…

…

…

This must be what they call light at the end of a tunnel. It’s almost what I thought it would be. Less of a tunnel, more of a well, though. Yes, just like lying at the bottom of a well, staring at a sky above your head.

It was calm indeed.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing?”

All of a sudden I heard two dry voices echo through nothingness.

“It is Ogbunabali’s duty to help the souls pass on. Are you Ogbunabali?”

“Of course I am. I am Ogbunabali. I am definitely not Ekwensu.”

“I know it is you already, Ekwensu.”

“How?”

“Because I am Ogbunabali.”

“Is that so.”

For an eternal rest it sure was noisy. Engulfed by light, I heard the two of them arguing. As if in monotone, their voices were emotionless and distant.

“Why did you bring this one here?” the one called Ogbunabali asked.

“It was his time to pass on as this one died of old age,” Ekwensu replied.

“Isn’t he just twenty years old?”

“... It was his lowkey dream to die of natural causes.”

“There’s nothing natural about dying at twenty!”

“So you’re saying it wasn’t his time, Ogbunabali?”

“Wasn’t that the female next to him?”

“That is a shame.”

“Are you going to rectify?”

“Then I will grant him a god-like ability and send him to another world to become a hero loved by everyone,” Ekwensu responded. “Same as I do for the others.”

“There are others?”

“... No others. This is the first. I am Ekwensu.”

All things considered, they were talking about me, weren’t they? More than that, it was the old hag that was supposed to pass on. Guess it was just my luck.

I couldn’t really see, not to mention speak. All I could do was listen.

“There is no need. There is still time,” Ogbunabali returned. “He was out of his body for only twenty minutes. You can still send him back.”

“Twenty minutes. Won’t there be brain damage?”

“A little brain damage never hurt anyone.”

Oi oi! Wait! What do you mean brain damage? Wasn’t I dead already?

And what’s with that monotone?! Did they even care what would happen to me? I’m here because of you in the first place!

“Then send him back,” Ogbunabali concluded.

“Should I give him an extraordinary ability?”

“No ability required.”

“No ability required,” Ekwensu acknowledged.

As I felt myself being spirited once again and the light that was surrounding me faded, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Guess I’m going back after all.