Dressed in Feathers | K.TH FF

5: Nether Gate

Taehyung stared down marsh of haze and macabre vibes beyond the dock at the end of the northern lights. "It's not much, but the spirit realm was never supposed to be awe-inspiring like heaven is made out to be. There is no heaven or hell, only the underworld."

"Underworld? As in the underworld ruled by the god Hades himself?"

"The very same. You may also find Anubis and Osiris here, the Egyptian gods of death and the underworld."

My fear was rising, making itself known and present. "I shouldn't be here..."

"Come, now, Gyeowool, It's not so bad. You are a spirit. This is your home realm now."

"You mean I can go back to my own world??"

"Only upon summoning via seance or other rituals. However, the act of summoning the dead and communing with spirits is dangerous. Some are violent and hostile. We do not accept those such as demons and other incorporeal entities of similar nature here in the underworld. They may be of the spirit realm, but that does not mean they are welcome. This is the strict policy of Anubis himself. The only souls you will see beyond the Nether Gate are spirits, specters, phantoms, geists, and wraiths. Reapers are more of a rare sight because we are often preoccupied collecting souls around Earth."

"So... I'm stuck here..."

"That statement is not entirely true. I have not yet delivered you to the underworld, and therefore I still remain your guide. Come. There is much to journey through." He began walking towards the distant gate. I watched as his feathery black cloak flowed behind him like waves, each feather bending to his movements. It was hypnotizing. "Hurry, Miss Jung. You are not the only soul I must escort." He called out to me.

I jogged to catch up to him.

"Please, do not make me drag you to the Fates' doorstep. That would not be fun for either of us."

"Why do you need to take me to the Fates?"

"Castle of the Fates acts as the final sentry station before you reach the underworld. I must deliver you to their castle gates, and that is when we will depart. After you pass the gates, you are on your own."

That's comforting. "So there are two entry gates?"

"Precisely. The Nether Gate is the first, guarded by the fiercest sentinel in the spirit realm. Castle of the Fates is the second and final gate, as I mentioned before. Numerous demons and other entities of that sort almost never breach the outer gate, and it is even more impossible for them to breach the inner gate."

"And who guards the inner gate?"

"Only the Fates if they absolutely must. They have powerful spirits stationed in every area behind the outer gate as sentries of the Castle of the Fates."

(From here, I would recommend you play the MDP orchestral cover of "Not Today" provided at the top for scenic vibes.)

Very soon, we came to approach the Nether Gate. A colossal, hulking beast stood in our way; a giant black dog bearing three heads, donned in armor. I recognized this creature, but I couldn't place it.

I was frozen in place, paralyzed by the sight of its fierce stature and menacing physique.

I can't tell if it's one entity, or three. Maybe it's something like conjoined twins?

"Let me pass." Taehyung requested of the canine.

The three-headed dog stood its ground against Taehyung.

"I will not tell you again. Grant me passage. This is your last warning, Cerberus."

Oh, right! Cerberus! Now I remember!