Prologue. ᾍδης / Hades

How are things above ground?

After a long while, Hades rode his two-wheeled chariot pulled by black horses to the surface.

King of the Underworld, you’ve forgotten your helmet Kunee that conceals you today.

Aphrodite, lying on clouds atop Mount Eryx with her son Eros, was watching him intently.

“My lovely son, look over there. Why would the ruler of Erebus show himself under the sun? Isn’t he just a repulsive man?”

“Why do you say that?”

As Eros turned in curiosity, arrows spilled from his shoulder. The boy god frowned his round forehead while glancing at the empty quiver over his shoulder.

He had polished them until they shone….

Though they would disappear once shot, each was precious to him. They were tools of fate, destined to bring love to some and despair to others.

Do humans even know that such fearsome arrowheads are wielded by such a young boy?

“When we give love, Hades turns it into madness leading to death. That dark man must be the most boring being in the world. With not even a hint of emotion, does he even know the joys and sorrows of life?”

Eros’s hands rummaged through the pile of arrows. Oh, what’s this? A golden arrow he thought he’d used up was still there.

The golden arrow represents passionate love.

The boy god playfully dimpled his cheeks as he drew out the arrow. He first pressed the sharp tip with his index finger to check if it had rusted.

“Mother, why don’t we test it? Whether that stoic Hades would go mad with love and risk his life…”

“He’s the god of death himself, would such things work on him?”

“Well, does the god of the underworld not have a heart?”

Aphrodite hesitated and glanced sideways. Eros’s bowstring was already aimed at Hades’s chest.

“Who shall we choose as his match?”

“Who indeed…. Come to think of it, lately Demeter turns pale and hurries away whenever she sees me. Wondering why, I found out something quite interesting.”

It was surprising. Demeter, known for her chastity, had secretly given birth to and was raising a daughter.

There were rumors that Zeus was the father, but no one could be certain.

“She cherishes the child called Kore…. She’s hidden her away on a remote island and ordered spirits to guard her day and night. They mercilessly behead any male that dares approach, even if it’s just an animal.”

Aphrodite sneered with laughter.

“Demeter, same as always…. Does she think avoiding my face will help her avoid your arrows? Her naivety is truly astounding.”

No need to hear more. Eros pulled back his bowstring aimed at Hades with all his might, then released his fingers.

Persephone.

The arrowhead inscribed with Demeter’s daughter’s name traced an arc through the air.

The misty valley of Enna was particularly eerie. Hades, who was holding his whip, suddenly felt a sharp pain and placed his hand on his chest.

Why was his heart suddenly pounding so?

At that moment, near the valley of Enna, Persephone, the only daughter of Demeter, goddess of earth and grain, was flower-viewing with wind spirits.

The west wind was especially playfully teasing her hair as she ran along the cliff, blowing against her flowing locks. Persephone covered her eyes and flailed at her windswept hair, bursting into joyful laughter.

Even harsh rocky mountains crumble under the influence of Eros, god of love.

How could the heart of the death god be any different?

It was the moment when Persephone, enchanted by daffodils blooming on the cliff, carefully reached out while crouching.

Hades’s eyes, watching Persephone from the top of the valley, grew wide with excitement.

He roughly shook the reins.

Hades’s hand, racing across the cliff, swiftly snatched Persephone’s slender waist. As the two-wheeled chariot rattled and shook, Persephone screamed in terror.

Poor Persephone, crying out for help to her mother and companions, but who would dare confront the god of the underworld?

The entrance to the underworld gaped open between bubbling lava. The black chariot disappeared deep into the earth, leaving a warning glance at the trembling trees.

Meanwhile, Demeter, realizing Persephone had vanished, called out her daughter’s name pitifully. But nowhere could she find any trace of her child.

She wandered the world in madness. Forgetting her divine duties, she only cried out “Kore!” Persephone’s name.

Then chaos erupted on earth. The land dried up causing drought, and crops wouldn’t ripen, threatening all with starvation.

Zeus, after much deliberation, sent the messenger Hermes to Hades.

Hades, given the situation above ground, you should return Persephone to her mother.

At Zeus’s command, Hades rubbed his temples. He initially told Hermes he would comply.

But he couldn’t simply return her. Persephone was now his wife and goddess of the underworld.

Hades called Persephone and said he would send her back to the surface. Persephone was overjoyed.

Seizing this moment, he held out a few pomegranate seeds in his hand. Then, befitting the ruler of the underworld, he whispered in a voice deeper and more affectionate than anything in the world.

“The journey will be long and tedious, won’t you take these with you?”

Until now, Persephone had kept her heart tightly closed, not taking even a drop of water from the underworld. But thinking of seeing her mother, a corner of her heart melted like spring snow.

The unwary Persephone agreed and popped one pomegranate seed into her mouth.

Not knowing Hades was smiling with satisfaction behind her….

“And then?”

At the foot of the steep slopes of Mount Parnassus, a campfire crackled. The milky Milky Way flowing across the dark blue night sky was particularly clear. Like streams of goddess milk leaked from an amphora.

“What happened to Persephone? Did she go up to the surface and return to her mother Demeter?”

“Well…”

“Oh come on, not again.”

“The hidden story is more important than what happened next.”

The old man said, pushing a long skewer into the campfire. The rabbit meat hanging from the tip was browning nicely.

The Asian girl sitting with her legs together couldn’t hide her curious expression. The flickering campfire warmly illuminated the old man’s smile.

“Persephone’s abduction by Hades…. Did you know this was an actual event?”

“What? No way…”

“It’s true. The myth merely conceals it with slight alterations.”

“That’s impossible. You mean those gods really existed in the past?”

“What’s impossible about it? We exist here right now, don’t we?”

At the old man’s words, the girl looked up at the mountain peak shrouded in darkness. The pointed peak was as chilling as lightning struck by the thunder god.

The old man smiled as he watched the girl lost in her imagination. One of his recent hobbies was telling her various stories.

They were on a long journey, and for him who had always been alone, having lively nights was a pleasant experience.

“By the way, where did that other one go? I’m not sure if we can finish the story by dawn even if we start now…”

“Said something about getting something from the ark. That one’s not interested in these stories anyway. Just tell me the story first.”

The girl urged, poking the ground with kindling. The fire sparked and blazed up.

“Shall I then? Come closer. It’s a very, very long story…”