Suddenly... the boulder Sisyphus had pushed all the way to the peak began to roll back down. It was part of the curse that clung to him: whenever the stone reached the mountain's summit, it would automatically tumble down again. Sisyphus was doomed to push it back up—again and again—for all eternity.
He immediately ran downhill to retrieve the stone once more. As he sprinted down, he shouted back at me in his usual mocking tone, "But I'll tell you—at the bottom of the mountain! Hurry down if you really want to know!"
Sisyphus's torment continued. He was still messing with me, endlessly sarcastic and insufferable. He could have answered me then and there, but instead, he forced me to chase him down the entire slope just for his amusement.
I looked down from the peak—and my knees almost gave out. It was so incredibly high. I hadn't even realized it while pushing the boulder up. But from the summit, I could see the entire surrounding terrain of the Fields of Punishment. Ahead of me stood three looming black castles, and countless dim-blue souls marched toward them. If I had to guess, those were the halls of the three judges: Rhadamanthus, Minos, and Aeacus.
Farther off, strange flames burned over the Asphodel Fields. They seemed too bright to be spirit flames... but whatever. Probably not my concern.
I walked awkwardly over to Craby, who was still unconscious. Thankfully, he was still in his crab form—small and easy to carry. I gently cupped his fragile little body in my hands and began the long descent.
It took a great deal of time to make it down. I had to move inch by inch for safety. More than once, I nearly slipped and plummeted, but managed to keep my footing.
By the time I reached the lower slope, I saw the cunning King Sisyphus coming back up with the boulder again. I waited for him on the incline, glaring at him.
"Enough games… Your Majesty… tell me what you know. Right. Now."
Sisyphus gave me a look of feigned innocence. "Games? What games? What have I done to you?"
"You made me push that cursed rock all the way up—and then forced me to chase you down!" I snapped, barely holding back my temper.
"You think I'm messing with you? Background character… oh, come now. Don't be so dramatic. I never intended to mock you," he said, in a voice that was anything but sincere.
"Then what was that supposed to be?" I demanded.
He just smiled and tilted his head. "When you reached the summit… did you see anything?"
I blinked. "The judges' castles… What about them?"
"I want you to go there."
"Why? You think they'll help me?" I asked, suspicious.
Sisyphus rolled his eyes. "Oh, gods… No wonder you're just a background character. Use that brain of yours. Marching straight in to those three? Anyone who defies the Fates like you did would be tossed straight into the Phlegethon."
"Then why send me there?"
"Listen carefully, background character," Sisyphus said, for the first time speaking with genuine seriousness. "I'll only say this once: run to the Judges' Castle. Once you're there… wait for her."
"Her?" I echoed. "Who's she?"
"Hecate," Sisyphus replied.