Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Shrining
By nightfall, Jace returned to The Fields Below, his footsteps heavy as he descended the stairs to his dorm, each step marking the relentless grind of the day. Fatigue was etched deep into his bones, and he longed for the refuge of sleep. Using Dark Vision, he could make out the grim details of his surroundings. The walls, perhaps once vibrant, were now a filthy brown, choked with layers of grime that buried any hint of their former glory. The cracked marble floor spread out like a battlefield after the war, strewn with debris and discarded remnants, the detritus of a forgotten age.
He sighed, knowing another sleepless night awaited him, haunted by debuffs.
As he fumbled in his pocket, his fingers brushed against the unfamiliar weight of the Society President’s Token. Smooth and cool, it offered an unexpected comfort. He traced the intricate insignia with his thumb. Upgrades to this dismal space would be his first order of business, a faint glimmer of hope in the midst of exhaustion.
With a flick of his thoughts, Jace activated his mini-map. His eyes locked onto his destination: “The Shrine of Hades.” An invisible force seemed to guide him as a faint path materialized, winding through dark byways to the secluded underground grove. Ancient trees, their gnarled branches clawing at the ceiling, cast eerie shadows on the soft, molded floor beneath his feet. In the heart of the grove, the shrine loomed, its stone walls alive with intricate carvings. Jace approached with measured steps, the token humming eagerly as he got closer.
Inside the shrine, the atmosphere shifted with his improved vision. The once dull gray walls now glowed with hidden hues. Layers of neglect couldn’t obscure the history and majesty that filled the small room. The book at the shrine’s core beckoned.
Jace took the token from his pocket, turning it about in the light to watch it gleam.
How do I activate this thing? he wondered.
He reached out to touch the book, and a circle appeared on the thick cover, perfectly matching the size and shape of the token. As coin met leather, a surge of energy rippled through the air. The book sprang to life, its pages rustling and glowing with otherworldly light as they absorbed the token’s power.
Chain Quest Unlocked: Reawaken the Fields Below
Phase One: Complete.
Reward: 200 Society Points for the Society of Hades
New Objective: Spread the influence of the Society of Hades. Discover and complete hidden quests to gain more Society Points. Spend these points at any Society Interface throughout The Fields Below.
Map Upgrade
Your map of The Fields Below has been upgraded to display all currently available areas and their statuses.
New Features Unlocked: Explore the Map Details for additional functionalities and insights.
The pages shimmered, revealing a hidden grid with a dizzying array of options. The interface looked like a mad scientist’s blueprint, full of upgrades and enhancements, each one demanding its own price in Society Points.
Jace’s eyes widened at the possibilities. The grid showcased a buffet of choices: upgrades for the dorms, library, and bathrooms, and even the option to hire spirit staff for various chores. Defensive measures were also on the menu, but those were grayed out, teasing him with their unattainability and higher requirements. Whole sections of the menu were locked, labeled “Prerequisites Not Met.”
“Let’s see what 200 points can do around here.” He selected a list labeled “Basics.”
“Okay, now we’re talking,” Jace muttered.
Sleeping Quarters Upgrades:
? Current Status: Disgusting Beyond Belief
o Upgrade to Serviced and Working: 100 points
o Upgrade to Comfortable and Cozy: 200 points
o Upgrade to Luxurious and Enchanted: 500 points
Library Enhancements:
? Current Status: Dusty and Neglected
o Upgrade to Organized and Stocked: 150 points
o Upgrade to Mystically Enhanced: 300 points
Bathroom Improvements:
? Current Status: Disgusting Beyond Belief
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o Upgrade to Serviced and Working: 50 points
o Upgrade to Pristine and Enchanted: 150 points
Spirit Staff:
? Current Status: None
o Basic Cleaning Spirits: 500 points
o Maintenance Spirits: 750 points
o Guardian Spirits: 2000 points (currently unavailable)
Jace glanced at his point total—200. Barely enough to yank his living conditions out of the medieval dungeon category. The bathrooms and sleeping quarters were a biohazard nightmare, each proudly earning the title “Disgusting Beyond Belief”. The thought of not risking tetanus every time he brushed his teeth was just too good to pass up.
“Time to class up the joint,” he muttered, selecting both upgrades. As his points drained away, the grid on the page shimmered, a digital nod of approval.
He hurried over to the sleeping quarters, eager to see the results.
A soft hum resonated through the walls. A shimmering light enveloped the room, casting a glow that pulsed with life. A counter appeared in the air.
Time to Upgrade Complete: 4:59
Jace watched in awe as the room transformed before his eyes. The grimy, decrepit facilities shimmered and shifted, touched by invisible hands. The air filled with a soft, melodic chime, a sound resonating with the magic infusing the space.
The sleeping quarters, once little more than squalid bunks, began to morph. The old, rusted frames dissolved into a fine mist, replaced by elegant, wrought-iron beds with intricate designs that seemed to dance in the soft light. The bedding transformed from musty rags to cotton sheets of deep, midnight blue, embroidered with silver constellations that twinkled softly.
The walls smoothed and brightened, taking on a pearlescent sheen that reflected the magical light. Mysterious runes appeared briefly, shimmering before fading into the smooth surface, leaving behind a faint aura of enchantment. Subtle lighting fixtures materialized, floating gently along the ceiling, casting a warm and welcoming glow.
As Jace marveled at the changes, he had to dodge a stray pillow that zipped past his head, trailing a faint sparkle. Books flew from nowhere, their pages fluttering as they settled onto newly formed shelves. He ducked as a particularly heavy tome zoomed over his shoulder, finding its place with a soft thud.
The floor, previously littered with debris, became a polished mosaic of enchanted tiles, each one depicting a different scene from mythical tales. The tiles shifted and changed, telling stories as Jace walked across them. He had to leap out of the way as a cluster of tiles sped toward him, clicking into place with a harmonious chime.
New storage units appeared beside each bed—beautifully carved wooden cabinets with intricate inlays that glowed with a faint light. Drawers opened and closed themselves, arranging items with meticulous care. Above the beds, shelves of dark mahogany floated into place.
In the corner of the room, where there had once been a pile of broken furniture, now stood a small seating area; a round table crafted from gleaming crystal, surrounded by chairs upholstered in rich, velvety fabric that changed color with the light. Jace sidestepped quickly as a chair floated by, settling into place around the table.
The dorm’s communal area underwent a similar transformation. The old, broken-down sofas dissolved into the air, replaced by comfortable seating made of plush materials that would mold perfectly to the shape of anyone who sat down.
The bathroom facilities, once the epitome of neglect, now sparkled with cleanliness and subtle magic. The tiles on the walls and floor gleamed with a radiant light, the sinks and showers now were white and clean; the water was now running clear and warm.
As the counter ticked down the final seconds, Jace marveled at the transformation while dodging a vase that floated past, trailing a stream of flowers that arranged themselves perfectly within it. At this point, he was sure the repair magic was actually trying to hit him with things.
Additionally, the dorm now held a remote interface to the Society Upgrade Features. Checking them, he looked over some of the more advanced upgrades available, each promising additional benefits and comforts—private quarters with ensuite bathrooms, personal study desks with advanced holographic interfaces displaying arcane knowledge, and even a communal kitchen area where ingredients prepared themselves under the guidance of an enchanted cookbook.
He had a newfound goal of getting this place as ranked up as possible.
Jace stepped into the newly transformed bathroom, a sense of awe still lingering from the recent upgrade. The tiles glowed softly under his feet, and the air was filled with a faint, fresh scent, a far cry from the musty odor that had previously plagued the space.
He turned on the shower, watching as the water cascaded in a perfect, steady stream. The water’s temperature adjusted instantly to his preference; a luxuriously warm embrace. He undressed and stepped in, closing his eyes as the hot water poured over him, washing away layers of grime and tension that had accumulated over far too long. The warmth seeped into his muscles, melting away the fatigue and stress. For the first time in ages, he felt truly clean, the magical water leaving his skin feeling rejuvenated and refreshed.
He took his time, savoring the sensation of cleanliness and the rare moment of peace. Jace couldn’t help but smile, the hot shower working its magic on both body and soul. If this was only Rank 1, he couldn’t imagine what it would be like fully upgraded.
Stepping out, Jace grabbed a fluffy towel from the rack, savoring its warmth. He made his way to the bedroom, where the bed awaited with fresh linens, practically begging him to dive in. But first, he accessed his inventory and selected a pair of pajama pants from their recent shopping spree. A puff of magic enveloped him, fading to reveal the pajama bottoms snugly in place. He couldn’t help but admire the subtle patterns woven into the fabric, tiny constellations that shimmered in the room’s soft light.
Curiosity piqued -Jace explored the upgrades to his map. The map now displayed the labyrinthine expanse of the Fields Below in much finer detail. It spiraled in many odd directions, some leading to dead ends and others to hidden passages only visible if you doubled back at just the right moment or walked at a strange angle. He decided to take some time to explore this place in depth.
The map revealed direct connections to several new locations: the mortuary, the campus graveyard (seriously, who thought that was a good idea?), and a series of chambers with cheerful names like “The Silent Vault,” and “The Whispering Crypt.”
Some areas were now accessible, while others remained locked off. One particularly intriguing route was labeled “Forgotten Path,” a hidden passage leading directly to the Underworld, now marked as available. That was going to come in handy.
An additional feature caught his eye. It displayed the number of people currently in the Fields Below. Curious, he selected it.
The Fields Below
Current Occupants: 2
The world seemed to freeze around him. His breath hitched, and a cold sweat slicked his skin. A faint noise moved through the silence, a sinister rattle that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. His heart pounded, a frantic drumbeat in his ears as he strained to listen. He wasn’t alone.
