The sixth temple reflects those before it.

"Challenger," comes the voice from the god's residence.

Before me stands a man with youth still in him. By appearances, he's younger than I am.

He examines me closely, "You are under a bewitchment. To call you a challenger rings false. Does it not?"

I nod.

"To grant you my blessing as you are now would be a mistake."

He thinks for a moment.

"There is a way to release you from the trance."

I feel hope well up from within me.

"You will travel off the path, facing dangers greater than you have known. You are to seek out the fire tortoise that guards the waters of renewal. If the guardian allows it, bathe in the spring."

The god explains the details of where to find the tortoise.

"Be wary of the traps laid by the burrowing worms.

"Now," he indicates the door. "Come back to me when you are worthy."

The strength of the witch's enchantment compels me to earn the blessing. Anything to achieve that goal is doable.

I find myself a slave to the command and do everything necessary.

While traveling beyond the forests on the periphery of the land of snakes, I find a surprisingly arid environment.

The sounds of woodlands are replaced by the whisper of the wind on an open expanse of land.

While not a desert, the grasses are far from verdant.

As I search for the tortoise, I hear the howl of a wolf. And it's close.

The animal picks up on my trail, and I hear paws pounding.

My trusty aluminum bat raised to face the threat, I wait.

I brace myself for the speed of my enemy's attack.

In the moment before the wolf reaches me, the earth falls out from underneath it.

It's almost comical to watch. And I hear the yelp of the dog when it hits solid earth.

I look down from above, relieved that the incident passed without struggle.

As I think to leave, the wall of the pit explodes.

While I don't see the wolf die, I hear a loud crunch as fleshy mandibles engulf the beast.

The burrowing worm I was advised on.

The chance to fall to certain doom exists in this unknown terrain.

My speed falls significantly as I test the soil at my feet with every step.

More howls cut the air, but I am free from attack.

The day passes, and I allow myself to rest.

In my sleep, I dream a familiar dream.

The host of the heavens blotting out the sky and the denizens of hell boiling over the land.

At its center is a cylinder of blue light that pierces the sky and burns the devils.

I try to find my place in this situation.

Am I a messenger of doom or salvation?

From within the cylinder, a woman stands on the ground. Her red eyes' never leave me.

When I wake, I feel a presence—or, more accurately, presences.

Slowly, I open my eyes to find faces looking down on me. Their spears are pushing against my chest.

"Hello," I say meekly.

The gathering wears tribal garb, and I see several red-eyed individuals.

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A young woman weaves through the men and women crowding around me.

"Get up," she commands.

I slowly act, aware of the threat of death.

They allow me to collect my belongings before prodding me along.

The journey is quick, and I watch as they maneuver around plots of land that look unremarkable to me.

A village opens before us. Adobe buildings of solid design rise to 3 stories and line the road.

Eyes watch us as we enter.

The train leads me to a central square where the indigenous people surround me.

I wait for a time before asking, "Have I done something wrong?"

The faces are mostly neutral. But, I sense some hostility in their gazes.

"You are an outsider. You do not belong here."

I hear the comment and see people nod their agreement.

As I am about to speak in my defense, the gathering parts and a figure come to stand before me.

I know this woman.

Her black hair flows down her back. Her dark skin. And, most significantly, the red eyes that seem to glow in the twilight.

This is the woman of my dreams.

As if noticing something, the blue snake slides up and rests its head on my shoulder.

Alarm spreads through the faces of those gathered, save the red-eyed woman.

The villagers bow in reverence. And stand straighter when they rise.

"Come," the woman says. And I'm escorted to a small building.

When we enter, she commands, "Sit."

The woman looks no older than me but speaks with an authority that can only come from many years of leading others.

I take my seat before her and wait for her to speak.

"You have questions," she states.

I nod my head.

"Ask?"

One stands out of all the burning questions I have in this afterlife.

"I know that black eyes signify a demonic legacy. And, while a heavenly legacy. But, what legacy do red eyes signify?"

The woman speaks plainly, "It is not a legacy."

I'm puzzled, "Then what is it?"

Her eyes never leave mine.

"I am a god."

The hair on my neck stands on end.

"I'm sorry. I don't understand."

She is patient in her answer, "When my vessel lost her memories, she offered herself as my avatar in return for fulfilling a wish of hers."

"And, all red-eyed people are avatars of gods? Like those that captured me?"

She nods.

I simmer in my thoughts momentarily before looking at the snake on my shoulder.

"I'm assuming he's a..."

"Yes," she says steadily.

"How many gods can there be?" I ask exasperated. "It seems like there's a new god around every corner."

The slightest of smiles touches her lips.

"Okay," I say. "Why am I here?"

Her eyes are even, "A great change is about to happen. You can do nothing to stop it."

"Am I what causes it?"

She nods.

"Why? I was just a college student when I was alive. What could I have to do with gods?"

She is silent for a moment.

"Do you know what the gate is?"

I shake my head.

"It is a soul catcher. Every soul in this circle is touched by it. But only some enter. Those who have died as you passed the trials fuel the circle.

"To break this mechanism would shatter the walls between the circles, and everything can bleed into this realm."

Her red eyes are neither kind nor cruel.

"When you pass into the portal, the trap that was set will spring, and cataclysm will follow."

"What if I died? You could kill me, and I wouldn't be able to reach the portal."

She shakes her head, "The gate has already claimed you."

"What if I stop challenging the gate? I came to find the fire tortoise and its spring."

She nods, "Yes, that would cancel the witch's bewitchment. But, your destiny has been written into your soul."

I find myself getting depressed by everyone telling me I don't have free will.

The question on my mind the longest comes to the forefront.

"Who is Michael White?"

She smiles, "It is not my place to tell you that."

My brow knits. "Why did your people bring me here?"

She looks at me, "Michael thinks his plan will guarantee victory in the war. He pays no mind to the machinations of the other side.

"That companion of yours..."

"Samantha," I say with dread.

She nods.

"They have laid a trap. She will find you at the gate's mouth. Do not trust her."

My heart sinks, "The legacy."

"Yes," she says. "With her legacy binding her, she will act however the demons command."

I take a deep breath.

I had hoped that she could find her peace as a monk.

"Thank you for warning me."

I stand to leave.

"Before you leave, one matter remains."

She doesn't stand. But she waves a hand at me.

The force pushes me back, but I know this feeling.

"With eight blessings," she says, "you can pass the portal's mouth. Any less, and you would die.

"To break the gate with only eight blessings would result in your death.

"Now you have my blessing and I feel like my fellow god favors you enough to grant a blessing.

The snake slides over my shoulder, looks at me, and flicks its tongue to lick my face.

From that contact, I feel another rush added to the sensation of transcendence.

"There is no guarantee that you will survive. But it is a possibility.

As I come down from the high, the woman escorts me outside and assigns a guide to take me to the fire tortoise.

The journey takes a few days. But, I finally find myself before a mountain.

The guide excitedly chats with me, "That's not a mountain. That's the fire tortoise.

I swallow unconsciously.

"The great tortoise has remained dormant for a long time. Were he to awaken, the world would be consumed by his flames."

We travel up to the creature's body, and I'm shown pools of water rising from under the turtle.

Not shy, my guide disrobes to his underwear and hops into the water.

It makes sense to share in the reward for guiding me so far.

Shortly, I find myself engulfed by warm water.

As I duck my head beneath the surface, I feel like something has sloughed off from my mind.

My thoughts are clear, and my own.

I can't help but smile as I enjoy the bath.

The time in the water is but a moment. But, upon leaving, my body feels lighter and my gaze clearer.

The guide shares in the boon and laughs. "I'm glad you were coming here. I never would have bathed in the pools of the fire tortoise if not for this quest."

I smile in good humor. And, he finishes the escort at the wood line.

The return to the sixth temple takes some time. But, I return to my place before the god with the appearance of a young man.

"So," he says. "You have bathed in the waters of renewal."

I nod.

"Challenger, do you feel free?"

I feel a light laugh escape me. "No."

Without warning, the sensation of transcendence comes over me and I have trouble focusing on the god before me.

"Go, you are worthy enough for this much."

I feel somewhat bitter in my heart to be somehow less than I should be. But still, I got what I came here for.

I bow slightly to the youthful god and find the path to the next temple.

Some tension comes over me as I enter the forest.