Hubertus was appalled. He never imagined the Abyss would look like this.

Instead of a fiery wasteland of torment and despair, it was… a bustling marketplace. Stalls made of bone and obsidian lined the jagged cliff edges, their vendors hawking wares that ranged from glowing, bottled souls to wriggling creatures in jars. Overhead, glowing vines snaked between massive stalactites, casting a faint greenish light that gave everything a surreal glow. Demonic shoppers of all shapes and sizes bartered, bickered, and exchanged strange currencies—golden teeth, shimmering gemstones, and even what appeared to be memories captured in glass spheres.

Hubertus passed by one stall selling enchanted snakes—some of which hissed at him—and another offering "Eternal Torment Remedies: Buy One, Get One Free." The cacophony of haggling and strange noises filled the air, blending with an eerie but oddly cheerful melody played by a skeletal musician in the corner.

The demon, whose name Hubertus now knew was Carl, took the scenic route, weaving through the bustling chaos toward a towering, jagged spire in the distance. “That’s my home,” Carl grumbled, gesturing toward the looming structure.

Carl led him through an enormous, arched door and into a surprisingly cozy first floor. A faint, sulfuric smell lingered, but the decor—a mix of dark wood, glowing runes, and furniture made of peculiar, pulsating materials—had an odd charm.

They were greeted by a figure that Hubertus assumed was a lady. Her form was anything but ordinary. She was tall, with crimson skin that shimmered like polished metal. Her arms extended into branching tendrils that occasionally sprouted tiny, blinking eyes. Her face, while vaguely humanoid, had no nose and a too-wide smile that revealed rows of sharp teeth. Her voice, however, was melodic and warm.

“Welcome home, Carl,” she said, her tendrils curling in what Hubertus guessed was a welcoming gesture. “The children have been waiting for you.”

Carl sighed heavily. “Of course they have. Always something with those little devils.”

Hubertus blinked, appalled yet again. Carl had kids? He’d never considered that demons could form families, let alone bond enough to call a place like this “home.”

Surprise, surprise, he thought, shaking his head as they passed through the strange domestic scene.

Carl led him up a winding staircase to a dimly lit hallway and stopped at a plain, heavy door. He pushed it open to reveal an empty room.

“This will be yours,” Carl said gruffly. The room was sparse, with walls of smooth black stone that seemed to drink in the light. A small desk, a chair, and a bed that looked disturbingly alive were the only furnishings. “Not much now, but you’ll be too busy to care. Apprentice work isn’t exactly a vacation.”

Hubertus stepped inside, surveying the strange yet oddly intriguing space. “Lovely,” he muttered sarcastically.

Carl snorted. “Get some rest. Training starts tomorrow.”

As Carl left, Hubertus sank onto the bed, which squirmed slightly under his weight. He stared at the faintly glowing runes carved into the ceiling and thought about the events that had brought him here. From eating snakes to negotiating with demons to becoming an apprentice in the Abyss… his journey had been anything but ordinary.

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In the middle of the night, Hubertus awoke with a jolt. Something was off.

The silence. It wasn’t the peaceful stillness of sleep but an unnatural, stifling quiet that made the air feel heavy. Even the faint hum of the glowing runes on his ceiling had vanished.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed, the living mattress beneath him quivering slightly as if sensing his unease. Hubertus frowned, straining his ears, and that’s when he heard it—a faint, irregular buzzing sound.

Curiosity mingled with unease as he grabbed a lantern from the desk, its flame sputtering weakly to life. The buzzing was faint but insistent, coming from somewhere below.

The cellar.

He made his way down the winding staircase, each step echoing in the unnatural stillness. Shadows flickered along the stone walls, and the air grew colder the deeper he went.

The buzzing grew louder as he approached a heavy iron door at the end of the hallway. It was slightly ajar, revealing a faint glow pulsing from within. Hubertus hesitated, his hand hovering over the door’s edge. Whatever was behind it wasn’t natural—even for the Abyss.

He pushed the door open cautiously, its hinges groaning in protest.

Inside, the cellar was bathed in an eerie, flickering light. Strange glyphs glowed on the walls, pulsating in time with the buzzing sound. At the center of the room stood a massive, translucent orb suspended in the air, its surface rippling like water. Shapes swirled within—shadows of something moving, writhing.

Hubertus narrowed his eyes, stepping closer. His skin prickled as he felt the energy emanating from the orb, raw and chaotic.

“What is this?” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Before he could inspect further, the buzzing shifted, turning into a low, guttural hum. The shapes within the orb twisted violently, and for a split second, Hubertus could swear he saw a face—distorted, screaming silently—press against the surface.

He stumbled back, his heart racing. Whatever this was, it wasn’t supposed to be here.

And it definitely wasn’t friendly.

“Oh, I see, you’ve found it,” Carl’s deep voice rumbled from behind, startling Hubertus.

Hubertus spun around, his heart racing. “What is this?” he demanded, gesturing toward the pulsating orb.

Carl stepped forward, his massive frame silhouetted against the eerie glow. His violet flames flickered faintly as he studied the orb, his expression unreadable. “It’s a soul chamber,” he said casually, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. “It collects souls. Our currency, in case you haven’t noticed.”

“Currency?” Hubertus frowned, his mind racing. “You’re telling me this is how you bank?”

Carl chuckled, his deep laugh echoing off the stone walls. “Of course. How else do you think we demons make deals? Souls are power, value, leverage. Without them, you’re just another bottom feeder scraping by in the Abyss.”

Hubertus turned back to the swirling mass, his curiosity piqued despite himself. “So, what am I supposed to do with this thing?”

“You’ll get your own soon enough,” Carl said, clapping a heavy hand on Hubertus’ shoulder. “It’s part of the welcome packet for new demons. Comes with all the essentials—a soul chamber, a summoning scroll, and a trinket of your choice.”

“Trinket?” Hubertus raised an eyebrow.

Carl smirked. “Oh, you’ll see. Everyone picks something different. Some go for weapons, others for charms, and the truly ambitious…” His smirk widened. “Well, you’ll figure it out soon enough.”

Hubertus crossed his arms, his mind already spinning with possibilities. “So, when do I get this ‘welcome packet’?”

“Tomorrow,” Carl said, turning toward the door. “But for now, get some rest. You’ll need it. Learning how to use all this isn’t for the faint of heart—even for a demon.”