Chapter 50: Grief and Love, 1133 BCE

[3rd POV]

The rain was pouring heavily on the hills of Sparta, and the winds howled strongly as if the world was crying. Pluto was standing in front of a rock. He didn’t use any cover, his body was soaking wet, the water dripped from his chin and hair, but he didn’t move whatsoever.

Helen, had died of old age.

It was a miracle that Helen could live this long. She lived for 60 years, which is quite long for its time.

Pluto stood motionless in front of her grave. He had written something on her tomb.

“Helen of Sparta. The one who dreamed.”

As Pluto stood in front of her grave, he tried to remember every single memory that he had with her. When they first met, his time at Sparta, his time at home, he remembered it vividly, trying so hard not to forget it.

For the first time in his life, he hated being immortal.

A woman with blonde hair had suddenly arrived. She walked up to him, and held his hand, trying to comfort him.

“I finally know how you feel, Thena.” said Pluto softly, not lifting his gaze from the grave. “Now I know why you hated being an immortal.”

The woman, who was of course Thena, hummed. “You’ll get used to it.”

“I don’t think I can…” continued Pluto. “When Arishem punished me… I was hoping that I could feel what it means to be a human by staying with her for a while…”

“Does it work?” questioned Thena.

Pluto nodded. “For a while… I watched Hermione grow up, get married, and have children… I watched Helen grow older… but I never did.”

Thena just went silent, and she gave Pluto a side hug, placing her head on his shoulder.

“Is this what living as an eternal means, Thena?” questioned Pluto again. “It feels… pointless…”

“But we are alive right?” said Thena.

Pluto chuckled. “What does it mean to live forever like this? What is there to be scared of, when death isn’t a fear? How do you go on living, when everything around you does not?”

Thena paused for a second, before answering. “I do not know how to answer those questions… but we have time to figure it out…”

“Yeah?”

“Yes.” said Thena, she cupped Pluto’s cheeks, making their eyes meet. “Let’s figure it out, together.”

“Will it be hard?” questioned Pluto.

“I don’t know.” Thena shook her head. “But we have each other, that should make it easier, right?”

Pluto chuckled. “I guess it should.”

Thena smiled as she also giggled. Thena stared at his eyes for a while, before her eyes travelled to his lips. “Let’s go inside, it must be freezing for you.”

—

Thena and Pluto are now standing beside the window of Pluto’s home that is overlooking the City of Sparta, they rested for a while, enjoying the sound of pouring rain and the smell of the soaked soil.

“What are you going to do now?” questioned Thena curiously.

“Travel.” Pluto hummed. “Search for knowledge.”

“What kind of knowledge?”

Pluto smiled. “Obscure ones.”

Thena hummed. “Can you use them though?”

“I don’t know… I’ll find something for me.”

Thena nodded, smiling softly at Pluto. “Then good luck.”

Pluto hummed. “Thank you.”

Both of them then sat on a long chair in front of a fire, trying to dry their clothes. They sat very closely to each other, making use of the warmth.

Thena wanted to say something to Pluto, but she was hesitant. Ultimately though, she spoke. “Before you go… Could I ask something?”

Pluto turned to her, looking at her eyes. “Hmm? What’s that?”

Thena didn’t say anything, instead, she eyed Pluto’s lips, and Pluto instantly knew what it meant. “Thena…”

“Ikaris and Sersi could do it, why couldn’t we?” said Thena.

“We will not meet for a thousand years Thena.”

“Then it’ll be better, I will miss you, and this will remind me of you.”

Pluto stared at her eyes, she was stern, she’s not shy if she wants something, and she will get it.

Finally, their faces were slowly getting closer, and their lips met. It was a tender kiss, emotions that have been dampened surges again.

After a while, they separated, they looked into each others’ eyes, clearly cared for each other.

“I lov-”

“Don’t.” cut off Thena. “Don’t say it now. Say it when you return to us.”

Pluto smiled. “Very well.”

Thena then rested her head on his shoulder, snuggling close to him. “I will miss you very much Pluto.”

“I will miss you very much too, Thena.”