A/N: I've posted a poll for the best waifu suitable for Icarus in my Pat. I can do without the romance but I've planned the fic to have romance since day one.


Before Icarus could take Hecate's hand, Hecate paused and looked behind him. Then she gestured with her hand and said, "You realise you're being followed?"

Icarus only sighed, "Yes. I've known this since my departure from Delphi."

Hecate's lips twitched. "Shall I kill him or scare him away?" She questioned.

And Icarus was struck by how odd it was. Hecate being nice? How rare. Like, Icarus doesn't know her but he knows of her legend, he knows her with what little time they had spent here. Hecate, a divine being, asking permission from him? Icarus almost asked her if everything was okay at home but held his hand.

No use antagonising her.

"No. I shall deal with him in my own time." Icarus stated.

Hecate's lips turned downwards but followed his request.


Time passed as a blur and Icarus found himself in the Underworld. Standing before the gates as a large dog-like beast with three heads and a black leathery hide.

Cerberus. The infamous hound that guards the Underworld for souls that want to get in or out.

A rumble went by as Cerberus growled when it saw him. Intelligence eyes regarded him with contempt and indifference not out of place on an aeons divine being.

Icarus almost shuddered.

Icarus can almost taste the magic the beast is radiating. Sulphur with a disgusting undertone like rot, ashes and the heat of fire lingered on his tongue.

His eyes watered as he gagged.

Never have I tasted something this foul in both of my lives.

A large paw of the beast came down with an earth shattering force, winds bellowed as it leaned down on him.

But…before anything could happen, Icarus's 'partner' stepped in.

"Calm down." Hecate grunted.

The beast looked at Hecate and— Icarus could tell because of his Mystic Eyes— the beast's muscles relaxed almost immediately. The smell and the ambient mana discharged in the air lifted up.

Icarus breathed a sigh of relief. The disgusting smell went away.

"He'll be a frequent visitor here, so stay nice." Hecate said.

The beast—Cerbus— almost let out a whimper.

Almost.

Hecate turned to him, "Come, we'll have to start the ritual immediately." And took off. Gliding over the ground with grace unmatched by mortals.

Icarus stumped the urge to question 'which ritual?' Hecate is a certified cray cray. And even then she has this no nonsense attitude around her, like one dumb question she'll flay you.

Yhea, better be on the safe side.

Icarus looked at the scenery around as they walked and came to a conclusion.

Like all versions of hell across the world, the Underworld is believed to be hell. A suffering realm where there's always fire and tortured souls around. A realm painted in red lightnings and such.

The humans couldn't be wrong. The Underworld is actually peaceful—from what he saw— The Fields Heroes or Elysium as most people call them are pleasant for one, such a serene presence. Icarus was almost fooled that this is no Underworld.

Almost.

Passing the Fields Of Punishment shattered those hopes like how the Underworld shattered those stereotypes about itself.

Hearing the souls groan scared him.

"T-this.." Icarus gasped out.

Hecate, before him, glanced at him then at the direction he's facing then grinned.

"Ah, yes. The Fields Of Punishment Quite the place isn't it?" You could hear the sadistic glee from her voice alone.

Icarus coughed and got a grip on himself, "Yes, quite the place indeed." Icarus murmured.

Hecate side eyed him and nodded, "Come, we're almost there."

Icarus nodded but stopped ahead. He hesitated for a second but decided to broach the topic of the thing that's been bothering him since he arrived in the Underworld.

Hecate gave him a disgruntled look for his troubles. "What now?" She inquired.

Icarus's nose flared as he took in the air around him. "W-what's this?"

Confused, Hecate looked around but found nothing out of place. "What? Speak clearly." She spoke curtly, her annoyance shining through.

"T-there's this thing in the air, l-like magic yet not." Icarus stuttered.

Hecate paused then a thoughtful expression donned on her face until realisation lit up. "Uh, you must mean the Mystery," Hecate nodded, "Underworld's Mystery is different from the surface world. It's more potent, thick and other more things."

"Oh.." Icarus nodded as it is a logical reason. He can't expect the world Mystery to be the same as the Underworld's. The Underworld is more of a.. metaphysical place. That doesn't exist in a literal sense, like Avalon —The crystalized Human dreams of an Utopia— but in a lesser form.

Icarus nodded again as he came to a conclusion.

Icarus stepped forward but paused as he saw Hecate pausing as well. Icarus frowned and opened his mouth to question her but didn't.

The scenery had changed without him knowing. They're now near a large river, no calling it a river is an understatement, it's more of a sea. His Mystic Eyes can't even see the ending of this sea— he can, he's just exaggerating. There's almost nowhere where these eyes can't see. He tested it, he can even see the House Of Hades—

A flaming sea. The sea is literally on fire. Strangely, Icarus can't feel any heat or warmth from it.

But that didn't mean his concern melted away, if anything it increased. Why are they here? Wasn't Hecate only going to teach him her magic? So why?

Icarus stepped back and gulped, and glanced at Hecate.

"Ah,yes. The River of Phlegethon. How nostalgic." Hecate's voice and eyes were tinted with nostalgia, reminiscing.

Seeing her get lost in her memory lane he reached out. "Hecate?"

Hecate shook her head and glanced at him. "This is the river of Phlegethon. The River known to temper souls." Hecate stated.

Icarus nodded, "Yes. But what are we doing here?" Icarus hoped, he hoped that she won't say what he drea—

Hecate laughed softly. As if he's a clown in a circus asking what he is doing here. As if she's staring at a monkey doing tricks, an inferior species.

"It's for you." Ah, there it is. She said it.

"A-apologies my lady, but I don't follow." Icarus took another step backwards. No way in hell that he'll get inside that.

Hecate's changed.

"Get inside, Icarus." Her voice was devoid of all emotions.

Icarus sighed. Icarus gripped his shirt, about to undress— stalling—

"No use for that. I was going to give you a change of clothes. One that will handle the Underworld's conditions and elements. Now, get inside." With no nonsense attitude Hecate ordered again.

Icarus stepped forward. With dread pooling in his stomach with every step he took— the snake in his chest rattled with anger at being ordered, at his life full of prophecies and at the world—

At the edge Icarus hesitated.

Hecate came behind him. "Your life's going to get more hectic from now on. Full of death, sadness and horror."

Hecate landed her dainty hand on his shoulder. A cold presence washed him. He almost didn't hear what she said.

Almost being the keyword.

A feeling of anger- no, not anger. But more of disgust. Disgust welled up inside him and the snake shook it's rattle with satisfaction inside him. The hand on his shoulder is wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong

"What I can advise you on is that—"

Icarus tried to turn away. Sensing bad intentions from her. He tried. Oh how he tried but it was not enough apparently.

But Hecate's grip on him was strong, strong enough that he can't even bulge. He couldn't believe that he's being manhandled by a Caster, a Magician.

"Trust no one." Hecate finished off by pushing him off the edge and into the river of fire.

Icarus flew through the air as horror dawned on him. He realized, he realized that he's alone in the world.

He's starting to realise that the world is more cruel than when he read it on a smartphone or watched it on his Tv.

He's starting to realise that with no personal power, he'll always be the God's plaything.

He realised that he has been arrogant- no more like naive. That the Gods need him, that they won't treat him badly.

"Oh.." That's the only thing Icarus said to Hecate's 'advice' then, then…..

He knew no more.


Icarus blinked and stared at the sky, and the purple sky stared back at him. Icarus mused, 'Purple sky?' then he realised.

He's staring at Underworld's artificial sky.

A crunching sound appeared at his left.

"Oh, you're awake." A woma- no, more like a teenager. A teenager-like woman appeared in his sights. Black hair that came to her back and purple eyes.

Hecate.

Icarus grunted, "No, I'm dead. I'm in the Underworld." Icarus shot back dryly.

Hecate shot him a dry look, "Cheeky aren't we?"

Icarus didn't respond but got back up and pat the dust away from his cloth- oh, Icarus thought in surprise. He gazed at the clothes he now wore and looked at Hecate with question in his gaze.

"What? Did yo- oh. You're embarrassed. Human emotions." Hecate tsk'd.

Icarus wasn't embarrassed. No, he's passed that point when he had to bath with his aunt and her friends. But he only sighed in exhaustion, dealing with gods is going to be emotionally and mentally exhausting real fucking fast.

"Nope," Icarus popped the 'p', "Now, what's next?" He inquired while ignoring the dark and acid like feeling clawing in his throat—Trust no one

Hecate raised an eyebrow at him but didn't say anything. "Now, I'm contemplating on dipping you in Styx but…it won't have much use. But won't the weight of your magic crumble your mortal body?" Hecate more like murmured to herself than at him. So he stayed out of her stewing thoughts.

After a few minutes Hecate nodded and said, "Personally, it's too much work to dip you in Styx. I'd rather be in my cave. But if I did anything half hearted, the Fates won't let me live with it. So, to be on the cautious side…. Let's go to the Styx river. It doesn't help that you'll be broaching the divine realm earlier than intended. Sigh* What a troublesome child." Hecate said all that in one breath and said the last parts to herself. This is the first time Icarus saw Hecate speak this much, it's almost weird. Weird as in seeing Zeus not fucking anything that has two legs within a mile radius.

Now, about river Styx. Icarus resigned his fate and dragged his admittedly rejuvenated body full of monstrous magic/Od. His Mystic Eyes retracting and spinning madly in annoyance.

He sighed again.


Icarus looked at the river that is bubbling up and the waters are dark like a black tar slouching about. Doesn't help that the river is steaming. It's like an abomination potion that a novice witch made.

The surrounding area is dark too, and gloomy.

The only reason that Icarus doesn't try to struggle and run is, he's in the Underworld, there's nowhere to run and he can't outrun a goddess. And Icarus figured that death would be pleasant— he died, he knows. die-ing again would be like drinking cold water on a hot day— even then if he dies, he'll go to the field of heroes then he can choose to reincarnate again or not. So yeah, death isn't actually terrifying when you know that you'll live again. It's guaranteed.

The only problem would be meddling gods.

Icarus stepped in the shallow waters first, testing the water. The water is…cold? Not warm, actually it's cold. The River doesn't have a fixed temperature, it'll be cold then hot in a span of seconds. It's actually not that bad, Icarus thought.

He sighed as the water covered his whole body and bubbles pooped in the area where he's submerged.

Think of the people you love, mortal. Otherwise the river would eat you like so many others—


First Pov

You can't tell time in the Underworld, but I know that days have passed. I haven't eaten anything since the day I arrived here yet I didn't feel hungry. It's quite the mystery that I'm trying to crack.

I've been submerged in the river for days. It…makes one contemplate the matters of life.

The River is dark, dark enough that I can't even see my own fingers. Under the water is even worse, darkness all around me trying to swallow me.

Hours upon hours I floated still. The only thing active was my mind.

Days passed.

Hour's passed.

Yet I'm still here.


This is probably the third day.

I know, I've kept count. It is the only thing keeping me sane here. I've long ago tried to come to the surface yet something holds me back. Is it the water? Or the goddess, Styx? I would never know.

My world is submerged in darkness. I wonder how Olympus looks. Is it the city of gold that's rumoured to be? Hmm.

What is reality? I've pondered this question like the next guy yet my answers always came short.

'I must be losing my mind thinking of this.'

The thought was distantly away from me. Like I'm trying to hear something talk when I'm underwater or when I have earplugs plugged in.

What is life?

What is death?

What is reality?

For that matter,

"Who am I?"


Day four.

I've been having some hallucinations lately. Well, I think they're hallucinations. Sometimes I hear someone whispering, the voice far away yet I can still hear it.

Other times, it's silent. So silent that I start to question if I exist. If all sound is removed from the world and the world is plagued in darkness, can one really know they exist? Since almost all senses are stripped away from you, how do you tell that you exist? Does the world exist?

They're other times that I can hold a conversation with that voice. I-i think I'm losing my mind. It's something that terrifies me.

"You're still scared." An amused chuckling came.

I sighed. Yes, I'm scared. I want answers but nobody gives me them.

"Why don't you answer those questions you have on your own?" The voice questioned. It's like I'm being led by the nose.

Answer? I-i… how? How can one who's ignorant to the world answer these questions?

The voice let out an amusing sound before it answered, "So pitiful. How pathetic. It seems I'll have to help you out."

I accept that I'm pathetic. It's something I've known since I was born in my previous world, it doesn't change even now.

I felt something invasive get in my head- no, my soul.

W-hat are you doing?!

'I'm helping you.'

Day four.

I'm on the edge of insanity.

I still have unanswered questions.

Days passed.

Hour's passed.

Yet… I'm still here.


Day five.

My body have long since gone numb. I can't even feel my own body. It's like I'm trapped in my own body, it's like the Matrix or the brain-in-a-jar brain theory.

It brought the question if I'm real to some new levels.

The voice in my brain disappeared. It's been quiet again. My mind has been getting clearer and clearer as the hours go by. I can even remember memories from when I was one year old in both lives. I think this is the thing that the voice said it helped me with.

I-i guess I can be thankful.

When was the last time I conversed with a person? Hecate…. Her voice is starting to get blurred in my brain. Ironic right? It's even contradictory but I just go along with it.

Where was I before I got in this room of darkness? ..n..r..world?

Huh? Ernterworld? No, I think it's Underworld? Yeah.

I-im starting to feel claustrophobic. Logically, I know I'm still breathing but..I'm underwater, how am I breathing?

Time in the darkness seems to stand still. With no light, it seems time stretched forever. Contradictory at its finest.

I know I only spend Five days and a few hours in the darkness but I feel like decades and centuries have passed by, and I'm hundred years old.

If a ball is flung in outer space, we can measure its speed and distance by the stars and planets it has passed. But… What if there's no light in outer space? What if there's no stars and planets? How can we measure the ball if it had appeared to be not moving at all. Since we removed all stars and planets, how can we know that the ball is moving at all?

That's what time has done to me. I feel like I was in the darkness for a hundred years even though I know it has only been five days.

Nonetheless, as the days go by, I've learnt how to sense. How to sense without the use of magic. At least I think I'm not using magic.

And as my ability to sense grew stronger, I've started to feel like something is watching me. No, somethings are watching me. Maybe the hallucinations are back. Maybe not.

What is it that I sense?

Is someone there?

Can you please help me?

Am I still alive?

Please help me.

"I'm dying."


Day six.

I-i think I'm getting my sight back. Only my sight, unfortunately.

At first it was still dark, then suddenly I could see my fingers, then I was able to see my whole body.

Then I started seeing silhouettes of..thing. not people no, never people. But things with octopus heads and tentacles, and if I stare at them too long and try to figure out what they are, my head feels like it's been split. Migraines of higher levels would hit me to the point that I blanked out for hours.

Then, then—

I realised I was no longer underwater or in the Underworld. The cold, dark and unfeeling space bit me.

There's this saying in my previous world— If you stare at the abyss, the Abyss will stare back at you.

I was floating in what I recognize as space —how do I recognize it? I don't know and I don't think I'll ever know

I stared at the abyss and it stares back. Multiple red eyes of different magnitude stared at me and then, and then—

A familiar voice chuckled. Its voice sending ripples in outer space and I cringed.

"We finally meet, Icarus."

Distortion of voices spoke. The voices overlapping on each other until all I felt was migraine.

"W-ho are you?" I inquired.

The voices chuckled again.

"Even with our gift you still can't comprehend us? Guess you're still too primitive." The voices asked.

I ignored their questions and asked again, "Who are you?"

Silence greeted me until all the red eyes disappeared except for one.

"We are the Outer Gods. And you, you intrigue us, Icarus."


A/N: We went down the rabbit hole didn't we? Anyway, just be thankful I updated this weekend. I wrote this chapter while in a public transport to town. I'm a benevolent Author, am I not?