Heartcoded

David and Python

As you approach the temple, you realize the prayers sound anxious, and unease washes over you. Worshippers move past hurriedly, their eyes flicking side to side.

The temple's interior is dim, the light from outside filtering in through narrow openings near the roof. The air is thick with the mingled scents of incense and damp stone. Shadows dance along the high walls, where faded frescoes depict Apollo's triumphs.

Marble columns rise around you, their surfaces etched with intricate patterns—olive branches and laurel wreaths spiraling upward. At the center of the chamber there is a large cauldron, its surface blackened from centuries of offerings.

The prayers are louder here, mingling with the occasional crack of stone. A deep tremor ripples through the ground, unsettling the worshippers. Many glance nervously at the far end of the temple, where a veil of heavy cloth obscures the adyton, the inner sanctum where the oracle resides.

David pulls the veil aside, and you step into the oracle's chamber. It is dim, the air thick with heat and the sharp scent of sulfur. Steam rises from cracks in the stone floor, swirling in restless patterns. At the center, the oracle sits on a bronze throne, her body rigid with tension.

Her robes cling to her skin, damp and streaked with ash, and the golden laurels around her head are dulled from sweat. Her half-closed eyes flicker, and as you approach they snap open, her pupils contracting sharply.

"Poseidon has blessed you," she says, her voice low and raspy.

"We rescued him," you reply, stepping closer. "And we are here to help Apollo, too."

The Oracle grips the throne as she leans forward, her frail hands trembling against the bronze.

"Python has returned," she says, her tone ominous. "The chaos serpent festers below, its coils strangling the vents that connect this temple to Apollo's divine essence. I can feel its corruption spreading, poisoning the very earth beneath us."

She pauses, her eyes locking onto yours with an intensity that sends a chill down your spine. "If it is not stopped, the sanctuary will crumble, and Apollo's light will be snuffed out. Already, the cracks deepen, and our prayers go unanswered."

"How do we reach it?" you ask, voice steady despite the unease creeping into your chest.

Her laugh is sharp. "You would face Python? Foolish. Even blessed by a god, chaos does not bow to mortal will. Its wrath will devour you."

Her gaze shifts to David, scrutinizing him. "Yet, your presence here is no accident. The serpent grows restless, its power threatening to breach the surface. If it escapes the depths, the destruction will be unimaginable."

She gestures to the dark passage behind her, where the sound of hissing emanates. "The path to the caverns lies there. If you insist on attempting to face the beast, ensure you stay focused. Chaos is unpredictable and immensely dangerous."

You nod, feeling the heat already pressing against your skin as you approach the opening. The glow of the temple fades, replaced by the dim, flickering light of the torch David carries behind you. The walls tighten around you, damp and rough, the air thick with moisture and growing thicker with each step. Ahead, the faint hissing echoes grow more persistent.

Sweat beads on your brow.

"Are you too hot?" David asks with concern. "I can adjust the setting if you need."

You shake your head. "No, it's fine. It's immersive. But thank you."

David moves the torch closer to the walls, tracing his fingers along veins of mineral deposits. "Do you have a plan for facing Python?"