Jason had always been the type to look for an easy way out, but now, as he stood before the imposing figure of Hecate, the goddess of magic, he was beginning to have second thoughts.
Chiron, who had been the one to bring him here, chuckled softly at the look of unease on Jason's face. "Don't worry," he said, his voice warm but teasing. "Goddess Hecate is a kind and wise goddess. Nothing too terrible will happen... probably."
Jason wasn't so sure. His earlier enthusiasm had vanished as soon as he heard Hecate's casual remark. "It'll only hurt a little," she said with a smirk. "A few deaths at most. I'll just take a trip to the Underworld to bring you back."
Jason stared at her, speechless. "Wait, what?" he muttered under his breath.
Hecate waved it off. "Don't worry, I'm sure it won't be that bad. Now, let's get started."
Jason had hoped for something a little less... dramatic. The idea of becoming a student of a goddess was one thing, but actually dying a few times in the process? That wasn't exactly what he had signed up for. Yet, as Chiron reassured him that everything would be fine, Jason found a strange sense of relief. If nothing else, having a goddess backing him was definitely an advantage. Gods were troublesome, sure, but they also had a way of dealing with problems.
"Jason, meet your teacher, Goddess Hecate," Chiron said, gesturing to her.
"Teacher? Yeah, I can see that working," Jason muttered, his mind already racing with what he'd gotten himself into.
Hecate raised an eyebrow. "Just call me teacher. We don't need to stand on ceremony," she said, not at all fazed by Jason's lack of formality.
The moment was interrupted by her sudden decision. "Alright, I'm taking him now," she said, turning to Chiron.
Chiron raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Don't you want to give him a moment to adjust?"
"I'm not here for long chats," Hecate replied, dismissing the idea. "Time to toss him into the Styx."
Jason's stomach lurched. The Styx? Wasn't that the river of souls, the one that led straight to the Underworld?
"You're throwing me into the Styx?" Jason repeated in disbelief, his voice shaky.
Hecate didn't even bat an eye. "You're too weak. It'll be fine. You'll either die, or you won't. But if you do die, I'll just grab you back from Hades. It's no big deal."
Chiron, who had been calmly observing, looked uncomfortable. "I think we should—"
"Don't worry, it'll be fine," Hecate interrupted, ignoring Chiron's concerns.
Before Jason could protest further, the air around them shimmered with an eerie glow, and dark butterflies with glowing blue wings appeared, surrounding the trio. In an instant, Jason felt himself lifted off the ground, and everything around him disappeared with the soft flutter of wings.
When Jason's senses returned, he found himself standing in a bleak, desolate world. The darkness was pierced by faint blue lights, casting an eerie glow on the barren landscape. The ground was uneven and cracked, and Jason couldn't help but shiver as he realized the true nature of where he was.
"Welcome to the Underworld," Hecate said, her voice echoing in the stillness.
Jason turned to her, his voice tentative. "This... is the Underworld?"
"Yes," Hecate replied, unfazed. "It's time to get used to it. Come on, let's go. There's a journey ahead."
Jason couldn't help but notice the souls wandering around them, their ghostly forms drifting aimlessly. Many of them turned to look at him, and their expressions were full of curiosity and suspicion. Jason tried to ignore the unnerving feeling that came from their gaze, but he had the distinct sense that they wouldn't hesitate to tear him apart if Hecate wasn't around.
They moved forward, passing through the souls, until they reached a massive gate guarded by a three-headed dog. Cerberus.
Jason froze, his eyes wide as the giant creature loomed before him, its three heads snarling and growling, revealing rows of sharp teeth.
But then, to his astonishment, the moment Cerberus saw Hecate, its massive form shrank, its heads lowering until it was the size of a puppy. It wagged its tails excitedly and bounded toward her.
"Ah, you're back!" Cerberus barked, rubbing its heads against Hecate's legs affectionately.
Jason blinked in disbelief. "Wait, that... that's Cerberus?"
Hecate nodded. "Yes. Cerberus will look after you. If you die, he'll be the one to fetch your soul for me."
Jason stared at Cerberus, whose tail was now wagging happily. "Great," he muttered. "A giant puppy."
As they moved past the gate, Jason felt a little more at ease. At least Cerberus wasn't trying to eat him.
They reached the Styx, the infamous river that separated the living from the dead. A small boat waited by the riverbank, its ferryman a gaunt figure cloaked in shadow with blue flames for eyes. It was Charon, the god of the ferry.
"Ah, Goddess Hecate," Charon said, recognizing her instantly. "What brings you here?"
Hecate raised a hand toward Jason. "This is my new student, Jason. He's crossing the river with me."
Charon nodded, though his gaze lingered on Jason for a moment. "I see. You're bringing him across?"
"Yes," Hecate replied, her tone indicating that there was no room for argument.
With a gesture, Charon untied the boat, and the river began to churn with the force of the souls within it.
Hecate turned to Jason, her expression turning serious. "Now, you need to endure this. It's not just about crossing the river. You need to learn what it means to be strong."
Jason, swallowing his unease, took a deep breath and stepped into the boat. The moment his foot touched the Styx, a strange energy washed over him. He could feel the weight of the river's power trying to drag him under, to pull him into its depths.
But Hecate wasn't going to let him suffer.
As Jason's body began to burn from the Styx's touch, Hecate flicked her fingers, and a glowing butterfly appeared in the air. It flew toward Jason, and its light enveloped him, protecting him from the river's corrosive effects.
Jason breathed a sigh of relief as the pain he had expected never came. The glowing light surrounding him seemed to shield him from the Styx's power. He glanced at Hecate, his mind racing.
"Don't worry," she said, her voice calm. "You're stronger now. This is only the beginning."
As Jason continued to soak in the Styx, he began to understand. The power of the river was real, but with Hecate's guidance, he wasn't just surviving it. He was growing stronger.
After a few more moments, Hecate pulled him out of the water.
"Not bad," she said with a nod, her eyes scanning him. "You're tougher now. Stronger. This was just the first step."
Jason, drenched and shivering, couldn't help but feel a little proud. "So, I'm immortal now?"
Hecate gave a half-smile. "Immortal? In a way. Your body will resist death, but if a god strikes you down, well... let's just say your immortality has limits."
Jason thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. At least he wasn't going to die from ordinary things anymore.
"Thank you, Teacher Hecate," he said with a bow.
"Just don't make me regret taking you on as a student," she replied with a smirk.
Jason felt his gratitude quickly fade, but he said nothing.
As they continued on their journey, Charon watched from a distance, shaking his head. "This child," he muttered, "doesn't know what he's in for."
"Indeed," Hecate agreed, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. "But that's what makes it fun."
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Chapter 5, done. If you want to keep up with my genius in real-time (because who wouldn't?), check out my Patreon (Patreon.com/Dracode). Don't worry, I won't judge you if you don't, but you'll definitely regret it when everyone else is ahead. 😏