Greece: Zeus made me the queen of heaven?

Chapter 927 This is already very human-like.
Charon took the man, who was tormenting himself, to the shore near the human world, to the plain at dusk.

As he was about to disembark, Orpheus, whose mind had been tormented by thoughts all day, hesitated again.

He finally disembarked only after Charon urged him again.

Faced with the bustling crowd of souls on the Sunset Plain, Orpheus immediately turned pale.

These souls are all crammed together, and your lover might be following behind you. Imagine being crammed together with all these other souls...

Although he knew these were wandering souls, devoid of consciousness, Orpheus's possessiveness as a man made him subconsciously reject such a scene.

He played his seven-stringed lyre, using the music to drive away all the approaching souls and ensure that he had some space around him.

A man who strives for love is certainly admirable, but the nymph girl clinging to his back reveals a sorrowful expression.

She longed to speak to her lover and express her longing, but she couldn't.

If she wants to be successfully resurrected, she cannot speak a single word to Orpheus before reaching the ground.

She could only watch Orpheus's back and follow him step by step.

This journey from death to life is coming to an end, but Eurydice's face is still full of sorrow.

As a nymph, she knew better than Orpheus that she could not be resurrected.

But she couldn't bear to tell her lover and shatter his last illusion, because that would instantly drag her back to the depths of the underworld, and she would lose even the privilege of following behind him.

She could only look at him like this, cherishing the time she spent close to him, but the closer they got to the ground, the closer they were to parting.

If she could speak, she would have preferred Orpheus to slow down, so that this final parting would come later.

Rather than a path to resurrection, it was more like giving her a few more moments of peace with her beloved.

One strives forward in hopes of resurrecting their lover, constantly doubting themselves, unaware that the faster they move forward, the closer they get to separation.

Knowing everything, yet forbidden to speak, they could only watch from the sidelines.

No wonder Charon cursed Eros earlier; that guy is truly wicked and a pure torturer.

It would have been much simpler to just bring Eurydice out, let the young couple chat for a bit, and let Eurydice persuade Orpheus herself.

He insisted on putting on this show of mutual torment; isn't he just deliberately messing with people?

But what can they do even if they're being pranked? These little goddesses can only obediently cooperate to avoid getting hurt.

In Charon's view, Eros's decision not to hang Eurydice before Orpheus was already a very restrained act.

Even if he actually did that, no one could say anything. These people would have to applaud and cheer from the sidelines, and then help Eros clean up the mess.

So it was just a prank on these two people, which was a very private operation, and it's in line with the style of these gods who have nothing better to do than have some fun.

After using only half the time it took to get there, Orpheus had already crossed the crowded twilight plain and was hurrying back to the entrance he had come from.

The sunlight of the human world and the twilight at the entrance to the underworld formed a clear dividing line. All that was left for Orpheus to do was take a few more steps forward, and he would be able to successfully leave the underworld.

But the closer one gets to the finish line, the more hesitant and uncertain one becomes. The final short distance seems like an insurmountable chasm, making it impossible to take another step.

This is what is meant by people becoming more hesitant and unable to resist overthinking when making a final decision.

What if the entrance to the underworld is instantly blocked once I step out of this twilight and into the sunlight?
He has no way of finding a new entrance to the underworld; this path will be completely blocked.

Should I really leave? Is Eurydice really following behind me? Is this really not a hoax?
After taking a few slow steps, Orpheus stood on the boundary between the underworld and the human world, unable to make a decision for a long time.

Perhaps if there were a bystander or passerby at this moment who could rationally analyze the various issues and trade-offs, and step forward to give him a push, he might be able to make a more decisive decision.

But now that he's alone, his mind is in turmoil, like a hornet's nest, and he's unable to make a decision for a long time.

His longing and worry for his beloved were like the oppressive weight of the sky pressing down on his heart.

Because I care, I can't make a hasty decision. Just like when gambling, no one can easily bet their entire fortune or life on it.

The fear of losing a loved one weighed heavily on his heart, especially since he had experienced loss once before, which only amplified his fear.

Behind Orpheus, his beloved Eurydice looked at him with some sadness, awaiting his final choice.

Even though she already knew.

After hesitating for a long time, Orpheus finally made a decision and tentatively took half a step outward.

Half of his body was bathed in sunlight. Of course, he wouldn't do anything like taking half a step and then turning back, which would be an obvious attempt to exploit a loophole.

The moment he took a step, his neck began to twist, almost simultaneously with his body.

As Orpheus took that final step, he too could not suppress his fear and trepidation and began to look back.

The moment he stepped completely across the boundary, he turned his head, wanting to see clearly behind him whether his beloved was there.

Whether it was a second or the blink of an eye of Helios who didn't even exist, he couldn't wait any longer; he just wanted to confirm the existence of his beloved as soon as possible.

If he cannot see, he will rush back to the underworld immediately to accuse God of deception.

But he saw it, he really saw it: his beloved Eurydice was standing right behind him, never leaving his side, looking at him with a sorrowful expression.

Before the ecstasy in his heart could even surge up, he noticed that although he was bathed in sunlight, Eurydice was still shrouded in the twilight.

He turned back so quickly that Eurydice, who was following behind him, had not yet taken that step and was still within the realm of the underworld.

So much self-torture and doubt over such a long time had made Orpheus forget that the condition Persephone had given him was when Eurydice was standing on the ground, not when he was there.

Eurydice looked at him, his face just as she remembered, only now his expression was a mixture of sorrow and encouragement. He opened his mouth instinctively, as if he wanted to say something.

But the giant hand of death gave her no chance; countless black arms grabbed her back before she could even open her mouth.

The euphoria that had not yet surged quickly turned into despair and regret, nearly tearing Orpheus apart.

(End of this chapter)