Looking at the ghostly being, I couldn’t help but feel as if this was some kind of protector for this place. If so, then I’m pretty sure that I’ve found Hades. However, if it isn’t then I’m just unlucky. The ghostly figure launched itself at me with such speed that I barely had time to swing my sword at it. Had I known it would be this fast then I would have slowed time around me. Thankfully, as my sword grazed the ghostly being it was sucked into the sword.

“What the hell was that?” I asked as I walked over and picked the stone up.

“I’m not sure. I’ve never seen such a creature.” Compton said from inside the pendant.

A few seconds later Compton created a portal in the floor to remove the stone. There was nothing but more stone below it though so he tried a few more times until he had dug through nearly two meters worth of stone. Finally, it was revealed that below us was an underground river. Standing on one side of the river were several people waiting in line at a small dock. The other side of the river could not be seen from where we were so I jumped down and landed near the dock.

As we did those in line gave us a strange look of confusion but most of them did nothing. Some of them though began swarming me as if I was some kind of celebrity. As they got close I drew my sword and most of them backed off. One of them though, an old woman who looked like she could barely walk kept coming towards me.

“What do you want?” I asked threateningly.

“I want to pass to the other side. Though I need a form of payment for the ferry across the river.” she said.

“I thought that most people didn’t want to pass over to the other side? Hades isn’t exactly what is considered a great place from what the legends say.” I replied.

“That is true. Though it is better than turning into a wraith devoured by madness.” she replied as she gestured at a wandering ghostly creature similar to the one that I killed before floating at the edge of the river.

“I see your point. Though, I only have the one coin.” I said with a sorry tone.

“Oh, that is only an old belief of the times before. You may pay with anything that you may have. I died with nothing so I have nothing to offer. Even if it is something useless then it could be used. I ask you again, please give me what I need?” she asked again.

“Alright, Compton, you wouldn’t happen to have any coins from England would you?” I asked.

“I do. Let me get it.” Compton said before a small coin from the 1800s appeared out of the pendant. Giving the coin over to the woman, she gave me a warm smile before walking over to the dock. Since I was also going over the river I walked up to the dock as well.

After waiting for what felt like hours I saw the ferry in the distance. Aboard it was an ugly man wearing a stupidly tall hat and using a long pole to push his way along. His beard which was braided and passed down to his naval gave off the aura that he had been here a while. As he approached the dock he began yelling out slurs and calling for everyone to back off. As he requested we all backed away as he pulled his longboat up to the dock.

“Alright! Anyone who has payment to give can come aboard. Now, if you don’t have any payment and still try to get aboard then you will be knocked off and become part of the river.”The boat driver said angrily.

Like we were told we approached the dock with our payments ready. I had my coin in hand and in turn, each of us boarded the longboat as we gave him our payments. Once I came up to him he cocked his head to the side for a moment before showing a look of surprise.

“You aren’t dead! Why are you here?” he asked angrily.

I wish to speak with Hades. May I come aboard?” I asked back. The boat driver stroked his beard for a moment before giving me a disturbed look.

“Alright, it wouldn’t hurt though I doubt that he is in a mood to receive any guests.” he said finally.

“Why is he in a bad mood?” I asked.

“It’s spring so his wife has gone to see her mother. It’s always the same every year. She leaves and he gets depressed for a few months before getting back to normal. It’s really annoying but he does his job so I don’t really care.” the boat driver replied.

“I see.” I said as I got on the longboat and took a seat.