Emet-Selch. To hear the title in his head again, in his own voice, was a truly odd thing. When he came to this world. He resolved that he would listen to Alexander, and give it a chance, to give the world another chance. To make his own way in a world of many. It was why he'd even started this matchmaking business. To try and live amongst the others, to make his own contribution, even if it wasn't in some nation building manner. It'd been easy at first. This world was not one of the reflections of the Source, but a new world all its own. There were no inklings on the manipulations of space and time. Hades could not rejoin a world that had never been sundered. When he had told that alternate Warrior of Light that he was effectively a retired Ascian, he had been telling the truth. But it was also that alternate Warrior of Light that may have spurred things into motion.

The other one who spurred things into motion was Somnus. An ancient king from a different time. His greed and ambition was all too familiar. The tantalizing prospect of life eternal danced in his head, that much was obvious. In hindsight, why had Hades opened up like he had? Was there some other scheme he'd been hatching that he himself hadn't realizing? Was it therapeutic perhaps? A manner of releasing just a tiny fragment of stress that he'd held for eons? It gave him some insight into those within this world, and he wasn't too pleased. But Somnus was useful, could be useful if properly pointed in the right direction. And it had prepared him for things to come, encountering that man. Just the thought of him caused the Starscourge to thrum throughout his body. He couldn't help but wonder if that man was the brother he'd heard about.

But, to lay out everything he knew about this world. This was a world that could pull from alternate timelines. The Warrior of Light, who shared Azem's soul, was not Alexander, yet had lived through events concurrent to Alexander. Time was of no meaning, as Somnus, according to the man himself, was a Founder King, and thus was likely dead in the current events of his own world. And then there was his brief moment with Venat, one of his own, unmarred and whole. It all spoke too much. And it was only when the bell rang, and he found himself staring at a sickly version of the aforementioned Founder King that he was brought back to his world. Yes, this would do. It would do, perhaps it was time. "Ah, welcome back, your Majesty." He gave a soft smile, as if the plague didn't register for him. But it did, oh it did.

He didn't acknowledge the plague. No need to do that. He knew exactly how to work someone else. Especially when that someone seemed as desperate as Somnus did. You see, it's about presentation. To make a grandiose performance about something like this showed more limitations than anything. To simply do it and move on, Hades noted, left more of an impact. And so that was what he did. There was a flash of magic before a small crystal appeared on his desk. Normally, he wouldn't need such a thing, but he felt it would bring the Founder King some comfort, if the vehemence he spoke with last time was any indication, rather than simply storing it inside himself. But, presentation was key to help bring him in, and well, this was one way to make a presentation.

He rose from his seat, walked over to Somnus, and with very little ceremony, placed his thumb on Somnus's forehead. A quick drawing of he Scourge from his veins as he brought it into himself for but a moment before walking back and depositing it in the crystal, causing it to glow with a soft, blackened light. He took his seat again with that pleasant smile. He'd say nothing. That defeated the purpose of presentation. Instead, he simply motioned to the chair in front of him. "Come, have a seat." By treating it so casually, it sent the message I am above this disease. It is beneath my notice. He was no god, nor would he ever claim that, but if Somnus was enraptured, it would be best for convincing him.

After all, if he were to don his mantle again, he had much work to do.

But he moved on to the more mundane, he owed that much to Somnus. "I admit things are a bit slow with finding your match." Though he doubted that was why the man was here. No, the primary reason had likely been taken care of, which meant there was still the secondary reason. "Or is this about the immortality?" Somnus would not pass it up. And he had a method of it that the Founder King might find most agreeable. It was one Hades found most agreeable himself, at least. A seed that would grow into a mighty tree that would bear fruit for him.

So his brother was on Zephon, and Hades began to connect the dots. The Starscourge, that blackness he'd withdrawn was from his brother. "Ah, yes. I may have run into him. Tall, dark red hair, and an embarrassing sense of fashion? That hat, my word. We clashed when I began to tear the darkness from his soul, but ultimately I prevailed, and when he realized this, he fled." He would admit, this Ardyn then, was a being of incalculable power, it was simply that Hades could not be affected by the darkness. What good would it do when he'd long given himself to it? "Alas, I could not remove his powers entirely before he fled, but he should be licking his wounds for a time." He said with a tinge of regret. Yes, there would be more problems, but that was something that could be worked with for the betterment, for his people.

He gave a soft shrug of his shoulders, he would grant Somnus one thing. "That being said, I must agree. He is a monster, not because of what he is, but what he chooses to be." From where he stood, Ardyn had one of the most beautiful gifts possible, and he squandered it for such pettiness. He reached over to the crystal, pulling the scourge out as it danced in the air around his gloved finger. "A pity, too. This 'plague' is simply darkness, twisted for malevolent purposes. The aspect of growth, and when properly channeled and entwined with light, weaves a wondrous melody that sits at the foundation of all creation." All elements, and as a result, all life, was birthed from the coupling of light and darkness, light had its beauty, too, he would not deny, but melded as one, it was a breathtaking sight.

"His soul is still there, if you are curious. Covered and marred by those he has devoured. Hence why he is a monster. His actions are all his own." But Somnus had a purpose, and he would not deny it. "Well, then I shall simply give it to you. I will be up front about the catch, if you will; you are a responsible adult. Should you misuse the power I am to give you and you bring down a cascade of gungho adventurers upon you, I do not want to hear 'Galvus made me do it', understand?" That was it, that was the catch. The scourge returned to its crystal, and aether, formless, swirled about in the palm of his hand, awaiting Somnus's answer.

"I have no attachment to Ardyn." Emet-Selch said rather simply. It was true, mind you. He ultimately did not, but, well, why not give Somnus some humility points? "Yes, I may have fared better than you," Well, if Somnus's infection had been anything to go by, at least, "But I wasn't staring down my flesh and blood. You say he must be destroyed, and you may believe it; but to follow through on it when your own brother is right in front of you is easier said than done. I sincerely doubt that Ardyn was always the monster he is now. I doubt that killing him was your first and preferred choice. And I would also quite like to believe that were a path of lesser tragedy to present itself, you would take it." Surely it would be easier if Ardyn would just slink away instead of having to slay him, yes? And just because he would like to believe something, well, he didn't have the actual faith that it would be true.

It was a stretch, but he'd give a pleasant theory. "With the deep rage and bitterness you show when you speak of him, one might question whether it's truly Ardyn you hate, or what Ardyn's become. You may simply be subconsciously holding yourself back because you want your brother back and you know with total finality that once you strike him down, that will never happen." He spoke in a soft tone, as if a guardian trying to console a child. Press just a little bit, see what lay beneath it all.

But Somnus seemed incredulous about other things. He'd refuse the darkness no matter what. Part of Emet-Selch had a feeling it was more out of fear that he'd wind up like Ardyn than any actual moral outrage. But, he asked about the light, so he would answer. "To answer your question about the light; anything the darkness can do, so can the light, but not quite vice versa. They are two sides of the same coin, and a precious balance must be kept." They had learned this the hard way, when Igeyohrm was placed in charge of the thirteenth shard. She corrupted and crushed the forces of light so utterly that darkness consumed it, leading to an eternal night, where all became Voidsent, preying on those that remained, feasting on any otherworlders foolish enough to call them. From then on, cooperation between peers became the name of the game, as Emet-Selch and Elidibus both coordinated the Rejoinings, reuniting each broken shard of the true world back to its Source, rather than leaving one to the devices of a singular member of the Convocation.

Slow and steady would see their loved ones returned. To rush such important tasks was foolishness of the highest order.

But the point remained, and he continued speaking. "Were this balance to tip heavily in favor of darkness, for example, then this would unleash what is called a Flood of Darkness upon the world. A land of eternal night, where demonic forces run rampant. The world is cast into an endless nightmare, where even the most basic survival is akin to scaling a cliff." Of course, he knew of the Long Night somewhat. Ardyn's description had given him enough of an idea as to what had transpired. Sounding identical to what Igeyorhm had "accomplished", Emet-Selch concluded it was likely the same phenomenon, which meant... "As they are two sides of the same coin, that means there is also a Flood of Light should the scale tip too heavily in light's favor. In this scenario, as the flood washes over the world, the world is left in everlasting day, and all the world is sterilized. The star becomes a sphere of endless white, where nothing can ever be born or grow as all becomes stagnant. All souls caught in its deluge are utterly obliterated, without even the hope of reincarnation. In a world flooded by light, nothing happens, and nothing will ever happen, until the end of time." In fact, Emet-Selch would argue that one might find Light to be worse.

It was a philosophical question of course; was hell better than oblivion by virtue of it at least being existence? Or would oblivion be more merciful than a lifetime of suffering?

Light was unique in its destructive properties; it could destroy souls. It could truly kill him. Darkness, for all its power, could not manage such a feat. Twist and corrupt, but never truly destroy. But it led into his point about the adventurers. "There are some adventurers here who have seen a Flood of Light, and should they believe you would usher one in, would do everything they could to stop you. In bitter irony does one of them even hold the title Warrior of Light." And, if Emet-Selch knew Alexander half as well as he thought he did, then he was certain that were it to come to a choice between Somnus and Ardyn, Alexander would probably go after Somnus first. Which meant he best keep the pieces as far away as he could, for as long as he could. Conflict would be inevitable, but more time meant more favorable conditions for the Architect.