Challenges of the Aether: Call of the Abyss

Chapter 25: Storm on the Horizon

I check my clock and notice I still have a few hours before I need to get up, so I head back to sleep. When my alarm goes off, I get ready for the day, deciding to skip the morning training and go to breakfast with Sylvia instead.

As we enter the cafeteria, I spot Jacob and Edger making their way to a table near the window. Sylvia and I quickly grab food from the serving line, chatting about the day ahead. We join Jacob and Edger at their table, and soon after, the rest of our group arrives.

With everyone gathered around the table, I introduce Sylvia, mentioning that she's my roommate. The group greets her warmly, and we chat briefly about the plans for the day. As we talk, I glance out the window and notice the sky darkening.

Pearl comments, "Looks like the clouds are rolling in. Hopefully, it isn't too bad."

"Yeah, hopefully not," I reply, glancing at the gloomy sky.

After breakfast, we go our separate ways and head to our classes. I settle into my desk and start organizing my papers, preparing for the day ahead. About an hour later, Mr. Wylkes approached and informed me that I had a delivery waiting at the main office. He asks me to go and pick it up. I gather my things and head out of the room to retrieve the package.

Upon arriving at the office, I provided my name and mentioned that I was there to pick up a package. The staff directed me to a man standing nearby, holding a box. As I get closer, I notice the familiar winged shoes and call out, "Hermes? Is that you?"

He turns to me with a wide smile but quickly gestures for me to be quiet. "Don't draw too much attention," he whispers. "You know how mortals can be. Here's your package, just as promised. I also added a little something special." He hands me the box along with a small flask.

"Thank you! It's great to see you in person. I really appreciate you going through the effort of bringing this here."

"It's no problem," he replies with a grin. "Just doing my job. If you ever need anything, visit my statue at the temple. I'll make sure to find the time to stop by."

I glance down at the box and flask he handed me, and when I look up, Hermes has mysteriously vanished. I'm left standing there for a moment, slightly bewildered. Shaking off the surprise, I make my way back to class, the package and flask clutched in my hands.

Throughout the day, my mind keeps drifting back to the mysterious package, and I find myself eagerly waiting for when I can open it to see what I got along with knowing what's in the flask he gave me.

At lunchtime, I join my friends at the table by the window. As we chat and enjoy our meal, I can't help but glance outside. I see the rain beginning to fall, with just a few delicate droplets dotting the windowpane.

Just then, an announcement comes through the school's PA system, stating that all remaining classes for the day are canceled due to the worsening weather. The news is met with a mix of surprise and relief from everyone at the table. As the rain continues to fall outside, the thought of an unexpected free afternoon brings a sense of excitement.

I excuse myself from lunch a bit early and head over to Nytsul's lab. The halls are quieter than usual, with the rain tapping steadily against the windows. When I push open the door to the lab, Nytsul looks up from his workbench, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"Hey there," he says with a welcoming smile. "What's up? I thought classes were canceled today—everything alright?"

"Yeah, I'm okay, Nytsul, I just needed a place to open this package I received. I'm not entirely sure who sent it." I hold up the box and flask slightly, letting him see the items. Nytsul nods in understanding and gestures for me to come in. "Sure thing. Let's take a look and see what's inside. We can figure it out together."

I pull up a chair next to Nytsul and place the box on the table between us. Together, we start unpacking its contents. Inside, we find three items:

The first is a small case containing a handful of bullets, The second is a neatly folded note. The third item is a puzzle book, its cover adorned with intricate designs.

Nytsul examines the items with curiosity. "Interesting," he says, glancing from the bullets to the note and then to the puzzle book. "Let's start with the note and see if it gives us any clues about the sender."

We carefully open the note and read its contents. The message is written in elegant, flowing script: "I, the creator of your gifts, send this to you with the hope that it meets you well. The puzzles within this book shall reveal answers to abilities beyond what is currently known. Have fun figuring it out."

The note is signed simply with an initial: "H."

Nytsul looks up from the note, his curiosity piqued. "I'm guessing this person is referring to the rings and golden staff you have," Nytsul said pointing at them. "Maybe solving these puzzles will help uncover more about them or reveal new aspects of their abilities."

"That sounds about right, Nytsul. There's only one way to find out," I agree, flipping open the book. As the pages turn, they start to grow, expanding and spreading across the table. After a few moments, a massive maze begins to take shape, stretching out in intricate patterns.

At the top of the maze, a message appears: "Complete the maze, and a reward will be granted." The text is clear and bold, adding a sense of challenge to the task.

Nytsul and I exchange glances, both intrigued and eager to tackle the puzzle. "Looks like we've got our work cut out for us," Nytsul says with a grin. "Let's get started."

Nytsul and I spent an hour or so working on the maze, determined to find our way through. Despite our best efforts, every time we thought we had figured out the correct path, we would inevitably run into a dead end.

Frustratingly, when we restarted, we noticed that something about the maze had changed—walls shifted, pathways altered. It felt like the maze was constantly adapting, making it nearly impossible to find the end.

As I was about to make another attempt at the maze, Nytsul stopped me with a thoughtful look. "Maybe we're approaching this all wrong," he suggested. "Instead of relying on our eyes to navigate, what if we used something else? There's a technique that might help, though it's usually something you learn on your own or from your master aka me once you're more proficient with your mana.

It's called 'mana sense.' This technique involves extending the mana within your body beyond yourself, which uniquely enhances your senses.

Nytsul continued, "My idea is to use mana sense to explore the maze. By tapping into this ability, we might be able to perceive the maze's structure differently and navigate more effectively. Let's give it a try and see if it leads us through.

When we have more time, I'll teach you how to use this technique properly. For now, let me give it a try and see if it helps us navigate the maze."

Nytsul closes his eyes and begins the process. I focus intently on him and, faintly, I see a translucent, almost viscous fluid emanate from his body, gradually expanding to envelop both me and much of the room. He grabs the pencil we were using and channels his mana into it, allowing the energy to spread through the maze. Fifteen minutes later, the pencil reaches the center of the maze, and a new message appears.

"The center of the maze, home of the Minotaur. Congratulations on completing this puzzle. Your answer is on the next page." Suddenly, the paper began to shrink, and the book returned to its normal size.

I grab the book and look at Nytsul with a smile, thanking him for his help. Just as I'm about to flip to the next page, lightning strikes nearby, and the sound of the rain intensifies, pouring down more heavily than before.

I tell Nytsul that I'll return tomorrow, since it's the weekend, to work on the book further. I notice a hint of disappointment on his face at not being able to see what comes next, but he tells me to get home safely.