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PROF PRESTON
I didn't know why but the whole ride was ridden with complete silence. Every single person was lost in their own thoughts. I miss my family and my dad. I just want to look them mind their face and tell them.stories of how we won the war against the god of the underworld but here I was stuck in somewhere looking like the end of the world.
I didn't want to lose my composure like some of the soldiers already tearing up but I couldn't help the fear I could feel in me. What if I am dead and this is just the in-between. Will that mean I will not be able to see my family anymore and I wouldn't be able to eat mama's famous mac and cheese or play caster cards with uncle Payne. I mentally slap myself, I can't be thinking like this. Thus cannot be the end.
We finally arrive at the place and I couldn't believe my eyes. Here in front of me was a shinning palace made of a black shinning metal and gold. In this land of darkness and shit I won't have imagined such an edifice could be built here. I could see the look of awe on the faces of all the people behind me and it made me glad. At least this is better than the gloomy faces they had before. The Reaper gives us a while to take in the palace before speaking.
"Follow me" it says and starts walking away. I hate to be bossed around but since I was in their land I follow him obediently. We walk for minutes passing hallways after hallwayfilled with beautiful sights and wonders and taking multiple stairs. The palace was not only just beautiful but it was so exotic i could just live here forever. The stench of death in the environment disappeared also immediately we entered and we were welcomed by the rich scent of flowers and herbs.
We might be rich in my family but this is even beyond what the King of Royals can achieve. It was just beyond imagination. I could even conclude it had an ethereal vibe. The person living here must have an enormous control over the elements and magic to make such a thing. From floating tiles to switching stairs. Balls of fire contained in ice as lighting and even golem guards. It will take multiple casters to do this
Not to mention how much magic it will drain and golem are dark magic that have been restricted from the beginning of time. I don't know who we are going to meet but I was scared of him already. To have this much control over bothe light and dark magic he will be a great foe for us. The best is to do all he says and not mess with him.
We finally arrive at a double door with five golem guards holding very sharp spears standing guard. The door unlike every other door in the palace was pure black and well decorated with gold murals carved into it. The Reaper faces me.
"This is how far I can go now the rest of your journey is up to you all. I wish you all good things" he says and faces the guards without waiting for our reply. It doesnt say a word before disappearing into thin air. Way to leave us midway. It was like its absence calmed the guards because they all dropped their weapons and move from the door to the sides. We walk forward and the huge doors open for us.
We walk into the room and I must admit this is by far the most beautiful place I have seen in the palace. It had multiple ice chandelier with a bright fire in it illuminating the whole room. The whole room was empty with no chair or person except the person on the throne at the far end of the room. Multiple pillars twisted and joined in the center to form a beautiful arc over the throne. Most of the wall was transpelarent glass and you could see the whole kingdom.
The night view of the kingdom was a little too beautiful for where we were just coming from. Multiple lights were one and the whole place was so beautiful with buildings of innatural structures beautified the view. There were some very dark trees that were shinning in the night from afar and I must admit I wouldn't hate having one in my garden. Their back leaves were neat and huge but in the darkness they were shinning like they were bathed in the moonlight itself.
We walk closer to the throne and once we all get close enough the person speaks.
"I have been expecting you guys for quite a while now. I didn't think you would give in easily but I'm happily you made it here as alive as you can be" the person says and his voice echoes round the whole room. I don't know why but his voice sends shivers down mu spine like the voice of someone who has haunted my dreams for a while and everyone around me could feel it to.
"We kinda got the invite late. You really have poor postal services wherever this is" I reply and he laughed heartily and his laughter shakes the whole room. It took us holding on to ourselves to not fall.
"I like you, now come forward" he says and I feel my body move on its own accord towards the throne. We all could not see the person since the throne was facing backwards but the moment I got close I feel a smile on his face before he turns the throne to face us.
The moment I saw his face I swear I prayed the ground would just swallow me up at that time. I didn't wish to see this face again ever and even though it was inevitable I never expected it to be so soon. I get a flash of the last time I saw him. He was bleeding back blood from his eyes as he called the darkness that almost killed us.
"Suprised to see me Cristian?" Haeclus says calling my name with a sinister smirk on his face and I was shaking. My blood was pumping very fast as my heartbeat was erratic. I know I'm not the best of persons he woild like to see right now but I have to keep my facade of confidence.
"Here to finish the job Haeclus" I replied in a shaky voice and he chuckled a very deep throaty laughter.
"The job is finished already" he says and it was not his words but his smile that made it all clear. The names the Reaper was calling him, the palace, the incessant wailing from the waters, the stench of death everywhere and most importantly the fact that I can't feel mana. I wasn't just anywhere. I was in the underworld and that is because I was dead.
"Ahh I though it will take you longer to put it all together but now that that is done we can move on" he says playfull and since there is nothing worse than death I didn't give a damn who he was.
"Ohh go fuck yourself Haeclus, because of a little brawl between you and your brother that you pulled us into you killed hundreds of innocent people who were just following orders. Taellus was right when he said you were the worst of them all" I say not giving a damn his reaction. He was shocked at first but later on he was intrigued. I guess he had never seen anyone speak to him in this manner.
"Well I won't say my brother is wrong to tell you I am the worst of them all, I am. I didn't kill you because of my brother's mistakes but because you were killing my people. I won't let you guys go scot free when you kill only one of my creatures not to talk of hundreds of them. I think you should direct your accusations to yourself" he says and I feel all the anger wash off of me and regret sets in. I shouldn't have spoken to him like that.
I know I am the one who is dead but he also lost a lot of creatures who unlike me does not have a chance to come back to the underworld and move one to afterlife. Seeing as he was speaking of them he treats them all as his children and it is unfair to blame a father avenging the death of his children.
"I'm sorry I was overwhelmed with emotions. It is not easy realising you don't have a life to a back to and to loose everything you have ever known such way" I say and he nods.
"Well if you have allowed me to speak you would know I did mean to kill you all but now I feel like I should give you all a second chance. Though the chance comes with a clause. I will give you two choices and whichever you choose must be a unanimous decision from all of you. I can't do either for some of you and leave the rest" he says and we all nod
"I'm sorry once again. What are the choices?" I ask and I hear murmurs of acknowledgement.
"It is very simple. You either choose to move on to the afterlife or you can return back to your planet. Just remember whichever you choose will have its clauses and you can't change your decisions once I have been told." He says and I scoffs. This is the simplest it can be? How uplifting. The murmur increases rapidly as everyone wanted to air their own opinion but that can't be done here.
"I'm sorry but how long do we have to make the decision?" I ask and he smiles
"Ohh I already forgot to mention it. You have three days to come to a conclusion. Once you do that Cristian only should get back to me woth your final decision. Now I would love to stay here and chat but the King of the underworld has jobs to get to. My butler will help you settle in and give you food." He says and gets up walking out of the room.
I was dumbfounded and confused hearing him speak to us in that manner. I have dealt with a few gods in my lifetime and I have never met one like him before. He spoke to us in such a casual and calm manner. Most gods would have made a decisiom for us or remanded us to eternity as his slaves. From his words and expression I could see the regret and apology.
He didn't mean to kill us and he wanted to everything to make it up to me. Why I was the one he wanted to speak to alone was the confusing bit but I couldn't help admiring his good nature. The butler arrives and thank the heavens he wasn't a golem or bones. He was a dwarf but he at least had a semblance of humanity.
"If you would please follow me" the dwarf says and starts walking away. We follow him through several hallways different from the one we passed before. How big is this place really? A long journey later we arrives at a very long hallway. The place looked more like a prison with multiple doors on each sides till the end. The battalion was placed in numbers of 4 to every room and the fact they never complained showed me they were all fine there.
I though the butler would place me with another set but I soon realise I wasn't getting a room with anyone else. At the end of the hallway there was a room standing ajar the open space and that was where I was placed. Once we all had a room the butler bows down and disappears into thin air. I really need to learn this new disappearing magic soon.
I open the door and I was marvelled by what I saw. The room was exactly like my room at home. It had my bed sheets, same decorations and even all my pictures were there. I open the cupboard and it was arranged the same way I left my clothes at home with even the same clothes. How is this even possible? I fall on the bed and almost immediately fell asleep.
I will deal with the future when the time comes but till then I need my sanit