He surrendered to the gentle embrace of slumber, drifting into a realm of dreams. As his consciousness waned, he experienced a profound sense of relaxation, as if the weight of the world had been lifted from his weary shoulders. It was as though he had been transported to a tranquil haven, where worries and tensions dissolved into the ether.
In this ethereal state, he felt weightless, liberated from the burdens that had plagued him in the waking world. The knots of stress and anxiety unraveled, leaving behind a sense of ease and serenity.
"Am I dead?"
"No, I don't feel like I'm dead." Confusion lingered as he pondered his surroundings.
"Where am I exactly?" His searching gaze met an expanse of impenetrable darkness, stretching in all directions. It was an abyss that offered no solace, only the eerie silence of the unknown.
Then, in the next second, he found himself standing in a grand hall adorned with walls of deep crimson. The absence of a ceiling allowed his gaze to roam freely, revealing a multitude of towering pillars lining both sides of the expansive space. Yet, despite the grandeur of the surroundings, darkness stretched endlessly beyond, shrouding the hall in an enigmatic aura.
His bewildered gaze traversed the expanse of the hall, unable to comprehend the magnitude of the revelation before him. The sight that unfolded left his mouth agape, and his eyes widened to the point of disbelief as if they might burst forth from their sockets. The sheer incredulity of what he beheld left him dumbfounded.
Lost in a state of astonishment for a few timeless minutes, he was abruptly startled by the resonant baritone voice that reverberated through the hall.
"Have you finished your ceaseless wonderment?" The voice boomed, its echoes filling every corner of the hall.
Startled, he took an involuntary step back, and there, before him, materialized two figures. Both men were resplendent in regal attire, exuding an air of majesty.
One was adorned in a flowing white robe, embellished with golden ornaments that cascaded in a chain of beads. A crescent-shaped chest plate rested proudly upon his chest, while his countenance boasted a handsome visage with chiseled features. He sat upon the throne, casually reclining to the right and resting his head upon his hand.
The other figure, dressed in garments of the deepest black, sported a thick, well-groomed beard. His attire was simpler, limited to a gold chest plate that arched gracefully across his torso as well as thick golden bangles adorning both wrists.
The white-clad man, elevated upon the throne, stroked his chin thoughtfully, fixing his gaze intently upon the young man standing before him.
"Ah... Where... Where am I?" he stammered, his voice tinged with bewilderment.
"You are in the realm of the departed," came the response, resonating from the lips of the black-clad man.
Spreading his arms wide, he gestured towards the surroundings and proclaimed, "This is the land of the dead."
"Oh... Right... I... I died, didn't I?" The realization that he was, in fact, deceased caused him to regain a semblance of composure.
He had accepted his fate before succumbing to slumber, knowing full well that death awaited him. The news of his demise did not shock him. However, the circumstances of his current situation and the nature of this place left him astounded. Regardless of which direction he turned, nothing appeared ordinary.
After a momentary scan of his surroundings, he managed to regain his composure and direct his attention back to the men before him.
"Do you wish to return?" The words were uttered by the man seated upon the throne, his tone authoritative and grave.
The young man stumbled backward, his eyes fixed upon the figure on the throne.
"Why would I desire to go back?" He began to grasp the gravity of the situation. These figures before him were undoubtedly otherworldly entities, and he found himself in a realm of judgment or some similar purpose. Such was his intuition. The mention of a wish further solidified his understanding.
He posed a question that seemed obvious yet required confirmation. "Are you two... gods?"
"In a sense. However, such knowledge is of no consequence to you. Speak your desires swiftly. We have limited time for your affairs," came the response, tinged with a hint of irritation.
"Wait. I shall send you to another world, where you may live as you please," the man upon the throne proclaimed.
"Umm" before he could speak.
That man said, "Get going already."
The young man rolled his eyes, looking at him.
"Next," that man said, without speaking any further to him, it was like he had no interest in talking to him anymore.
"Wait," he managed to utter, his voice filled with urgency and desperation. But his plea fell on deaf ears, as the man on the throne remained impassive, unmoved by his distress.
Without any further delay, the young man felt himself being propelled into another realm, torn away from his previous existence. The transition was disorienting, his senses were overwhelmed by a whirlwind of energy and motion. It was as if he were being pulled through a vortex, his very being twisting and contorting in the tumultuous currents.
After what seemed like an eternity, his senses slowly began to reassemble, and his eyes fluttered open to a captivating sight. He found himself cradled in the arms of a woman, her gentle smile casting a comforting glow upon him. Though he couldn't quite focus on his vision, the woman exuded an air of familiarity and compassion.
Struggling to regain his bearings, he attempted to survey his surroundings, but his vision remained blurred, the details eluding his grasp. All that mattered in that moment was the presence of the woman who held him, offering solace amidst the uncertainty.
He tried to check on the woman who was holding him and then moved his gaze to his surroundings. It was a bit blurry, as he couldn't make out anything other than the woman.
The encounter proved to be but a fleeting moment, slipping through his grasp as swiftly as a passing breath. His consciousness waned once more, a plaintive cry echoing inwardly, "Waitttt!!!"
Yet, as abruptly as their connection formed, it began to fade. His consciousness waned once more, slipping away like a fleeting dream. His desperate cry welled up from within, a plea for more time, for understanding, for answers. But it was futile. The void enveloped him once again, leaving him with a lingering sense of longing.