After our conversation with the Moirai concluded, we enter a deeper level of the Underworld, where the challenges of the third floor begins. A new quest title appears at the top of the screen, just as the melodic tune of a lyre floats along the icy wind of the Underworld: 'Help Orpheus find Eurydice.'

Even though I know I should be putting all my concentration towards this new quest, the Moirai's final words to me weigh heavily on my mind. Why would the Enchanter watch over me? Is it only because I carry the Book of Fate? It's nothing more than a history book. There's no real value in it aside from learning more about the game's lore. What use is a book about game's flora and fauna to me?

"What do you think Lachesis meant when she said Mai's heart has been touched by darkness?" Serafina asks, bringing attention to the topic I hoped we could avoid.

"Perhaps the answer is obvious," Mist replies, glancing at me suspiciously. "She tried to kill Braeden. I know everyone thinks Mai wouldn't go that far, but we all saw the look in her eyes. She's capable, just like everyone else here. It should serve as a stark reminder that we're all killers so long as we're alive."

Braeden chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "Let's all relax. Doubting each other will only keep us from the real task at hand. We need to stick together and try to reach the ending in one piece," he says, trying to dissolve some of the tension. "Look at us, we're only on the fourth floor. How many people can say they're in the Asphodel Meadows?"

"Only you would scoff in the face of danger," Mist says. "Is exploration all you can think of?"

"Would you expect any less from me?" Braeden answers with a smirk.

The Moirai stand behind us idly, already returning their attention to the returned missing thread. It's common in video games for NPCs to revert to their original state, but there's still a chance to interact with them if we choose. However, no doubt the developers keep them programmed to the same lines upon conclusion of their quests.

A wooden door appears in front of us, leading to the next floor. I find it interesting that the Asphodel Meadows is considered a floor, but perhaps that may be because it's another level of the Underworld. Still, it's an interesting choice by the writers of the story.

On the door, there are detailed carvings of a man with a lyre, playing to a woman whose back faces him as she runs into the distance. Before I can question it further, I notice the Book of Fate glowing in my inventory. Its glow grows stronger by the second and I can no longer resist its call, so I wait until everyone but Yumi steps through the gate.

Yumi notices me hesitating and asks, "Are you coming, Mai?"

"I need a moment, but I'll be there in a second," I reply, not looking up from my inventory.

"I hope you don't let what Mist said get to you. He means well, I think he just has difficulty expressing his thoughts. We all trust you and are happy to fight alongside you. These are just confusing times," she tries to explain. I can hear the desperation in her voice, she's worried about me because she's the only person who has a good idea of what I have to go through in reality.

I glance up to meet her concerned gaze, doing my best to give her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I'm fine. A few harsh words won't get me down. You've met my mom, haven't you?"

Yumi narrows her eyes at me, as if seeing through my lie. However, it doesn't make me feel guilty. It's only partly a lie. The truth is it did bother me, but not enough for it to destroy my resolve. "Alright, but you know I'm here for you. I'll go see what our plan is, but don't take too long. Braeden might come after you if you're here too long," she says before stepping through the door.

Once the watchful eyes disappear, I pull the Book of Fate out of my inventory. A single page glows that has a spell I've never seen before. Upon closer inspection, I discover it's a healing spell that has the power to boost me back to full health: percuro. The spell equips itself and I see it next to the basic ice spell and general attack options. At first, I'm confused because it's not common for an offensive mage to have the ability to heal, only bards had that right. Then, I begin to wonder if it's part of the deluxe package the advertisers mentioned. But if that was the case, wouldn't other people mention it?

I wrestle with the idea of whether I should tell the others, but ultimately decide not to. As long as we have Serafina, there's no need to use it.

Tucking the Book of Fate safely in my inventory once more, I join the others, where I see a dark tunnel with a new NPC with blonde hair, his eyes closed. The name 'Orpheus' hovers over his head as he thrums his lyre like we're not there. My basic understanding of the Greek Myth is that he married a nymph, Eurydice, who died from a snake bite after falling into a snake's nest. Like all souls that died in Ancient Greece, their souls ended up in a designated area of the Underworld. Eurydice wasn't an evil person and judging by the light at the end of the tunnel, she's either in the Elysian Fields or the Asphodel Meadows.

Orpheus' song carries on the wind, echoing through corridors:

By this Place of Rebirth,

I beseech you to release my beloved Eurydice.

A few years is all I ask, it's hardly a steep price.

Won't you give us an opportunity to bask in our happiness?

Once her hair has grayed and her heartbeat has halted,

she shall return to you forevermore, truly blessed.

If the Fates refuse to grant my wish, I shall play for eternity.

This body may die, but my song will continue to reach the trinity.

Won't you show your divine benevolence,

by granting a mourning husband one final audience?

There's a break after his song concludes before it loops again. In the brief moment of silence, the soft sounds of gentle weeping echo around us. I glance around, wondering if this is the beginning of some strange attack, but the sobs persist until Orpheus resumes his sorrowful ballad.

"Why is he singing?" Yumi asks. "It must be sad enough to make the spirits cry." She swipes her hand towards him, making contact with him, instead of passing through his body. "Oh shit! He's alive!"

I make a tsk-tsk sound at her, replying, "Of course he is. I told you falling asleep in history class would come to bite you in the butt."

She nudges me in annoyance, but says nothing.

"He's here because the Gods have allowed it. No living person could enter the Underworld without the blessing of Hades and Persephone. Otherwise, how else would he get this far? You'd have to be dead!" Braeden explains. "But there's nothing to be scared of. He's not here to cause trouble, he's here to find his lost lover. Haven't you heard the myth of Eurydice? I'm sure Mai has."

All eyes turn towards me and I begin to feel the pressure. When did I become a teacher? "His song says everything we need to know. He wants to find Eurydice and he's asking for permission to go further into the Underworld, which means he's stuck here. He must know she's on the other end of this tunnel." But Braeden knows this. Why is he asking me? I glance at him and he's watching me patiently, like he has something to add. Must be hard to fight know-it-all syndrome. If you can't restrain yourself, why have other people try to explain it?

"So, it doesn't sound like this will be another battle," Mist says, nodding to himself. "A retrieval mission seems simple enough, but we should remain on guard. If they have guards for letting people in, imagine trying to get out." He turns to Serafina and adds, "But don't worry. We've got a strong group. I won't let anything happen to you."

"There's more than me in the group, Mist," she replies with a chuckle. "Don't forget to shield the others. Besides, I've a got a new staff! No one's dying on my watch."

Why is everyone talking about dying? Surely there are better, less morbid topics they can think of. "As much fun as this is, can we move on to more important things? Standing in a dimly lit corridor in hell is not exactly how I pictured my time in this game," I say, failing to keep the annoyance out of my voice. I feel like the longer we stay in the Underworld, the bigger the risk for our lives grow. Where we stand is not an optimal location to respond to an ambush if we bumped into players who got off to killing other players.

"Mai's right. We should keep moving," Braeden agrees to my surprise. "The Underworld is an easy place for new players to get stuck. I'd prefer not to be around when more reach this quest. As strange as it sounds, PKers like to target large groups of people, especially when they consist of inexperienced gamers. All they'd need is to set off a grenade and or a large burst of magic and it'd wipe out plenty of competition. Once they've picked the weaker players off, they'll look for opportunities to ambush higher-level players stealthily. We can't always be together. It would be unreasonable to ask everyone to stick to each other like glue for twenty-four seven. Our only hope is to continue completing side quests and killing bosses."

Thank you, Captain Obvious. Braeden always has a penchant for over-explaining things, and he does so with an exuberant grin on his face. Is it arrogance? Or is he that ignorant by how insufferable he sounds? Does anything scare him?

Yumi taps Orpheus' shoulder, pulling him out of idleness. He perks up and stops playing his lyre. He opens his eyes to reveal bright blue orbs.

"Forgive the intrusion. I've come to find my beloved Eurydice. I was told I could find her in the Underworld. Lord Hades granted me passage through the Elysian Fields and Asphodel Meadows, but I'm afraid Tartarus is off-limits. Will you help me find my Eury?" he asks, even his voice sounds like a harmonious tune.

One by one, we each accept the prompt and Orpheus continues his programmed script, that could not be interrupted. "This lyre was gifted to me by Apollo. He taught me how to pluck its strings, while my mother introduced me to musical verses and my eight aunts instructed me how to polish my skills to create a perfectly crafted melody. Because of my gift of music, they called me the Father of Songs and the Descendant of the Arts. You see, my mother was Calliope, the Chief Muse and Inspirational Goddess of eloquence and epic poetry. Her gift of prose fueled my lyrical education. Although Mother's family cherished me dearly, I struggled with finding a place in the mortal world. When I performed my first song, I discovered I had the ability to charm and entice anyone who listened. I never knew if anyone liked me for me, or for my music. It all changed when I met Eurydice."

"Why would Apollo give a random person an instrument?" Yumi whispers to me.

I shrug my shoulders. "The Gods don't need a reason to intervene in mortal matters. Besides, Orpheus isn't a random person. If he's the son of Calliope, that makes him part-god."

Suddenly, the area around us becomes this blinding white light, forcing us to close our eyes. When I reopen my eyes, I feel a wave of tranquility wash over me. Meadows filled with flowers of all shapes and sizes blanketed every inch of the ground—from tulips and daffodils to orchids and lilacs. I glance up at the sky and there's not a cloud in sight. I have never seen the sky so blue and clear before. The breeze gently blows by, enveloping me in a comforting embrace, filling me with peace.

There are children rolling around in the grass, laughing happily as their families look on. A distance away, I notice a large lake with fresh, clear water that glows like aquamarine as the sunlight shines down on its surface. On the other side of the lake are a row of houses with varying architectural designs—from straw and clay to the classic Rococo. I assume it's where the souls retire for the day, but it's such a serene scene, they could probably sleep in the middle of the grass and have no worries. Every soul here has a right to be in the Elysian Fields, as it's a place equivalent to heaven, a home for good, exceptional souls.

"I never thought people had homes in the Elysian Fields," Mist comments.

"It's probably a projection of what they had when they were alive. The Elysian Fields provides peace to its residents, but also grants nostalgia. Although they lost their memories after drinking from the River of Lethe, they'll always recognize something's missing. This is Hades' way of keeping the spirits happy so they will never wish for more. Eternal happiness," Braeden replies with an alarmingly sad tone, but it disappears before I can confirm it ever existed. "They don't know pain, they don't know loss. They're truly in harmony here."

My gaze shifts to a girl my age, with brown hair and green eyes, eating snacks and drinking tea with her mother and father while they laugh at some joke that I can't hear. Jealousy creeps its way into my heart, wrapping its sinister claws around it. Why can't it be me? The thought repeats in my mind. Why can't I have a complete family? Did I do something bad in a past life to warrant such cruelty?

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After hours of searching the Elysian Fields, there's no sign of Eurydice. If anything, being in a place labeled as eternal paradise only brought envy and slight depression because no one knew suffering here. No one fakes a smile when other people ask them how they're doing. They're genuinely happy.

There's a descending staircase on the other side of the Elysian Meadows, where we find ourselves after tearing through every inch. We hurry down the steps, deducing it as a passageway to the Asphodel Meadows. The staircase are translucent silver steps that light up as we step on them. The only thing holding them together appears to be a panel of magical energy.

"Don't worry, Orpheus. From what you've told us about Eurydice, she must be in the Asphodel Meadows. A pure soul like her wouldn't be in Tartarus," Yumi says, trying to comfort the melancholic bard trudging along slowly behind us.

"That doesn't calm my trembling heart any more than it should," he replies.

For a second, I worry whether he's going to break into a song fulled of bitter separation and heartbreak. I don't know if I can take another song. If he starts, I'll take all the cotton I can find and shove them down my ears. And maybe use the leftover to put a cork on his insufferable music, the thought entices me as I picture ramming balls of cotton into Orpheus' mouth so he could no longer make a sound.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Yumi whispers to me. "Orpheus is almost crying and you're grinning like a madman to yourself over here!"

"Relax, Yumi. He's an NPC. He's programmed to be sad. If we felt bad for every NPC we came across, this game would be a hell of a lot longer. Besides, I'm not a masochist," I reply, rolling my eyes.

She gently smacked me, laughing at my admission. "Do you think Eurydice is in a good place? I mean everyone knows about Tartarus and Elysian Fields as the worst and best places to be in the Underworld. If she's not in the Elysian Fields, doesn't that set her up to be in a place that doesn't grant peace?"

The truth is, I didn't know the answer to Yumi's question. While I wanted to believe Eurydice found peace, I couldn't be sure. I didn't know what kind of life she led when she was alive, or who she truly was. She could have committed a lot of sins and I wouldn't know anything of it. How do we know she died of a snake bite after falling into a nest? What if she tried to steal something that didn't belong to her and angered the gods? Why else would Orpheus have to work so hard to find her?

He makes her out to be a good person, but what if it's all a lie? Love often blinds people, keeps them from seeing their worst and reinforcing idiotic beliefs that they're this perfect person. I've seen it in Maê, who always wanted to give people a second chance, and a third, and a fourth. What makes Orpheus different?

When I hop onto the last step, I glance up, taking in my surroundings. The area is filled with smoky gray clouds, the ambiance is somber and lonely. There's an energy about this place that makes my limbs heavy, my eyelids droopy. Every fiber of my being is telling me to sleep. I've been pushing myself so hard that I couldn't remembered the last time I fell asleep so easily.

"Mai!" Braeden gently shakes me, his voice pulling me back to reality. "You can't fall asleep. You'd be trapped here for god knows how long. I know it's hard to resist but that's the purpose of the Asphodel Meadows."

"What do you mean?" I ask, my voice sounding foreign to my own ears.

"It's an intermediary area, where souls with unfinished business roam. They lose their memories after drinking from the river, so they don't even know why they're here. If you fall asleep here, you'll end up like them," he explains.

I shake my head, trying to clear my mind, but I couldn't make the lethargy dissipate. Glancing around, I see Serafina tending to Mist, trying to keep him awake. Yumi is busy calling Eurydice's name with Orpheus, appearing completely unbothered by the Asphodel Meadows' magic. Typical Yumi. Guess it helps to have parents who let you sleep in on the weekends.

"How do you know so much about this place? Research again?" I ask with a scoff, shoving Braeden's hand off my shoulder. He didn't respond right away, which forces me to glance at him once more. "What? Nothing to brag about?"

He smiled, but I caught a glimmer of sadness in his blue eyes. "I lost a friend here. I told him to wait for me before going in here since this used to be a prime area where PKers lurked. He probably couldn't wait to get out of the game and thought the announcement was fake. He was supposed to get married next week."

"I-I'm sorry for your loss," I stutter, taken aback by his honesty, unsure of what to say. Are there any words I can say that would comfort him? Even if his body's still alive in the real world, his mind is destroyed. He won't ever come back.

He seems to have noticed my discomfort and says, "Don't worry. I won't let his loss cloud my judgment. We have to all get out of here in one piece. Our families depend on us coming out alive."

Our gazes shift to the spectral image of a woman with long dark hair, her eyes distant. When they meet Orpheus' longing stare, realization floods her face. "Orpheus?" she asks in a soft voice. "Is that really you?"

Orpheus is brought to tears as he runs towards his wife's ghost. He clumsily attempts to hug her, but passes through her transparent figure, laughing to himself. Even though he can't touch her, her presence brings light to his life as if she wasn't dead. Their hands find each other but never meet.

"I told you I'd come find you," he says, tears streaming down his face. "I wrote a new song for you. Would you like to hear it?"

"Always, beloved. Always," she replies, her cheeks slick with her own tears.

The quest marks itself as completed just as Eurydice and Orpheus fade from view, no doubt to continue their story. Although their story is filled with tragedy, they eventually find their way to each other.

"Still think NPCs are incapable of feelings?" Yumi asks me, nudging me gently.

"Oh, shut it, Yumi," I reply laughing, even though my eyes sting from watching the bittersweet scene that unfolded before us moments ago.

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