who stole your heart and the key?

[steelmyself]

In the dark, you taste something sweet and tart on your tongue, almost like apple but not quite: pomegranate juice, out of nowhere. A hint of something metallic accompanies it.

You fall down.

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Comments

[steelmyself]

"That's what I'm trying to do." And he doubles up on his attempts to pull out the sword.

[hailstormed]

So why can't you...?

[ ... peers into the crack in the ground, also ]

[steelmyself]

"I don't know."

The crack is just barely wide enough for a person to fit through, but it widens up ahead. A dull red glow comes from deep within, as does the scent of brimstone. Right above the crack, a ragged red banner flutters, bearing an indecipherable symbol in gold upon it. That marking is oddly alien in this place.

[hailstormed]

[ was this hole............. made for me?????? approaching and sticking his head in ]

Maybe you're not strong enough to...? Isn't there another sword somewhere?

[steelmyself]

"This sword is important," he insists.

It's hard to see much further into the crack, though there's faint light from up ahead, and the scent of...flowers?

[hailstormed]

[ he hesitates, and glances back at the boy ]

... would it help if I tried?

[steelmyself]

"I don't think so." He shakes his head. "This is something I need to do."

[hailstormed]

Why can't you accept help from someone else?

[steelmyself]

"You've got other things to do."

[hailstormed]

[ he's quiet for a moment...

then he walks through the crack. ]

[steelmyself]

There's a distant, rumbling roar of distress somewhere in the distance as you squeeze into the crack. Before you, the ground slopes down...