Unbeknownst to his friend, similar thoughts tumble through his mind. But unlike them, he's had time to ready himself for his inevitable fate. He curls his fingers into Hythlodaeus' own, gaze turned upwards to gaze at the sky as they walk.

It doesn't occur to him that the matter weighs so heavily upon Hythlodaeus. The man used to make light of serious issues all the time - although, thinking back, nothing they ever debated is truly more serious than what faces them now.

The minutes pass by in silence until Hythlodaeus speaks up. Hades glances at him then, then down, brow furrowing.

"...The man whose visage I took, Solus sas Galvus, was from a respected military family. He showed promise and ambition, but most importantly he commanded respect amongst his peers. He was perfectly suited to rise through the ranks and command legions. Such was the admiration the Garlean people gave him that they elected to make him emperor of their own will."

A snort and shakes of his head. "Of course, 'twas all my doing. My contrivances, attached to his name, which spurred his and Garlemald's rise to power. I took him over when he was young - roughly the age you see me as now. I made sure to snuff out his soul quickly and painlessly when I did."