LU 129 - Shadow 8

Nat sits on the steps of Illios's porch, silent, and steady. His trident stands on the ground, but rested on his shoulder, the blade pointing behind him. The blades of his tridents gleamed in the sunlight, although with an unnatural look. The size of the trident was about a fourth bigger than the usual trident, so seeing it in person was almost menacing. He gripped the trident with his right hand. *Where did I find this again...* Nat thought to himself. He remembered when he first met Edelle back at the castle... he originally had two. She said something about it being Zinnia's tridents, so why did he have only one now? Did he lose the other? Then again they were smaller than the one he has now... *Maybe they fused?* He brushed off the thought, it was silly. But, another thought crossed his mind: *Maybe it has something to do with me being a dream... maybe this isn't... real either.*

Traversing through the dramatic scenery of imaginary imagery, Illios crumples a branch into the snow, before setting sights onto the tree of Hypnos. Then gracefully slow-falling towards the ground, comes the floating armor, the shoulders positioned in a way to show as if it's 'arms' were spread out. The armor landed several meters away from Illios. After a short greeting and pep talk, Hypnos waved her 'hand' and suddenly they were in the tree, under the oddly shaped core. Their talk was a little goofy in a way, polishing armor seemed to be something they both took a liking to. That was the... 'light-hearted' part of their time together.

Then came the question many sought after, the question the siblings seem to carefully avoid. What motivates them to kill others?

*"Have you ever... been looked down upon?"*

Illios stopped for a moment, and proceeded casually. She paced slowly around the cavernous tree, hands behind her back, head down, thinking. With every critical thought her very form gleamed with interest. Hypnos sits cross-legged on a red couch. The symbol of love, the heart, floats effortlessly, however dull in it's pinkish color. Hypnos continued.

*"What if I told you, your purpose of being born was an apology? Your purpose in life was to grow to be a decoration. A child, born into a bloodline of lords, royalty even, was given to a peasant because your predecessor, failed, to complete a mission that was so, so simple, yet they gave in to the vision of their success, in which lead to their downfall. We are nothing more than a present, and nothing less."*

Illios turns to face Hypnos, this time crossing her arms in front of her, head held up, but not too high to show pride. Hypnos un-crosses her legs.

*"We didn't want to be. We're more. Rather than taking matters to just... making this planet something to live on, we're taking matters back to our roots. We wouldn't have to suffer in such a disgusting image if Zinnia didn't fail. We wouldn't have lived like this if there was no gods, fighting in our own home. Us becoming this strong would be pointless if we wanted only this place. We'll make mortals like you fear us, the same mortals that Zinnia succumbed to. With your fear, you fools will summon your gods like you did with the Shard, and they'll only be walking right to us, their doom."*

Illios uncrosses her arms, and clenches her fist. What would be the point of fighting alone, against them? Why not fight together? They both had a vendetta against the highest beings known to existence, yet they're not working together. It's stupid.

Hypnos stands up from the sofa, the symbol now brightening, menacingly.

*"You don't get it, do you? You mortals, are the very reason why we failed the first time. We're not about to make the same mistake. We are not at your level, we're beyond. We will achieve greatness, at levels of what we deserve, we do not need help from pitiful beings like you to fight for our worth."*

Illios argues, what will they do when they defeat the gods? They'll be the most powerful beings known to existence, they would be literal god slayers.

*"Our reign will be taken elsewhere then. We'll rewrite everything as they should be without godly quarrels."*

Hypnos had enough. They said their goodbyes, and Hypnos waves her 'hand' to the side and Illios vanishes.

*"Slumber... This is the right thing... right?"*