Chapter 9: No Black And White

"Few weeks ago a powerful force entered our hollowsphere, that was when our troubles began," she gazed at the harsh terrain of the underworld narrating the stories to Oscar who sat on the ground behind her, attentively listening.

"The dawn of a new demon king who wants to rule over the living and the dead. He broke the order of the underworld, now both heroes and criminals are made to roam around the same hellhole. Chiveria is no more."

"What's Chiveria?" Oscar questioned.

"It's a peaceful place. The home of heroes and those who practiced chivalry all their life. It's where good people go when they die. It's Valhalla. Now… it's lost. There's no reward for heroes anymore. We're stuck with this losers and criminals."

Oscar stood on his feet, "It's kinda not a bad thing. We're already used to living amongst criminals in the real world."

"You don't get it do you?" she turned to him aggressively. "If there's no reward for good, no promise of a safe haven for heroes. You'd have more criminals in the real world in no time. Especially religious ones."

"Still not a big deal," he replied nonchalantly. "We have prison. We'd put them there."

"You still don't get it. There are some criminals prison cannot contain."

"I have powers now, I'd punch right through them," he smirked.

"Your arrogance got my tutor killed," she got hostile again.

"I'm sorry about that," Oscar apologized genuinely.

"Sorry won't tell me my mission. Oh god," she walked away from him to the edge of the small hill they were on. "He was supposed to tell me my mission. I was chosen to restore order to the underworld. To rival the new demon king." She ignited dark smoke from her palm and stared at them, "That's how I got these powers."

"You were chosen?" he rushed up to her in excitement. "Do you have one of these things that pops up in your head and tells you everything about yourself? Your health status, strength, speed, stamina, powers…"

Oscar demonstrated every word that flew out his mouth which made it even more weird for the young lady.

"Get out of my way," she pushed him aside and walked pass him.

This was the moment Oscar better gained sight of her beauty; her face was the perfect specimen of nature's makeup, her shape curvy like the sides of an hourglass. She had great feminine features.

Oscar froze at a spot as his hearts bombarded his brain with thoughts.

'She's beautiful! She's really really beautiful! I have to act like a gentleman'

"I'm getting out of here before the dog catches up with us and resurrects his crew," she jumped down the hill and walked off.

Oscar stood behind taking a better look at her before he followed, "Wait up."

He caught up with her, "What's your name?"

"Nora," she replied, with unwavering focus at where she was going.

"I'm Oscar—"

"I didn't ask," she interrupted. "What's a 16 years old mortal doing in the underworld?"

"Huh!" Oscar panicked. "How'd you know my age?"

"That thing in your head that reports your status, mine tells me the age and power level of my opponent."

"You can see the thing in my head?"

"No dummy," she jibed. "You told me few minutes ago."

"How old are you?" Oscar interviewed her.

"We were the first family of magic in the mortal world," she stepped over a stone and turned to look at him, "That's thousands of years if you're guessing. We don't age in the underworld. I died a teenager."

She continued walking again while Oscar stood still, his little brain melting.

'So I'm supposed to make a thousand years old demigod fall in love with me? Where do I even start?'

"You still haven't answered my question," he hasted towards her as she started talking again. "Why are you here?"

"I'm here for the heart of Oris The Resurrector. Do you have any idea where I can find it?"

"I never imagined you as an interworld treasure hunter. Hmm… and you're a lone ranger."

"What're you talking about?" Oscar questioned her in confusion.

"Do you think Oris would just give his heart away to a hunter?" She threw a question at him back.

"Good news! I'm not a hunter," Oscar shrugged.

"Doesn't matter. Long ago in the time of magic Boris The Black, a master of soul stealing magic attempted to steal a master healer's life force. He succeeded, but before Oris died he stole his life force back from Boris The Black, and took it to his grave. The heart of Oris. It became his treasure."

"So technically, he resurrected himself? Why didn't he just put his life force in his body and come back to life?" Oscar wondered.

"Because Boris was obviously stronger than him despite the fact that they were twins. If Oris had come back to life, his brother would just kill him again."

She then halted and jumped in his path after explaining, "Since you killed my last hope of knowing my life's quest, I'd join you in your mission. I'd help you find the heart."

Meanwhile Oscar has lost his eyes on her cleavage.

"Eyes up," she yelled at him. "In return, you have to get me the Aconite. And don't ask me what that is. Deal?"

"Deal," Oscar shook her hand, completely clueless of the deal he was hopping on.

"Good. Follow me," she led the way.

"Where?"

She sighed, "To find the map to Oris' grave. If you have any more questions ask them now."

"Any questions?" Oscar's tone had put more gravity on the offer.

"Yes," she replied quite confused at what he was hinting at.

"Did you huh… did you…"

"Just ask," Nora yelled at him.

"Did you use magic to make yourself perfect? Like plastic surgery."

Nora looked quite confused, "I mean there's a technique for that but how did a 21st century human know about that? And what is plastic surgery?"

"Oh, plastic surgery," Oscar coughed. "It's a thing a family with K's in their name is known for in the real world."

She gasped with a mouth open in perplexity, "I don't get it."

"You still didn't answer my question though," Oscar pressed her.

"I was born like this. Now ask questions related to finding Oris' heart."

'She's a gothic angel' Oscar's head echoed with excitement as he got confirmation, though his face remained calm.

"Hello," Nora waved at him.

He quickly looked to the sky then back to her to pretend like he was in deep thinking, "How do we get to his grave?" he put on a serious face.

"We'd have to pay a visit to the natives in one of their little towns and steal a map."

"The natives? Those immortal scorpions!"