Down to the Depths

Onni laughed. "Well, should we start asking how to get down? Those awaiting judgment are rumored to be on the last level of Naenia, so we better get started."

"Yes, this is the land of the dead, we're not meant to be here. The faster we can do this and get out, the better," said Sylvie.

Onni nodded and approached the closest person. They were a person with long blonde hair and a pretty smile. "Hello, travelers. Welcome to Naenia."

Onni crossed eir arms, suddenly losing eir words when facing a new person.

Sylvie glanced at Omni. She wasn't particularly good with strangers herself, but it looks like this time she'd have no choice.

"Hii," she managed after a few seconds too long of awkward silence.

The person just kept smiling. "What is it we're looking for today?"

Onni pointed towards the floor, glaring at this person.

"Oh umm..." muttered Sylvie, trying to muster up the courage to voice her question. She looked to Onni for support but ey was clearly not going to be of much help. She turned back to the stranger. "We..umm..wou..would like to down..go down...like umm visit the lava I mean lower levels."

The person nodded. “Of course. To pass the first gate, you need the forgiveness of a hardened heart.”

"The...what.." Sylvie stammered again. "In..umm...English please?"

The person’s smile grew even wider. “The forgiveness of a hardened heart.”

"Oh..k, thank you," managed Sylvie. She had absolutely no idea what it meant, but it sounded like it was one of those things that wouldn't make sense until after it had happened.

The person nodded and walked away, humming a lilting tune under their breath.

Onni exhaled sharply. "That didn't make any damn sense."

"Correct," said Sylvie, "but I don't think we're going to get anything more meaningful out of that person."

"Well, there's more people. Maybe one of them will stop speaking in riddles." Onni scowled at the sight of all of the people. "But that means talking to them."

"Yup, that's the unfortunate part," said Sylvie, "do we try and figure out what this one means, without talking to people."

Onni shrugged. "We can try. Simply walk and observe."