Ch. 115: Into the Depths of the Underworld
The city below seemed to pulse with a rhythm all its own as I made my way through the gates, the dogs trotting beside me, their leashes taut in my grip. The vastness of the underworld stretched before me, a metropolis both ancient and alive, filled with beings from realms and times beyond imagination. My curiosity flared, and for the first time in what felt like centuries, I wanted to understand the depths of the world I governed.
As I descended from the mansion, the cool air around me shifted, as though the atmosphere of this place was responding to my presence. The winding path led me down toward the heart of the city, through wide streets lined with statues of long-forgotten rulers and heroes who had met their fates. The sky above still shimmered in its otherworldly hue, but here, on the ground, the underworld had its own sense of vibrancy.
I noticed the strange symbols that adorned the tall buildings— runes that glowed faintly, carved into the stonework. Each one seemed to represent a different story, a life lived or a death earned. Shops flanked the streets, their windows glowing with an eerie, yet inviting light. In them were items I had never seen before— artifacts from different ages, potions and elixirs, even enchanted jewelry. The souls of the dead moved about, their transparent figures flickering like whispers of light. Some were mythical creatures and undead.
There was a marketplace ahead, alive with energy. The scent of spices and unfamiliar foods drifted through the air. For a place known as the realm of the dead, there was an undeniable pulse of life here, as if the people had found a new purpose even after death.
I approached one of the stalls, my dogs obediently sitting at my side as I leaned in to inspect the wares. The merchant, an ancient-looking woman with translucent skin and a hood that obscured most of her face, smiled up at me with eyes that glittered like gemstones.
“Curious, are we, Lord Hades?” she asked, her voice a soft rasp, like leaves rustling in the wind. “It is rare for you to walk among us. What brings you to the streets today?”
“I wanted to see how things are,” I replied, my gaze drifting over the variety of goods on her stall— delicate ornaments made of silver and gold, amulets pulsing with magic, and vials of glowing liquids. “It’s not what I expected.”
“Few things ever are,” she said with a knowing chuckle. “The underworld has changed while you’ve been away, but it has its own beauty, don’t you think?”
I nodded, though my attention was suddenly drawn elsewhere. Beyond the marketplace, toward the shadows of the distant buildings, I could feel something… watching. The same presence from before. It hadn’t left.
I narrowed my eyes and turned my back to the market. The dogs picked up on my unease, their growls low but steady. I led them down a quieter street, the noise of the market fading behind me as I ventured deeper into the unknown parts of the city.
Here, the air felt different— heavier, charged with an ancient power. The shadows seemed to stretch longer, as though they were alive and watching my every step. The buildings became older, crumbling with age, their facades draped with vines that glowed faintly in the dim light. Every so often, I could hear the distant murmur of voices, but I couldn’t see anyone.
As I turned a corner, I found myself standing at the entrance to what seemed like a vast, open square. In the center stood an enormous statue, its features weathered with time but still imposing. The figure held a lantern high in one hand, its face carved into a fierce scowl. This wasn’t just any statue— this was one of the ancient guardians of the underworld, a being from a time before even Hades had taken the throne and dominion of the underworld m
Suddenly, I wasn’t alone.
A figure emerged from the shadows, tall and hooded, its cloak flowing behind it like a shroud of mist. It moved with a graceful, otherworldly presence, and as it drew closer, I could see its face— pale and gaunt, with eyes that glowed faintly in the dark.
“Lord Hades,” the figure greeted, bowing its head slightly. Its voice was soft, yet there was an edge of something ancient and dangerous to it. “It is an honor to stand before you.”
“And you are?” I asked, my hand tightening slightly around my cane. The dogs stood alert at my feet, watching the figure with suspicious eyes.
“I am Vireo, a keeper of the forgotten,” he replied, his eyes flickering with curiosity as he studied me. “I dwell in the shadows of the old world, where those who have been lost are remembered. You are not often seen here.”
“Not often enough, it seems,” I replied, my gaze shifting to the statue. “What is this place?”
“This is the Square of Shadows, where memories of the forgotten dead linger,” Vireo explained, his voice low. “Those who have no place in the living world or the afterlife. They come here, to exist between worlds, to find peace.”
I felt a strange weight settle in my chest. The underworld was far more complex than I had ever realized. The souls here were not merely the dead— they were those who had been abandoned by both life and death.
“Why do you guard them?” I asked, intrigued by this being’s role in the underworld.
“Because every soul deserves to be remembered,” Vireo said softly. “Even those who are lost.”
His words echoed in the quiet square, and for a moment, I was struck by the depth of this place. The culture of the underworld wasn’t one of despair— it was one of remembrance, of finding meaning even after death. This was a world where the forgotten could find solace, where the overlooked could still have a purpose.
I felt the presence again— closer this time, lingering just beyond the square’s edge. I turned sharply, catching a glimpse of movement in the shadows.
“Who’s there?” I called out, my voice cutting through the stillness.
There was no answer, only the sound of something retreating deeper into the darkened streets.
“Do not follow, Lord Hades,” Vireo warned, stepping forward. “There are beings here that even you should not pursue.”
But I had already made up my mind. Whatever was out there had been watching me since I left the mansion, and I wasn’t about to let it slip away without answers.
“I appreciate the advice, Vireo,” I said, already moving toward the shadows, “but I need to know what this thing wants.”
The dogs barked, pulling against their leashes, eager to follow me into the dark. The tension in the air grew thicker as I ventured forward, my cane tapping against the cobblestone streets. The city’s vibrant colors seemed to fade the deeper I went, replaced by a creeping sense of unease.
Whatever was out there, it was waiting for me.
If I revive a magic castle I will mass release 10 chapters
