Arrivals

Stepping into the Afterlife was a strange sensation. To Nayra, it felt like the world was solid again, compared to the always shifting nature of the Ethereal. There was light, of course, it filled her vision as she passed through the entrance, with light so bright that it stabbed through her eyelids.

But just as it came, it quickly went away, and Nayra opened her eyes. The gate led them into a new world. Knee high green grass surrounded the road that they were standing on, swaying in the gentle wind. Before them stretched a heavenly view. Mountains rose high into the sky, with snow covering their tips. At the base of the mountain, far in the distance, was a city that shone with a golden light. She could see towers and castles, as well as bridges made out of light that connected them. Her eyes could tell that there were people, tiny specks to her, that moved about them.

She had come here before, when she had escorted souls. But she had never ventured far. This place wasn't meant for the living. Just standing in this place made her feel a sense of wrongness that she couldn't quite shake, despite her perk giving her access to it.

She glanced to the side, and saw that Ryun had a frown on his face, he looked around, squinting.

"What's wrong?" Nayra asked.

Ryun glanced in her direction, then answered.

"My eyes," he said slowly. "I don't see Essence."

Nayra raised her eyebrow at that. "What do you mean?"

"I... my sight is as it was before. I had forgotten what color really looks like when it is... Ah," he just shook his head.

Nayra didn't know what to say, but Ryun seemed to take it all in stride.

"Does this mean that there is no Essence here?" Ryun asked.

"You mean that this," Nayra waved her hand. "Is just... what? An image inside our heads?"

"All reality is an image inside of our heads, Essence interacting with Essence to create a picture. But my eyes were able to see the individual pieces that make up everything."

Ryun knelt and touched the ground. "No, this is still Earth Essence, just... there is something different about it. It is stronger, more tightly packed. It feels... more."

Nayra knelt next to him, and tried to study the dirt beneath them in the same manner. She did agree that the ground was probably a high tier Essence. She could tell that everything around them was.

Ryun tilted his head. "Hm, Essence that is stronger than tier nine perhaps?"

Nayra didn't have an answer. What she knew of the afterlife was little, stories that she had heard from her mother.

"Well, perhaps you can ask once we find someone," Nayra said. "We should get going."

Ryun nodded, they stood and started walking down the dirt road toward the city. Quickly, they reached a river, with an elaborate and ornate wooden bridge built over it. The other side of the river was covered in a thick fog that obscured everything. In the middle of the bridge stood a figure dressed in armor, with a large two handed axe planted on the planks below, hilt first, and their hands leaned on top of the axe.

"Our welcome?" Ryun whispered.

Nayra nodded. "Mother mentioned something like this," she said.

They approached slowly, and the figure didn't move. Now that they were closer, she could tell that the person was a humanoid, but wasn't of any race that she was familiar with. Their skin looked like it was made out of white marble, streaked with gold. At the first glance, the figure resembled a human male, but she had no way to be certain. The only thing that she could tell was that they were a warrior, that much at least was certain.

As they reached the warrior, Nayra stepped forward an bowed. "Greeting," she said slowly. "I am Nayra Ornn-Dagda, we--"

The warrior raised an arm, interrupting her. "This is known," he said, his voice deep and gravely. "Daughter of Dawn and Death, you are expected. By the grace of your power, you are granted one month of passage. Overstay your welcome, and the hounds of the afterlife will drag you out."

Nayra blinked, but then inclined her head. The warrior turned to look at Ryun.

"The Final Witness," he said. "Last Death, you may walk where you wish. Even though it is yours to choose, know that this is the place of the first transition, do not rob those who live here of their chance to be chosen by the great wheel."

Nayra frowned, and before she had the chance to ask what that meant, he raised his axe then slammed the pommel into the ground.

The sound echoed all around them, and the mist on the other side of the bridge moved, opening a way through.

"You may pass," the warrior said, then its eyes turned to look beyond the two of them.

Nayra and Ryun exchanged looks, then walked by the warrior and to the other side of the bridge in silence. Somehow, the demeanor of the warrior made them both understand that there would be no more words spoken.

Once they reached the end of the bridge, the mist rolled back in, closing the way behind them.

"What was that? What he called you?" Nayra asked.

Ryun shook his head. "I don't know, it is close to my Ideal, and it is part of the name of one of my Perks."

She narrowed her eyes at him, she could tell that he wasn't saying everything. He had to have a suspicion. Still, she didn't press. They had been allowed through, and that was all that mattered.

"What do you think he meant by the second part, the one about you not robbing people of chance, something about a wheel?"

"Selia mentioned something about that," he answered. "She didn't know what exactly it was though. And the rest... I think that he was referring to True Death."

Nayra blinked, but then nodded as it did make sense. "Wow, you got to be flattered huh? Even people in the afterlife have to warn you off from killing people."

Ryun turned and glared at her.

"What?" Nayra said. "It's the truth."

He narrowed his eyes at her.

"You literally just killed a Grand Spirit, I don't know why you are glaring at me."

"You spend too much time with Tali, she is rubbing off on you," Ryun muttered then started walking, leaving her to hurry and catch up with him.

"No, I only tell you the truth, Tali is probably the only one that isn't afraid to actually make fun of you about it," Nayra said.

"And this isn't making fun of me?" Ryun asked.

"Do you really think that it is?" Nayra asked in return.

Ryun turned his head away. "Maybe not."

Nayra smiled. At least he was willing to admit it.

They walked down the road, and the mist around them slowly dissipated, revealing again the sight of the golden city above them. Though, now it looked a lot closer than before.

Ryun stopped, making Nayra do the same.

"What is it?" She asked.

Ryun raised his chin, gesturing in front of him. Nayra turned around and saw that there were two people in front of them. One was sitting on a rock nearby, looking at them with a smile on his face, and the other stood nearby. Nayra had eyes only for the one sitting.

For a moment, she froze, seeing a familiar face. She took a step forward, and he stood up, started walking toward her.

For a moment, Nayra froze, but then her head caught up to her feelings.

"Nathan?" She asked, and his smile widened. Erik's twin brother walked over then took a quick step to close the distance and grab Nayra beneath her arms. He picked her up and spun her around.

"Little sister!" He yelled as he spun her around, then put her down and smiled down on her. He reached up and pulled a strand of Nayra's hair, as red as his own.

"Mother said that you would be coming," he said.

Nayra had never met him, but everything about her older brother was familiar. Erik had been one of the few of her siblings who actually interacted with the younger generations.

Nayra couldn't help but smile.

"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner," she said. She had the opportunity to come before, she had just never done it. There had always been something else that was more pressing. And a part of her was, if she was being honest with herself, afraid. This was the place where all souls went, where she led them to. She hadn't been sure if she wanted to know what exactly it was.

Nathan took a step back. "You are here now, and we have much to catch up on."

He then turned and Nayra saw that Ryun was walking toward the other person who had been waiting for them. He stopped just in front of the tall demasi, and Nayra's eyes widened as she recognized him too.

"Hello, old friend," Eerv Ji Van said.

Ryun waited for a moment, and then he reached up and pulled the demasi into an embrace.