Chapter Text
So many mortals were dying and Hypnos was nowhere to be found. It wasn’t just a small issue anymore.
Olympus was now getting involved.
One day after getting back from another escape attempt, Zagreus overheard Nyx and his father speaking.
He moved to the wall, hiding himself behind whatever was closed which happened to be an empty pot. He had every right to listen to their conversation, but they could just shoo him away if they were to realize that Zagreus was there. Maybe he just hoped they had a lead to find Hypnos.
“Lord Hades, I cannot feel Hypnos’ presence anymore. I cannot feel it anywhere.” Nyx spoke.
His father’s response was much more muted, he could only hear bits and pieces.
From what he could make of the conversation from the lines he was able to hear; they didn’t even know if Hypnos was dead or alive. They didn’t even know if he was alive.
That was the last he wanted to hear of this conversation before it inevitably got even more grim.
Zagreus walked out from behind the pit and did his best to make it look like he just walked out of the Styx. He even pretended to dry himself off from the water as he usually would.
As he got closer to Nyx and Hades, they paused their conversation and gave each other a knowing look. Neither of them said anything as he passed, despite that he gave a head nod to Nyx.
Zagreus went into his room, and stationed himself in his bed. It felt exactly the same as it did previously.
He knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep, yet he just laid there. Zagreus would only manage to think about one thing; Hypnos could be dead. He could be dead and they wouldn’t even know.
No matter how much time had passed Zagreus could bring himself to move from the bed, or just to move in general. He laid there still like a rock.
While this wasn’t productive at all, what did it really matter? Hypnos was gone and he still wasn’t any closer to finding his mother.
Hypnos was a large part of his motivation to find his mother. Seeing Hypnos after he died made it much more bareable, it gave him something to look forward to if he didn’t make it.
Could Hypnos really be dead? From what he has heard, Hypnos was more than strong enough to defend himself. He couldn’t actually be dead, right?
If Hypnos was dead, he wouldn’t want Zagreus to give up on trying to find his mother.
At least, that's what Zagerus would think. He would most likely want Zagreus to continue on and keep trying.
Not to just give up and lay here.
Maybe he could try one more time.
Just one more time to honour Hypnos.
Zag gives Skelly a wave before grabbing Achilles’ spear and heading down. He doesn’t feel like sparring, more like just murdering Skelly.
As he falls from the wall, he hears the distinct music and glasses clinking associated with Dionysus. Just as he expected, the purple light illuminates his vision as he hits the ground: Dionysus.
He picks up the boon and the god starts speaking as usual, sober enough to think clearly but the slight slur in his voice that you couldn't miss, which fit perfectly with the strong smell of alcohol.
“Hey, Zag. Heard Hypnos is gone. That sucks.” The man said. “Are they close to finding him yet? Kinda sucks that I can't just sleep off a hangover anymore.”
While Dionysus maintained the laid back tone–Zagerus didn't know if it was real or just from the alcohol–there was slight concern in his voice, so little so that if he had paid any less attention Zagerus was sure that he would have missed it. Although Dionysus’ facial expression definitely contributed to his certainty of it.
Zagreus just shakes his head.
Hypnos could be dead for all they know, he would not outright tell that to Dionysus. Because it would both be plain rude to the other god, and Zagerus would think that it would definitely not help the underworld whatsoever–not that he cared about that at all, but he did care about Hypnos.
“Damn, Hope you find him soon, and when you do, give him my regards, will ya?” The other god seemed to gloom down, but still kept a smile on his face.
By the look in the other man’s eyes, Zagerus was sure that Dionysus just saw straight through him.
Every other god that sent a boon after that went similarly. Though they all worded it differently. There was an underlying selfish reason behind every single one.
They all needed him back for their own reasons.
Their own selfish reasons.
He continued to progress through Tartarus, then through to Asphodel.
A few chambers before the chamber with Lernie, a gate to Chaos appeared.
He may as well enter it. There's no reason that he shouldn’t. Especially if this is his last escape attempt it would be nice to see Chaos for this last time.
He had more than enough health to enter, so it should be fine.
He walked up to it. The usual dim shine with stuff from inside voiding out from inside the gate. The gold trim that contrasts its insides, the same as normal. It was same gate as usual, not a single thing different.
But why did it feel slightly different?
Something was different although he couldn’t pin point what it was.
He had no doubt that something was different.
After giving up the necessary blood, he jumped in.
Chaos was there, and to his surprise, Hypnos too. He was fast asleep, curled up in his red blanket while floating beside the larger god.
Zagreus looked between the two of them few times, he didn’t know if it were out of shock or or merely being caught off guard.
He then decided to speak up. “Hes here?” He hands softly gesturing towards Hypnos was he spoke
“Yes, although his mind is far from here.” Chaos spoke, as cryptic as ever.
“Do you mean that his consciousness isn’t here?” Zagreus guessed.
“That is correct, Son of Hades.”
A consciousness separated from its body? Is that even possible? Zagreus decides he won't question the details behind it.
“Uh- so where is his mind then? Can it come back?"
“It theoretically could.”
“Would you be able to bring it back then?” Zagreus asked, still as confused as before.
“I could, but he asked for this.”
“He did?”
That outright shocked Zagreus, he knew that the man wasn’t happy all the time, no one could be, but this? Why would Hypnos ask for something like that? Being separated from his body?
What happened?
“He did. He wished to be in a different world, his mind is now there.” Chaos relayed.
“But-”
“If you so desire him back then you can convince him, yourself.” Chaos stated clearly.
That sounds like a fair bargain. Although how was he supposed to convince Hypnos if his consciousness was on an entirely separate world?
“If his mind is there how am I supposed to convince him?” He questioned.
Chaos was usually fair so there should be a way. Chaos wouldn’t give him an impossible task, right? With how little it seemed he knew Hypnos, he wasn’t sure anymore, maybe Chaos would?
“I will send your consciousness there as I did Hypnos. You will embody your counterpart there.”
“Alright” This was certainly a lot to take in, more than he expected at least. Hypnos willingly leaving, and actually having the motives to leave. He shouldn’t be surprised, he is also trying to escape after all.