156. Interlude: Sun and Moon

Interlude | Sun and Moon

Trudge on, trudge on. No one noticed your tracks, while higher-dimensional beings whispered endlessly in your ears.

But now, they had fallen silent together.

And so Neos was able to rest.

With light footsteps, the Emperor slipped past his loyal warriors in the depths of the palace he had woven with his own hands, a palace like a spider's web.

Malcador, who had been watching him all along, had a trace of disappointed frustration in his reproachful gaze, yet he disdainfully looked away.

He would get along well with Orpetre.

The Emperor thought comfortably. After all, they had plenty of common ground.

On the matter of rebuking Neos alone, if they wished, Orpetre and Malcador could talk for three years without repeating themselves.

Neos provided them with an abundance of material and topics.

The Emperor had never forbidden others from cursing him, just as he had never forced others to praise him.

Most humans were deceived by the golden cloak draped over his appearance. They respected him, feared him, and offered heartfelt praise and curses alike. The words from their mouths piled upon the Emperor's shell, forming ever thicker walls, making Neos's true self even harder for anyone to know.

Another group came closer to the truth. They were either wise men with profound insight, or simply fools who were dull-witted and acted on instinct.

Among them, some chose to follow him, only to leave or betray him after coming into contact with deeper truths. Others maintained a certain distance from him, respecting him while keeping him at arm's length.

The former were Orpetre and Malcador; the latter was Hades—

Though Neos believed that his temperament was at least, perhaps, somewhat, possibly better than that of his son Mortarion, Hades clearly preferred working and cooperating