Well, not the end but possibly the centre?

It could be the end but it was hard to tell. Different for sure the pillars still around a mile away from one another formed a circle. This was new. Within the circle the floor wasn't reflective instead it was a beautiful white marble. There was 3 circles, the outer, middle and centre. Each with its own mind-blowingly detailed design. It was gorgeous to look at.

As i approached the centre of the circle I noticed the inscription changing. It began demanding something. Beneath me I saw what looked to be a human on their knees, holding a blade in one hand and blood coming out the other.

Bowing to a mighty dragon which took most of the inner circles space. Was this dragon Deindall? I assumed so but there was no features which stated so.

Anyway after seeing this I observed the outer circles in more depth but to no avail. It seemed that they were genuinely just decoration except for the inner circle.

I saw the short story of a blood sacrifice before me. Being no idiot I could tell this was some form of invitation to an outcome. But it was all very vague. Who knew what could happen if I offered my blood to this mysterious altar? That's what I assumed it was.

Then a gust of powerful wind hit me from behind. A reminder. Almost like the altar was telling me I didn't have a choice, there was a battle being fought behind me and I had to decide quick.

'Tch whatever' i thought to myself. Fortunately as the porter i had all sorts of devices and tools in my bag. Even i had a short knife to protect me in the most dire of situations. Pulling my small blade out, I stood at the centre and without a second thought slashed my palm.

It stung, it hurt but I had to do deal with it. It wasn't the end of the world. I saw a tiny river form in my palm going both ways and eventually falling into the pristine marble floor.

It spilled and continued to stain the story in red. Which hungrily ate my blood.

Suddenly a red light emitted from below me. The blood on the palm of the kneeling mat lit up, glowing in a onimous hue. I took out a bandage and patched up my hand assuming i had offered enough blood.

Loud shaking could be heard, I looked around in confusion was this from the fight behind me?

I was quickly corrected once the sound of the very earth moving got louder, It felt like tectonic plates were shifting exactly where I stood. Then I saw enormous walls emerging from the ground.

The circle was being sectioned off. Something had started and I was the initiator. Before long I found myself in a dimly lit room.

I was certain now, I was standing on a unnecessarily big altar. How could I tell? Well the outer circle was still the floor. The middle one was raised and the inner circle was raised even higher. Making it look all the more ritualistic.

I looked around from the where I stood, I had a height advantage here allowing me to see what had happend. What seemed to be an plain sleeping spot for the dragon had become a furnished room. There was all sorts of devices and dark designs on the wall.

There were four quarters which made up four walls. Each had some form of writing but too dark to be readable. I'd have to get closer. But before I moved off I noted down what I could see mentally. There were benches, a brazier, a gong, torches, chests and gold coins littered around. I saw statues of dragons, warriors and what not, weapons laid on the floor forgotten. It was an interesting room but I had to move now.

Afterall I needed to find something to turn the tides of the fight. Following this i stepped down a staircase which allowed me to reach the floor from the altar.

-fwooosh

I turned around as I heard a sound behind me. I looked back at the altar and a fire had lit up. On the edge, following the first one 8 more lit up around the circle. A total of 9. I didnt know what this represented, maybe a timer? If so it meant I'd have to act fast.

Regaining my composure, I walked over the north wall. And I put my hand against it trying to get a better read of what was written. It was all fragmented but I could get a few words from it.

'...voice.....mountians....bring'

Not helpful at all. Well actually it kind of was. Was it a riddle? Or a story? Maybe instructions on how to beat Deindall? It was quite the mystery. It was a hint at something.

What represented a voice? I looked around the room. Was i supposed to interact with something that made noise? Perhaps the gong? Hmm. It was curious, what should I do. If I do the wrong action what would happen?

'Dammit' i thought. I shouldn't be wasting time. I looked back at the altar and all 9 flames were still lit, thankfully. I need to move. Life was about taking risks. I walked over to the gong and lifted the mallet beside it.

Using everything in my arms I slammed the mallet into the gong which caused a ear shattering sound. It echoed in the room. Did it work?

A damn mistake who says things like that anyway. Why did I say 'did it work?'. Because moments after the echos found their way into my ears directly.

The pain. THE PAIN. My ears exploded with blood pouring out. My brain was suffering, what is this noise? It hurts. it HURTS SO MUCH. Shit shit. Help. Help me.. i beg. I was turning into mush. So much noise. The deathly silent room was unfathomably noisy. I gnawed at my hair trying to rip my brain out so it all becomes silent again.

Even with no ears it was all too much. It was engraved into my mind, and I could feel it. My life withering away once more. Was this it? This is how I die? in a futile attempt to help my comrades. Miserable. Life was so unfair to me. I tried, I really did.

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I tried to think thoughts to distance myself from the blaring sound but still I couldnt ignore it. It struck me with the most painful sound. My eyes closed.

Darkness took over once more.

Silence.. finally.

-hissss

Panting my eyes opened. I fell on my ass. Silence. No more noise.. what just happend. The pain from moments ago vanished like it never happend. But still engraved into me... never again. I don't ever want to go through something like that again.

My breath was uncontrollable. My eyes shaking i was afraid. This room was incredibly dangerous, I let my guard down like a imbecile.

I need to calm down. But how could I. I couldnt feel the pain but I can vividly remember trying to claw out my own brain. Horrifying. My entire body covered in a cold sweat.

I looked around once more. I found myself on the altar. How? Something was different, what was it?

I counted the flames. 1.. 2... 3.. 6... 7... 8. There was only 8 flames. One of them had gone out.

Then it clicked. The flames represented the amount of attempts I had.

And foolishly I had just lost one.

I sat for a moment. Removing a gourd of water i poured some on my head, then drank some to calm me down.

'Fwoo' i took a deep breath and tried regaining composure. I couldnt move hastily like before. The fight outside clouded my judgement and I couldn't allow it to happen again.

I put the gourd back into my bag and stood up. Once again I went down the flight of stairs onto the floor. This time.. this time I need to look around more. I need more hints and carefully solve this puzzle. Firstly, I didn't want to go through any pain resembling the first death at all. Secondly, I couldnt. Only having 8 more chances I had to be careful of when I could take a risk, only at the most difficult problems could I think about doing something irrational.

I took another deep breath. I had to stay calm and collected but it's not like I just magically got over what just happend. My body still was shaking and my mind was irreparably afraid of everything before me. But I couldnt stay trapped here forever.

The north wall was the same. '.. voice.. mountians...bring'. This couldnt have been the first hint. There has to be order. I knew that all the walls had inscriptions but the fact the altar led me to the north first i made the assumption to start here. A mistake. It was a false clue.

Wary. I must be wary of everything here. Anything that suggests at something needs to be double checked. To lead on to pain this room was designed to fail humans.

Continuing on I walked over to the east quarter. Once again there was writing but too dark to see anything.

'.. fire... live... earth..'

Hmm another fragmented hint. I need to look around more. So i had to observe all the walls. Naturally i went over to the south wall.

A repetition of writing but too dim to see. Regardless it was something.

'...am I... must you... yeild'

Hmm did it want me to submit? Yield.. did i have to give in to something? Interesting. Was the path out to kneel before Diendall? Or was it some form of worship. So much could be infered but which was the right path.

Taking into consideration i moved onto the west quarter of the room.

'... treasure.... mine'

Okay, this felt like it could work with. It wanted a offering? Some form of treasure to take in return for something? The issue is I had nothing to offer. Maybe one of the many weapons laid out was supposed to be offered. Maybe to the altar.

First let me gather what I had.

'Voice mountain bring. Fire live earth. Am i must you yield. Treasure mine.'

The hell does that even mean. Which even came first? I need to make a story out of this, it was the only way I could think of to make it make sense.

I find a treasure and offer it. Yielding to this being by giving offering this treasure. Am i supposed to bring it to the altar? It kind of represents a mountian and should I announce my offering? But then what does fire live earth mean. Does it mean the flames will take me back to earth?

A little dodgy but it was making sense. Ah the fire and live means the flames on the altar represents my life and if there's still one lit up I can return? Something was working here.

Well, all I could do was try. I went around and observed the weapons and gems that were littered around the floor. Some looked horrible and others demanded attention. Which was the right one?

I couldnt tell. I didn't have an appraisal skill so how was i supposed to know which item to choose. I walked around in circles around the room trying to rely on my instincts. Eventually I came across this silver sword, sharp with a golden hilt and a emerald gem embedded in the centre. A creamy brown handle which felt amazing in my hand.

If there was a weapon which called out to me it was this one. So i chose it. I firmly believed this was the right choice.. I walked up the many stairs of the altar and reached the top. I kneeled and held the sword before me.

"I offer to you this blade mighty being" well i wasn't quite sure what to say so I just went with what felt right.

Before me the sword levitated. I didn't want to get ahead of myself but I couldnt lie.. I was excited.

-slash

What. What just happend? I could see myself kneeling. Something was off... where... where was my head.

-hissss

'Huh' it was painless. It happend so quick. I found myself on the altar, standing. Counting... 7.. that confirms it. I died again but this time, weird as it may sound it wasn't too bad.

Is what I thought when my eyes opened once more. Then the sensation of my neck being sliced and removed from my shoulders replayed. 'Ugh' I felt sick. It was sudden, my abdominal muscles contracted and my stomach felt compressed. I felt nauseous, the world was becoming a blur and a cold sweat formed on my brows. My breathing became unstable it was sickening.

'BLEARGH...GURGHH' my stomach got flipped inside out and disgusting amounts of puke rushed out my mouth.

It was becoming unbearably hot, I was sweating a ridiculous amount. I felt trapped in my own skin, like a caged creature. I gnawed at very own flesh in an attempt to escape. My skin ripped under the pressure of my fingers no longer held back by my brains pain response in this wild try at fleeing from myself. It was painful, I was being painted red but everything else, the heat, the sensation of the my head separated it was all too much. The spinning world came to a halt, all the suffering vanquished as my eyes shut and darkness took over once more.

My eyes opened. Already breathing heavily I fell to my knees, I took out water and poured it all over myself. And forced myself to calm down. I sat and meditated for a period of time, i had to afterall. If i didnt the hauting moments of the times i died would resurface and throw me into a fit like a solider with PTSD. Refreshing. I needed that cold cool down. 6 lives left. I lost 2 just like that, ridiculous. I need to be more prepared and take this a lot slower. With a LOT more consideration before trying anything.

'Dammit' i repeated like i was in a loop. I messed up again. What went wrong? Was it the sword I offered? Or was the entire story incorrect. I made no progress.

I need to change my perspective of this. So repeating what I had:

'Voice mountain bring. Fire live earth. Am i must you yield. Treasure mine.'

Where am I? A dragons lair. What connection does that have with this broken hint. I can't rely on the writing since it wss incomplete. But I needed to try something. It's not like i could just leave i either die or solve this.

What does a dragon have to do anything with this? I've tried the voice thing.. I think. Iv attempted the treasure hint.. i hope. Should I try the fire one? I mean dragons breathe fire.... this is the most basic depiction of a dragon soo should I try this?

But how? I walked down to the floor once more. And searched for something that might help me. And there it was.. a brazier. Well it was certainly linked to puzzle but I do not and I meann I DO NOT want to burn alive.

'Aahhhhh dammmit man' i thought to myself. I hated this, the hints were bullshit and I had no choice but to try anything that seemed reasonable. I needed the first proper clue atleast.

In my porter bag was a flint and steel.. we had to be able to set up camp anywhere. It was mostly useless since we had mages but I packed It anyway. Who would've thought it'd be useful.

Raising my hands above the brazier I hit the objects together causing friction and sparks to fall into the brazier.

-swhooosh

A bright and massive flame erupted suddenly. I wasn't even sure if the flint and steel worked it seemed almost like the action was all I needed to do.

My heart was beating relentlessly. I didnt want to burn... I really didn't. Sweat started dripping down and goosebumps covered my body. I closed my eyes and clenched my fists.

1 minute passed.. then two more. Nothing happend? I opened my eyes and there it was. The brazier was lit and I was alive.

I did it. The first step was to light up the brazier.

'Thank god' i let out a deep breath. I calmed down and took out the gourd to drink some water. I made progress. This was something I could work with.. finally.

Did anything change? I walked around the room and something did change. The eastern wall had writing which glowed in red.

'I am fire and air... live... earth' not all of it lit up ofcourse. Excellent. Why would it.. but It hinted at my next task. Air. What in this room represented air?

Naturally i had to walk around and find an object to help with this dilemma. It wasn't too difficult to find as I came across a jade fan with intricate golden weaving representing a dragon. I mean.. if not this then what could it be?

I picked it up and started fanning in front of me. I was flung back just like when Diendall landed.

-bang

I hit the wall and once again my bag cushioned It. Thankfully it wasn't as painful as the first time but I could feel my back severely damaged from the force. Was that wrong? Was i supposed to die?

Confused I took out another minor healing potion and drank it. My back fixed up. I'm alive? What just happend. Was.. was I just too weak to use the fan. Surely not.

But.. but what else could it have been. An annoying realisation about how weak I truly was.

Whatever.