In Hell (Thanks to Legend's Orange Cat for the Silver Alliance)

In Hell

"On the lofty mountains, flowers are blooming; in the glittering heavens, stars are shining bright..."

Amid the swirling dust, the children's singing drifted over from afar.

Dust hung in the air, while the wind carried the scent of sheep dung and fermenting pasture grass.

A bird flew down from a branch and landed on the hunched old man's shoulder, singing its farewell.

As though it had all been a hazy dream.

A lamb bleated as it licked the old man's palm, rousing him from his long dream. Lush grass and trees shone beneath the sunlight.

Like heaven itself.

"Your Majesty, it's time for you to go."

The old woman offered him fruit and cheese, reminding him respectfully.

"I..."

The old man stared blankly at everything before him. He wanted to say something, yet no words came.

On the village road, shepherds and farmers smoked and chatted. Sniffling children played and chased one another, falling to the ground before scrambling back up, their dusty clothes stained with dirt. By the river in the distance, mothers doing laundry couldn't help but look up and scold them.

A sun-darkened young man grinned, revealing a set of white teeth as he waved through the crowd at a girl picking dates. The girl glared at him shyly and irritably, then lowered her head amid her companions' teasing.

Smoke rose from the somewhat dilapidated houses, and the fragrance of baking wheat drifted through the air.

The old man gazed at the utterly ordinary scene before him, focused and happy, as though he were looking upon the most precious treasure in the world.

"You..."

He turned back stiffly and looked towards the old woman. "Have you been living well?"

"It's time for you to go, Your Majesty."

The old woman smiled faintly. "We've all been