In the universe there are three planes of existence each populated by entities both Mythical and Mortal. These Realms lie on top of each other and coexist in relative harmony.

The first and highest Realm is the Divine Realm. This Realm is primarily inhabited by Upper Mythicals such as Gods, Goddesses, and Titans. It is known as Olympus by the inhabitants of other Realms.

The middle Realm is the Mortal Realm, inhabited by mortals, animals, and Lower Mythicals such as Monsters and Spirits. This Realm is also known as Earth. The manifestation of Mother Gaea, upon which mortals toil and live out their finite lives, unaware that they live amongst and are ruled by Mythicals. Some mortals, dubbed Believers by the other Realms, have glimpsed Mythicals and worship the Upper Mythicals as their gods, but most mortals remain blissfully ignorant. 

The third and largest Realm is the Chthonic Realm. This Realm has the most diverse population of Upper Mythicals, Lower Mythicals, and Mortals. It is the final resting place for mortals and animals after their secular lives have ended and they have become Shades. It is also the prison for Mythicals who have broken the laws of the Universe. This Realm, named the Underworld by the other Realms, is managed by Hades, God of the Underworld, and his staff of Mythicals. They are known as Chthonic Mythicals, or Chthonics, by the Mythicals of Olympus in order to distinguish them from other Mythicals. One of these Chthonics is Lethe, Goddess of Oblivion, and caretaker of the River Lethe in the Underworld. Her river is the final destination before afterlife for each Shade, and before reincarnation for those who wish to be sent back to the Mortal Realm. Aided by her many river Sprites, Lethe cleanses their minds and takes their memories so they may start anew. But before that…

"--and that's when, I lunged forward, spear in hand, and pierced his armor clean through–”

“--the streets ran red with blood for days–”

“--has anyone seen my mother?--”

“--I’m going to Elysium for sure–”

“--in my next life–”

“--hello? My lady, can you hear me?”

“Yes! I’m so sorry, where were we?” Lethe apologized to the shade in front of her, a Believer who had fallen in the Trojan War, a casualty of what was, in her opinion, a senseless fight. My, but she hated war! Not only was it always tragic and quite pointless, but the large influx of dead due to the fighting meant a flood of work for the Chthonics, herself included. While she usually loved to hear the mortals’ life stories, as they were her only form of entertainment, hearing the same war story over and over made her wish she could just take their memories and be done with it. Alas, it was imperative that the shades speak their memories before intaking the waters of her River, so that the memories would linger on their lips and be washed away by the waters of Lethe. 

“I was telling you about how I left the world,” the shade smiled gently at her. His visage was that of an older man, the age he had been when he died. His ghostly eyes twinkled with the sagacity of one who had seen much in his lifetime. “It was quite peaceful, actually, more so than that of the other souls here. The night the Horse opened in Troy, I was lying in bed preparing to sleep. As I closed my eyes for the last time, I heard the beginnings of shouts out in the streets. But it was my time to go, and so I fell into eternal sleep peacefully and without pain.” He smiled softly, a faraway look in his eyes. Suddenly, his mouth twisted into a slight frown.

“My lady?” 

“Yes?” Lethe asked.

“I still have two children who are alive. I hope they continue to live through this war and that they do not come to the Underworld too soon.” he looked away sadly. “But that seems more and more unlikely with every shade that arrives in this Realm.”

Lethe nodded sorrowfully. “Yes, not many from your home will survive this conflict of the gods.” 

The shade inclined his head in weary acceptance. Then he looked directly at her. 

“When my children come, would you tell them that their father loved them? And that he hoped they would live long, fulfilling lives?”

“I will,” Lethe murmured softly. Then louder, “I will. What is your name, shade?”

“Balthasar Halkias, my lady.”

“Well then, Balthasar Halkias, your request has been heard and your story has been told. Are you ready to begin your afterlife?”

“I am.” 

A goblet materialized in the goddess’s hand. She scooped a cup full of water from the river and offered it to the shade.

He drank.

His eyes cleared.

And Balthasar Halkias was no more.