The Earth After Rebirth

They stood in line for an hour before they were assessed. Everyone had to be checked because of the chaos that happened a few days ago.

The gatekeeper looked at them one by one. He noticed the two that were not quite visible, they had robes over their bodies. One's stature was extremely small something he thought he could swat with just his tail, while the other was larger than him, he felt like a mountain was standing before him. This was definitely suspicious in his eyes.

"Belial, what's going on, what's this? There's more of you than when you left the city walls." The gatekeeper asked.

Kiro was impressed. He couldn't believe how attentive the guards were at everything. It was impressive that, he remembered the exact number of Belial's entourage. He thought this would be as easy as with human cities, humans didn't pay much attention to detail. Ontop of that they were corrupt, so you'd only need to bribe them.

"Well that, is, well, I..." Belial suddenly became tongue tied.

Kiro noticed what he wanted to say, but couldn't bring himself to say it. "We're family."

"Yes, Sir. They're my family from afar, I went to pick them up."

His speech was still a bit stiff. This was his King after all, calling him family was a taboo. He wished he was dead right there for committing such a crime, he may as well be because his heart stopped for a while, along with his breath.

His friends were just as stiff. They felt for him but glad all the same the burden didn't fall on them.

They were all born under the current King, they never knew Hubris' father. So the only authoritarian they knew was the cruel ruler. And with him, every mistake required death by beheading. The only reason he let the rebels run around was because he could still control them, ontop of that, he didn't want to commit mass genocide.

"Is that right? Which city are these folks from?"

Kiro was dumbfounded, he didn't know they had names for cities here. He didn't take the chance to learn about the culture of the Underworld.

"City of Hades." Hubris blurted out.

His memories were still there after all, even though they weren't in a particular order, he still remembered some things. He just hoped that, after hundreds of years, they didn't decide to change its name. Though his hopes were shattered when he looked at the hounds that came to get him. They looked absolutely defeated, as if he had just dug their graves.

"I respect that you insist on calling it by the old name. I was young but I still remember the good old days under King Cerberus and I fight for those days to come back to us."

Hubris was extremely confused. Wasn't Cerberus his name? He quite remembered that that's what his father referred to him as. Or was it just what he remembered his father was called, but because his memories were all jumbled, he thought that was his name? He shook it off as a misremembering.

"Yes brother, we shall continue the fight and win, for our people." Hubris said in a dangerous voice that made the gatekeeper believe him.

The hounds sighed in relief that despite the mistake everything turned out well. Although the city was full of rebels, there were certain individuals that were put there as surveillance for the current King.

"Long live Naberius our lost and only true King." He let out a war cry.

"Long Live!" The others cried out just the same.

Clearly this was their way of keeping the hope alive, and continue fighting the ruthless regime their people were tossed in.

The gatekeeper let them in no problem. He seemed to be in a better mood than when he started questioning them. He was more chipper, as if they've rejuvenated a flame under his belly.

"Master, I think my name is Naberius..." He finally said when they were out of earshot of the gatekeeper.

"Then that's your name." Kiro said, trying to not sound hurt that he'd have to abandon the name he had given him.

"But it's also Hubris. I don't think I want to change it." He said solemnly.

"Hubris that's a name your father gave you. He gave you life you know."

"Yes, I know. This is also a name my master gave me, who also gave me life. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to come back here. I would've probably died by that bear."

"Probably?" Kiro interjected.

"Okay, definitely. All I'm saying is, this is also an important part of my identity. It's who I am now, I don't think I want to let that go."

"Why are you pretending like this isn't bothering you?"

"It's not!" He exclaimed so fast and so loud that the crowd around them stopped their chatter and looked at them.

They continued walking awkwardly silent.

"Hubris, I can feel what you feel."

"Okay, yes, it bothers me a little. But I'm truthful when I say I don't want to change it. I just wish I could take a part of my father you know."

"You can, take his name and make it your surname."

"What's a surname?"

"A family name, families use their ancestors' names as their family name. When you have children they'll have names and then a family name that binds them to your family."

"You are so wise master!"

As he said this, the other hounds nodded in agreement. They didn't have the concept of family names here so this was new territory for them, but they were impressed nonetheless. Although they couldn't be vocal about it, they thought it rude to interrupt such people of high status while talking.

"Then I'll be Hubris Cerberus?"

"Hubris Cerberuson. It simply means the son of Cerberus."

His eyes lit up, all the anxiety and depressive feelings disappeared immediately. He loved it. He wanted to yell to the world that he was now Cerberuson, although he knew better than to do that right now.

"Thank you master, thank you."

Kiro nodded. The other hounds now understood why their King had a master. He seemed to care deeply for their King. Even though they tried not to eavesdrop, it couldn't be helped.

They heard everything, without Kiro their King wouldn't have returned home, without him he would've died. They had a sudden newfound respect for the one who had found their lost King.