Chapter Fifty-Five: Optional Paths

  Activating his ward stone, Jace pulled up his map, guiding himself toward the quest marker on the outskirts of zone three. A nagging thought surfaced—he hadn’t asked Alice to take notes for their next classes. She’d probably do it anyway, but it wouldn’t hurt to make sure. After all, that’s what friends do, right? Shaking off the unnecessary doubts, he retrieved a sheet of red magic missive paper from his inventory. With quick, fluid strokes, he scribbled a short note, folded the paper, and activated the message feature. The note shimmered, transforming into a small, intricately folded paper dragon that soared into the air, disappearing into the distance.

  Jace pulled up his quest to review the details, the map directing him away from the campus.

  Quest Update

  Profession Quest: Hades’ Little Helper

  I Ain’t ‘Fraid of No Ghosts…

  Objective: The soul of a woman lingers in the wilderness, miles east of the campus—a soul that should have moved on long ago. Something binds her there. Unravel the mystery, and set things right.

  Reward: 50 Society Points

  Failure: Impending Doom

  Bonus Objective: Give it that little extra.

  Bonus Reward: Unknown

  Slipping through the main gates, Jace faced the forest ahead, its shadows thick and foreboding.

  You Are Now Entering Zone 2

  Note: Creatures With Ranks Up To Bronze Three May Be Present.

  Jace moved quietly, his steps echoing through the trees despite his best efforts. The forest was alive with subtle noises—the rustling of leaves, distant bird calls, and the occasional snap of a twig. His attempts at stealth were laughable.

  Skill Gained: Sneak Novice - Rank 1

  Your steps are softer, though still not exactly quiet. You’ve graduated from a boisterous rhinoceros to a sneaking hippo. Keep practicing, and you might not alert every creature within a mile radius.

  He chuckled. “Great, at least I’m on the right track.” His steps grew lighter, the ground beneath him softening as he gradually became less noticeable. He wondered why this hadn’t happened before, back in the dome. Could the environment play a role? Was sneaking a harder skill to acquire than he thought? It didn’t seem likely. Maybe it was easier now because of his increased dexterity.

  As he ventured deeper into the forest, the campus’s protective barrier weakened, and a new notification flashed before his eyes.

  You Are Now Entering Zone Three

  You are leaving the main campus grounds. Protections against greater threats are in place.

  Rank Recommendation: Bronze 4-5. You are under the suggested rank.

  Travel at your own risk.

  He checked his Ward Stone again, relieved to see it still glowing, and exhaled a deep breath. Jace paused, gripping his dagger tighter as the shadows thickened. The path twisted and turned like a serpent, roots coiling across the ground, waiting to ensnare the unwary. The forest felt alive—a labyrinth of towering trees and choking underbrush. Beams of sunlight occasionally pierced the canopy, casting twisted shadows that danced like wraiths on the forest floor.

  He moved cautiously, senses on high alert. The scent of damp earth and decay clung to everything, each rustle in the dark sending a shiver racing through him. He strained to hear over the pounding of his heart, every nerve on edge.

  A low growl sliced through the silence. Jace froze, eyes scanning the gloom. Then, from the darkness, a pair of glowing eyes materialized. A creature lunged—a blur of teeth and shadow.

  Instinct took over. Jace slashed his dagger in a swift arc, connecting with a sickening crunch. The creature let out a shrill screech before crumpling, its form unraveling into wisps of smoke that dissipated into the dying light of day.

  You Have Defeated - Itsy Bitsy Spider

  Down came the dagger and you squished the spider out.

  Great work. I’m sure its mommy won’t mind.

  EXP Gained: 1

  Boon Gained - One Hit Wonder

  You managed to kill a creature with one hit. Well done. Have a cookie.

  +10% XP gained from creatures you smite with one hit.

  Adjusting EXP gained from Itsy Bitsy Spider: 1 + 0.1, rounding... total EXP gained: 1

  Jace blinked at the notification. Was the system mocking him? Or was it Hades? If I ever meet one of the programmers…

  The cabin, marked on his map for the quest, loomed ahead, its jagged silhouette cutting against the dying light, an ominous shadow in the encroaching twilight. The windows glowed faintly, the light inside struggling to break free from the surrounding darkness. Jace approached cautiously, dread gnawing at his gut. The air was colder now, heavier, and the distant hoot of an owl sounded more like a lament—a mournful cry that echoed in the silence.

  Jace knocked, but there was no response. He knocked again—still nothing. He tried the handle; it wasn’t locked. Pushing the door open, he stepped inside. The dim interior was lit by a single oil lamp, its weak flame casting long, jittery shadows that seemed to move on their own. At the center of the room lay a young woman on a cloth cot, her skin pallid and ghostly. Her shallow breaths were the only sign she was still clinging to life.

  Beside her sat a man, his face etched with worry, eyes hollow and sunken as if he hadn’t slept in days. He clutched the girl’s hand, knuckles white with desperation.

  Over both of them loomed another figure—a tall, gaunt man with a face almost skeletal. Shadows played over his sharp features, making his eyes appear sunken and unnaturally dark.

  His long, spidery hands were stained, and he wore a white coat that looked like it had seen too many years.

  The eyes of the man in white snapped up as Jace entered, narrowing with suspicion. “Who are you?” he demanded, his voice edged with a shrill note.

  “Uh, hi. I’m a Cleric. I’m here to help,” Jace said, stepping forward despite the instinctive urge to retreat. “I was sent by... someone who knows the girl.” He hesitated to mention Hades, unsure how they’d react. That name had been getting mixed reviews lately. Then again, his insignia and dark attire probably said enough on that matter.

  The man scrutinized Jace, then reluctantly nodded, before turning away. “I’m Dr. Ponos. This is Sophie, and her husband Damon,” he said, his voice a low rasp. He gave a sad smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “They were on their honeymoon when she fell ill. It’s a curse, I’m afraid.”

  He noticed the doctor’s eyes flick to his arm, where the tattoo of Hades marked his skin. The doctor’s expression shifted, suspicion darkening his gaze. “Sent from Hades, are you? I should have known. Greedy, all of you,” he muttered, disdain clear in his voice.

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  “Careful, doctor. I’m new to being a Chosen of Hades, but he’s still my deity.”

  “I’m sorry,” Ponos said, grimacing. “It’s just… it’s no fault of Hades. He’s just doing his job, but he can only act on the information he has. And sometimes, that information can be wrong.”

  “She can still be saved?”

  “Oh, yes. I believe so,” Ponos replied, a glimmer of hope in his tone.

  Jace stepped forward, attempting to activate Soul Mend, but the doctor slapped his hand away.

  “Not like that, you fool!” Ponos scowled. “That could damn her forever. She has a parasitic curse inside her. Even an Advanced Cleric would struggle with it. You’d only make it worse—or kill her!”

  Jace withdrew his hand as if burned.

  “Don’t worry, my child. All is not lost. I’ve been treating her for weeks, and we finally have the cure. Well, most of it. We just need the final components. I was going to gather them myself, but she took a turn for the worse. If I leave her side, she’ll die within moments.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “And Damon is too stricken with grief to be of much help, poor boy.”

  The doctor’s eyes flicked back to Sophie, and Jace caught a fleeting smirk—a tiny twitch that filled him with unease. He glanced at Damon, who sat unmoving beside the girl, his face a mask of grief, his grip tight on her hand. The room felt stifling, the air thick with tension.

  “Aren’t you a Cleric? Isn’t it your job to heal?” Ponos asked, eyeing Jace’s dagger.

  Jace nodded, storing the dagger away. He glanced at Sophie—her breaths were shallow, labored, each one a struggle. He tried to sense her aura, but his mind was clouded, unable to focus.

  You have attempted to use Spirit Sense. Spirit Sense failed. Increase ranks in Spirit Sense to improve accuracy and effectiveness.

  A knot of anxiety tightened in Jace’s chest. The doctor’s words seemed reasonable, but something felt off. A notification flashed before his eyes.

  Quest Update

  I Ain’t ‘Fraid of No Ghost…

  Optional: Dr. Ponos has offered an option path for your quest. Gather the ingredients needed for a potion to cure Sophie.

  Reward: Unknown.

  Failure: Unknown.

  Accept | Reject

  Jace looked at Sophie, her life slipping away with each breath, then at Damon, frozen in his grief. “I’ll get it. What do you need?” Jace accepted the quest update.

  Dr. Ponos handed him a crumpled list of herbs, his hand trembling slightly. “Be quick. She doesn’t have much time.”

  With a final look at the scene before him, Jace turned and left the cabin, the door creaking shut behind him. It was evening now, and the night air felt heavy and oppressive, the shadows closing in as he set off to gather the ingredients, unease gnawing at him.

  The forest seemed darker now, more menacing. Jace moved quickly, his feet instinctively avoiding tangled roots and fallen branches. The damp, earthy smell mingled with the scent of decaying leaves and pine needles. There was also a faint metallic tang, like rust or damp iron. The rustling of leaves in the wind and the occasional caw of a crow added to the eerie atmosphere.

  As he read the descriptions of the herbs again and focused his senses, a faint glow began to appear within a nearby bush.

  Skill Gained

  Herbalism - Rank One

  By exploring the forest and collecting strange plants, you’ve increased your affinity for recognizing and using various herbs. This skill allows you to identify common medicinal and magical plants, understand their basic properties, and harvest them effectively. As your rank increases, so will your knowledge and ability to discern their minute differences and uses.

  Using his new skill, the task was uneventful, thankfully. Yet, Jace’s nerves remained taut, ready to react at the slightest rustle.

  He collected a handful of each ingredient: Nightshade berries, their dark, glossy skins glistening in the dim light; Moonroot, with its pale, luminescent leaves; and Dragon’s Breath flowers, their fiery red petals standing out against the dark forest floor.

  It didn’t specify how much was needed, so he grabbed a little extra to be sure. His heart pounded as he made his way back to the cabin, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

  As Jace arrived back at the cabin, the air felt thicker, more oppressive. Dr. Ponos was hunched over the young girl, his movements meticulous and deliberate.

  Something inside him screamed that something was profoundly wrong, but Jace pushed the creeping dread from his mind.

  The doctor’s wrinkled hands carefully laid out various items and plants on a small table next to the bed.

  His actions were smooth -practiced, yet there was an unnerving precision to his movements. “Here,” Jace said, handing over the requested herbs, trying to steady his voice.

  “Thank you,” Ponos replied, his tone almost too calm. “I’ll start on it right away.” He rose from his seat with a surprising quickness. “Oh, I made some tea for you while you traveled. The wildness can be quite parching. It’s not much but consider it a small token of thanks for your help so far.”

  The doctor lifted a cup from a nearby saucer, handing it to Jace in exchange for the herbs.

  Jace accepted the cup, nodding in acknowledgment, but a flicker of doubt gnawed at him. He watched as the doctor expertly began mulching the herbs, his hands moving with an eerie efficiency.

  The comforting scent of chamomile tea filled the air, but it was tainted with something rancid, something that made Jace’s stomach twist in discomfort.

  He brought the tea to his lips, but as the rim of the cup brushed against his mouth, a sudden chill prickled down his spine. His hand froze, and a strange energy pulsed through him, sending shivers of fear and something softer—kindness?—through his body. In the depths of his mind, a faint female voice whispered urgently, “Don’t drink it.”

  But it was too late; a single drop had brushed his lips, and in that instant, Jace was consumed by a flash of searing, paralyzing agony before a notification appeared.

  Iron Stomach has been triggered. Poison resistance effective.

  The sensation quickly faded as Jace’s heart thudded in his chest, his hand trembling as he slowly lowered the cup. His eyes narrowed, focusing on the doctor with a newfound suspicion. The old man seemed absorbed in his work, but Jace could feel the malevolence seeping through the room like a slow poison.

  Trying to mask his unease, Jace glanced at Damon, who was petrified with grief beside the girl. Kneeling down, Jace studied his friend’s features more closely. Damon didn’t blink, didn’t move—his eyes were vacant, staring into some void that only he could see.

  Jace leaned in closer, noticing that Damon’s skin had taken on a cold, rigid quality, almost like stone.

  “This is really great tea,” Jace said, forcing a casual tone. His senses were on high alert, every nerve straining to catch the smallest hint of danger.

  The doctor returned with the potion, his smile tight, almost too wide.

  “Isn’t it?” the doctor replied, his voice sickeningly sweet. “A special brew, as our boy Damon found out. Good thing you came along too. I’m afraid poor Damon here might not have been enough food for our new friend. But you, a fresh Chosen... You are ripe for the plucking.”

  Before Jace could respond, the girl’s body convulsed violently, her limbs thrashing against the sheets bound tightly around her. His breath caught in his throat as her skin seemed to ripple and stretch, almost as if something inside her was trying to tear its way out.

  Her veins pulsed with a sickly green light, the dark energy emanating from her growing stronger with each passing second.

  Jace’s eyes darted to Damon—his hands were bleeding, tiny droplets of blood falling onto the girl’s skin, feeding whatever malevolent force had taken hold of her. Horror twisted in his gut as he realized Damon was being used as a sacrifice, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

  As the girl’s body went still, her eyes snapped open, revealing a deep, soulless black. The sight made Jace’s blood run cold. This wasn’t Sophie anymore. This was something else—something dark and ancient.

  “Just a little more and she will rise,” the doctor muttered, his focus solely on tipping the potion toward the girl’s mouth.

  A surge of adrenaline shot through Jace. In a swift, decisive motion, he knocked the potion from the doctor’s hand, smashing it against the wall. The liquid sizzled and hissed upon contact, burning like acid as it ate through the wood. Jace shoved Damon away, breaking whatever dark connection had formed, and the doctor stumbled to the foot of the bed, his facade slipping to reveal a visage twisted with rage.

  “Didn’t drink the poison, huh?” the doctor hissed, his eyes glowing with fury. “You’re smarter than you look, Chosen of Hades. But it’s too late now. She is coming, and there is nothing you can do!”

  With an ear-splitting shriek, the demon tore itself free from the girl’s body—a spectacle of pure malevolence and shadow. Jace’s aura sense screamed the truth: this was no possession. The demon was a parasite, using her flesh as a grotesque puppet. Her back arched violently as the creature forced its way out, its form a churning mist of darkness that fed hungrily on her dwindling life force. It didn’t fully detach, lingering in a twisted limbo—half demon, half girl—warping her into a horrific blend of both.

  The demon’s true shape slowly solidified, a grotesque figure with unnaturally elongated limbs and eyes that burned crimson in the gloom. It let out an inhuman scream, a sound that reverberated with raw hatred and torment. Under its control, the girl’s body moved with eerie, unnatural jerks, her limbs contorting grotesquely as her face twisted into a hideous smile, the demon now fully in command.

  With a deep, foul laugh that echoed through the cabin, the demon made the girl’s body lash out, her hand transforming into a clawed weapon. In a swift, brutal motion, it bashed Jace’s dagger from his hands, sending the weapon clattering to the floor. Jace staggered back, his heart pounding as the demonic puppet advanced, its eyes burning with predatory hunger.

  Panic surged through Jace, but he forced himself to focus. He reached out with his mind, desperately searching for any sign of Sophie’s soul.

  You activate Soul Sense. Soul Sense successful.

  His vision shifted, and he felt a profound change within.

  Soul Sense has gained an Aspect:

  Unveil — You have gained a 5% chance to pierce the spirit veil and see past the superficial. See souls like onions, with layers.

  The upgrade was instantaneous and overwhelming. Jace’s senses expanded, allowing him to perceive the very essence of her soul. Where he once saw only the faint glimmers of auras, he now saw intricate patterns of light and darkness, each telling a different story of pain, struggle, and the fight for control.