The Path after Death

Chapter III: Atoning For a Sin

“I’ve been waiting for a long time for someone like you to appear. Somewhere in this wasteland there is an artifact which can atone for all your sins and help you move forward from here. Many creatures are looking for it but no one found it yet. It is said that the so called “Eye of God” lays in the Deadwood of the Flames but no one was ever able to enter it. It is said that you need a certain number of sins in order to enter it and I believe you could be able to enter. If you help me I shall repay you in some way.”

I didn’t really have anything else to do and I could use a guide so I decided to help him. We walked around the enormous desert for a long while. After hours and hours of walking we reached our destination. The view was outstanding. Thousands of green and healthy trees were surrounded by a river of lava above which there were three bridges: one made of bones, one made of branches and one made of iron. The whole forest was burning with a immensely reddish flame which seemed to protect it from those who are not worthy of entering its sacred lands.

“This is it. We reached our destination. Now it’s up to you. You have to choose one of the three bridges ahead of us. Choose the right one and we will be able to pass, choose the wrong one and we shall burn in the lava river beneath them for eternity.”

The idea of being tortured for eternity was not that frightening as I expected. I looked at the three bridges and then went to the one in the middle, to the one made of branches. As I touched it with my hand it began to shine with a white pure light. Telling my companion to come I made the first step on the bridge. Seeing that nothing happened I started walking and after a while I was on the other side. When the hooded man touched the bridge the white light surrounding it turned black and a large fire swallowed the bridge.

“It seems like I cannot pass. You’re on your own. Make sure you survive and bring me the “Eye of the God”.”

Hearing those I stepped forward, towards the great forest of fire looking for the so longed artifact which could take me away from here.