In the realm of the gods, decades after an adolescent named Cyrus has been given a new chance at life by the Goddess of Redemption and Vindication Alexandra, a few gods had come together.

They were curious what the mortal, now called Asher Burell, had done with his life up until this point.

In the Hall of History, they surrounded a large mirror-like tablet and skimmed over the short time two decades were for the gods, everyone at their own pace.

Of course, some were surprised because indeed the mortal Asher was a strange man.

Therogrum, the God of War, Warfare, Conflict and Honor, one of the tallest of the gods sat down in a throne which he conjured out of nowhere, his ancient battle-weary armor, which was riddled with scratched and chinks, clattered with such volume one could hear it throughout all the halls of history. He looked down from his helmet-covered face down upon Alexandra who's standing height did not even reach to his knees while sitting.

He began rather impressed though in a gruff, booming voice,

“Alexandra, the mortal you have chosen was indeed a wise choice. Not in the blink of an eye he had shown this world that he is one of the strongest. But that does not mean that he lacks strength in mind and soul.

If you will I could grant him my boon, he does fall in my favorable sight. In the olden days, I remember my fondest mortal, a warrior after my own. But when I had given him life anew he wasted it with peace, abandoning the warrior ways,”

the War God lamented,

“it was in the olden days, I cannot even remember his name anymore.“

“Strength he does have but I do not believe more is what he needs in his life. I do not believe he strives for your boon Therogrum,” the goddess told the giant.

“Oh, what he truly needs in life would be a bit of love,” Qintoris the God of Love, Devotion, Passion, Desire, and Jealousy injected with a melodious voice.

Qintoris was one of the older gods, even older than Therogrum, though one could not guess by his appearance, he was very youthful, and unlike other gods his age, he chose a more spry appearance.

Of course, he chose what suited him best, a, for human standards, tall and rather muscular-looking raven-haired man.

Usually, he was joy personified.

“I spied a bit on your beloved mortal, Alex, and I must say there is not a lot of love going around,” he confessed with a strange sigh of relief.

As if it were gossip he told her, “and about your Paragon, what was her name? Faye? She does not show a lot of fondness to Cyrus. Two decades is a rather long time for humans and he has lived most of his life without even the slightest kind of affection from her.

How about I grant him my boon instead so that he could get a bit affection from your Paragon or from somewhere else, what do you think?“

“I know that Faye can be a bit… cold at times. She had a very troubled past with mortals but she will never do anything to disappoint me. She is very reliable, it was no coincidence that I chose her for this task. I also do not believe that you must intervene with the affairs of Cyrus. He will find his own way,“ Alexandra fought off the accusations of the God of Love.

“I can still see one of my own mortals when I close my eyes, she was beautiful and she loved everyone as if they were her own. Catherine then Katrina were her names. She must have died over a thousand years ago now.“

The god stepped back and one could see that his mind had flown off to distant times, reminiscing when he was young and even happier.

It was rare for gods to cry but this day one came close.

This had gotten the attention of one god who was not with them at the moment.

Aralie, the Goddess of the Elements, the basic force of most universes.

She was truly old, compared to Qintoris he was a pup compared to her.

She was one of the first that came to be, although like Qintoris it was not clear by the way she looked.

She kept the form she was born in through all the eons that she had lived.

She was a tired god, her mind rarely being attentive to the present and longing to rest as much as she could.

She was awoken by the mixed emotions of other gods, another rare occurrence.

She rubbed her eyes with heavy and dark circles under them while her very long gray hair dragged on the ground to inquire what this was all about.

“What is this all…” she said slowly, yawing a long yawn, “about…?”

“Nothing Sweetie, go back to bed,” the God of Love caressed her head gently then placed a kiss on her forehead.

“No, no, stay,” the God of War insisted, ” we are looking at the latest chosen mortal. Alexandra’s chosen really is a sight to behold.”

“Who… is Alexandra?”

There was a slight but awkward pause.

But it was true. Aralie had never met Alexandra before but Alexandra knew of Aralie.

Aralie had never awoken since Alexandra was a goddess and

Alexandra thought that it was a wretched feeling that another god so old did not know of her but she suppressed the urge to express any sorrow.

Aralie and Alexandra had then and there their first formal meeting in the ages since Alexandra was already a goddess.

There were four gods who had spoken out already but five had attended.

None yet had noticed the fifth who was lurking in the shadow, one who had seen all already.

He hated their happiness, the joy they felt recollecting past events.

He who had only seen sorrow and despair.

Out he came, interrupting and dispersing the glee that had built up.

Urien the God of Death, Sorrow, Misery, and Despair.

Tall he was, though skeletal like but one could see the strength that he bore.

Long fair hair covered his sad face, hiding the misery and anger he always lived in.

He wore a type of suit which in almost all words would be fit when one attended a funeral, bespeckled with golden accessories.

On his shoulder sat a raven, Kavir he was called.

He was to Urien as Faye was to Alexandra.

A Paragon of death.

“Vipers I call you. Do you not see the misery you subject them to? Let these souls withdraw from their vessels. Those who are manifestations of despair.”

First, he looked at Alexandra, “Do you not see what you have done to that mortal? You have only given him the chance to die anew, not give him a chance to redeem what little he had in the first place.“

Alexandra was less than pleased and wanted to speak up but both Therogrum and Qintoris held her back.

Never had it been a good idea to quarrel with Urien but he had seen her intent.

“Another chance of death, another chance,“ he said, “Is this how you want to punish me? I am the one they will blame, I am the one that has to take them. Eternity I am cursed, twice a soul I will be. Eternity I am bound… to this.“

Though it was rare for a god to cry, one god could not contain his sorrow and like acid did his tears burn his face.

“Eternity I am truly sorry. You all know that I am. I am even older than her,“ he gestured at Aralie, ”but they curse her not, they do in my name. ‘Cursed be death for he comes for all of us’ they say. Do they say ‘cursed be the elements for they took the ones I love’? No, not once. ‘Blessed be the rain, blessed be the sun.’

The same is for you, oh god of love. Never do they say ‘take me away from love for it will be the end of me’.

In my name, they come for me. It is my doom and it will never stop for surely they must know that Death cannot die."

With that, the short temper of Therogrum had run out,

“It is not our fault that it is you who is death, neither is it your fault I am war. I nor you can change what we are.“

“You say that. You at least can do me the kindness to not add to my misery but I would expect nothing of you.

You who do not even know the name of your favored mortal.

Lokeron was his name, I remember him when you did not.

In his first life, he spat at me when I had to take him even though it was his choice to search for death.

You who abandoned him when he did not search for you in his second life.

He who did me the kindness to abstain from me for as long as he could and did not blame me again when he breathed his last breath a second time.

How did it feel when even one you admired turned from you?

Could you imagine eons where everyone loathed you?

They may chastise you with whips, but soon I will chastise them with scorpions.”