A Quest

"Adrian, you just received a prophesy." Will said, looking seriously in my eyes. There was no way he was kidding and honestly, I knew it too. I just didn't want to admit it.

"So, the girl... I saw..." I left the sentence hanging. I feared to say it.

"Yes, she's... Michelle." Will completed my thought.

I thought about the chained girl and my skin horripilated. Michelle was in very grave condition. She was standing on the Doors of Death. Just thinking about her struggles made me shiver. I recalled her lifeless face and it wrenched my heart.

"Will, I... I remember her condition from the dream... there's no way she could have gathered enough energy to appear in my dream." I said, my heart ached as I said that. I didn't know that the girl was Michelle, otherwise I would never have told Will about her condition.

Will was already dying with worry and I... just increased his pain.

"No Adrian, it WAS Michelle. I know it. The spirit of the Oracle must have gave her strength." he sounded so sure that I couldn't argue anymore. I didn't want to, because I knew it from the starting that he was right.

"You're right. She gave me a prophesy to find the Sword of Fire. She knew it was necessary for me to find the sword." I admitted and Will nodded.

"Will, we'll find her. At least, now we have a hint about her location." I tried to sound encouraging, but it wasn't easy, knowing that the girl we want to save is about to die.

I saw her and I knew it very well that the chances of her survival were very less.

Still, I couldn't tell this to the boy beside me. It would break his soul.

But how do I find her? My mind wasn't working.

"I think... we should tell Hecate about this." I suggested.

"I think that's what we can do right now." he agreed.

I got ready and we headed to find Hecate. Well... technically, it's always she that finds us. So, if we are lucky then she'll find us.

We entered the house of Hecate and Isabella was sitting next to Hecate.

They seemed to be discussing something important when we entered. So, naturally they won't tell us.

"What brings you here?" Hecate said in her usual 'goddess style'. She gestured for us to sit and we did.

"Hecate... I... we wanted to tell you... " I couldn't complete my sentence.

"Oh! I see" she said in a serious tone. "So what are you planning now?" she narrowed her eyes as if it was a test and we couldn't afford to fail.

But, I can't back up now just out of fear of the unknown. I have to be brave. I swore on the river Styx. It's my responsibility and my quest.

"I want to go on a quest." I said.

There was no way I would sit here and wait for Michelle to die. This time my soul knew, there was only one way out : doing something!

My decision shocked everyone in the room, except Hecate, who was playing with the only piece of jewelry in her neck. She seemed to be like a cat chasing after a mouse.

"Do you know what you're asking?" Isabella's eyes were stretched out wide.

"Adrian, you might not know it, but after Zeus's... death...evil forces have become more powerful than ever. Heading outside, willingly, would be suicide." Will said, quite concerned.

Their concern was not for nothing. It HAD become quite dangerous outside. I could sense it. The Lydian drakon could enter the valley, because all the our defences against monsters are collapsing. I could even hear frightening howls of monsters at night.

But I couldn't just step back because I'm afraid. After all, I had to find Michelle which was impossible if I sit here and do nothing. I couldn't break my oath, breaking the oath of Styx doesn't kill you but the punishment is greater than even death. The punishment of Styx makes death feel like a blessing.

But I didn't want to do it because of fear of the curse. I wanted to make everything right. I wanted to see everyone's smile just like they had been before all this mess. And above all, I wanted to prove myself.

"I know what I'm saying." I said with unyielding determination.

Before anyone could say anything, Hecate who was acting like a cat all this time, finally spoke.

"Good. You asked for a quest, you have my blessing. May you succeed." she said and then disappeared without another word. We could just stare at the quick turn of events.

She didn't even give us time to ask anything.

"Here she disappears...again." Will sighed as if he had seen this happening a thousand times before.

Isabella didn't say anything. She still couldn't snap out of the shock.

"Isabella, you okay?" I asked and she looked at me. Her eyes were difficult to read. They were a mixture of several emotions at once.

"Adrian, why did you do this? Your training is not over yet. You don't know anything about how dangerous it can be outside and..." her voice trailed off as she looked at me hopelessly.

"Now, you can't back up. Once a god gives you their blessings for a quest, it can't be ignored." Will completed Isabella's statement.

But my decision didn't change. I had made up my mind. I can't explain that feeling but something or more accurately... someone was telling me inside that this quest is necessary, no matter how risky it is.

"I am leaving tomorrow at dawn, you guys with me?" I said with finality, without any glint of doubt.

Isabella and Will looked completely surprised. They couldn't believe that I was the same naive kid who always used to ask 'what's going on?' They hesitated for a moment, but then... they both smiled and hugged me tightly.

"Silly, do you think you need to ask?" Isabella said while Will was still hugging tight on me.

They pulled back and I smiled widely.

"So let's get ready!" I declared.