"Sulphur, mercury, and salt… What do these words mean to you?"
Hermes did not expect the sudden question. He was already reeling from the initial one, still thinking of what to say.
It was like Dante was giving him riddle after riddle, bombarding his mind. First he asked if he was willing to see through a veil, and now he's talking about sulphur, mercury and salt?
"What do they mean to me? I… I don't know. They're common elements, if you mean sodium for salt. Sulphur from volcanic eruptions, mercury from the earth's crust, salt from the water…. What else is there?"
Dante shook his head. "And I thought you were the top of your class. How about gold and silver?"
"Gold and silver…. Precious metals… First place and second place…." Hermes pulled on his hair from frustration. "What answer do you expect from me!? How did you know what I was about to do!? What do you know!?"
