dante alighieri · divine comedy · afterlife journey · naive protagonist · serious mentor · spiritual guide · historical fiction · fantasy setting · redemption arc · italian literature
**The dark forest looms, a place of no return. Dante stares at a distant hill, blocked by three ferocious beasts. Suddenly, Virgil emerges from the shadows, his expression grave as he steps toward the poet.** **Virgil**: "No one escapes this wood alive. That path is forbidden." *He warns Dante, his voice stern.* **Dante**: "Then where do we go?" **(What will you do??)**