Once upon a time in Sparta

A long time ago, people and gods lived together on the earth.

But maybe the definition of people at that time was slightly different from what it is now.They will not age, nor will they be entangled by suffering, and are as carefree as gods.Perhaps they are gods, close relatives of gods.Man and God have the same origin, which is the earth.At that time it was Cronus who ruled all this.

This monarch, who knows the past and the future, calls himself the king of the other kingdom.

Later he did lose his authority.Sons of generations, the powers rule the world.And so the golden age ended.People living in that generation lost their bodies and turned into happy elves, wandering on the ground, still bringing blessings and help to the people who came later.

Zeus, the father of all gods, created the second generation, the humans of the Silver Age.At that time, the relationship between man and God had changed.God wants to be both the father and the king of men.It was also the first time that man was entangled by Ceres, causing pain to pervade the earth.Man and God finally broke, and God destroyed man.With hatred and dissatisfaction with God, people turned into underground elves, whispering to people the untrustworthiness of God, the truth of the past, and the wisdom from darkness.

A third generation of humans was created.They are docile and eternally reverent to God.They are brave and strong, and take great pleasure in fighting.They please the gods.However, their appearance and disappearance did not leave a mark, and they only became memoryless spirits of Hades.

In this way, the people of the hero generation appeared.The gods have learned the lesson, they choose excellent people, dote on them, make them have strong love and hate, add glory to them, let them win battles and gain fame.Thus countless legends were born.They shine brightly in time.

But people in this generation are also in pain, because the good times of happiness between humans and gods are lost after all.The suffering imposed on people can only be doubled.Because the glory of the hero is sharpened by suffering, the crown forged by pain and sorrow, the blood-stained reputation and throne.

...are you listening...Kastor...

The poet whispered softly, and pressed his slender fingers on the golden strings, but did not move them.The young Castor curled up in his arms, clutching a strand of long silver hair like moonlight, and fell asleep.

Seeing this, Polydoces walked over lightly, and embraced Castor with both hands.They are twins of the same age, and both are children.But he picked up his younger brother easily, as if holding up a feather.

"You seem to really hate me," said the poet.

"Castor likes you very much." Polydoces said in a particularly dry tone, carefully breaking away his younger brother's hand that was holding the poet's hair.Castor grunted dissatisfiedly, but instinctively hugged the person holding him tightly.

"I think he'd rather sleep here."

"He should stay away from you."

The poet watched the young Polydoces leave with the young Castor in his arms.

"But you can't help him, Polydoces."

Castor is dead.

The weather was particularly bad on the day we returned to Sparta.In order to take care of Aiko's mood, the iron-gray sky was as terrifying as the night, with lightning and thunder, and the torrential rain pouring down crazily, everyone was drenched in extreme embarrassment.The road was muddy, and the chariot often got stuck in the pit, so it had to be pushed out with great trouble and difficulty.

The drenched Polydoces directed the servants to move the spoils to the storage room.Big bags of dark purple wine nectar are fine wines made by the nymphs themselves.Bronze swords and spears, gold, silver and precious stones, rich cloth.

The torrential rain was still falling, and it was so dark that torches and oil lamps were lit everywhere in the palace, and there were shaking shadows everywhere.And that kind of damp cold air pervasively filled the entire space.People murmured, and Polydoces strode forward, passing among the shadowy figures.

Of course he had already met his mother, which must be the highest priority.Queen Leda embraced him, with tears in her eyes.

"Now I have only one son, you," she said.

King Tyndareus said not a word.

He handled everything surprisingly calmly, thinking about when Castor's body would be cremated and the order of offering sacrifices to the gods.He had already selected a suitable jar to hold Castor's remains.It was a very handsome gold urn, with ornate silver handles, and enamel.Castor also has a lot of valuable equipment.At that time there will be a contest at his funeral, and all the young and strong of Sparta will come, and the winner will get them as a prize.

He took care of everything that was urgently needed and was ready to rest.He took a shower, washed off the dust and sweat from his skin, and applied smooth olive oil. He put on a clean tunic and a gorgeous cape, and returned to the room.

The room was exactly as it was before he left.His and Castor's clothes were casually folded by the bed, and there was a half-drunk water glass on the table.

Polydoces lay on the bed, and the breath of him and Castor wafted in the thick woolen blanket.He was recalling the scene before he and Castor went out for the last time.Everything is so ordinary.In the dark room, he had some kind of illusion.It seems that Castor is not dead, but just left for a while, and will return to the room after a while, sleeping beside him.Castor's death made him feel very unrealistic, but very calm, always feeling that this matter did not come true, so light and airy.

When he woke up the next day, he was somewhat surprised to find that Castor was not there.

"Castor?" He blurted out his brother's name, only to realize that Castor was dead.

The air was silent and there was no response.

He ordered a moratorium on Castor's cremation.

Castor's body is still well preserved and looks lifelike.Because the gods were merciful to Polydoces, they painted the blood-red Ambrosia on Castor's body to keep the skin firm and tender so that it would not be corrupted.

So Castor just looked like he was asleep.

Polydoces could not have imagined that Castor would die so unexpectedly and easily in a trivial and ordinary battle, it was unbelievably absurd.But the moment he turned around, his younger brother was injured, and then he closed his eyes and his body became cold.

Castor's last words to him were.

"It was just an accident. Don't be sad. Brother."

Night and day passed, and he slept beside his brother.There is no need for Castor to do anything, as long as he is by his side, it is enough to feel at ease.

The people were disturbed, and whispers went around the palace that their prince had gone mad.Polydoces didn't care, just went back to the room after finishing everything.And the uneasy ripples spread, and finally turned into action one day.That day, when he went back, he found that there was an extra person in the room.

"We need to talk," said the man.

His features were somewhere between youth and youth, and he wore a traveling hat with bright golden feathers on the brim.

Polydoces watched him warily.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"You can't do this to Castor," the man said softly. "The dead deserve a proper burial, so that they can rest in the ground. Otherwise, they will haunt you and curse you."

"I want Castor back."

The man put his hands on his shoulders.

"The dead cannot be resurrected, return to the earth where the sun can be seen. You have probably heard about Orpheus. He went to the underworld for his dead wife, and saw the king and queen of Hades. Song of the Son of the Muse Moved them, but he still couldn't bring his beloved wife back, and returned to the sun alone. It was not because of his recklessness, but the necessity of the law."

Polydoces was silent, but squeezed Castor's cold hand.

"You will make Castor very troubled. Compared with the living, the dead can ask for very little. Do you want to deprive him of this remaining right?"

"You promised me." Polydoces said, his voice choked. "You said we would shine in a great war. And that war hasn't even started yet. Why did Castor die?"

The man looked at him pityingly.

"We've always been talking about you, not you. Polydoces. Castor must have known it himself."

"He never told me otherwise I wouldn't have let him play."

"So what do you want him to do? Like your mother, your sisters, your maid, to stay at home sewing clothes and doing housework? No. Castor certainly doesn't want that either. Maybe Castor isn't as good as you." God bless you. But you are also born for honor and die for honor. Castor died in battle, which is very common and a proof of bravery. Don't you want him to die of illness, or other ordinary You can't expect Castor to die, not even yourself. You are still a mortal, Polydoces. All you can do is to make your life more glorious."

"I don't want to hear any of this. I'm tired of it. Hermes, I know you're worried that I won't be able to fulfill my destiny. Maybe that's true, and I can't."

The Messenger God let out a deep sigh.

"Predetermined fate is unchangeable. Polydoces." He waved the staff in his hand, which was like a shadow in the darkness of the room. "Let Castor tell you himself."

The surroundings became colder, white mist drifted, and the Messenger God left.And the mist gathered, and between the shadows and the dim light he saw Castor.

"Castor!" He reached out to hug his brother, but nothing but nothing was touched.

Some kind of icy wind and fog wrapped around his neck, tightening gradually.

"Consecrate me immediately, Polydoces. If you don't want to be entangled to death with my madness and curse."

Polydoces didn't answer, but just closed his eyes, and tears rolled down from the corners of them.

The pressure on the neck is gone.He heard Castor's sigh.

"Brother, don't do this. Really, let me go."

"Did you know this was going to happen?" Polydoces asked resentfully. "You already knew that you were not protected by the gods on the battlefield?"

"That's how it should be."

"You think I can bear the pain of losing you?"

Castor was silent for a while, then looked away.Polydoces knew very well that this was Castor's habit when he avoided the subject.

"You've got your business to do. Brother. We couldn't have been together forever."

Polydoces said nothing, but held the corpse's hand tightly.

"A lot of things. I can't explain it to you while I'm alive," Castor said. "At least now, you'll be terrified of losing me. At least after it's happened. If I told you, it would be like plague all the rest of our lives."

"I hate you, Castor."

"Brother." Castor's voice was full of helplessness, "I have tried my best. Try my best to make us live happily."

"We are twins."

"We're still different. It's so obvious."

"Do not."

"Polydoces." Castor called his name softly and carefully. "This is not something you can ignore or change if you deny it. This is the generation itself. The glory is destined to belong to you. You will participate in adventures, you will participate in wars, and you will be the best. This thing is unshakable. In You were destined before you were born. And I am the son of a perfect man, not to be glorified, but to glorify the demigods countless ordinary people, the darkness that achieves the glory, and the pain that sets off the joy. I do not like this generation and Its rules. But you are good, so I am willing to cooperate with it for you. In a war or adventure, the gods only want those few. You are the stars, I am anyone around, not in the gods On the edge of thinking. Every time, I am in danger of losing my life. You must forgive me for not being with you all the time, brother."

"I won't allow it."

"At that time, I died." Castor was silent for a long time, and began to narrate, "I saw the copper-colored sky, which was once so solid and eternal, but gradually became illusory, and finally the entire sky and the earth merged into one Copper-colored dreams."

"That's when I understood. The whole world itself is a dream, and everything on it is a phantom that comes and goes. And the edge of the earth is where the Oneiroi come and go. I came through the gate of horn and ivory. Up to here, the dream is the reality itself. For the dead, there is no limit of distance. Except for your love, I have no nostalgia and love for everything in this generation, and I don’t miss it. After my death, I Seeing the truth, maybe being able to understand other knowledge. That's not a bad thing. I'll keep hearing your story, and I'll know you're doing well. And you can know that too."

Polydoces' lips turned pale.

"So you'd rather abandon me?"

"Brother. I also wish to stay by your side, but this is already impossible. So, bury my body. Let me cross the river of tears of life and rest on the field of ashes .”

"No," replied Polydoces angrily. "I will not allow you to leave me. Either you stay or you take me away."

Castor smiled wryly.

"Neither of them, brother. Can't you just listen to me once?"

"No." Polydoces replied stubbornly.

A sudden silence fell over the surroundings, and the air seemed to be getting colder, or colder.A crow flew out without a sound and stood on Castor's body.

"Don't touch it. It's too dangerous." Seeing Polydoces trying to drive the bird away.Castor said. "That's not a bird. Brother."

The black bird flapped its wings twice, and suddenly turned into a blurred human figure.

"There was a sign a long time ago. You have been reminded at that time." Said the ethereal figure that was exactly the same as the former little princess of subjugation. "Such things happen. Was, is, and always will be. Polydoces."

Polydoces smiled, a smile as cold as frozen tears.

"You reminded me. Don't you have anything to say about what Castor has become, Thanatos?"

All the shadows became darker, and the surroundings seemed to turn into an abyss.Once a poet came out of it.

He no longer looks like a poet, for he is pale and fearsome as a thunderbolt.His beauty is also shocking, and the coercion is like a crown of withered things on his forehead.

It's just that his smile is still gentle.

"I said long ago that you can't help Castor."

Polydoces looked at him resentfully.

"I hated Castor so close to you a long time ago."

"It wasn't his fault," Castor said.

"What about me?" said Polydoces, with tears streaming down his face. "What did I do wrong again?"

"You are not wrong either. Brother. Don't cry." Castor pulled the corner of the poet's clothes as he did when he was a child, but now it is condensed by endless darkness. "Help me convince Polydoces."

"Don't make it hard for me, Castor. I was not born persuasive."

"Is there any way," said Polydoces, "that I may be with Castor."

"this is very simple……"

"I won't allow it!" Castor directly interrupted the poet, "Polydoces, don't do this."

"If death is not a big deal to you, then it is to me too." Seeing the expression on Castor's face, Polydoces showed a bleak smile. "You don't want to, do you? You know it's bad. Then, Thanatos, would you give Castor my life? He's always lived for me. Then I'll give my life Pay him back."

"It's not impossible. But do you think Castor will be willing?" Death said softly, "This is an unsolvable method. It is impossible for someone who loves you to let you do this."

"I want Castor."

Reaper and the shadow beside him watched them.

"Then, there is another way." Death said, "Erasure your name and glorious future from the scroll of destiny. You will no longer belong to this heroic century. To bridge the gap between man and god on the earth, death The distance from eternity. There is only one way to go. Because you are a direct descendant of Cronus. Ask with your blood. Ask to go back to the golden age, and you will become an elf who protects mankind and wander the earth. And By the same origin of man and God, by love, Castor will be with you."

Castor looked at Death.

"You knew it was going to be like this from the first time we met?" he asked softly. "You knew it then?"

"I just saw a seed." Reaper reached out and stroked Castor's hair and cheek gently, just like he did when he was a child. "Yes, though. Character is daimon (fate). I know you are a child who does not belong to this generation. Just as that young girl belongs to the silver generation."

Polydoces takes Castor's hand, cold, but not the nothingness of a ghost.

"I've always wanted to do this," said Polydoces, "and now we are true twins."

"You're capricious, Tana. They all complain to me that you've made them unravel and reweave."

"Anyway, they didn't come to me. Besides, in this generation, the so-called fate of the gods is just the best solution for the demigods. The so-called inability to change is only an excuse."

"They couldn't bear to blame you, so they only told me."

"It's because you know it's useless to scold me."

"Always think of others so badly. Everyone loves you."

"It's just because of necessity. If it weren't for the law of necessity (Ananke), they probably have nothing to do with me."

Sleeping God stopped talking and asked after a while.

"what about me?"

Death looked at him, touching the exact same face.

"My essence is nothing. Now here, I borrowed your shape, your flesh and blood to shape this body. You can perceive my thoughts and understand my character. You are the only way for me to perceive the world. Here, I belong to you completely, and I can only be manipulated by you. I can't fall in love with anyone else. What else can you not be satisfied with?"

The god of sleep caught the hand of his twin brother on his face.

"Those are nothing. The only thing I rely on is your love for me."

"It's really sad that I've been so entrusted to you and you say it's nothing."

"I did not mean that……"

The lips were kissed quickly, and then hugged.

"I know. Just kidding. Let's go back."

"Well. You must be very tired after wandering the land for so long."

"Nothing. And it did come across some interesting things."

"Yeah, I don't go home very often."

"It was you who asked me to come out, and now I'm complaining again."

"Okay. Anyway, my fault, go back."

The curtain of darkness lifted.The god of death took a last look at the city of Sparta. The city-state in the dusk was illuminated by the setting sun and turned bright red, and it seemed to be burning against the sunset sky.

It has been predicted that the war has not yet begun.The Supreme of the Heroic Generation.And that person gave up.But others kept going.

"Tana?"

"It's been so long, I don't feel tired. But..."

"Ok?"

"The gods are thirsty."

And after that, this generation will also disintegrate for the sake of the future.

The author has something to say: I feel that the ending is a bit sloppy, and the private settings are not fully explained, but I feel that there is nothing to write...so be it.