The Life After Death

  Chapter 24: The Road to Eden

  Warmth. Soft. Almost too soft.

  A slow, steady breath against my hair. A heartbeat against my cheek. The scent of jasmine and something sweeter, intoxicating.

  For a blissful moment, I let myself sink into the cushiony embrace, the warmth enveloping me like the safest place in the world. My fingers twitched, pressing into the softness.

  Wait.

  My eyes snapped open.

  My head was nestled between two plush, bare mounds, my face completely buried in Liora’s chest. Her arm draped lazily over my side, pulling me closer as if I were a stuffed toy. My entire body locked up in realization.

  A deep, slow inhale came from above me as Liora stirred slightly, her fingers brushing through my hair. "Mmm… so warm…" she murmured sleepily.

  I screamed.

  I flailed backward, tumbling off the floor mat and landing hard on the wooden floor with a loud thud. My hands scrambled to cover my burning face as I pointed wildly at her. "W-Why are you naked?!"

  Liora stretched her arms above her head, her back arching as she let out a long, satisfied sigh. "Mmm… not the nicest way to wake a lady, Emrys." She opened one eye, smirking. "Though, I can’t say I’m surprised. You did seem quite comfortable."

  I turned away, still red-faced. "Put some clothes on!"

  She giggled, rolling onto her side, completely unbothered. "I sleep better like this. It’s freeing."

  "Well, I’d rather not wake up suffocating in someone’s chest, thanks!"

  "Oh? Didn’t sound like you were complaining before you noticed." She laughed again, finally sitting up, making no effort to cover herself. "Fine, fine. I’ll get dressed. Go get yourself ready."

  Muttering under my breath, I grabbed my things and practically stormed out of the small cottage.

  The morning air was already thick with heat, the warmth creeping in like an unwelcome guest, wrapping around me in an unrelenting embrace. A reminder that in Flintshire, the heat never truly left—it just lessened at night before returning with a vengeance.

  I took a deep breath, letting my pulse settle, then reached into my robe, pulling out Asmodean’s orb. The abyssal black sphere sat cool in my palm, its surface smooth yet lifeless.

  I turned it over between my fingers, my expression softening. "Still no sign of you, old man."

  A small sigh escaped me. "I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with this. What you expect me to do." My thumb brushed against it absentmindedly. "But if you are in there and can hear me…"

  I smirked, shaking my head. "You need to see this beauty. It’s like the gods took their time sculpting her, then forgot to give her modesty."

  A chuckle rumbled in my throat. "If I survive whatever madness she’s dragging me into, I’ll consider it a miracle."

  The door creaked open behind me. "Talking to yourself already? Should I be worried?"

  I pocketed the orb quickly, turning to see Liora stepping outside, fully dressed—though ‘fully’ was a stretch. Her nun outfit was the same tight, scandalous ensemble, hugging every curve with purpose, her chest barely contained behind laced bindings, and the slit in her robes revealing a teasing glimpse of her legs.

  She placed a hand on her hip, tilting her head with a smirk. "Enjoying the view?"

  I rolled my eyes. "Let’s just go."

  Liora smirked, “good idea. This is a five day journey.”

  I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. "Five days? You couldn't have picked somewhere closer?"

  Liora smirked, adjusting the straps of her pack. "Unfortunately, paradise isn't built next to wastelands."

  I sighed, knowing I had little choice. "Fine. But if we run out of water, I’m blaming you."

  She chuckled, adjusting the other strap of her pack. "Oh yes, and before you get too comfortable— we're walking."

  I froze mid-step, turning to her slowly. "You mean… we don’t have horses? A carriage?"

  Liora grinned. "Nope. Just good old-fashioned walking. Five days of it."

  I groaned, dramatically throwing my head back. "You’re actually trying to kill me. I knew it."

  She laughed, patting my shoulder as she walked past me. "Oh, come now, Emrys. You could use the exercise. Keeps the body strong."

  "My body’s already strong enough, thanks. It’s my patience that’s wearing thin."

  "Then this will be a great test of endurance," she said, winking before motioning ahead. "Now, come on."

  The journey was gruelling.

  The heat was suffocating. The sun blazed down, baking the cracked earth beneath our feet. Sweat clung to my skin, my robe sticking uncomfortably to my back. Every breath felt thick, heavy with the dry air.

  My throat burned, and even as I tried to ration my water, I could feel the dehydration creeping in. The land stretched endlessly—jagged rocks, skeletal trees, and nothing but death in every direction.

  Liora walked effortlessly beside me, not even winded, her pace light as if the heat meant nothing to her. I dragged my feet behind her, feeling every muscle protest. "You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?" I muttered between labored breaths.

  She smirked without missing a step. "You make suffering look entertaining."

  I wiped the sweat off my forehead with my sleeve. "And you make walking through hell look like a leisure stroll. Explain to me again why we couldn’t just take horses?"

  Liora tilted her head, casting me a teasing glance. "Because where we’re going, a horse and carriage can’t pass through. The terrain is too unstable. Besides, would you rather be walking through this heat or falling off a cliff?"

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  I exhaled sharply, feeling my patience thin. "Right now, falling off a cliff is starting to sound appealing."

  She laughed, shaking her head. "Oh, stop pouting. Five days of this will build character."

  "I think I’ve built enough character for a lifetime."

  Day two the wind came suddenly—hot, fierce, and blinding. A wall of dust and sand surged toward us like a living beast, howling as it swallowed the landscape. The fine grains stung my skin, forcing me to squeeze my eyes shut as I stumbled forward blindly. "We need to find shelter!" I shouted over the roar of the wind.

  Liora grabbed my wrist, her grip firm as she led me toward a jagged rock formation. The hollowed-out space barely provided cover, but it was enough to shield us from the worst of the storm. The moment we ducked inside, the wind hammered against the rock, sending loose sand swirling around us.

  I exhaled sharply, brushing sand off my robe. I could use magic.

  The thought crept in before I could stop it. A simple wind barrier would keep the worst of the storm away, but I hesitated. I had yet to show Liora what I was truly capable of, and something told me I should keep it that way—for now.

  Instead, I clenched my fists and endured, focusing on my breathing, feeling my muscles tense and relax. Survive without it. Train the body, not just the magic.

  That’s what Asmodean had drilled into me. And he had been right. Even without spells, I could withstand this. My endurance had grown stronger.

  I glanced at Liora, who remained perfectly at ease, watching me with that unreadable smirk. Did she suspect? Or was she simply amused by my suffering? Either way, I wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction.

  I shook the sand from my hair, feeling the grains slip between my fingers before scattering to the ground. "Great. First blistering heat, now sand trying to flay my skin off. Love this place."

  Liora smirked, brushing dust off her robes as she scooted closer. "Flintshire’s weather is unpredictable. But at least we’re warm."

  I frowned, suddenly aware of how close she was. "I think I’m warm enough, thanks."

  She hummed. "No need to be shy, Emrys," she teased, shifting slightly so that our shoulders pressed together. "Body heat keeps us alive."

  I stiffened, heat crawling up my neck. "Pretty sure I’m overheating as it is."

  She laughed softly, her breath warm against my ear. "Oh? Then should I move closer or further away?"

  I swallowed, suddenly regretting every decision that led me to this moment. "Further. Definitely further."

  She chuckled, making no effort to move. The storm raged outside, but inside our tiny refuge, the only thing I could focus on was the teasing amusement in her amber eyes—and the way she was clearly enjoying my discomfort.

  By day three, the jagged reds of Flintshire gave way to brittle grasslands, sparse patches of dry yellow grass swaying weakly in the occasional breeze. The air, while still warm, had lost the brutal intensity of the wastelands. The terrain became softer, less treacherous underfoot, though the emptiness remained—no villages, no signs of life, just open land stretching endlessly in all directions.

  That night, as we made camp beneath the dim sky of Flintshire, void of the twin moons, Liora sat across from me by the fire, idly rolling a twig between her fingers. The flames flickered against her eyes, reflecting like molten metal. "Tell me about Verdant Vale," she mused, her voice softer than usual.

  I hesitated, staring into the fire, before finally speaking. "It’s different from this. Green. Alive. The forests stretch for miles, thick with trees older than kingdoms. Rivers cut through the valleys, fresh and clear, and the air…" I exhaled, letting the memory settle. "It smells like earth after rain."

  Liora rested her chin on her palm, listening intently. "Sounds like a dream."

  I smirked slightly. "Compared to this? It is."

  She chuckled, tossing the twig into the fire. "You must miss it."

  I shrugged. "I don’t have time to miss things. I just keep moving."

  She hummed thoughtfully. "Spoken like someone who doesn’t know where he’s going."

  I glanced at her. "And you do?"

  She smiled, but didn’t answer. Instead, she leaned back against her pack, stretching her arms above her head. "One day, you’ll have to decide. Whether to keep running or find something worth stopping for."

  I didn’t reply, but I had my answer. I knew exactly where I was going—to my family. I missed them, more than I could admit. But Liora didn’t need to know that. Some things were better kept to myself.

  On the fourth day, the journey led us through a jagged mountain pass, the path uneven and sharp underfoot. The climb was steeper than expected, each step a battle against the loose gravel shifting beneath our boots. As I carefully maneuvered along a narrow ridge, a rock gave way beneath me. My foot slipped, my balance faltering as the edge crumbled beneath me.

  Before I could react, Liora’s hand shot out, grabbing my arm and yanking me back with surprising strength. I stumbled into her, breathing hard as I steadied myself.

  She smirked. "Careful, Emrys. I’d hate to have to carry you the rest of the way."

  I exhaled, rolling my shoulders. "I had it under control."

  "Mmm-hmm." She dusted off my sleeve with a smirk. "Of course you did."

  We continued our climb, finally reaching a flat clearing where we stopped to rest. As we sat on a large, sun-warmed rock, Liora pulled out a small pouch, tossing me a strip of dried meat. "Eat," she said simply.

  I took a bite, chewing slowly. "So, what’s your story?"

  She tilted her head, watching me with amusement. "What makes you think I have one?"

  I gestured vaguely. "Mysterious woman in a scandalous nun outfit, wandering a wasteland, taking in strays like me? Seems like a story worth telling."

  She chuckled, leaning back on her hands. "Let’s just say I’ve been many things. A traveller, a seeker, a collector of lost souls." Her gaze flickered with something unreadable.

  I frowned. "And what do you get out of it?"

  She smirked, tilting her head slightly. "Satisfaction."

  I narrowed my eyes at her cryptic answer. "Satisfaction from what?"

  Liora stretched her arms lazily before tossing a small rock into the fire. "Helping people find what they truly need. Some seek peace, others purpose. Eden offers both."

  I blinked at her. "Eden?" The name felt unfamiliar yet heavy, like it held meaning beyond what she was telling me. "Is that the so-called safe haven you’re taking me to?"

  She smiled knowingly. "One of them. Eden isn’t just a place—it’s a sanctuary. There are many Eden's scattered across Aether, places where people come to start anew, to be reborn into something better."

  Something about the way she said it sent a small shiver down my spine. "And this Eden… what exactly happens there?"

  Liora’s eyes gleamed in the firelight. "Whatever the soul desires, Emrys. Whatever you seek, Eden provides."

  I didn’t press further. There was something in the way she said it, a knowing edge to her tone that told me pushing wouldn’t get me the answers I wanted.

  For the first time since we met, I almost forgot to be wary of her.

  Almost.

  On our final day of travelling, I caught myself staring; at the way her robes clung to her, the sheen of sweat on her skin glistening under the setting sun. The long days of travel had left both of us coated in a thin layer of dust, but she somehow managed to make it look effortless, as if the grime of the road only enhanced her allure. Every time I looked away too quickly, she smirked, fully aware of the effect she had on me.

  Liora caught my gaze and let out a soft hum of amusement. "Well, here we are," she said, turning her gaze forward. "Redspire Ridge."

  I glanced at the jagged formations ahead, narrowing my eyes. "Redspire Ridge? That’s what this place is called?"

  Liora nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Fitting name, isn’t it? The iron-rich stone gives it that deep crimson hue, especially at dawn and dusk. When the sun hits it just right, the whole ridge looks like it’s bleeding. Some say it was once the site of an ancient battlefield, where so much blood was spilled that the land itself took on the color."

  I snorted. "Sounds charming. "

  The journey was long, but not difficult. Redspire Ridge’s path was smooth and well-worn, an old road winding between the towering red cliffs. The iron-rich stone gave everything a deep crimson hue, especially under the golden glow of the setting sun. The air was dry, but compared to the heat of the wastelands, it was manageable.

  Liora walked a step ahead, hands resting behind her back. "We’re almost there. This is the last stretch."

  I exhaled, rolling my shoulders. "Finally. I was starting to think this ‘paradise’ of yours was a myth."

  She chuckled. "You’ll see soon enough. But tell me, Emrys… did you enjoy this journey?"

  I eyed her warily. "Depends. Why do you ask?"

  She smiled, but there was a hint of something deeper in her gaze. "Well... this has been different. I don’t usually get along with kids, yet with you… it doesn’t feel like that. You seem to have years on you. More than I expected."

  I didn’t reply immediately. She wasn’t wrong, but I wasn’t about to confirm anything either. "Maybe I just had to grow up fast."

  Liora studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Maybe. Or maybe there’s more to you than you let on."

  The conversation ended there, as we reached the crest of the ridge. And just beyond it—on the horizon, standing like a mirage in the middle of the wasteland, was a sanctuary of white stone and golden banners.

  Eden.