenched in sweat. The memory, vivid and overwhelming, still echoed through me like a thunderstorm that refused to dissipate.

"Whoa, easy there," a familiar voice said, steady and calming. I turned to see Iris sitting beside me, her hand gently pressing against my shoulder to keep me from springing out of bed. "You're okay. You're back in the world of the living." Her lips curled into a tender smile, her voice soft yet grounding.

"Iris?" My voice was hoarse, my mind spinning. I looked around, trying to piece everything together. The room was elegant, almost regal, with high ceilings and intricate carvings on the walls despite it's dark ambience. The bed I lay on felt far too comfortable for the underworld. "Where are we? Are you okay?!" My concern for her bubbled to the surface, overriding my confusion.

"One question at a time," she said with a soft chuckle, her voice carrying an edge of amusement. Her hand moved to brush the damp hair from my forehead. "First, I'm fine. We all are," she reassured me, her gaze steady, her words instantly soothing my worry. "Second, we're still in the underworld, but this is Hades' palace a guest room, specifically."

I nodded, taking a deep breath and letting her calm presence anchor me. "How did we get here? Last I remember, I was with Hades, removing Eclipse from the stone, and then..." I trailed off, the memory of unlocking the sword and the flood of visions, hitting me like a wave.

"After you passed out from that... burst of energy," she began, her voice steady but touched with concern, "Hades carried you here himself. He said you'd be safe while you recovered. The rest of us went through our own trials, and once we finished, we were brought here as well. Hades and Persephone gave us the rundown on everything that’s happened while you were out."

"Where are the others now?" I asked, relieved to know we were all safe but uneasy about how long I’d been ****.

"They’re in the throne room with Hades and Persephone, planning the next steps and talking about what’s going on in the mortal world. A lot has happened while you were out." She gave me a teasing smile, and before I could respond, she leaned forward, her lips meeting mine in a tender, lingering kiss. It was filled with warmth, reassurance, and passion.

I blinked as she pulled away, surprised but not complaining. "What was that for?" I asked, a faint smile tugging at my lips.

She smiled back, her expression soft but tinged with emotion. "I missed you," she said simply. "And I think... we both needed that after everything."
Her gaze grew more serious as she shifted slightly, taking my hand in hers. "Listen, about what happened in Sparta..." she began, her voice faltering for a moment.

"There’s nothing to be regretful about," I interrupted quickly. "You don’t have to—"

"Stop," she said firmly, cutting me off. Her fingers tightened around mine, her gaze locking with mine. "Please, let me say this." She took a deep breath, her voice steady but thick with emotion. "The group and I… we’ve talked about it. About how we acted. Even Hades gave us a lecture. You were right about meeting him being vital, and we’re sorry for doubting you. But Kayn... you need to trust us too."

Her hands intertwined with mine, her thumb tracing gentle circles against my skin. "You and I... we’re in this together. I love you, Kayn," she said, her voice breaking slightly. A single tear slipped down her cheek, and she let out a shaky laugh. "But I can’t stand seeing you carry everything alone. It’s not fair to you, or to us."

I reached up, gently cupping her chin and tilting her face so she’d look at me. "You’re right," I said quietly, my voice full of sincerity. "I’m sorry. There’s been so much on my shoulders, and I didn’t want to burden you with it. But that was wrong. I need you, I need all of you. I’ll do better. I promise."

She chuckled softly, her fingers intertwining with mine. "You idiot," she said, her tone affectionate. "You don’t need to handle everything alone. I’m here for you, always."

"Likewise," I said, a small smile tugging at my lips before I leaned forward to kiss her again, this time with all the gratitude and affection I could muster.
As we parted, she giggled, tracing a finger lightly over my chest in lazy circles. "You know," she said, her voice taking on a teasing, seductive edge, "I think you and I have some… unfinished business to take care of."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what might that be?"

Her smile turned mischievous, her tone dropping to a sultry whisper. "When we get back to Sparta... we’re having some alone time. Just the two of us."

"FINALLY.” I said in my head joyful My heart soared, though I tried to play it cool. "Uh, sure. Sounds like fun," I said, though my voice betrayed my excitement.

She burst into laughter, leaning in to give me a quick peck on the lips. "Never change," she said fondly. As she stood, she shot me a playful look over her shoulder, her hips swaying as she walked toward the door. "By the way, when you’re ready, meet us in the throne room." With that, she left, the door closing softly behind her.

“THAT’S MY GIRL!” Artemis said telepathically to Iris as she rolled her eyes at her reaction but still smiled happy how it all played out.

After gathering my belongings, I made my way to the throne room. The grandeur of Hades' palace never ceased to amaze me. Every detail of the architecture radiated power and finality. Columns carved from black obsidian loomed overhead, their surfaces glinting faintly in the eerie light cast by ever-burning blue flames. The air itself felt heavy, imbued with the essence of the underworld, a blend of reverence and unease.

As I approached the room, I could hear the group’s voices echoing off the vast, dark walls. They stood before Hades, who lounged on his massive throne, his chin resting thoughtfully on his hand.
Persephone stood beside him, her posture elegant yet commanding, her dark eyes alight with sharp intelligence. Despite the stories of their tumultuous past, there was a tangible connection between them, partners bound by purpose and duty.

“That’s why it’s vital he recovers all of his memories,” Noor was saying, her tone insistent.
“You agree, don’t you, Hades? His mana has grown tenfold since the last time I saw him, and that was before unlocking this latest memory.”

Hades regarded her thoughtfully. “And you’ve been training him?”

“Yes. And he’s learning quickly,” Noor admitted, though her voice carried a mix of pride and caution.

“Perhaps you should ask me instead,” I interjected, stepping into the room. All eyes turned toward me, surprise and relief flashing across their faces as I approached.

Hades was the first to acknowledge me, his deep voice resonating with warmth. “Chosen, it’s good to see you awake.”

“Hey, everyone,” I said with a smile, my gaze sweeping over my companions. Seeing them all safe and sound was a relief. Ikaro stepped forward, clapping a hand on my shoulder.

“It’s good to have you back, brother,” he said, his grin wide and reassuring. Entinos nodded in agreement, his stoic expression softening ever so slightly.

Noor, however, remained silent, her eyes fixed on me with a look of intense concentration. She seemed to be analyzing something beyond what was visible.

“Noor?” I asked, tilting my head. “You okay?”

She blinked, snapping out of her trance. “What? Oh, yeah. I’m fine.” A smile spread across her lips, but her gaze lingered, her curiosity evident. “It’s good to see you.”

I turned to Hades and nodded respectfully. “Hades.” My attention then shifted to the woman beside him. Her presence was commanding yet elegant, her raven-black hair cascading over her shoulders in soft waves. Her beauty was striking, but it was her sharp gaze that held my attention, it was as though she could see straight through me.
“And you must be…?” I ventured, addressing her with reverence.

She smiled, her voice warm yet laced with intrigue. “We haven’t met. I’m Persephone, queen of the underworld and Hades’ wife. You, Kayn, are quite the topic of conversation. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“The pleasure is mine, my queen,” I replied, bowing slightly. Her gaze lingered on me, as if she were piecing together a puzzle.

Hades’ voice cut through the moment. “I trust your trip down memory lane was productive?” He smiled knowingly, clearly aware of the significance of the memory I’d unlocked.

I nodded as I began retelling what the memory showed me, How I saw my life in Olympus with Athena and Apollo and how Ares challenge me to a Theomachy, how he disliked and try to find a way to show that the plan of me being the chosen of the gods was a mistake. The group listened intensely and thoughtful as I retold what I saw.

The room fell silent as I finished. Hades broke the tension with a nostalgic chuckle. “Ah, yes. That challenge. I’d nearly forgotten,” he said, glancing at Persephone, who smiled knowingly.

“You knew about it?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

“Of course. All the gods knew,” he replied, his tone turning serious. “It was the talk of Olympus at the time. But I can’t tell you how it ended, that’s for you to uncover. The curse on your memories is a delicate thing. Pushing too far would only cause you pain.”

Noor’s voice broke the moment. “Do you feel any different?” she asked, her sharp gaze still fixed on me.

I paused, considering her question. “Not really,” I admitted. “But… I do feel more liberated. Like I’ve shed a weight I didn’t realize I was carrying.”

“Huh,” Noor muttered, her sharp eyes narrowing as she studied me. “Well, you do look different, if you want my opinion,” she said, a teasing lilt to her voice but with unmistakable intrigue. She was referencing the stronger flow of mana coursing through my body since our return from Delphi. “Which brings me to…” Then, her gaze shifted, almost instinctively, to Iris.

Iris frowned, visibly confused. “What?” she asked warily.

Noor crossed her arms, her keen expression now focused entirely on Iris. “Are you going to explain?” she asked, her voice sharp but curious.

“Explain what?” Iris replied, irritation creeping into her tone.

Noor tilted her head, her mana senses honing in on Iris. “You think I wouldn’t notice?” she said, raising an eyebrow. “The mana flowing through you, it wasn’t there before, not like this.” She gestured vaguely toward Iris, as though drawing attention to the invisible aura only she could feel. “It’s… different now.”

The group exchanged glances, Entinos and Ikaro looking especially bewildered. “Uh, sis, what’s she talking about?” Ikaro asked, his concern evident. He looked to me, hoping for answers, but I could only shrug in confusion.

Iris hesitated, clearly debating how much to reveal. Her expression shifted from confused to startled as realization dawned. Her eyes widened, and she ran a nervous hand through her hair. “Wait… you noticed it?” she muttered. She exhaled sharply, clearly flustered. “Shit I was going to tell you all on my own time.”

Hades, standing off to the side, smirked faintly, as though amused by the unfolding drama.

“Well?” Noor pressed, still waiting for an answer.
Iris sighed, bracing herself. “Alright… as you all know, Hades sent each of us through our own trials, right?”

We nodded, the weight of our experiences during the trials still fresh in our minds.

“Well… I might have… gotten in contact with… Artemis.” She said trying her best to explain without sounding like crazy.

“This is going to be fun.” Artemis said to Iris telepathically

“Artemis?” Entinos asked, breaking his usual stoic demeanor. “The goddess?”

“The one and only,” Iris replied, her voice steadier now but still tinged with disbelief.

“And what exactly did she want with you?” I asked, my curiosity piqued. It wasn’t often that an
Olympian reached out to one of us directly, especially without my knowledge.

Iris hesitated again, then straightened her posture as if to steady herself. “She wanted… me to be her chosen.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with significance.
Noor blinked, her sharp laugh cutting through the tension. “Oh, come on,” she said between bursts of laughter. “You can’t be serious. Ahh fuck me my day can’t get any better.” But despite her laughter, her mana senses told her the truth. The change in Iris wasn’t subtle, her connection to the arcane was undeniable, the mark of a chosen as unmistakable as her own.

“Sis… you are not shitting with us are you?” Ikaro asked his sister.

“Why would I be joking about something as important as this?” Iris said firmly.

Ikaro’s reaction was immediate and… unexpected. “THANK ZEUS!” he bellowed, grabbing his sister in a tight hug and lifting her off the ground. He spun her around, laughing and whooping in celebration.
Iris blinked in surprise, then smiled despite herself. “You’re… not mad?” she asked, her voice softening.

“Mad? Are you kidding me?” Ikaro exclaimed, his voice filled with pride. “My badass sister is a chosen now! This is incredible! We’ve got an even bigger chance against the Erebosians now. Let’s go!”

Hades and Entinos shared a look, both shaking their heads, though there was a faint smile on Entinos’s lips. Persephone, watching from nearby, smirked knowingly, her gaze lingering on the siblings’ joy.

“Congratulations,” I said, smiling warmly at Iris. “Welcome to the club.”

Noor didn’t say anything at first, her expression a mix of pride and something else, perhaps jealousy, though it was fleeting. Eventually, she gave Iris a small nod. “Looks like you earned it,” she said, her tone softer than usual.

Iris met Noor’s gaze, recognizing the unspoken support behind her words. “Thanks,” she said, her voice steady now, a hint of pride shining through.

“If the celebrations have ended, I’d like to discuss something of importance,” Hades said, his deep voice cutting through the room as he stood. His piercing gaze met mine. “Kayn, I believe I’ve discovered a way to understand the curse that haunts you.”

I straightened myself, my intrigue piqued. “I’m listening.”

He clapped his hands, pacing slowly. “I believe the key lies in reclaiming items bound to your past. These objects are more than relics, they’re reservoirs of your locked memories and powers. When I found Eclipse here in the Underworld, Persephone and I spent hours analyzing the energies bound to the sword. They extend beyond the weapon itself.” He paused, allowing his words to sink in before continuing. “When you reclaimed it, my theory was proven correct. The curse loosened its grip, and a memory was recovered.”

“That… makes sense,” I murmured, my thoughts drifting to Dawn and Eclipse. “Both weapons restored some of my power, and that memory came without divine intervention, or even Lissandra’s magic back in Delphi.”

Ikaro leaned forward “So, what other items are we talking about here?”

“Good question.” I scratched the back of my head sheepishly. “I have no idea.”

Noor sighed and facepalmed. “That’s… helpful.”

“Perfect,” Iris muttered, crossing her arms. “Back to square one.”

“Not entirely.” Persephone’s calm voice cut through the rising frustration. She glanced at Hades, giving him a subtle nod to continue.

“For starters,” Hades began, “the Helm of Light, forged by Apollo, is missing. So are the Greaves of Dusk, gifted to you by him. But most importantly…” His expression grew somber, his gaze heavy. “The pendant."

A chill ran through me at the mention of the pendant, my chest tightening as if something long buried stirred within. “The pendant…” My voice faltered. "These items were the ones I used in the war?”

“Yes, some of them. Those are the ones I remember the most you should ask other gods especially Athena for more details… but I’m sure of one thing.” He said his deep voice echoing through the room “The pendant will hold a deep memory, I think it will be the hardest to find because it holds the most personal value to you… I can’t say why you should ask Athena for that….” He explained as we continue talking and planning ahead.

After further discussion, Persephone led everyone to the guest rooms. I lingered behind.

“Hades,” I called out. “Could I speak with you privately?”

He turned, his expression softening ever so slightly. “Of course. What troubles you?”

I hesitated, feeling the curse stir faintly, warning me to tread carefully. “It’s about Athena… and me.”
Hades’s brow furrowed in mild surprise, but he gestured for me to continue.

“I’ve been wondering since Delphi,” I said, the curse pressing against my skull like a tightening vice. I clenched my fists, pushing through the pain. “Were we… a couple?”

Hades’s response came in the form of a deep, rumbling laugh. “A couple? You two were inseparable. If it weren’t for the secrecy, known only to a few of us, like Apollo, Artemis, and myself I’d say you were soulmates.”

I stared at him, stunned. Soulmates? The word felt both foreign and familiar, resonating deep within me despite my fragmented memories.

He studied me, his expression softening. “You feel it, don’t you? That connection, even now. It’s there in every glance, every word exchanged between you. A bond of trust and love that defies mortal understanding. And I assure you, she feels it too. It’s killing her not to be able to fully reconnect with you.”

“…Yes,” I admitted quietly. “I feel it. But not being able to remember… it’s maddening. I don’t know how she copes with it.”

“She copes because she must,” Hades said, his voice tinged with a rare gentleness. “But you’re not alone in this. If you want answers, Kayn, you must break the curse. Only then will you reclaim what you’ve lost.” He placed a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm but reassuring. “You’ve been through much, but you’ve already proven yourself capable of more than anyone expected. Trust in that strength. Trust in yourself.”

As he turned and left, his words lingered, a steady presence against the storm of my thoughts. Alone in the dimly lit hall, I wrestled with the weight of his revelation and the distant echoes of a love I couldn’t remember yet couldn’t deny.