Akira took a moment to process what she had just heard. A lot would have happened in a hundred years, 4 kings would have changed thrones if not more, sometimes even the dynasties changed. There have even been cases of countries splitting up. If she went back, which country will she be part of? If her monastery did not recognize her, where will she go? Worse, what if her monastery ceased to exist?

How will she be able to protect people? An Oracle's word was the Ultimate truth. People listened to her. But with no one to call themselves as the Oracle for over a century, this would change now. Oracles have been burnt to death, having been called Witches. Some pretended to be shamans, some hid themselves to public.

Normally, no more than two or three Oracles were born in a century. They were rare beings. Sometimes, not a single Oracle was born in an entire century. 

Akira had seen it all. Her predecessor had taken the oath of silence in anger against the king for burning her sister. That had resulted in the entire kingdom turning to dust. He had begged her forgiveness and had built her a monastery, respecting Oracles as Seers, officially having them recognised  at par with priests.

She did not have it in her to retaliate in such a manner. She would rather be burnt alive than to let innocent souls die.

She jerked back to reality. She had come here to save the world, not to worry about herself. Humans were such greedy creatures. She had wanted to be alive, only till she delivered the message to the Gods. Now, she was worrying about her life after returning.

She was indeed a shameful being.

"Akira, shall we hear about your vision now?" Napat interrupted her thoughts.

He looked calm, as he leaned on one side if the chair, sitting cross legged, resting his head on his hand. 

She narrated her vision, wringing her hands in agitation. No one interrupted her.

"Such evil, has never walked on the planet I have lived, no legends even speak of it." She cried. "We should perish it at birth."

Napat was quiet for sometime. "Do you know the secret behind life and death?" He asked her.

She was taken aback by the random question. What did that have anything to do with her narrative, she wondered.

She shook her head. 

He explained. 

"Currently you are dead. What you experience is you punishment for your wrongdoings. You experience fear, pain, anxiety. You get hurt, you bleed, you lose things precious to you.

When you are truly alive, you are in state of absolute bliss. That is when you don't carry extra baggage, like your body, which comes with sins and ailments."

She was totally confused.

Hotrā continued, explaining it in easier terms. "Let me put it this way, what is heaven to you?"

"Happiness. No pain, no suffering... something like this place."

He smiled. "This place is an illusion, build completely on our Mana. All beings here are just souls. They are the purest forms of life, without wants, desires, hunger or greed. They don't get hungry, money means nothing to them. What will a soul do with power or money? "

She started to understand. "So eternal bliss is true living."

Hotrā nodded. "What is hell?"

"A place where people are punished for their wrongs, based on Karma."

"And isn't that what rebirth is all about?"