The world in Luther's eyes had split into three parts, overlapping and interweaving, all appearing at once.
The first was the Real World before him. He, Azik, and Klein had appeared in a dark, chilling mausoleum, surrounded by open coffins. In each lay a rotting corpse with feathers growing from its back.
The stairs descended level by level into the dense darkness below.
The second was the illusion in Luther's mind.
He saw the Land of the Dead. It was the Southern Continent of old: bloodstained jungles, burning torches, and towering pyramids atop which a great, pale being looked down upon all things, bringing them their destined deaths.
Feathered Serpents soared, and undead beings rejoiced, praising the great god of death, the Death Emperor, Salinger, in lifeless voices...
Sputter!
Blood spurted from his ears and eyes at the same time.
As for the third part, it came from Lovia, an elder of the City of Silver. After entering the Former Chief's Tomb, she had prayed to Luther at regular intervals. The spirituality she released maintained their connection, allowing Luther to look down on her surroundings and see the various visions appearing within the Former Chief's Tomb.
All he could say was that his mind was resilient enough... or mad enough. Even with these three scenes superimposed on one another, he gritted his teeth and endured, still able to analyze what the images meant.
"Ferryman"... looks stronger than Ince Zangwill was back then. That fellow only consumed half a portion, after all...
Judging by the illusions I'm seeing, this mausoleum is very likely connected to Mr. Azik's father, the Death Emperor Salinger... He staggered down the stairs, following Azik's retreating figure.
Blood dripped from every opening in his face, only to be absorbed back into his skin before it could reach