[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/gR6oFps.png[/img] [h2][b]"Hercules"[/b][/h2] [i]Fruz Estate, Western Farms[/i] 
[@ReallyDumb][@Yankee][@SSW][/center]
The contractor he had allied with had begun operating on his own. It seemed that they were nearing completion- through the line that connected the two of them, he could feel it, feel his Master gaining some level of strength back. A cold pit formed in his stomach at that thought, though- all the other magus was doing was treating the symptom, but the disease lay much deeper. So long as it existed, Tom Fruz was trapped. Beyond that, though-

"A banquet of kings, hm?"

An interesting idea, and yet one that Commodus did not understand. Did it not make more sense to pivot such a gathering around a particular kind of culture or class of warrior, than something like the status of a king? A king was fundamentally something that could not coexist with another of the same kind. In that sense, a banquet to gather them made no sense.

...perhaps his own perceptions were merely coloring that view, though. In any event, it could be entertaining, if nothing else. To see and meet with those other heroes without the pretense of combat, to bear witness to great things. It was nothing if not enticing.

"Perhaps..."

But, no. Hercules could not attend such a banquet. Hercules was free from such things, after all, free from the strife and the politics and the trappings of that title. That was why he was Hercules. That was why he was no longer the man who was qualified to attend this gathering.

This was not a point to weep over, but a point to rejoice for. Hercules would not be weighed down by such pointless things as a crown. Hercules would not be forced into a chair that was built to bear the weight of a nation. Hercules would not be unable to stop the world from turning around him, singing to a predetermined tune. Hercules would not cause ruin wherever he stepped.

Hercules could reject his fate, for he was strong. Hercules could save people, for he was a hero. Hercules could be loved by the masses, for he was inspiring. 

So long as he was Hercules, then, he should be happy. He should feel joy at the chance to live his life, at the chance to become incarnated and be Hercules once more. 

So then, why-

[quote]Congratulations, my son. You have been named Imperator. From this day on, we will rule together.[/quote]
...no matter. The voice was pushed aside, before it could swallow him. Instead, he looked to the child king, to a source of respite.

"...boy, your wish, is it fueled by hate, or by love?"