Hololive: Reflection

Part Twenty-Nine: Truly Alone

Calliope rubbed her eyes. She felt like she had been asleep for an eternity. When she opened her eyes, she became worried that maybe she had slept for an eternity, drawing her scythe out of instinct and slowly turning her head, analyzing the barren white wasteland that she had found herself in. Upon realization there was nothing hostile near her, she sighed and put her scythe back behind her. She marched forwards cautiously, looking for anything that stood out. And, in due time, she came across... her house in the Underworld. Puzzled, she went up to the door and twisted the knob. Much to her surprise, the door was open.

Huh? I always lock my door... she thought to herself, slowly turning the doorknob. Opening the door and peeking through the door frame, she noticed no dangers. Because of this, she began to enter her home. It was exactly the same as she left it; wine glasses scattered across her table, her collection of rap CDs lining a shelf above her fireplace, and two small framed photos on said fireplace, one with herself, Gura, Amelia, Kiara, and Ina, while the other was a larger group photo with herself, Death, Shin, J-chad, Kiara, Ina, Moona, Enma, Jenma, YAGOO, and A-chan. She glanced over at them and grinned. She then ran up the stairs and opened the door to her room, checking to see if everything was in its place there. Upon confirmation that everything was where they needed to be, she sat down on her bed.

I... need to be somewhere... she thought to herself, But I can't remember where...

"God f-wording damn it, why can't I remember?!" Calliope shouted in frustration. She rose to her feet quickly and headed outside. But what greeted her wasn't the white void she used to be in, but rather the massive sprawling Underworld. Surprised, she took out her scythe and began glancing around. Nobody was there, which was odd considering her street was usually quite busy. Still carrying her scythe, she slowly strutted through the street, the only sounds being her own feet pattering away at the gray sands below her. Coming to the end of her street, she found the small ferry station that would take her across the river Styx. It seemed to be manned by an Underworld dweller she didn't recognize, wearing a massive cloak that covered his face and holding a large staff. She went up to him with a card of sorts in hand that she pulled out of her pocket.

"Sir, I'd like a ferry to Rengoku, please," Calliope said, holding out her card, "Mind telling me who you are?

"Ah, you must have always ferried with Steve or Stella, my students. I am Charon, the first ferryman in the Underworld," he greeted himself, staring intently at the card, "Still, it's been quite a while since I've seen a card of that kind. I thought the reapers died out."

"There are two of us left. I'm Mori Calliope, Death's first apprentice, and the other is Watanabe Shin, the Scythe King," she explained to the ferryman, "The rest of us unfortunately lost our lives in the War of Heart."

"I see. I'm sorry to hear that," Charon nodded, turning his back on the reaper, "Hop in. Rengoku is a ways away."

"Understood," she nodded, going into the small canoe Charon was sitting in. A strange light emanated from his staff and the boat began to move on its own, traversing the pitch-black river. Charon and Calliope sat there in silence, the only feeling being that of the boat's sway. Calliope closed her eyes, enveloped by the feeling. After about 20 minutes or so, the boat docked on a nearby plank of wood.

"Thank you for the lift." Calliope smirked, getting off the boat and onto the dock, putting her scythe over her shoulder.

"No, thank you, Miss Mori," Charon bowed, "I'm ecstatic that my final ferry was for Master Death's first pupil."

"Wait, huh?" Calliope dropped her smirk, "Final ferry?"

"Indeed. It was an honor serving everyone here, and I only hope I get a chance like this in the next life. Farewell, Miss Mori. Good luck out there," Charon closed his eyes as he was enveloped in white light. Before Calliope could react, the white light had disappeared and the ferryman with it. Confused by this, she turned and began roaming the streets of Rengoku.