Curse Of Hades: rise of the Phoenix

the first winter's love

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies

-Aristotle

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Ambrosius walked along the beach, his bare feet digging into the sand as he marched alongside the coast. The cold winter winds blew through his crimson cape, and the specks of snow would get caught in his thick ebony hair.

His best friend, who was a philosopher's student, walked alongside him, talking about the very delicate balance between life and death, and how this fragile bond managed to stay intact for thousands, possibly millions of years.

-"you see, Ambrosius, there is a fine line between life and death... And this line, is extremely fragile. Too much death could create an extinction, but too much life could create an overpopulation. It is a miracle how this balance has never been broken. Or at least, we don't know if it is broken." He explained with his hands clasped together. Ambrosius looked at his friend and scoffed.

-"we already witnessed this bond falling apart, but somehow it brought itself back together. I think that's something that we like to call "self-discipline"." He retorted and smirked at his friend, and gave him a friendly nudge to his shoulder.

-"perhaps, but everything has self-discipline. Us humans, despite our greed, always know when to stay within our limits. Just like flowers, when they know when to stop growing once they bloom." He said with a gentle laugh and a warm smile.

-"maybe, but the balance between-" Ambrosius was about to speak, before suddenly stopping in his tracks. His oak brown eyes gazed upon a cloaked figure, standing in the grassy fields that were covered with a thin layer of snow.
Noticing the subtle rose that tinted his olive skin, his friend looked back at Ambrosius.

-"is this the maiden you have been sending gifts to?" He asked and shook him out of his trance.

-"oh? Uh, yes. Yes she is. I never saw her face or body, but I hope one day she will reveal herself to me." He says and a small smile tugged itself on his lips as he gazed at the cloaked woman.

-"you seem smitten with her. Do you at least know her name?" The student crossed his arms loosely over his abdomen.

-"yes. She told me her name. I believe it is Prisca. Such a beautiful name, if I dare say. And her voice is just as enchanting as you can imagine." He says and looks at his friend, who chuckles and nudges him.

-"well, dear brother, go talk to her! I believe you brought her another gift at the market, did you not?" He said and uncrossed his arms, looking at his friend with an expectant gleam in his eyes.

-"I do, but I don't know what to say. I haven't truly had a heart to heart conversation with her, or truly courted her for that matter. I have only exchanged few words, before running off like a child being caught stealing from a merchant." He sighs and looks down at the cold, sandy ground.

-"don't be hard on yourself! All you have to do, is be confident. Talk to her like you have known each other for more than a hundred lifetimes!" The student said with an encouraging tone, and put a hand on Ambrosius' shoulder, wanting to give him the confidence. The two young men made eye contact, and Ambrosius gave his friend a confident nod before trotting over to the mysterious girl.
He cleared his throat, making her aware of his presence and started speaking with the confidence he managed to muster up.

-"how fair thee, maiden Prisca?" He said and held out his hand to her, prompting her to take it. He heard a faint chuckle from her, and she held out her hand to wrap her slim fingers around his. He gazed at her marble white skin, and swallowed his nervousness as she spoke with a voice that sounds like divinity to his ears.

-"I am fairly well. The sun shines little, but the cold serves well for my eyes and skin." She says softly.

-"ah, perfect then... I have a gift for you, winter-born Prisca. Close your eyes, and open your hand." He said, finally able to gain all of his confidence back.
A gentle giggle escaped her lips, and she closed her eyes as told and opened up her hand.
She heard a faint jingle sound, and a cold and subtle weight being placed in her palm.

-"you may open them now, fair maiden." He says and slowly lets go of her hand.
Once she opened her eyes, she saw a beautiful necklace with an obsidian pendant in the shape of a bamboo flower.

-"oh my, it's beautiful!" She gasps and clips the necklace around her neck.

-"I have heard legends from afar that this flower grows once a century. I crafted the pendant myself, and went to the jeweller to make, well... A better of it." He says with a nervous laugh, which made her also laugh, but not at him. She found his nervousness almost endearing.

-"it is certainly beautiful. Thank you, Ambrosius. You always make me smile whenever you bring me these gorgeous gifts." She said with genuine gratitude in her voice, and giggled happily.

-"well, since this flower's legend says it grows once every century, I figured it would be perfect for you. Because, just like your existence, it only appears once in a mortal's lifetime before it disappears for good." He said and reached out to caress her cheek, feeling the smooth skin under his hand. He let out a soft and quiet exhale of admiration.
Prisca smiled softly and leaned into his touch, bringing up her own hand to hold his.

And all the while, the philosopher's student stands quietly, arms crossed loosely, watching the scene unfold in front of his eyes.

-"ah, these two. Truly a pair made in Olympus. They look so content with each other, in their own moment. I guess, I could say it is the first winter's love." He says with endearment in his voice.