Chapter Fifty-One: Weird is Good

  They descended into the Fields Below, the labyrinthine underbelly that cradled Jace’s dorm. Shadows clung to the walls, thick as cobwebs, narrowing the space until it felt as if the darkness itself was leaning in to listen. Despite the gloom, Alice’s presence softened the atmosphere, providing warmth in the cold.

  Jace forced himself to breathe, the air heavy with the scent of damp stone and something else—something ancient and lingering, like the echo of forgotten secrets. He stole a glance at Alice, who seemed undeterred, her eyes wide with a childlike wonder that made him momentarily forget the embarrassing state of his quarters. He wasn’t sure why the thought of bringing her here troubled him, but it did, like a persistent itch just beneath the surface.

  As they moved deeper into the maze, Jace made sure to amplify every footstep, his boots slapping against the stone with exaggerated force. He cleared his throat and launched into what could loosely be described as a tour, his voice echoing off the walls in a way that startled even him.

  “And here we have the finest selection of dusty old bookshelves,” he began, gesturing to a crumbling stack that looked more like a fire hazard than a library. “Each volume comes with its own unique aroma of mildew, and, for the discerning collector, a healthy layer of mold.” He shot Alice a sideways glance, but she was too engrossed in the shadowy passages to notice his feigned bravado.

  “And if you’ll look to your right,” he continued, gesturing with a flourish, “you’ll find what used to be something probably important, now reduced to a delightful array of dilapidated rooms. Perfect for ghosts with a taste for nostalgia.”

  They rounded a corner, and Jace came to an abrupt halt, staring down a dark alley that he could swear hadn’t been there a moment ago. He gave a dry smile, “And this, of course, is the scenic route to probable certain death. A real must-see.”

  He spoke louder than necessary, the words rolling off his tongue with a forced cheerfulness. He hoped the noise would give Shadow plenty of time to slip away if she needed to—he’d show Alice anything in the Below, but not the Whispering Crypt. That was a secret best kept in the dark.

  But Alice, seemingly oblivious to his theatrical efforts, was captivated by the winding corridors and the faint, flickering lights that danced at the edge of their vision. Her face lit up with genuine awe, the corners of her lips curving into a smile.

  “This is amazing,” she breathed, her voice filled with the kind of wonder usually reserved for stargazing or fireworks.

  Jace blinked, caught off guard. For a moment, he saw the Below through her eyes—an ancient place steeped in mystery and history, rather than just a cold, damp dormitory that never quite felt like home. He chuckled, a soft sound that melted some of the tension in his shoulders.

  “Yeah,” he said, more to himself than to her, “I guess it is.”

  Jace observed her, a mix of relief and amusement warming his chest at her unbridled enthusiasm. He cast a quick glance around the room, half-expecting to catch a glimpse of Shadow lurking in some dark corner, but there was nothing.

  “Certainly has its own… unique charm,” Jace replied, trying to sound more nonchalant than he felt.

  Alice turned to him, her eyes alight with genuine admiration. “I think it’s wonderful. You’ve carved out a space down here—made it your own. That’s impressive.”

  Her words caught him off guard, and despite himself, a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. It wasn’t often someone saw his world this way, especially not with such unfiltered excitement.

  He whisked her through the dorm section, deftly nudging a pair of boxers under the bed with the kind of casual precision that only comes from years of practice. As they disappeared from sight, he sent up a quick, silent plea to the universe that she either hadn’t noticed—or, if she had, that she’d have the decency to pretend she hadn’t. “And that’s the tour!” he declared with a bright, slightly too enthusiastic grin. “Well, not really. There are still plenty of mysterious corners I haven’t even explored yet.”

  “So, where do you want to set up?” she asked, her gaze sweeping the room with eager curiosity. “Does your Society have an alchemy lab? If not, a bathroom could work in a pinch.”

  Jace chuckled. “Oh, it does. Or, well… it will.”

  Her brow arched in a curious tilt as he pulled up his map, selecting the alchemy section with a confident mental tap. He led her down a narrow passageway, the path winding through patches of dirt and hanging cobwebs. She followed, her smile growing with each step, like she was walking through a beloved childhood memory.

  Jace shot her a glance, unable to hide his bewilderment. “You’re actually enjoying this?”

  Alice laughed softly, her eyes bright with nostalgia. “I love places like this. They’re spooky, dreary, and full of stories. I grew up on old horror movies, the kind that makes you laugh as much as they scare you. Have you seen the one about the vampire who moves to Brooklyn?”

  He shook his head, bemused. “Can’t say I have. You know, for a bookworm, you’re pretty weird.”

  She paused, her voice growing softer, almost vulnerable. “I’m not that weird. I just… find it all fascinating.”

  Nice one, Jace, he thought, mentally kicking himself. “I didn’t mean it like that,” he blurted out, stumbling over his words. “Weird is good. Really good.”

  Without waiting for a reply, he quickened his pace, leading the way down the corridor, leaving his awkwardness to trail behind like an afterthought.

  The path led them to an old, splintered door, more a suggestion of an entrance than a barrier. Jace gave it a firm shove, and with a protesting creak, the door gave way, swinging open to reveal the alchemy lab beyond.

  It was, to put it mildly, a sight that could discourage even the most optimistic of souls. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling like the decor of some overzealous spider’s haunted house, and a thick, undisturbed layer of dust blanketed everything, softening the hard edges of broken glassware and rusted tools scattered across the floor. Dark stains marred the stone tables, relics of experiments gone awry or perhaps just poor housekeeping. There was a lingering pungent tang of dried chemicals. Shadows curled in the corners, their movements creating the illusion that the room itself was breathing, or worse, watching.

  Alice stepped in behind him, her expression caught somewhere between amusement and horror. “Uh, Jace… I think this place might need a broom first. Not that it doesn’t have… potential?”

  He couldn’t help but grin at her diplomatic attempt to find something positive in the wreckage. “It’s okay, Alice. I know it’s awful. But just wait.”

  Jace moved to an ancient interface embedded in the wall, its screen flickering like a dying firefly as he coaxed it to life. The controls were clunky, the technology archaic, but it still worked—mostly. He navigated through the menus, his fingers dancing over the options until he found what he was looking for: the alchemy lab upgrade.

  A small notification popped up, informing him that he had enough society points to jump two levels at once. He hesitated for a brief moment, weighing his options. But the memory of his brother and foster parents cooking together, the warmth of those moments, nudged him forward. This upgrade wasn’t just practical; it was personal.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  The room responded immediately, a countdown timer materializing in front of them, its digits glowing faintly as they began to tick down.

  A low hum began to emanate from the walls, growing in intensity until it felt like the air itself was vibrating. The dust evaporated into nothingness, the cobwebs disintegrating as if they had never existed. Broken glassware mended itself, shards floating through the air like puzzle pieces reuniting with their counterparts, while rusted tools shed their corrosion, gleaming as they settled into place on freshly polished shelves.

  Jace watched the lab status upgrade from “Tales From the Crypt” to “Barely Functioning Mess” and, finally, to a “Well-Working Alchemy Lab.”

  The walls, once cracked and stained, healed before their eyes, the marks of time and neglect vanishing as if wiped clean by an unseen hand. Flames flickered to life in the sconces, casting a warm, golden glow that chased away the last of the shadows. The transformation was nothing short of magical—a forgotten relic reborn into a state-of-the-art alchemy lab.

  Alchemy tables sprouted from the floor, sleek and pristine, outfitted with burners and complex glass apparatus that glinted in the firelight. Cabinets swung open, revealing rows of vials, flasks, and ingredients neatly organized, as if by an invisible hand. Mechanical arms extended from the walls, each holding a different tool or device, ready to assist at a moment’s notice.

  Upgrade Complete

  The Alchemy Lab has Reached Rank Three — “Well-Working Alchemy Lab”

  Alice’s eyes widened, her earlier skepticism replaced with sheer awe. “Wow.”

  Jace watched her reaction, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. The room was no longer a relic of a forgotten era; it was a place of possibilities, of creation.

  “Yeah,” he said softly, more to himself than to her, “Wow.”

  The room now gleamed with a newfound purpose, its stone floors polished to a soft sheen that reflected the flickering light from the hearth. The air carried a subtle fragrance of herbs and spices, the kind that whispered of old forests and hidden apothecaries. Clean alchemy tables stood ready, their surfaces adorned with black cauldrons and silver pots that shimmered with the promise of new concoctions. Shelves lined the walls, stocked with jars of vibrant powders, vials of mysterious liquids, and tools meticulously arranged in their rightful places. It wasn’t perfect—many rarer items were still absent, leaving gaps that hinted at future quests and upgrades—but it was more than enough to get started.

  Jace turned to Alice, a triumphant grin lighting up his face. With a pride typically reserved for grand ribbon-cutting ceremonies, he proudly announced, “Welcome to our new lab.”

  The walls were adorned with faint flickering shadows created by the warm glow of smoldering embers in the hearth. For the first time in what felt like ages, Jace felt a warmth spread through him, a rare comfort in a place that had always felt more eerie than inviting.

  With a theatrical flourish, Alice began unpacking her arsenal of ingredients and vials, each one appearing as if pulled from thin air. Bottles of strange liquids and bizarrely shaped gadgets clinked and clattered as she laid them out with the kind of practiced grace that made it look effortless. The setup was a world away from the cobwebbed chaos of the alchemy lab they’d just left behind. And the fact that this space was Jace’s—well, technically Hades’, but that was splitting hairs—was still a bit surreal.

  Even with half the place stuck in “dismal” mode and whole sections crying out for a renovation, this was fast becoming the best home Jace had ever had. For the first time, he felt like he was carving out something of his own, a place that might actually feel like his.

  They set out to brew another Potion of Minor Healing, with Jace dutifully following Alice’s instructions to the letter—or at least, as close to the letter as he could manage. The result, however, was yet another concoction that seemed to defy the very concept of “healing”.

  Item Created

  Strange Potion of Unknown Effects

  Description:

  You have attempted to create a Potion of Minor Healing. You have failed spectacularly. Instead, you’ve concocted something that even the System struggles to define. Imbibing this potion will cause unpredictable results. It appears drinkable… sort of. But let’s be clear: You’re on your own with this one.

  Note:

  The System disavows all responsibility for whatever may occur should the Traveler decide to drink this potion.

  Go ahead, what could possibly go wrong?

  Jace didn’t need to think twice about his next move—drinking the potion was definitely off the table. But he couldn’t bring himself to throw it away either. Who knew? It might come in handy… someday. He carefully tucked the bizarre brew into his hip-satchel’s dimensional inventory expansion pocket, where it wouldn’t take up much space—or, hopefully, explode.

  He held his breath as he watched the bubbles rise and pop on the surface of the brew. There was something oddly calming in the process—the precise measurements, the slow, deliberate stirring, the way the liquid thickened and shifted under his careful hand. It felt meditative, a kind of alchemical zen that smoothed out the rough edges of his thoughts.

  Under Alice’s watchful eye, Jace poured the binding reagent into the mixture with deliberate care. The potion began to transform, its color deepening into a vibrant green as tiny lumps formed, then partially dissolved within the brew. There was a tangible magic in the air, a hum of anticipation that buzzed in his mind.

  But this time, even Jace couldn’t hide his surprise at the outcome. As he lifted the potion to the light, both he and Alice widened their eyes in unison. The liquid inside was a nearly perfect greenish-blue, shimmering just as the examples Alice had shown him. It was almost spot-on.

  Almost. There were a few tiny, mysterious floaty bits suspended in the middle—bits that looked unsettlingly like the backwash you’d get after letting a four-year-old take a sip of your drink.

  Item Created

  Crude Potion of Minor Healing

  Congratulations!

  You have successfully created a Potion of Minor Healing. Due to the Crude rank of this potion, a random side effect has been added.

  Drink responsibly.

  Effects:

  ? Restores 50 Health over 10 seconds.

  Side Effect:

  ? Reduces EXP gained by 25% for one hour after consumption.

  Don’t worry about the floaties… they’re probably nothing to worry about. Probably.

  “You did it!” Alice exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.

  They both conveniently overlooked the potion’s crude ranking—Jace had made a potion of minor healing, and that was all that mattered. There was a moment of quiet as they soaked in the small victory, the unspoken truth hanging in the air: this might be the end of their night together. But Jace wasn’t ready for it to be over, and just as he was about to find a way to say so, Alice spoke up.

  “You know, since we’re already here, I wouldn’t mind practicing some of the potions I’ve been reading about. Seems a shame to stop now,” she said, a glint of determination in her eyes.

  Jace’s smile widened. “Couldn’t agree more.”

  Alice pulled out a well-worn book titled Arcane Elixirs: A Brewer’s Guide, flipping through the pages with the familiarity of someone who’d spent hours lost in its contents. Jace watched as she sprang into action, and for the first time since the forging of the Ward Stone, he got to see her in her element. She moved with an almost surgical precision, every motion deliberate and exact. Where Jace relied on intuition and a bit of luck, Alice brought a methodical approach that promised more reliable results.

  “This one’s called ‘The Elixir of Sight,’” Alice explained as she carefully measured out a shimmering powder. “It’s supposed to help you spot hidden details in your surroundings, like a faint glow around things of hidden importance. The effects can be subtle—think; finding your lost keys or spotting an old penny on the street. But at higher ranks, it’s rumored to be quite powerful.”

  As she continued to work, Jace found himself utterly absorbed by the precision of her movements. Her hands danced over the equipment with a practiced grace, each action purposeful, each gesture controlled. It was like watching an artist at their craft, and in that moment, the day’s tension seemed to dissolve, replaced by a warm, soothing calm that had nothing to do with the room’s temperature. Here, amidst the swirling steam and flickering shadows, they were creating something together—something that felt private, almost sacred, as if the alchemy they practiced was a secret language only they shared.

  Jace returned to his potion-making. He focused on refining his technique, repeating the process until he could almost do it without having to refer to the notes quite so much. Three more potions of minor healing soon lined up on the table, each one crude and carrying the same pesky debuff. At least I’m consistent, he thought with a wry smile.

  But there was progress in the repetition, a rhythm that both of them fell into as they worked side by side. As they continued their craft, the outside world faded further into the background, leaving only the quiet symphony of their work and the unspoken connection growing between them.

  The air thickened with a heady blend of ingredients. The promise of something magical hung in the air, delicate as a spider’s thread, ready to be seized. And so, they lost themselves in the quiet symphony of clinking glass and murmured incantations, the world outside fading into the background.