Epic of Caterpillar

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"Daddy? Over here? In this place? Or over there?"

"Over there Melinoe, make sure it remains inside of the node."

"Okay!"

"Papa, where do I put this huge skull thing?"

"On that place over there, keep it inside the circle, Makaria."

"Sure."

Hade's daughters helped their father quickly assemble a massive Divine Ritual Formation, moving large Divine Treasures from one place to another.

At the same time, the Undead Gods were also helping, and even Zagreus and his friends. Hanshuan was doing his best too, trying to be useful in one way or another.

Meanwhile, as they worked by Hades' instructions, Zagreus grew worried about his friend.

"Hanshuan, are you sure about this? Giving away your own Living State for your sister… I know you love her but… A-Are you really sure man?" Zagreus asked. "I am sure your sister wouldn't want this! If she loved you as much as you love her… She would be really sad you did this, and she would feel guilty as well, I imagine."

"Yeah, I agree…" Sindarin nodded by Zagreus said. "Y-You should reconsider this! Our lives… Giving them away, even for your sister it's a bit too much…"

"I-I know you're trying to convince me, and I know you're doing it in good heart but… I just can't do it otherwise," Hanshuan said. "My sister… She has struggled a lot through life, the two of us had. She never deserved what happened to her…"

"N-Nobody with a good heart does, Hanshuan…N-Not even you," Glimmerdust said, trying to be less timid and speak out her mind better. "I-I think you shouldn't… do it…"

"But…"

"So you're saying you deserved to die before your sister?" Zagreus asked. "I know you loved her, but that doesn't mean you somehow deserve to die because she did so… I know it hurts man, but… My father will already kind of revive her. Then we can work from there to restore her Living State in some other way."

"Zagreus…" Hanshuan muttered. "I…"

The Sun Monkey God glanced at his own hands, the warmth he felt, and how sister was so cold, it only made him sad… He feared going through the same things she did, but even more he feared her sadness and sorrow. He didn't want to see her sad, even less depressed due to her current form.

"No… I must do it. We are Gods of Fire, coldness… Is heartbreaking. But to me, it is more heartbreaking if my sister goes through it than myself," Hanshuan said. "I might not deserve it either, yeah… But I still believe she deserves it less than me."

"…" Zagreus remained in silence, as Hanshuan glanced at his sisters.

"Wouldn't you do the same for your sisters, Zagreus?" Hanshuan asked. "If they died… Would you give your life for them to revive?"

"Ah…" Zagreus had never sat down to think such a thing before, he hesitated, he loved his sisters as well, and saw them as his dear family, but unlike Hanshuan, this self-sacrificing desire didn't surge as strongly. "I-I… don't know…"

"I suppose that's what makes us different from one another," Hanshuan smiled bitterly, patting his shoulders. "Let's continue with this formation, we're almost done."

"Yeah…" Zagreus sighed, looking down and glancing at his sisters happily interacting with his father, feeling sad. "I…"

"Zagreus?" Sindarin glanced at the young god, who seemed to hesitate, he was questioning himself.

"Sindarin… Am I a cruel man? I… Am I heartless?" Zagreus muttered, looking frustrated. "I never imagined I… I wouldn't…"

"N-No, Hanshuan didn't intend to make you feel that way! C-Calm down…" Sindarin suddenly hugged Zagreus from behind, making the young man blush.

"S-Sindarin…?" Zagreus felt embarrassed, but the Moon Goddess wouldn't let go of him.

She gave him her warmth and comforted his broken heart.

"You're a good person, Zagreus! Please never say anything like that again, okay?"

"…"

"I truly mean it… You saved our lives, and even went against such dangerous foes… We could've died without your help, without your bravery."

"T-Thanks…"

Sindarin grew redder as she realized she was hugging him too much, and quickly stepped back.

"A-Ahaha, sorry, I did go a bit… overboard… Um, sorry."

"I-It's ok… Don't mind it… Hahah…"

The two acted awkward together, and Zagreus' sisters and his father noticed the spark of romance between the two.

"Zagreus… It seems you've grown more than I imagined in my small absence, my son…" Hades said. "I'm glad."

"Sindarin seems to be a nice girl! A bit too nice for big brother though," Melinoe said while grumpily crossing her arms and squinting her eyes.

Her skin was divided into two colors, her left half was black like charcoal, and her other half was white like candlewax, all while her hair was also divided in colors, white on her left side, and black on her right side, which was very long and silky. Her left eye was red, and her right eye was gold.

Her appearance was this way because she was born as the Goddess of Duality Between Life and Death, inheriting both her father and her mother's Divinities into a unique Divinity that encompassed both in some sort of balance. Hence she represented death and life at the same time.

"I'm glad big brother is getting along with her… I think they make a cute couple, right dad? Don't listen to sis, she's a bit jealous she won't have Zagreus for herself anymore," giggled Makaria, who was a bit older than Melinoe.

Unlike her little sister, Makaria was slightly taller, and had a much slender body, she had long white hair that ended on black color, and her legs were merged into a ghost-like tail, she also was surrounded by ghostly white colored will-o-wisps. She had a gentle smile and golden eyes.

As the Goddess of Soul Healing, she looked very gentle and was always surrounded by little souls that chased her around after she healed them. Her job in Tartarus was to heal wounded, shattered, or cracked souls, restoring them to a better state.

"Yes, Sindarin is a good girl…" Nodded Hades. "Anyway, I think we're almost done. I hope you don't mind, but your Divinities will be very important, my daughters."

"It's fine dad!"

"I'll happily help, papa."

"Thank you, I am truly blessed to have such good daughters," Hades smiled, petting their heads.

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