Niles Derrick
I knew this was a peril quest. I also knew the probability of one of my guards or I dying was very high; while the probably of all three of us dying was even greater. But... in life we all must take risks. Death is only of value if you put a price on it.
The myths state that the Sator resides deep in the underworld. The most noticeable sign that you're getting closer is the significant increase in mercury levels. I've noticed that; mercury leaks through the crevices of the cave walls. If you think the puddles and rivers are water, you're wrong. The only liquid inside this hell cave is mercury... with occasional blood splats randomly smeared on stones.
The odor of mold and dead fish gets more detectable by the second. That's the next noticeable sign that the well is near. I can feel my shoulder being pushed down, my neck getting grabbed, my feet becoming numb... me... my brain... me... losing consciousness. I collapse onto the floor. I thought I just had passed out.
"My lord are you okay?" My one guard asked. He took my heavy steel plates off my shoulders and my back, to give me more strength. I felt more normal, but there was something in the air that made me feel drowsy... it must've been the mercury.
It took me long while before I was ready to get back on my feet to continue our quest. I sat up firmly, and took some time to take a deep breathe. I was losing oxygen by the second. I knew the further we travelled inside the cave, the less oxygen there would be. So, I knew I had to get back on my feet sometime sooner or later. A few minutes passed by, but I finally got back on my feet.
I finally arrived at the death well. An ancient woman, with skin so wrinkly and dry that it seemed like it was gonna peel off of her soon, sat contently in the well that was overflowing with sand. It was very dim in the cave, the only light coming from the few torches that lit the room. I was shocked that I was able to see the woman in the darkness.
"Are you the Sator?" I asked.
The ancient woman didn't respond physically or verbally; she stood completely still. I was starting to wonder if she was dead or alive.
"I wasn't expecting visitors... I never gave visitors," the woman said with her overly raspy voice. I could tell she was dehydrated by the dryness of her voice.
"Are you the Sator?" I asked again, but with more caution this time.
There was a moment of silence before the women spoke again. "I'm whoever you want me to be."
"Are you the Sator?" One of my guards hollered at the woman.
"No need... to shout."
"Who are you?" I asked the woman.
"Niles... I can feel the fear from the best of your heart... so inconsistent... so expeditious... it's rattling the ground. I've never felt a heartbeat so energized before. There's no need to worry. I knew you were coming before you were born, my precious child," The ancient lady spoke with mysteriousness.
"I'm so weak, so frail, so torpid under all this sand. Please... help me," The woman begged. She would be crying if her eyes weren't so dry.
I signaled to my one guard to help her out of the sand. The other guard and I were ready to strike the woman was planning something mischievous. The guard wiped away enough sand to see the woman's arm.
