Shattered Clusters: A Quest of Four

Chapter One: Mystery Gems

All Max wanted to do this year was to have some sense of normalcy in their life for once. But normality usually never comes to somebody like them, especially since their family consists of a few travelers, the heroes of Olympus, and the saviors of the galaxy.

This time, however, Max was determined not to let anything ruin the normalcy they had worked so hard to get. No more doing quests for gods, no more saving robots with magical abilities in space, and no more fighting dragons or ghasts or anything.

Hell, despite Max's protests, their family even swore that they all would try their damned best to make sure that Max could have a shot at something none of them had: a relatively stable and normal teenage life.

So why the fuck is there a seemingly magical set of jewelry on their desk in their dorm?

Max sighed. The likeliness of them having a normal life would go down to zero if they took the jewelry set, as that would mean that they accepted a quest or fate or something.

Despite all that, however, their curiosity got the best of them. They picked up the jewelry set.

It was a rather odd set, with only one earring and a chain necklace with a charm of sorts. The charm was made out of some sort of gemstone, –maybe a citrine, or a topaz? There weren't any classes teaching students the different kinds of gemstones in Pleasant Hill High– like someone decided to put a hook on top of it and call it a day. The earring was decorated similarly, a chain double piercing earring that would more likely fit a human rather than themself. They usually would get their double piercings earrings a bit longer to fit their longer, almost elf-like ears.

Before Max could try the single earring on or maybe layer the necklace over their current necklace just to see what would happen, someone knocked on the door.

Max jumped, quickly stuffing the set into their pants pocket before turning around to see Annie, their roommate, walking into the room. They nodded at her politely, a greeting they developed because they both quickly found out they both preferred the sound of music over a stranger's voice. She nodded back, smiling apologetically.

Max frowned, but when they saw someone else walk into the room after her, they immediately understood. Max rolled their eyes at her and pointed towards the sink.

Annie sent a betrayed look towards them but nodded reluctantly. The message was clear to no one but the two only. 'You're doing the dishes since you brought a surprise guest tonight.'

What a shocker, indeed. Two people who don't often talk to each other manage to make a surprisingly clear rules-and-boundaries list as well as a fair punishment for each rule and/or boundary that was crossed? Not to mention the chore chart that Annie bought and hung on the kitchen fridge to make sure they both remember what they're supposed to do since they both go to the kitchen alarmingly (at least, if viewed from an outsider's perspective) often, even on full stomachs? They're both doing so much better than actual couples living together, which... is a concerningly low bar, but still.