Harrell was in the most difficult situation of his life. His bank was bankrupt and he had destroyed all the funds of the chosen nobles and he knew that his customers would soon find out about what happened and flock to his house.
While walking down the hall with a confused face and nervously pressing the back of his neck, he thought to himself:
"I need to calm down and focus and find a way to get out of this situation."
He sat on the floor, closed his eyes and took deep breaths, and it was at this moment that a thought suddenly came to his mind.
"The volcano! Yes, that's it. The volcano that's been dormant for centuries, but no one goes near it because everyone thinks the place is haunted by supernatural beings."
He poured some wine into a thermos and put some provisions in a small cloth bag and then hired a bird carriage and drove himself there without paying attention to the driver's warnings about the dangers of the volcano.
As he walked on the rocks and looked at the holes in the mountain, he smiled and said:
"The superstition of those nobles has ended in my favor. I can stay here for a while and then leave the country with one of my friends' help."
Hanging from one of the holes, he jumped down and began to walk in the semi-dark place, staring at the intricate and detailed shapes of the rocks inside the cave.
"Some of these rocks are like faces with eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth, and when you pass by them, they seem to stare at you and blame you for disturbing their peace with their sullen looks. "
"Or maybe because of scamming people."
Harrell jumped up in panic and looked around to find out from whose mouth these words came, but he did not see anyone.
"There's nothing to see. I'm on your mind."
"These rocks must be producing hallucinogenic gases and that's why I'm hearing that sound."
"You have lived like a lowly creature all your life, but now it is time for you to make amends."
Harrell put his hands on his head and pressed it.
"No, no, no one's here."
"You will become a part of this mountain and add to its greatness."
As color faded from his face, Harrell quickly ran to one of the walls of the cave and started to climb it.
"I must get myself up there and leave the mountain immediately."
While he was going up, his muscles suddenly stiffened and it got impossible for him to move them.
"No, please don't do this to me. There must be another way to make up for my mistakes. I beg you not to turn me to stone."
His muscles suddenly relaxed and he climbed down the rocks and stood at the bottom of the cave, smiling in disbelief.
"Thank you and I will do anything you ask of me."
"Good. Now that you don't want to turn to stone, I'll turn you into a mage warrior."
And a tall man with golden hair and a white robe appeared before his eyes to help him start a new chapter in his life.
