“At our destination, a beast waited for our arrival. Although it was no less dangerous than my encounter with Polyphemus, this monster would be would show more reason. Its name was Ijnala, and this was perhaps the wisest of all immortal beings, aside from the gods themselves. The monster’s cave lay hidden in a crack in the side of Mount Additus. Being part of an archipelago, Knowledgia proved challenging to find. Each small island had many similar features to the last. However, my men were able to locate it. There was an aura of …show more content…
There were scratches etched into the walls, as if some poor man was dragged down the passage by Ijnala. The light grew brighter, and the sound of a liquid flowing became audible. When we reached the end of the tunnel, a cavern lay before us. Shadows, cast by large rocks jutting from the walls and ceiling, encased much of the room in darkness. However, streams of lava squeezed through cracks in the walls, making several sections of Ijnala’s lair bright. My men stood behind me and formed a circle, ensuring that there was no angle at which we could be …show more content…
“‘If freedom is what you desire, prove your knowledge,’ replied Ijnala. He then proceeded to recite a mathematical problem that would have been too complicated for most men to even begin to understand. However, I, Odysseus the wise, was able to keep track of every piece of information.
“After moving around many variables and simplifying, I came to the conclusion that the question was unsolvable. Remembering Athena’s warning, I figured that this was his way of deception. I told this to Ijnala, and there was a silence that could only mean he was surprised. Without warning, he lashed out of the darkness in a streak of yellow. I rolled to the side to avoid being smashed against the rock floor. I saw Ijnala clearly for the first time. A yellow serpent covered in mathematic equations and symbols stood before me. Two thin arms protruded from his upper body, although they could not be very useful when fighting. He coiled up and launched himself at me again. This time, I jumped over his snapping jaws and landed on his back. Grabbing his scrawny arms, I pulled at them, like a rider would yank at the reigns of his steed. Each time Ijnala tried to break free of my grasp, I directed him towards a wall, where his head was bashed against the