She Came Back for Him

Ripples shattered the silence as their small boats drifted slowly, paddles dipping and lifting over the quiet river of blood.

Ren and Lia, who had been clumsy at first due to their inexperience with handling a boat alone, gradually adapted. Even so, both remained cautious to avoid falling into the crimson water.

Even after nearly an hour of rowing, the river still showed no sign of ending. Ren’s arms began to feel numb.

"Ugh... can we rest for a bit, everyone? My arms hurt."

As expected. If Ren already felt sore, then his little sister must be struggling even more. Yet when he glanced at Xilama, the girl still looked energetic, fresh, and perfectly fine.

"Of course. I knew you would get tired. Let us rest for a moment. Our journey is still long. We have not even reached halfway."

"What?! We have rowed this far and that is not even halfway?! Aaaargh! This is annoying!" Lia threw her paddle against the side of her boat.

Ren and Xilama burst into laughter at her dramatic reaction. They decided to rest for a bit. Ren set his paddle inside the boat so it would not fall, then looked at Xilama with a light smile.

"You have such strong arms."

"Are you mocking me? Just because you are too weak for a man, that does not mean you can call a girl with slightly more strength than you muscular."

Ren laughed and shook his head. "No no. You misunderstood. I am not mocking you. Actually, I admire it. Women like you are rare in my world."

"Really? Do you mean the girls there are all weak?"

Ren shrugged and glanced at his sister. "Not exactly. It is just that most tend to exaggerate. Weak girls pretend to be helpless so they will be protected. Meanwhile, those who are strong want to dominate everything even though many are stronger than them."

"I hardly ever see women like you. I mean, you are beautiful, independent, and you do not overact."

Xilama immediately looked away. A faint blush spread across her cheeks. It seemed Ren’s spontaneous words had unintentionally reached the most fragile part of her heart.

"Was that... a compliment?" she asked shyly.

"You could say that."

"T-thank you."

Ren looked away as well. When he saw how Xilama tried to hide her flustered expression, Ren’s own face heated up.

Silence wrapped around them. Neither knew what to say. Until Lia shattered it in her own way.

"Ehm... it feels like I am the mosquito repellent here. Cough... cough... looks like someone has forgotten their own sister's existence."

Ren turned slowly with a pained smile. His brows twitched. "What... exactly... do you mean?"

"Nothing~ I just feel like... I am not included in the conversation of two little doves sitting on the same branch."

Xilama could not respond. Her head seemed ready to explode from embarrassment. Ren clenched his fist. He wanted to punch his sister because her words hit the mark a little too accurately.

"My soreness is gone," Lia announced proudly while patting her small arm. "Let us continue. I do not want to be the third wheel forever." She rowed ahead with a smug grin aimed directly at Ren.

His temples twitched. "Annoying brat." Then he looked at Xilama with a soft smile. "Let us go, Xilama."

The Aztec girl only nodded gently before rowing past him.

Ren sighed and smiled faintly at her calm reaction.

They rowed again. Still, there was nothing ahead. As far as Ren’s eyes could see, only an endless river of blood.

Strange. If this place was similar to the bone desert, then spirits should have started appearing by now. So what is the real trial of this blood river? And why did Xilama avoid answering every time he asked?

Suddenly, the water surged violently, forcing them to row harder while desperately trying to keep balance.

"What is with this sudden change?! I was not ready for this!"

"Stop complaining, Lia. This is normal. Think of it as a small test from Mictlantecuhtli to see whether we are worthy to stand before him."

"Ugh... fine."

Lia tried rowing but her boat swayed dangerously and nearly flipped if she had not quickly used her paddle as support.

"If rowing is difficult, then just keep your balance. Maybe this current will only last for a moment. I already told you earlier that this place is unpredictable."

"I-I understand. Thank you for the advice, Xilama!"

Ren and Lia did everything they could just to stay on their boats. Their priority was simple. Maintain balance and avoid getting swept away.

"Hold on, Lia!"

"You too, brother!"

Meanwhile, Xilama in front of them laughed softly as if mocking them. With a single graceful stroke, she stayed steady. Her balance was effortless.

She could have gone on ahead easily, but she waited patiently for the two beginners struggling behind her.

The difference between them was painfully clear.

Modern humans rarely trained their bodies due to the comfort of technology. Meanwhile, ancient people like Xilama were forced to survive with strength and skill because no one would save them except themselves.

There were a few modern humans who trained their bodies, but they focused more on appearance than actual ability.

Ren was willing to bet his life that Xilama could probably defeat most gym enthusiasts even if her arm looked smaller than Lia’s.

He let out a tired breath.

"She is totally underestimating us." He glanced at Lia. "Let us show her the power of modern humans."

"Let us do it, brother!" Lia replied with fiery enthusiasm. "Pull me forward and I will pull you next!"

"Alright. Get behind me."

Lia maneuvered her boat behind Ren’s. Ren then rowed forward as strongly as he could.

The current behind him weakened because his boat broke the flow first. It was a tactic used in team racing, inspired by how migrating birds fly in formation.

Ren blocked the water resistance so the one behind him could conserve strength.

Little by little, they caught up with Xilama. The Aztec girl widened her eyes slightly, impressed by their teamwork. They might not be as physically strong as her, but they had technique and strategy refined across centuries.

That was humanity. A species that evolved, adapted, and found solutions. Even without claws, fangs, heavy muscles, or horns, humans dominated the food chain and tamed the world.

"Let us show you... what modern people can do, Xilama!"

Xilama grinned. "Very well. I will not lose."

She began rowing, for the first time showing real competitive spirit. With ease, she surpassed Ren, who was already exhausted.

"Lia!"

"I know!"

Ren lowered his paddle and Lia took over. She rowed with all her strength to keep up with Xilama.

"You are stronger than I expected."

"I exercise a lot. I am not as weak as I look!"

Xilama tilted her head, relaxed even while racing. Lia, however, shouted energetically with every movement.

Less than five minutes passed before Lia lost her rhythm and drifted backward.

"I give up," she panted breathlessly.

Xilama chuckled. "Where did your fiery spirit go, little sister?"

Ren caught up and looked at her with a teasing smile. "You looked so confident earlier. Now look at yourself."

"Hah... hah... say whatever you want. I am tired!"

"So that means I win?"

Ren lifted his shoulders. "I guess so. You win, Xilama."

Everyone laughed together, melting the tension left from their sudden competition. Right then, the river calmed again, allowing them to row more easily.

Just as Xilama had said. This place was unpredictable.

A few minutes passed before she spoke again, reminding them that only one third of the journey remained.

Ren frowned. A heavy anxiety filled his chest. There was a possibility that something similar to the bone desert incident might happen again. The idea of sinking and dying in a river filled with the tears of sinners made him shudder.

As his mind drifted, a sudden surge of water slammed against his boat. Ren quickly turned around.

His eyes widened.

A pale woman flew toward them at incredible speed.

"La Llorona!"

His shout made everyone turn and scream. They rowed desperately. Ren especially, because he knew he was the target.

But everything became meaningless when La Llorona grabbed the back of his boat.

Splash.

She flipped it easily. Ren crashed into the blood soaked water and was immediately choked by the vengeful spirit. Xilama and Lia instantly jumped in to save him.

They felt no fear. No disgust. No hesitation. The stench and filth meant nothing.

Splash... splash...

They reached him as Ren thrashed desperately under the water. La Llorona’s body felt like iron. Even with adrenaline boosting his strength, his kicks barely affected her.

Mimicking the desert incident, Xilama took out her talisman again. But this time, the charm did nothing.

La Llorona was immune. Her long hair wrapped itself around Ren, trapping him, pulling him under the surface. Then suddenly, warmth spread through his entire body.

Is this... what dying feels like?

The warmth pulsed, then turned scorching hot. Then he remembered. The river punished sinners by boiling them.

No... no... the river is heating up!

Ren refused to die boiled alive. He fought back, kicking toward the surface. As bubbles rose, he heard La Llorona scream. The water boiled harder. Her grip weakened. Ren forced himself upward.

Blup... blup... blup...

The boiling water roared around him. The screams of countless souls echoed from every direction.

Yet somehow... Ren only felt as though he were bathing in an outdoor hot spring in Hokkaido. A little hotter perhaps, but still tolerable.

"What... what happened?"

Confused, Ren surfaced. Xilama grabbed his wrist and pulled.

"Ren, get on the boat before you boil too!"

He climbed up immediately. Their small boat barely fit two, but they managed.

Xilama then guided him to his overturned boat and flipped it back using her paddle. Ren climbed in.

"What happened to La"

Before he finished, a half melted hand gripped his boat. The remaining head of La Llorona rose from the water, staring with burning hatred.

"I will... kill you... you cursed husband..."

Her voice was broken, twisted, and ragged. Before Ren could speak, Lia and Xilama took their paddles and beat her head mercilessly.

Whack. Slam. Whack. Slam.

Not once or twice. They hit her again and again until she finally sank into the crimson abyss.

Breathing roughly, both girls lowered their paddles.

"D-did it work?"

"Wait... what even happened?"

No one could answer. Even Xilama stared blankly at the river. Silence fell among them before they each let out a long exhausted breath.

"There is no point thinking about it. Right?"

Lia and Xilama nodded.

Then, with their eyes fixed forward, they resumed rowing. Just ahead, the throne of the Underworld King, Mictlantecuhtli, awaited them.

We will go home. No matter what.