It was getting incredibly tiring, going back and forth between the surface and the Underworld. While he was getting much better at avoiding attacks from the aggressive shades and defeating the stronger enemies who stood in his way at the end of each part of the Underworld, it was starting to feel pointless.

Yes, he got to spend time in the mortal realm and explore if he managed to escape, but that time never felt like enough. It was unpredictable if he could stay on the surface for a few days or if he would only get mere hours to enjoy the heat of the sun and the chorus of birds.

No matter what, he always ended up taken by the River Styx.

Wiping the viscous, crimson water from his exhausted face, Zagreus emerged from the lobby of the House of Hades where the River Styx ended. Hypnos was asleep at his corner, and, as much as Zagreus had grown fond of the chatty sleep incarnate, he did not have intentions to awaken him today.

Zagreus carefully creeps past Hypnos' post and makes his way into the heart of the estate. He's quite thankful Persephone and Hades were absent from the main room, allowing him to walk over to Cerberus and collapse against the big beast's side.

A loud sigh eases the pressure off his chest, allowing him to get his frustrations out of his body, and he leans his face into Cerberus' soft red fur. "Would you mind if I took a nap here, mate?" He jokes, petting the massive canine. Cerberus leans one of his heads down and licks at Zagreus' face. "I'll take that as a 'no'!" He laughs.

Leave it to Cerberus to brighten his mood by coating him in slobber.

When Zagreus awakens, still comfortably laying on the floor, he's startled by a figure standing before him. At first, he starts to get up, but as soon as he recognizes their face, Zagreus slumps back against the canine.

"Quite the sight to wake up to." Zagreus grins, lifting an eyebrow as he looks up. His gaze drifts down to the glass bottle held in their cupped hands, a little purple ribbon tied around its neck. "What's that for?"