Eden Everlasting

Chapter 2

The death rite is solemn enough without the thought of my own impending death. The priestess placed a hand over the body and whispered the final parting words that were a mystery to all except those who uttered them (the clergy) and those whom they were spoken to. Those final words would soon be said over my body. I wondered if I'd be able to hear them or if I'd already be in Nede.

Her eyes then opened and met mine. She was young, not much older than I.

To be a fully ordained priestess she must be at least 18, having trained for 7 years. She must be very trusted within the clergy to already be performing the death rite alone. I held her gaze, blinking slowly.

My mind was still groggy from the drugs and my breathing was calm but still difficult to manage. It was hard to get much sleep when already suffering from a lack of oxygen. The only rest I am able to get is when I'm drugged. My short naps throughout the day do nothing to prevent exhaustion.

The priestess smiled warmly at me. My eyelids were drooping again. I didn't have enough energy to move so I just stared back. The last thing I expected her to do was walk over here but she surprised me by approaching at a leisurely pace.

It was an odd change. Usually people didn't acknowladge my presence (Because who would want to subject themself to conversing with a girl who's as good as dead?) but when they did it was rushed so they could get to my side fast enough to drug me before I killed myself. Unintentionally of course.

Now she stood next to my bed, a gentle smile resting on her lips.

"Ave deus ignis, et terrae et solis numen."

I coughed lightly in lieu of a laugh.

"The gods haven't exactly been good to me of late," I rasped into my oxygen mask.

The priestess frowned. "It is scornful to say such things in a place of worship."

I sighed. Now she doubts my faith.

"But it appears you are right."

I blinked. What? The priestess saw me frown in confusion and chuckled.

"I may be a  woman dedicated to the clergy but that does not make me any less human. We all doubt at times." The priestess sat down.

"Why would the gods allow this to happen? Am I unworthy of living? These questions have all been asked with no definite answer. Perhaps they wish to test our dedication."

I smiled sadly, though I doubted she could see it past the mask.

"I believe, priestess. Trust me, I do but there is only so much dedication can do. I am to die. There is no going around that fact. I have accepted it, and you should too."

My voice cracked as I spoke and tears fell down my cheeks.

The priestess smiled once again. "I am sorry to point this out, but you haven't accepted that, so why should I?" "I just told you I had accepted it. What are you-"

"You would not be so scared of death had you truly accepted it as coming."

I balled up my fists and took as deep a breath as I could manage.

"How would you know?" My voice shook violently. "You aren't dying."

"Ah, but there you are wrong. I am dying."

My breath hitched and it sent me into a coughing fit that took me a few minutes to calm down from. The priestess sat patiently through the attack, not saying a word.

"We are all dying. Any one of us could die any second. That's what life is: a temporary experience. Death is absolute and eternal in Nede."

I stayed silent, refusing to meet this woman's eyes. She sat in silence with men, seemingly content to just say nothing.

"Why are you telling me this? Why do you care?"

The woman smiled.

"Because I believe there is still hope for you yet. I just wanted to see if you had the will enough to live."