The hurricane-like winds thrashed the boat around as the torrential downpour assaulted my bare skin. My hair was slick with water as I let out an undignified yawn, "Oi Lassy! I wouldn't act so bored if I were you- after all, we'll be coming up on "it" soon." His voice was difficult to hear over the booming sounds of the hurricane, but it was clear that he had a thick accent. 

I had no time to process what he said, as the "it" that he was referring to had just come into view. "So, this is it?" I asked as the overwhelming sight filled my eyes. "What, are you disappointed?" He laughed at my remark, "You know- not many people see it this closely and live to tell the tale." the robust man spoke with a voice full of regret. An extra-large gust of wind blew and forced me to grab the hat on my head. I turned to look at the face of the man I'd been talking to for the first time; he was calm, his long grey hair waved slightly in the wind as he propelled the punt with his ferryman pole. 

"Nori Espoir," I spoke quietly. "Hmm? What was that?" the man replied. I exhaled the stored oxygen from my lungs out into the air before inhaling and repeating myself. "My Name, it's Nori Espoir." The man chuckled at my declaration before turning and smiling at me, "mine's Charon."

Lightning struck the pitch-black water surrounding us, further defining the gap between me and my destination. Charon continued to push us downriver- I could see a small frown start to form on his face. "Are you sure this is what you want? You could've taken a much lighter sentence and entered the cycle much earlier," Charon questioned with worry lacing his voice. I couldn't help but giggle despite his concern, "There's no use in being upset now- It's already decided." I spoke with an air of unease around me.

I could tell what he was thinking from his expression alone, 'Nobody's ever made it to the top without the mark, especially nowhere near the deities.'

"I'll reach them, I definitely will."

The rest of the ride we sat in silence, "I'm sure you that know by now..." Charon began, "that we'll arrive soon." I looked at the structure before us, its stature was so great that it even put Jörmungandr to shame. I couldn't help but feel anxious at the mere thought of entering it, a place where the crossroads of time and space intersect. 

My mind screamed for forgiveness as the waves of black water rocked our punt. It's difficult to put into words what I was feeling at that moment- it was like years passed all in a few seconds, Charon noticed my unease and gave me a few words. "Everyone I bring here reacts the same way- It's the punishment for a mere human to enter the realm of the gods." 

Although he was trying to ease my nerves, they only worsened as we got closer and closer to my destination. It was only a few hundred feet away at maximum, the monotonous movement of the punt served only to push me closer.

'How many days had it been? 4... no 5?'

Suddenly everything stopped, my vision reeled, my head spun, I had lost track of my environment. "Charon?" when I called for him nobody responded. When I finally gained control of my vision, Charon had disappeared with the punt.

I was alone at my destination.