![]() ![]() He bitterly concludes that Elysium was never meant for genuinely good people. Instead, he views the acts of extreme brutality and savagery of his fellow shades as nothing more than the work of a bunch of deranged serial killers, rather than truly noble warriors. Unlike many of the other shades residing in Elysium, who are obsessed with endless fighting amongst themselves and gaining eternal glory, Patroclus shows little interest in engaging in battle. When Zagreus encounters him, he can be found meditating in his monotonously infernal paradise. And now I’m here.Patroclus, the forgotten one, is a former warrior who fought in the Trojan War and achieved eternal paradise in Elysium. “You made the choice, not me, and you prolonged that war, when you knew just as well as anyone you could have ended it! But you refused. What am I doing here? Waiting, lingering, transfixed on something that was never mine, something I never had…then, what am I to do?” “…I ought to have been cast into the meadows of sprawling Asphodel, not here, not with these kings and braggarts. “…Truly must the gods despise us, each in turn, to have divided us like this…” “…He was always, you were always such a stubborn fool…” Was I deceived, in thinking this of you, of us?” I knew of no one, nothing stronger, other than the love we shared. “When we were both alive, I…thought you were invincible. “…The Fates decided this for us, I guess, and so…who are we to complain…?” “…What we were once, I wonder if it’s but a falsely ringing memory of mine…” “…You chose to die in glory, not to live in peace…and all for what? Such a waste, all for your foolish pride, that you should care more to be remembered by those you shall never know than to be loved…” “…It’s all forgettable, with just a single drink, and yet, I always hesitate…” Great men? The standard for greatness is low, indeed.” I knew so many peaceful, decent men, but none of course are here. “What qualifies a man to this eternity in so-called paradise? Even in death, there is no justice. “…To think, he could have…none of this, it didn’t have to be…” “…What more could I have even done? Could I have swayed you, any other way? I tried, with all my might, with all my heart, you must know that, and still, it was never enough…” “…So then, I’ll just keep waiting here, I guess. “…Where are you now, I wonder, and what thoughts are running through your mind…?” ![]() “Is this how you decided to repay me? Why, you must think that I abandoned you, in life, when I went off to war without you, is that it? You think I had a choice?” “…Truly the must the gods despise us, each in turn, to have divided us like this…” “Is clinging to a memory what keeps the soul from fading? Why then, would that I could simply leave that glimmer of my past behind, for there is nothing for me here…” “…But you must hate me so, to have abandoned me among these noble champions and kings…” ![]() “…You’re wallowing away somewhere, the same as I, but where…? And why not here?” “…Why was I brought here, to be left alone? Where did you go…what did you do?” “Why does the soul remain, after the body bleeds, and dies, and turns to ash? Is this the final cruelty of the gods? Or evidence, perhaps, that we have some immortal stuff in us ourselves.” I spent so much of my short life alone, but now, what is this lingering and meaningless experience, where for eternity all I’ve to think on is a few bright glimpses that I spent with him, not by myself?” “It makes no difference to me either way. First: “Is clinging to a memory what keeps the soul from fading? Why then, would that I could simply leave that glimmer of my past behind, for there is nothing for me here…” ![]()
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