Testo Uno

[refantasma]

Type:
Sender ID:refantasma (Nico di Angelo)
To: Everyone
Subject:
Warnings: Necromancy, Nico's bad humor and grammar (He's ESL and only made it to fourth grade.)

how do these work?? cell phones back home are supposed to make monsters able to track me easier.
but
anyway.
where are the graveyards? I wanna get the lay of the land and dead people usually know best.

thanks.

Comments

[refantasma]

[Nico follows without complaint.]

Well, there are no prophecies, but things can't really move forward without them. It's a double-edged sword. But I think we're due some down time.

[scooba]

Then I just hope that there aren't any bad ones coming your way. It was difficult managing the one back home, I can't imagine dealing with more.

[refantasma]

Thanks. But I doubt that will happen. Everything's kind of awful all the time back home.

[scooba]

How so...?

[He wondered if he was too blunt for his own good. Looking toward the side and shifting his weight toward the other leg, he mumbled to himself.]

....If you want to tell me.

[refantasma]

[Nico didn't take offense.]

It just seems like life never takes a break.

[scooba]

...I'm assuming that you have to go fight a lot? And that the enemies are always going after you?

[After all, if it was anything like what he was going through...]

[refantasma]

Yeah, pretty much. I'll be lucky if I make it to twenty-one.

[Another shrug.]

But I'm okay with that. I know what'll happen to me after death, so it won't be bad. I'll pretty much be doing what I do now: serving Father as his emissary.

[scooba]

But are you okay with it? I know your dad is the god of death but...

[He said before fidgeting around with his fingers. He just hoped he didn't overstep his boundaries.]

...do you want to do it?

[refantasma]

God of the dead, the god of death is Thanatos, his lieutenant.

[There is a difference.]

It's a great honor. And it's pretty much what I'm doing now: helping the dead move on.

[scooba]

Oh, I'm sorry. I...I didn't know that.

[He said with a mumble or two.]

But...I'm glad to hear it. I know that there are things that people are forced to do sometimes. I...I don't want the same thing to happen to you.

[refantasma]

It's okay.

[He didn't snap did he? Now he feels bad.]

Well, that's life. And the afterlife. You gotta do things you don't want to do sometimes.

[scooba]

...Don't I know it?

[He said in a low voice. He didn't really know if Nico heard it but all he could was mumble some more.]

Then what is it like in the afterlife? Is it really like what people say it is?

[refantasma]

[Nico's not really sure how to respond to that question, but he answers the how his father's underworld is.]

There are three parts to my Father's domain—the Fields of Asphodel, where most people go. People stand there among the poplars; the ones with stronger wills can recognize time passing, but most don't. A necromancer can summon them if they need to, though.

Then there's Elyisum, where those who best serve the gods are rewarded. It's always like a party, and those who wish can join Father's army. They're the ones I summon. With their permission, of course.

Then there are the Fields of Punishment, where those who oppose the gods are punished for their crimes. Most of the punishments are ironic rather than bloody. At any point, someone not in the Fields of Punishment can choose to reincarnate.

[scooba]

I see. That's not as bad as I thought.

[He said before mumbling once more.]

It's...different from what I have heard back home. There are religions that might think in different ways but in their eyes? The afterlife is a place where people can finally rest. Sometimes, there are ley lands that can make them come back. However, it is mostly based on their memories. They can have memories of the past and can't move forward.

[Pause]

...And other times, we don't really know if they did pass on to the afterlife.

[refantasma]

Well, my underworld's only one of many. I think. So they could all be correct.

[Nico nods.]

Ghosts are a thing. I deal with them a lot. They were my teachers and instructors.

[scooba]

It must be tough. To see them as ghosts while you are still alive...

[refantasma]

Not really? I'm used to it. I think I've been seeing, or at least being aware of, their presence since I was little.

[scooba]

[...]

Even so, I think that is something brave. Not everyone can just keep doing that.

[refantasma]

I guess. Some things you just live with.