Called Upon

Chapter 23

       At last, the old man arrived at the entrance to the temple of Medusa, a legendary and fearsome creature. The gate, adorned with a depiction of Medusa's face, greeted him with a foreboding aura. He knew that venturing beyond this gate would bring him trouble, yet he hesitated as it had no visible lock or handle. Contemplating his options, he decided to explore the perimeter of the temple in search of an alternative entry.

As he began his journey around the temple, to his surprise, the gate suddenly swung open on its own accord. Mystified by this unexpected occurrence, he felt compelled to enter. The moment he stepped inside, the room was plunged into darkness. However, as he made his way forward, the room was abruptly illuminated, revealing a vast space with a colossal head positioned at its center.

Stunned and in disbelief, the old man could hardly comprehend what lay before him. The immense head possessed a cascading mane of grey hair, concealing its face. For a moment, its eyes were sealed shut, but slowly they fluttered open. It spoke to him, informing him that passage would be granted if he could solve a riddle it was about to present.

The riddle unfolded before the old man. The room grew silent as the words resonated in the air.

  "I stare into his eyes. A mortal strong and wise," he taught. "Answer this riddle with a correct reply. Get it wrong and die,"the head loudly said to him.

I am a riddle clever and sly
With words that rhyme I'll make you sigh
My answer is tricky, but you might claim
Think hard and long, you'll find my name

In the realm of human connection, I exist as a clue,
A perplexing riddle for both me and you.
I'm not tangible, yet I hold immense weight,
A reflection of emotions, a window to relate.

I can enhance beauty, making a face glow,
And in moments of joy, I'll simply let it show.
From ear to ear, my presence is found,
But if you look closer, I'm not always profound.

I am mysterious, with various shades,
In the brightest demeanor or gloomiest cascades.
When genuine and true, I light up a room,
But beware, for I can also hide and loom.

Sometimes I am sincere, honest, and pure,
A genuine gesture, difficult to ignore.
Other times, I'm deceitful, a veiled disguise,
Masking pain, sadness, and veering from the highs.

I can forge connections, and bridge any divide,
An invitation to kindness, nowhere to hide.
In a sea of strangers, I help make hearts align,
Promoting compassion, bringing happiness divine.

Though I don't come with words, I speak volumes aloud,
A symbol of happiness that rides in a cloud.
Across cultures and languages, I'm easily understood,
A language of the soul, universally good.

So, can you guess what I am, dear friend?
A puzzle to solve, until you comprehend.
The answer lies within, within your very core,
For I am the riddle of all riddles, the one you adore.

Deep in thought, he carefully analyzed the riddle, latching onto every clue scattered within the enigmatic phrasing. With a spark of insight, he arrived at the answer: wisdom. The head's eyes widened in astonishment, confessing that no one had ever managed to solve any of its riddles before.

In a mysterious twist, the head disintegrated into a cloud of sand, which permeated the entire room. Reacting swiftly, the old man shielded himself with his arm, protecting his face from the cascading particles. Eventually, the particles settled, and he cautiously lowered his arm. To his amazement, he found himself standing once again in front of the gate he had initially encountered.

This time, the gate had locks and handles glued to both sides. As he approached the gate, fear was absent, replaced by a sense of anticipation. As he pushed it open, he discovered a comparatively wider path leading onward. Confident in his triumph over the riddle, he proceeded through the gate and embraced the newfound journey that awaited him.