Thana stood by the door for a moment longer after the guard left, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She wasn't surprised that whispers of unrest remained—it was always like this. Power didn't just disappear, and those who craved it wouldn't be silenced forever.
With a tired sigh, she turned back to her small, familiar home. The quiet of the netherworld was soothing, but the stillness only reminded her of how everything in the celestial realm was far from resolved. She ran her fingers along the edge of the wooden table where her lantern sat, the warm light flickering softly in the darkened room.
Her thoughts wandered back to the Supreme Heavenly Lord, his calm demeanor in the midst of chaos, and how, despite the outward peace, the rebellion had affected him. She'd seen the look in his eyes during the banquet—the calm exterior masking the storm of emotions beneath. He knew, as she did, that the fight wasn't truly over.
As she moved toward her bed, the flickering light casting long shadows on the walls, she felt a strange unease settle in her chest. She had wanted to believe that returning to the netherworld would bring her peace, that she could resume her life of solitude without any further involvement in celestial politics. But something gnawed at her, a feeling that she was far from done with the events in the heavenly realm.
The sound of rustling fabric pulled her out of her thoughts. A small, shadowy figure emerged from the corner of her room—one of the little creatures that often assisted her in the netherworld, their glowing eyes peeking out from beneath their hooded cloak.
"Thana," the creature's voice was soft but insistent. "There is news from the river."
Thana's brow furrowed. "The river of oblivion?"
The creature nodded, stepping closer. "Yes. A new soul has arrived. They say it is one who was part of the rebellion."
Thana's chest tightened at the mention of the rebellion. She had assumed all the traitors had been dealt with, their souls dispersed and lost to the universe. But if one had ended up here, in the netherworld, it meant something had gone terribly wrong.
Without another word, she grabbed her cloak and followed the creature out into the misty night. The air was cool against her skin as they made their way through the dense fog, the path toward the river familiar to her. She had crossed it many times, guiding lost souls to their final rest, erasing their memories before sending them off to the mortal realm.
The river was just as she remembered—its dark waters flowing endlessly, carrying the memories of countless souls. Standing at the water's edge was another figure, draped in the familiar robes of the netherworld, their head bowed as if in mourning.
Thana approached cautiously, her eyes narrowing as she studied the figure. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice steady but firm.
The figure turned slowly, revealing a face she recognized immediately. It was one of the rebels—one of the traitors she had seen in the banquet hall, standing with the leader of the uprising.
"I am no one now," the rebel said, their voice hollow. "I am nothing."
Thana's grip tightened around the hilt of the small blade she always carried, more out of habit than fear. "Why are you here?"
The rebel's eyes flickered with a mix of regret and despair. "I was sent here… because I failed. The Supreme Heavenly Lord's punishment."
Thana's expression softened slightly, though she kept her guard up. "And what do you want from me?"
The rebel shook their head, their gaze fixed on the river. "I don't want anything from you. I'm already lost. I just… I didn't expect to end up here."
Thana stepped closer, her tone gentler now. "No one does."
There was a long silence between them, the sound of the river filling the air. The rebel seemed to be lost in thought, their eyes tracing the flowing water as if searching for answers within it.
"Do you regret it?" Thana finally asked, breaking the silence.
The rebel didn't answer right away. When they did, their voice was quiet, barely above a whisper. "I regret… not realizing sooner that we could never win. I regret thinking we could stand against him."
Thana nodded slowly. She had seen the Supreme Heavenly Lord's power up close, and she understood the futility of trying to overthrow him. But there was something more that she sensed in the rebel—an underlying sadness that went beyond their failed rebellion.
"What happens to me now?" the rebel asked, their voice trembling slightly.
Thana stepped forward, her hand resting on the rebel's shoulder. "You cross the river. You forget. And then… you'll begin again."
The rebel nodded, their shoulders slumping as the weight of their fate settled over them. Thana guided them to the river's edge, her movements calm and assured, as they stood before the flowing waters of oblivion.
"You'll forget everything," she said softly, her eyes locked on the river. "Your life, your regrets, your pain. It will all be gone."
The rebel hesitated for a moment, their eyes lingering on the water. "Will I be forgiven?"
Thana's gaze softened. "In time, perhaps. But once you cross, you won't remember enough to ask for forgiveness."
With a deep breath, the rebel stepped into the river. The dark water rippled around them, slowly pulling them deeper into its embrace. Thana watched as the figure faded, their form becoming one with the current until they were gone, erased from memory.
Thana stood at the riverbank long after the rebel had disappeared, her thoughts swirling like the waters before her. The netherworld was a place of endings, but it was also a place of beginnings. And yet, for her, it always felt like the end of something greater—something she could never fully escape.
The next morning, Thana returned to her small home, the weight of the previous night still heavy on her mind. She had guided countless souls to the river, each one leaving a mark on her that she could never quite shake. But this time, it felt different. The rebellion, the unrest, the chaos—it was all still too fresh.
As she sat by her window, staring out into the mist, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of another knock at the door. This time, she wasn't surprised. She knew who it was before she even opened the door.
Standing there was the Supreme Heavenly Lord's aide, the same one who had visited her the previous night. His expression was serious, his eyes filled with a quiet intensity.
"Thana," he said, his voice steady. "There's been a development."
Thana arched an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest. "What kind of development?"
The aide stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "There are more rebels. They're hiding in the mortal realm."
Thana's jaw clenched. She had hoped that the rebellion had been quashed, that the traitors had been dealt with. But it seemed that the unrest was far from over.
"What do you need from me?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.
The aide's eyes met hers, his expression unreadable. "The Supreme Heavenly Lord wants you to go to the mortal realm. There are whispers of another uprising."
Thana sighed, rubbing her temples. She had just returned to the netherworld, hoping for some peace, but it seemed that peace was never truly an option for her.
"I'll go," she said, her voice resigned. "But tell him… this better be the last time."
The aide gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "He knows."
With that, the aide turned and left, leaving Thana alone once more.
She sat there for a long moment, staring out into the misty expanse of the netherworld. She had thought that by returning here, she could escape the chaos of the celestial realm. But it seemed that no matter where she went, the unrest would follow.
With a heavy sigh, Thana stood and began preparing for her journey to the mortal realm. The shadows were stirring again, and once more, she would have to face them.
But this time, she would be ready.