It’s so close you used to play there in your youth

“The cave is just outside town, no supplies needed!” with this news, her face lights up and she grabs John’s hand, roughly dragging him along behind her. It seems like she also knows exactly where it is, and of course she does he realises, this was one of his favourite spots to hang out with her while growing up.

Unfortunately for him, while her newfound stature and increase is athleticism makes the journey a breeze for her with long legs swiftly and easily covering the 2-mile journey, he is struggling to keep up with her. It seems that he hasn’t just lost nearly a foot of his height, but also a decent amount of strength and stamina.

Despite his best and ongoing protestations, she doesn’t slow down, urging him to “keep up, and quit dragging your feet”. Her grip is gentle yet firm, and although he haven’t tried to break out of it, he isn’t sure if he could. Just as the exertion has him about to tire out and collapse (he makes a mental note to rebuild at least his lost stamina after this ordeal), the two of them come upon the final hill before the cave and he can breathe a heavy sigh of relief. Cresting the soft green slope, the two pause for a moment, her grip released, John places his hands on his knees, panting and wheezing. Looking up at her on the other hand shows she has barely broken a sweat, and what little is there provides a light covering that only serves to give her skin a healthy glisten in the afternoon sun.

Stooping down to check on him, a worried expression appears on Damiana’s face “sorry there, I guess I don’t know my new size. It just felt so much like an adventure we used to go on as kids and I’m so used to you being the faster of the two of us.” A nagging worry in the back of his mind that she was just using him to try and claim this power herself fades as he notes the worry lines on her forehead, genuine concern for his wellbeing apparent on her face. Clearly, she is still the same kind-hearted and energetic girl she used to be, only now with much more size and strength.

Destination in sight, the two of them go slower now, the easy slope of the hill only a short distance to traverse to the cave entrance. John finds the entrance appears unchanged from the outside, memories of the two of them running around with the other children in various games play in his head. “Shall we?” he asks, signalling for her to lead on. At this, she laughs “such a gentleman still” before walking headfirst into an invisible barrier that knocks her to the ground. Shocked, she stands up and tries again, pushing with all her strength against it. John admires how her bicep swells with the effort, sweat dripping down her brow before she gives up.

Confused, he walks over and finds he can enter the cave without issue and would scarcely believe the struggle she was having had he not seen it with his own eyes. “Well, this hardly seems fair” she states matter-of-factly, “any chance you can let me through John?”

He isn’t sure if he can but an idea comes to mind, reaching out with both hands and waving them around for dramatic effect, he grabs at the space where the barrier should be and pulls it away. He is stunned to find the barrier turns to a translucent silken material, before dispersing into a thin mist. Theatrically waving her in with both hands, she slowly steps out a leg with dramatic effect, placing her foot inside the cave, before jumping wholly inside. “That was spooky” she begins, “but it seems to confirm your note at least”. She continues inside, walking determinedly while John pauses, thinking he may have heard a sound just outside. “Hey short stuff, if you don’t catch up soon, I’m going to take that artifact for myself!” she yells out from ahead. Unsure whether she could take the power herself, but not wanting to find out, he breaks into a run to catch up to her.

John is once again panting by the time he reaches her at the entrance to a room neither has seen before. The cave is by no means small, and he hasn’t explored the whole thing, but this sits close enough to the ground as to be well light by afternoon sun shining in thin beams through holes in the ceiling, and this passageway is scarcely more than 100 yards into the cave. John and Damiana both pause before entering the long passageway together, journeying through the eerily light hallway before coming out onto a large well light chamber. Taking stock of his surroundings John examines the large dome structure, almost too perfectly spherical in shape. He estimates this room must be at least 200 feet wide, made of the finest marble and crafted to a skill reminiscent of the Goddess herself. A series of small yellow crystals are embedded within the curving wall at regular intervals, resembling slaves to the larger yellow crystal in the centre of the room. This larger crystal glows with a powerful aura, delicate beams providing the light source for the smaller crystals. He vaguely recalls his time spent at church, learning the teachings of the wisdom of the Goddess and how in Her infinite wisdom She had created a series of angels to serve Her and handle those menial tasks which were unbecoming of the Goddess to handle Herself. Despite the note suggesting this to be entirely untrue, he couldn’t help but wonder what was real and what may have inspired this arrangement.

Directly below the centre crystal lies a large circular plinth, like a column used in those temples of faraway lands of which he has heard. A series of concentric circular steps lead up to this plinth, this purest white marble engraved with the most delicate and beautiful gold filigree and interspersed by precious gemstones at intervals throughout, the purpose and meaning of he couldn’t infer, but assumed to be related to the small golden beings painted upon the steps. Each step is larger than the one before in both height and width, as if constructed as its own test to keep out those too small and weak from claiming the power.

Still in awe at the scale and grandeur of it all John wanders closer Damiana taking his hand in hers once more, but as a partner this time, not seeking to drag or hurry him in this hallowed space. As he nears the plinth, words shimmer into existence on its otherwise unmarked surface, a warning he wonders? Or perhaps instructions. The words settle after a moment and he begins to read them, lips moving almost involuntarily to speak them aloud, a glance from Damiana confirming she cannot herself read them as he speaks.

“Here rests the key to godhood, an artifact created by the true deity of this universe as a failsafe. This ring will grant any wish to whoever wears it, even should they desire to be elevated above the Goddess herself.

Rest easy in your stay here friend, you are in a hallowed place, out of sight and reach of all but the true creator.”

As John stops speaking, he becomes conscious of having stopped his walk towards it. He is only on the first step, still over 50 feet from the central column, and nearly 10 feet below its looming structure.