You are Orpheus.
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[You stand before the gods, a place no reasonable man has ever wished to find himself in.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[But you are no longer reasonable.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s)[ [[>Your mind is foggy.]]]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s)[ [[>But you remember why you're here.]]]You loved her. You *love* her. She is a part of you, like your blood, like your bones, like your heart. She is the sun. Her presence kindles a warmth in your chest and you bask in her, a lizard under her beautiful rays. She is bright and she is bold and she is the life that pulses in your veins. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s)[Sometimes you cannot bear to look at her because her brilliance makes your eyes sting. She is the most beautiful thing in the world.](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:8s) [You think she may be prettier even than the goddess, Aphrodite.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:10s)[You have never said this aloud or put it to verse.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:12s)[You are not fool enough to blaspheme like that.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:14s)[You are fool enough to blaspheme [[like this.]]](set: $Hades to (font:"Times New Roman")+(text-size:2.5)+(text-style:"fidget"))
$Hades[*You trespass, mortal.*]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[Hades speaks, as all gods do, in a voice that echoes in your bones. He speaks as an earthquake.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[Persephone regards you from his side, her expression unreadable.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s)[You intrude upon places you have no right being. You may very well die today.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:8s)[ [[You will not die today.]]]You have found the entrance to the Underworld and descended, blind and helpless through the dark. Your hands are bloody. Your shins are bruised. Your lungs ache with the cold and damp. But you had made it to [[Erebus.]][[This will be the last.]]You take out your lyre and you play once more.
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[You sing.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[You sing for Eurydice.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s)[You sing with all the love you have for her.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:8s)[You sing with desperation.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:10s)[You sing as though you will die if you do not.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:12s)[You sing with everything in you.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:15s)[ [[You are here to sing.]] ]You sing until your throat hurts, until the lyre's strings have worn your fingers raw. You sing of love and of loss. You sing until your voice breaks upon the words and hope it is enough.
[[Eurydice.]](set: $Hades to (font:"Times New Roman")+(text-size:2.5)+(text-style:"fidget")+(t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:15s))
(set: $Persephone to (font:"Times New Roman")+(text-size:2.5)+(text-style:"fidget"))
$Persephone[*Enough!*] Persephone cries and presses her face to her husband's shoulder.
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)["Please." Your hands ache. "I would do anything to bring her back."]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s)[Hades is silent.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:7s)[He watches you.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:9s) [His eyes glisten, damp.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:11s) [A single tear catches on his lashes.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:13s) [You did not know that gods could cry.]
$Hades[*I do not make [[exceptions.]]*](set: $Hades to (font:"Times New Roman")+(text-size:2)+(text-style:"fidget"))
"I..." Your voice shakes. You feel you may die.
$Hades+(t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:1s)[*Do not dare speak over me, mortal.*] $Hades+(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[*I wasn't finished.*] $Hades+(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s) [*I do not make exceptions. But I will make one now.*] $Hades+(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:7s)[*Use it [[wisely.]]*] (set: $Hades to (font:"Times New Roman")+(text-size:2)+(text-style:"fidget"))
"But how will I know she's behind me?" you ask.
$Hades+(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[*You will have to trust that she is.*] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[Hades' gaze is steady, unwavering, and you can see this now for what it is. Your devotion has moved him, perhaps stayed his hand, but he is still a god and you trespass upon his land.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:8s)[He will not let you leave without one final lesson.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:10s)[You will obey the gods.](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:12s)[ [[And you will not look back.]] ]You sink to your knees upon the gilded floor and prostrate yourself before them, offering your gratitude for the kindness they have granted you. You are not one to often be so humble but you are no fool. The gods can take away just as easily as they can give.
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[After a moment, you find your feet again, give one final bow, and turn to leave. [[You do not look back.]]]Hades' palace is resplendent in obsidian and gold. The floors are polished to a brilliant shine, smooth and slippery beneath your feet. The only footsteps you can here are your own.
[[>You don't think Eurydice is there.]]
[[>But you can't look back.]][[You are here to sing.]]You are sure no one is following you. Hades has tricked you. You have come so far and for what? You will leave empty-handed and you will never restore the life that has been stolen from your dear Eurydice. You may see her again, but only in death. Only once you've failed her.
[[>There is no one there.]]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[>But you can't look back.]]]You hold your head high, gaze resolutely straight ahead. You have come so far. Just this last bit. You can do this. You can do this.
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[>Do not look back.]]]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[>You don't look back.]]]But what if there is? What if she's there, right there, in touching distance?
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)["Eury," you whisper, soft because you don't know if speaking is against the rules.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s) [But you hear no response.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s)["Eurydice?"]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:8s)[You think you might've heard something that time, but you can't be sure.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:10s) [It could've been a breath or it could have been nothing more than a trick of your mind.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:12s)[ [[>Is it her?]]]
(t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:13)[ [[>Don't look back don't look back don'tlookbackDON'TLOOKBACK]]]You have come so far. This will not be where you fail.
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[>Do not look back.]]]Eurydice. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[Eurydice.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s) [You've been so long without her.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[You need to know, you *need to see her.*] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s) [She's so close] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:4.5s) [so close] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:5s)[*right there it's her*]
(t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:5.5s)[ [[>You need to see her.]]]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:7s)[ [[>But you can't look back.]]]Are you sure you want to look back?
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[>Please.]]]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[>I can't...]]][[I have to see her.]][[>You keep walking.]]You [[look back.]](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[...she's gone.]]]The Underworld is quiet. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[There is no one here.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s) [You have not seen anyone besides the gods.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s) [Perhaps Hades is empty.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:8s) [Perhaps there is no afterlife.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:10s) [Perhaps the end is just the end.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:12s)[ [[>You keep walking.]]]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:14s)[ [[>There is no one there.]]]Your footsteps echo. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[You feel alone.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[You can only hope that you are not.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s)[There is something dripping in the distance.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:8s) [It's so hot down here.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:10s)[ [[>You don't think Eurydice is there.]]]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:12s)[ [[>You don't look back.]]]Onwards. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[You don't remember having come this way but it is the only way you can go.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s) [Your legs are already sore from the journey down here.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s) [Your hands throb where you've scraped your palms on the stone and cut your fingers upon your lyre.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:8s)[You will make it.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:10s)[ [[You will.]]]You have sung to the river boatman. Many say the gods are cruel. They wouldn't be wrong. But things are so rarely static and, within himself, Charon has found mercy for you. Or pity perhaps. You cannot tell beneath the dark hood of his cloak. Regardless, he had shepherded you safely [[across the lethal Styx.]]You have coaxed Cerberus to sleep. He'd towered above you, mouths watering, blackened slaver oozing from his jaws and hissing where it struck the stone below. His breath had smelled of rot. You could not fear him. There is not enough left in you to fear. So you play instead, a gentle lullaby from your childhood, and the beast rests his three great heads upon the ground and lets you [[pass.]][[You have cleared so many hurdles.]][[Silence.]][[Silence...]][[You are alone.]][[>There is no one there.]]
(t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[>Did you just hear something?]]][[>Is it her?]]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[>Or is it a trick?]]]No. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[Not yet.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s) [Not now.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[You do not acknowledge the noise you heard.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s)[ [[There is nothing harder than resisting something you want more than life itself.]]]You cannot help but be attuned to the faint noise. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[You try to ignore it but there is nothing else to focus on.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[There is nothing else down here.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s)[As you walk, the noise grows louder.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:8s) [You know what it is now.](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:10s)[ [[Someone is breathing.]]]You love her. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[You love her so much that every detail of her is imprinted on your soul.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s) [Even the way she breathes is a spark of inspiraton to you.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s) [If you could only compose a song that could make all who hear it understand the depth of your love for her.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:10s) [...But even with all your talent, even with an ode that will bring tears to even the gods, mere words and notes cannot capture your feelings.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:14s)[ [[>You need to see her.]]]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:14s)[ [[>You must be strong.]]]She is there. You are certain of this now.
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[With a freshly strengthened resolve, you continue forward.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s) [You can make it out of here.](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s)[ [[You can.]]]If only you could [[try again]]. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[You swear it will be different this time.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[You swear you'll do it better.]Is that...? (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[Yes.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[You can feel fresh air on your cheeks.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s) [You feel like you've been walking for days.](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:8s)[ [[At last...]]][[Almost there.]]*Orphy.*
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[That's your name.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[*Orpheus...*]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s)[A whisper.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:8s) [Eurydice.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:10s) [You can hear her.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:12s)["Eury? Is that you? We're almost there. [[Just a little further.]]"]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:14s)[She's just behind you.](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:16s)[You feel you may die if you don't [[look back.]]]*[[Don't look back.]]*So close.
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[Just [[don't look back!]]]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[don't look back!]]]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[ [[don't look back!]]]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s)[ [[don't look back!]]]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s)[ [[don't look back!]]]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:7s)[ [[don't look back!]]]
(t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:8s)[don't] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:9s)[ [[look]]] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:10s)[ [[back.]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:0.1s)[ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:0.2s) [ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:0.3s)[ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]]
(t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:0.4s)[ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:0.5)[ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:0.6s)[ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:0.7) [ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:0.8s)[ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]]
(t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:0.9)[ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:1s)[ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:1.1s)[ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:1.2s) [ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:1.3s)[ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]]
(t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:1.4s)[ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:1.5)[ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:1.6s)[ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:1.7) [ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:1.8s)[ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]]
(t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:1.9)[ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:2s)[ [[DON'T LOOK BACK]]][[DON'TLOOKBACKDON'TLOOKBACKDON'TLOOKBACKDONTLOOKBACKDONTLOOKDONTLOOKDONT]](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[Behind you, you hear a painful thud.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s) [Someone tripping, someone falling.](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s) [You want to see if [[she's okay.]]]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:8s)[But you have made a [[promise and you do not look back.]]][[DON'T LOOK BACK.]]You can't hear her anymore. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[You don't know if she's still there.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[ [[You need to be sure.]]](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s)[ [[You need to leave this place together.]]][[You need to leave this place together.]]You [[look back.]]Finally. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[Light.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s) [The sun!] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s) [Apollo!] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s) [Oh sweet, Apollo, who among the gods favors you most of all.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:7s) [You will make it.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:9s) [You *have* made it.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:11s)[The sun touches your skin and you can see, in the brilliance, that the warmth has been bleached from it.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:13s) [You do not know how long you were down there.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:15s) [You only know that you can see the bones of your wrists jagged and sharp under your skin. That your fingers are practically skeletal.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:18s)[ [[You can look back now.]]]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:20s)[ [[You feel you might cry if you had anything left in you to give.]]]You do. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:1s)[You turn and there she is, waiting for you!] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s) [Eurydice.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s) [Eurydice.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)["Eurydice!"] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s) [Her name comes spilling out of you and you laugh,] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s) [you've made it,] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6.5s) [you've made it,] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:7s) [*you're free*] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:10s) [but Eurydice isn't smiling.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:12s) [You remember,] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:12.5s)[too late,] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:14s) [that you both had to touch Apollo's rays.]
(t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:17s)[ [[How could you?]]]You let go. Your knees buckle and your palms hit the dirt, an impact that rattles you all the way up to your shoulders. You hear someone move behind you, feel their touch upon you.
"Orpheus," she whispers. "You are so brave. You are so stupid. I was so scared, I... Orphy... Orphy, please look at me."
But [[you can't.]][[HOW COULD YOU HOW COULD HOW COULD YOU]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:1s)[Eurydice is gone now.] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:2s)[It's all your fault.] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:3s)[You tried.] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:4s) [You failed.] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:5s)[You will never see her again.]
(t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:7s)[The entrance to Hades is gone, as if it was never there at all.] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:9s) [You fall to your knees and claw at the earth, desperate, as if perhaps if you try hard enough you can find it again.] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:13s) [Your hands are bleeding.](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:15s) [Your nails catch on stones, breaking, snapping.]
(t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:17s)[Eurydice.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:19s) [Eurydice...]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:21s)[You were not strong enough.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:23s) [You were not clever enough.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:25s) [How could you have been?] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:27s) [Don't you know that gods never play fair?]
(t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:29s)[ [[...she's gone.]]]You are too afraid. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[Afraid that it isn't over,] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[that you will look at her and everything will disappear,] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s) [that it cannot be true,] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:8s) [that looking at her will break the spell.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:10s) [You don't look back.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:12s)[ [[You can't.]]]This is fine. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[This is enough.] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:4s) [This is too much.] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:5s)[Eurydice is touching you,] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:5.5s) [begging you to look at her,] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:6s) [to *see* her,] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:6.6s) [look,] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:7s)[she's fine now,] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:7.5s) [you did it!] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:8.5s) [but you bury your face in your hands and turn away.] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:10s) [You cannot look at her.] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:11s) [You can't.] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:11.5s) [You can't.] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:12s)[You just can't.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:14s)[ [[She will vanish if you do.]]]You love her. (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[You love her so much that it hurts.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s) [You will not fail her, not even accidentally.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s) [You will not risk her, not now that she has returned to you.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:8s) [You curl your bleeding and aching fingers into claws.] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:10s) [And you tear out your eyes.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:12s)[ [[You can look back now, Orpheus.]]](t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:1s)[Eurydice is crying,] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[sobbing,] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:2s) [shaking you] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:2.5s)[*why did you do that*] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:3s)[*are you okay*] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:3.5s) [*your eyes*] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:4s)[*we need to get you to a healer*] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:4.5s) [*Orphy*] (t8n:"instant")+(t8n-delay:6s) [*please stay with me*]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:10s)[You can't see her.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:12s) [You can't see anything.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:14s) [But that's okay.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:16s) [You love her.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:18s) [You have gone through death itself for her.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:20s) [You know she is there and you know that she loves you] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:22s) [and that is all you need.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:26s)[There is more blood than you thought there might be.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:28s) [You feel as though you are underwater.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:30s) [The journey through Hades has drained you of everything you had.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:32s) [You don't think you have enough in you to survive this much blood.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:34s) [Your thoughts feel soupy.] (t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:36s) [But you are [[okay.]]][[This is your happy ending.]]You don't need to [[try again]].[[You haven't been reasonable since Eurydice.]]They tower over you, and you have seen the gods in person before: it was Apollo himself who gifted you your lyre, but you don't think you will ever get used to seeing them. They appear human in every way.
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:4s)[Except for the ways in which they do not.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:6s)[They are the silence that falls before a flock of birds take wing. They are the hour of twilight before the beasts wakes. The world contains many scraps of godliness. Only here is it potent and pure.]
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:10s)[ [[You should be afraid.]]][[But you have nothing left to lose.]]You stand before the gods, armed only with your lyre.
(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[[It has brought you this far.]]](set: $Hades to (font:"Times New Roman")+(text-size:2)+(text-style:"fidget"))
$Hades[*You have gotten into my domain, you can find your way out.*] $Hades+(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:2s)[*Your Eurydice may follow you and the light of Apollo will restore her to life.*] $Hades+(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:5s)[*You have earned my mercy.*] $Hades+(t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:7s)[*All you must do is [[not look back]]."*](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[...she's gone.]]](t8n:"dissolve")+(t8n-delay:3s)[ [[...she's gone.]]]