The journey back to the netherworld was quiet, almost unnervingly so. Thana didn't expect fanfare, nor did she want it. She slipped through the shadows, her presence unnoticed by the busy celestials preparing for more festivities now that the rebellion had been crushed. No one stopped her; no one called out her name. It was as if she had never been there at all.
As she made her way through the shimmering pathways that connected the realms, Thana took in the peaceful surroundings. The heavenly realm was beautiful, she would give it that. The skies were endless, filled with soft, radiant clouds that shimmered in the light of a thousand stars. But it wasn't her home. It never would be.
Her home was the netherworld—dark, quiet, and hidden from the radiance of the celestial realm. The thought of returning there brought her a sense of comfort. She missed the cool shadows, the stillness that allowed her to think, the peace that came with solitude.
When she finally reached the border that separated the heavenly realm from the netherworld, Thana paused for a moment. She looked back at the shimmering golden gates in the distance, where the grand feast would soon resume. The Supreme Heavenly Lord would continue ruling, and the celestials would go on with their lives as if nothing had ever happened. But for Thana, this felt like the end of something—a chapter closing.
She exhaled slowly and stepped into the darkness, letting the shadows envelop her.
Back in the netherworld, everything was exactly as she had left it. The air was cold, the skies perpetually covered in a thick mist, and the ground was quiet beneath her feet. The familiar sense of stillness wrapped around her like an old cloak. Here, she didn't have to pretend. She didn't have to blend in or keep an eye on suspicious servants. Here, she was just Thana, the keeper of souls.
Her small, simple home stood at the edge of the river of oblivion. As she approached, she noticed the faint glow from the lanterns she had left burning before her departure. She opened the door, and the familiar scent of dried herbs and wood greeted her.
Thana let out a deep sigh as she stepped inside, closing the door behind her. It felt good to be back. She had always preferred the quiet of the netherworld to the noise and politics of the celestial realm. She never felt like she belonged up there, among the gods and deities with their endless rules and formalities. Her place was here, among the lost and forgotten.
Without thinking, she began to clean the small space, sweeping away the dust that had collected in her absence. As she moved around, her mind drifted back to the rebellion. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something bigger. There had been too much anger, too much hatred among the rebels. Even though the Supreme Heavenly Lord had restored order, that kind of unrest didn't just disappear.
As she placed a fresh candle on the table, there was a soft knock at the door. Thana paused, her hand hovering over the candle. She wasn't expecting anyone.
The knock came again, more insistent this time.
With a frown, Thana crossed the room and opened the door. Standing in the doorway was a figure cloaked in darkness, their face hidden beneath a hood. But Thana didn't need to see their face to know who they were.
"Thana," the figure said, their voice low and familiar. "We need to talk."
Thana stepped aside, allowing the figure to enter. She closed the door behind them and turned to face the visitor.
"What is it?" she asked, folding her arms over her chest. She wasn't in the mood for more surprises, not after everything that had just happened in the heavenly realm.
The figure lowered their hood, revealing a young man with sharp features and piercing eyes. He was one of the celestial guards—a trusted aide to the Supreme Heavenly Lord. Thana recognized him immediately, though she had never spoken to him directly before.
"I came to thank you," he said, his tone surprisingly gentle. "For what you did during the rebellion."
Thana raised an eyebrow, her skepticism clear. "I didn't do much. I just followed orders."
The guard shook his head. "You did more than that. You played a crucial role in stopping the traitors. The Supreme Heavenly Lord wanted me to tell you that personally."
Thana felt a pang of discomfort at the praise. She wasn't used to it, and she didn't want it. "It's done now," she said, brushing off the compliment. "There's no need to dwell on it."
The guard studied her for a moment, his eyes searching her face. "You don't believe it's over, do you?"
Thana didn't answer right away. She had been thinking the same thing, but hearing someone else voice it made the feeling more real. "No," she admitted quietly. "I don't."
The guard nodded, as if he had expected that answer. "Neither do I."
There was a long pause, the air in the room growing heavy with unspoken tension. Finally, the guard spoke again. "There are still whispers. Rumors of others who share the same sentiment as the rebels. They're hiding for now, but they won't stay quiet forever."
Thana sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Of course. It's never just one rebellion, is it?"
The guard shook his head. "No. But we'll be ready for them. The Supreme Heavenly Lord won't allow another uprising."
Thana wasn't so sure. Power, she had learned, was never truly stable. There were always those who wanted more, those who believed they deserved more. And while the Supreme Heavenly Lord had crushed this rebellion, there would always be others waiting in the shadows, biding their time.
"Tell him…" Thana hesitated, unsure of what to say. "Tell him I'll be here. If he needs me."
The guard gave a small nod, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "He knows. And he's grateful."
With that, the guard turned and left, leaving Thana alone once more.
She stood in the quiet of her home, staring at the closed door. The netherworld was peaceful again, and yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that it wouldn't last. The shadows were stirring, and she would have to be ready when they came for her.
For now, though, she would enjoy the peace while it lasted.