While Hecate hadn't made clear how exactly he was to return to he had a feeling it would be obvious when the time arrived. Elsewise, she would have given him a clearer instruction. Perhaps this was the first test, to see if he was capable of findin the crossroads on his own. Oliver suddenly had an idea. His house wasn't far away from a crossroad, where a chapel stood. While he had never entered the chapel, because he wasn't really religious, he knew the door was usually open. He put on his coat and stepped outside. The night was chilly and a bit damp, but there was no sign of the weird mist. The chapel was but a 5 minute walk away from his home, so he arrived there in no time.

Oliver found himself in the dimly lit chamber of the chapel as night descended. The air grew cooler, and a flickering lantern cast longer shadows. He felt a tug at the edge of his consciousness, a call to return to the Crossroads. As the room shifted around him, he closed his eyes, letting the darkness envelop him.

When Oliver opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in the Crossroads, the ethereal intersection between realms. The air shimmered with a faint, otherworldly glow, casting an eerie light on the familiar faces of Hypnos and Thanatos.

"Welcome back, Oliver," Hypnos said, his voice soothing and dreamy. His eyes, heavy-lidded and drowsy, betrayed an eternal weariness. "I trust your journey was restful?"

Oliver nodded, still shaking off the remnants of sleep. "It was... different," he replied, the memories of his recent dreamlike voyage slowly fading.

Thanatos, standing beside his brother, regarded Oliver with a calm yet intense gaze. His presence was a stark contrast to Hypnos, exuding a silent, somber authority. "Come, we must not keep Hecate waiting," he said, his tone steady and unwavering.

Without another word, the brothers turned and began to lead Oliver through the Crossroads. The path twisted and turned, the scenery shifting subtly with each step. Shadows danced around them, whispering secrets of the underworld. The Crossroads seemed clearer then before, as if his mind had opened up to the otherworldy things surrounding him.

As they approached the grand chamber, the atmosphere grew heavier, charged with a palpable sense of anticipation. The entrance, guarded by towering pillars, loomed before them. Hypnos and Thanatos stepped aside, allowing Oliver to proceed alone.

He took a deep breath and entered the chamber, a sharp feeling of anxiety washing over him. His eyes were immediately drawn to the figure seated at the center. Hecate, the goddess of magic and crossroads, radiated an aura of command and mystery. Her presence was both captivating and intimidating, her piercing green eyes piercing through the dim light.

"Erebus," she greeted, her voice echoing with ancient power. "You have returned. The time has come for you to embrace your destiny."

Oliver stood tall, feeling the weight of her words. Hearing himself being called Erebus gave him a strange feeling.

"I'm ready," he said, trying his best to sound determined and confident, yet he couldn't help but tremble before the imposing figure that Hecate was.

"Welcome back, young one," Hecate said, her voice echoing through the vast chamber. "Your training begins now."

She gestured for Oliver to follow her to an open courtyard, where the air was thick with the scent of ancient herbs and the sound of whispering winds. The sky above was a canvas of swirling stars and shifting constellations.

"Your first lesson," Hecate began, "is to understand the nature of darkness. It is not merely the absence of light but a force with its own will and purpose. To control it, you must first connect with it."

"Close your eyes", she commanded him. "Use the darkness around you as a tool, a means to an end. Try to form a spear from the darkness."

"What?" exlaimed Oliver. He had expected something along the lines of minor magic tricks, not summoning weapons from the shadows.

"The shadows are yours. The Arms of the Night are thus at your disposal. Before we can move to magic, you must be able to use mythical weapons. While you should eventually be able to summon weapons like the Aegis and Cronos' Sythe, the Spear of Erebus should be the easiest to summon for you." Hecate's words where calm and patient, and it was clear to Oliver that he was far from the first to have been trained by her.

Oliver took a deep breath, feeling the weight of Hecate's expectations. He closed his eyes, shutting out the visual distractions of the courtyard and focusing inward. He tried to empty his mind, but doubts and anxieties bubbled up. The idea of controlling darkness felt abstract, almost impossible.

"Focus, Erebus ," Hecate's voice broke through his thoughts, steady and grounding, as if she had peering right into his mind. "Feel the darkness. It's not just an emptiness; it's a presence, a force that permeates everything. Reach out to it."

Oliver tried again, this time visualizing the darkness as a tangible substance around him. He imagined it swirling like smoke, dense and powerful. The night air felt cooler, more alive against his skin. He extended his senses, searching for the threads of darkness that Hecate spoke of.

At first, there was nothing. Just the usual shadows cast by the courtyard's walls and the faint glow of starlight. But then, slowly, he began to sense it—a pulsing, almost electric feeling in the air. It was as if the shadows had a life of their own, a subtle hum of energy that he could tap into.

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"Yes, that's it," Hecate encouraged. "Now, shape it. Imagine the Spear of Erebus, see it in your mind. The long shaft, the sharp, deadly point. Mold the darkness into that form."

Oliver concentrated harder, his brow furrowing with the effort. He pictured the spear vividly in his mind, every detail clear and precise. The dark wood of the shaft, the glinting obsidian tip, the way it would feel in his hand—solid and unyielding.

He reached out mentally, grasping the threads of darkness. They responded to his touch, swirling and coiling like living shadows. Slowly, they began to condense, forming a shape. It was difficult, like trying to sculpt water, but he could feel it taking form.

The air around him grew colder, the shadows deepening. The sensation of pulling something from the void was both exhilarating and exhausting. He could almost feel the weight of the spear in his hands, its dark power thrumming through him.

"Good, Erebus ," Hecate's voice was closer now, filled with a hint of pride. "You're doing well. Focus on solidifying it. Make it real."

With a final surge of concentration, Oliver willed the darkness to solidify. There was a brief moment of resistance, a hesitation, and then suddenly, it was there. The spear materialized in his hands, cold and heavy, a creation of pure shadow.

He opened his eyes, staring in awe at the weapon he had summoned. It was exactly as he had imagined—dark and sleek, exuding an aura of ominous power. He felt a connection to it, as if the spear was an extension of his own will.

"Well done," Hecate said, her eyes gleaming with approval. "You have taken your first step into a larger world, Erebus. The darkness is now your ally, a force you can wield. Remember this feeling, for it will guide you in your future endeavors."

Oliver nodded, still gripping the spear tightly. The journey ahead was daunting, but for the first time, he felt a flicker of confidence. This was but a small beginning, but the spear in his hands felt powerful.

"The uses of the spear are quite versatile. Since it can be summoned, it can also be used as a throwing spear. And once u are more in balance with the darkness around you, it can be used as a thrust."

"Do you mean i can travel trough the darkness at will?" Oliver asked. His powers seemed far greater as he had imagined.

"You ARE the darkness, Erebus, just in human form. So are all of us. We are just the personification of that which we represent. But let me be the first to warn you, not all of us are friendly. Gods like Strife, Doom and Pain roam around in the Crossroads, the Underworld as well as in the human realm. They seem to be humans just like you, but don't be deceived. Some just desire..," Hecate paused for but a moment, as if she was worried for what she was to say next.

"Some just desire Chaos", she eventually finished. "Let's continue", she quickly added, seemingly trying to break the tension.

"I'll enchant some dummies for you to use your spear on. They won't harm you, but the feel more like real targets than plain old dummies."

Oliver steeled himself, the weight of the shadowy spear in his hands both comforting and disconcerting. Hecate led him to the center of the courtyard, where she made a series of intricate gestures with her hands. Her fingers wove through the air, leaving trails of light that coalesced into several humanoid figures. These figures, though formed of pure magic, had an unnerving lifelikeness to them, their eyes glowing with a faint, eerie light.

"They will move and react," Hecate explained, stepping back. "Treat them as you would a real opponent."

Oliver nodded, gripping the spear tighter. He took a deep breath, focusing on the dummies as they began to circle him. Their movements were fluid, almost graceful, as if testing his reflexes and resolve.

"Remember," Hecate's voice rang out, "the darkness is your ally. Let it guide you."

The first dummy lunged at him, moving with a speed that caught him off guard. Oliver reacted instinctively, the spear coming up to block the attack. The impact reverberated through his arms, the force surprising him. He pushed back, using the momentum to swing the spear in a wide arc. The dummy dodged, but Oliver followed through, striking at its exposed side.

The spear connected, slicing through the magical construct with ease. The dummy dissipated into a cloud of shimmering particles, leaving Oliver momentarily stunned by the effectiveness of his strike. He barely had time to recover before the remaining dummies attacked in unison, their coordinated assault forcing him to retreat a few steps.

He focused, feeling the darkness around him, drawing strength from it. The shadows seemed to pulse with energy, responding to his call. He spun the spear with newfound confidence, blocking and parrying the dummies' strikes with increasing ease. Each movement felt more natural, the spear an extension of his will.

"Good, Erebus," Hecate's voice was encouraging. "Use the darkness to anticipate their moves."

Oliver closed his eyes for a brief moment, letting his other senses take over. He could feel the presence of the dummies, their movements creating subtle disturbances in the air. When he opened his eyes again, he was ready.

The next attack came swiftly, but this time Oliver was faster. He sidestepped, thrusting the spear forward with precision. The tip of the spear pierced through one dummy, then another, the dark energy coursing through him amplifying his strength. He moved with a fluid grace, the spear dancing in his hands.

In the heat of the battle, he began to experiment. He summoned another spear, the darkness yielding to his command more easily now. With a weapon in each hand, he fought with dual intensity, striking down the dummies with a combination of brute force and finesse.

The final dummy approached, and Oliver, feeling a surge of power, hurled one spear at it. The weapon flew through the air, a streak of darkness, and hit its target dead center. The dummy disintegrated in an explosion of light and shadow.

Breathing heavily, Oliver stood amidst the remnants of the magical constructs. He lowered his remaining spear, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away. Hecate stepped forward, her eyes filled with pride.

"You have done well, Erebus," she said, her voice warm. "You have shown not only strength but also adaptability. These are the qualities you will need in the trials to come."

Oliver felt a great sence of relieve. Things had gone better than he expected.

"Perhaps I should inform Nyx that her partner is finally ready to go on a mission again. You probably don't know yet, but to the Underworld, you and Nyx have the roles that Zeus and Hera have on Olympus. You will occasionally guide and assist the underworld from the Crossroads, but you will spent a lot of time in the Underworld, directly operating under Hades. I seems it's high time for the God of Darkness to return to his station" Hecate's eyes gazed at Oliver once more, awaiting a response.

"I guess so", Oliver smiled uncertainly.