The Life After Death

  Chapter 19: Answers

  The cavern felt like a prison. I had spent the last few hours searching for any possible way out—even trying to use my magic—channelling earth to climb the walls, pushing air to propel me upward. None of it worked, and all I managed to do was exhaust myself further. The only exit remained sealed in mystery, and frustration burned in my chest as I made my way back to the fire.

  Asmodean was exactly where I had left him, sitting cross-legged near the fire pit, a wooden cup in his hands. He took a slow sip of what I assumed was water, his gaze flicking toward me with an amused glint.

  “Did you find what you were looking for, boy?” he asked, a chuckle rolling through his throat.

  I let out a sharp exhale, sitting down across from him. “You already told me there’s only one way out. Why’d I even bother?”

  He smirked but said nothing, simply extending his hand, offering me a similar wooden cup. I took it, feeling the cool liquid inside.

  “We’re going to be together for some time,” he reminded me, his tone light but laced with certainty. “Might as well get comfortable.”

  I sighed and took a sip. The water was crisp, refreshing against my parched throat. “Old man, tell me—why is it really going to take so long?”

  Asmodean leaned back slightly, resting one arm over his knee. “Because I am going to create a rift in space,” as if it were as simple as lighting a fire.

  I blinked, nearly choking as I spat out the water I had been sipping. "What?! You’re joking."

  He smirked. “Do I seem like the type?”

  I studied him, my grip on the cup tightening. “That… doesn’t even sound possible.”

  “For most, it’s not,” he admitted. “It requires an immense amount of mana, and even then, it’s unstable. I need at least six months to gather the mana required. Only then can I create a portal strong enough that should send you where you need to be.”

  My stomach twisted. “Wait—should put me where I need to be?”

  Asmodean chuckled, taking another slow sip. “Don’t worry, boy. It will.”

  My brows knitted together, leaning slightly forward. “How? How will I just ‘get to where I need to be’ once I step through?”

  Asmodean tilted his head slightly, his smirk fading into something more thoughtful. "It’s not just about stepping through, boy. The portal itself is merely a bridge. Where it leads depends on you."

  I frowned. "Depends on me? What’s that supposed to mean?"

  Asmodean rubbed his fingers together as if feeling the very air around him, his expression unreadable. "You need to feel it. The ones you love, those you are tied to. The portal will reach out, tracing your mana to theirs, drawing you to them. Your heart will guide you, but your mana will be the connection."

  I absorbed his words, my hand clenching into a fist. “That sounds… uncertain. What if I don’t feel it strongly enough? What if it doesn’t work?”

  Asmodean chuckled again, shaking his head. “That part is up to you, boy. If you waver, if your heart is unsure, if doubt creeps into your heart, the mana will not align, and the portal may send you elsewhere—somewhere unknown, somewhere you may never return from. But if you hold onto them—if you truly wish to be by their side—the portal will take you there."

  I let out a slow breath, glancing into the fire. The way he spoke, the confidence he carried—it was almost reassuring.

  A small, tired smile tugged at my lips as I looked back at him. “Why would you do this for me?”

  Asmodean smiled, his eyes closing slightly with the expression. "I don't actually know."

  I spat my drink out, staring at him with a disbelieving half?laugh.

  Asmodean chuckled as he smiled again, clearly amused by how utterly blindsided I was. "If I must be honest, I felt a connection with you. Or maybe I sense your drive to get to your family. Maybe it’s because you’re the first person I’ve spoken to in a very long time."

  He let out a slow breath, his gaze momentarily distant. "All I know is that I’m growing old, and the chances of you surviving greatly outweigh my chances."

  A warmth spread through me as I looked at Asmodean, a small blush creeping onto my face before I muttered, "Thank you, old man."

  I pushed myself up, stretching out the stiffness in my limbs before turning toward the stream. Asmodean, still seated by the fire, took another sip from his cup before calling out, "Don’t be too long. I’ll have dinner ready soon."

  I waved a lazy hand over my shoulder as I walked away, my expression shifting into mild annoyance. Yay, berries again, already bracing myself for another bland meal.

  Stripping down, I waded into the stream, letting the cool water envelop me as I floated on my back, lost in thought.

  My mind churned over the magnitude of what Asmodean had said—creating a rift in space, gathering enough mana over six months.

  It was beyond anything I had imagined. More than that, he valued my survival over his own. Why? Was it pure coincidence that he had found me, or was I just cursed with terrible luck?

  I let out a slow breath, staring up at the cavern ceiling, my body weightless in the gentle current.

  Then, like a sudden bolt through my mind, Asmodean’s voice echoed. That sight will never get old.

  Panic jolted through me. My hands shot down, covering myself as I twisted in the water, my face burning. “Old man, what the hell?!”

  Asmodean laughed, his voice rich with amusement. You took too long, so I needed to call you. I'm an old man, you know, I cannot walk up and down.

  I let out an exasperated sigh, still covering myself. "Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," quickly finishing up before stepping out of the water.

  By the time I made my way back to the fire, the cavern had dimmed further, the glow of the bioluminescent plants casting an eerie but familiar light over our surroundings. Evening had probably settled in again.

  I sat down across from Asmodean, who handed me a handful of the same enormous berries. I grimaced but took them anyway, chewing slowly with an expression of pure disgust as I forced myself to get used to the taste.

  As I swallowed down the bitterness, I looked up at Asmodean, my mind lingering on something that had been bothering me all this time. "I've been wondering... how are you able to speak to me in my head? It's almost like telepathy."

  Asmodean smirked but didn’t answer right away. Instead, he took another slow sip from his cup before finally replying. "It’s not quite that, boy. It’s more like… resonance. Just like the bond between monsters and humans allows them to communicate without words."

  He tapped his temple lightly. "For most, it requires a connection—a bond—but for someone like me, it’s different. I can choose who hears me."

  My eyes raised. "A bond? With monsters?"

  Asmodean chuckled, shaking his head. "I thought you knew more than that, boy."

  I shot him an unamused look.

  Asmodean let out a small laugh. "Alright then, let me teach you a thing or two about monsters and their bonds."

  Asmodean stirred the fire, his eyes reflecting the flickering flames as he continued.

  "Monsters aren’t all the same, boy. They vary in strength, intelligence, and purpose. Some are mindless beasts driven purely by instinct, while others possess a cunning beyond human comprehension. Their presence is more than just a threat; it shapes the world itself—its ecosystems, its people, even its history. Some civilizations have risen by taming them, others have fallen by underestimating them."

  He leaned forward slightly, his crimson eyes glinting with something unreadable. "More than that, some monsters possess something unique—Spirit manahearts. These are rare, only appearing in the strongest of monsters. They allow for a bond between monster and human, strengthening both."

  I furrowed my brow. "Spirit manaheart... What is that?"

  Asmodean chuckled. "A connection beyond words. They are unique energy sources that exist within monsters only, allowing them to form a symbiotic connection with a human."

  I tilted my head, intrigued. "Symbiotic connection? Like a contract?"

  Asmodean smirked. "In a way. But it’s deeper than that. A Spirit manaheart doesn’t just link two beings—it enhances them both. The human gains greater magical strength, while the monster evolves, growing beyond what it could alone. The bond allows them to communicate through thoughts, to move as one, to share power."

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  I narrowed my eyes. "And only the strong monsters have these Spirit manahearts?"

  Asmodean nodded as he confirmed. "The stronger the monster, the more potent the bond. It’s a rare phenomenon, boy. Not every monster chooses a human, and not every human can handle the connection."

  I absorbed his words, my mind racing. "And how does this bond happen?"

  Asmodean took another sip from his cup before answering. "There are different ways. Some are formed through mutual understanding—a bond built over time. Others come through battle, where a monster surrenders its Spirit manaheart upon defeat. And then… there are those formed through fear—when a monster submits not out of choice, but out of survival. Those bonds—although strong, are unstable, forced."

  I frowned. "And what happens if you kill a monster with a Spirit manaheart?"

  Asmodean’s crimson eyes flickered. "Then you absorb it. It strengthens your own manaheart, enhances your abilities. But power obtained that way can lead to two outcomes—it can elevate you, refining your manaheart, strengthening your abilities beyond what you thought possible. It can bring harmony between the energy you absorb and the essence of who you are."

  "Or, it can consume you. The power may not always bend to your will—it may alter you, change you in ways you cannot control. You could find yourself losing pieces of who you are, becoming something you never intended to be."

  Asmodean let out a deep chuckle, shaking his head. "Or both can happen to you over time."

  I paused, something tugging at the back of my mind. My fingers instinctively brushed against my pocket, remembering the manaheart I had taken from that wolf-like creature. Pulling it out, I examined it under the glow of the firelight, its faint aura pulsing with energy.

  I turned it toward Asmodean. "This. I found this when I killed that monster. Is this a Spirit manaheart? Can I absorb it?"

  Asmodean's gaze settled on the manaheart, and for a moment, an eerie silence took hold. The only sounds were the crackling fire and the distant whispers of the stream. His expression was unreadable, his crimson eyes reflecting the flickering flames.

  Then, suddenly, he let out a booming laugh. "Boy, what you killed was a Spurhound! That monster is practically weak in nature."

  His words hit harder than I expected. A sharp pang of wounded pride struck me as my vision blurred. "W-Weak?" I stammered before dramatically slumping backward onto the ground from sheer devastation.

  Asmodean only chuckled again. "Don’t be so dramatic, boy. For your current state, taking down a Spurhound is still impressive."

  I groaned from where I had fallen, barely lifting my head past the stone chair I had collapsed near. "So… this isn’t a Spirit manaheart?"

  Asmodean shook his head. "No. That is a monster’s manaheart. A Spirit manaheart is different—spherical, shaped with purpose. But you can still absorb that one."

  My eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into my expression as I squinted at him. "Wait... How exactly did you know it was a Spurhound?"

  Asmodean let out a small chuckle before leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His gaze flickered toward the manaheart in my hand before shifting back to the fire. "My mana is all around us, boy. It runs through this cavern, through the air you breathe, through the ground beneath you. Every creature that stirs here—I can feel them as easily as I feel this fire’s warmth."

  I tightened my grip on the manaheart, realization settling in. "So you can sense everything in this place? Every monster, every movement?"

  Asmodean gave a slow nod. "Every pulse of mana that enters this space leaves an imprint. I knew when that Spurhound was prowling, just as I knew when you put it down."

  His expression darkened slightly, though his smirk remained. "My mana is constantly leaking, whether I want it to or not. It’s enriched this entire place—above and here below. Turning it into something far beyond what it was. That kind of shift in mana doesn’t go unnoticed. It either pulls monsters here, or worse…"

  His eyes flickered toward the fire, his voice dropping slightly. "It breeds them."

  I stiffened, narrowing my eyes. "Breed them?" The thought sent an uncomfortable chill down my spine. "How does that even work?"

  Asmodean smirked. He grabbed a small stone from the ground and rolled it between his fingers. "Mana is the foundation of all things," he began, his tone shifting into something more instructive. "It is the source of life, energy, and even destruction. When mana lingers in excess, it does not simply remain stagnant—it seeks form."

  He gestured toward the fire. "Imagine a manaheart—the condensed essence of mana that exists within humans and monsters. When left undisturbed, it remains a core of raw potential. But give it enough time, enough energy…"

  He crushed the stone between his fingers, letting the dust scatter into the flames. "And it takes shape. It grows. For monsters, it first condenses into a crystallized core, pulsing with raw mana. Given enough time, that core begins to shift, forming into something more—sometimes a cocoon, other times a living mass of energy waiting to take shape. Eventually, it stabilizes, taking on the form of a new creature."

  I swallowed hard, watching as the embers swallowed the dust. "So, you’re saying monsters don’t just appear? They’re… born from mana itself?"

  Asmodean nodded. "Exactly. And in a place like this, where my mana has saturated the land for time… it’s only natural that some creatures would start to form."

  I stared at him, still processing everything, before sighing and taking the last sip from my cup. The weight of it all settled over me like a heavy blanket. "Who are you to be releasing so much mana?" My curiosity getting the better of me.

  Asmodean stood up slowly, leaning onto his staff as he stretched his back. "You make me tired with all your questions, boy. That’s enough for the night," he said, ignoring my question entirely. "I’m tired, and I need sleep."

  He turned toward his dwelling, his voice carrying over his shoulder. "Rest up, boy. Tomorrow, you will be absorbing that manaheart, and I will show you how."

  I watched him disappear into his dwelling, his words lingering in my mind. I had no idea what that truly meant, and that uncertainty gnawed at me.

  Would it change me? Strengthen me? Or worse, would it consume me? My body was still worn from the day, but my thoughts refused to settle, circling back to the unknown challenge ahead.

  Letting out a slow breath, I shifted onto the ground, using my arm as a pillow. The cavern ceiling loomed above me, jagged and distant, illuminated faintly by the bioluminescent glow of the plants. I closed my eyes, trying to push away the whirlwind of thoughts running through my head.

  The next morning, I stirred from sleep, immediately noticing something unusual.

  A blanket had been draped over me. My brow furrowed as I pushed myself up, running a hand over the fabric.

  Had Asmodean done this? The thought lingered for a moment before I shook my head.

  It was hard to imagine the old man showing such consideration, but then again, he had his moments.

  Not seeing him anywhere, I got to my feet and stretched, shaking off the last remnants of sleep before heading toward the stream. I needed to wake up properly.

  Stripping down, I stepped toward the water’s edge, just as I had the day before. But the second I was fully undressed—

  "Boy, what are you doing?"

  I nearly jumped out of my skin, hands flying down to cover myself as I whipped around, my face burning. "Not again, old man!" I shouted, my voice cracking from shock.

  Asmodean chuckled, leaning against his staff with amusement dancing in his eyes. "I thought you were getting comfortable with me."

  I groaned, turning away as I scrambled to put my clothes back on. "Where have you even been?"

  "I’ve been here the whole time. You just walked right past me."

  I paused, glancing over my shoulder with a deep frown. I hadn’t sensed him at all. Was I just that tired?

  Once I was dressed, I turned to face him, still recovering from my embarrassment. "So… what now?"

  Asmodean smirked. "Are you ready to begin?"

  I blinked, then groaned. "What do you mean begin? I haven’t even eaten yet!"

  He gave a small, knowing smile. "Then it’s the perfect time to start. You can eat later."

  I let out a dramatic sigh, dragging my feet as I followed him. As we walked, I hesitated before muttering, "Thanks… for the blanket."

  Asmodean didn’t look back, but I caught the faintest curve of a smile on his face. A real one. Not mocking, not amused—just something warm and fleeting.

  I barely had time to process it before we arrived at the firepit, where Asmodean gestured for me to sit. In front of me, he placed the manaheart I had taken from the Spurhound. Its faint glow pulsed, waiting.

  "You’re going to absorb it," Asmodean stated plainly, sitting across from me.

  I frowned, shifting slightly. "How?"

  "Place both hands over it," he instructed. "Push your mana into it, coax it to respond. A manaheart does not simply give itself—it must be claimed. If you succeed, it will reciprocate, feeding its essence into your own manaheart."

  I hesitated, glancing between him and the glowing core. "And if I fail?"

  Asmodean smirked. "Then you’ll have an experience you won’t forget."

  Swallowing hard, I followed his instructions, placing my hands over the manaheart. The moment I did, a strange sensation ran through me.

  At first, it was nothing more than a faint vibration beneath my palms, but as I pushed my mana outward, the core reacted. A pulse of energy rippled back, almost as if testing me.

  Asmodean watched, his expression unreadable. "It will take time. You’re young, your manaheart is still developing. But keep going."

  Hours passed—or at least, it felt like it. Sweat dripped from my forehead as I sat unmoving, locked in a silent battle with the manaheart. Every time I pushed, it pushed back, resisting my claim. My breathing turned shallow, my arms trembling from exertion.

  Then, finally—it happened.

  A final surge of energy shot through me as the manaheart gave in. I gasped, my entire body trembling from the sudden rush of power. The glow in my hands faded as the manaheart was absorbed into me.

  For a moment, everything was silent. Asmodean simply watched, nodding in approval.

  Then, without warning, pain exploded through my body.

  I let out a scream, my back arching as if every fibre of my being had been set ablaze, my mana surging in chaos.

  Fire tore through my veins, like my body was being unravelled and rewoven all at once, crashing against my manaheart like a storm. My hands clenched into the dirt, my breath stolen by the sheer force of it. Is this normal?!

  But just as quickly as it came—the pain was gone. My breathing was ragged, my hands digging into the dirt as I blinked in sheer disbelief.

  I looked up at Asmodean, shaken. "What… what just happened?"

  Asmodean stood up and walked toward me, offering his hand. "Stand, boy," he said, his tone calm but firm. As I grabbed his hand and got to my feet, he handed me a small portion of food. "First, eat."

  I took the food without hesitation. As I bit into the berries, their bitter taste coated my tongue, but I noticed something different this time.

  The sensation of fatigue that had settled deep in my bones started to ease. My mana, though still unsteady, felt like it was replenishing itself. Begrudgingly, I chewed, finding that I was—unfortunately—starting to get used to them.

  I reached for my cup, taking a slow sip to wash down the bitterness. As I swallowed, I shot Asmodean a look and spoke through a mouthful of food, "You didn’t warn me it would be painful."

  Asmodean smiled, taking a sip from his own cup. "I didn’t know it would be painful either."

  I almost choked, coughing violently as the berry lodged in my throat. Asmodean burst into laughter, shaking his head. "Swallow your food first, boy. Then, when you’re done, take a look at your manaheart."

  Regaining my breath, I wiped my mouth before glancing down at my hands. A pulse of energy resonated inside me, a deeper strength coursing through my body. I stared at my hands, feeling the shift deep inside me.

  "My manaheart—" my voice barely above a whisper. My eyes widened as the realization struck. "It's at the Sunstone stage!"

  "How is this possible?" I blurted out, still staring at my hands in disbelief.

  Asmodean leaned back slightly, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. "Ever since you fell from the Divide, your manaheart has been pushed to its limits. It needed just one more push to break through to the next level."

  I exhaled sharply, still trying to process it, when Asmodean let out a chuckle. "Though, I’ll admit, I didn’t expect a weak manaheart like that to yield such results."

  The amazement on my face faded instantly, replaced by a deadpan expression. I slowly turned to glare at him, completely unimpressed. "Really?"

  Asmodean laughed, shaking his head. "Take it in, boy. I think now you're ready."

  I raised an eyebrow, still suspicious. "Ready for what?"

  Asmodean's eyes glinted with excitement as he leaned forward. "Now, I teach you how to use your talent. We will continue this every day until it's time for you to leave."

  I groaned, leaning back with an exaggerated sigh. "Great. Just what I needed—more cryptic lessons with an old man who enjoys watching me suffer."

  Asmodean chuckled, standing up and dusting off his robe. "Get used to it, boy. Tomorrow, we start refining your control, and trust me, it's going to hurt."

  I let out another exaggerated sigh, slumping forward. "Fantastic. Pain. My favorite."

  He smirked. "You’ll thank me later."

  I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the small grin forming on my lips. For better or worse, my training had only just begun.