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“Io ti ricordo, Narciso, avevi il colore della sera, quando le campane suonano a morto.”
“I remember you, Narcissus, you had the colour of evening, when the death knell rings.”
-Pier Paolo Pasolini
Once upon a time, when humankind was still in its infancy, the gods dominated the cosmos.
There existed a myriad of realms, as numerous as the substances found upon the Earth, and each was naturally decreed to govern one of these realms; and natural, too, were the wars they often waged against each other, so intense were their jealousies and thirst for power that even such perfect creatures were blinded.
At the close of the most sanguinary war in divine history, when celestial armies tore mountains and seas apart, and levelled hills, five factions prevailed, led by five deities as ancient as the universe itself: Akasha became sovereign of the heavens, where great eagles soared, Maharet of the waters where fish and nymphs swam, Pandora of the fire that the giants fed upon, Enkil of the earth where newborn men walked.
And Marius, victorious over many but ultimately defeated by Akasha, was invited to govern the invisible world whose heart lay in the planet’s core, the Avernus.
The god welcomed with joy the advent of his subterranean kingdom for he greatly disliked his spiritual brethren, and for centuries dedicated himself to ruling alone and to the arts; but eternity weighed heavily on his soul, and one day he sought to ascend to the surface.
He ventured into the forests of the continent, captivated by the sounds, the colours, and the presence of humans that filled the place, but before returning from his stroll, he was struck by the crystalline voice of a youth with dark skin: he turned his face, and his the cherubic beauty, adorned by a halo of black curls and amber eyes, caused Marius's heart to quicken.
Determined to possess such a rarity at any cost, he struck the grassy ground with his foot, causing a mighty earthquake, before he dragged the youth down into the Underworld.
In vain were the pleas of the boy named Arun to be returned to the surface; the god of the Underworld kept him by his side for long, interminable years. He was compelled to ingest food not meant for a mortal and thus remained bound to the invisible world, becoming a full inhabitant of the nether capital.
As time passed, Marius's lust grew ever more strong, and, unable to control himself, he went beyond bounds.
He raped the youth many times, heedless of his weeping, and after various escape attempts that were never entirely successful, Arun surrendered to the god, allowing his name to be changed to Amadeo and Marius to dispose of him as he pleased.
But Amadeo's submissiveness turned into blind fury, and he waited.
He waited a long time, disdainful of the riches the god bestowed upon him until the opportunity for revenge arrived.
He waited until Marius placed complete trust in him. Then, he took advantage of a spring night to slip out of the bed to which the god usually held him fast with his powers, silent as one of the shadows that kept him imprisoned.
Before leaving, however, he noticed the formidable weapon that the immortal always kept close by, resting near the bed, and a savage fury seized him: before Marius could react, Amadeo seized the blade and plunged it into his neck, killing him.
No god attempted to save Marius, for he had been stained by a terrible crime in abducting a mortal, and the youth’s wrath inspired too great fear.
The divine weapon possessed a spiritual power unbearable for a mortal: it began to consume Amadeo's body, but the pain concealed within his soul was uncontainable. A few drops of the immortal's freshly spilt blood splashed onto his lips and the essence of his being changed.
His muscles became lithe, his bones more robust, his eyes ignited with a reddish hue, and his skin glowed with a mystical light.
The very foundations of the Earth shifted, and the realm of the Underworld took on new features.
The souls of the dead bowed to pay homage to the new King of the Underworld.
Arun died, and Amadeo survived.
The sum of his two lives gave birth to Armand, a resentful spirit, thirsting for blood and vital forces.
For decades, his outbursts of wrath reaped thousands of victims, even among the lesser deities, and their blood flowed into a small stream that swelled to the point of becoming a long river that coursed around his residence.
Of no avail were the offerings and sacrifices of humans, even less so the alliances of the immortals.
Armand was implacable.
One day, his fury subsided, his spirit calmed, and the Underworld transformed into a place of order and uncompromising justice. Armand graciously accepted the visits of divine emissaries and treated lost souls with even greater kindness; however, he showed no interest in forging close ties with external realms.
A trace of his past temperament was only discernible if one attempted to enter his kingdom without prior authorization: then the god unleashed his immense powers upon anyone who crossed his path, his eyes blazing and his glassy fingers pointed in accusation.
He formed brief friendships with the souls of the blessed and was sorrowful at not being able to stray far from the Avernus in the early decades. This was due to his being a god still too young to bear the distance from the realm, the source of inexhaustible lifeblood. The pain of the abuse subsided but did not disappear, leaving a large, poorly healed wound upon his heart.
On the first day of his five hundred and fourteenth year of life, an unauthorized visitor disrupted the defences of the Underworld. This visitor had inexplicably managed to bypass the control of the ferryman of souls and the infernal wolves without being noticed and proceeded directly to the obsidian gates of his palace without being intimidated by the river of blood.
Then, Armand decided to take the situation into his own hands and, not without effort, managed to capture the intruder.
His feared wrath, however, soon faded into pure surprise, so much so that he forgot to use his powers, for he found himself face-to-face with a mortal.
He was of an age close to his own before he had shed his human vestiges, with brown curls and fair skin, whose posture exuded confidence. His expression appeared nervous, but nothing more.
Centuries had passed since he had last seen a mortal alive, yet nothing seemed to have changed on the surface apart from the clothes!
-How dare you cross the threshold of my kingdom?- he demanded, his voice so harsh and powerful that it made the very walls of the throne room tremble. He set aside his divine form, towering over the boy's short stature, and shifted into a mortal body.
The youth seemed to be at a loss for words once he had studied the god's face, until a moment before concealed by a layer of shadow. Now he had the decency to appear frightened.
-I... I don't quite know how to answer that question, my lord. I was simply curious to learn more about this kingdom; it is spoken of so much in earthly myths.-
-So you enjoy comprehending that which lies beyond your grasp, mortal?
-The... the tales of this place have so obsessed me that I wished to see it with my own eyes. I meant no disrespect, oh noble god!-
How had a young, insignificant mortal managed to find the access point to the Underworld and enter undisturbed? It was simply impossible.
-How did you evade the security? From where did you enter?-
At that question, the boy seemed genuinely confused, his emerald eyes darting about frantically in search of any possible escape route.
-Do not strain yourself in vain, boy. You cannot escape, so I advise you to tell the truth.-
-I... I do not know! I simply entered through a fissure within a cave and walked for hours. I neither hid nor found any alternative paths.-
Armand scrutinized his mind, searching for flaws, for lies hidden within the folds of his brain. He found nothing, only the pure, simple truth.
He took a step forward, and the boy instinctively took a slight step back.
-You are not afraid. I know not whether that is an admirable or foolish reaction.-
-At first, I was frightened- admitted the mortal, staring at him as if in a trance. -Especially when I saw the river of blood. But now... I look around and fear nothing. As if I have known this place forever, my lord.-
Armand was deeply struck by those words, though he strived not to show it. He had never heard a mortal speak with such calmness of a place that should not even exist within their perception of the cosmos. Every fibre of his being warned him that something greater was happening, something that defied the laws of the realm he had governed for hundreds of years.
He decided to heed his sixth sense, for he had nothing to lose; at most, if he could not gain anything useful from the situation, he would at least have the opportunity to update himself on human progress.
He raised a slender hand and commanded the shadow servants to escort the boy to a chamber. In a flash of cruelty, contrasting with his thoughts just moments before, he considered torturing him. He even considered sending the corpse back to Earth. However, the moment when he had been imprisoned in the Underworld vividly came back to him, and he felt ashamed of his wickedness.
Of course, the intruder was there of his own accord, yet he could not act in such a manner, not knowing what it felt like to be at the mercy of a capricious god.
No, he would not imitate Marius.
-What is your name?-
-I do not believe it serves you to know my name, my lord. I am an insignificant being.-
-Answer my question.-
-Daniel. My name is Daniel.-
What an interesting name! Simple to remember and even easier to roll off the tongue, devoid of unnecessary frills.
-Very well, Daniel. You shall be my welcome guest for a while, but do not leave your chambers without my permission or company. We shall speak later.-
The boy widened his emerald eyes as if he could not believe his ears. -Will I not be killed?-
Upon closer inspection, he truly was fascinating.
-I know the stories that circulate about me in the earthly realms, but the time for vengeance has passed. What you know of me is true, yet you do not know the whole story, boy. I have decided to be good with you. Do not make me regret it.-
Before being taken away, Daniel gathered the last crumbs of courage remaining within him and posed a question to which he had not answered for centuries.
-And how may I call you, my lord?-
His heart skipped a beat. How long had it been since he had spoken aloud the name he had chosen for himself?
-Armand. Just Armand.-
Something akin to interest flickered in Daniel's gaze, who should have been kneeling and praying for his life as a mere mortal.
He seemed so vulnerable, so fragile, yet there was something unidentified that tremendously intrigued Armand. A tiny seed of curiosity took root in his immortal soul. This prompted him to assign Daniel apartments of the utmost comfort, instead of a small and cramped room to ensure he did not suffer from his captivity, instead of a small and cramped room near the Asphodel Meadows.
The god's mouth curved into a barely perceptible, melancholic half-moon. Perhaps the reason for such unusual solicitude was due to weariness, to the years that weighed upon his shoulders. And Daniel's interested gaze towards him, accustomed to being invisible, made him feel a strange pressure in his chest.
Perhaps he was tired of being alone.
Perhaps he hoped for someone to confide in.
Daniel's company lasted for a long time; months flowed by without either of them realizing it. The first days had passed with Armand trying to persuade him to go out in his company, but he only received a frightened look from the other, who still did not fully trust him. After all, he was a prisoner.
Once the initial diffidence had passed, Daniel had accepted his condition. He stopped feeling like a puppet without strings and began to spend hours in Armand's company. He shared his curious and firmly trusting personality with Armand, acting as his teacher and informing him about human history and the technological discoveries he had not been able to witness. He also shared the vicissitudes of the deceased.
He had also explained that he was a journalist, what his profession entailed, and that he had ventured into his realm because he yearned to know the truth about the myths he had been taught at university, especially after some night dreams seemed to have invited him to go to the bowels of the Earth.
The boy's presence and his brazen vitality delighted Armand, making him feel human again.
To repay Daniel for the conversations and teachings, Armand asked his servants to procure earthly food, ensuring he wouldn't be confined to Underworld fare. He also revealed details of past eras and took Daniel on a tour of his kingdom, showing him the places where the damned were relegated, the spirits of the Asphodel Fields, and the gentle souls of the Elysian Fields.
They walked up the gently meandering hills until they reached the gates of Tartarus, and took boat trips on the four tributaries of the Underworld.
It mattered little to Armand that he was sharing such significant secrets with a mortal. By now, Daniel was too deeply involved in the invisible world to remain ignorant of its history or geography.
Meanwhile, their bond deepened, evolving into mutual, profound complicity. Armand trusted Daniel, the mortal he had prevented from returning home, so much that he confessed the truth about Marius and his ascent to godhood. He was surprised when Daniel embraced him, urging him to shed his tears on his shoulder, honoured to become the confidant of an immortal.
In a surge of romanticism, Armand gifted him an enormous garden. It housed every variety of plants, flowers, and fruits found on Earth, and even included a small private stream with fresh, crystal-clear waters.
And it was the boy who made the first move, initiating their first kiss with audacity and pulling Armand closer by the ends of the scarf he wore around his neck. The situation quickly escalated, and they found themselves in a flower-filled field near the Isle of the Blessed, both consumed by desire.
They remained there for hours, making love and laughing at their shared inexperience, despite one being as old as an archaeological artefact and the other being very popular among young women.
Unfortunately, the Underworld began to have negative effects on Daniel's psychophysical well-being. He gradually became thinner and paler and began to hear the voices of the dead inviting him to join them. He started wandering through the halls of the palace like a ghost, muttering to himself and tormented by nightmares.
Unable to bear the sight of the insane mortal, Armand reluctantly decided to take him back to Earth and erase his memory in the hope that this would be enough to heal him.
However, he forgot the words that Daniel had confided to him during their first meeting, about the innate connection he felt with his kingdom.
Regularly, every six months, the young man would recover his memories and return to Hades, indignant at their removal yet needing to meet the god.
Once again, their relationship shifted. Their dynamic seemed a game of cat and mouse, a continuous and tireless chase with an uncertain outcome. Daniel pursued, Armand repelled and welcomed him at the same time. Even a god like him needed changes, evolutions, and human relationships, but it was terrifying for him to accept it. Immortality was indeed a gift, yet a heavy burden to bear alone.
-Are you alone, Armand? Or rather, do you feel alone now?- Daniel whispered to him one morning, his eyes closed and resting on the deity's lap, beneath a tree in his delightful private garden that he often enjoyed keeping tidy. The laws of physics worked inexplicably there, yet Daniel had learned to love that world he should not have known while alive.
The god did not answer immediately. He lowered his gaze to examine every single centimetre of his face as if to memorize every feature, lost in thought.
-Loneliness consumes you, gnaws at you from within until it makes you forget who you once were. It erases every trace of feeling that once animated you. Heed those who say it is an excellent means to know oneself. Nothing can be compared to the pain of having no one, Daniel, not even the thirst for knowledge justifies it.-
-You did not answer my question directly: do you, at this moment, feel alone, Armand?-
A sad smile lit up Armand's face. -No, my dear boy. I do not feel alone because you are here, but you are still a mortal. This is not your world; I must let you go. Otherwise, you would die before your time, and I could not forgive myself.-
-Then make me like you!- Daniel exclaimed in a pleading tone, fervent. He knelt, clasping the immortal's hand. -Grant me immortality. Do with me as you wish, just let me stay with you!-
-You fool, you do not understand what you are asking of me! Immortality is a sentence, a cage impossible to reopen once closed. It would strip you of everything, Daniel: of your compassion, of your zest for life! You have the luxury of having an expiration date that allows you to perpetually remember your experiences, who you are, and what you live for.-
-But you do not understand, Armand! There is a reason why I have always been drawn to the Afterlife, why I have often dreamed of this place and have come to you. Being here is my destiny! Do you not care that one day I will die, that you will assign a place in your kingdom to my soul, and we will no longer be able to meet once I have passed away definitively?-
Armand's eyes grew glossy as if he were holding back tears. -I would rather have my immortality torn away and die on the spot than witness your death- he whispered, tenderly caressing his face. -My sweet boy, my secret lover.-
-Yes, touch me! Hold me tight, my lord!- He buried his face in the hollow of Armand's neck, inhaling the natural scent that his body emanated. -I love you! And if you feel the same, admit it.-
-You do not need confirmation. If I had not loved you from the first instant, I would have killed you as soon as you crossed the threshold of Hades.-
Silence descended for a moment. Just a sweet stillness and their thoughts to accompany them.
Armand slid his arm around Daniel's waist and drew him close to softly kiss his lips, savouring that miraculous contact. Trembling, Daniel responded actively.
He burned for the god as if for an elixir without which he could not endure.
-I care not if I go mad during my stay here, I will stay close to you, Armand.-
-You cannot abide here for the rest of your life; I will not allow it.-
-But your world has now become my home! I can no longer return to the life I knew before, knowing you are here alone! I fear not the inability to die; I only have the terror of being separated from you forever.- The boy brought Armand's hand to his chest, to make him feel his heartbeat.
-I desire it ardently, my lord. I wish to live here with you. If you do not believe me, listen to my heartbeat. Read it; it shall reveal all my thoughts to you.-
-You cannot stay here, Daniel. I am the one who rules this kingdom; you must obey.-
-No! Does it not matter that your powers have no effect on me, that I have managed to recover my memories and return? It is destiny itself that wants me by your side!-
-You are delirious, my love. Hades is starting to have side effects on your psyche; you must separate from me before it is too late.-
His pleas were to no avail; the mortal clung to his torso as if his very life depended on it. -If you do not wish to make me immortal, at least give me a piece of yourself!-
The god then decided to lead him to a secluded nook of the flowering garden, whose grass was strewn with seeds of a pomegranate that had fallen from a neighbouring tree. He plucked six seeds, then took a glass medallion from beneath his robes and placed them inside it, murmuring something in an ancient language, never uttered by human lips. An unusual warm breeze arose, enfolding them both like an embrace, and a faint whitish luminescence emanated from the pomegranate's rind. The god's pupils lit up with a yellowish light, causing his eyes to resemble a crackling fire.
He motioned for Daniel to draw near and fastened the pendant about his neck, placing a kiss on his jugular as if to conclude a solemn rite.
-For six months, the Underworld shall hold no sway over you. Should you decide to stay beyond that time, the immunity shall no longer be assured, and the dead shall call to you as has already happened, but this time I will not be able to help you. Chaos, the primordial entity that gives tangible form to the Afterlife, has granted this boon. Neither you nor I can go against its will.-
-And what will happen in the remaining six months? After that, will I be able to return?- Daniel inquired, clutching the medallion tightly.
-In the remaining six months, you will feel the constant call of Hades- Armand replied in a grave tone. -It will be like a whisper, a benevolent caress, but it will not provoke within you the urgency to return. After six months, you will be able to descend again into the bowels of the Earth and reside there for another six months, and so on.-
-Until I die?-
-Until you die.-
-And what will you do once I depart this world?-
The god's face clouded over, and he held Daniel in a comforting embrace. -You must not think about that, my love. All that matters to me is that you may live your life to its fullest.-
-How can I bear the thought of not being able to see you, touch you, speak to you for such protracted periods, my lord?- Daniel sobbed, terrified by the prospect of resuming his normal life without the god's companionship.
-I will always be near you.-
-If I have no other choice... I accept it.-
-Then, until soon, my beautiful boy. My Daniel. Just promise me one thing.-
-Anything.-
-Do not write nor recount to any living soul what you have seen here. Only should the occasion arise, reveal my true story to mortals.-
Time became distorted to the point of nonexistence; years merged into an undefined mass and lost substance. Daniel counted the hours of his life in relation to Armand, every second spent making them closer.
The young man lived his life to the fullest, just as the deity had hoped, and became an internationally renowned journalist and writer, loved for his investigative works, novels, and dissertations on mythology.
Every six months, punctilious as only he knew how to be, Daniel would hasten to the Afterlife to reunite with his immortal lover, vanishing from earthly daily life without explanation. Each moment spent together seemed to fly by, but they tried to make their allotted time by filling it with love, walks, and tales.
More than once, some deities attempted to kill Daniel, suspicious of a mortal’s presence within the spiritual territories or simply envious of their bond, and as often as that, Armand's wrath descended upon them, obliterating them forever from every realm. It is even whispered that in the twenty-eighth year of their relationship, a martial god named Mael was destroyed along with his dominion after abducting the boy in a vain attempt to garner the respect of other deities. He spared nothing and no one, even taking care to crush the smallest buds.
However, time flowed inexorably, so Daniel's hair gradually turned white, wrinkles furrowed his face, and his frame grew more frail. He fell ill and received news from doctors that his passing would occur within two years, but he continued to journey to Armand.
Just before the end of their last semester together, Daniel suffered a heart attack caused by his malady. With his face awash in tears, helpless in the face of imminent death, the god had him rest on his knees and cradled him with infinite tenderness.
-Daniel, my beloved Daniel. How cruel life is, and yet how beautiful. Look what a marvellous transformation it has wrought upon you- he stated sadly, caressing his wrinkled cheek, full of devotion.
Daniel tried to lift an arm to touch him, but he was too weak.
-It is an honour to die in your arms, my lord. I have lived a fulfilling life, and now I shall depart! Every moment together has been a gift. Forget me not.-
And then, unexpectedly, the very motes of which the air was composed began to pulse, and the earth beneath their feet began to emit a low hum, akin to that preceding an earthquake.
The intrinsic essence of the Avernus itself had awakened to bid farewell to Daniel, to acknowledge him as an integral and legitimate part of the kingdom.
As its master.
Then, all was suddenly clearer to Armand. The kingdom had decreed it; it knew what must be done. He recalled the words Daniel had spoken so long ago, concerning his innate connection to the Underworld and the sense of belonging he had felt upon his first descent to the heart of the Earth. Fate, a primordial entity akin to Chaos, had woven the threads of destiny around Daniel Molloy and intertwined them with Armand's, destined him to become more than a mere mortal.
-I do not want it to end like this- the god said in a low voice as he ran his fingers through the mortal's curls, -I cannot allow it.-
Daniel was borne in his arms and carried to Armand's bed, where he sat beside him.
He was the god of the dead, yet not once had he frightened Daniel, never had he made him a victim of his cruelty. He loved to observe his menacing shadow, the happiness that just catching a glimpse of it provoked within him.
-Try opening your eyes, my love. Look at me.-
The illusion of a garden similar to the one wherein they had pledged their troth enveloped Daniel as soon as he met Armand's reddish gaze. He watched the god rise and pluck a pomegranate from a tree branch, then open it in half and extract the seeds. A sweet melody filled the starlit night air.
-You find yourself in the presence of the gate that separates the world of the living from that of the dead, and I shall soon help you cross it like the coward I am. A coward who loves you too much to let you go forever.-
What joy Daniel felt, what triumph! Finally, he would have what he had asked for tirelessly in his youth; he would no longer be trapped in the waterfalls of time!
-I cannot tell you what awaits you beyond this portal, but I can promise you I will be your guide.-
-Weep not!- Daniel exclaimed. -This is my rebirth, do you not understand? I have always been destined for this!-
-Say yes, my love and I shall do it. I shall transform you into an immortal, into a god like me. We will remain together in eternity.-
-I want it. Yes!-
Armand gave him a radiant smile, and then his metamorphosis began.
He made him swallow all the seeds contained within the fruit, encouraging him even when the simple act of deglutition became too arduous to accomplish: in that instance, he would crush the fruits between his thumb and index finger to render them into juice and hastened to bring it to his tongue.
When the fruit was now an empty vessel, the god cut his wrist and brought it to Daniel's lips.
-Drink.-
He obeyed, and the scarlet liquid moistened his oesophagus and circulated throughout his body, enacting the transformation. He screamed, more from surprise than pain, as his flesh tingled and a golden glow enveloped him. His heartbeat quickened to an unbelievable degree, and his head began to spin.
-Drink, my sweet boy. It is the nectar that will make you immortal.-
Animated by renewed strength, he impelled Armand towards him, causing him to fall back upon his chest that rose and fell frantically, his wrist still pressed to his lips, his mouth coated with a mixture of pomegranate juice and blood.
-Follow me. Cross the gate with me, Daniel. You are almost complete.-
He beheld in a whirlwind of images, smells, and emotions the life of Armand and fragments of those of the souls he governed, he was imbued with the knowledge of the Universe.
He became one with the Underworld and then fell into the void. He remained adrift there, drifting with his eyes closed, until Armand took his hand and brought him back to the garden.
-Wake up, Daniel.-
Daniel lifted his eyelids, and there he was again on Armand's bed, the oxygen burning his lungs. A new awareness permeated him, and he noticed that all his senses were amplified, the joints of his body bereft of pain. His skin had become so pallid it seemed transparent, the wrinkles diminished yet still present, as were the streaks of grey in his hair. His eyes shifted to a violet so delicate it seemed like crystal.
Armand kissed him on the mouth, triumphant.
-The transformation has been perfectly successful. You are radiant, my love.-
The mere sight of the god moved Daniel, with that expression brimming with joy and the eyes like two burning embers he now possessed! He touched his eyelashes, his lids, his nose, his neck. His dark skin seemed like silk spread out to be touched by him, an unused canvas!
-Pause to listen to my heart beating in unison with yours, the blood pumping in your veins at the same speed. I am your Creator, your guiding spirit. And you are my pupil, my consort. Henceforth, the Underworld shall have two rulers.-
For the first time, a creature of the Underworld was created from love instead of pain.
The myth of the ancient god Armand, cruel and vengeful sovereign of the Underworld, was joined by a strange tale: that of a mortal named Daniel who descended into the realm of the dead and caused the god who had once abducted him upon his return to the surface to fall in love with him, much like Marius had done, and who rendered him immortal many years later.
But the truth is that the god had a throne built for him of the same dimension as his own and commanded it to be placed at the same height, to make him his equal and not compel him to sit at the foot of a single seat, as had befallen him centuries past, and never to make him bow.
Their souls, now made of the same substance, would be bound in an eternal, all-encompassing embrace.
The Underworld gradually became a vital place, albeit in its manner: the ice plains and endless deserts surrounding the sorting grounds of souls transformed into gentle landscapes, and the guardian spirits that haunted certain areas awoke from their slumber. It became a place of pure tranquillity and the souls of those still in limbo could finally find solace.
The prophecy that Daniel had brought with him had come true.
Fate had truly intertwined their fates, and at the most unexpected moment, their paths had met, never to diverge again.
Since then, scattered voices claim to have often seen two translucent figures strolling through the woods and the alleyways of cities, hand in hand and frequently at night.
One seems to hail from another dimension, his beauty so blinding, and he emanates an aura of formidable power; the other resembles a man known long ago among mortals, about whom no further information was found shortly before his death.
They are always together, the personification of death and life, challenging times and the natural order of the cosmos.
Before the sun sets, a chasm opens beneath their feet, and they plunge into it, their crystalline laughter echoing as the earth closes and they return to govern with inflexible honesty in their kingdom.
At home.