The Life After Death

  Chapter 29: Depths of Eden

  Pain was the first thing I registered.

  Not the sharp, searing kind, but a dull ache that settled deep in my bones, a lingering reminder of the endless torment my body had endured. My breath hitched as I jolted awake and snapped open my eyes, my heart pounding in my chest, the panic of the Mother—Delphina’s last session still fresh in my mind.

  I forced myself to breathe, to shake the terror that clung to me like a second skin.

  Looking around, my eyes adjusted to the dim candlelight flickering against the damp stone walls.

  Aria laid motionless on the ground, frail and unmoving. Lea was curled up, her knees pulled tightly against her chest, her small body trembling in her sleep. The other two girls… they were gone.

  My stomach twisted.

  I turned sharply. "Ren!" My voice cracked as I scanned the cell. "Where is everyone?!"

  The only person left was Alric, who sat silently in his usual spot, his head tilted slightly downward.

  "Ren is no longer here," Alric said quietly. "He never came back."

  A cold wave of dread washed over me. "What… what do you mean?" I whispered, my throat tightening. "How long have I been out?"

  Alric exhaled, his voice emotionless. "Three days. You were battered and bruised. Your face barely recognizable. Ren and the others thought they should follow your steps and stand up."

  He turned his head slightly toward me. "But look where that led them."

  I felt my body freeze, a crushing weight settling on my chest.

  Alric’s voice was quiet but firm. "Aria has been lying like that ever since she returned from her last session with The Mother. Every time they came to fetch you and you were still unconscious, they took her instead." A pause. "I’m still surprised she’s breathing."

  A deep pit of guilt opened inside me. This is my fault.

  Ren was gone. The others, gone. And Aria… she had suffered in my place, again and again, because I wasn’t awake to take the burden myself.

  My stomach twisted painfully, the weight of it pressing down on my chest like a stone. I did this.

  I had tried to take control, to sacrifice myself, but all I had done was invite more suffering. Ren had believed in me, had followed my lead—and now he was gone. The others, who had tried to stand like I did, had vanished into the darkness of this place, swallowed whole.

  And Aria… she had paid the price for my failure.

  I gritted my teeth, my hands shaking as I clenched them into fists. Was this what it meant to fight back? To challenge them?

  I thought I was protecting them, but all I had done was hand them over to a worse fate.

  I forced myself to look at Aria’s still body, her shallow breathing the only proof she was still alive. The bruises on her skin, the way she hadn't moved—it was my fault.

  A deep, unbearable nausea crawled through me. I was supposed to be strong enough to endure for them. But instead, they suffered in my place.

  The walls felt like they were closing in. My breath came too fast, my chest tight. I wanted to scream, to lash out, to hit something—anything to make the guilt stop crushing me. But I couldn’t.

  I clenched my fists, forcing my breath to steady. "I’m sorry," I muttered, barely above a whisper. "This is my fault."

  Alric didn’t respond. He simply lowered his head slightly.

  I swallowed hard and ran my fingers over my face, expecting to feel bruises, swelling—but there was nothing.

  My fingers trailed lower, lifting the hem of my shirt. Dark purple spots littered my skin, but there was no sharp pain, only the lingering pressure of past wounds.

  "A few hours after you returned, your face healed," Alric said, answering my unspoken question. "It’s probably the potions they give afterward."

  I frowned, looking at him. "Are you sure you blind? How do you know all these things?"

  Alric let out a quiet chuckle, though it lacked humor. "I’m in the same nightmare you’re in. I’ve had my share of engagements with the nuns."

  I let his words sink in, then closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. I can’t wait anymore.

  The pieces were moving, but not in my favor. If I didn’t act soon, there would be nothing left to save. I just need everyone at full strength when it happens.

  Hours passed, the silence suffocating. Then a small stir. A weak groan.

  Aria’s eyes fluttered open.

  I sat up instantly. "Aria!"

  She turned her head weakly, blinking as if adjusting to the dim light. Her lips parted slightly, and for a moment, she just stared at me.

  Then, holding back tears, she whispered, "Emrys... Are you okay?"

  I felt something in my chest tighten. Even after everything she had been through, the first thing she asked was about me.

  I forced a small smile. "Don’t worry. I’m fine."

  She exhaled, her body relaxing slightly. Then, in a quiet voice, she muttered, "Thanks for taking my place before."

  A faint smirk pulled at the corner of her lips. "But I’ve taken your place three times in the last three days, so you owe me."

  I rubbed the back of my head, the chains rattling softly. "I’m sorry I put you through that. I’ll make it up to you."

  A slight blush crept onto her face, but she quickly shook it off, rolling her eyes. "You don’t need to. I can handle myself."

  I smiled.

  Before either of us could say anything else, the heavy doors creaked open.

  Two white-robed men stepped inside, their eyes scanning the cell before one of them muttered, "He’s awake. Tell the Mother."

  As the door slammed shut, I turned back to the others. My expression hardened.

  "I need you all to bear this for one more week," I said firmly. "Try to get through it by any means possible, but do not exert your energy or mana. I will let you know when it’s time to do so."

  Aria narrowed her eyes. "What are you thinking?"

  Alric tilted his head slightly toward her. "Just trust him this time."

  I looked at Alric, nodding slightly. "Thanks."

  Then, the doors opened again.

  The Mother and the Serpent entered, their presence filling the room like a suffocating fog.

  Naamah’s smile stretched wide, her eyes gleaming with delight. "Oh, my specimen is awake!"

  Delphina, however, merely regarded me with mild disappointment. "Took long enough for you to come back to your senses."

  Naamah giggled, stepping forward. "Now that you’re awake, it’s time we make up for lost time."

  Delphina lifted her chin. "From this day forward, each person in this chamber will go through purification with both Naamah and I."

  My body tensed. "No."

  Naamah shivered in ecstasy, while Delphina’s gaze turned cold. "Don’t forget my rules, boy."

  Naamah leaned forward, smirking. "Oh, Lady Delphina, let’s hear him out. He’s always so interesting."

  I exhaled sharply. "I’ll take it all. Every single session. Just leave the others alone."

  Silence fell over the chamber.

  Then—laughter. Delphina threw her head back, laughing in sheer delight, while Naamah practically trembled with excitement.

  "Indeed, you are willing," Delphina purred, amusement dripping from her tone. "Very well. You will have two sessions with me. Every day."

  Naamah pouted. "That’s not fair. He’s supposed to be my specimen."

  Delphina scoffed, turning toward the door. "You’ll have your time with him."

  As the two walked out, I clenched my fists, forcing my breath to steady. One week. That’s all I need.

  "Is this your idiot plan?!" Aria's voice cut through the silence, raw with frustration. "What are you thinking?! I am stronger than you, and even I wouldn't survive all of that!"

  I met her glare with a faint smile as I leaned back against the wall, letting my body rest against the cold stone.

  Aria scoffed, shaking her head. "Perfect. Now you choose the silent treatment."

  Alric's voice came softer, more cautious. "Emrys... what are you thinking?"

  I let my eyes close briefly, my thoughts drifting back—not to this prison, not to this life, but to the one before it.

  I’ve seen worse. Done worse.

  Bloodied hands. The lifeless eyes of those I had killed. The tortures I had endured, and the ones I had performed. The countless bodies left in my wake. The things that would haunt anyone else for a lifetime were just memories to me—familiar, detached.

  This wasn’t new. Pain. Breaking. It had all been a part of me long before I even stepped foot in this world.

  I am the only one here with the mental capacity to endure this and come out unscathed.

  I glanced at Aria’s weakened form, at Lea’s trembling body, at Alric’s unreadable expression. They aren't built for this. Their suffering would crush them. But me? I have already been through hell. This is just another version of it.

  The only concern was my body. My strength. No matter how much I had suffered in my past life, I was still physically weak in this one. That has to change. Now.

  I let out a slow exhale, my focus sharpening. I will refine my manaheart as I sit here.

  Asmodean’s training had taught me how to endure, how to mold myself through suffering. This is no different.

  The week that followed blurred into a cycle of torment, one that pushed the limits of my endurance further than I ever thought possible.

  Each day I'd wake, the Serpent came for me first. Naamah, with her sultry whispers and twisted patience, worked to bend me to her will.

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  "You're making this harder than it needs to be, my willing one," she whispered against my ear one day, her breath warm against my skin.

  But as the days passed, her patience frayed.

  "Why resist?" she hissed one evening, her lips curled in frustration. "You act as if you don’t enjoy my touch."

  "I don't," I said bluntly.

  She clicked her tongue, her green eyes narrowing. "Lies."

  Her hands ventured lower, but I wrenched away, my chains rattling. That was the moment she snapped. Gone was her teasing tone. Instead of cutting my clothes, she cut me.

  A small blade traced across my skin, leaving shallow slashes at my neck, two on my chest, and one along my hip.

  I said nothing, clenching my jaw against the pain. I had fought hard to deny her what she wanted, and she had punished me for it.

  Then came the sessions with The Mother.

  Delphina was different.

  Her satisfaction came not from pleasure, but from pain. Each session began with the same cruel ritual—her cold blue eyes scanning me with twisted delight, savoring the anticipation of what was to come.

  "Such a willing one," she would murmur after each session, watching me collapse onto the floor before ordering me to wash away the blood.

  The process was always the same; I would be dragged back, barely able to stand, forced to cleanse myself before returning for more.

  My body was failing, struggling to keep up. I could feel myself getting weaker. But I had to endure it. I had to make it to the end of the week.

  In the rare hours we weren’t being used, I spent my time in the chamber with Aria, Alric, and Lea. I taught them what I could, guiding them on how to refine their manaheart, how to strengthen their resilience, and how to conserve their energy.

  The first few sessions were difficult. Aria, stubborn as ever, struggled the most, her frustration evident every time she failed to control the flow of mana properly. "Damn it!" she snapped one evening, clenching her fists. "How the hell do you make it look so easy?"

  I smirked, shaking my head. "It’s not about forcing it. You’re trying too hard. Just let it flow naturally."

  She scoffed, crossing her arms. "Let it flow naturally? That’s the dumbest—"

  She paused, inhaled sharply, then tried again. This time, the mana inside her pulsed with more stability. Her eyes widened slightly before she masked it with a frown. "Hmph. Beginner’s luck."

  Alric, on the other hand, grasped it almost instantly. "Like this?" he asked on the first try, his mana pulsing steadily with controlled precision.

  I blinked, slightly impressed. "Yeah… exactly like that."

  Aria threw her hands up. "Of course. Of course he gets it right away."

  Lea, the quietest among us, took longer to gain confidence, but with patience, she improved. "You’re doing fine," I reassured her when she hesitated. "Just take your time."

  "But what if I fail?" she whispered.

  I gave her a small smile. "Then we try again."

  Slowly but surely, progress was made.

  Even in this place, through all the exhaustion, there were moments of reprieve—Aria rolling her eyes when I teased her from across the cell, smirking as she muttered something under her breath about how insufferable I was.

  "You think you're so clever, don't you?" Her voice edged with exhaustion, but still holding that familiar spark of defiance.

  "I'm just stating facts," I’d reply, leaning back against the wall with a grin.

  Alric would chuckle from his corner, shaking his head. "The two of you argue like an old married couple."

  Aria's face turned a shade darker as she scoffed, quickly looking away. "Shut up, Alric."

  I laughed, tilting my head. "Wait, wait... was that a blush?"

  "No!" she shot back, still refusing to meet my gaze. "You're an idiot."

  Lea let out a small giggle, muffled behind her knees, before quickly composing herself.

  Those moments were small and rare, but they mattered. They reminded us we were still human.

  And just like that, the week passed, bringing us to what I could only assume was the next day. This was it. The day I had promised them we would get through. The day we had been building up to, surviving one moment at a time. Today was that day.

  But something was different.

  The Serpent did not come for me.

  Instead, two men in white robes entered the chamber, their gazes landing directly on me. One of them raised a hand and pointed. "Come. The Mother demands your presence."

  A ripple of unease coursed through me. The routine had changed. That alone was enough to set me on edge. But whatever it was, whatever had caused the shift, I would adapt.

  As I stepped forward, my body moving on instinct despite the exhaustion, the white-robed men led me through the dimly lit halls. The wails and screams of others echoed behind closed doors, a haunting melody of suffering. I had grown used to it, but today, it seemed louder. More distinct. As if the walls themselves were trying to warn me.

  Then, just ahead, I saw her.

  The Saint of Sins... Seraphina.

  She stood a few feet away from the Mother’s chamber, her sheer robes barely covering her pale skin, her expression one of cruel amusement. When our eyes met, her lips curled into a slow, wicked smile. "Ah, Emrys," she purred, tilting her head. "I’ve heard such great things about you."

  My stomach twisted. I didn’t respond, but that only seemed to amuse her further. She took a step closer, her eyes gleaming. "I do hope you like surprises." Her smile widened, reaching her eyes, dark with something unreadable.

  I scoffed, my lip curling in disgust. "If it’s anything like that smile of yours, I’ll pass."

  Her laughter was soft, almost melodic, but it sent a chill down my spine. She said nothing more, only stepping aside as the men knocked on the heavy doors of the Mother’s chamber.

  A voice, cold and commanding, rang from within. "Enter."

  The white-robed men obeyed, opening the door before roughly shoving me inside. The moment I stumbled forward, the door slammed shut behind me.

  And then—I saw it.

  My breath caught in my throat, a wave of shock and horror crashing over me.

  Delphina's voice broke through the silence, smooth and deliberate. "Do you like what you see?"

  Hung up by her arms, naked and exposed, was Liora.

  Golden crosses covered the areolas of her breast, but nothing could hide the deep stab wounds lining her thighs and arms, the grotesque bruises blooming across her skin in shades of purple and black. Her tongue hung slightly from her mouth, her eyes half-rolled back, her body swaying as if she was lost in some sick, forced state of pleasure.

  But through it all, beneath the haze of whatever drug they had given her, I could see it—

  The suffering. The pain.

  And for the first time since entering Eden, I felt something snap inside me.

  My hands clenched into fists, my nails biting into my palms as a surge of anger and disbelief rushed through me.

  My breath came unevenly, my mind racing between the rage bubbling beneath my skin and the aching concern for Liora's state. I forced my voice to remain steady, though it came out tight with barely restrained fury.

  "What have you done to her?" I demanded, my gaze locked on Delphina. "Why is she here?"

  Delphina let out a light laugh, shaking her head as if disgusted. "Do you think I did this?" She waved a hand dismissively at Liora, her blue eyes gleaming with amusement. "This is a disgusting sight. I would never sully my hands with such filth. No, Emrys… the Disciplinarian did this."

  The word sent a chill through me. The Disciplinarian? Another piece of this twisted nightmare I had yet to encounter. Another name to burn into my mind.

  Before I could ask, Delphina continued, her voice smooth, almost amused. "As for why she is here? She is here to amuse herself."

  Her lips curled into a knowing smirk as she stepped closer, lowering her tone as if sharing a private joke. "To witness the beauty of your willingness. To see your purification up close."

  I glanced at Liora again, my stomach twisting into knots.

  Despite everything, despite the anger simmering beneath my skin, I couldn’t ignore the concern gnawing at me. She looked broken, but I had seen the fire in her once before.

  Had she ever truly cared for me, or had she been playing a role all along? I wanted to believe she had meant something, that there had been truth in those moments we shared. But now… now she was a shell of whatever she used to be.

  Delphina’s voice cut through my thoughts like a blade. "Go wash, boy. Let’s give her a show."

  I swallowed my rage, forcing my face to remain unreadable as I turned toward the tub. My movements were slow, calculated. Every part of me ached, but I knew this routine well enough now to play along.

  I stepped into the water, washing away the blood and filth, preparing for whatever horror was coming next.

  As I got out the tub, I moved toward the white stone—the same one I had checked before. Without hesitation, I slid it aside, my fingers wrapping around the cold hilt of my dagger.

  It was still there. So was Asmodean’s orb. I put on the white clothes tucking the dagger carefully at the back of my pants, hiding it beneath my shirt.

  Delphina called me back into the room. This time, I was ready.

  It started as usual with her smacks. But this time, Delphina was really enjoying it. With each hard slap, she turned to Liora, her voice dripping with amusement. "Are you enjoying the show?"

  Liora only stared blankly, her eyes unfocused, drool slipping from the corner of her mouth. Whatever they had given her had dulled her entirely—her body swayed slightly as she hung there, her mind lost in a fog of drugs and pain.

  Delphina let out a dramatic sigh, feigning disappointment. "Not bleeding today?" she mused, tilting her head at me. "How dull."

  I met her gaze, unfazed. "Do your worst."

  A shiver of delight ran through her, her expression shifting into something far worse—excitement of control. "Oh, I like you," she whispered, stepping away. "Let's make this a first, then."

  She reached behind her, and when she turned back, an iron pole gleamed in her grip.

  Liora shifted. Just slightly, but I caught it.

  Her fingers twitched, her body tensing for the first time. Her eyes, though still clouded, focused just a little more. But the drool still dripped down her body, trailing along the bruises and open wounds before splattering onto the stone floor.

  Delphina ran a hand along the length of the pole, a wicked smirk curving her lips. "This is the first time someone is willing for this. Let's see how much you can take, my little offering."

  She took a step forward, and I braced myself. This time, I wouldn't just endure—I would remember every moment, every strike. Because soon, very soon, it would be her turn to feel pain.

  As she swung, I finally reacted.

  My body moved instinctively, and in one swift motion, I reached behind my back and blocked the incoming strike with my dagger. The clang of iron against my dagger echoed through the chamber, the force of the impact jolting up my arm.

  Shock flashed across Delphina’s face, her blue eyes widening as she stumbled back slightly. "Where did you get that?!" she hissed, rage dripping from every syllable.

  I smirked, gripping the dagger tightly as I leveled my gaze at her. "Let's give her a show."

  Without hesitation, I mustered the flame in my right hand, the heat igniting instantly as fire coiled around my palm. The fury inside me roared to life, and with all the pent-up rage I had suppressed, I struck forward, aiming directly for Delphina’s face.

  Burn, bitch!

  She was fast. Faster than I expected. She twisted her body, barely avoiding a direct hit, but the flames grazed her cheek. A sharp hiss of burning flesh filled the air, and a scream of agony ripped from her throat. Her hand shot up to her face, her fingers trembling over the fresh burn marks that marred her skin.

  "You… you will pay for this, you bastard!" she spat, her voice laced with fury and disbelief.

  But before she could finish the sentence, I was already moving.

  Using my air magic, I propelled myself forward, closing the distance between us in an instant. The moment I rose into the air, I drove my dagger deep into her left shoulder, twisting the blade as she howled in pain. Blood spurted from the wound, and she crumpled to her knees, her screams reverberating through the chamber.

  Her body convulsed as she lifted one trembling hand. Her lips started moving and the walls rumbled, vibrating violently as cracks formed along the stone—she's an earth mage?

  But that didn’t make sense. The metal infused in these walls was supposed to prevent that.

  I didn’t wait to find out how she was doing it.

  Before she could finish her spell, I exhaled sharply. "Enjoy this."

  I swung my fist forward, putting everything I had into one final strike. My knuckles connected with her temple, the impact sending a shockwave through my arm. Delphina’s head snapped to the side, her body going limp as she collapsed onto the cold stone floor, completely unconscious.

  For a brief moment, silence filled the chamber.

  Then, I turned to Liora, my breath ragged, my body trembling—not from fear, but from the adrenaline still coursing through my veins.

  It's time to end this nightmare.

  Wasting no time, I yanked my dagger from Delphina’s shoulder, leaving her to bleed out on the cold stone floor.

  My feet carried me forward, my pulse hammering in my ears as I approached Liora’s bound form. Her limp body swayed slightly, the golden restraints glinting under the dim light. Even in her drugged state, her suffering was evident.

  I hesitated for just a second, staring at her bruised and battered form. Despite everything—despite my anger toward her—I couldn’t just leave her like this.

  My fingers tightened around the hilt of my dagger as I leaned in, whispering, "I don’t hate you, but I don’t forgive you either. I'm trying to be a better version of the man I used to be."

  With a swift motion, I sliced through the restraints. Liora’s body collapsed to the floor, completely limp. She barely reacted, only a faint, dazed breath slipping past her lips. I quickly cut a strip of the red draping from the side of the chamber and covered her, concealing as much of her exposed form as possible.

  Hoping this would work, I mustered a small stream of water magic, letting it trickle onto her lips. "This should help." I muttered under my breath, but she remained unmoving.

  I didn’t have time to wait.

  I turned toward the chamber’s entrance, spotting a set of keys hooked near the door. My hand shot out, snatching them as I rushed to unlock the door. But just as I was about to push it open, muffled voices echoed from the other side.

  "Mother? Is everything alright?"

  My grip on the dagger tightened as I stepped back, pressing myself against the wall. The white-robed men were right outside.

  A second voice joined the first. "Mother, we’re coming in."

  I exhaled sharply, bracing myself. The door swung open, and the two men stepped inside, their eyes immediately locking onto Liora’s motionless body on the ground. Confusion flickered across their faces—

  Then their gazes snapped to Delphina’s unconscious, bloodied form.

  "Moth—" one of them barely had the chance to speak before I lunged, slashing my dagger clean across his throat. His eyes bulged as he staggered back, a gurgled choke escaping his lips before he collapsed in a heap.

  The second man barely had time to react before I flicked my wrist, sending a sharp burst of air magic his way. The force sent him flying back, his skull slamming into the ceiling before he crashed to the ground, unconscious.

  I didn’t stop to check if he was still alive.

  My body moved on instinct as I left Liora behind, my muscles screaming in protest.

  Even though I trained with Asmodean, this small body is still not ready to take on adults swiftly. I am getting lucky.

  Gritting my teeth, I bolted out of the chamber, my mind racing. I had memorized the hallways, the doors, the turns I had taken every day for the past week.

  I knew exactly where I was going.

  As I skidded around a corner, the heavy chamber door I sought came into view. My heart pounded as I slammed the keys into the lock, twisting them until I heard the faint click of freedom.

  I shoved the door open.

  Inside, Aria, Alric, and Lea sat in their cells. Their eyes snapped to me in an instant, shock flashing across their faces. For a heartbeat, silence filled the space.

  Then I spoke, my voice firm, unwavering.

  "It’s time."