Scott reached out and touched the lightly floating feather. One might expect some sort of life-changing reaction from such an overly hyped moment. A literal piece of a creature older than time itself, surely something amazing would happen.

Nothing happened. Rather, the feather wiggled slightly in place as the air pressure disturbed its gentle hovering motion. There were no intense visions. There was no grand light show. The feather remained a feather.

He took the feather in hand, and then something finally happened. It dissolved into motes of golden light then slipped gently into the flesh of his hand. He sensed its presence within him, but there was nothing else of note happening in regard to it.

“Thank you, for this…” said Scott quietly. He was not certain of what it was all supposed to mean, but it clearly meant something to Hades.

Hades nodded to him then turned away. He strode toward the door in an imperious manner leaving Scott to follow after him.

The memories that Scott help of Hades were disjointed at best. Things from before the beginning of this ‘eternal dream’ as Hades called it were still indistinct within his mind. He remembered things, and then forgot them, only to briefly recall them again. One thing that he could recall, as it was also admitted to by Hades himself, was that he was supposed to be a subordinate.

‘How long has it been since a version of me has visited you?’ Scott asked himself internally. Something told him that it had been quite a long time. Hades was a little too focused on his role at this point, perhaps.

They passed through the hall of Cyclopes and then reached the stairs. Behind them, the gigantic creatures began to fade away. Smiles on their lips, and tears in their eyes, they bid one last farewell to their lonely vigil. Their souls had at last served their purpose and they were allowed to re-enter the cycle of reincarnation. First, however, they would return to their blessed land… an afterlife similar to the one they knew in life.

It was a long journey back to the feast hall. Persephone had long since finished her meal and wandered off to some other part of the massive palace.

Scott looked around, after a brief moment of introspection. Something seemed to be missing.

“What troubles you, brother?” asked Hades solemnly.

“I don’t see the shadow wisp who accompanied me here,” said Scott. “She is usually hanging around.”

“Ah. I can ask after her location, but it is possible that she simply went back to where she slumbers,” replied Hades.

It was strange. The shadow wisp shouldn’t have meandered off on her own. The possibility left him with an odd sensation. Disquiet.

Scott and Hades discussed a few matters for a time, but it was not until he spoke of the exact nature of the world, he would soon return to that Hades shifted his tone.

“A world that uses parts of our father’s memory to enforce the will of the children…” Hades closed his eyes and considered those words. “You say that you are having trouble connecting with that system of laws, now?”

“Yes. I had thought that it was because I was in the abyss, but I can’t be certain,” said Scott. “My memories of such things are… specious at best, but that should not matter.”

“Indeed. If you have exceptional skills, they at least should remain with you,” said Hades. “From what you mentioned in regard to how you came to be here, you seem to have reincarnated.”

“That makes sense. Some memories of that time period are simply gone. There is no getting them back,” said Scott. “I’m sure of it.”

He raised his hand then continued, “But I do remember that the child calling himself a god disappeared on me during my growth period.”

Hades nodded to him. “Your current form is similar enough to the truth that such a thing would have had catastrophic repercussions.”

“I believe I starved to death and had to start over,” said Scott.

“Without the guidance of that system of laws, you have probable been receiving your updates from bits and pieces of our father’s remnant logic which has remained inside of your spiritual core,” said Hades. “Have you received any such messages since you partook of the ambrosia?”

Scott frowned slightly and tried to think about whether or not he had. “I don’t think I’ve had many, or perhaps any, since shortly after I entered the abyss.”

“That makes sense,” said Hades. “You would be a fool to return to the system of that world, brother.”

Scott inclined his head but hesitated to agree with the dour deity. If it were a matter of personal power and pride, he would cast off that system gladly. However, his role was one of guidance and protection. He was to sleep along side the children, and if necessary, protect them. The best way to do that was to be part of the story, not some special existence. Awakening so many times had ruined that aspect even more than accepting his draconic lineage.

If he did not reclaim access to that system, his growth would slow exponentially. However, he would be completely free of its influences. Though, any raw power wielded against him would still work. He simple would be able to avoid the world admins resetting his skills or abilities with their updates. Not to mention, further protect his fragile swiss-cheese style memories.

Hades did not interrupt his brother’s thoughts. Instead he watched him calmly. It had been so long since he had seen him, or even one of the archangels. Though he abhorred unannounced visitors, having his brother in attendance at his home, was not entirely unpleasant.

Scott looked over to him after a short few minutes of self-reflection. “I cannot totally abandon the part I was meant to play in that world but returning there without significant changes to how I interact with their system is foolish.”

Hades inclined his head slowly. “I sense that you wish to ask something of me, brother.”

“I’ll need… to go pay a visit to another member of the cohort,” said Scott.

“Odin, I take it?” asked Hades.

“You already know where I am going with this, don’t you?” asked Scott.

“Of course. You need to borrow his runic wisdom… though, you do know the price he will extract even if you are our brother,” said Hades.

“I already have a valkyrie in my life,” said Scott lightly. “Can’t try to play match maker with one of his battle maidens if I already have one in my life, right?”

Hades actually blinked upon hearing that. “Now, I’m interested in being there for this meeting…”

“Well… She’s not a member of his cohort,” admitted Scott. “She’s a mortal with a demi-god racial profile.”

A smile broke across Hades’ lips. “Even so. This should prove interesting. He does enjoy being a stickler for the rules when it comes to his little proclamations.”

“When can we leave?” asked Scott. “I’d honestly rather not be here if Demeter decides to show up for a surprise visit.”

Hades made a strange sound reminiscent of a snicker. Though, there was a hint of somberness akin to funeral dirge involved in the matter. “I’m surprised she hasn’t appeared already in an attempt to ‘mother’ you.”

“How anyone a few eons younger than me thinks that she can be my mother….” Grumbled Scott.

“Well, she doesn’t call herself Demeter anymore anyway,” said Hades.

“Oh? She picked a new name?” asked Scott.

“Yes. She took up watching over the youngest not long after they began to lose themselves in delusion. Many started to call themselves gods over time,” said Hades. “She believed they would need guidance from someone who actually knew what that role entailed.”

“She spends most of her time slumbering away while living a dream life as a ‘goddess’ of the younger type,” he continued.

“So, what’s she goddess of now?” asked Scott with genuine curiosity. It was a relief, actually. If she spent most of her time asleep, she wouldn’t be chasing him around and calling him her ‘Dear Childe’ all the time. He could actually recall that young yet overly erotic voice of hers cutting through the air of the garden. A sassy youthful goddess of motherhood and bounteous harvests, as she wished to be known. It was mostly a way to bring attention to her boobs, which she felt quite proud of despite the fact that they were merely part of her role as a quintessential mother figure.

Though, even as a dream-life goddess she would also be under similar restrictions that Scott had as a mortal in that she would need to awaken to remember herself fully. A few quirks would no doubt slip through, however.

“Motherhood among other things,” said Hades. “Most of which cannot be spoken of in polite society.”

“Of course,” said Scott with a laugh. “She would end up dreaming about being the goddess of Milfs.”

Even Hades could not help but to laugh. Demeter had always wanted to be someone’s mother. It was just that her ideas of how to express her motherly nature would have gotten her arrested in many societies. Her ideas of love were a bit… freer than he could truly accept. Admittedly, however, she was assigned to the Greco-Roman pantheon. Thus, it was not entirely out of character.