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Zagreus took a step toward Chronos, gripping his father’s spear, feeling beneath it the magic of his sister and Hecate. Chronos watched his grandson’s actions closely, sitting on the floor in a terrible state, his eyes narrowed.
“So, Grandfather, you have two options,” Zagreus said. “Either you come with me, I protect you from Father, and you start making peace with the family. Or I kill you with this spear and erase you from reality itself.”
The Titan of Time tilted his head to the side.
“I take it there are no other choices for me?” he asked. Zagreus nodded, squeezing the weapon tighter. The man thought for a few minutes, then nodded.
“Very well…”
The boy let out a relieved breath and was about to say something when Chronos interrupted him.
“My boy, if you’re planning to kill me, then be so kind as to aim for the heart. It’ll be easier for you, and I won’t have to suffer.”
Zagreus stared at his grandfather in shock.
“I’m sorry—what?” he asked. Chronos chuckled and gladly repeated:
“I said I choose the second option. Death.”
The Titan of Time narrowed his eyes in satisfaction, tilting his head as he looked at the stunned boy.
“You know, dear grandson, you’re so much like your father. He couldn’t threaten anyone properly when he was young either. Do you even remotely understand WHO you’re threatening with death? I am literally time itself. Not metaphorically, not exaggerated — I am time. If I disappear, reality disappears with me.”
The man looked off to the side, pretending to think.
“Although, you know… it would be interesting to see what happens. Maybe the world would start running backward, back into the past? But no — how could it return to the past if the very concept of ‘past’ ceases to exist? Maybe everything would simply freeze forever — but that’s unlikely too, because that would imply the existence of a ‘present,’ and without time, the present disappears just like the past and future. Ah! There’s an even better option — the collapse of the world, or its destruction as it merges with another world where I still exist.”
Zagreus frowned, watching Chronos excitedly ramble about the end of the world.
“You’re literally turning down a chance to be closer to your family,” he said in confusion. The Titan of Time raised an eyebrow at him.
“Family? My boy, you’re trying to wade into a conflict you understand absolutely nothing about. You probably think we just yelled at each other a bit and then they accidentally killed me? Nooo, it’s much more serious — and not only I’m at fault.”
The man tilted his head.
“And even if you don’t care about my feelings — which only wish for the death of my so-called family — do you honestly think the others would accept me? I can already imagine how delighted they’d be to hear that the Titan is free and wants to talk because his grandson forced him. Oh yes, they certainly won’t want to kill both me and you for such a joke.”
Chronos snorted and tried to straighten himself even slightly.
“My dear grandson. If you’re so desperate to bring the family back together, then at least learn WHY they wanted to kill me and WHAT I did in the past. Otherwise, your empty threats and speeches about family don’t exactly make the best impression on me. Especially considering this is the first time I’ve ever seen you.”
Zagreus opened his mouth to reply, but the Titan of Time turned away, clearly showing the conversation was over. The boy awkwardly scratched the back of his head. He had expected his grandfather to be more stubborn than his father — but not this stubborn.
Zagreus watched Chronos for a moment, then shrugged and headed toward the exit. He would try talking to him again later… but first, he really did need to prepare.