Chapter Twenty-Nine: Shadow

  Jace rose slowly, the oppressive silence hanging over him like a sodden cloak. The rustling sound came again, sharper this time, tightening his frayed nerves. He followed the noise, each step a cautious dance on the cold stone floor. The trail led him to an old storage room, and with a creak that shattered the stillness, he pushed the door open, bracing himself for whatever lay beyond. He summoned his Shard to his hand, its glow cutting through the darkness.

  “Hello?” he whispered.

  The rustling emanated from the far corner, a sound that echoed in the quiet. Jace edged closer, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. There, huddled among old crates and tattered blankets, was a girl. Her wide, wary eyes caught the faint light, reflecting it like a cat’s. She was thin, her clothes ragged, and she clutched a crust of bread as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

  She seemed to be about his age, though the haunted look in her eyes made her appear older. Around her neck was a collar of ruddy brass.

  Curiosity piqued and his heart finally steadied, Jace’s intense expression softened into a concerned smile. “Are you the shadow I’ve been seeing around this place?” he asked gently, crouching to her level.

  The girl didn’t respond immediately. She watched him with a mix of fear and defiance, her grip on the bread tightening. She nodded slowly. It was a snack he had left out the day before.

  “I’m Jace,” he said, his voice as soothing as he could make it. “I live here too. You don’t have to be afraid.”

  Her eyes softened just a fraction, but she remained silent. She had deep green eyes and long jet-black hair. Her frame was slight and almost fragile beneath layers of ragged cloth.

  “How long have you been down here?” he asked.

  She shrugged, the movement barely perceptible.

  “Can you speak?”

  She shook her head.

  “Okay, that’s alright. Are you alone?”

  She nodded again, a slight tremor in her movement.

  Jace felt a pang of empathy. He remembered the days when he, too, had been alone and desperate, living on the streets with Alex after his foster parents’ accident.

  “Well, you’re not alone anymore,” he said firmly.

  She looked at him, her eyes revealing both hope and mistrust. Jace’s Spirit Sense picked up on her fear and concern, but there was something more—something deep and vast, as wide as the ocean, that he couldn’t quite name.

  “Do you know your name?” Jace asked softly.

  She shook her head, the motion small and hesitant.

  Jace’s heart ached for her. “Alright then. Well, we have to call you something. How about, just for now, I’ll call you... Shadow. Does that sound okay?”

  Her lips curved into a tentative smile, and she nodded.

  For a while, they sat in silence, the light of his Moonstone casting shifting silhouettes on the walls. Jace glanced at the crust of bread in her hands. Activating his inventory, he pulled out a bag of dried fruit he had been saving for a snack.

  Despite her disheveled appearance, there was an undeniable grace in her movements, a subtle elegance.

  “Here,” he said, extending it toward her.

  She eyed the bag warily before snatching it with a quick, darting motion. She opened the bag and took a piece, biting into it with visible relief. Jace watched her, feeling a mix of sorrow and determination.

  “We don’t have to stay here,” he said softly. “There’s a way out of the Below. I can help you.”

  Shadow’s eyes snapped open, filled with fear. She shook her head vehemently, clutching the bag tightly.

  “Okay, okay,” Jace said quickly, holding up his hands. “We don’t have to go anywhere. There’s no rush.”

  He watched as she relaxed slightly, though the tension didn’t completely leave her body. Jace sighed, feeling the weight of her unspoken fears.

  “You’re safe here,” he said gently. “I don’t know what else might be living down here, but I promise I won’t force you to leave.”

  Shadow looked at him, her eyes searching his face for any sign of deceit. Finding none, she nodded slowly.

  One step at a time, Jace thought.

  Jace resolved to bring her food whenever he could, giving her time to grow comfortable with him before attempting to move her out of the Below.

  “Do you need somewhere to sleep? I just got the dorm upgraded, and it’s not bad,” Jace offered.

  She suddenly became very excited, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. She stood and began moving about. Jace couldn’t tell if she was happy or needed to use the restroom, but then she made a “come on” motion with her hand.

  Jace stood and stepped forward cautiously. She then took his hand and dashed from the room, dragging him along behind her.

  They ran through the winding corridors, their footsteps echoing in the vast emptiness. Cobwebs clung to the corners, and the walls were covered in a patina of decay, a testament to the long-forgotten history of the Below. Room after room they passed, each more dilapidated than the last, the air thick with the scent of age and neglect. The sound of their breathing and the soft patter of their footsteps were the only things breaking the eerie silence.

  She moved with a grace that was both wild and controlled, like a dancer leading a partner through an intricate routine. He felt the warmth of her hand in his, a stark contrast to the chill that permeated the air around them.

  Finally, they stopped at a heavy, ancient door. Jace saw a plaque and blew off the dust. It read:

  The Whispering Crypt.

  A sense of unease washed over Jace. Was she bringing him closer to this place to hide his body? He shook his head, trying to dispel the morbid thoughts.

  “Why are we here?” he asked.

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  She simply smiled and opened the door, revealing a sight that left Jace in awe.

  Inside was an incredible crypt, unlike any he had ever seen—not that he had ever seen one outside of a holodisc. This wasn’t a usual crypt, suffocating and small, with tiny corridors. This place was massive, the ceiling stretching several stories high, painted with a stunning night sky, dominated by a huge, glowing moon. Enchanted stars bathed the room in a gentle, magical light. Wisps of energy floated about, radiating an ethereal glow. The ground was plush with green grass, and vines covered nearly everything. The place looked like a hidden forest, untouched by time. At the center of this secret haven stood an impossible tree, its leaves large, thick, and green.

  Energy floated in gusts of green and white mist, swirling and dancing through the air. The crypt felt alive, brimming with an ethereal essence that hummed softly, almost like a heartbeat. Jace felt the energy swirl around him, catching the moonlight. It was an odd sensation, like standing in the middle of an electrical storm.

  It was so strange to see and feel and smell so much life in a place meant for the dead. Jace was starting to understand how this place might have gotten the name - The Fields Below. Were there more places like this?

  Jace looked closely at bit of glimmering mist.

  Identify Skill Used - Success

  Spirit Essence

  In places of high concentration of the dead, traces of extra energy can sometimes be found—remnants of souls that have transitioned peacefully.

  She smiled brightly, watching Jace’s expression.

  “How did you know this place was here?” he asked.

  She pulled him into the room, her excitement palpable. She slipped off her worn shoes and wiggled her toes in the grass, a look of pure joy on her face. Then she led him around the back and into another section, where she climbed a stone lattice. At the top, she gestured for him to follow. He did, eyes wide with a sense of wonder.

  At the top, Jace discovered her hideaway. A cot woven from leaves lay amidst a scatter of assorted goods, each item a puzzle piece hinting at her past. A chipped teacup, a broken silver comb, a worn-out book with pages missing—tokens of a life abandoned.

  She sat down and patted the space beside her, inviting him to join. He hesitated for a moment, then settled next to her. Together, they gazed up at the moon, its light casting a gentle, magical glow over them. They sat there for a while, wrapped in the tranquility of the moment.

  Jace felt a peace he hadn’t known in years. The warmth of her presence, the moon’s soft glow, and the rustling leaves created a symphony of stillness and connection. He turned to her, a hint of a smile on his lips.

  “Not your typical crypt, is it?” he said, trying to lighten the mood.

  She looked at him with a raised eyebrow and a smirk, her eyes twinkling as if to say, You think?

  For the first time in a long while, Jace felt like he belonged somewhere. The moonlight painted their faces, and in that shared silence, the world outside seemed to fade away.

  He turned to her, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s beautiful.”

  She nodded, her eyes reflecting the soft light.

  They sat there, side by side, in companionable silence, two souls finding friendship and solace in the most unlikely of places.

  Sometime later, Jace returned to his dorm, ready to unwind before bed.

  Remembering Hades’ suggestion to practice spending his EXP, he felt a spark of inspiration. Why not give it a try?

  He sat on the edge of his bed, the firmness of the mattress grounding him. The faint constellations on his sheets mirrored those on his pajamas, making him wonder if there were sub-settings for everything or if it was just a random quirk.

  Earlier that day, he’d been mulling over his options and he had decided to try his hand at Inscription.

  Settling cross-legged on the floor, Jace placed a new leather-bound journal in his lap and pulled a magical self-refilling quill out of his inventory. As he began to write, the ink flowed with difficulty at first but gradually became smoother with each word.

  Sometime later, a notification blinked in his peripheral vision.

  Skill Gained: Inscription

  You Have Unlocked a Profession

  Inscriptionist

  Would you like to adopt this profession? Note: While the profession is not required to use the Inscription skill, it is essential for unlocking special abilities and bonuses exclusive to those who take on this role.

  This will replace your current profession.

  Accept | Reject

  Jace considered the option for a moment before choosing [Reject].

  He wasn’t even sure if this would be the best way to cultivate his aether and spend his EXP, let alone if he wanted to change his profession.

  As he wrote, Jace felt the EXP bar gradually emptying, channels of aether weaving their way through his body like a network of glowing streams. Each pulse of energy was a tiny river, carving new paths through the landscape of his being, seeking out and smoothing over the rough edges within. The sensation was both soothing and invigorating, as if the very essence of the universe was flowing through him, renewing and enhancing every fiber of his existence.

  The ink on the page seemed to shimmer with the energy he channeled, each word a conduit for the aether that permeated his being. His body thrummed with the power, every stroke of the pen aligning his internal currents, forging stronger connections, and opening new pathways. The aether found its way to his core, spiraling inward like a delicate dance, touching upon hidden reserves and kindling latent potential.

  He felt his attributes shifting, each one subtly improving. Strengthened by the aether, his mind became sharper, his reflexes quicker, and his body tougher. The very act of inscribing his thoughts and experiences seemed to crystallize the knowledge within him, embedding it into his soul.

  Ignoring the notifications blinking at the edge of his vision, Jace remained focused on his writing. The events since entering Terra Mythica flowed onto the pages—the classes, the people, the mishaps in the Underworld, and Shadow.

  It felt as if he were being sculpted from within.

  Finally, as the last word dried on the page, Jace leaned back, feeling a profound sense of accomplishment and peace. The constellations on his sheets twinkled softly as he closed the journal, his hand aching but his spirit rejuvenated. With a sigh of relief and exhaustion, Jace climbed back into bed.

  Just before drifting off, opened his status screen to look over the gains.

  Attributes Improvements

  All standard attributes: +1

  Skill Rank Ups

  Dark Vision:

  ? Rank increased to Apprentice.

  ? You can now see in complete darkness with improved clarity.

  ? Perception debuff from darkness is halved.

  Knowledge Absorption:

  ? Rank increased to Apprentice.

  ? Your ability to learn has significantly improved. Good job, brainiac!

  Lore - Universal Mechanics:

  ? Rank increased.

  ? You now have a deeper understanding of the game mechanics and world lore.

  ? Congratulations, you’ve been promoted from Incompetent Nincompoop to Bumbling Noob.

  With the increase of his Lore Skill, he noticed more information was available about skills overall.

  Skill Ranks

  Skills, like Affinities, have six ranks. Each requires ten times more practice than the previous tier to rank up.

  Skill Tiers:

  ? One Star: Novice

  ? Two Stars: Apprentice

  ? Three Stars: Adept

  ? Four Stars: Expert

  ? Five Stars: Legend

  ? Six Stars: Myth