Hongo heard footsteps and drew his gun. With the gun pointed at the doorway, he called out, “Who is there?”

Tiyana whispered loudly at him, “Hongo, is that really necessary?”

“We are.” Hongo recognized Hunter’s voice and holstered his sidearm.

Hunter walked into the common room where Tiyana and Hongo were finishing breakfast. He wore only blankets wrapped around his midsection. Their mysterious host walked in behind Hunter.

“I see you found the eggs and coffee. I also have fruit for you.” He said.

“Hunter, what on earth are you wearing?” Tiyana asked.

“Oh this? These are my hiking robes.” He said straight-faced.

She gave him a stifled courtesy laugh. “Seriously, where on earth have you been?”

“It’s a long story.” He said as he sat down. “Hey guy! Whatever your name is, why don’t you come in here for a second. Help me explain what’s going on to my wife and my friend here. Actually, I can’t say that I really know what’s going on. Why don’t you actually explain it to me, and then we’ll see if they can pick up on it.”

Their host came back into the room carrying a large bowl of fruit.

“I rarely interact with humans. As part of the Great Truce, I am bound to interfere very little in human affairs. I may, however, and sometimes do, act as a guide. I live by a strict code. I am the keeper of the truce. There are prescribed actions that I may take to maintain humanity’s development or to enforce the truce. Guiding you all is one of them.”

“Ok, where are you going with this?” Tiyana asked.

The monk paused and thought about how to proceed.

Then he spoke very carefully, “I would like to tell you a story.”

He had their attention and went on, “After the Greeks made great strides in literature, art, and science, the Romans rose to power and struggled to innovate. I was afraid that humanity would stop progressing, so I counseled a young man named Publius Vergilius Maro. He produced poetry that guided civilization through the Dark Ages. Throughout the centuries, His legend grew. He became less of a man and more of a legend.”

“Okay.” Said Tiyana tentatively.

“That is what I do, friends. I provide counsel. I would like to counsel you.” After another pause, the monk went on, “I go by many names. For our purposes, you may call me Virgil. Friends, I will lead you to Ghaelvord the way Virgil, my erstwhile student, led another great poet, Dante Alighieri, to the devil.” Virgil smiled and went on, “Through nine circles of hell.”

“Come again?” Tiyana asked.

Virgil laughed, “I am being melodramatic, but in all seriousness, the mission that I am asking you all to undertake is dangerous. It will not be easy. All of you will endure pain. Some of you may die.”

“I’m, I mean, we’re listening… Virgil.” Tiyana said.

“You all woke him up and far too early. Your action put the fate of humanity in jeopardy. Hunter has committed to set things right. I will ask you all to join him. I offer to guide you. Finding Ghaelvord and stopping him will not be easy. It will be dangerous. You will see things that you would like to forget. But I have faith in you all. You found Shambhala, after all, and that is no trivial feat!”

“I am still confused.” Tiyana said.

“What?” Hongo said.

“Yeah, you even lost me.” Hunter said.

Virgil got very serious, “I must tell you all about a prophesy. There are epochs in history. One is coming. Ghaelvord brought one. He could bring another.”

With that introduction, Virgil recited verses,

Music plays and roses grow,

Beside the golden river flow,

The kingdom’s life, salvation’s light,

Waiting for the epoch,

From the sun, in days to come,

Fueled by fire, lit by mortal desire

A thousand years and one day,

Stone of earth becoming clay,

The human strife, void of life,

Turns the face of immaculate grace,

From evil drivers of flaming desires,

Forged in the crucible of idol’s ire,

But angels remain despite the chain,

Basking in heaven’s light,

Destined to end mankind’s flight,

Glory remains upon the plains,

And the lord of light ended tyrannical might,

So freedom reigned and the ark remained,

Amid the world until the end of time,

Then the journey to the dark unseen places where the darkness bends its knees to the morning’s majesty as the children come of age

“That was a prophecy?” Tiyana asked. “What does it mean?”

“It comes as it comes.” Virgil replied.

At that, Hongo joined the conversation.

He rarely spoke, but when he did, he commanded attention, “I think that you owe us answers.”

“Indeed.” Came the enigmatic reply.

A long conversation ensued. The palaver lasted all day and long into the night. Virgil opened their eyes to secrets long forgotten by the world. By the end of the night, they had all agreed to at least humor their host. They were skeptical, but they agreed to keep talking. They all remembered their time in the labyrinth. They remembered Ghaelvord, but most of all, they remembered his haughty attitude and the maniacal look in his eyes. That look haunted them.