𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗥

𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝

dormiveglia /dor.miˈveʎ.ʎa/
(n.) the space that stretches between sleeping and waking.

Death — a concept that has both captivated and terrified humanity since the dawn of existence. From the earliest moments of human consciousness, individuals have been driven by an unwavering desire to elude the grasp of mortality. Immortality, often sought after by malevolent villains through sinful acts, serves as a central plotline in countless myths and legends.

Among these are various pagan belief systems, including Hinduism, Greek mythology, Norse cosmology, and Chinese folklore. These narratives uniformly emphasise death as the commencement of an odyssey into the afterlife, rather than a conclusive end.

Scholars and spiritual figures engage in profound discussions revolving around the moral dichotomy of sins and virtues, which purportedly determine the fate of the soul beyond life. In the complex tapestry of Hinduism, marked by intricate metaphysical threads, the consequences of actions in life reverberate in the afterlife. Those who have transgressed find themselves subjected to the torments of hell, while the righteous seek solace in the embrace of heaven before embarking on a new cycle of existence.

This cyclical voyage is encapsulated in the term "samsara," representing the ceaseless rhythm of birth, death, and rebirth. Yet, the loftiest aspiration remains the transcendence of this cycle—attaining "moksha," a sublime state where the soul harmoniously merges with the divine essence embodied by the deity Brahman.

These intricate interplays of human actions and posthumous destinies continue to kindle the flames of curiosity across cultures, sparking inquiries into the enigma of death and its aftermath. As humanity strides through the corridors of time, these narratives endure as cautionary tales and beacons of hope, emblematic of the unending quest to comprehend the ineffable transition from life to the afterlife.

River Vaitarini, Naraka Loka
21st century, Kaliyuga

As her consciousness slowly awakened, she found herself on a rickety wooden boat that looked more like a weathered shell. The first thing that struck her was the absence of her physical form; instead, she existed as a wisp of smoke, akin to a hologram. Curiously, she could see without the need for eyes. Though weightless, she remained glued to the seat, an odd sensation‌.

Her limbs passed through the boat walls when she tried to touch them as though they were an insubstantial mist. The surroundings had no scent, an eerie void of sensory experience. A disconcerting moment of numbness gripped her, like a puzzle missing its crucial piece.

"Is this a new drug?" she wondered, trying to make sense of her bizarre situation. The boatmen, brawny figures clad in black dhotis, moved with mechanical precision, their faces blank, almost robotic. Their tanned skin glowed, reflecting the golden river. They paid her no mind as she roused from her sleep-like state.