The Afterlife Academy Saga

Chapter 18

18

After the general announcement, a new schedule was attached to the big board in the main hall. All of my general classes were scrapped apart from Afterlife Etiquette 101 taught by Tatsu, which was still cancelled until further notice. So much for that one.

At least the Valkyrie specific ones were all still part of my programme, except for How To Train Your Wolf. That one was self-explanatory why it was cancelled.

At least to me. My other classmates couldn't stop glaring angrily at me and I couldn't really reveal what I overheard about the other dusk thefts.

Instead, Brynhild would use her allotted time to teach us something else. Whatever that was, wasn't clear on the roster.

"I can't believe we're not having wolves to train with," one of my classmates sneered, just loud enough that I could hear it.

"Oh, shut it," Aellyn barked back. "You weren't doing well anyway."

"Excuse me?"

My pink-haired friend stuck out her tongue. "A Wood Elf imprinted before any of you. You figure out what that says about you."

"Oh!" the girl gasped, clearly offended, but she turned her back and left us alone.

"Thanks for sticking up for me," I said, shooting Aellyn a smile. I might feel brave inside, but I didn't have the guts to take on Astrid or her new squad. They were still daughters from esteemed houses and districts. Without my own group to back me up, I couldn't take them on.

At least we'd be too busy soon with our new classes and homework. According to the teachers, our new timetable was a lot more intense and practice driven.

Fine by me.

I pulled Aellyn along as we grabbed two seats at the back. Our teacher was already waiting in front of the class, impatiently tapping her foot until we all sat down.

"Welcome. I'm professor Rada and I'll be your teacher. As part of the newly-introduced trajectory, Resurrection 101 will be substituted with Resurrection 201. We'll be exploring the Veil, which is usually only touched upon in the second year," the professor declared, her face stern and harsh. I wouldn't want to mess with her, that much was clear.

"I know this sounds exciting for some of you, but the truth is, this will be a dangerous and difficult journey. In addition to being prepared for the worst, you'll all need to sign waivers of consent. Pass them around." She handed out a stack of sheets and the girls on the front row reluctantly passed it along.

"A waiver?" Aellyn whispered, leaning over so we could read the disclaimer. "The student's safety is not guaranteed, even if they closely follow the rules."

"Great," I mumbled. "In case of death—"

"In case of death?" Aellyn echoed loudly, earning glares from all the other girls. "Sorry. In case of death?" she continued in a hushed tone.

"In case of permanent death, the Afterlife Academy and its teachers can't be found liable," I read, pulling up my nose. "That's fun."

"Permanent death? Is there such a thing as un-permanent death?" the Elf joked, rolling her eyes.

"Actually—" A voice boomed behind us, making me jump. With dread, I turned around to face Rada's piercing gaze. "That's exactly what we'll be exploring in Resurrection 201. Temporary death, or what we refer to as elemental stasis, is the state that allows us to travel in and out of the Veil."

In the front row, Astrid perked up. "What do you mean with temporary death?"

Rada strode towards the blonde, her stance filled with raw power. "Exactly what I said. Until you're experienced enough to travel to the Veil by will, you'll have to die to get there."

I gulped, exchanging a worried look with Aellyn. I knew the class was called Resurrection, but still. Who thought that was meant literally?

The professor sat down on her desk, overseeing the class with attitude. "So. Anyone who's not brave enough to sign can pack her bags and find the administrative office."

"Why?" someone voiced, earning herself a glare.

"To unroll and go home. I have no time or patience for weaklings. Keep up or fall behind."

"Gee, that's exactly what Hagen said in his lecture," I whispered to Aellyn, my stomach clenched nervously. I certainly wasn't going to bow out, but that didn't make me any less worried. Was I really going to die today? What if I didn't come back from it? According to the waiver, that might be a possibility?

"Silence in the back!" Rada rose from the desk and threw the door open. "So? Any quitters?"

Quickly, I shook my head and pressed my thumb down on the paper. The magic within me sighed, rushing through my veins to my hand. My signature tornado tore into the waiver, signing, what was potentially, a death sentence.

"Cool," Aellyn muttered, pointing at me. "That's your signature?"

"Yes." Curiously, I leaned over. "What's yours?"

The Wood Elf opened her collar and extended a leafy tendril down. She dipped a small leaf into a vial of green ink and pressed it onto the paper. The print left a unique pattern of lines and curls behind, one that I assumed was different than any other Elf's.

"Pretty."

"Thank you." She hid the small bottle of ink and pushed the signed waiver towards me. "Guess I'm ready to die now?"

The teacher collected all the forms, glaring at all the students as she did. Especially Aellyn's, who earned a dismissive tssk and a raised eyebrow. "Now I've seen it all," she said as she accepted the Elf's form.

Worried, I glanced at my friend. I understood why they were all so sceptical, I'd been too in the beginning. But the more time I spent with her, the more I stopped caring. Why couldn't she do this?

Rada inspected the signed forms as she put them away and clapped her hands. "Okay, let's start. Before we adjourn, I must tell you about the Veil itself."

"Yay, an informed death!" I said sarcastically, making Aellyn snort.

"Silence!" the teacher yelled, spitting fire with her eyes. "The Veil is the world between this one and the afterlife. It's the thin edge that separates life from death. Every being passes through it when their time runs out. Animal, human, elemental. Nobody escapes the Veil and nobody returns from it, except a rare few. Afterlife Assistants."

Any humorous remarks disappeared from my mind as I leaned forward to drink in every word Rada said. This was the real deal, the essence of being a Valkyrie.

"Today, you will all die. You'll pass into the Veil where I'll be your guide and make sure you won't cross over to the other side. Fail to stay connected to me or hear my call, and you won't come back from this trip. Do I make myself clear?"

Someone rose their hand. "What if we don't hear your call?"

The professor glared at her. "Let's make sure you do. I won't allow disobedience. Anyone who can't follow instructions is responsible for themselves. Understood?"

An affirmative murmur passed through the class, noticeably less excited than before. It was becoming very real, very fast. The idea of dying wasn't glamorous or adventurous. It was frightening. There was a good reason why they didn't teach this to first-years and it was quickly becoming clear why. Without knowing much about the Veil or about what to expect, this was madness.

I couldn't believe the Academy tolerated this. No, that they decided this.

Rada's firm glare made it clear she wasn't kidding around. "Everyone, make a circle in the front and hold your hands out."

Astrid pulled up her nose. "I'm not touching the Wood Elf."

"Why? Scared I'll get a disease from you?" Aellyn retorted, glaring angrily at the blonde.

"Uh. Uh. Most likely the other way around," she sneered.

"Oh, for f**k's sake. Nobody is getting sick," I interrupted, tired of the discrimination. The other races weren't that different.

"I hope you die," Astrid spat, glaring at me and the Elf.

The professor clapped her hands. "You're all going to die. And if you can't behave like adults, I'm not bringing you back."

That quickly silenced the two and they shuffled in line with their hands held out. I didn't know why we were doing that, but I wasn't going to question it. Not when our teacher just threatened us with murder. That was someone that didn't have time for nonsense.

Professor Rada rummaged through her desk and held up a very thin ball of twine. "This is thread made from a silver stallion's mane, coated in dusk poison. It's the finest string out there and will keep you attached to me while in the Veil. Do not, under any circumstances, take this off unless I tell you so."

She wound the shimmering string around my wrists, with no regard for whether it hurt or not. Damn. She was tough.

Majestically, she unfolded the wings from her back, sending a gust of wind through the room. The power clashed against me, reminding me with what I was dealing. She didn’t look the part, but there was a storm brewing in her chest. And it was ready to be unleashed.

"You'll hear my voice when you're in the Veil. Do as I say. Don't listen to anyone or anything else."

The thread cut hard into my skin, somehow resonating with the wind magic in my heart. The wind whistled, louder than I'd ever heard it. It was drowning out any other instructions that Rada was giving.

"If you find yourself shrouded in a thin mist that shimmers, retreat. Those are the edges of the Veil and they'll lead you straight to your death. Whatever you do, don't—"

Shit. What was she saying?

I saw her mouth move, but I couldn't understand it.

The wind, it was so loud. Too loud. The whistling was turning into howling. Roaring. Thundering. It tugged and cut, slashed and bit. It hurt.

The world danced in front of my eyes, whizzing and whirling. Colours, brighter than I'd seen before turned grey like ash. Sharp lines blurred, shapes turned into blobs.

A hot liquid dripped down my hands. I was bleeding.

The excruciating pain struck through me like a burning knife, slashing through my essence, my heart, my soul.

White became grey. Grey became black. And just like that, the pain fell from me as I fell from my body. The darkness surrounded me, wrapping me up like a blanket without beginning or end. Time stopped, the world froze.

With a sigh, everything shifted to reveal more worlds than I could've ever imagined. On one side, the colours of life. On the other end, the silence of death. And cutting through it, like the sharp of a knife, the Veil. The world in between. The middle of the madness. The Beyond before the Afterlife.

I looked down at myself, surprised at how solid my form was. I hadn't expected that in a state where everything else was hazy and faint. I could see through myself, but I was still clearly defined.

The blood on my hands was gone, but the silver twine was still there. Both ends lead into the grey smoke, disappearing out of sight.

The deafening silence was frightening. I'd never have known the other students or the professor were here if it wasn't for the twine. At least that was somehow reassuring.

With my stomach in a knot, I took my first breath and semi-floated forward. My body was both heavy and light, made from everything and nothing. I was the universe and the universe was me.

It didn't hurt, but there was an uncomfortable hum in the back of my mind. I patted my body, assuring myself I was still me. The twine tugged on my wrists, urging me forward while gently reminding me I wasn't alone. I needed that to stay sane. If it was just me here, I'd freak out.

Hesitantly, I looked down at my ethereal hands and let out a deep breath. So... I was dead. What now?