Chapter Sixty: Twig

  Jace’s heart pounded as he scanned the details. The bonuses were staggering. His Affinity for Soul had been enhanced, a boost that felt like a key unlocking a door within him that he hadn’t even known existed.

  His reflexes had been sharpened, his physical strength amplified, but the most striking of all was the new ability that came with his class—something that set his pulse racing with anticipation.

  He could now summon a shadow, a dark force that responded to his will with an almost sentient awareness. He reached out, and the shadows in the room seemed to quiver, as if awaiting his command. With a thought, they surged toward him, swirling around his body like a living entity. The darkness wrapped itself around him, pressing close to his skin, shifting and solidifying until it felt like a second layer of flesh.

  The shadows molded to his form, becoming a sleek, black armor that clung to him like leather, yet was light as air. It moved with him, supple and responsive, but with the resilience of steel. Across his shoulders, the shadows pooled and spread out, forming a cape that billowed behind him, weightless and ethereal, yet carrying an aura of foreboding.

  Jace flexed his fingers, watching in awe as the shadows obeyed, the armor rippling with an almost liquid grace. It was more than just protection—it was an extension of himself, a weapon and shield woven from the very fabric of darkness.

  The power hummed within him, a steady pulse that resonated with the new strength he now possessed. He had become something more, something greater—a guardian not just of life, but of the twilight, that fragile boundary between light and dark, life and death.

  As he stood there, the shadows whispering around him, Jace knew that he had crossed into a new realm of power. The weight of responsibility pressed against his chest, but there was also a fierce determination burning within him.

  New Ability Unlocked: Shadow Cloak

  This ain’t your sweet old grandma’s floral bathrobe. No, this baby’s stitched from the cold, unforgiving fabric of pure darkness. You put it on, and suddenly you’re not just walking through shadows—you are the shadow. It’s the kind of thing that slips you into the night like a blade between ribs. And hey, it’s got the added bonus of making you look way cooler than you have any right to be.

  A shroud of pure shadow, melding with your form to create a sleek armor that moves as you do. It is both shield and concealment, an extension of the twilight that now courses through your soul.

  Armor Rating: +40%

  The Shadow Cloak fortifies your defenses, turning aside blows with the strength of the void. Enemies find their weapons dulled as they strike against the darkness.

  Stealth Enhancement: +35%

  Within the cloak’s embrace, you become a phantom, a mere whisper in the night. Your steps are silent, your presence barely a ripple in the fabric of reality, granting you near-perfect concealment.

  Shadow Affinity: +20%

  The shadows heed your call, their power flowing through you. Your mastery over shadow-based abilities grows, each one infused with the essence of the twilight.

  Soul Shield: +25%

  The shadows protect more than just flesh. They guard your very soul, dampening the effects of spiritual and magical assaults. The darkness itself stands as your sentinel.

  Aether Cost: Dynamic with Use

  Damage received increases the maintenance cost. Specialized uses further escalates costs proportionately.

  New Passive Ability Unlocked: Soul Detection

  The souls around you sing a chorus that only you can hear. You sense their presence, their emotions, their very essence, even through the thickest of walls or the deepest of shadows.

  No soul can hide from your gaze within this radius. Whether concealed by magic or darkness, their presence is laid bare before you.

  Detection Range: Arms Length

  Increase Spirit Constitution to increase range.

  The path of the Twilight Guardian is not one of light or dark, but of balance. You are the keeper of the in-between, the sentinel of shadows. Embrace your new power, and let the twilight guide your steps.

  Jace stood before the full-length mirror in his quarters, his gaze tracing the sleek lines of his new outfit. The dark, form-fitting fabric clung to his frame like a second skin, yet it moved with him effortlessly, as if woven from shadows themselves. The cloak draped over his shoulders, its edges whispering against the ground with a quiet rustle. He reached out to touch it, feeling the strange, almost living texture beneath his fingers—smooth and cool, but with an underlying energy that thrummed with a life of its own.

  He flexed his muscles, noting how his body felt different—more lithe, more agile. Every movement seemed more precise, as if the outfit was enhancing his natural abilities. Yet there was something else, a subtle pull at the edge of his awareness. It took him a moment to realize that his aether was slowly being drained, just enough to balance out his natural regeneration.

  Jace frowned slightly, concentrating on the flow of aether within him. He could feel the energy trickling out, just enough to keep his aether regeneration at a standstill. It wasn’t a crippling drain, but it was enough to prevent any buildup. Until he increased his aether regeneration speed, the cloak would effectively lock his aether reserves in place, though thankfully it wouldn’t cost him anything unless he tapped into one of its special abilities.

  Intrigued, he decided to experiment a little. He pulled the hood of the cloak over his head, and immediately, the shadows in the room seemed to deepen around him. His form blurred at the edges, becoming less distinct as the cloak’s stealth enhancement activated. He moved silently across the room, his footsteps making no sound on the stone floor. His reflection in the mirror was almost invisible—a faint outline in the dark.

  Jace extended his hand, willing the cloak’s armor function to engage. The shadows around him thickened, hardening into a sleek, protective layer that felt as strong as steel yet flexible as cloth. He struck the air with a swift punch, feeling the enhanced strength the outfit granted him. The force behind the blow was far greater than what he was used to, and a satisfied grin spread across his face.

  Then, with a thought, he deactivated the cloak’s special abilities, letting the shadows dissipate. The aether drain ceased immediately, and he could feel his natural regeneration slowly returning to normal.

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  Jace studied his reflection one last time, his mind racing with the possibilities of what this new gear could do. But the weight of Hades’ earlier warning still hung over him. Why wouldn’t he want him talking about the locket?

  He turned away from the mirror, the flickering light in the room casting long shadows behind him. Whatever lay ahead, he knew he would need every advantage he could get.

  Jace couldn’t afford to let his unspent EXP and Society Points gather dust any longer—not this time. The old habit of hesitation had to go. If this was his new reality, even temporarily, then it was time to get serious. Time to stop drifting and start steering.

  But, as always, the universe had a way of complicating even the best-laid plans. His quick mental calculation confirmed his suspicions—he didn’t have nearly enough to buy the ingredients he needed to practice alchemy, his most reliable cultivation method so far. Without those, his growth would stall, and in this place, stagnation was just another word for death.

  Determined, Jace made his way to the alchemy section under the Hephaestus Banner. Normally a haven for the focused and the curious, today it thrummed with frenetic energy, more like a bazaar during a festival than the peaceful sanctuary he remembered. People darted in and out of shops, arguments flaring over rare ingredients, the air crackling with tension. It reminded Jace of those chaotic holiday sales he’d only ever heard about—he’d never been to a mall, much less experienced the madness firsthand.

  The alchemy wing, which Alice had shown him before, was an expansive area with ingredients stacked high on one side and a forge blazing on the other. Ancient columns supported the roof, and much of the structure was open to the air. The mingled scents of burning iron and exotic herbs filled his lungs—acrid smoke and fragrant botanicals swirling together until his head swam. It was intoxicating, in a way that was both thrilling and unnerving.

  Inside, the place was bustling. Every potion desk was occupied, students meticulously measuring and mixing, their faces masks of concentration. Near the back, a man as massive as an oak hammered away at an anvil, each clang reverberating through the space, blending with the hiss of boiling brews and the hum of conversation.

  Jace glanced around, trying to find the herbs for the potion he’d learned with Alice—something simple, something he could practice while spending his EXP, using his Focus. But with the district in chaos, he’d have to move fast or risk leaving empty-handed.

  He could ask his friends for help. They’d lend him the money, no question, but something held him back. Pride, perhaps, or just the deep-seated need to do this on his own. Trusting people was one thing; depending on them was another. He checked his inventory again—twenty silver pieces, enough to convert to two gold. Not much, but it would have to do.

  He scanned the shelves, each container marked with a different colored band—gold, blue, silver, red, purple. The marketplace swirled around him, people grabbing handfuls of ingredients, pouring them into sacks -jostling him as they hurried by. Frustration bubbled up inside him. No prices listed anywhere. Maybe he could gather some herbs himself—his herbalism skill was decent now—but that would take time he didn’t have.

  As he searched, the crowd continued to press in, a tide of bodies that knocked him about like a leaf in a storm. Travelers? Citizens? It was impossible to tell in the crush. Every attempt to locate what he needed ended in disappointment. Just as he was about to give up, the hulking figure by the anvil stood, towering over the crowd. He moved with a deliberate, almost comical determination, like a mountain deciding to take a stroll.

  The giant approached Jace, his presence as impossible to ignore as a thunderstorm on a clear day. “Hello!” His voice boomed across the noisy space, cutting through the clamor like a bell. He extended a hand that seemed as large as a small boulder. “You look a little lost.”

  Jace blinked up at him, slightly taken aback. “You work here?”

  “You could say that. Name’s Twig,” the giant replied, his name almost laughably mismatched with his immense size.

  “Twig? Really? Wouldn’t Branch or Trunk be more fitting?” Jace asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

  “Nope, it’s Twig. Got it because of my size. For my race, you don’t get to choose your name—the Citizens in your clan do it for you when you enter. It was that or Little Thorn. I went with Twig. For my people, I’m relatively small.”

  Jace took a moment to fully absorb the giant’s sheer massiveness, realizing that Twig barely fit inside the building. The ceiling seemed almost to bow under his presence, as if even the architecture wasn’t entirely sure it could contain him.

  Twig noticed Jace’s gaze and tilted his head, questioning. “Uh,” Jace started, quickly redirecting, “can you tell me the prices on these?” He pointed to a bucket of loose leaves, a common ingredient. “I don’t see tags on anything.”

  “Oh, it’s just over here,” Twig replied, leading him to a large board with various markings in chalk. There were ten different colored blocks, each inscribed with amounts in bronze, silver, or gold.

  “These are updated daily, depending on our stock. Prices change little unless something becomes hard to get. Just match the color to the ingredients,” Twig explained.

  Jace examined the board, something clicking in his mind. “Wait, this is your shop, isn’t it? You own it?”

  “Indeed,” Twig nodded with a modest smile.

  “You’re a Traveler? And a shop owner?” Jace asked, genuinely surprised.

  “Yes indeed,” Twig said, his tone still humble, despite his towering presence.

  “How’d you manage a body type so massive?” Jace asked, still marveling at the giant’s size.

  “Long story,” Twig responded shyly, his massive shoulders shrugging. “How’d you get so small?”

  Jace grinned. “Fair point.”

  “So, what are you looking for?” Twig asked, his deep voice carrying a warmth that made Jace feel a little more at ease.

  “I need the ingredients for a Minor Potion of Healing.”

  “Makes sense,” Twig nodded. “I’ve seen quite a few folks learning that particular potion since the logout issue. Unfortunately, a lot of those ingredients have gone up in price due to scarcity, ever since... well, the incident. I’m sure you can imagine why they’re harder to come by now.”

  Jace scanned the board, his eyes lingering on the prices. Most of what he needed fell into the Grey tier, the lowest, meaning he could buy almost everything with about ten silver. But the rarer ingredients were another story—altogether, they would cost him around fifty-five and a half silver. Roughly five and a half gold. Three gold more than he had.

  Jace felt the spark of hope dimming. “Hmmm, I guess that’s that.”

  “What do you mean?” Twig asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

  “Nothing... Do you happen to know where I can forage for some of these ingredients? I just unlocked herbalism,” Jace said, trying to find another way.

  Twig gave him an appraising look, as if weighing the options. “Right now, I wouldn’t recommend starting down that path. Bad time to get into the business, but perhaps when things cool down...” He paused, clearly considering something, and then seemed to make a decision.

  “You’ll need a batch of this nightshade,” he said, grabbing a pouch and effortlessly pushing his way through the crowd. Jace followed closely behind as Twig filled a bag with nightshade.

  “Some elderflower…” Twig continued, filling another bag.

  Jace reached out to stop him, alarmed. “Uh, wait, no—I can’t afford all this.”

  But Twig ignored him, methodically gathering several more bags of ingredients. Finally, he led Jace to a counter at the back of the shop.

  “Here we are—everything you need for a few dozen Minor Potions of Healing,” Twig declared, setting the bags down with a satisfied nod.

  “I can’t afford this,” Jace blurted out, his face flushing pink with embarrassment.

  Twig chuckled, his laugh as deep as his voice. “I picked up on that. Look, you seem like a decent guy. And right now, a lot of people are struggling—there’s a lot of uncertainty in the air.”

  Jace’s eyes widened in surprise. “Are you offering this for free? I couldn’t possibly accept that.”

  But Twig just laughed again, the sound booming through the shop.

  “Free? Ha! I’m generous, but I’m not crazy,” Twig laughed, his voice booming. “I’d be out of business in no time. No, this isn’t free. You’re going to pay it back more than tenfold—when you can. You’ll report back to me, and we’ll put that herbalism of yours to good use. You won’t always be domain-locked to Olympus, after all. Consider this a calculated risk on my part, a gamble. Either you sell some of the potions you make and pay me back, with interest, or before you leave, stop by and see me. I’ll give you a few special ingredients to find on your travels—things that’ll make me far more than what I’m losing now. Deal?”

  A quest prompt appeared before Jace.

  New Quest

  An Offer You Couldn’t Refuse

  Traveler Twig has agreed to loan you enough ingredients to craft over 40 Minor Potions of Healing. Once your domain lock is removed and you can leave Olympus, you must do one of two things: Pay Twig back for all ingredients, plus interest, at their currently high prices. Work for Twig to find special ingredients outside of Olympus and bring them back.

  Accept | Reject

  Jace considered the offer. There was something about Twig that made him feel he could trust the giant. Maybe it was the mix of kindness and sharp business sense in his eyes, or the way he spoke as if money wasn’t the only thing that mattered. Whatever it was, Jace felt an unexpected warmth toward this stranger—an appreciation for someone who clearly knew what they were doing.

  With a nod, Jace accepted.

  Twig’s face lit up with a broad smile, and they shook hands—Twig’s massive hand nearly engulfing Jace’s entire arm. “Happy to be in business with you,” Twig said, his voice carrying a note of genuine satisfaction.