The Life After Death

  Chapter 17: The Voice’s Call

  The moment the voice whispered my name, I tensed—every muscle coiling as if preparing for battle. My breath hitched as my eyes darted across the rainforest’s thick canopy, scanning for any sign of movement.

  Nothing.

  No shifting leaves, no breaking twigs, just the steady roar of the waterfall cascading down from The Divide.

  But that didn’t mean I wasn’t being watched.

  "How long have you been there?" my voice low, controlled.

  Silence.

  "How the hell are you even speaking to me like this?" My fingers twitched toward my dagger, still slick with river water, as I cast another wary glance around me.

  Still nothing.

  The voice had always haunted my dreams—shrouded in darkness, whispering in riddles. But now? Now it had breached reality, speaking to me while my eyes are open.

  I clenched my jaw, frustration bubbling beneath my skin. "Why now?" I gritted out, waiting—half expecting another cryptic response.

  Still, the voice remained silent.

  "...Tch." I exhaled sharply, shoving my damp hair back. "Of course, now that I actually wanted answers, you refuse to speak."

  I quickly pulled on my pants and shirt, the damp fabric clinging to my skin as I secured my dagger at my side. My mind was still reeling, but I forced myself to focus.

  I didn’t want to listen to it. I refused to be led around by some cryptic whisper in my head. But no matter how much I wanted to turn away, curiosity gnawed at me.

  What was waiting for me behind that waterfall? Who, or what, had been watching me all this time?

  With a reluctant sigh, I stepped forward, my body still tense, my senses sharpened. The mist clung to my skin as I approached, the overwhelming roar of water filling the air.

  The force of the waterfall was staggering; the way it plummeted from an impossible height, an unrelenting torrent hammering down with terrifying strength. I squinted, the refracted light bouncing off the spray making it difficult to see anything beyond the wall of water.

  As I moved closer, I kept my steps cautious, trying not to get too close to the falls. The nearer I got, the more I could feel the harsh spray of water splashing back against me. Each impact stung against my skin, the sheer strength of the waterfall making it feel like the air itself was laced with spikes.

  The force was overwhelming, an unrelenting barrage that made my instincts scream at me to keep my distance.

  I sighed, rubbing my forehead. "So, it wants me to go through here? What idiot am I still listening to this?" My face twisted into an exasperated grimace as I stared at the relentless torrent, my feet still rooted firmly where it was safe.

  Then, through the chaotic spray, I saw it.

  A dark outline, barely visible behind the cascading white. Faint, almost imperceptible, but unmistakable—a hollowed-out space, tucked just behind the waterfall.

  A cave.

  Was that where the voice was coming from?

  I hesitated, narrowing my eyes. “There is no way I can just walk through that”—if I stepped beneath that kind of force, I’d be reduced to pulp before even setting foot inside.

  Still, I wasn’t about to leave without figuring out what the hell was going on.

  Maybe there’s another way. My mind ran through possible solutions, analyzing every angle.

  Could I find a way around? No, the cliffside was too steep. Could I break the flow? The sheer volume of water made that seem impossible.

  I exhaled, deciding to test a theory.

  I focused, summoning my earth magic, still unfamiliar in my grasp. The first attempt barely stirred the dirt at my feet. My brows furrowed, frustration creeping in. It was easy before—why the hell is it difficult now?

  I grounded my teeth, adjusting my stance, trying to channel the same control I had felt when I struck the tree. "Come on... work with me here," planting my feet firmly as I reached deeper within myself, forcing the magic to respond.

  A small rock finally lifted, wobbling in mid-air before I shaped it into a boulder and hurled it straight at the falls.

  The second the rock met the crashing water, it shattered into pieces, obliterated by the sheer weight of the current.

  I frowned. "...Yeah, that’d be bad."

  Crossing my arms, I surveyed the falls, trying to determine the best way through. “There had to be a solution—I just had to—”

  "Shit."

  I barely dodged in time as a chunk of debris came flying back from the waterfall, sharp shards of stone pelting the riverbank where I had just been standing.

  Okay. So, not only did the waterfall obliterate anything in its path—it hurled the remains back out like a damn cannon.

  I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Alright. Walking straight in? Death. Jumping? Suicide. Climbing? Probably death."

  I needed another way.

  For the next few hours, I tried everything.

  I started with the most obvious approach, trying to form a shield of earth to break the fall. With effort, I managed to raise a slab of rock, shaping it into a solid barrier. But the moment I positioned it beneath the waterfall, it shattered instantly, crushed beneath the force of the water.

  "Alright... not doing that again," shaking out my hands from the strain.

  The first time I used my earth magic, I acted on instinct, but now? Now I’m trying to control it. The realization settled in, frustrating but clear—I was still getting used to this power, still figuring out how it responded to me.

  Next, I attempted to use air magic, hoping I could generate enough force to redirect some of the falling water. I focused, channelling the wind, sending a strong burst against the cascading torrent.

  The air howled as it collided with the rushing water—but the waterfall barely shifted. The pressure was simply too strong. It was like trying to push back a mountain with a breath.

  I examined the cliffside, looking for another way in. If I couldn’t go through, maybe I could go around?

  I began carving footholds into the rock, pressing my fingers into the stone to steady myself as I climbed. But just as I reached a promising ledge, a sudden tremor shook the cliffside. The relentless pounding of the waterfall sent vibrations through the rock, dislodging loose stones.

  One moment I was climbing—then suddenly, I was barely catching myself from plummeting back down.

  I slid back to the ground, my hands scraped and raw. "Okay, not that either," I sighed, scratching my head.

  Out of frustration, I even considered using my fire magic, maybe to create steam or evaporate some of the water at the base. But the sheer volume was too much. Even if I could summon enough fire, I’d probably burn myself out before making any real difference.

  I was out of ideas. My body ached, my mana starting to dwindle, and frustration gnawing at me like an itch I couldn't scratch.

  With a weary sigh, I let myself drift into the river, surrendering to the water’s embrace. The cool liquid wrapped around me, numbing the sting of my wounds and easing the tension I hadn’t even realized was crushing me.

  My limbs floated weightlessly, the gentle current rocking me like a lullaby. My breaths steadied, my pulse slowing as my thoughts drifted, my eyes locking into a daze, staring blankly at the sky. There has to be a way…

  You’re forgetting something. The voice struck like a bolt of ice straight to my skull.

  I shot upright, scanning my surroundings. "Oh, so you decide to speak now?"

  No response.

  "Tch. Figures." I let out a long exhale.

  "I’m forgetting something?"

  I leaned back floating, staring up at the sky as the afternoon sun burned overhead.

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  My thoughts wandered, my chest rising and falling with each slow breath. What was I missing? My mind churned through every method I had tried—none of it had worked. Was it my approach? My control?

  I thought back to everything I had done since waking up in this damn rainforest. My magic had changed. I had changed.

  Was there something I wasn’t considering? My eyes flicked toward the waterfall, watching as the flow crashed down with unyielding force.

  A thought crossed my mind, ridiculous but annoyingly persistent—What if I just screamed at it? Maybe if I insulted the waterfall enough, it would just let me through out of pity.

  I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. "Yeah, because that’s exactly how things work," dragging a hand down my face. But the more I floated away, the more the voice's words echoed in my mind. You’re forgetting something.

  I just needed to figure out what.

  After some time my expression finally shifted as the realization hit me, my brows raising slightly before a smirk tugged at the corner of my lips.

  Wait… what if I’ve been going about this all wrong? Maybe that’s what I had been forgetting—maybe I hadn’t been using my magic to its full potential.

  Maybe I needed stronger spells, something beyond the basic techniques I had been throwing at the problem. The pieces started falling into place in my mind, and for the first time in hours, I felt like I might actually have an answer.

  With renewed determination, I swam toward the riverbank, dragging myself out of the water. My clothes clung to me, my body still drenched, but I barely noticed as I waded knee-deep into the river, positioning myself as close to the waterfall as I could without being pulled under its crushing force.

  I lifted my hands, palms open, fingers spread, my gaze locking onto the roaring wall of water before me.

  "Alright, here’s the plan. I’ll gather every bit of mana I can, and I’ll blow this damn thing apart," narrowing my focus.

  My breathing slowed as I began pulling mana to my core, feeling the familiar hum of power rushing through my veins.

  The water dripped from my soaked hair, rolling down my face, trailing over my arms, and dripping from my fingertips. My hands, still wet from the river, glistened under the dim light as droplets trickled down my skin. My muscles tensed, the energy within me coiling, ready to be unleashed.

  I clenched my jaw, focusing with everything I had.

  Blow away!

  The second the thought formed, something shifted.

  The water around me convulsed.

  The droplets on my arms and hands didn’t just fall—they moved, drawn toward my palms, swirling unnaturally. Before I could even process what was happening, a massive projectile of water erupted from my hands, shooting straight at the waterfall.

  I barely had time to react before my own attack slammed uselessly against the unyielding cascade, vanishing into the current without so much as a dent.

  I blinked. My hands still tingled, the sensation of power lingering in my fingers.

  "Did I just... No, that—that wasn't—what the hell did I just do?" my expression shifting from shock to utter bewilderment. My lips pressed into a thin line as I glanced down at my still-dripping hands. "That... was... water magic."

  My eyes widened, my expression frozen in stunned disbelief. My mouth opened slightly, as if my brain was still catching up with what had just happened.

  I slowly lowered my hands, staring at my open palms as water continued dripping down my fingers. "No... way," I whispered. "I actually have water magic too?"

  I blinked, staring at my palms. "Is this real?"

  My mouth went dry as I processed what had just happened. I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming, or if my body was just so out of it that I was hallucinating.

  I swallowed hard, trying to grasp the reality of it. This was insane. The thought of it was impossible.

  I slowly raised my hands, staring at the water droplets dancing on my fingers. Without thinking, I shot a stream of water directly at my own face.

  The force of it surprised me, drenching my face in an instant. "Are you kidding me?" Wiping the water from my eyes as I sputtered in disbelief.

  My face twisted into a look of exasperation as I swiped my wet hair out of my eyes. "I—I’m actually a quadra?affinity mage?" I let out a breathless, disbelieving laugh, rubbing a hand over my soaked face. "No way… this can’t be real—can it?"

  Shaking my head, something soft stirred within me. The water dripped from my face, and for a brief moment, I thought of Helena—how she would react when she saw this.

  She had always been so proud of her magic, and now I could finally stand beside her, wielding the same power. The thought sent a flicker of excitement through me.

  As the memory of Helena faded, I let myself sink onto the riverbank, the water lapping against my skin. Lying back on the damp ground, I exhaled slowly, trying to piece together the moment everything changed.

  "I can wield all four elements now—but when had I awakened water magic?"

  Had it happened when I was falling? That was when my earth magic came. Did they emerge together?

  Then, like lightning striking my thoughts, it hit me. My eyes widened as the realization clawed its way to the surface.

  “Was it when I landed on this riverbank?” I remembered the sensation—warmth, healing, as if Helena herself had been right beside me, mending my wounds. But it wasn’t her.

  It was me.

  Had I subconsciously used my water magic to pull myself back from the brink of death? Did I always have the ability to wield all four elements? Why did they all awaken at different times? This is confusing. But one thing is for certain—I am a quadra-affinity mage now.

  You realized. The voice returned as a sharp pain struck my skull like a bat slamming against it, sending a jolt down my spine. Clearer than ever, a whisper laced with command.

  I shot upright, heart hammering in my chest. My breath came in ragged gasps as I scanned the darkening rainforest around me. "Who are you?!" I demanded, my voice rough, but only silence answered.

  I gritted my teeth. "Of course, you shut up again."

  As I wiped the lingering droplets of water from my face, my focus drifted to the waterfall. The crushing roar echoed, steady and unrelenting, but now it carried a different weight—almost as if it were daring me to try again.

  Was this what the voice meant? Had I been missing the answer all along? Using my water magic to move the waterfall… could that be it?

  The sun had begun its slow descent, casting deep orange and violet hues across the sky. The rainforest, once vibrant and lively, was now shifting into a quiet, eerie dusk. The air grew noticeably colder, the dampness in my clothes clinging to my skin, sending a chill through me. I slipped on my coat, shaking off the last remnants of exhaustion.

  Determined, I stepped into the river, water swirling around my knees as I spread my arms wide, facing the relentless cascade of the waterfall. The rushing force of the water loomed ahead, impenetrable, unyielding.

  Taking a deep breath, I reached deep within, pulling at the mana resting in my core.

  "Come on… Open wide!" I growled, willing the water to obey.

  The river around me shivered. The droplets clinging to my skin began convulsing, drawn toward the centre of my palms. The energy surged through me, a current pulling me into its embrace.

  Then, in that instant, I felt it—the undeniable grip of power connecting to the waterfall’s force. I could feel its weight, its pressure, its intensity—like I was grasping the very fabric of the rushing water itself.

  But almost instantly, the strain hit me. The sheer force behind the waterfall was staggering, far more than I could handle. My arms trembled, muscles burning as I tried to push against it, only to realize—I wasn’t strong enough to control this.

  But I refused to stop.

  With a growl, I dug my heels into the riverbed, my arms slowly spreading wider as if I were prying open the very flow of water itself. The resistance was immense, like trying to move a mountain with my bare hands.

  The weight of it pressed down on me, threatening to crush me where I stood. I clenched my jaw, my breath coming in sharp gasps. "Come on!" I shouted, my voice raw with effort.

  "Move!"

  A tremor ran through the water. At first, it was nothing more than a ripple, a shift barely noticeable against the waterfall’s overwhelming force. But then—it happened.

  The very centre of the waterfall began to change. A thin sliver, no wider than my hand, started to part. The opening was small, almost laughably so, but it was there—a crack in the wall of water.

  I let out a breathless, exhilarated laugh, my arms shaking from the effort. "I did it," I whispered, barely believing it myself.

  Then, just as quickly as it had opened, the sliver of space in the waterfall began to close. My moment of triumph turned into panic.

  "No, no, no—" I yelped, frantically waving my arms as if that would somehow keep it open. My face twisted into a mix of horror and desperation as I realized what had happened—I'd lost focus from sheer excitement.

  "Alright, keep it together, Emrys!"

  Sucking in a sharp breath, I solidified my stance, and started to widen my arms farther apart, pushing with everything I had left. The water resisted, but I didn't back down. My muscles screamed in protest, my manaheart burning as if it was about to burst under the pressure.

  I roared, "Not this time!"

  The small opening widened, just enough for me to slip through. A triumphant smirk spread across my face.

  Come… Now, boy. The voice returned—this time without the sharp pain, a booming voice tearing through the rush of water.

  Without hesitation, I dropped my hands, summoning the last reserves of my mana. Air surged beneath my feet as I propelled myself forward at breakneck speed. The instant my arms fell, the waterfall opening began closing, but I was already in motion.

  Just before the gap sealed shut, I shot through, landing hard onto the cave floor with a rough tumble. My body hit the damp stone, rolling uncontrollably until I slammed into the back crevice of the cave with a dull thud.

  "Ah—!" I groaned, sprawled out on my back, limbs aching from the impact. A second passed before I exhaled a shaky laugh, staring at the dark ceiling. "Holy shit… I actually made it."

  I lay there, sprawled on the cold, damp ground, the ache in my limbs making itself known with each movement.

  The cave around me was shrouded in darkness, barely illuminated by the faint glow of the waterfall to my right. The cascading water, now a mere curtain of sound, blocked out almost all light, leaving only shifting shadows dancing along the uneven stone walls. The air was thick with moisture, cool and heavy, carrying a faint, earthy scent that clung to every breath I took.

  Groaning, I forced myself up, my arms trembling from exhaustion. Sitting upright, I took in gulps of air, trying to regain some semblance of control over my body.

  My mana was drained, my limbs slightly sluggish, but I wasn’t about to let that stop me. Clenching my jaw, I tightened my grip around my dagger and called out into the darkness.

  "I’m here! Show yourself!"

  Silence.

  I frowned, my eyes darting around the cave, expecting something—anything—to happen. But nothing stirred. Nothing moved. Only the unyielding quiet pressing in around me. The relentless roar of the waterfall echoed, filling the cave, reverberating through the stone walls like an endless drumbeat.

  I let out a sharp breath, my frustration mounting. "Really? After all that, silence?" My voice echoed through the cavern, swallowed by the darkness beyond.

  Still, there was no answer.

  After what seemed like a couple of minutes, the rock I had been leaning on suddenly shifted beneath me. Before I could react, it gave way, and I slipped, tumbling backward as if it had been moved on purpose.

  "Shit—!"

  Gravity took hold, and I found myself plunging down a narrow tunnel, barely twice my size. The walls rushed past me, a blur of jagged rock and damp stone. Instinct kicked in, and I tightened my grip on my dagger, forcing mana into my limbs.

  I need to slow my descent!

  But just as I summoned the energy, a strange force yanked at me, turning my world upside down. My stomach lurched as if reality itself had flipped, throwing my focus into chaos. My breath caught in my throat, my balance completely shattered.

  Then, suddenly—the walls disappeared. My body twisted, weightless, as if the tunnel had vanished entirely. A moment of eerie silence stretched as my limbs floated mid-air.

  It felt as if I was falling through open sky. My eyes blinding from the light as my sight tried to adjust itself to realize where I am.

  My eyes widened as I tumbled downward, the darkness replaced by a surreal sight—a cavern vast beyond comprehension, its walls lined with bioluminescent plants glowing in soft blues, greens and purples.

  Strange trees twisted along the edges, their leaves shimmering like stardust. A small river wound its way through the valley below, its waters reflecting the ethereal glow of the plant life around it.

  "No way... what is this place?"

  Before I could take in any more, I crashed into something soft. A massive, flower-like plant, its broad petals thick and cushiony, cradled my fall before I rolled off, landing unceremoniously on my butt.

  "Ow—damn it!" I groaned, rubbing my sore tailbone. "Of course, I land on my ass. Always on my ass."

  As I pushed myself up, shaking off the shock, my breath hitched.

  Right in front of me, standing in the middle of the cavern, was a figure.

  No voice in my head this time. No cryptic whispers.

  Just a person, watching me.

  "Finally, you're here, Emrys," the figure said.