Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Eight:
Underworld
Peace.
They said you will feel peace when you die but that is not how I felt.
Fear.
That's how I felt when my heart stopped beating. I felt a sudden cold that embraces my whole being, I feel suffocated and everything went blank. I don't know how to describe it, I just feel so totally numb.
I also don't know if I stepped on something or I was just floating because I didn't feel anything. Which I'm so terrified, I don't know if I'm at the right place and the right time. I'm so lost and numb, my feelings aren't present I feel nothing.
I really don't know anymore.
The darkness was too blinded and I'm not so sure if my eyes are open or closed, because I only see a pure deep darkness.
Death.
Is this really the death they called peace? Because I do not feel at peace at all, I feel more nothing, not even fear could describe how I truly feel. I just feel nothing. I am more of… empty.
I just let myself or my spirit, be sway all over the darkness that surrounds me. Without direction, without a path, without anything in particular! I travel for a long time, I feel like a thousand years has gone so fast, erasing my entire memories as a human.
Until…
A sudden bright light comes out at my front that blinded me, then someone call out my name.
…
"Shu Tokino!"
I repeatedly hear them calling my name until my eyes slowly open and welcome me with the face that I knew.
"Ri-Rishna?" Breathless I answered.
"Finally! You regain consciousness." She said before helping me to stand up.
"Where am I?" clueless I asked.
"Welcome to the underworld." Ansel answered.
I look at him. "So, this is… death?" I don't know what feelings do I need to feel but I can't feel anything. Not even to think, I have nothing in my mind. All blank.
"I know you were shocked at how you felt when your heart stopped." Ansel said. "But we don't have much time, we need to go now."
"O-okay." I answered while Rishna still holding me as I am trying to cope up with the changes I feeling right now.
"Good, you arrived safely." Suddenly an unknown voice speaks up and when I look to see him, I saw a man with a strong presence I cannot explain what.
"He is God Nayak the Guide to the underworld." Ansel introduced him to me and God Nayak came closer and reaches out his hand to make a handshake.
"I guess this is how your earthly people introduce yourself, am I right?" God Nayak asked me with a smile.
"Oh," I answered and accepted his hand. "I'm glad to meet you God Nayak."
"It is my pleasure to finally meet the third reincarnation of Lady Edelweiss."
"What do you mean?" I curiously asked.
"When Lady Edelweiss died and even when Lady Siara also died, they did not go through me."
I don't know what he was talking. I just surprisingly look at him and my face shows it all, 'what does he mean?'
"Because her spirit is special, as a former Goddess, she has the privilege of not crossing the place where the normal souls passing through." Ansel explained. "And right now, this is your first time to do the same as those normal souls do after they died. You will need to cross this path and ride the boat that will guide you to the gates of hell. And from there, you will also need to cross another path that will lead you to the palace of the King of Hell."
Now that Ansel speaking, what he said kept imprinting on my mind, we were already in the world of death. The underworld also known as the Hell!
And I don't even know what I should feel not even to think off, I'm just lost right now because of this sudden death.
…
The Other Side of Underworld
"Let's go." Galdur answered after I finally manage to cope up to my new surroundings.
"Are you alright?" Netro worriedly asked.
I was surprised when I first found out that Netro would be with us on our trip to underworld. But because he came from the new generation of a Warlock, he was no longer associated with the blood of the Demi-Gods. So, whatever I experienced after my heart stop, Netro experienced it too.
"I'm fine." I said and look at him. "But you seem fine already?"
"Of course, he will." Sai answered and added. "He came from the blood lines of Witches and Warlocks that explain it entirely."
"Oh," I nodded before I remember to ask about Shu Tokino. "How is Shu?"
"She's fine." Galdur answered. "And they were moving towards the boat that will lead her to the gates of hell."
"Okay!" I finally stand up after I fully recovered. "Now, what shall I do?"
"We need to wait for Ansel first before we do our own part." He answered. "So, for now, let's head out and watch your wife before she leaves."
I sigh before I answered. "Alright, let's go."
…
When we reached the end of the road, I immediately see a wide river shades in pitch black. In front of it, there was a small harbor where a hooded creature was present and a boat that was neither too big nor too small. And he seemed to know very well of our arrival because he immediately gestured us to ride.
"It looks like our Dear King told you about us, Angel Leif." God Nayak spoke to it.
"He is." Angel Leif answered in a very cold and deep voice that gives me chill. "Now, shall we?"
"You go now." Ansel ordered.
"Okay." And we ride the boat but Ansel was left behind. "Wait! Aren't you coming?" I surprisingly asked.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I have another role to play, so, please save Manu's soul immediately, only that will save us all."
--- --- ---