Half my Soul(as the poets say) ||ENG

Half my Soul(as the poets say)

"Name one hero who was happy"

They had been happy. They had had everything.

And then he had to ruin everything. Oh, how Achilles wished he could rewind time, decline the pledge of the Ruler of Ithaca and just stay home. Stay safe, with his Philtates at his side

Achilles scoffed. Back then, he had allowed himself to dream. He had been young, foolish. He did not know how cruel war was. Now, Achilles was older. He had seen death and destruction and felt the loss of losing people he loved.

"You can't"

They had both known how the story would end. It always ended the same.

But they had hoped. And now, Achilles got his hopes shattered. They died when he lost his Therapon, his Philtates.

"I'll tell you a secret. I'm going to be the first. Swear it"

A promise. For that they would always be happy, as long as they were together.

It had all been in vain. And it was his fault. If he hadn't been too proud. If he hadn't went for war, had wanted glory to appease his mother. Now, he paid the price. Now, he had lost everything.

"Why me?"

Because he had been the reason.

"Because you are the reason. Now swear it"

Now, he was gone. It wouldn't be long until the memories of him faded.

Achilles eyes started to water, yet he only shed a single tear. No, it wouldn't be long. The stories of the great godling Achilles, Aristos Achaion, best of the Greeks would live on as long as mankind lasted. But everything and everyone he cared about? They would soon to be forgotten, nothing more than a footnote in the epos that his story would become for sure. And all this glory, for what?

"I swear it"

What was winning the war worth when he was unable to save those he loved?

"This is what I will miss"

Back then, he hadn't understood what his Philtates had meant. Now, he realised it. Why keep holding on when there was nothing left worth living for?

So when the arrow came, released by Paris, prince of Troy, guided by the hand of Lord Apollo himself, he didn't do anything to try avoid it. He closed his eyes, awaiting his sure demise, a tiny smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Oh, what an irony of the Fates. Bot he and his Philtates, struck down by the sons of Troy. But, at least in death he would be reunited with his Philtates again. He would see his Patroclus again

"It is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone"

"Do you know a Patroclus, Sir?"

The cruelty of the Fates would never cease to surprise him. The injustice of it. When he had arrived, he had received a hero's welcome, had been ushered to Elysium by the Lord of the Dead himself. But he had never wanted glory. All he ever wanted was to see his Patroclus again. So when it became clear that his Philtates hadn't been send to Elysium with him the decision hadn't been hard. They would never have a happy afterlife, live side by side together for eternity. Being offered the choice to give up his place in Elysium for his Philtates, he was quick to agree. Least he could ensure was that his Patroclus would live happily for eternity, even if he would forever be out of reach.

"Yes, I... I knew Patroclus. Is he... Is he alright?"

His Philates would for ever stay in his heart, even if they are divided by death with no way to reunite. And now that he knew that his Patroclus was still his, that he hadn't drank of the Lethe to wash away his memories and with them all the grief and pain he must carry within his heart... Perhaps they still had a chance

"He is half my soul, as the poets say"

***

Until the end of time

Is the formatting all right like this? It's my first time posting on Wattpad since. Literally years, so. If the paragraphs are off or the spaces to big or whatever, please let me know, I'd greatly appreciate constructive critism. Same goes for any grammatical or vocabulary errors, english isn't my first language so if there's anything that sounds wrong to a native speaker, please, tell me

~ Talanys
//07/21/2025//