A headless, naked man and a headless, naked woman stood silently at the base of the mountain, motionless like statues carved from ash and sorrow.
Their ashen skin clung tight to human-shaped bodies, eerily flawless in form... yet something was wrong.
Instead of heads, dark flames roared and flickered violently from their necks, dancing wildly in the still air, as though whispering that these things were not only alive... but watching.
The path behind was silent.
Dust shifted underfoot as the soldier who had brought the group here stepped forward and bowed his head low in deep reverence.
"Soulwardens," he said with a tone that trembled slightly, "I humbly ask thee to permit the guests I've brought to restore the Cycle of Samsara."
The dark flames atop the creatures flared and swirled as if reacting to his words. Though they had no eyes, no mouths, no faces—something about the way their bodies shifted made it feel as if they turned toward the three of them.
