glory of heracles: gift from the gods

underworld arc 1

"Who are you sir?" Asked saria, the shade (apparition) of the old man nodded and replied "I am cadmus, the first hero of Greece and slayer of monsters". Her eyes lit up as she recalls reading about him when she was a child, she wanted to ask more questions but she was speechless "I know you remembered some tales about my greatest exploits including the founding of the city called Thebes, I respect that" said cadmus. Saria sighed as she picked one branch of the gold glowing plant and hold it in her hand "alright thanatos, it's time to get in line" she said as she walked into the line of shades. The shades grew surprised at the mention of thanatos and the fact that saria has the golden bough in her hand "did you say thanatos, as in that winged kid?" Questioned one shade, saria nodded as she showed the shades thanatos. The shades whispered to each other:

"Why is thanatos a small kid?" Asked the shade of the woman who was stabbed in the heart.

"I don't know, but haven't we already seen him?" Replied the shade of the decapitated soldier holding his head.

Cadmus approached saria and thanatos and said "since you now carry the golden bough in your hand while being accompanied by the god of death, you may want to go to the front of the line. Charon is coming here in a few minutes" saria smiled "thank you, one question: since you are a demigod, why are you here instead of elysium?" She asked. Cadmus sighed and replied "I was coming back from visiting my descendents, I have to wait until charon comes here to let me board here" saria gives him a worried look as she took thanatos to the front of the line, while the shades grumbled about how she gets to the front of the line instead of waiting. After four minutes, saria spots charon approaching from the left side of the river "there's our ride" she said to thanatos. As charon finally arrived on his boat, cadmus boarded the boat but as saria was about to board, she was stopped by ferryman himself "I'm dreadfully sorry miss, but you have to be dead and pay me a coin in order to enter the underworld" he said as his voice is like leaves blowing from the air.

Saria showed charon the golden bough thus causing the ferryman to be surprised "so you picked the golden bough? Very well, I'll let you board on this boat and-" said charon but he cuts himself off as he noticed thanatos, he brushed his long unkempt beard and said "thanatos? Weren't you at master hades' palace? And more importantly, why are you a small kid?". Saria sighed and tells charon what has happened at the land of the living, after that, charon nodded as he is puzzled so he let her on his boat along with thanatos. One shade was about to board the boat but was stopped by charon "I'm sorry but there's room for three, you have to wait for me to come back" he said but the shade got angry and said "look pal, I've waited for over 10 hours and I died from a house fire! So let me board!" Charon shook his head and told the shade that is no excuse because of the rules of the underworld.

After that, he pushed the boat away from the dock and start rowing "Where do you like to go?" He asked "I want to go back to Elysium" said cadmus as he sat down, saria sat next to thanatos as she looks at both sides of the river. The boat approached to a huge yet ornate gate but at the right shoreline, a huge three headed dog growled as it walked towards the boat "Cerberus, stay! She maybe alive but she is permitted to enter!" Commanded charon. Cerberus sat down as the gate opens thus letting the boat to enter, beyond the gate is a dreary land where the water glowed blue while the land is pitch black with few trees growing. Charon steered the boat to the right part of the river "now entering river styx" he said as he continued rowing, saria looks at thanatos and saw him crying so she pat on his back to calm him down.

Authors note- this is the underworld arc, more pages will be made and it's thanks to @joe for giving me the motivation since two months ago.