The path into Mythica's earthen world was a descent into darkness, lit only by faintly glowing moss that clung to the cavern walls like patches of starlight.
The air grew heavier with every step, filled with the earthy tang of damp stone and a faint metallic bite, like the breath of something ancient. It was the kind of place where murmurs seemed louder, and every drip of water resounded endlessly.
Agnos perched on my shoulder, his golden eyes gleaming faintly in the gloom. The small cat—who I had to keep reminding myself was a god—seemed utterly at ease, his tail flicking lazily.
"I don't like this," I muttered, my voice swallowed by the oppressive silence.
"Good," Agnos said, his voice soft but sharp. "Fear keeps you alert. Alertness keeps you alive. You'll appreciate the view later."
"Oh, great pep talk. I feel so much better now."
The caverns twisted and turned, narrowing in some places until I had to crouch, then opening suddenly into vast chambers that seemed to stretch into infinity.
The dwarves' handiwork was everywhere—massive stone pillars carved to resemble gods and beasts, their faces worn smooth by time.
In one area, the ceiling sparkled as if studded with diamonds, though I doubted anything in this place was that simple.
I glanced at Agnos. "Okay, I'll give you this one. It's pretty cool."
"Cool?" Agnos arched an elegant eyebrow. "This is a triumph of mortal ingenuity and ancient magic. Show some respect."
"Right. Respect." I nodded solemnly before adding, "Does respect come with snacks? Because I'm starving."
And then there were the sounds. Somewhere far off, the rhythmic thrum of machinery vibrated through the stone, mixed with the faint hum of voices.
The dwarves were here, somewhere, though the sounds made it impossible to tell how close.
I'd expected the usual bearded master blacksmiths crafting legendary weapons, maybe a few mining songs for ambiance.
What I got instead was… live-streaming.
Yes, the dwarves had gone digital.
"Welcome to Dwarftopia Live!" a cheerful voice boomed as soon as I stepped into the main cavern.
Thousands of glowing crystals lit the massive space, which was bustling with dwarves holding strange magical devices.
Everywhere I looked, there were makeshift stages where dwarves were hawking wares like enchanted axes, glowing potions, and even knockoff tiaras that looked suspiciously like the one I'd gotten for Princess.
"Is that… an infomercial?" I asked Agnos, who sat on my shoulder like an unimpressed parrot.
"They've adapted," he said with a shrug. "Apparently, mining and smithing didn't pay the bills anymore."
The lead dwarf spotted me and immediately waved me over. "Greetings, traveler! Looking for some exclusive deals? Perhaps a custom-made sword or a magical gadget for your adventuring needs?"
"I'm, uh, actually here for something else," I said, glancing nervously at the bustling marketplace. "I need to find a fragment of divine power."
The dwarf's eyes sparkled with interest. "A divine fragment? Oho, that's rare loot! But it'll cost you."
"Cost me?" I frowned. Oh no. I'm not about to let myself be defrauded of my Mythica Credits now. I've had enough trouble with one chubby Selkie already.
"I don't have money. Just a god-cat and a healthy dose of skepticism."
The dwarf's grin widened. "Well then, let's make a trade. Help us boost sales during our next live-stream, and I'll tell you where to find the fragment."
"Boost sales? How—"
"What's your name traveler?" the lead dwarf asked
"I'm Carl. I'm actually a Zoologist. I don't-"
Before I could protest, I was shoved onto a stage, a gaudy microphone thrust into my hand. A bright spotlight blinded me as a crowd of dwarves cheered.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" the lead dwarf announced. "Introducing Carl, the zoologist from another world, here to showcase our limited-edition products!"
I stood there, frozen, as dwarves began shoving items into my hands.
"This," I said, holding up a sparkly necklace, "is a… magical necklace. It glows. And, uh… wards off evil spirits?"
The crowd murmured, unimpressed.
Agnos sighed from the sidelines. "You're terrible at this."
"Not helping!" I hissed.
The next item was a pair of enchanted boots. "These boots," I said, trying to muster enthusiasm, "make you run faster. Or maybe they make you jump higher? Honestly, I have no idea what they do."
Crickets.
Just when I thought my humiliation couldn't get any worse, a dwarf handed me a ridiculously oversized hat.
I stared at it. "What… is this?"
"It's a Hat of Invisibility," the dwarf whispered.
I put it on. "Can you see me?"
"Yes," someone in the crowd shouted.
"Yeah, me too," another dwarf added.
"Great," I muttered, yanking the hat off. "So it's just a hat."
Despite my disastrous sales pitch, the dwarves seemed entertained enough to honor their deal.
The lead dwarf guided us down a twisting tunnel that smelled of damp earth and something metallic, like the ghosts of a thousand forgotten swords.
The air grew warmer, the walls narrowing until we arrived at a heavy stone door etched with intricate runes. It loomed like a silent sentinel, aged and unyielding.
"Here we are," the dwarf said, his voice dropping into a reverent hush. "The chamber of the fragment."
The door creaked open, revealing a cavern bathed in an eerie, pulsating light. The source of it stood at the room's center— a pedestal carved from black obsidian, slick with veins of glowing green.
Floating just above it was the fragment—a jagged shard of pure energy, alive with shifting colors that seemed to hum in time with my heartbeat.
I hesitated. The air felt thicker, as if the room itself was holding its breath. Even Agnos, perched silently on my shoulder, flicked his tail with unusual restraint.
"This is it?" I asked, my voice catching in my throat.
The dwarf gave a solemn nod. "Aye. It's been here longer than our records go back. None who've touched it ever lived to tell what they saw. So, uh… good luck." He stepped back, a little too eagerly for my liking.
I swallowed hard and reached out, my fingers hovering just above the fragment. The heat it radiated wasn't like normal warmth— it was alive, crawling up my skin like invisible vines. I took a deep breath and grabbed it.
The world shattered.
I was no longer in the chamber. I stood on a battlefield, surrounded by chaos. The sky above me churned with dark clouds, lightning splitting the heavens in jagged streaks.
Armored figures clashed all around, their swords ringing like screams. Fires raged unchecked, consuming entire mountains in the distance.
At the center of it all was a palace—a grand structure made of white stone, now crumbling under the weight of destruction. Its spires fell like broken bones, sending debris cascading into the war below.
And then I saw him.
A shadowy figure, tall and menacing, emerged from the wreckage. His blade gleamed like liquid night, its edges rippling as if it drank the light around it. He moved with terrifying precision, cutting down enemies as if they were nothing more than whispers in the wind.
His gaze snapped to me.
"You…" His voice wasn't loud, but it carried, slicing through the roar of battle like a dagger to the chest.
I couldn't move. His eyes, glowing a sickly green, pinned me in place.
"Beware." His tone turned venomous, layered with malice. "The fragments awaken more than power. They awaken me."
The vision ended, leaving me breathless.
"Well?" Agnos asked, his golden eyes gleaming.
I turned to him, my hand still clutching the fragment. "What exactly are we waking up?"
His smile was disturbingly cat-like. "Oh, you'll see."
I handed the fragment piece to Agnos without a second thought. My fingers still tingled from the magic pulsing through it, like holding onto a live wire that refused to settle. As soon as he got hold of it, he did something I was absolutely unprepared for. He ate it.
Yes, ate it. Like a crunchy snack.
I froze.
My jaw unhinged as I watched the shimmering fragment disappear into his mouth. He chewed with an oddly satisfied look, like someone savoring the world's most forbidden candy.
"What the—? You just ate it!" My voice cracked halfway through, disbelief twisting it into a squeak.
Agnos looked at me, completely unfazed. "What? It's part of me. Of course, I have to consume it."
"Of course," I muttered, my words dripping with sarcasm as I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Why not? I guess you're the living, breathing garbage disposal for magical artifacts."
Ignoring my tone entirely, Agnos smirked, brushing a speck of dust off his shoulder. "Well, that's one down."
I shook my head, exasperation crawling up my spine. "What's next? We need to find another fragment, right?"
That's when his expression shifted into something I didn't like. A complicated mix of curiosity and amusement danced across his features, paired with a tone that made my stomach knot.
"Interesting," he said, tilting his head slightly. "You must be really lucky for it not to appear."
Lucky? I frowned, the weight of his words pressing down like a loaded trap waiting to spring.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I demanded, narrowing my eyes.
Agnos didn't answer.
Instead, he started walking, leaving me no choice but to follow. The cavern behind us rolled with the ominous silence of danger barely escaped. And yet, something about his cryptic comment left me more uneasy.