Hades leaned back in his chair, the tip of his quill resting against the rim of the ink jar as his eyes moved over the endless scrolls stacked before him.
Reports from border spirits, petitions from mortal cults, requests from minor gods begging for resources they neither needed nor deserved.
He muttered under his breath, his voice low and tired. "Do they truly think I have the time for this nonsense? Half of these requests could be solved by simply doing their duty instead of pestering me. Honestly, are they children or rulers?"
He sighed, setting the quill down, his hand moving to rub the bridge of his nose.
The torches flickered softly in the corners of the office, their flames steady, calm, nothing out of place.
Just then, within this place of monotony, something shifted.
A familiar presence brushed against his senses, subtle at first, like the faintest ripple across still waters.
Then, it became clearer. Closer.
It was Aphrodite.
