The afterlife was really boring without goddesses.
At least it existed.
Naesala opened his eyes, groggily rising to his feet. He wasn't sure what he expected of the next life, but a blank landscape definitely wasn't it. "…what on Tellius…?"
Then he was tackled to the ground by an exuberant female heron.
"Naesala!" she cooed. "I haven't seen you in so long…"
"Lillia? Is that really you?" he asked once he caught his breath.
"Of course it's me!" The heron princess let go of him. "Naesala, I've missed you so…"
"Likewise," he answered as he stood.
"And it's not just me - Nealuchi will be beside himself when he sees you," she told him. "Not to mention all of your beorc friends."
"Beorc fr- oh, them? I suppose it'll be nice to see them again," he admitted grudgingly. "Err… where is everyone?"
Lillia looked around the white expanse and shrugged. "Technically, they're not really anywhere. This is the afterlife."
Naesala nodded. "So how do you…?"
"Just walk, and you'll get where you want to be," she explained, grabbing his hand. "Let's go."
"N-Nestling!"
Nealuchi threw his arms around Naesala's neck and began to sob. Naesala sighed. "Nealuchi… not in front of everyone else…"
The heron who had been sitting beside Nealuchi chuckled. "No, don't pay any mind to me. I can see why my children like you so much, Naesala."
Naesala raised an eyebrow. "Is that you, Lorazieh? You're… young."
"So are you," Lorazieh answered, as Lillia sat beside him and began to chatter. "Or hadn't you noticed?"
"I aged well," Naesala replied nonchalantly. "Nealuchi, could you please let go of me? I have people to see, and I'd rather not drag you along with me."
Naesala briefly stopped by Mist and Ike. As he always expected, she was berating him for abandoning her and the other mercenaries to go wandering parts unknown.
"How many years have you been doing that?" he asked, as Ike mouthed, 'Help me!'
Mist paused and shrugged. "Um… since I got here?" she guessed.
"Ah," he replied, setting off once more. "Carry on, then."
For a brief moment, he thought about meeting his parents.
Then he remembered how aggravating they were and thought better of it.
Naesala tapped his former employer on the shoulder. "Empress? Or is it just Sanaki now?"
Sanaki gasped and whirled around to face him. "Naesala!"
"The one and only." He smirked. "Did you miss me?"
"Of course I did," she murmured. Then she glared at him. "How dare you leave me all alone like this!"
He chuckled. "I'm afraid jumping on your funeral pyre was out of the question."
She blinked. "I didn't ask for a pyre."
Naesala sighed. "It was an expression, Empress."
"Just Sanaki, now," she corrected. "How fares my country?"
"Begnion is at peace, as is the rest of Tellius. Your heir ruled the country with wisdom, and from what I hear, she has admirers from all the countries on Tellius. Which is a sign of improvement in the issue of laguz-beorc relations, I suppose." He smirked. "She takes after you in that regard, doesn't she?"
She nodded without really thinking. Then she flushed. "Naesala… I…"
"You don't need to say it," he replied softly. "I know."
Startled, she asked, "You… know?"
Naesala nodded.
"Oh." She turned away. "I… had hoped you wouldn't find out about my silly crush."
"Who said I minded?" he asked, grinning. "I mean, of course it would never have worked, what with your age and station and species, but I am rather fond of you."
"Really?" she asked, turning back to him with wide eyes.
"Would I lie about this?" he inquired.
"Then…" Sanaki murmured, more to herself than to him, "…it might work now."
"Hm?" Naesala asked. "Did you say something?"
"Well, we're both about the same age physically, now, and my station doesn't matter anymore," she explained, "and from what I've been told, our countries are making giant steps forwards in the area of species - why couldn't it work?"
He stared at her. "But we're dead."
"And your point is?" Sanaki asked.
"But - we're dead," he repeated.
She sighed, muttered, "Do I have to do everything myself?", and kissed him.
Naesala found that he didn't have any objections.
