The Afterlife Academy Saga

Chapter 12

12

The Veil was a curious thing. It was something and nothing at the same time, caught between that thin balance that it was known for. After all, life and death weren’t so different either.

Part of me had kept doubts that Var was actually going to help me, but those worries were erased by the reality of the Veil. We were here and that was exactly what he had promised.

Ryoko’s safety was only a thought away.

I stared at my feet, my shoes engulfed in grey smoke. The silver chain tugged on my wrist, a sign that Var was still attached to the end. I couldn’t see him, but I could sense him.

“Where do I need to take you?” I asked, speaking into the void. It was strange to talk without anyone around, but I didn’t know how else to communicate with him.

His voice echoed through the smoke. “Anywhere that isn’t the woods. I can take it from there.”

I nodded. If that was the case, then I knew exactly where to go. “Okay. The bunker, it is.”

“Bunker?”

The image of Ryoko filled my head and I smiled at the thought of seeing her again. “It’s a long story.”

I focused my mind on the girl I’d grown to care for. On her bright eyes and her smile of gold. The way she smelled of summer and sun, the tenderness in her touch that I convinced me she was the one.

It was ridiculous how much I craved to see her again, but at the same time, it just made perfect sense. She was special and if there was anything I learned, it was to cherish what I had now. Everything got taken away from me far too quickly anyway.

The smoke shifted and the ground underneath my feet steadied. I didn’t know whether it was because of the nightroot or because my image was so clear, but I’d never travelled this fast through the Veil.

As the blur of the world took shape and I recognised the harsh lights and drab walls of the bunker, I didn’t question it. I was right where I needed to be. I waited a moment for the last of the smoke to clear before I dared take a step, to test whether I was really here.

“Ylva?” A familiar voice filled my ears and a rush of emotions overcame me. I knew that voice.

A thousand emotions raced through me, each battling for dominance to celebrate the relief and excitement. “Ryoko!”

“You came back.”

I rushed towards her, elated to finally see her again. “I promised, didn’t I?”

“Yes, you did.”

She fell into my arms and just like that, everything was okay. All the stress fell off me, like the release of a waterfall. All the anguish, anger, fear I’d gone through to bring her back to safety, had been worth it.

“I missed you,” she murmured, her breath warm in the crook of my neck. Her hands squeezed mine reassuringly, and despite the dirt on her face and the creases of exhaustion around her eyes, she looked perfectly fine. Nothing a good bath and a hot meal couldn’t fix.

I pressed my forehead against hers. “I got here as fast as I could.”

“Took you long enough,” a different voice echoed.

“Sim!” I called as I recognised the figures emerging from the side bunker. “Flavia!”

The other girl smiled. “Am I glad to see you.”

“I didn’t mean to take this long,” I said, before remembering something. I turned back to Ryoko and dug my hand in my pocket. “I brought you someone.”

“Pickles!” she cheered, snatching the dust bunny into an embrace. She peppered hundreds of kisses on her pet, earning happy huffs from the bunny. “Aww, it’s so good to see you, my little friend.”

“Hff!”

“You’ve certainly grown,” she coed, her smile lighting up the room.

That was exactly what I’d missed, what I’d longed for. That beautiful smile. If only Hyde were here too, but I could sense he was still hiding in the Veil. Poor wolf.

Sim cleared his throat. “That’s all cute and everything, but can we get out of here?”

“Yes, of course.” I turned to Var, who’d been silent during the entire exchange. “A little help?”

The man nodded. “Bind them.”

“Who is that?” Ryoko whispered as I took her wrist in my hand and wrapped the silver chain around it.

“I’ll tell you about it later,” I promised.

I didn’t know how powerful Var was or how easy it would be to carry three people through the Veil while I was under the influence of nightroot, but I figured it was best to get going as soon as possible. There was no reason to stay down here for a second longer than necessary.

“Are you sure this’ll work?” Sim inquired. His voice was a lot gruffier than when I’d left and he was no longer wearing his dark Reaper robes. Instead, he was clothed in the same uniform as everyone else in the Afterlife Academy. So much for that mystery.

I held out the chain, the poison hissing as it started working back into my skin. “Do you have another option?”

He exchanged a tentative glance with Flavia, who nodded encouragingly. With a sigh, he held out his arm. “I guess not. This better work.”

“I agree,” I muttered. I wound the silver around his wrist, hoping I was doing it right. The old man wasn’t saying anything, so I assumed it was fine.

After Sim, I bound Flavia, and then Ryoko at the end. Ideally, I’d have put her closer to me where the bond was the strongest, in case things went wrong, but I didn’t have the luxury to worry about that. Something had already gone wrong and that was what got us trapped down here in the first place.

“Ready?” I asked.

Flavia exchanged a look with both Sim before nodding. “Let’s go.”

“Wait!” Ryoko’s voice cut through the tension. “Ryuga-sensei. We need to bring his body with us.”

“I…” I hesitated as I looked at the entrance where the lifeless body of the Moon Dragon waited. “I don’t know if it’s possible…”

“Leave him,” Var instructed. “We don’t have time for this.”

Sim nodded. “I don’t know who he is, but I agree. We’re already stuck here because of Master Ryuga, let’s not risk our escape. I want to go.”

Everything the two men said made sense, but I couldn’t ignore Ryoko’s begging eyes. I remembered what she told me about the Dragons and how she wanted to give him the burial he deserved.

Maybe it was stupid to allow sentiments to drive my decision, but she was right. Even if he attacked us and caused all this misfortune, I couldn’t leave him behind. Not if I had a chance to bring him with me.

“Hurry,” I said, gesturing to Ryoko. “Put the rest of the chain around him.”

“Thank you.” Her grateful smile lit up the room as she bound the Moon Dragon.

I really hoped I didn’t just mess everything up, but this was the right thing to do. I’d have to live with the consequences, something I’d been getting used to anyway.

I turned my attention back to the task at hand and checked the silver chain around my wrist. As long as it was tightly wound and kept everyone bound to me, there was a good chance this could turn out alright.

“Okay.” With all the concentration I had, I allowed the fuzzy sensation of the nightroot to take over again. Immediately, I could tell it wasn’t nearly as powerful as when we left the Forest of Illusions, but it was still there. I just had to allow the Veil to smother me and take me in its grip.

My vision clouded dark with smoke and a prickling sensation pulled through my head.

The physical world disappeared as quickly as the first time and with a sigh of relief, the Veil welled up in clouds of smoke, darkening my surroundings and hiding my friends.

If it hadn’t been for the heavy chain around my wrist, I’d have been worried, but I could sense them. All four of them.

The looming darkness of Var, something that should’ve scared me, but didn’t. Sim’s tense and sceptical demeanour which shrouded his courageous heart, the one that beat for Flavia. Her presence was much lighter than his, but just as strong. She was truly a worthy Heir and even if I was from a different district, I’d have no problem serving her. Those two were connected, even if they didn’t see it yet. I could tell.

At the end of the chain, I felt the brightest presence of all. Ryoko’s essence warmed me and brought an unexplainable joy to my chest, making me feel lighter than air. It was her warmth that reassured me I was doing the right thing, that everything I’d endured to get to this point was worth it. She was worth it.

With a smile on my lips, I formed detailed thoughts of the Valkyrie dorm. The ornate windows, the reassuring smile of Wind Children, the chatter of students. If there was one place I wanted to be more than anything, it was my room.

Decorated with all my things, with a bed that remembered me, and Ryoko in my arms. Away from danger and humans, safe in her embrace. That was where I wanted to be.