Chapter Twenty-Six: A Little Push

  “Now, we need to get you attuned to a Shard. Can’t have my Chosen walking around Shardless. Follow me.” Hades started walking outside, and Cerberus let out a soft whine. “I’ll be back, boy. And with a treat.” This seemed to pacify him.

  Jace remembered Alice mentioning that a Speaker’s first Shard usually came from their Society, which kept a collection for the newcomers. He hoped this process would be straightforward because he was growing tired of the Underworld’s perpetual gloom. He knew he would need to build up stamina to endure this kind of dreariness.

  Walking alongside Hades, Jace couldn’t help but note the god’s casual stride, like a man taking a stroll down a garden path. Jagged stones and ancient pathways twisted and turned, lined with luminescent fungi and misplaced shadows.

  “So, how does it work? Do I just pick one?” Jace asked.

  “Just pick one? Furies, what am I going to do with you, kid? No, you don’t ‘just pick one.’ Shards are no minor thing. They’re integral to the socioeconomics of Terra Mythica and will serve as your lifelong companion.”

  Jace was really wishing he had something he could use to simply absorb on all of this. He wasn’t looking forward to another info dump. As they walked, Hades spoke, his deep, resonant voice echoing through the darkness, each word carrying the weight of the centuries.

  “I’ll keep it simple,” Hades said, as if in answer to Jace’s thoughts. “Shards choose their Speaker, never the other way around. They have to resonate with the very core of your being, reacting to your thoughts and feelings—often before you even realize you’re having them. While not technically alive, a Shard embodies a perfect harmonic of life. It vibrates at the same frequency as its Speaker. Got it?”

  Jace did not.

  “Eh, not enough time. Don’t worry about it. Your Shard will find you. That’s all you need to know.”

  “You said it was tied in with economics?” Jace asked, interested in anything that could point him in the right direction for acquiring gold.

  “Socioeconomics. Money and society,” Hades began, gesticulating casually. “The gods do not directly rule the inhabitants of Terra. Mythians must rule themselves. We are just custodians of vital offices, core functions that keep the fabric of reality intact. We each have a Society or Following to help us in our duty, but ruling? That’s your kind’s gig.”

  Jace glanced around, unsure where they were headed, but he didn’t want to interrupt Hades.

  “And how that ruling structure works ties closely with your Shard. A Shard doesn’t guarantee a position in society, but it does tend to foreshadow one.”

  Hades continued, “There are six Shards—Sapphire, Amethyst, Ruby, Amber, Moonstone, and Emerald.

  Sapphires tend to be your scholars and scientists, striving for invention and unraveling the mysteries of the universe.

  Amethysts lean toward protection magic and the finding of lost things of the past. They are keepers of memory and great admirers of wisdom.

  Once, long ago, the Sapphires and Amethysts worked together to ward away the Void, keeping it at bay. But now, there is no love lost between them.

  Emeralds are known to be keen observers and powerful allies, becoming masters of persuasion; they’re also often silver-tongued politicians.

  Rubies are your fighters, the royal guard types. None are better when brute force is required.

  Ambers prefer a natural life, often living outside structured societies, roaming the plains and seas.

  And then there are the Moonstones, known for their secrecy and knack for moving behind the shadows. When you want something done without any noise, you give it to a Moonstone.”

  As they walked, they neared a cliff edge, the path precarious and narrow.

  “The universe is governed by two great powers: Chaos and Order,” Hades continued. “Life, the Infinite Potential, strives to instill order into the Void, while the Eternal End is bent only on the Chaos that ends in silence. You’ll find beings on both sides of that coin, and their Affinities will differ greatly.”

  Jace thought about this. It was a big decision, and he felt woefully unprepared for it. “How will I know I’ve found the right one?”

  The sound of rocks falling echoed down a very long way as the surrounding air crackled with latent energy, making Jace’s skin prickle.

  “You’ll know,” Hades said, eyes gleaming with a sinister light. “Attuning to your first Shard comes naturally to most, though some do require a little push.”

  Hades paused, placing a firm hand on Jace’s shoulder. “Good luck,” he said, then shoved.

  The ground vanished beneath Jace’s feet. His scream was swallowed by the void as he plummeted into the abyss. The initial freefall was a terrifying blur, his stomach lurching as he tumbled through darkness. Suddenly, the fall twisted into a brutal, bone-jarring descent. Sharp rocks and jagged outcroppings tore at his clothes and skin, each impact sending jolts of pain through his body.

  He crashed into a wall, his shoulder absorbing the brunt of the blow, before being flung into another harsh turn. His head slammed against something hard, stars exploding in his vision. Blood trickled down his face as the tunnel walls shimmered with streaks of phosphorescent minerals.

  Finally, he was spat out onto a rough, uneven floor. Jace lay there, battered and bruised. Every part of him ached, a symphony of pain making his vision swim. He forced himself to his feet, wincing with every movement. His legs felt like they were made of lead, but he could still walk. Barely.

  He found himself in a wide cavern filled with a kaleidoscope of colors shining from crystals of every hue, transforming it into a mesmerizing sea of light.

  Jace took a tentative step forward, the crystalline light reflecting off jagged walls in a mesmerizing display. The air was cool, carrying a faint, sweet scent reminiscent of honeysuckle. The distant trickle of water calmed his racing heart. The sheer beauty surrounding him stood in stark contrast to the darkness and danger he had left behind.

  As he ventured deeper, the paths diverged in countless directions, splitting and merging in a labyrinthine pattern, each bathed in different hues. One glowed with a soft, inviting blue; another shimmered with a fiery red. Yet, an inexplicable pull drew him towards the darkest path, where light and shadow intertwined in a delicate dance. The light was neither harsh nor dim, but perfectly balanced.

  He walked for some time until the path eventually opened to a crystalline lake. At its center stood a small island, crowned by a single tree with leaves that glowed a soft, golden light, swaying gently despite the stillness.

  Searching for a way across, his eyes fell upon a narrow path of floating stones, barely wide enough for one person. The stones stretched from the shore to the island, their surfaces worn smooth by water and time.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Determined, he set foot on the first stone, each step cautious yet steady. The water below shimmered with a light, casting rippling reflections on the cavern ceiling. Reaching the end, he found a cluster of shards in all different colors strewn around the tree. Tentatively, Jace reached out to touch a vibrant green crystal. As his fingers brushed its surface, it erupted in a verdant blaze of magical flame, searing his hand.

  You Have Taken 20 Damage

  He recoiled in pain, stumbling back into another cluster of gems. Each one he touched detonated in a burst of light and energy.

  You Have Died In The Underworld

  The notification appeared just as he found himself sliding down the cliff face again, landing back in the cavern.

  “Shit.” He was all the way back at the start.

  “At least there are no penalties for death here,” he muttered, flexing his sore hand. “But the pain still sucks.”

  Jace ventured through the cavern again, this time careful not to touch anything. He navigated the maze of gemstones with caution. He crossed the lake again and passed the clusters of stones.

  Then he saw it—a gem nestled among the crystals near a cave wall. Its surface shimmered like liquid silver, swirling with deep, obsidian hues. As he approached, the gem seemed to sense his presence. It trembled, then convulsed violently. Jace’s heart pounded in his chest. The gem ripped itself from the wall with a deafening crack, rocketing toward him with a fierce, almost malevolent energy. He reached out instinctively, his fingers closing around it with a loud clap. A violent surge of power exploded through him, sending shockwaves up his arm and nearly knocking him off his feet.

  Moonstone Shard is Attempting to Attunement

  Accept | Reject

  The moment that Jace chose to accept, the Moonstone shattered into a thousand pieces, each transforming into a tiny drop of silver and black. The drops clung to his skin, slithering up his arm like a swarm of living ink. Suddenly, a searing pain pierced his chest, digging into his heart. The liquid fire spread through his veins, covering his skin in a shimmering layer before vanishing, leaving behind a faint, glowing mark like a tattoo over across his chest. He felt its presence inside him, a steady pulse of power.

  His mind buzzed with newfound clarity, the cavern’s colors now sharper, more vivid. He could hear the hums of the other Shards. The pain dulled, replaced by a sense of unity with the Shards magic. The surrounding crystals pulsed in a synchronized rhythm, as if acknowledging his attunement and welcoming him into their world.

  Concentrating, he summoned the Shard, watching as it materialized in his hand. The moonstone glowed with a mesmerizing radiance, surrounded by swirling tendrils of ethereal darkness. It felt both foreign and familiar, an extension of himself yet entirely distinct.

  Checking his status he found that he had been fully healed.

  “Cool.” He whispered.

  Jace moved through the cavern, with the path ahead illuminated by the Shard’s glow. Each step felt lighter, more sure.

  That was, until the ground vanished beneath him again.

  One moment, he was walking on solid soil, the next, he was plummeting. “Oh, for the love of—“ His yell echoed off the cavern walls, bouncing back to him in a mocking chorus. The world spun, and his Shard glowed, a last wink of reassurance before the darkness swallowed him whole.

  He landed with a bewildered thump beside Hades, back in the office of his grand palace. The god’s expression was inscrutable, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. Dusting himself off, Jace looked around, dazed but unhurt.

  “How the Furies did I get here?” Jace wondered aloud, frustration evident. Jace also wondered why he had said furies. He had never said that before.

  “We are in the Underworld,” Hades said with a shrug, as if that was answer enough. Straightening, Hades’ expression turned stony again.

  “Now, for your first quest,” he said, pulling out a massive tome from his desk. The book thudded heavily as he opened it, flipping through the pages until he found what he was looking for.

  “Enough,” Jace said flatly.

  Hades paused to consider him.

  “Enough throwing me off cliffs and tossing me to dragons. Enough laughing as you get me killed again and again.”

  Hades put on a concerned face, but Jace could tell he was holding back a smile.

  “Fine, fine. No more tricks, Jace.”

  Jace stared at him for a long moment before nodding.

  “You have a quest for me?” He said, feeling slightly awkward after his outburst.

  “If you are ready. I don’t want to rush you.” Hades said as if handling a grumpy child.

  “I’m fine.”

  “If you’re sure,” Hades said, turning back to the tome and running a finger across the page. “There’s a woman in the wilderness, a three-hour walk east of the campus. She was supposed to arrive more than six weeks ago,” Hades explained.

  Jace frowned. “So, she is still alive? But isn’t her surviving a good thing?”

  “Not when it’s like this, no,” Hades replied, his tone grave. “Look here,” he pointed to an entry. “It clearly states she died six weeks ago. But where is her soul? If she hadn’t died, it wouldn’t be my concern. But she did, and so it is. And, as Fate would have it, what is my concern is your concern, Chosen.”

  Hades continued, his voice slipping into a lecturing tone. “With you Travelers, death just means a trip to me. My staff sends you back to your most recent respawn spot. Sometimes we take ranks, experience, and other resources to balance the cost of the trip. Pretty cut and dry. For Citizens, it’s different. When they die, their souls are weighed, their fate determined, and their energy directed. Maybe they’re reincarnated, or maybe they move back into the cosmic void to help create new things.”

  He tapped the entry in the tome with urgency. “But this soul, right here, has been lost for six weeks without showing up. Missed her departure. And the longer a soul remains unweighed and unrouted, the more chaotic things get. Trust me, you don’t want to see what happens when the natural order is disrupted.”

  Jace nodded.

  “So,” Hades said, closing the book with a heavy thud, “your quest is to get out there, figure out what’s keeping this woman ‘alive’, and fix it.”

  Quest Chain Received

  Profession Quest: Hades’ Little Helper

  I ain’t ’fraid of no ghosts…

  There is the soul of a woman in the wilderness east of the campus that was supposed to move on six weeks ago, but something is keeping her there. You must figure out what is causing this anomaly and set things right.

  Reward: 500 Society EXP, 50 Silver

  Failure: Impending doom

  Bonus Objective: Give it that little extra

  Bonus Reward: Variable

  Accept | Reject

  Rejecting this quest is possible, but it would start things on a rather bad foot. Do you really want to be known as the ungrateful little... well, you get the idea.

  Jace wondered exactly how much influence Hades had over the quest prompts or if it was all System.

  He quickly chose [Accept].

  “Now get out there and bring me back that soul. Do well, and I might have something special for you.” Suddenly, Hades’ figure grew larger, towering over Jace, his eyes glowing with fiery light. His voice deepened, echoing through the room like rolling thunder. “But fail this quest, and you will suffer the endless pain and torment of the fires of the Underworld!”

  Jace’s heart pounded in his chest, the weight of Hades’ words pressing down on him like a giant hand. Just as he felt the terror take hold, Hades’ form shrank back to normal, and he burst out laughing.

  “I’m just joshing ya,” Hades said with a quick grin. “Relax, kid. Now get out there and enjoy the adventure. Kids these days...”

  Jace exhaled, the tension in his shoulders fading slowly. Hades’ ability to switch between terrifying and casual was unsettling. Despite his intimidating presence, Jace couldn’t help but feel that Hades had a bit of a dad vibe.

  “Oh, before I forget, hand me your wrist,” Hades instructed. Jace hesitated, but complied. Hades pulled a medallion from his robes, shining with intricate silver. He pressed the medallion to Jace’s wrist. It burned like acid, causing Jace to grit his teeth, but when he looked, it had transformed into a silver tattoo, glinting in the firelight.

  “When you see Charon—“

  “Who?” Jace asked, confused.

  “You know, the guy who just paddled you across the River Styx. Charon.”

  “Oh, him. I didn’t know his name. More of a Joe, if you ask me,” Jace said.

  Hades raised an eyebrow. “Anyway, show him this medallion. As long as you’re my Chosen, he’ll give you free passage. Think of it like frequent flyer miles or a bus pass. It’ll also act to shroud your aura,” Hades explained. “Stop any busybodies from getting too nosy about your… unique situation.”

  Status Effect - Permanent Boon Gain

  Title: Mostly Dead

  You exist in a state of perpetual limbo between life and death, distinct from the Undead. This condition accompanies you wherever you go. Attempts to [Scan] or [Identify] you will result in confusion, as readings fluctuate between signs of life and death, revealing no further data.

  Effects:

  ? Condition: Cannot be [Scanned] or [Identified].

  ? Condition: Eerie; -1 to Charisma.

  Your secrets are safe with Hades.

  “Great,” Jace said flatly. “If lose any more Charisma, I’m going to start scaring people.”